Frequently Asked Questions

Windloads, waterloads, and other structural loads should always be considered to determine if a storefront system is appropriate for your opening. In general width is not a major factor, but storefronts should never be installed in openings greater than 12′ high.

Yes, you can! Ardicon Group offers storefronts for both commercial and residential applications. You can use storefront products for exterior facing walls or for interior divisions, windows, or doors.

Clear anodized (silver) and Dark Bronze anodized are the two most common finishes. Other finishes are available at an additional cost.

CCPIA says "A curtain wall is an exterior glass wall used in large buildings where the structure may be steel and concrete. Curtain walls are defined as a non-load-bearing wall system in which the vertical framing members of the system run past intermediate floors. The system is located at the exterior of the building and is anchored to the building through the curtain wall vertical framing members.

The glass panels are hung on steel or concrete, like curtains are hung from a rod. These walls can be constructed by any frame but are typically aluminum with glass panels. These panels can be hung beyond the length of one floor. They are often up to 14 feet high and can be as high as 24 feet. A curtain wall system is hung from the structural elements using mounting brackets. These brackets can be secured to the concrete floors or the structural skeleton of the building, but in both methods they can span spaces greater than one floor.

There are two classifications of curtain walls, depending on the method of fabrication. The first type is a stick system. In this method, the glass panels are connected to each other and to the frame on-site. The second type is a modular system, which consists of large units that are factory-assembled and installed on the building in larger panels. Regardless of the assembly type, a curtain wall is hung on the exterior of the structure and is not part of any load-bearing system."

CCPIA says: "Window walls are an assembly of windows placed in a building between the structure. Window walls are manufactured and transported to the construction site and are often installed in place of siding or outer coverings. These walls are similar to curtain walls since they are also the exterior walls or serve as the siding of the building. There is one key difference between curtain walls and window walls. While curtain walls can extend beyond one building floor, window walls do not span more than one floor. Rather than hanging like a curtain, window walls are mounted between the concrete floor slabs with a break in the glass between each floor. Window walls are most often installed as a large assembly or panel rather than stick-constructed."

CCPIA describes it best: "A glass storefront is a non-load-bearing wall typically less than 10 feet high. While window walls are usually found in buildings taller than two or three stories, storefront windows are found on smaller buildings. These walls are often on the first floor. A storefront wall is defined as a system of doors and windows in which vertical framing members typically run between the top of the floor and structure above. The system is typically anchored to the building at the perimeter.

A storefront wall is placed between the structure instead of hanging from the structure like a curtain wall or window wall. It is made of glass windows and a framework, and it usually serves as a business’s entrance and windows.

Storefront walls are often placed directly on the slab and are exposed to the same exterior elements as conventional walls. The frames are typically aluminum, but older frames could be steel or wood. Both the steel and wood frames will be subject to deterioration if not properly maintained."