Aluminium Shopfronts

A shopfront does three jobs at once. It has to sell the shop to people walking past, keep the weather out, and lock up safely at night. Aluminium handles all three better than timber or PVC-U for most commercial units, which is why the bulk of the fronts we fit are aluminium.

We have been fitting commercial frontages since 2004, working out of Exhall on the edge of Coventry. Most of our installs are in the Midlands, but we take shopfront work anywhere in England.

What we actually fit

A typical job is a glazed screen across the full width of the unit, a single or double entrance door, a stallriser (the solid panel under the glass) and a fascia box above for the sign. We can add a shutter box, a fanlight, a side door to flats above, or a recessed lobby. Frames come in slim "shopfront" sections for a light look or deeper sections where the glass is tall or the unit is exposed to wind.

Glass

Glass in doors and low panels near the floor must be safety glass by law. We fit toughened glass as the minimum and recommend laminated glass on the street side for shops that hold stock worth stealing: laminated glass cracks but stays in one piece, so a thief cannot simply step through. Double-glazed units cut heat loss and noise on busy roads.

Heat loss and Building Regulations

A front that heats the shop all winter costs real money. Frames with a thermal break (a plastic strip that stops cold travelling through the metal) keep the inside face warmer and stop condensation running down the frame. Where Building Regulations apply to the work, we specify frames and glass that meet the current energy rules and tell you before you order.

Colour and finish

Frames are powder coated, which is a baked-on paint finish that does not peel like wet paint. You can choose any RAL colour, two colours (one inside, one outside), or a textured or metallic finish. Black, anthracite grey and bronze are the most popular for shops right now.

Planning

Changing the look of a shopfront usually needs planning permission, and the sign normally needs separate advertisement consent. Listed buildings and conservation areas are stricter. We will tell you at survey stage what is likely to apply and supply drawings your council can use.

How the day goes

We strip out the old front and fit the new one in the same visit where we can, so the shop is never left open overnight. Most single units take one to two days on site. The old frame and glass go away with us.