If you are pricing up a new shopfront, you will quickly find that quotes vary enormously, sometimes by tens of thousands of pounds for what sounds like the same job. That is because a shopfront is really several jobs in one: framework, glazing, doors, signage and often a roller shutter. This guide breaks down realistic price ranges and explains what actually drives the final figure.
For a standard single unit, say a frontage of four to six metres, most owners should budget somewhere between £5,000 and £15,000 for a new aluminium shopfront with toughened glazing and a commercial entrance door. A small kiosk or narrow frontage might come in under £5,000, while a large double frontage with curved glass, automatic doors or bespoke framing can climb well past £25,000.
Material choice moves the needle significantly. Powder coated aluminium is the workhorse of the trade and usually the most cost effective, typically £800 to £1,500 per linear metre installed. Frameless toughened glass frontages look striking but often run 30 to 50 percent more. Timber shopfronts, common on heritage parades and in conservation areas, are usually the most expensive because of the joinery involved and ongoing maintenance.
Two shopfronts of the same width can be priced very differently once you look at the detail. The biggest variables are the glazing specification, the door type and what is happening above and behind the frame. Laminated or fire rated glass costs more than standard toughened units, and an automatic sliding door can add £3,000 to £6,000 on its own compared with a manual swing door.
The condition of the existing structure matters too. If the old frontage comes out cleanly and the structural opening is sound, installation is straightforward. If the steel lintel above is corroded, the brickwork needs making good, or the floor levels need adjusting for level access, expect the quote to reflect that extra building work.
Many owners fit a roller shutter at the same time as the new frontage, and it is far cheaper to do both together than to retrofit one later. A manual roller shutter for a typical single shopfront usually costs £1,000 to £2,500 supplied and fitted, while an electric shutter with a tube motor generally runs £1,500 to £4,000 depending on width and curtain type.
Punched or perforated lath shutters, which let passers by see the window display after hours, sit at the upper end of those ranges. If you are in a location where the council or your landlord restricts solid external shutters, which is common on some Birmingham high streets and conservation areas, an internal shutter or open grille version may be required, so check before you commit.
A like for like replacement often does not need planning permission, but a change in appearance, new signage or anything on a listed building or in a conservation area usually does. Planning application fees are modest, typically a few hundred pounds, but factor in the lead time, which can be eight weeks or more. Your installer should be able to advise, though responsibility for consent sits with the property owner or leaseholder.
It is also worth telling your insurer about the work. A new frontage with laminated glass and a certified shutter can reduce premiums, and some insurers insist on specific security standards for certain trades, such as jewellers or off licences. Finally, ask whether the quote includes removal and disposal of the old frontage, making good internally, and VAT, as these are common gaps between quotes that make comparison misleading.
Ballpark figures only get you so far, because no two units are identical. A proper quote needs a site survey where the installer measures the structural opening, checks the lintel and floor levels, and talks through glazing, door and shutter options against your budget.
Get two or three itemised quotes and compare them line by line rather than on the bottom figure alone. A quote that looks cheap but excludes disposal, making good or the door hardware can easily end up costing more than an honest all in price.
Once the survey is done, aluminium frames and glazing are typically manufactured in two to four weeks. Installation itself usually takes one to three days for a standard unit, and many installers can work overnight or on a Sunday to avoid closing your business.
Not always. A like for like replacement in the same materials and appearance often falls outside planning control, but new signage, a change of appearance, or work on a listed building or in a conservation area normally needs consent, so check with your local planning authority first.
Sometimes, especially if the frame is sound and only the glazing or door hardware has failed. But repeated call outs, draughts and poor security add up, and once the frame itself is corroded or misaligned, replacement is usually the more economical option over a few years.