New windows and doors improve comfort, cut energy bills and add long-term value to your home. Westlight Windows Austin pairs proven product lines with our own installing crews for lasting performance - and a price we put in writing.
1. Choose your installer
The unit is half the job - the install is the other half. Our own background-checked crews measure, set, seal and insulate every opening, and they know the lines we quote inside and out because they install them every week.
2. Select the right products
Compare styles, materials and glass packages side by side until the fit is right for your rooms, your budget and your goals. The product-line comparison below is the place to start.
3. Prepare your home for install
Before install day we walk you through a short checklist - furniture pulled back, treatments down, a clear path to each opening - so install day is watch-it-happen, not scramble.
Compare the Lines We Quote
Every project is priced on the same lines, side by side - the price indicators below are relative, and your consultant shows exact numbers on your actual openings.
PGTThe line Florida homeowners arrive naming - the most Miami-Dade certifications in the industry$$$
- More Miami-Dade NOA certifications than any other line we quote
- WinGuard, EnergyVue and ClassicVue Max systems built for every wind zone
- 99% on-time delivery keeps your install date on the calendar
CGIThe heavyweight impact line$$$$$
- Large-missile impact ratings for the strictest wind zones
- Architectural-grade aluminum with commercial-depth frames
- The line we quote when protection is the whole point
CWSThe Florida value pick$$
- Vinyl systems built in Florida for Florida codes
- Strong energy packages at the friendliest price point
- The smart start for whole-home replacements on a budget
ESWSlim lines, big glass$$$$
- Narrow-sightline aluminum for modern elevations
- Oversized openings and floor-to-ceiling glass
- Impact-rated without the bunker look
ECOThe aluminum impact workhorse$$$
- Miami-built aluminum impact systems
- A strong price-to-protection ratio for coastal homes
- Proven inventory lines with short lead times
CGI Window Replacement: The Austin Owner’s Guide
CGI window replacement in Austin typically runs $850 to $2,400 per window installed, depending on the series, glass package, and whether you need impact-rated or standard replacement sashes. We stock common CGI parts on our trucks and can match most CGI models without pulling the old unit first. Most Austin owners discover their CGI part failed the same way: a window that suddenly won’t lock, a sash that drops when you let go, or condensation you can’t wipe off because it’s between the panes.
We’re an independent service provider, not affiliated with CGI, but we’ve installed and replaced their products for years. When a homeowner in Avery Ranch or Mueller calls about a CGI window that’s fogged, sticking, or rattling, our first questions are always the same: what series is it, when was it installed, and what exactly is the part doing wrong.
Key Takeaways
- Most single CGI window replacements run $850 to $2,400 installed in Austin
- We stock common CGI parts and can match most series same day
- Every job gets a written price before work starts, per the Kingswell Guarantee
- DIY repairs on CGI hardware often void warranty coverage, so read the fine print
Which CGI Models This Applies To
CGI’s window lines break into two broad families: their impact-rated series (built for hurricane zones like Florida’s coast but sold throughout Texas for storm protection) and their standard residential series. The most common we see in Austin are the Estate Collection, designed for commercial-grade impact ratings, and the Sentinel series, which hits a price point some HOA communities in Steiner Ranch and Circle C require.
The compatibility gotcha with CGI is this: their impact-rated units use a heavier frame extrusion and thicker glass laminate than the standard series, and the hardware is not interchangeable. A latch from a Sentinel won’t seat properly on an Estate Collection window because the frame depth is different. We measure the glass thickness and check the label etched in the corner of the sash before we order anything. That label will also have the series code you need when you call.
On OEM versus aftermarket: for seals, rollers, and balance mechanisms, a quality aftermarket replacement from brands like Amesbury Truth or G-U usually matches or exceeds what the factory shipped. For structural parts or impact-rated glass packs, we recommend OEM or certified impact laminate that meets the original pressure rating, because your insurance carrier may ask for proof of compliance if you’re in a wind-load zone.
Signs Your CGI Window Replacement Is Failing
- Fogging or moisture between the panes: The hermetic seal on the insulated glass unit has failed, which happens faster in Austin’s heat than in milder climates. Once that seal opens, the argon or krypton fill escapes and humidity gets in, and the glass’s thermal performance drops with it.
- Sash drops or won’t stay open: The block-and-tackle or spiral balance inside the side jambs has worn out or snapped. On CGI impact-rated windows the sash is heavier, so a home builder’s grade balance fails sooner than it would in a standard window.
- Hard to lock or the handle spins without engaging: The lock’s tie bar or keeper has come out of alignment, or the nylon gear inside the crank mechanism stripped. Also common after a long Texas summer is a warped frame member making the lock pick up at an angle.
- Drafts or rattling in wind: The weatherstrip along the sill or the interlock where the sashes meet has compressed or torn. Austin’s temperature swings run about 40 degrees from morning to January night, and plastic weatherstrip flexes every cycle until it loses its grip.
- Crank operator turns hard or makes a popping sound: The gear inside the operator is binding, or the hinge arm connecting it to the sash has bent. Most owners never grease the operator track, and dust from a dry summer will bind it up inside 5 to 8 years.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
Here’s what a CGI window replacement generally costs in Austin’s current market:
| Replacement Type | Installed Price Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Full sash replacement, standard CGI series | $850 to $1,350 per window | New sash, glass, weatherstrip, balance; frame stays in place |
| Full sash replacement, impact-rated CGI series | $1,200 to $2,400 per window | New impact-laminated sash, stainless hardware, reseated frame |
| Complete unit replacement (frame and sash) | $1,500 to $3,400 per window | New frame, sash, glass, flashing, and exterior trim |
| Glass-only insulated unit replacement | $350 to $600 per window, labor included | New IG unit with matching low-e coating and gas fill |
Those ranges account for series differences, the size of the opening, and whether we’re replacing one window or three matching in the same room. You’ll see a written price before any work starts and that price will not change at your door. Owen Satterfield has measured his way around enough older Austin homes to know better than to guess.
DIY or Call Us?
There are a few things you can safely check before you call us. You can confirm the series by reading the label etched in the lower corner of the glass. You can try cleaning the tracks and lubricating the operator with a dry Teflon spray. You cannot replace an insulated glass unit on a CGI impact window without specialty tools and glazing tape, and you should not try to release the spring tension from a block-and-tackle balance on your own, because the spring is under enough load to take off a fingernail or worse when it lets go.
What we see, over and over, is an Austin homeowner watching a YouTube video, getting the sash halfway out, and realizing the video didn’t mention that CGI uses a nonstandard spline size. Then we get a call and we’re working around a half-installed window. If the part is fogged, cracked, or won’t stay put, call (254) 322-3468 and we’ll get it matched right the first time.
FAQs
Insulated glass units on CGI windows usually hold their seals 10 to 15 years in Austin’s heat, but the hardware, like balances and locks, often needs replacement at 8 to 12 years. If the window is on a western wall or takes direct afternoon sun, expect every one of those numbers to hit the low end. Call (254) 322-3468 and we’ll tell you honestly whether replacement beats another repair.
Hardware failures, like locks, balances, and crank operators, are usually repairable with the right parts, while a breached insulated glass unit essentially has to be replaced as a unit because the seal cannot be rebuilt in the field. If the frame itself is still square, we can swap the failed part without replacing the whole window. Call us and we’ll confirm which category you’re in before you spend anything.
A sash replacement or hardware swap typically takes 45 to 90 minutes per window once the parts are in hand, while a full frame-out replacement runs 3 to 5 hours per opening, including trim and cleanup. We’ll give you a written arrival window and show up in it, because the Kingswell Way says the window we give is the window we keep. Call (254) 322-3468 to get a time estimate that’s based on your actual window, not a brochure.
We keep common CGI lock sets, balances, rollers, and weatherstrip on the truck, and we can source model-specific sashes and impact glass through distribution in about 3 to 7 business days. The way to know whether we can fix your window in one trip is to read us the series from that glass label. Call (254) 322-3468 while you’re standing at the window and we’ll tell you what we stock.
Call Westlight Windows Austin for Your CGI Window Replacement
You don’t have to guess which part failed or whether a replacement will actually fix it. Call (254) 322-3468 and we’ll walk through what you’re seeing, match it to your CGI series, and give you a written price before anything gets ordered. Our team installs eight window and door lines across Austin, including PGT, CWS, and ES Windows, so if CGI’s lead times are dragging, we can show you options that keep your house protected and your budget intact.
Written by Owen Satterfield, Owner, Westlight Windows Austin at Westlight Windows Austin, serving Austin and nearby areas.
Six Reasons Homeowners Choose Westlight Windows Austin
Impact systems engineered to design pressures up to +/-100, matched to your wind zone - your openings hold when the storm arrives.
Low-E insulated impact glass from our manufacturer lines commonly cuts monthly cooling bills 20-30%.
Laminated impact glass shuts out up to 40% of outside noise - traffic, neighbors, weather.
Monitoring services run $30-90 a month. Laminated impact glass resists forced entry around the clock, with no subscription.
Florida homeowners average around 25% savings on the windstorm portion of their policy after protecting every opening - some homes qualify for more.
A full impact package upgrades curb appeal, buyer confidence and appraised value in one project.