Storefronts & Repairs

An aluminum storefront is a structural framing system — horizontal top rail, bottom rail, and vertical mullions — all extruded from aluminum profiles, anchored into the building structure, then glazed with tempered or insulated glass. The framing handles the wind load on the glass, routes water away from the building, and accepts the doors and hardware. Done right, a properly sealed storefront system keeps out weather for decades. Done wrong, it leaks at the joints and the glass seal fails within a few years.

Standard storefront framing works for most retail, restaurant, and office applications — single-story, ground-floor openings up to roughly 10–12 feet in height. When a facade gets taller, spans multiple floors, or needs a higher structural rating, the project steps up to curtain wall. We handle both. See our curtain wall framing page for larger facade work.

Finish matters too. Clear anodized aluminum holds up well in Hudson Valley weather and is the most common choice. Dark bronze works well for higher-end retail and restaurants. Black powder coat has become the go-to for the modern storefront look — we used it on several regional mall storefronts including Francesca's at the Galleria. Whatever finish you're matching or specifying, we source it correctly so there's no mismatch between old and new framing.

The glass in a storefront isn't interchangeable — the right type depends on the location in the facade, the use, and what the building code requires. Here's how we think through it on every project:

Tempered glass is the baseline for storefront glazing. It's heat-treated to be four to five times stronger than standard glass, and it breaks into small, blunt granules rather than sharp shards — which is why code requires it within two feet of any door opening. Every storefront we build uses tempered glass in the door panels and adjacent sidelites. For full detail on tempered and laminated glass types, see our safety glass page.

Insulated glass units (IGUs) add a second pane and a sealed air gap for thermal performance. In a Hudson Valley winter, a single-pane tempered storefront hemorrhages heat. Insulated units cut that loss significantly, and many municipalities now require them for new commercial construction. We also upgrade existing single-pane storefronts to insulated glass during repairs — it's often not much more than the basic glass swap. See our insulated glass page for detail on how IGUs work and what failure looks like.

Laminated glass bonds two glass panes over a plastic interlayer that holds the glass together on impact. It's the choice for street-facing locations with security concerns, glass adjacent to high-value inventory, overhead glazing, and where sound control matters. We spec laminated glass when the application calls for it, and on some projects use laminated-tempered units — which combine both properties — in the most demanding locations.

Most storefront replacements follow the same sequence, and knowing it helps you plan your business around it.

Site survey and measurement. We come out, measure the opening, photograph the existing conditions, and note the structural attachment points. For repairs, we assess whether existing framing can be reused or needs to be fully replaced. No guessing — we measure before we quote.

Material ordering. We specify the aluminum system, glass type, and hardware, confirm lead times, and order. Standard aluminum storefront systems are typically available within one to two weeks. Custom dimensions, specialty coatings, or obscure profiles can take longer, and we'll tell you upfront.

Demolition and disposal. On install day, we remove the old glass and framing and dispose of it cleanly. If you're an occupied business, we schedule around your hours to minimize disruption — many storefront installs happen overnight or early morning.

Framing installation. Anchor channels go in first, fastened to the slab and header. Then the vertical and horizontal aluminum members are placed, shimmed level and plumb, and locked together at the joints with sealant.

Glazing and doors. Glass panels are set on rubber setting blocks, secured with aluminum glazing stops, and sealed on all four sides. Doors are hung, hardware installed and adjusted to close smoothly.

Walkthrough. We go through the finished installation with you — doors swinging correctly, glass clean, all sealant complete. A standard storefront is in and done in one to two days on-site.

When storefront glass breaks — from impact, attempted break-in, or an accident — you have an open, unsecured facade. The immediate priority is security. A board-up means plywood or polycarbonate sheeting goes over the opening, fastened to the framing, so your building is protected while the permanent glass is ordered and fabricated.

We respond to emergency board-up calls across Orange, Ulster, and Dutchess Counties. Once we've secured the opening, we assess the damage to the framing, document what needs replacing, and put a quote together for the permanent repair. Most standard storefront glass can be ordered and installed within one to two weeks from the board-up, depending on glass type.

If the break came from a break-in attempt, your insurer will want documentation before cleanup. We work alongside insurance claims regularly and can provide a detailed scope of damage and photographs to support your claim. We're not a claims middleman — but we can make the paperwork side straightforward.

Most of our storefront work falls into three scenarios: emergency repair for an existing business, a retail buildout or remodel where we're coordinating with a GC and other trades, and a standalone replacement managed directly by the business owner or property manager. We handle all three with the same approach.

On GC projects, we're used to working within a trade schedule — getting our scope done without holding up the certificate of occupancy. We've been the glazing sub on projects ranging from single-tenant suites to full facade overhauls, including the Sleep Number and Cumberland Farms ground-up builds. On direct jobs, Rick Powles is your single point of contact from measure to install. No project manager relaying information to a crew he hasn't met.

For entrance door systems alongside the storefront — hardware, closers, ADA compliance — see our aluminum entrances page. For curtain wall and multi-story facade work, see curtain wall framing. Part of our full commercial glass & glazing services — family-owned and Newburgh-based since 1989.