Walls and Ceilings - Glass shop front with frame (aluminium profile)

Dear all,

After knowing quite alot about metal studs framing techniques for partition wall from you guys in this Forum, i'm ready to move on into preparing for my shop front aluminium-framed glass partition...

Can any1 here help me out in getting this info on how to choose the aluminium profile, how to frame it right, how to frame it to the concrete floor/ceiling(rivet, tap con, etc), how to install glass onto aluminium frame, aluminium frame window and doors......?

I couldnt find anything much about using aluminium profile (which is widely available product/material) in framing such a glass partition for the shop front wall/door/window.... Hope you guys could really help me out with this.

Thanks alot man!
Andy

Andy, you may be better off having the store front glass installed by a pro. Check with local codes, as the glass will probably have to be tempered. Having it installed as a unit is the best way to go. It will be heavy!

Alcoa / Kawneer is a big manfacturer of storefronts and commercial window units, as is Traco. Their websites can probably help you figure out which product is best for you.

Most of those types of projects are engineered to meet certain standards. you wouldn't believe the forces that are at work when you have a gust of wind or a hurricane to deal with. So all the information you need isn't something we can just answer here- it would all be spelled out in the specifications provided by the manufacturer and would need to be installed in accord with the AAMA storefront and entrance manual, which is like 127 pages long. Also affecting the installation would be integrity of the preexisting structure, which is something we can't see nor begin to comment on.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that you'll get the best answers to your questions from whoever supplies your building materials. Due to the liability and safety factors involved, I agree with Chandler's recommendation to look into having it professionally installed.

Thanks guys! I really appreciate those suggestions.

After having some enlightenments from you guys, i have gone thru some tedious long search for information regarding storefront aluminium framing techniques. Infact i need to know how exactly r the aluminum extrusion framed together.... such as horizontal section connected to vertical section...

Here's some "assumption" i have made.... CORRECT ME if wrong...
http://www.kiatairbrush.com/images/step.jpg
(*sorry i cant seem to display this pic directly here...)
The pic above shows a vertical profile is connected to the horizontal profile via L-shape small section with screws. This is wat i assume since, from the professional examples i hv seen, none of them r using any special profile where there's any screw connection allowable. Instead they're plain profile like the one shown in the pic, and the connection the pro has made seems very "hidden" n mysterious to me...... Any help???

http://www.kiatairbrush.com/images/shopfront.jpg
This pic shows the storefront aluminum frame that i'd like to construct for my shop.... i m hving trouble in connecting those perpendicular joints since the aluminum extrusion i found r quite plain for screw/rivet connection.....

Btw, it seems like there's really no books or watever info regarding aluminum framing techniques, except maybe some "specific" product-based installation guides offered by the manufacturer such as www.lidco.com.au and www.special-lite.com... which doesnt explain the "basic" techniques of aluminium extrusion frames..... Any clues?????????

Many Thanks!
Andy