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AfterCWS Window Replacement: The Fort Lauderdale Owner’s Guide
If your CWS window has failed and you’re searching for replacement options in Fort Lauderdale, here’s the straight answer: we stock and install CWS-compatible window replacements, with most single-window replacements running $900 to $1,800 installed depending on size, glass package, and frame condition. Most homeowners discover the problem the same way: a window that won’t close fully, condensation trapped between the panes, or a crack that appeared after a storm. Ed Winslow grew up in Miami, so he knows exactly what salt air and hurricane season do to window seals and frames. Call (904) 747-8989 and we’ll match your CWS window to the right replacement the first time.
Key Takeaways
- We stock CWS-compatible replacement windows and parts specific to South Florida’s coastal climate.
- Most Fort Lauderdale CWS replacements run $900 to $1,800 installed; exact pricing depends on size, impact rating, and frame type.
- Seal failure is the number one reason CWS windows get replaced in this area, and it’s not repairable.
- Free estimates, written line-item quotes, and the 36500-Day Done Right Promise on every job.
Which CWS Models This Applies To
CWS (Custom Window Systems) builds residential and light-commercial impact windows and doors, and most of what we see in Fort Lauderdale falls into a few series: the 9500 series (aluminum frame, mid-range impact glazing), the 9700 series (heavier extrusion, higher design pressure ratings), and their vinyl single-hung and horizontal roller lines. Here’s the compatibility gotcha most homeowners miss: CWS stamps the series code on a small silver label inside the frame channel, usually on the left jamb near the lock mechanism. If that label is gone, measure the frame depth from the interior stop to the exterior flange. The 9500 series runs about 3¼ inches deep; the 9700 runs closer to 4 inches. We can match either, but guessing wrong means a window that doesn’t seat properly against Florida’s wind-driven rain.
One more thing worth knowing: CWS still manufactures replacement sashes and frames for most series built after 2005, but OEM parts can take three to four weeks to arrive. We keep quality aftermarket equivalents on the truck for the most common sizes and glass packages. For CWS specifically, aftermarket laminated glass from our suppliers meets the same Miami-Dade impact standards, and it’s usually $150 to $300 less than OEM per window. We’ll show you both prices before you decide.
Signs Your CWS Window Replacement Is Failing
- Condensation or haze between the panes. This is the big one in Fort Lauderdale. The desiccant strip inside the insulated glass unit saturates after years of humidity, and once the seal fails, the glass fogs permanently. Cleaning won’t fix it; the sash needs replacement.
- Warping or bowing in the frame. Aluminum frames in direct afternoon sun, especially on west-facing elevations near Las Olas or the beach, expand and contract enough to lose their square over time. You’ll see daylight at the corners or feel drafts along the jamb.
- Hard-to-operate sashes. CWS windows rely on spring balances or roller assemblies that corrode in salt air. If yours grinds, sticks, or won’t stay up, the internals are gone, and the sash doesn’t owe you anything.
- Cracks or chips in impact glass. Impact-rated glass can take a hit and hold together, but the structural PVB interlayer is compromised once the outer pane cracks. It won’t perform next hurricane season.
- Water staining below the window or on interior walls. We see this constantly in Fort Lauderdale homes built before 2010. The exterior sealant around the CWS frame fails before the window itself does, but by the time water’s inside the wall, both the sealant and often the frame corner joinery need attention.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
Here’s honest pricing for CWS window replacement in Fort Lauderdale, parts included:
- Single sash replacement (glass only, frame intact): $350 to $700
- Full window replacement, standard non-impact: $900 to $1,400 per window
- Full window replacement, impact-rated (Miami-Dade approved): $1,200 to $1,800 per window
- Full replacement with frame repair or stucco remediation: add $150 to $400 per opening
What drives the range: window size, whether it’s a single-hung or horizontal roller, the glass package (clear, low-E, or impact), and whether the original CWS frame is sound enough to accept a new sash. Every quote from us is a written line item. The price we hand you is the price on the invoice, period. We pull permits where required and every replacement carries the 36500-Day Done Right Promise. If it’s not right, Ed makes it right. That’s been the deal since 2011.
DIY or Call Us?
What you can safely do: read the label inside the frame to confirm your CWS series, measure the rough opening from stud to stud, and document the glass markings printed on the corner of the pane. That information saves us a trip and gets you an accurate quote by phone. What you should not do: remove a full CWS frame from a Fort Lauderdale exterior wall yourself. The original installation is fastened through the jamb into the concrete block or wood buck, and pulling it without shoring the opening properly will take stucco with it. Also, impact glass weighs more than you think. A 48-inch by 60-inch impact sash runs near 80 pounds. We send background-checked, uniformed technicians who do this daily. No trip charge inside our home county, and $40 off any repair over $200. Call (904) 747-8989 and talk to a live person, any hour.
FAQs
In this climate, expect 12 to 18 years from the seals and hardware on a CWS window. Coastal salt exposure on homes east of Federal Highway can shave a few years off that. Frames themselves usually outlast the glass and moving parts, which is why sash replacement is common before full window replacement.
If yours failed early or you’re not sure what you’re looking at, call (904) 747-8989 and describe the symptoms. We’ll tell you straight whether it’s a seal, a balance, or a full replacement.
No. Once the insulated glass unit loses its seal, there’s no field repair that restores clarity. Some companies offer “glass defogging” but we won’t recommend it for CWS windows in Fort Lauderdale; the fix is temporary and the desiccant remains saturated. Replacing the sash or the IGU is the only honest repair.
We’ll show you both replacement options and their prices before any work is scheduled. Call (904) 747-8989 for a free estimate.
For a sash-only swap where the frame is sound, most jobs finish in under two hours per window. Full frame replacements take a half day per opening, including stucco patch and interior trim. If permits are required, allow two to three extra days for inspection scheduling in Fort Lauderdale.
Tell us the model and window count when you call (904) 747-8989 and we’ll give you a realistic timeline on the spot.
We stock common CWS sash sizes and hardware on our trucks: single-hung balances, roller assemblies, lock mechanisms, and insulated glass units in the most frequently used Fort Lauderdale dimensions. If your window falls outside stock, we order OEM from CWS or source a quality aftermarket equivalent, and we’ll give you honest lead times before you commit.
Winslow Windows & Doors is an independent service provider and not affiliated with Custom Window Systems, but we install and service CWS products alongside PGT, CGI, and ES Windows every week. Call (904) 747-8989 and we’ll check our truck first.
Written by Ed Winslow, Owner, Winslow Windows & Doors at Winslow Windows & Doors, serving Fort Lauderdale and nearby areas.
Six Reasons Homeowners Choose Winslow Windows & Doors
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.