Most commercial window replacements in Penrith happen in tenancies that cannot afford to close. This is how we stage a retro-fit job so the business keeps running while the glass gets replaced.
Why full close-downs are usually avoidable
Ninety percent of the retro-fit jobs we do in the Penrith commercial strip, at Nepean Hospital, and across the Jamisontown auto corridor, run in the following pattern:
- We survey the openings after hours or in a quiet trading window.
- Panes are fabricated to size in our Jamisontown workshop.
- Install happens after close or before pre-open, panel by panel.
- Sign-off happens in one final visit during trading hours.
The tenancy loses zero customer hours, and the frontage looks the same the whole way through. See our commercial glazing service for the full scope of retro-fit work we cover.
Stage 1: survey without disruption
We book a 30 to 60 minute visit outside customer-facing hours (pre-open, close, or a genuinely quiet window). We measure every opening we are quoting, photograph the existing framing, and confirm the glass spec. Deliverable: a written quote line-by-line, plus a proposed install sequence.
Stage 2: fabricate off-site
All cutting, edge-work, tempering and lamination happens in the workshop. Nothing loud or dusty ever hits your tenancy. Lead time from confirmed measurements:
- Standard toughened panes: 3 to 5 business days.
- Laminated safety glass: 5 to 7 business days.
- Custom IGUs (double glazed units): 7 to 14 business days.
Stage 3: install panel by panel, out of trading hours
The critical bit. On the install shift, we swap panes one at a time in a pre-agreed sequence, so at no point is the tenancy open with a hole in the frontage. Common patterns:
- Nightshift install. From 6 pm to midnight, four panes swapped, closed to weather when we leave.
- Split-day install. Two panes pre-open, two post-close, over two days.
- Weekend install. Saturday night to Sunday afternoon for larger jobs.
What happens if a pane fails mid-install
Rare, but planned for. We carry ply and framing on the truck. If a pane cracks during install we make-safe the opening in under 20 minutes, refabricate the pane, and return with it on the next shift. The tenant trades tomorrow either way.
For examples of after-hours make-safe response, see our 24/7 emergency glass service.
Common retro-fit reasons in Penrith
The three commercial retro-fits we do most often:
- Old single-glazed to toughened or laminated. Compliance upgrade after an insurance review.
- Old aluminium to insulated units. Energy performance upgrade for west-facing frontages, often tied to a lease renegotiation.
- Cracked or vandalised panes. Usually insurance-funded, always same-week response.
The paperwork side
Retro-fit jobs still need the same sign-off pack as new-build glazing:
- Stamped-glass install report.
- Certificate of compliance under AS 1288.
- Public liability certificate of currency.
- Manufacturer warranty documents.
All of this goes with the final invoice, so the property manager or building certifier has what they need for the sign-off file.
Real jobs run this way
Marshalls Mercedes-Benz dealership was a staged retro-fit across a working showroom. Nepean Motor Group service reception ran the same way. In both cases the tenancy stayed open for the entire duration.
Get a staged retro-fit quote
Tell us the trading hours you need to protect and we will build a sequence around them.
