Your storefront says a lot about your business. Its design often tells customers what they can expect when they walk inside.
Sometimes as a business owner, you have the exciting opportunity to install new storefront windows for the first time or replace old storefront windows during a renovation. While exciting, this responsibility is a big one with a lot of things to consider. Here’s what you should be thinking about before you hire a glass contractor to do the job.
Glass Shape and Size
Round vs. Rectangle
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box with your storefront window design. Circular windows or arched windows look great on buildings with peaked roofs because they add some geometrical variety. If you don’t want to commit to a circular window, you can always place half-circle windows above your rectangular windows for the same effect.
Storefront vs. Glass Curtain Walls
Do you want a lot of light in your store or lobby? Then design your storefront to be floor-to-ceiling glass. Do you plan to create extravagant window displays at your boutique or offer plenty of window seating in your restaurant? Then make sure you have a completely glass storefront to make that happen.
If you have a large building such as a hotel, and you want the entire front of the building to be glass, then you’re asking for more than a glass storefront. You’ll need to request glass curtain walls.
When you’re considering the size of your storefront windows and whether or not to boost extravagance with a glass curtain wall, take a moment to consider your guests. Is your restaurant in a location that’s great for people-watching, such as downtown? Will passersby look inside and want to dine with you? Or, does your hotel blueprint call for windows from top to bottom in order to stand out and reflect the city around it? If you’re saying yes to any of these questions, then more glass is what you need. Talk to your glass contractor about whether that’s going to be a storefront or glass curtain walls.
Glass Type
Frosted Glass
Do you want to give your patrons privacy? Install a frosted glass storefront. The alternative to frosted glass is curtains (or tinted glass, which we’ll talk about next). The only problem with curtains is that they can be a hassle to hang, clean, and maintain. Plus, they’ll eventually fade or go out of style. Frosted glass is a minimalistic way to provide privacy, and it looks chic, too. Just make sure it goes with your overall vibe before you settle on it.
Reflective/Tinted or Thermal Glass
Sometimes frosted glass conflicts with the style or decor of your building, and curtains might not be an option. In that case, you can always opt for reflective glass, also known as tinted glass. Reflective (or tinted) glass not only provides privacy, but it also reduces the amount of direct sunlight that travels through it.
If there’s still concern that the sun will be shining too intensely through your storefront, consider insulated or thermal glass, which will help to properly insulate your building. An added plus of thermal glass is that it’s also somewhat noise-canceling and can serve as a sound barrier against traffic on the street or people in a shopping center.
Etched or Printed Glass
You can give your storefront an even more custom look by etching or printing a design into the glass. Perhaps it’s your logo, business slogan, or a border of some sort. There are a lot of options out there. Just remember that if you do opt for etched or printed glass on your storefront, and you end up rebranding or selling the building, the glass will need to be replaced.
Framing
While some ultra-modern storefronts (think, Apple) are designed to be frameless, most require framing. Wood and aluminum are the most common materials used for framing. Because aluminum is the most durable and adaptable of these two materials, that’s what the glass contractors at Carolina Glass & Storefront Systems use for our storefronts.
Aluminum is also adaptable because it comes in a variety of colors. Carolina Glass & Storefront Systems is all about custom glass, and we love giving our customers the opportunity to customize their storefront framing as well. Whether you want something sleek like black or steel, or something bold like firetruck red, we’ll provide and install the framing you want for your storefront system.
Reach out!
Your storefront makes a strong impression on customers and even passersby. We want nothing more than to ensure that impression is great. Contact Carolina Glass & Storefront Systems to schedule a consultation. You can also browse our website to see our work ahead of time. Give us a call at (864) 655-7774 if you have questions about our process, materials, or anything else that’s on your mind.