Custom Window Systems is Florida's other home-grown impact-window manufacturer — founded in 1986, headquartered in Ocala, and acquired by Pella Corporation in 2020. CWS combines Pella's national distribution backbone with a Florida-built supply chain that delivers in-state lead times and fast replacement-parts service. SafeGuard installs the full CWS line under FL DBPR CGC1532033 — Florida Product Approval verified, full permit pathway handled in-house.
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Authorized CWS installer
Post-2020 acquisition, CWS warranty service runs through Pella's national infrastructure — meaningfully better than the pre-acquisition dealer-only model. Replacement parts ship faster, the warranty registry is national, and the consumer-protection backbone is publicly traded.
CWS has manufactured in Ocala for 40 years — in-state lead times, Florida-specific HVHZ product engineering, and the dealer network most South Florida builders have used for decades. The Pella acquisition didn't change the manufacturing footprint.
1500 Series sits in the sweet spot for owner-occupied production homes — value-tier price, Pella warranty backbone, in-state supply chain. Strong fit for whole-home replacements where the homeowner is choosing between Eco (value) and PGT (premium).
At a Glance
TL;DR
Custom Window Systems (CWS) is a Florida-built impact-window brand founded in 1986 in Ocala — about 90 minutes north of Tampa. CWS was acquired by Pella Corporation in 2020, which combined Pella's national distribution backbone with the in-state Ocala plant. Vinyl + aluminum impact configurations across the 1500 Series, 2200 Series, and 540 Aluminum lines, all carrying Florida Product Approval and Miami-Dade NOA where required.
Custom Window Systems is one of the two oldest South Florida impact-window manufacturers — founded in 1986 in Ocala, Florida (the other is PGT, founded 1980). For three decades CWS operated as an independent Florida-based manufacturer, building the kind of regional dealer network and Florida-specific product engineering that made it a default value-tier spec for production homebuilders and replacement contractors across the state.
Pella acquired CWS in 2020 as part of Pella's strategy to deepen its Florida and Sunbelt presence. The acquisition kept the Ocala plant intact, retained the existing CWS product lines (1500 Series + 2200 Series vinyl, 540 Aluminum), and added Pella's national distribution and replacement-parts infrastructure on top. From the homeowner's perspective the brand is still "CWS" — the dealer network, the Florida-specific NOA paperwork, and the Ocala-based service network all continue. From the supply-chain side, post-acquisition lead times have stabilized and replacement-parts availability has improved.
SafeGuard installs the full CWS line under FL DBPR CGC1532033 — strong fit for production homes, whole-home value-tier installs, and any project where the Pella-backed warranty + Florida-built supply chain is the right combination. The CWS price point typically sits between Eco Window Systems (value-tier) and PGT WinGuard (premium-tier) in our portfolio.
Answer
Three core impact lines: 1500 Series (vinyl impact, the most-installed CWS product), 2200 Series (premium-tier vinyl impact with heavier extrusion), and 540 Aluminum (the aluminum-frame impact line for coastal-exposure installs). Plus impact doors — entry, French, and sliding glass.
1500 Series is the value-tier vinyl impact product — welded vinyl frame, Miami-Dade NOA, Florida Product Approval, the most-installed CWS configuration in our South Florida portfolio. Best fit for owner-occupied production homes where the wind-load calc allows vinyl.
2200 Series is the premium-tier vinyl impact line — heavier extrusion, larger opening capability, and the option for ENERGY STAR-rated glazing packages. Best fit for whole-home replacements where the homeowner wants vinyl frame economics with architectural-grade configurations (oversized picture windows, extended sliders).
540 Aluminum is CWS's aluminum-frame impact line — extruded aluminum with thermal break, slim sightlines, the strongest wind-load ratings in the CWS catalog. Best fit for coastal-exposure installs where vinyl can't pass the wind-load calc and for architectural specs that require an aluminum-frame aesthetic.
CWS Impact Doors complement the window catalog — entry doors, French doors, and sliding glass doors made in the same Ocala plant on the same lead time as the windows. Useful when a project needs matching door + window configurations for HOA aesthetic consistency.
| CWS (Custom Window Systems) | PGT WinGuard | |
|---|---|---|
| Parent company | Pella Corporation (since 2020) | MITER Brands (since 2022) |
| Headquarters | Ocala, Florida | Venice, Florida |
| Founded | 1986 | 1980 (WinGuard line 1996) |
| Active lines | 1500 / 2200 / 540 Aluminum | WinGuard Vinyl / Aluminum / EnergyVue |
| Lead time | 4-6 weeks (in-state) | 4-8 weeks (in-state) |
| Cost band | Mid-tier | Premium-tier |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime (varies) | Lifetime limited (transferable) |
| Best fit | Production homes · value whole-home | Owner-occupied production · custom |
From our project library
Real SafeGuard installs from the JobNimbus library — 1500 Series + 2200 Series + 540 Aluminum across the four counties we serve.
Project scope
Value-tier vinyl impact line — welded frame, Miami-Dade NOA, Pella warranty backbone. Most-installed CWS product for owner-occupied production homes.
Learn moreHeavier vinyl extrusion, larger opening capability, ENERGY STAR-rated glazing options. Best fit for whole-home installs with oversized picture windows or sliders.
Learn moreAluminum-frame impact line for coastal-exposure installs where vinyl can't pass the wind-load calc. Slim sightlines + thermal break + 175 mph design wind.
Learn moreEntry, French, and sliding glass doors made in the same Ocala plant. Useful when matching door + window configurations across an HOA-aesthetic-consistent project.
Learn moreMITER-owned premium-tier — Florida-built since 1980, lifetime warranty, the most-installed line in our portfolio for owner-occupied production homes.
Learn moreIndependent (not Pella, not MITER) — Medley FL plant, value-tier pricing, shorter lead times pre-hurricane season.
Learn moreFrequently asked
Yes. Pella Corporation acquired Custom Window Systems in 2020. Pella retained the CWS brand name, kept the Ocala, Florida manufacturing plant operational, and continued the existing CWS product catalog (1500 Series + 2200 Series vinyl, 540 Aluminum, and the impact-door line). Post-acquisition, CWS gained access to Pella's national replacement-parts distribution and warranty infrastructure while preserving the in-state Florida supply chain and HVHZ-specific product engineering. The brand operates as 'CWS, a Pella company' on the manufacturer side.
Yes — CWS has been a default value-tier spec for production builders and replacement contractors across Florida since 1986, the brand carries Miami-Dade NOA across the impact line, and the Pella acquisition added national-scale warranty infrastructure on top of the in-state Ocala manufacturing footprint. The 1500 Series is our most-installed CWS product — strong fit for owner-occupied production homes where the homeowner wants in-state lead times + the Pella warranty backbone.
CWS offers a limited lifetime warranty on the vinyl frame and a 20-year warranty on the glass seal for the 1500 Series and 2200 Series. The 540 Aluminum line carries a 10-year glass seal warranty + lifetime aluminum frame warranty. Specific terms vary by configuration (operating sash vs picture, single-hung vs double-hung) and are transferable to a subsequent owner with a transfer fee. Post-Pella acquisition, warranty service is handled through Pella's national service network — meaningfully better than the pre-2020 dealer-only model. SafeGuard's installation warranty covers the perimeter seal + flashing detail in-house.
Custom Window Systems installation in South Florida runs roughly $500–$1,300 per opening installed depending on series, size, glass tier, and any HOA-required color or grid pattern. The 1500 Series vinyl is the value-tier product; 2200 Series vinyl runs ~10-20% higher for the heavier extrusion and oversized opening capability; 540 Aluminum runs ~25-40% higher than 1500 Series. A whole-home CWS install on a 2,000 sq ft single-family home typically lands between $20,000 and $38,000 with permit.
Ocala, Florida — about 90 minutes north of Tampa and 4 hours from Miami. The Ocala plant has been the CWS manufacturing footprint since 1986 and stayed intact post-Pella acquisition. The in-state location is what enables the 4-6 week lead times typical for CWS configurations vs the longer lead times national brands sometimes have when they ship from out-of-state plants.
1500 Series is the value-tier vinyl impact line — welded frame, Miami-Dade NOA, the most-installed CWS configuration. 2200 Series is the premium-tier vinyl line — heavier extrusion (handles larger openings), upgraded weatherstripping, and the option for ENERGY STAR-rated glazing packages. Both pass TAS 201/202/203 HVHZ certifications. We typically spec 1500 for production homes with standard opening sizes and 2200 for whole-home replacements with oversized picture windows, extended sliders, or ENERGY STAR requirements.
Lowe's stocks select Pella products including a limited CWS configuration set, but most CWS impact-window installs go through authorized Florida dealers (like SafeGuard) rather than Lowe's. The reason: HVHZ permit-pulling requires a licensed Florida contractor + sealed engineered plans + Miami-Dade NOA verification per opening, which is dealer/installer territory rather than retail. Custom-size CWS configurations are available through the dealer network on standard 4-6 week lead times.
Free in-home estimate that includes the CWS product comparison + permit pathway in writing — sealed plans, NOA verification per opening, Notice of Commencement, and inspections.
Content Disclosure
This article is provided for general information only and reflects current Florida Building Code requirements, common South Florida construction practices, and SafeGuard's field experience. Actual project costs, permit requirements, material availability, and timelines vary based on your home, municipality, and project scope. Florida law requires that any residential construction work over $1,000 be performed by a licensed contractor — always consult a Florida-licensed contractor before starting an impact-window, impact-door, or roofing project and verify credentials at myfloridalicense.com. This guidance is not a substitute for a project-specific estimate or on-site evaluation by a licensed professional.
