Glass shopfronts in London, made to measure
A glass shopfront gives passers-by a clear view of your window display and your premises. London City Group has 30 years of industry experience. We supply and install made-to-measure glass shopfronts in London and across the UK. Choose toughened or laminated glass, framed in aluminium or held with minimal visible framing, and request a free quotation.
Choosing the glass for your shopfront
Glass is chosen for each part of the frontage: the fixed panels, the entrance doors and any side lights. The main choice is between toughened and laminated glass.
| Glass type | How it behaves | Where it is often used |
|---|---|---|
| Toughened glass | Heat-treated for strength, and typically several times stronger than ordinary glass of the same thickness. If it breaks, it fragments into small pieces. It cannot be cut or drilled after toughening. | Large fixed panels, frameless fronts, doors and side lights |
| Laminated glass | Two or more layers bonded with an interlayer, so a broken pane tends to stay in place. | Areas where the pane should hold together if damaged. Our curved and multi-bay shopfronts are examples of frontages that use laminated glass. |
Glass thickness. Our glass shopfronts use glass from 12.8 mm thick. The exact build for each area is set out in your quotation.
Toughened glass and tempered glass are the same thing. Tempered is the term more common outside the UK. Ask for the glass type, thickness and any markings to be stated in your quotation. See our toughened glass shopfronts and the frameless toughened glass shopfront.
Frameless or aluminium-framed glass shopfronts
A frameless glass shopfront keeps visible framing to a minimum, so the view into the shop is as clear as possible. An aluminium-framed shopfront uses mullions and transoms to divide the glass and carry the doors. The frame finish and colour are agreed with you. Which suits you depends on the opening, the amount of glass, the door arrangement and how the frontage ties into the building. See the aluminium and glass shopfront system and the corner shopfront with a return elevation.
Read our aluminium shopfront guide.
Entrance doors and layout
The entrance can be a single-leaf or double-door arrangement, placed where the opening and your layout need it. Handles, locking and threshold are agreed together with the glass and frame. See our aluminium shopfront entrance door and our automatic entrances.
Shutters, fascias and other work on the frontage
If you also plan a roller shutter, a fascia or other building work, tell us at the start so the glass, frame and fixings are planned together.
Safety glazing and approvals
Glass in doors, side panels and low-level areas is subject to safety glazing requirements. Some frontages also need planning or landlord consent. The survey and your quotation set out the glass type for each area. Please confirm local requirements with your local authority or landlord.
What affects the price of a glass shopfront
Every frontage is quoted to its own specification. The main factors are:
- the glazing and entrance configuration
- the size of the opening and the number of panels
- the glass type and thickness
- a framed or frameless design, and the frame finish
- supply only, or supply and installation
How a glass shopfront project works
- Understand the premises. A site survey records the opening size, levels, surrounding construction and access.
- Agree the design. Glass type, framing, entrance and finish are set out in your quotation.
- Prepare your shopfront. Any shutter, fascia or adjoining work is coordinated.
- Fit, check and hand over. Supply only or supply and installation, where suitable.
Replacing glass in an existing shopfront
Existing aluminium frontages can be reviewed for replacement glazing, door adjustment or refurbishment. See shopfront repair. If glass is broken, 24/7 emergency roller-shutter and shopfront glass repair and make-safe support is available. No specific response time is promised. Contact us with the location and photographs.
Request a free quotation
Send photos, approximate measurements, your preferred colour and your entrance requirements, and we will help set the initial scope. Request a free quotation. You can also see completed work in our projects gallery.
Glass shopfront questions
What is the difference between toughened and laminated glass?
Toughened glass is heat-treated for strength and breaks into small pieces. Laminated glass has layers bonded with an interlayer, so a broken pane tends to stay in place. The glass type for each area is set out in your quotation.
Is toughened glass the same as tempered glass?
Yes. Tempered is another name for toughened glass.
Can toughened glass be cut or drilled after it is made?
No. Toughened glass cannot be cut or drilled after toughening, so edges, holes and cut-outs are decided before it is made. That is why the survey measurements matter.
Do I need a frame for a glass shopfront?
Not always. A frameless glass shopfront keeps visible framing to a minimum. An aluminium-framed shopfront uses mullions and transoms to divide the glass and carry the doors. The right choice depends on your opening, the entrance and the building.
How long does a glass shopfront take?
It depends on the survey, the agreed specification, glass availability, workload and site access. Ask for the current estimate in your quotation. Changes to the agreed scope may affect the programme.
Do you supply only, or supply and install?
Both routes are available where suitable. Your quotation sets out the glass, frame, hardware, finish and who is responsible for each part.
What can I do if my shopfront glass is broken?
24/7 emergency roller-shutter and shopfront glass repair and make-safe support is available. No specific response time is promised. Contact us with the location and photographs, and tell us whether the premises are secure.
What thickness is the glass?
Our glass shopfronts use glass from 12.8 mm thick. The exact build for each area is set out in your quotation.
