A Star Decorators

Buyer comparison

Aluminium frame restoration vs full replacement

Most faded shopfronts and curtain walls don't need replacing. They need restoring. The honest answer depends on the substrate, the access, and how long you need the finish to hold.

Option 01

On-site restoration

Keep the existing aluminium in place. Strip the surface, prime, re-coat to a matched RAL. No reglazing, no scaffold closure of the entrance.

Where it wins

  • Typically 70% saving versus replacement on a sound substrate
  • Works around live trading. No store closure
  • 5 to 7 year service life on a properly specified system
  • No planning consent. No new manufacture lead time
  • Glass, gaskets, ironmongery stay in place

Trade-offs

  • Substrate has to be sound. We flag failure at survey
  • Service life shorter than a brand-new factory powder coat
  • Some patch repair shows under raking light if the original was severe
Indicative cost
£40 to £90 per linear metre of frame, scheme dependent
Service life
5 to 7 years written into the spec

Option 02

Full replacement

Remove and replace the curtain wall or shopfront entirely. New frames, new glazing, new gaskets. Manufactured off site, installed on site.

Where it wins

  • Brand-new factory powder coat, no wear on the substrate
  • Opportunity to upgrade the system (thermal, security, glazing)
  • Service life matches a new install

Trade-offs

  • Capital intensive. Often 3 to 4 times the cost
  • Lead time on bespoke aluminium can be 8 to 16 weeks
  • Scaffold and closure of the entrance during install
  • Planning consent on listed and conservation frontages
  • Snagging the new install adds programme risk
Indicative cost
£140 to £260+ per linear metre, plus access and install
Service life
15 to 25 years

The honest answer

Which one is right for your scheme?

Choose restoration if the existing frames are structurally sound and you need the finish back inside a working week without a closure. Choose replacement if the system itself is failing (thermal, security, water ingress) or the spec genuinely needs upgrading. The choice is set at survey, not in the quote.

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Send photos, drawings or a short scope.

We will review the service route, access, preparation, finish and likely next step before the job is priced properly.

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