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Aluminum Sliding Windows in Toronto: Storefronts and Sliders Replaced Unit by Unit on Sunrise Avenue
The storefronts and windows on a row of commercial units on Sunrise Avenue, Toronto, replaced in phases: Windspec 655 thermally broken storefronts in clear anodized aluminum to match the existing design, and Windspec 720 sliding windows in place of the old awning windows, glazed with Low-E argon tempered glass. Three separate orders at the same property, from 2021 to 2022.
The job in numbers
| Storefronts | Windspec 655 series, thermally broken, clear anodized |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windspec 720 series sliding windows, clear anodized, replacing awning windows |
| Glass | Low-E and argon clear thermal tempered glass (Oldcastle) |
| Orders | Three separate projects at the same property |
| First phase | Awarded February 2021, completed May 2021 |
| Location | Sunrise Avenue, Toronto, Ontario |
A row of commercial units on Sunrise Avenue in Toronto had old storefronts and awning windows. The owner replaced them in phases, and Canuck supplied and installed every one: new storefronts matched to the existing design, and sliding windows in place of all the old awning windows.
The work came as three separate projects at the same property. The first was awarded in February 2021 and completed in May 2021, and the owner came back for two more.
Four decades of doors for names Ontario knows — Canada’s Wonderland, Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, the LCBO, Metrolinx, Marriott & Hilton hotels, the University of Toronto — plus thousands of businesses across the GTA. Dependable people, quality products, since 1979.
What went in
| Storefronts | Windspec 655 series, thermally broken, clear anodized |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windspec 720 series sliding windows, clear anodized |
| Glass | Low-E and argon clear thermal tempered glass, from Oldcastle |
The storefronts had to match the existing design, so that units done in different years still read as one building. Clear anodized aluminum in the same framing family made that possible.
The storefronts are thermally broken: a strip of insulating material separates the inside and outside of the aluminum frame, so the cold does not travel straight through the metal. The glass adds to that. Low-E coatings reflect heat back into the building, and argon gas between the panes insulates better than air.
The old awning windows, which open outwards from a hinge at the top, were replaced with sliders, which open sideways within their own frame.
The storefronts that waited a year
Two storefronts were measured and ordered for tenants who then could not pay for the replacement. That part of the project was on hold for about a year.
Storefronts are made to measure, so once they are ordered they fit one opening. When two tenants could not go ahead, the finished storefronts had nowhere to go, and the project stalled.
The solution came from the building itself. The units on the row have similar-sized openings, so the two storefronts were installed on two other units whose openings matched, and the project was closed out.
A client who came back
After these projects, the owner gave us two more projects at other job sites. For a building owner replacing storefronts unit by unit, that is the useful measure: the first phase was good enough that the rest followed.
Questions this job answers
What is a thermally broken storefront?
A storefront frame with an insulating strip between its inside and outside, so heat and cold do not pass straight through the aluminum. It keeps the inside of the frame warmer in winter and reduces condensation.
Can storefronts be replaced one unit at a time?
Yes. On this property the work came as three separate projects, and each new storefront was matched to the existing design so the row still looks consistent.
Why replace awning windows with sliders?
Sliders open sideways within their frame instead of swinging outwards, so nothing projects from the wall when they are open. On this job every awning window was replaced with a Windspec 720 slider.
What happens if a made-to-measure storefront isn't needed?
It can only go where the opening matches. On this job two storefronts ordered for units that did not go ahead were installed on two other units with similar openings.
Where this sits
This was storefront and commercial window replacement on a commercial row in Toronto. For the same work on your building, start with the storefront doors in Toronto page.
Have an opening like this one?
Replacing storefronts one unit at a time?
Send us photographs of the units and the existing frames. We will match the new storefronts to what is there and price each unit on its own.