Storefront impact glass
A storefront is a commercial glazing system: aluminium framing, large laminated lites and a storefront door, approved as a system. The glazier measures, quotes an approved system, pulls the commercial permit and installs it.
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What people call about
- A shop, office or restaurant front with old plate glass that the landlord or insurer wants upgraded.
- A cracked or shattered storefront panel to be replaced like for like.
- A new storefront door with a closer and commercial lock.
- A business in a strip mall where the landlord has set a standard for the fronts.
- A space being fitted out for a new tenant where the front needs to be brought up to the current approval.
What to have ready
- The width and height of the front and how many panels and doors it has; a photo from outside helps.
- Your lease's rules on exterior changes and whether the landlord has a specification.
- The hours the work can be done so the business stays open where possible.
- Any signage attached to the glass or framing that needs to come off first.
What happens on the visit
- The front measured, including the framing system, the sizes of each lite and the door, and the condition of the sill and head.
- A quote for an impact-rated storefront system with the approval your county requires, the glass thickness and the door hardware.
- The commercial permit filed by the glazier with the city or county, and the landlord's approval where the lease requires it.
- The old glass and framing removed, the new system set, anchored and glazed, the door hung with its closer and lock, and everything sealed.
- The inspection scheduled by the glazier and the approval paperwork provided for the landlord and your insurer.
In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach
Strip-mall and street-front businesses across the three counties carry large areas of glass, and a storefront system has to be approved as a whole: a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance in Miami-Dade and Broward, a Florida Product Approval in Palm Beach County. Commercial permits run through the city or county building department and sometimes a landlord's review as well; the glazier handles both.
Questions people ask
- Is storefront glass different from house windows?
- Yes. It is a framing system with large glass lites and commercial doors, approved as a system. A commercial glazier does this work rather than a residential window installer.
- Can one broken panel be replaced?
- Yes, with matching laminated glass cut to size for the existing framing. A full system replacement is quoted when the framing is worn or not impact-rated.
- Do I need the landlord's permission?
- Most leases require it for changes to the exterior. The glazier's quote and approval documents are what the landlord usually asks to see.
- Does a storefront need a permit?
- Yes, a commercial permit from the city or county. The glazier files it and the building department inspects.
- Can the business stay open during the work?
- Often, with the work staged panel by panel. Say what hours suit you at the quote.
- What about the door closer and lock?
- Storefront doors come with a commercial closer, pivots or hinges and a lock as part of the system. Keyed-alike and panic hardware can be specified at the quote.
Get an installer out
Free quote. The price is agreed before anything is ordered.
Other window and door jobs
- Impact windows for the whole house
- Replace old windows before storm season
- Impact sliding glass doors
- Impact entry and French doors
- Cracked or shattered glass
- Fog between the panes
- Window leaks when it rains
- Window won't lock, latch or stay open
- Condo impact windows
One Call Impact Windows arranges the visit; the installer does the work, pulls the permit and gives you the price.