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CWS Door Installation: The Hialeah Gardens Owner’s Guide
CWS door installation in Hialeah Gardens typically runs $1,400-$3,200 for a standard single entry unit, depending on whether the existing frame is preserved or replaced, and whether the opening requires impact-rated hardware for Miami-Dade HVHZ compliance. We stock CWS-compatible frames, hinges, and multi-point locking assemblies on our trucks, and most replacements are surveyed and installed within one to two business days. Most Hialeah Gardens homeowners discover a failing CWS door when the multi-point lock no longer draws the slab tight against the weatherstrip, or when the sill cap has compressed enough that rainwater tracks across the interior tile during our summer downpours.
Which CWS Models This Applies To
CWS manufactures several door series that circulate in South Florida, and the part you need depends on which line was originally installed. The CWS 7800 Series impact entry door uses a 4-9/16 inch jamb depth with a composite frame and a stainless-steel multi-point lock mechanism; the 6800 Series non-impact door shares the same slab dimensions but uses a lighter aluminum frame and a single-point mortise lock. To identify your unit, check the hinge-side jamb for a laser-etched label with the series number and manufacturing date, or measure the jamb depth from interior drywall to exterior stucco.
We are an independent service provider with no affiliation to CWS. For most Hialeah Gardens homes built between 2015 and 2022, we see the 7800 Series with the AAMA 2605 finish in bronze or white. OEM CWS hardware is available through regional distribution, though we also source equivalent multi-point locks from Truth Hardware and Hoppe that meet the same cycle-testing standards at a lower parts cost. The critical compatibility gotcha: CWS changed its mortise lock faceplate width from 1 inch to 1-1/8 inch in 2019, and the older plates will not seat in newer frames without routing the edge of the slab. We verify this measurement during our survey so the lock set ordered matches the prep.
Signs Your CWS Door Installation Is Failing

- The slab rattles in the frame when closed. This usually means the multi-point lock has lost its throw distance, or the keepers in the frame have worn their recesses oversize. In Hialeah Gardens, where salt air accelerates galvanic corrosion at the keeper screws, we see this on homes west of Okeechobee Road more often than inland properties.
- Visible daylight between the weatherstrip and the slab. Compression-set weatherstrip is the typical cause, but on CWS doors it can also indicate frame sag from inadequate shimming at the hinge side. The weatherstrip should rebound to roughly 3/8 inch thickness when you pinch it; if it stays flat, it has lost its memory.
- Water intrusion at the sill during heavy rain. CWS sill caps are aluminum with a replaceable composite cap, but the cap’s drainage channels clog with pollen and roof grit. Once water ponds above the cap, it finds any gap in the sealant bed beneath the frame.
- The deadbolt drags or will not extend fully. This is often misdiagnosed as a lock failure when it is actually frame shift from foundation settlement, common in the reclaimed muck soils around Hialeah Gardens. The bolt is trying to enter a keeper that has moved 1/8 inch or more.
- Finish chalking or pitting on the exterior frame. AAMA 2605 finishes should last 10 years in Florida exposure, but CWS units installed with the frame too close to concrete or stucco experience alkaline attack that breaks down the topcoat prematurely, especially on south- and west-facing elevations.
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AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
| Scope | Typical Range in Hialeah Gardens |
|---|---|
| Slab replacement, reuse existing frame | $1,400 - $2,100 |
| Full frame-and-slab replacement, standard size | $2,200 - $3,200 |
| Multi-point lock hardware replacement only | $340 - $580 |
| Sill cap replacement with sealant bed | $280 - $440 |
| Frame realignment and keeper relocation | $180 - $320 |
What drives the range: whether the rough opening is square within 1/4 inch (if not, we shim and reflash), whether the existing frame is preserved or replaced, and whether impact-rated hardware is required for Miami-Dade compliance. Every quote is written before work starts under Haven Clause 1, and the measured survey you keep becomes the scope document we install from. No change orders, no surprises. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers the installation and hardware; manufacturer finish warranties run 10 years on AAMA 2605 products.
DIY or Call Us?

There is one check any owner can safely make: open the door 90 degrees, grip the handle, and lift. If the slab moves vertically more than 1/16 inch, the hinge screws have backed out or the hinge barrel has worn. Tightening the screws with a proper driver is reasonable maintenance. Everything else - multi-point lock adjustment, frame shimming, sill cap replacement - involves removing a 90-pound slab or working with fasteners that carry the load of a wind-rated assembly. We have re-ordered units because a homeowner routed the wrong faceplate recess or stripped the mortise lock mounting holes, turning a $400 hardware swap into a $2,000 slab replacement. Measure once, document it, then measure again. If you are not certain of the series, the prep, or the HVHZ hardware requirement, call (786) 321-3812 and we will survey it at no charge.
FAQs
In Hialeah Gardens, a properly installed CWS impact door with AAMA 2605 finish lasts 15-20 years for the slab and hardware, though the sill cap and weatherstrip need replacement at 8-12 years due to UV and salt-air exposure. Homes near the Palmetto Expressway corridor with less direct coastal exposure may see the upper end of that range; properties with south-facing elevations and no overhang typically see finish degradation sooner. Call (786) 321-3812 for an exact quote on your unit - estimates are free.
Sometimes: if the multi-point lock has a failed actuator gearbox, we can source the gearbox separately for roughly $80-$140 in parts, but only if the series and manufacturing date match available service parts. CWS does not publish a universal parts matrix, and we have encountered three gearbox variants across the 7800 Series alone that are not cross-compatible. If the faceplate or locking points are worn, full lock replacement is the only reliable fix. Call (786) 321-3812 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Most standard single-entry replacements in Hialeah Gardens are completed in one working day, assuming the rough opening is sound and the trim package is straightforward. If the existing frame is embedded in stucco that must be cut back and resealed, or if the opening requires new pressure-treated buck framing, the job extends to a second day for proper cure time on sealants and flashings. We schedule the survey and installation as separate appointments so the scope is fixed before the truck arrives.
We stock CWS-compatible multi-point locks, hinges, sill caps, and weatherstrip kits on our trucks, and we maintain slab inventory in common sizes for the 6800 and 7800 Series. Custom sizes or specialty finishes require 10-14 business days from regional distribution. We also stock equivalent hardware from PGT, CGI, and ES Windows lines if cross-compatibility meets your opening requirements. Call (786) 321-3812 to confirm stock for your specific model.
Ready to fix your CWS door? Call (786) 321-3812 to schedule your free estimate. We will measure the opening, identify your series, and hand you a written price before any work starts - the same way we have handled every one of the 18,000+ openings under the Haven Standard since 2012.
Written by Sonia Raman, Owner, Sightline Windows & Doors Hialeah Gardens at Sightline Windows & Doors Hialeah Gardens, serving Hialeah Gardens and nearby areas.










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