CWS Door Installation Nationwide | Sightline Windows & Doors Lighthouse Point

CWS Door Installation: The Lighthouse Point Owner’s Guide

CWS door installation in Lighthouse Point typically runs $1,800 to $4,200 for a standard single entry unit, depending on impact rating, frame condition, and whether the opening needs structural remediation. We stock CWS-compatible frames, sills, and hardware on our Lighthouse Point trucks, and most replacements are surveyed and installed within one to two business days. Most homeowners discover their CWS door is failing when the sweep drags, the multi-point lock won’t engage, or they notice daylight between the frame and the jamb after a storm - signs that the installation, not just the door itself, has shifted or degraded.

Call (754) 600-8907

Which CWS Models This Applies To

CWS builds several door series that circulate in South Florida, and the installation hardware differs meaningfully between them. We regularly work with the CWS 3750 and 3770 impact entry door lines, the CWS 5400 sliding patio door system, and the CWS 6800 French door series. Each uses a distinct frame depth and sill profile. The 3750/3770 entry doors ship with a 4-9/16 inch jamb depth as standard, though Lighthouse Point homes built between 1975 and 1995 often need a 6-9/16 inch extension jamb for block-to-block construction. The 5400 slider requires a recessed sill pan that sits 1-3/8 inches below the finished floor; retrofit this into a flat slab installation without dropping the track, and you’ll get water intrusion within two rainy seasons.

To identify your series, check the CWS label on the hinge edge of the door slab or the top track of a slider. The label lists the NFRC rating, the series code, and the manufacturing date. If the label is painted over or missing, measure the frame depth and the sill height above the exterior grade - two numbers that will narrow the series down immediately.

OEM CWS parts are available through the manufacturer’s distributor network, but lead times run four to six weeks for frames and sills. We stock quality aftermarket equivalents fabricated to CWS tolerances by a Miami-based millwork shop we’ve used since 2014. The aftermarket frames carry the same .050 wall thickness and 6063-T5 alloy spec as OEM, at roughly 60 percent of the wait time. For impact-rated units, we use OEM glass packages exclusively - the NOA (Notice of Acceptance) from Miami-Dade County ties the impact rating to the exact glass and frame combination, and swapping in non-OEM glass voids that certification.

Signs Your CWS Door Installation Is Failing

• The door drags or binds at the top corner. This usually means the hinge jamb has settled or the header has deflected. In Lighthouse Point, we see this most often on canal-front homes where the fill soil settles unevenly. The fix is reframing, not just planing the door.
• Water pools at the interior sill after heavy rain. The CWS sill pan or end dams have failed, or the flashing tape has separated from the frame. Salt air accelerates the butyl adhesive degradation; we’ve pulled failed tape on ten-year-old installations that looked fine from the outside.
• Multi-point lock bolts don’t align with the keepers. The lock mechanism is fine - the frame has twisted or the door has dropped on its hinges. This is common after a tropical storm or hurricane passes close enough to create pressure cycling.
• Daylight visible around the frame perimeter. The foam sealant between the frame and the rough opening has shrunk or the backer rod was omitted during original installation. Air infiltration follows, and with it, moisture and mold risk in the wall cavity.
• The door closes but won’t latch without lifting or shoving. The threshold has compressed or the adjustable sill cap has bottomed out. CWS sills have a 3/8 inch adjustment range; beyond that, the sill assembly needs replacement.

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Replacement Cost & What’s Included

For a standard CWS entry door installation in Lighthouse Point, we quote $1,800 to $2,800 for a non-impact unit with frame replacement, and $2,800 to $4,200 for an impact-rated installation with HVHZ (High Velocity Hurricane Zone) certification. The spread depends on three things: whether the rough opening is plumb and square (many aren’t), whether the exterior finish needs remediation after frame removal, and whether the door is a standard size or requires custom millwork.

Every quote is itemized: frame, sill, hardware, sealant, trim, and labor as separate lines. We pull permits through the City of Lighthouse Point Building Department when the replacement exceeds 50 percent of the frame - required under the Florida Building Code for impact-rated assemblies. The permit, inspection, and final documentation are included in the quoted price. Our work carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise under the Haven Standard: if the door doesn’t operate, seal, or lock as specified, we return and correct it at no charge.

DIY or Call Us?

There are two things a Lighthouse Point homeowner can safely check before calling: whether the hinge screws are tight (a 3/16 inch hex key for most CWS hinges), and whether the sill cap adjustment screws have bottomed out. Both are visible and low-risk.

Everything else - frame removal, rough opening remediation, impact-rated glass handling, and permit pulling - is where DIY goes wrong. A CWS impact door weighs 180 to 240 pounds depending on size and glass package. The frame must be shimmed to within 1/8 inch plumb, or the multi-point lock won’t engage properly and the weatherstrip won’t seal. We’ve been called to three jobs in Lighthouse Point where a homeowner removed the frame, discovered block damage or termite voids, and had an open hole for two weeks waiting for a reschedule. Measure twice, write it down, then we talk price. If your CWS door is failing, call (754) 600-8907. We’ll survey the opening, write the scope, and give you a price before any work starts.

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