Written by Big Easy Windows
Key Takeaways
- Commercial glass work runs on different rules than residential: safety glazing, egress and accessibility at entrances, and higher design pressures on large openings.
- Storefront systems are aluminum framed and modular, which makes damaged sections replaceable without redoing the whole elevation.
- Downtime is the real cost for a business, so board-up, temporary security, and scheduling around operating hours matter as much as the glass.
- Solar control glazing pays back faster on commercial buildings, because glass area and cooling hours are both larger.
- Big Easy Windows handles commercial window and glass work across the metro. Call (504) 384-8165.
Not Just Bigger Residential Windows
Quick Answer: Commercial glazing differs from home windows in the code that governs it, the systems used, and the priorities driving the job. Openings are larger, so design pressures are higher. Entrances have accessibility and egress requirements. Safety glazing rules are stricter in areas people walk into. And for an operating business, the schedule and security plan often matter more than the product spec.
We work on storefronts, offices, and multifamily buildings across New Orleans, Metairie, and out to LaPlace and Baton Rouge.
Storefront Systems
Most retail and small office glazing here is aluminum storefront: extruded framing on a grid, with glass set into it. It’s designed to be serviceable, which is the practical advantage. A single damaged lite can usually be replaced without disturbing adjacent bays.
Common work includes replacing broken lites after impact or break-in, replacing failed insulated units, re-glazing to a better performing package, repairing or replacing door hardware and closers, and swapping deteriorated gaskets.
Safety Glazing
Glass in and around doors, in low panels, and in other hazardous locations has to be safety glazing, meaning tempered or laminated. This isn’t optional and it’s checked. If someone quotes annealed glass for a storefront lite at floor level, that’s a serious signal about who you’re dealing with.
Storm Exposure on Commercial Buildings
Large glass areas make storm protection a bigger question than on a house. The same wind borne debris considerations apply, and design pressure requirements scale with opening size. Options include impact-rated glazing, approved shutter and panel systems, or a mix by elevation.
There’s a business continuity angle beyond code. A storefront that survives intact reopens sooner. Businesses that spend two weeks waiting on custom glass after a storm lose more to closure than the glass ever cost. That calculation belongs in the decision.
Energy and Comfort
Solar control matters more on commercial buildings, because glass-to-wall ratios are higher and cooling runs long hours in this climate. Upgrading a west-facing storefront to a spectrally selective package can cut heat load and stop the afternoon discomfort that pushes thermostats down and drives staff and customers away from the front of the space.
The same rating logic applies as on homes, and it’s explained in our window energy label guide. On a commercial elevation, SHGC is usually the number to attack first.
Multifamily and Mixed Use
Apartment and condo buildings sit between the two categories. Units often use residential-style windows while common areas and ground floors use commercial systems. These projects live or die on logistics: resident notification, access coordination, staging, and doing the work in phases that keep the building occupied.
Owners generally want consistency across the building so future repairs draw on one product line. Worth deciding up front rather than accumulating mismatched units over years.
Emergency and After-Hours Work
Broken commercial glass is a security problem immediately, not an inconvenience. The sequence that works is secure the opening, make the space safe, document for insurance, then order and install the replacement. Large or specialty units can take time to source, so a solid temporary closure matters.
If your insurer requires documentation, photograph everything before cleanup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you replace one panel in a storefront?
Usually yes. Storefront systems are modular, so single lites are typically replaceable in place.
How long does commercial glass take to get?
Stock sizes in common configurations move quickly. Large, tempered, laminated, or specially coated units take longer, and demand spikes after regional storm events.
Do you work outside business hours?
Scheduling around operating hours is normal on commercial work. Tell us your constraints when you request the quote.
Is commercial glass more expensive?
Per square foot it can be, driven by size, tempering or lamination, framing systems, and access equipment. Ask for a scoped written quote rather than a rate.
Do you handle doors too?
Entrance doors, hardware, and closers are part of most storefront work. Include them when you describe the job.
Get a Scoped Quote
Tell us the building type, opening sizes, whether the space stays open during work, and any insurance requirements. We’ll put it in writing.
Big Easy Windows serves commercial clients across the metro. See commercial windows, our service areas, or call (504) 384-8165.
