A bespoke timber shopfront is one of the most powerful signals a business can send. It says: we care about quality, we belong here, and we're not a chain. For independent cafés, bakeries, boutiques, galleries, and traditional pubs, that signal is worth more than any marketing spend.
Range Shop Fronts has been designing and installing bespoke timber shopfronts across London and the UK for over 10 years. We work with conservation authorities, heritage-sensitive boroughs, and independent business owners who want a frontage that genuinely reflects their brand.
Every installation is made to measure — designed around your building, your opening, your planning context, and your business identity. We handle design, fabrication, glazing, ironmongery, finishing, installation, and ongoing maintenance from a single team.
Request a no-obligation quote for your timber shopfront project, ensuring competitive pricing with our price guarantee.
From Georgian heritage restorations to clean contemporary painted timber — bespoke to your building and brand.
Victorian and Georgian-style shopfronts with decorative pilasters, corbels, panelled stallrisers, and ornate mouldings. Ideal for period buildings and conservation areas where character must be preserved.
Clean, modern profiles in painted hardwood or Accoya — offering the warmth and paint-holding quality of timber with a crisp, minimal aesthetic. Available in any RAL, BS, or NCS colour including deep greens, navy, and black.
Designed specifically to meet local planning authority requirements. We advise on appropriate profile, glazing bar patterns, colour, and detailing to support planning approval — including Listed Building Consent applications.
Like-for-like restoration of existing timber shopfronts — repairing rotten sills, replacing pilasters, re-glazing, repainting, and restoring ironmongery. We preserve as much original fabric as possible; replace only what is beyond repair.
The warm, inviting aesthetic that food and hospitality businesses need. We design timber frontages around your branding, signage, and customer flow — often incorporating open-out café doors, display windows, and menu board sections.
Iroko, Sapele, Oak, or Accoya modified timber for maximum durability. Accoya carries a 50-year above-ground guarantee and performs exceptionally in the UK's wet climate — the premium specification for a long-life, low-repaint installation.
Timber demands more care — but for the right business, these advantages are decisive.
Many London boroughs require timber for shopfront replacements in conservation areas and on listed buildings. In these locations, timber is not just the best choice — it may be the only permitted one. We navigate planning requirements with you.
No material communicates quality, craft, and authenticity like natural timber. For cafés, bakeries, boutiques, and independents, a timber shopfront is a commercial asset — it attracts footfall and supports premium positioning in a way aluminium cannot replicate.
Timber is a natural insulator — it has far lower thermal conductivity than aluminium (approximately 400x better). Combined with suitable double glazing and draught seals, a timber shopfront contributes meaningfully to energy efficiency and interior comfort.
Responsibly sourced (FSC-certified) timber is the most sustainable commercial shopfront material available. Timber is carbon-sequestering — it stores CO₂ absorbed during growth. Unlike aluminium smelting (highly energy-intensive), timber production has a fraction of the embodied carbon.
Unlike aluminium frames where damage often requires full-section replacement, timber can be repaired in place. A rotten sill, damaged pilaster, or cracked moulding can be cut out and spliced — restoring the shopfront without full removal. This significantly reduces long-term repair costs.
The cellular structure of timber naturally absorbs sound, providing better acoustic dampening than metal frames. For businesses on busy high streets, a timber shopfront contributes to a quieter, calmer interior environment — important for cafés, salons, and offices.
Timber shopfronts deliver the greatest return for businesses where warmth, authenticity, and street character are core to the brand. If customers should feel something the moment they approach your door, timber delivers it.
We believe in transparency. Here is how timber compares to aluminium and glass — honestly.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timber species | Accoya, Iroko, Sapele, Oak, Engineered profiles |
| Standard glazing | 6.4mm–12mm toughened safety glass (BS EN 12150) |
| Security glazing option | Laminated glass (BS EN ISO 12543) |
| Door types | Single/double solid, single/double glazed, recessed entrance |
| Hardware | Multi-point locking, anti-jemmy rebates, quality ironmongery |
| Paint system | Microporous paint or stain — any RAL / BS / NCS colour |
| Repainting interval | Every 3–5 years (Accoya 7–10 years) |
| Lifespan (maintained) | 30–50+ years (Accoya: 50-year guarantee) |
| Lead time | 7–10 working days survey to installation |
| Price range | £3,000 – £20,000+ depending on size and spec |
| Feature | Timber | Aluminium | Glass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation approval | Ideal | Variable | Variable |
| Warmth & character | Best | Minimal | Moderate |
| Thermal insulation | Excellent | Good (TB) | Moderate |
| Repairability | Excellent | Moderate | Poor |
| Sustainability | Best | High energy | Moderate |
| Maintenance needs | Moderate | Low | Very low |
| Acoustic insulation | Good | Moderate | Limited |
| Colour flexibility | Unlimited | RAL range | Tints only |
| Lifespan (maintained) | 30–50+ yrs | 25–35 yrs | 20–30 yrs |
TB = Thermal break aluminium. All data based on properly maintained installations in UK conditions.
We have designed and installed timber shopfronts on listed buildings and in conservation areas across London and the UK. We understand the design parameters that planning authorities expect and can guide you through the approval process.
All fabrication is carried out by our own skilled joiners in our workshop. We do not outsource. That means consistent quality, direct accountability, and faster turnaround — with a single team responsible from survey to sign-off.
We will not sell you timber if aluminium is the better fit. If your planning context allows it and your business case supports it, we will make that recommendation. Our reputation is built on long-term relationships, not one-time sales.
Timber needs care to last. Our annual and biannual maintenance contracts include inspection, resealing, minor repairs, and hardware checks — keeping your shopfront looking and performing as it should without reactive emergency costs.
From Greater London and the Home Counties to Manchester, Cardiff, and Bristol — we deploy the same in-house team nationwide. No regional franchises, no inconsistency. Over 10 years of timber installations, 500+ projects completed.
From initial enquiry to handover — a clear process with no surprises.
We visit your premises, measure the opening, assess the building and its planning context, and discuss your design aspirations, budget, and any conservation or heritage constraints. No charge, no obligation.
We produce detailed design drawings and a full written specification. Where planning consent is required, we advise on the submission and help you develop a design likely to gain approval from the local planning authority.
Once the design is approved and any planning consent obtained, our joiners fabricate your shopfront to the agreed specification. Priming, painting, and finishing are completed in our workshop before delivery — ensuring quality control before it goes on site.
Our team installs your shopfront with minimal disruption to trading hours. We carry out final adjustments, fit all hardware and glazing, clean up fully, and walk you through the care and maintenance requirements before handover.
Real Google reviews from businesses who chose Range Shop Fronts.
"Fantastic work on our bakery shopfront. The team understood exactly what we needed — something warm and welcoming that looked handcrafted. The timber installation is beautiful and our customers comment on it constantly. Really pleased we went with timber over aluminium."
"We had a listed building in a conservation area and were told we had to use timber. Range Shop Fronts handled everything — the design was approved first time by the council. Professional throughout, great quality craftsmanship. Highly recommended."
"Excellent service from start to finish. The survey was thorough, the quote was fair and transparent, and the installation was done in two days without disrupting our trading. The shopfront looks outstanding — exactly what we envisioned for our boutique."
"Had an old timber shopfront that was rotting in places. Range restored it rather than replacing the whole thing — saved us a significant amount and it looks brand new. They were honest about what needed replacing and what could be saved. Genuine craftsmen."
"We specifically wanted Accoya timber for durability and they knew exactly what we meant — no having to explain. Specified the right paint system, talked us through the maintenance schedule, and delivered on time. Will use Range for the maintenance contract going forward."
All installations backed by a comprehensive workmanship guarantee for your peace of mind.
We'll match any like-for-like written quote from a comparable specialist timber installer.
All glazing meets BS EN 12150 and BS EN ISO 12543. All ironmongery to BS EN 179/1125.
We do not disappear after installation. Maintenance contracts, repair support, and advice available throughout the life of your shopfront.
Areas Covered: Greater London • Romford • East London • North London • South London • West London • Manchester • Birmingham • Cardiff • Leeds • Bristol • Liverpool • Sheffield • Swansea • Oxford • Cambridge • Coventry • York • Bath • Nottingham • & Nationwide
The questions we're most commonly asked about timber shopfronts — answered honestly.
Book a free site survey today. We'll assess your building, advise on the right timber and specification, discuss your planning context, and provide a fully itemised written quote — no pressure, no obligation.
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