Free in-home measure and quote - PGT, CGI and CWS impact lines compared on your actual openings, style by style
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Before
AfterPGT Window Installation: The Hollywood Owner’s Guide
PGT window installation in Hollywood typically runs $340-$780 per opening for standard vinyl impact-rated units, with most retrofits on mid-century homes in the $520-$680 range. We stock PGT-compatible installation hardware and flashing systems on every truck, and we can usually measure and quote same-day. Most Hollywood homeowners discover their PGT window needs reinstalling when they spot water staining on the interior drywall beneath the sill, feel a draft through a frame that used to seal tight, or notice the sash has dropped and no longer locks square.
Which PGT Models This Applies To
PGT’s three residential lines, WinGuard, EnergyVue, and PremierVue, each use distinct frame depths and anchoring patterns that determine how the unit seats in the opening. WinGuard vinyl impact windows, the line we see most often in Hollywood’s 2005-2018 construction, carry a 2¾-inch frame depth with a nailing fin designed for new construction; retrofit installations require either a finless version or precise block-and-shim anchoring to maintain the impact rating. EnergyVue aluminum frames run shallower at 2¼ inches, which matters on older Oakridge homes where the original steel windows left tight rough openings. PremierVue, PGT’s thermally-broken aluminum line, uses a proprietary sill pan adapter that does not interchange with standard PGT vinyl accessories.
To identify your series, check the spacer bar label visible when you tilt the sash inward, or the etched mark on the interior glass corner. The label lists the NFRC certified product number, which we cross-reference against PGT’s current fabrication manual before ordering any installation kit. OEM PGT installation clips and sill pans cost 20-40% more than quality aftermarket equivalents from CWS and ES Windows, but the aftermarket parts we specify carry the same Miami-Dade HVHZ rating and identical fastener spacing. The only place we insist on OEM is the WinGuard laminated glass setting block, where third-party hardness variance has caused seal failures we’ve documented in Hollywood Lakes re-installs.
Signs Your PGT Window Installation Is Failing
- Water intrusion at the sill or jamb. In Hollywood, we see this most on east-facing walls after summer storms. The cause is usually degraded end-dam flashing or a sill pan pitched backward toward the house, not the window itself. PGT’s weep channels clog with salt and sand faster than inland specs account for.
- Sash drops or tilts unevenly. The balance shoe has slipped its track, or the installation shim pack has compressed over time. On PGT vinyl units, the factory shim points are molded into the frame; if the installer missed them, the sash load eventually warps the jamb.
- Visible gap between frame and wall, or caulk pulling away. South Florida’s UV exposure hardens polyurethane sealants in 3-5 years. When the caulk fails, the frame moves independently of the buck, stressing the installation anchors. We find this on nearly every 2015-2017 PGT install we survey in Hollywood Hills.
- Lock tongue won’t engage, or engages with force. The frame has racked during installation or settled afterward. PGT’s multipoint locks have ⅛-inch tolerance; beyond that, the keepers misalign and the lock mechanism itself breaks from repeated strain.
- Condensation between panes on impact units. This is seal failure, not installation failure, but the distinction matters for warranty. PGT’s glass warranty runs 10 years from manufacture; our installation warranty covers the seal if we installed the unit. We check the etched date code before we quote anything.
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
| Scope | Hollywood Price Range |
|---|---|
| PGT window reinstall, standard vinyl (single unit, same size) | $340-$520 |
| PGT window reinstall with new sill pan and end dams | $480-$680 |
| PGT impact unit replacement + install (retrofit, existing opening) | $620-$780 |
| Multi-unit discount (3+ openings same visit) | 12-18% per unit |
The range depends on three factors we document in your measured survey: wall condition behind the existing frame, whether the original fasteners are stainless or have corroded, and if the stucco return needs patching. Every quote lists these line items separately before we start. Haven Clause 1 means the written price and the final invoice are the same document. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise covers labor and installation materials; PGT’s factory glass and hardware warranties run independently.
DIY or Call Us?
An owner can safely check three things: verify the weep holes are clear with a pipe cleaner, confirm the lock keepers are tight to the frame with a screwdriver, and photograph any water stains for documentation. Beyond that, PGT impact windows weigh 40-60 pounds per sash, and the installation requires temporary bracing, level transfer across the opening, and torque-specific fastening to maintain the HVHZ certification. We’ve been called to Hollywood homes where a DIY reinstall voided the impact rating because the wrong anchor type was used, or where the sill pan was reversed and routed water into the wall cavity for months.
We carry PGT-compatible installation kits, including the WinGuard-specific setting blocks and PremierVue sill adapters, on every truck. Call (754) 714-7309 to schedule your free measured survey. You’ll keep the document, and the price we write on it is the price you pay.
FAQs
A properly installed PGT unit should perform 15-20 years in Hollywood’s coastal environment, though the installation hardware itself, especially end-dam flashing and sealant, needs inspection at year 5 and year 10. Salt air accelerates fastener corrosion on non-stainless hardware, which is why we specify 316-grade on every reinstall. Call (754) 714-7309 for an exact quote on your specific PGT model - estimates are free.
Sometimes. If the issue is localized caulk failure or a single compressed shim, we can address it without full removal. But if the frame has racked, the sill pan is mis-pitched, or the anchors have pulled, partial repair almost always fails within two years. We document both options in your written scope. Call (754) 714-7309 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
A single PGT window reinstall takes 2-3 hours on site, plus drying time for sealants and patch materials. We schedule the visit so you’re not waiting on cure times; the crew arrives, removes, reinstalls, and documents. Multi-unit jobs in Hollywood’s condo buildings typically run one day for up to four openings. Call (754) 714-7309 to schedule your free measured survey.
Yes. We carry PGT-compatible sill pans, end dams, setting blocks, and stainless fastener kits on every vehicle, along with installation hardware for CGI, CWS, and ES Windows lines. If your unit requires a PGT factory-specific part we don’t stock, we order it with next-day availability from the Miami distribution center and reschedule before any demolition begins. Call (754) 714-7309 to confirm compatibility for your model.
Sightline Windows & Doors Hollywood is an independent service provider; we are not affiliated with PGT Industries. We install PGT, CGI, CWS, ES Windows, ECO Window Systems, Mr-Glass, Therma-Tru, and ViewLux products according to each manufacturer’s specification and the Haven Standard.
Sonia Raman, who leads our operation, grew up in Los Angeles and learned glazing in the construction program at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College before spending more than a decade measuring and installing across South Florida. She’s known for reading manufacturer spec sheets against actual rough-opening dimensions before anything gets ordered - a habit that has kept callbacks low and lead times honest. Her rule on every Hollywood job site: “Measure the opening, not your optimism.”
Written by Sonia Raman, Owner, Sightline Windows & Doors Hollywood at Sightline Windows & Doors Hollywood, serving Hollywood and nearby areas.