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Commercial aluminum and glass entrance doors at a plaza
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Commercial-grade windows, phased around your tenants

Commercial Window Installation and Replacement in Waterloo Region

GTS Windows & Doors has installed windows in Waterloo Region since 1986, and we bring the same installation standards to offices, shops and apartment buildings that we apply in homes. From our Kitchener base, we install and replace thermally broken aluminum windows, commercial-grade vinyl units and fixed glazing in punched openings across Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and nearby towns. Typical projects range from a handful of openings in a plaza unit to a full window program across a multi-storey apartment building.

Our commercial window clients include property managers replacing original windows in low-rise apartments, business owners upgrading drafty office and retail windows, and general contractors who need a dependable installer on a new build or renovation. Each of these clients needs something slightly different, from suite-by-suite schedules to field-verified openings and product documentation. Our process is built to handle all three, whether the job is ten windows or an entire building.

Most commercial window replacement happens while the building stays in use. We work floor by floor or suite by suite, close every opening before the crew leaves, and keep tenants informed through the property manager. Every job is backed by our WSIB coverage, full insurance and our 20-year parts and labour warranty.

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Commercial Window Systems We Install

Thermally Broken Aluminum Windows

Aluminum is the standard frame for offices, retail and mixed-use buildings because it is strong, slim and carries large glass sizes without flexing. A thermal break, a low-conductivity strip between the inner and outer frame, keeps the interior face from frosting and sweating in winter.

Commercial aluminum systems are made by manufacturers such as Kawneer and Alumicor, and we match the product line to the opening size and performance the building needs. Our page on aluminum frame windows covers the material in more depth.

Commercial-Grade Vinyl for Multi-Residential

For low-rise apartments and condominiums, heavy-duty vinyl windows with reinforced frames give strong thermal performance at a lower cost than aluminum. Many commercial-grade lines are rated to the LC performance class, which suits buildings with more wind exposure and heavier daily use.

Compared with the residential vinyl windows we fit in houses, these units have deeper frames, stronger hardware and larger maximum sizes.

Fixed and Operable Units

Fixed lites give the best air tightness and the lowest cost per square foot, while operable sashes provide fresh air. We combine them to meet the building's ventilation needs, with limited-opening hardware where fall prevention matters.

Upper-floor windows should also be planned for cleaning, either from inside with tilt or hopper sashes or from outside by lift or a cleaning contractor. Getting that decision right at the start saves the owner money for decades.

Replacing Windows in Occupied Buildings

Commercial window replacement rarely happens in an empty building. The goal is to replace every window while tenants keep living or working, with each opening out for as short a time as possible.

01

Plan the Phasing

We divide the building into phases by floor, elevation or suite and set a daily target the crew can finish and close up. The property manager receives a schedule showing which units are affected on which day.

02

Notify Tenants

We supply notice wording covering access dates, clearing furniture away from windows and what to expect on the day. Residents and staff know exactly when we will be in their space.

03

Protect the Interior

Floors and furniture near each window are covered with drop sheets and poly, and debris leaves the building as it is removed. Interior trim is reinstalled or replaced before we leave the suite.

04

Close Up Every Day

No opening is left without glass or a secure temporary cover overnight. Exterior sealing, capping and a walkthrough with the property manager follow as each phase is completed.

Performance Ratings for Commercial Windows

Under the Ontario Building Code, manufactured windows must conform to the North American Fenestration Standard, known as NAFS (AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440), and its Canadian Supplement, CSA A440S1. The supplement is used to select the performance grade a window needs for its location and exposure, including wind load and wind-driven rain.

NAFS sorts windows into four performance classes. R is common in houses, LC in low-rise and mid-rise multi-residential buildings, CW in low-rise and mid-rise buildings with larger sizes and heavier use, and AW in taller buildings with demanding loads and frequent use.

Energy performance is a separate question. New Part 3 buildings and additions in Ontario must meet Supplementary Standard SB-10, which points to ASHRAE 90.1 or the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings, and on renovation projects your designer or the building department will confirm what applies.

We check the rating label or test report for every product against what the project requires, and flag any mismatch before ordering. Storefront, window wall and curtain wall assemblies are treated separately in the code, with their own testing requirements.

Black-framed storefront windows and glass entrance door on a red brick commercial building with

Access, Lifts and Site Safety

Many commercial windows cannot be reached safely from a ladder. Depending on the building, we work from boom lifts, scissor lifts or scaffolding, or from inside where the window design allows it.

We confirm lift access, ground conditions and overhead wires during the site survey. Where equipment has to sit on a municipal sidewalk or road, a road occupancy permit from the city may be needed, and we flag that early so it does not delay the start.

  • Working at heights: Ontario requires workers who use fall protection on construction projects to complete an approved working at heights program, renewed every three years.
  • Lift operation: lifts are run by trained operators, with harnesses tied off where the lift type requires it.
  • Ground protection: sidewalks, parking areas and entrances below the work zone are barricaded or covered so people can pass safely.
  • Site coordination: we attend site orientations, follow the general contractor's safety plan and provide WSIB clearance before mobilizing.
  • Glass handling: large units are moved with glass lifting cups and enough hands to set them without stressing the frame.
Two workers in hi-vis vests on rolling scaffold setting a large window into a

What Drives Commercial Window Cost

Commercial window pricing varies more than residential work because no two buildings are alike. The factors below have the biggest effect on your quote.

  • Commercial-grade vinyl, low-rise apartments: typically about $1,000 to $2,000 per opening installed.
  • Thermally broken aluminum windows: typically about $90 to $175 per square foot installed.
FactorWhy it matters
SystemThermally broken aluminum costs more than commercial-grade vinyl, and higher performance classes add cost.
Size and glassLarge units, triple glazing, and laminated or tinted glass raise the unit price.
AccessLifts, scaffolding and sidewalk protection add equipment and labour.
PhasingSuite-by-suite work in an occupied building takes longer than working in a vacant one.
Existing conditionsRotted blocking, damaged masonry or old sealant that needs hazardous materials testing must be dealt with first.

Buildings We Serve

Window work is one part of our full range of commercial windows and doors, which also covers steel doors, entrances and repairs. The kinds of jobs we price are outlined on our commercial projects page.

Offices

Older low-rise office buildings with original aluminum windows that frost, leak or no longer open.

Retail and Plazas

Street-front shops and plaza units, where window work is often paired with an entrance upgrade. We can coordinate it with storefront entrance door work so the whole frontage is done in one visit.

Low-Rise Apartments

Rental and condominium buildings of a few storeys, where suite-by-suite replacement is the norm and tenant communication matters most.

Institutional

Schools, clinics, places of worship and community buildings that need durable hardware and work scheduled around their hours.

More Commercial Services

Commercial Window FAQs

What type of windows do commercial buildings use?

Most offices and retail buildings use aluminum windows, ideally thermally broken, because aluminum is strong and holds large glass with slim frames. Low-rise apartments often use commercial-grade vinyl, while taller towers use window wall or curtain wall systems. The right choice depends on building height, exposure and budget.

Can I put commercial windows in my house?

You can, and some modern homes use commercial aluminum windows for their slim frames and large sizes. The trade-offs are a higher price and, for many aluminum lines, a lower insulating value than a good residential vinyl or fibreglass window. For most houses, a quality residential window rated for our climate is the better fit.

How much does a commercial window cost?

Typical installed prices run from about $1,000 to $2,000 per opening for commercial-grade vinyl and about $90 to $175 per square foot for thermally broken aluminum. The system, glass package, access equipment and phasing all move the number. A site survey gives you a firm figure.

Can you replace windows without closing the building?

Yes. We phase the work by floor, suite or elevation, and every opening is closed up before the crew leaves each day. Tenants get advance notice through the property manager, so offices, shops and apartments stay open throughout.

Request a Commercial Window Quote

Send us the building address, the number of openings and any drawings you have, and we will book a site survey. Your quote will set out the window system, phasing plan and schedule.

Call or text226-806-0597
Monday to Saturday: 7:00am to 9:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
47 Bridge Street East, Kitchener, ON N2K 1J7
info@gtswindows.ca
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