Updated August 2026. If you’re comparing PGT and CGI impact windows, the comparison has changed. Under parent company MITER Brands, former CGI products have been consolidated into PGT’s current portfolio, while some legacy CGI lines are no longer offered as new products. For a new project, the more useful question is which current impact-rated product is the right fit for your home.

The short version

  • What happened to CGI? Former CGI residential products now sit in PGT’s current portfolio under MITER Brands. CGI states the portfolio relationship on its site.
  • Can you still buy CGI? Existing CGI windows stay in the house. New work is a current PGT impact-rated window, not a discontinued CGI catalog.
  • Is one “better”? It depends on the home, the opening, the look you want, and the performance your location requires. Statewide can help you choose the appropriate product.

What this means for a new window

PGT’s main impact-rated collection is WinGuard. CGI’s well-known impact-rated line was Sentinel. Sentinel is no longer sold as a new product. PGT Sparta is the current aluminum impact-rated line that covers much of what people used to mean by CGI on a new job.

If CGI or Sentinel is already installed, those windows are still the product that went in. CGI continues to provide warranty and product documentation for previously installed CGI products. If you already have CGI windows or doors, keep your original warranty and order paperwork. A new replacement window should be specified as a current PGT impact-rated product, not as leftover Sentinel parts.

WinGuard, Sparta, and Sentinel


PGT WinGuard
PGT Sparta
CGI Sentinel
Now
Current PGT impact-rated collection
Current PGT aluminum impact-rated line
Legacy CGI impact-rated line; no longer sold as new
Frame
Vinyl and aluminum
Aluminum
Existing units stay as installed
A new job
A fit if you want PGT’s main impact-rated line, including mixed vinyl and aluminum
A fit if you want aluminum impact-rated windows in that family
Do not plan new work around new Sentinel

Differences that matter on a Florida home

Impact protection. Impact-resistant glass can crack when struck. The laminated interlayer is designed to hold broken glass together and resist penetration, helping protect the building envelope. It is not hurricane-proof. A correct install is part of that performance.

Frame and large openings. Vinyl frames are often chosen for thermal performance and lower heat transfer, while aluminum is commonly used where strength, narrower profiles, or larger sliding-door and wide-opening configurations are priorities. Actual energy performance depends on the specific window and glazing. WinGuard covers vinyl and aluminum. If the CGI look you remember is a large impact door or slider, Sparta is usually the current conversation, not new Sentinel.

Florida approvals. Miami-Dade and Broward are within Florida’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). Products used there must be approved for HVHZ use, which may be demonstrated through a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) or an applicable Florida Product Approval approved for the HVHZ. The approval must match the specific product and approved configuration being installed.

Which option may make sense

WinGuard if you want PGT’s main impact-rated line, vinyl or aluminum, or a match to WinGuard already on the house.

Sparta if you want current aluminum impact-rated windows in the family people used to shop as CGI.

Existing CGI or Sentinel if it is already in the wall. Leave it. For a new opening, specify a current PGT impact-rated window.

Statewide does not name a single winner. The right product depends on the home, the opening, the material and style you want, the performance the location requires, and the project’s priorities. See the lines we work with on our manufacturers page.

FAQ

Are PGT and CGI still two different window companies?

The comparison has changed. Under MITER Brands, former CGI products have been consolidated into PGT’s current portfolio, and some legacy CGI lines are no longer offered as new products. For a new window, you are looking at current PGT impact-rated products. Previously installed CGI windows remain CGI.

Is CGI stronger than PGT?

Brand talk is not a rating. Performance is the tested, impact-rated window plus the install. Impact-resistant glass can crack. The laminated interlayer is designed to hold broken glass together and resist penetration.

Can I still buy Sentinel?

Not as a new product. CGI says that line is no longer available. If Sentinel is already in the house, keep the original paperwork. For new work, ask for a current PGT impact-rated window that meets the opening.

What if the other name is ES?

That is a different comparison: ES vs PGT. This page is only PGT vs CGI.

Let Statewide help you choose

Statewide Windows & Doors can look at the house and help determine the appropriate current PGT impact-rated product. Call (561) 816-4010 or request a free estimate.