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CGI Windows FAQs

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6/7/2021

Protect your family, invest in CGI Sparta impact-resistant windows & doors. Contact Guardian Hurricane protection for impact-resistant windows and doors.

Protect and safeguard your property from harmful weather elements, hurricanes and burglary by investing in CGI Sparta impact-resistant windows & doors. Florida is paradise but that sometimes comes with a price.

Guardian Hurricane Protection, Florida’s leading hurricane solution provider understands the benefits of impact-resistant windows and doors and their importance in protecting residential properties in Florida.

Do I really need impact products?

CGI®’s impact resistant windows and doors offer many benefits beyond storm protection. Read our CGI® Impact Protection for more details.

What sets CGI® Impact Resistant Windows and Doors apart from the competition?

We have been at the forefront of protection for decades. To better meet the needs of homeowners, we offer multiple impact resistant window and door lines. Sentinel is our main collection, servicing new construction and remodeling projects. Sparta is our value-custom line that makes impact protection easier than ever. Lastly, Scout is our only non-impact line, providing strength and pleasing aesthetics for your project.

Beyond our collections, we are committed to building strong products. We are passionate about our partnerships with our exclusive dealers / builders and our privilege to protect those who rely on our products.

What makes CGI® stand out in the marketplace?

In addition to exceptionally built windows and doors, we offer the following:

CGI® impact windows and doors are regularly tested, certified, approved, and rated by the industry’s most recognized associations, including:
- Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance
- Florida Product Approval
- International Building Code
- National Fenestration Rating Council® (NFRC)
- Sound Transmission Class (STC)
- Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC)
Our impact resistant products can be installed on virtually any building, including high-rise buildings.
CGI® offers 10’ tall impact resistant Sliding Glass Doors in our Sentinel line.
We hold patents for components we use in our impact resistant products. For example, our three-point lock for our Sentinel French Door provides more security.
We proudly stand behind our products with a comprehensive warranty that includes up to a $1,000 reimbursement on a property owner’s insurance deductible if an intruder enters the property through the locked pane of impact resistant glass.* Download our warranty for the full details.

*Impact glass must meet Missile Class D rating. Only available on certain product lines. Please reference the warranty for full details.

How should I compare one hurricane impact window to another?

This is an important investment, so take the time to review all your options. We have some great tips on our Get Started page for you. Here are some additional items to consider.

Take time to see the actual products for yourself. Visit one or more dealers’ showrooms and ask to see examples of different products.
Evaluate the strength of the impact window or door based upon its design load (Pounds per Square Foot or PSF). The design load is the product’s ability to resist forces like hurricane winds. Not all impact windows are created equal—they are approved at different levels of performance. The higher the PSF, the stronger the product. Compare the PSF rating to understand how products differ in strength. As an example, CGI®’s 360 Single Hung hurricane window is approved as high as 210 PSF (equates to 290 MPH winds).
Consider the product’s original intent when it was designed. Are you buying a product that was designed specifically to sustain the heavy impact of hurricane winds, or are you looking at a product that has been modified to meet only a marginal impact requirement? CGI® specializes in impact resistant products. That means that 100 percent of our research and development is devoted to protection.

When shopping for impact windows, how do I know if they have the proper code approvals?

Code approvals are not created equally. In fact, these approvals can be granted for many different product types, product properties, and product uses. When evaluating code approvals, make sure the products are specifically approved for impact by a reputable governing agency such as Miami-Dade County, and verify the approved performance levels (PSF). An authorized CGI® dealer can give you more information.

Can I lower my insurance premiums with impact windows and doors?

Contact your insurance company for the latest policies. Many homeowners have received reductions in their premiums due to the increased protection impact resistant products offer.

Does CGI® offer non-impact windows and doors?

Yes. Our Scout collection features strength, quality, and style for your space. It is our first ever line of aluminum non-impact windows and doors. Browse Scout now.

How do I buy CGI® products?

We sell exclusively through our authorized dealers who can help you find your ideal products and provide you with a free quote. Find one in your area now by visiting our Where to Buy page.

Can I replace the existing glass on my windows and doors with impact glass for the same level of protection?

No. An impact window / door consists of a strong frame, impact glass, a secure method of attaching the glass to the frame, and a proven process of attaching the frame to the structure. While the glass may be able to resist the impact, your current window frame will not be able to hold the glass properly in place.

If I apply hurricane film to my existing window / door’s glass, will I have impact protection?

Films that are applied to the existing glass are not approved as impact resistant products. They may be approved and hold valid Miami Dade County Notice of Acceptance (Product Approval) as a plastic component. This simply means that the film material is flame retardant.

Window films serve the same level of impact protection as installing impact glass into a non-impact window, except that the film may scratch. While the film may hold the glass shards together, the glass with the film will fall out of the window frame. Sometimes film dealers offer to overlap the film onto the window frame and claim that this resolves this problem. This window treatment is not approved for impact resistance by Miami-Dade County.

Reflective window films may do well at reflecting the sun and making your home more comfortable. This is the same benefit that can be achieved with a Low-E coated glass product.

Why should I choose impact products over shutters?

When you are evaluating hurricane protection options such as impact windows versus shutters, there are several factors you should consider:

Do you live in the home year-round? If not, who will put up the shutters when you are not there? Leaving the shutters up while you are gone invites potential burglars.
Are you physically capable of installing the shutters by yourself? Are you likely to put the shutters up if a storm comes?
Do you like the look of roll-down or accordion shutters mounted to the exterior of your house?
Is energy efficiency important to you? Shutter systems do not provide you with energy savings like impact resistant windows and doors.
How important is home security to you? Unlike shutters, impact resistant windows and doors provide 24/7 protection against potential intruders.
With impact windows and doors, you will enjoy a significant reduction in outside noise, and 99% of ultraviolet rays will be eliminated.
What about safety? Oftentimes shutters remain installed after a hurricane, blocking egress in the event of a fire. Also, during a hurricane, closed shutters block outside light and visibility.
Consider what happens if a shutter fails. If glass behind the shutter breaks, the house “envelope” is breached, possibly resulting in a catastrophic building failure.

Read even more benefits by visiting our Impact Protection section.

What are the advantages of aluminum vs. wood frames?

Aluminum window and door frames are among the strongest designs available. Wood degrades in hot climates due to the high humidity and sun.
Aluminum is a recyclable green product.
Aluminum windows and doors provide years of protection, proven by years of installations in hurricane-prone areas.
Aluminum windows and doors are factory finished and require minimal maintenance.

CGI Windows Series

CGI Single Hung Window Series 4100A

CGI Single Hung Window Series 360

CGI Single Hung Window Series 110

CGI Single Hung Windows Series 7100

CGI Single Hung Window Commercial Series 360

Benefits

Convenience
Improved Energy-Efficient Windows/Doors
Increased Security
Insurance Premium Discounts
Investment Protection
Long-Term Savings
One-time Installation
Peace of Mind
Repair Cost Reduction
Sound Proofing
Storm Protection
Ultraviolet Protection
Verified for Quality

Features

1-time: Transfer of Warranty
5-years: Laminated Glass Units
10-years: Frame/Component Parts
Assembly Screws: Stainless-steel
Design Pressures: Up to +55/-65 PSF
Easy Installation
Energy Coatings: High
Exterior: Glazed
Frame Depth: 2"
Finish: Powder-Coated White/Bronze
Florida Product Approval: HVHZ
Front Flange: 1/2"
Interlayer: Clear/ Gray/Bronze/White
Laminated Glass: Monolithic
Muntin Types/Configurations: CGI Surface Applied/ Standard Patterned
Warranties:

Florida’s Leading Hurricane Solution Provider | Guardian Hurricane Protection

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