There are many factors that are taken into consideration during the construction or refurbishment of a commercial building or store. One of them is safety and another is its architectural features.
The outer walls of the commercial building should be good enough to provide a great look to the outside world. Also, protect you and your products inside the building or store. And both storefront and curtain wall are capable to perform these functions.
They are designed to protect the building and its occupants from harmful weather conditions while providing sunlight, saving unnecessary electricity wastage and a beautiful view of outside. However, reviewing the features further they both have some unique qualities too, which sets them apart in different circumstances.
Let Us Through Some Light on These Differences for You to Make the Right Choice:
Storefronts: Storefronts are a non-residential system used as commercial doors and windows. They are not capable of bearing load. They are designed with no projecting stops, giving them a clean look. These storefronts are constructed using a single-span with or without frames on the sides.
During rains, unlike the curtain wall where all the panels of the glasses are wiped off separately, in the storefront, the entire system from top to bottom is wiped off together. All the water is directed downwards with the help of a vertical bar. This can overload the system if exposure to weather is excessive. Therefore, they are usually installed on the ground floor to protect it from weather elements.
These storefronts are usually composed of insulating glass with aluminium framing as they are excellent thermal conductors. Some also use structural silicon to hold the glass tightly in place and provide higher performance to fight against the weather.
Shop Front Cladding can make your shop front stand out in the market. If the storefront is installed or refurbished properly and manufactured with high-performance material, chances of leaks during rainstorms reduce significantly.
Curtainwalls: Unlike storefronts, curtain walls can be used in large buildings on multiple floors and may extend up to several floors. It is because curtain walls are generally taller and thicker and have wide glass panels. It means if the rainstorm hits the walls of the building, the building will not be affected. The water will be drained out easily without accumulating and hence will not affect the building’s facilities.
Curtain wall framing is also composed of aluminium which enhances the performance of the curtain wall system significantly.
Comparison in Terms of Price:
When prices are compared, storefronts are cheaper than curtainwalls and can be used at the entrance and elevations of the first and second floor. Whereas, curtainwalls are expensive and can be used on multiple floors providing greater flexibility in terms of performance and aesthetics. Prices may vary region to region due to labour, glass type and finish choice.
Sustainability Factor:
Both storefronts and curtainwall system allow daylight and fresh air to enter inside the building, which brings an added value to its sustainable design. Ventilation and natural light due to storefront and curtain walls contribute towards energy savings. Aluminium, on the other hand, with its durable finish and excellent longevity can also be recycled.
Both systems offer versatile aesthetic and sustainable design goals with their unique qualities.
ARS Ltd is a building repair and refurbishment service provider. They offer quality services including curtain wall refurbishment and shopfront repair services in the UK and Ireland and also provide proper guidance for your design. They have a team of professionals with vast experience and dedication to meet the expectations of clients and complete the work on time.
