AMERICANCOMMERCIAL GLASS
AMERICANStorefront schedule is driven by manufacturing lead time. The 8-14 week factory window is fixed once shop drawings are approved - and it cannot be compressed without an expedite premium. Every week lost in submittal review, design team comments, or late subcontract execution adds directly to the project delivery date. This page documents the typical commercial storefront project schedule phase by phase, identifies the critical path, and explains what GCs and owners can do to protect it. Statewide code path and office map: Florida storefront installation company. Sourced operable-wall specs: Euro-Wall Vista page. System selection and installation scope: commercial storefront systems and installation.
ACG's standard bid response time for a complete set of documents is 5 business days. Incomplete documents (missing structural drawings, no DP schedule, no specifications) extend this. Include the full bid package - architectural, structural, Division 08 spec, and NOA list if specified - with the invitation to bid.
After subcontract execution, ACG prepares shop drawings: plans, elevations, sections, anchor details, glass make-up schedule, hardware schedule, and sealant schedule. HVHZ projects include NOA compilation and DP analysis. Submittal is delivered to the GC for distribution to the design team.
Architect and structural engineer review the submittal and return it as approved, approved as noted, or revise and resubmit. Standard industry expectation is 14 days for first review. Complex projects or submittals with comment cycles can extend this to 4 weeks or more. Each resubmittal cycle restarts the review clock.
Upon approved shop drawings, frame and glass orders are placed with the manufacturer. Manufacturing lead time is 8-14 weeks depending on manufacturer, system family, finish, and current production queue. This is the critical path item. Standard mill finish ships faster; custom PVDF colors and specialty glass make-ups are at the longer end. Current lead time should be confirmed with the manufacturer at order placement.
Crew and material mobilization, delivery scheduling, rough opening inspection (per ASTM E2112 and NOA requirements), substrate corrections if needed. Safety setup, temporary protection, and staging area coordination with GC superintendent.
Frame set, anchor, plumb, level per shop drawings. Typical production: 500-800 SF per crew day for standard ground-floor stick-built storefront. Upper floors, occupied buildings, complex configurations, and high-wind-zone work reduce production rates. ACG provides a project-specific installation schedule in the subcontract package.
Glass delivery is coordinated for 1-2 weeks after frame installation complete. Glass is inspected at delivery (chips, coating condition, size verification) before installation. Glazing proceeds bay by bay; perimeter sealant is applied after glazing at each section.
ASTM E1105 water test performed at specified locations (typically 10% of openings or as specified in Division 08). Test results documented and provided to GC. Any failed locations repaired and re-tested. Water testing is performed before interior finishes are complete in the glazing zone.
Punch list items addressed. Closeout package assembled: NOA documentation, approved shop drawings, water test results, hardware warranties, finish certifications, as-built photos. Submitted to GC for project record.
The critical path for commercial storefront delivery runs through this sequence:
Subcontract executed → Submittal prepared → Submittal approved → Manufacturing order placed → Manufacturing complete → Installation start
Manufacturing lead time is the single largest non-compressible window in this chain. An 8-week standard lead time means that from approved shop drawings to materials on the jobsite is a minimum of 8 weeks. A 14-week lead time means 14 weeks.
The 8-14 week manufacturing window is influenced by several variables that are fixed at the time of order:
| Factor | Effect on Lead Time |
|---|---|
| Standard finish (mill, standard colors) | Shorter - in standard production runs |
| Custom PVDF or specialty finish | Longer - custom batch required; add 2-4 weeks |
| Standard glass make-up | Shorter - glass fabricator has standard runs |
| Specialty or custom glass (low-iron, bird-safe, fire-rated) | Longer - custom order from glass fabricator |
| Standard system family in current production | Shorter |
| Discontinued or low-volume system family | Longer or unavailable - verify availability early |
| Manufacturer production queue at order time | Variable - confirm current lead time at subcontract |
| Order size (economy of scale) | Large orders may have negotiated priority scheduling |
ACG confirms current manufacturer lead time at subcontract execution and communicates it to the GC in writing. Lead times can change between bid and subcontract, particularly when market demand increases. The contractual lead time is confirmed at order placement, not at bid.
Submittal delays are the second most common source of schedule compression on storefront projects, after late subcontract award. The common causes:
Storefront installation must be properly sequenced with adjacent trades to avoid damage, rework, and water test interference:
Miami-Dade and Broward HVHZ projects have additional schedule considerations:
From subcontract execution to installation start: typically 14-20 weeks. This covers submittal preparation (2-3 weeks), design team review (2-4 weeks), manufacturing (8-14 weeks), and mobilization (1 week). HVHZ projects with permit review add additional weeks.
8-14 weeks from approved shop drawings, depending on manufacturer, system, finish, and glass make-up. Standard mill finish ships faster than custom PVDF. Current lead time must be confirmed with the manufacturer at order placement - lead times vary with market conditions.
Incomplete bid documents, design changes after subcontract, NOA gaps, slow design team review, and revise-and-resubmit cycles. The GC minimizes delay by providing complete documents at bid, tracking review turnaround times, and escalating when reviews exceed contractual timelines.
Storefront frame installation follows rough opening completion. Glass follows frame by 1-2 weeks. Water testing must precede interior finishes in the frame perimeter zone. Storefront perimeter sealant must cure 24-72 hours before water testing begins.
Approximately 500-800 SF per crew day for standard ground-floor stick-built storefront. Upper-floor, occupied-building, and complex frame work reduces production rates. ACG provides a project-specific installation schedule at subcontract.
Manufacturing lead time - the 8-14 week factory window that begins only after approved shop drawings. The most effective schedule compression is early subcontract award and immediate submittal start, which protects the full 8-week minimum manufacturing window.
HVHZ projects require Miami-Dade or Broward building department plan review, which adds 4-8 weeks to the permit process. ACG provides a complete NOA-backed submittal package to minimize comment cycles. Plan review is on the GC's critical path - early permit submission is essential on HVHZ projects.