Aluminium shopfront windows are the display panes that sell a shop before anyone walks in: large fixed glass panels in slim aluminium framing that show off the stock and bring daylight deep into the store. Coetz™ designs and makes aluminium shopfront windows as part of a complete frontage, and MC Automations, our parent company, installs them. This guide covers how display windows are laid out, the glass options, sizes, and how to plan them.
In this guide
What shopfront windows do
Aluminium shopfront windows do four jobs at once:
- Display. Large clear panes show the stock and the brand from the street.
- Daylight. Glass along the frontage lights the front of the shop.
- Visibility. Customers can see the shop is open and inviting.
How the windows are laid out
A shopfront is a grid. Vertical mullions and horizontal transoms divide the frontage into panes, and the entrance sits in one bay. Aluminium shopfront windows are usually fixed panes, because a shop rarely needs opening sashes at street level; ventilation comes through the doors or the building’s own system.
Pane size
Glazed panels go up to 3 000 mm. Large panes give the cleanest display and the fewest frame lines. Bigger frontages are split by mullions, which also stiffen the frame against wind. See shopfront glazing requirements.
Transoms and toplights
A transom above the door line adds height and light, and is a good place for a toplight panel above the entrance.
Glass options for aluminium shopfront windows
| Glass | Best for |
|---|---|
| Clear safety glass | The best view of the display |
| Tinted | A sunny street, to cut glare and sun |
| Obscured | Back-of-house areas and consulting rooms |
| Performance | Heat control on a hot frontage |
| Double glazing | Heat and noise on a busy road |
Tinted, obscured, performance and double glazing are available on shopfronts and are quoted separately. Safety glazing must meet SANS 10400-N, published by the South African Bureau of Standards. See aluminium shopfront glass for more.
Colours
The frames of aluminium shopfront windows can be powder-coated in any colour, so the frame can match a brand palette. Black and charcoal frames recede and let the display take over; white and silver feel bright and clean. See black aluminium shopfronts.
Planning shopfront windows
- Decide what the windows must show: products, a brand wall, or the shop floor.
- Set the pane layout with the fewest frame lines the size limit allows.
- Choose the glass for each pane: clear for display, tinted or performance for sun.
- Plan the signage band above the glass, so signs do not cover the display.
- Plan after-hours security with a specialist; Coetz™ does not supply shutters.
Windows and the entrance together
Aluminium shopfront windows and the door are built in the same framing, so sightlines and colour match. For the entrance options, see aluminium shopfront doors; for automatic entrances, see aluminium shopfronts with automatic doors.
Keeping display windows looking good
Clean the glass with a soft squeegee and mild glass cleaner, and wash the frames with mild soap and water. Keep stickers and posters off the display panes where you can; a signage band above the glass keeps the view clear. Check the seals at the cill once a year so rain drains away from the shop floor, and replace any cracked pane promptly with the correct safety glass.
Windows for different shops
- Fashion and lifestyle: full-height clear panes with as few frame lines as possible.
- Pharmacies and clinics: clear display panes at the front, obscured glass where consultations happen.
- Restaurants and cafés: large panes that show the room, tinted on a sunny street.
- Offices and receptions: clean, evenly spaced panes that match the building.
Cost and installation
Every shopfront is quoted per project after a site measure, because pane sizes, glass and access all change the price. See aluminium shopfront cost. Coetz™ makes the frontage and MC Automations installs it; see aluminium shopfront installation.
Aluminium shopfront windows: frequently asked questions
Do shopfront windows open?
Usually not. Display panes are normally fixed; ventilation comes through the doors or the building.
How big can a shopfront pane be?
Glazed panels go up to 3 000 mm.
Can I get tinted shopfront windows?
Yes. Tinted, obscured, performance and double glazing are available on shopfronts, quoted separately.
Can the frames match my brand colour?
Yes. Shopfronts can be powder-coated in any colour.
Who installs shopfront windows?
MC Automations, Coetz™’s parent company, installs the frontage.
Coetz™, Unit 2, 84 Ridge Road, Laser Park, Johannesburg. Call 010 412 0062, WhatsApp 076 613 4418 or use our contact page.
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