In a framed partition, glass sits inside a thin aluminium channel. That channel can accommodate some variation in the surrounding walls. Glass thickness and fittings still depend on the size and use. The service cards show our current starting rates before GST.
Prices and guide information: Fabrockers. Availability depends on the service; check its page for cities served.
What a framed system is
A U-shaped aluminium channel runs around the opening, along the floor, the top and both sides. The glass sits inside it on packers and rubber gaskets. On a long run, upright posts join one panel to the next.
A door either hangs in its own frame with an overhead closer, or, if it is heavy, turns on a floor spring. A floor spring is the closer set into the floor under the door.
The channel carries some of the weight, so the glass can usually be 8mm or 10mm, thinner than frameless needs. That saves money on the glass, but some of it goes back into the channel. That is why the two systems end up closer in price than most people expect.
Who should choose a frame over frameless
A frame suits a building where the walls are clearly out of straight or the floor is not level. The channel takes up a few millimetres of gap at every edge, and frameless has nowhere to put that gap.
It also suits a partition that may need to move, such as a co-working suite or an office on a short lease. A framed partition can be unbolted and put up again in a new opening. Frameless glass only fits an opening of exactly the same size.
And it suits anyone who wants colour. Aluminium can be powder coated black, bronze, white or another colour, which is how the black-framed look is made.
Where a frame costs less, and where it does not
A frame saves money on the glass, because thinner glass costs less per square foot. It also needs fewer holes and cut-outs, because the channel carries the weight instead of bolts through the glass.
It costs more on the metal and the labour. The channel is priced by the length of edge, so a partition made of many small panes costs more than one made of two large panes. Powder coating adds to the cost.
So on a simple straight run, a framed system usually costs a little less than frameless. On a run with many small panes, it can cost a little more.
What the common setups cost
Guide example figures. The calculations below use their stated rates. See the current service rates before budgeting.
Our aluminium-framed partition with a door starts at ₹850 per sq ft. That is the same starting rate as a frameless partition with a door. At that rate, a 5 x 7 ft run with a door is 35 sq ft, or about ₹29,800 before GST.
Where your job lands depends on the number of panes, the glass thickness and the finish. A plain silver finish costs less than powder coating.
We can price framed and frameless side by side for your opening. The written price after we measure is the one that counts.
How the job runs and how long it takes
We measure on site, give you a written price, and take an advance once you approve it.
The glass is toughened and the aluminium is cut to your sizes at the same time. Most jobs are done in 3 to 4 days from measuring to fitting. A powder-coated colour can add time, and we tell you how much when we quote.
On site, the channel goes up first and is levelled. Then the glass drops into it. One framed cabin wall usually takes one day on site.
What it is made of
The frame is aluminium U-channel with upright posts, in a plain, anodised or powder-coated finish.
The glass is 8mm or 10mm clear toughened glass. Frosted and tinted glass are also available.
Gaskets and packers sit at every glass edge. They stop the rattle that badly built framed partitions are known for, so ask about them in any quote you compare.
A door can be a framed leaf on hinges with an overhead closer. Where the door is heavy or used all day, it can be a glass leaf on a floor spring.
What we look after
We look after the whole job. That includes the step that most often goes wrong on framed work: setting the channel level and straight before any glass arrives. Glass ordered against a badly set channel will not fit.
We measure, make and fit with our own team, and we plan around your building's access rules.
We give a 2-year warranty on every product we fit, and 6 months on our repair and installation work.
What happens after you get in touch
Send the opening sizes, a photo, and the colour if you have one in mind. We call you back with a range. We also tell you whether a framed or a frameless system suits your site better.
If we visit, you get a written price. The glass, the aluminium, the fittings and the fitting work are on separate lines.
