CGI Kitchen Remodeling: The Fort Myers Owner’s Guide
A full CGI kitchen remodeling project in Fort Myers runs between $14,000 and $45,000 installed, covering everything from cabinet replacement to countertop fabrication, backsplash, and island work. We stock and install CGI-compatible cabinet lines and hardware, and most material lead times land between four and eight weeks once the design is locked. Homeowners usually reach out because a cabinet face has delaminated in the humidity, a drawer slide has seized, or the old laminate countertop has started swelling at the seams near the sink.
We are an independent contractor, not affiliated with CGI. We use their cabinet boxes, door styles, and hardware across many of our Fort Myers kitchen remodels, and we know the lineup well enough to tell you what’s worth fixing versus replacing outright.
Which CGI Models This Applies To
CGI cabinet lines run a few different series, and the model matters when you are matching doors, drawer fronts, or hardware. Most homes in Fort Myers we work on have either the CGI Classic or CGI Expressions series, with the occasional Avondale or Bridgeport line in higher-end builds down in McGregor or Gulf Harbour. The quickest way to identify yours is to pull a drawer box and look for a white manufacturer label stapled to the side or back. That label lists the series, door profile code, and finish color.
If the label is gone, measure the door overlay. CGI Classic uses a half-inch overlay, while Expressions runs a full one-inch overlay with tighter gaps. Aftermarket doors can work if the overlay and hinge bore pattern line up exactly, but we have seen too many orders arrive a quarter-inch off because someone guessed instead of matching the spec. For hardware, stick with OEM slides and hinges. CGI’s soft-close undermounts use a specific clip pattern that generic Blum or Salice clips do not always match without modifying the drawer box, and a modified drawer never feels right.
Signs Your CGI Kitchen Remodeling Is Failing
- Swollen cabinet panels or peeling laminate near the sink and dishwasher. Fort Myers humidity and repeated steam exposure break down the substrate, especially on older particleboard-core doors. Once the edge banding lifts, moisture gets in and the panel starts to crumble.
- Drawers that stick, sag, or no longer soft-close. The undermount slide clips wear out or crack over time. When the clip fails, the slide loses tension and the drawer bangs shut or hangs up halfway.
- Countertop seams separating at the joint. Laminate tops expand and contract with Southwest Florida’s seasonal heat and humidity. A seam that was tight when installed ten years ago can open up a visible gap by August.
- Cracked or crumbling grout in the backsplash. We see this most often when the original installer used unsanded grout in joints wider than an eighth of an inch. The grout shrinks, then hairline cracks let water behind the tile.
- Soft spots in the floor near the island or peninsula. This points to a subfloor issue, not a CGI-specific failure, but it shows up during remodels. A leaking dishwasher line or ice maker supply can rot the plywood under the island cabinet, and you will not know until the cabinet starts to shift.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
A CGI kitchen remodel in Fort Myers runs $14,000 to $45,000, depending on kitchen size, cabinet configuration, countertop material, and whether we are doing a cabinet reface or a full tear-out and replacement. Here is how the numbers break down by scope:
- Small kitchen remodel (galley or condo kitchen): $9,000-$20,000, including new CGI doors and drawer fronts, hardware, and a laminate or quartz countertop.
- Mid-size kitchen (standard single-family home): $14,000-$35,000, covering full cabinet replacement with CGI boxes, soft-close hardware, a quartz or solid-surface countertop, and subway tile backsplash.
- Large kitchen (open-plan, island, custom pantry): $25,000-$45,000, adding a CGI island, Cambria or Silestone countertops, full-height backsplash, and under-cabinet lighting.
Every estimate includes parts, labor, and disposal of the old materials. You get an upfront line-item price before we order anything, and our 730-Day Done Right Promise covers the workmanship. If something is not right, we make it right, no fine print and no runaround.
DIY or Call Us?
You can handle a few things yourself without getting in over your head. Swapping a worn-out soft-close hinge is straightforward if you have the right CGI-compatible part and a Phillips screwdriver. Tightening loose drawer clip screws and re-caulking a backsplash joint are also safe homeowner-level fixes.
The risk comes when the substrate is already compromised. Once a cabinet panel has swelled from moisture absorption, replacing the door does not fix the box behind it. We have walked into kitchens in Fort Myers where the homeowner spent a weekend swapping doors, only to have the new ones sit crooked because the face frame had shifted. Countertop removal and subfloor repair are jobs where one wrong cut turns a $2,000 fix into a $12,000 do-over. If water has gotten under the cabinets or the layout is changing, let a crew that does this every day handle it. Call (844) 638-7249 for a free estimate and we will tell you honestly whether the job is a small fix or a full replacement.
FAQs
How long do CGI cabinets last in a Fort Myers kitchen?
CGI all-plywood boxes can last 20 to 25 years with decent ventilation and no water leaks. Particleboard-core doors in coastal humidity typically show edge wear around the 10- to 15-year mark, especially near the dishwasher. Doors fail before boxes almost every time.
Can you repair a delaminated cabinet door instead of replacing it?
If the damage is confined to the edge banding and the core is still dry, we can re-laminate and re-band it. Once the MDF or particleboard core has swollen, the door cannot be saved. Replacement is the only path that holds up. Call (844) 638-7249 for an exact quote and we will check it in person.
How long does a full CGI kitchen remodel take from start to finish?
Design and material ordering take four to eight weeks. Once cabinets are on site, demolition and installation run two to four weeks depending on scope, countertop templating adds a week, and backsplash and finishing take another three to five days. A typical mid-size Fort Myers kitchen wraps up in six to seven weeks total.
Do you stock CGI cabinet parts locally?
We keep the most common soft-close hinges, drawer slides, and clip sets on our trucks because they are the parts that fail most often. Doors, drawer fronts, and cabinet boxes are built to order and ship from CGI’s manufacturing facility, which is why we plan lead times carefully so your kitchen is not torn apart waiting on a backordered panel.
Will the price change once work starts?
No. Our pricing is upfront and fixed. The number you see on the estimate is the number you pay. If we uncover rotted subfloor or plumbing that needs to be brought to code, we discuss it with you before any additional work starts. You approve the change before we proceed, no surprises.
Written by Derek Hollenbeck, Owner & General Contractor, Groundwork Construction Co. of Fort Myers, serving Fort Myers and nearby areas.