Glossary of Architectural Features Found on Commercial Buildings

A decorative moulding that frames a window, door, or other opening in a wall. On commercial buildings, architraves are typically found around entrance doors and display windows. They can be constructed from timber, aluminium, or composite materials. When refurbishing a shopfront, the architrave treatment, whether recoated or replaced, significantly affects the overall aesthetic quality of the result.

Metal arms or structural brackets that support signage on a shopfront or building facade. Armatures project from the building face and carry sign panels, illuminated box signs, or projecting blade signs. They are typically fabricated from mild or stainless steel. Armatures on commercial shopfronts are a common component in spray painting programmes where signage and facade are being refreshed simultaneously.

A fabric, polycarbonate, or metal covering attached to a metal frame that projects from a building above a window or entrance. Awnings provide weather protection and shade. The metal frame supporting an awning, typically powder-coated aluminium or galvanised steel, is subject to all the standard external metalwork weathering and corrosion mechanisms, and may require recoating as part of a broader shopfront maintenance programme.

A large open internal space, often multi-storey, within a building, typically covered by a glazed roof or skylight structure. In commercial buildings such as shopping centres, offices, and hotels, the exposed metalwork within an atrium, structural steelwork, balustrade systems, suspended walkway structures, is accessible to building users and is therefore often required to be maintained to a high decorative standard as well as a protective one.

An individual vertical post, also known as a spindle, forming part of a balustrade system on a staircase, balcony, or landing. Balusters are structural components that fill the gap between the handrail above and the base rail or floor below, preventing falls. In commercial buildings, balusters are commonly fabricated from mild steel, stainless steel, or aluminium, and are frequently spray-painted as part of staircase refurbishment programmes.

The complete railing assembly found on staircases, balconies, mezzanines, and raised walkways, consisting of a handrail, balusters or infill panels, and a base rail. Balustrades on commercial staircases are among the most frequently recoated metalwork items in any building: they receive daily physical contact and are highly visible. A failing or unsightly balustrade coating is invariably one of the first items that building managers prioritise for attention.

A fixed or adjustable external shading device attached to a building facade, typically an array of horizontal or angled louvres, fins, or blades in aluminium or steel. Brise-soleils are common on contemporary commercial office buildings and are specifically designed to reduce solar gain through glazing. The aluminium louvre elements are subject to the same weathering and coating degradation as any other external aluminium, periodic recoating restores colour uniformity and surface protection.

The solid panel section at the base of a shopfront, below the display window and above ground level. Bulkheads are a structural and aesthetic component of retail shopfronts, they conceal service runs, provide a base for the display window framing, and contribute significantly to the visual weight of the shopfront design. Bulkheads are frequently fabricated from aluminium composite panels or mild steel, and recoating the bulkhead is a standard part of any shopfront refurbishment scope.

A metal framework, typically aluminium or steel, clad with fabric, glass, metal, or polycarbonate, that projects from a building over an entrance or walkway to provide weather protection. Canopies are a dominant visual element of retail shopfronts and commercial building entrances. The metal framework of a canopy is exposed to all external weathering conditions, and canopy recoating, including the underside soffit, is frequently required as part of entrance and shopfront maintenance programmes.

An outer layer of panels or sheets fixed to the structural frame or elevation of a building to provide weather protection and an external decorative finish. On commercial and industrial buildings, cladding is most commonly formed from profiled steel or aluminium sheets, factory-coated with a polyester or PVDF coating system. Over time this factory coating degrades: colour fades, cut edges corrode, and the coating film loses its protective integrity. On-site recoating of metal cladding extends the service life of the panel system without the disruption and cost of full replacement.

A decorative projecting support bracket used on shopfronts to visually separate or demarcate adjacent retail units. Console brackets are typically fabricated from cast or fabricated aluminium, or pressed steel, and are often highly ornate on traditional or classical-style retail frontages. They form part of the overall shopfront coating specification and are painted to match or complement the surrounding shopfront elements.

The horizontal projecting feature at the top of a shopfront elevation or building facade, typically a moulded or profiled section that caps the fascia and marks the transition to the building above. On classical and traditional commercial buildings, cornices are often elaborate moulded plaster or stone elements; on contemporary shopfronts they are typically aluminium or steel sections. A cornice in poor condition or mismatched colour is highly visible and can substantially undermine an otherwise clean shopfront refurbishment.

Metal sheeting, typically galvanised steel or aluminium, formed with parallel ridges and troughs to add structural rigidity to a thin sheet material. Corrugated metal is commonly used for roofing and wall cladding on industrial and agricultural buildings. The profiled surface is susceptible to cut-edge corrosion at sheet laps and fixings, and the irregular profile makes brush painting impractical, airless spray application is the standard method for recoating corrugated metal cladding.

A non-structural, lightweight facade system, typically an aluminium framework infilled with glass panels, spandrel panels, or other cladding materials, attached to the outside of a building's structural frame. Curtain walling does not carry floor or roof loads; it functions purely as an environmental separator. It is the dominant facade system on contemporary commercial office buildings. The aluminium frame sections can be recoated on-site to restore colour and provide a renewed protective coating system without dismantling the facade.

The large glazed opening in the front face of a retail shopfront, designed to showcase merchandise to passers-by. The display window is defined by the metal or timber frame surrounding it, typically an aluminium frame sitting on the bulkhead below and running up to the transom or cornice above. The frame sections of the display window form a key element of the shopfront coating scope and must be finished to a consistent colour and gloss level throughout.

Structural steelwork or framework used to support mechanical and electrical equipment installed on a roof, including HVAC units, generators, cooling towers, and telecommunications equipment. Dunnage is invariably exposed to the harshest possible external environment (elevated position, no shelter, direct weather exposure) and is therefore one of the earliest items to show corrosion on a building roof. Regular inspection and recoating of dunnage steelwork is important to prevent structural deterioration.

The lowest edge of a roof slope, where the roof surface overhangs the top of the external wall. On clad industrial and commercial buildings, the eave is often formed by the bottom edge of the roof cladding sheets, a common location for cut-edge corrosion and water ingress from blocked or failing guttering. Recoating eave sections and guttering is frequently combined with a wider cladding maintenance programme.

The external vertical face of a building, as in "south elevation" or "front elevation". In architectural and refurbishment contexts, the term is also used to refer to a scaled two-dimensional drawing showing the external face of a building from a particular viewpoint. When discussing coating and refurbishment scope, specifying which elevation is being treated is essential to avoid ambiguity about what is and is not included in the work.

The main face or front elevation of a building, the face that presents itself to the street or public space. The facade is the primary determinant of a commercial building's visual identity and first impression. For retail and commercial buildings, the condition of the facade, and specifically the quality of its coating and finish, directly affects customer and visitor perception of the business. Facade refurbishment and recoating is the core scope of most Vanda Coatings commercial projects.

A glazed panel, originally fan-shaped, though now often rectangular, positioned above an entrance door to allow light into the entrance lobby. On older retail buildings and traditional commercial architecture, fanlights are often framed with decorative metalwork. The metal frame surrounding a fanlight panel is typically included in the overall door and entrance recoating scope when a building entrance is being refurbished.

The horizontal board or panel at the front face of a shopfront, positioned below the cornice or as an integrated element of it, that typically carries the business name, branding, or signage. The fascia is one of the most prominent and brand-critical elements of any retail or commercial shopfront. Colour accuracy and finish quality on the fascia are high-priority requirements in any shopfront coating specification.

The structural surround of a window or door opening, the metallic structure, typically aluminium or steel, that supports the glazing or door panel and is fixed to the building fabric. Window frames are among the most frequently recoated metalwork items on commercial buildings. The frame sections (head, jambs, sill, and transoms/mullions where present) define the colour and finish of the fenestration and contribute significantly to the overall appearance of the building facade.

A metal grid or screen, typically welded or cast steel, placed over a window, door, or vent opening for security or decorative purposes. Security grilles on commercial buildings are often fixed open or can be folded/retracted; decorative grilles are fixed in position. Metal grilles are a regular item in shopfront and entrance recoating programmes, they receive daily handling and are highly visible to the public, meaning that coating wear is noticed quickly.

A slender metal or timber bar used to subdivide a window opening into multiple smaller glazed panes. On traditional shopfronts and period commercial buildings, glazing bars are often the defining architectural detail of the window. Glazing bars in aluminium or steel are recoated as part of window refurbishment programmes, their small section size and complex profile make airless spray application significantly more efficient than brush painting.

The horizontal section of a window or door frame at the top of the opening, the uppermost member of the frame that spans between the two jambs. On aluminium window and curtain walling systems, the head section often incorporates weather seals and drainage channels. The head section is included within the full window frame recoating scope, and its colour must match the jambs and sill precisely for a consistent result.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems, the mechanical engineering systems that control the internal environment of a building. On commercial buildings, HVAC equipment includes wall-mounted grilles and diffusers, external condenser units, rooftop air handling units, and ductwork. External HVAC metalwork components are subject to weathering and corrosion, particularly in coastal, industrial, or urban environments, and are regularly included in external metalwork maintenance programmes.

The vertical side sections of a window or door frame, running from head to sill on either side of the glazed opening. Jambs carry the weight of the frame and glazing unit (in combination with the sill) and provide the fixing points for hinges, locks, and opening gear. Jambs are always included in a complete window recoating scope, and the depth of the jamb section, the reveals, requires careful masking or cutting-in to achieve clean, consistent colour transitions.

A horizontal structural member spanning across the top of a window or door opening, carrying the load of the wall or structure above. On commercial buildings, lintels are typically steel or reinforced concrete. Exposed steel lintels, for example on industrial or warehouse buildings, are subject to corrosion and should be included within the metalwork maintenance and recoating scope. Concrete lintels may require specialist treatments where carbonation or rebar corrosion is present.

A transitional entrance area between the street and the main building interior, in retail, the recessed entrance zone between the outer shopfront face and the shop entrance door. The metalwork within an entrance lobby, including door frames, threshold sections, and side-wall cladding, is subject to high footfall, physical contact, and frequent cleaning, and therefore requires a particularly durable and hardwearing coating specification relative to the wider building envelope.

A structural or decorative vertical dividing member separating adjacent panes of glass or panels within a window frame or curtain walling system. On aluminium curtain walling, mullions are the primary structural vertical members that carry the weight of the glazing and transfer loads to the building structure. The exposed faces of mullion sections are prominent elements of the building facade and are regularly recoated as part of curtain walling and window refurbishment programmes.

A low wall at the edge of a roof, balcony, or elevated platform, typically formed as an extension of the external wall above the roofline. On commercial buildings, parapets are often clad in metal and capped with a metal coping to shed water away from the wall face. Parapet cladding and coping sections are in a particularly aggressive weathering position, top of building, direct weather exposure, standing water risk, and should be high priority in any external maintenance inspection programme.

A shallow, flat-fronted rectangular column projecting slightly from a wall face, typically used for decorative effect or to frame a bay or opening. Pilasters on commercial buildings are common on high-street retail architecture and traditional commercial facades. When fabricated from metal or clad with metal sheet, pilasters are included in any facade recoating scope and must be treated to match the surrounding elevation finishes precisely.

The inner face of a wall at the side of a door or window opening, the depth of wall between the external face and the window or door frame. Reveals are visible from outside through the window opening and from inside the building. In commercial refurbishment, reveals are often included within the overall window or door recoating scope, an uncoated or mismatched reveal is clearly visible and diminishes the overall quality of the finished result.

A security shutter formed from a series of horizontal interlocking steel or aluminium slats that roll up around a barrel mechanism above the opening. Roller shutters are used on shopfronts, loading bays, warehouse doors, and car park entrances. The painted surface of roller shutters is subject to regular physical contact, weathering, and surface abrasion, making them one of the most frequently recoated metalwork items on commercial properties. On-site airless spray application restores colour, finish, and corrosion protection without removing the shutter.

The street-level facade assembly of a retail unit, comprising the display window framing, bulkhead, fascia, cornice, canopy (where present), entrance door, and associated signage elements. The shopfront is the primary brand-facing element of a retail business and the component most directly associated with the property's first impression on customers. Shopfront recoating is one of Vanda Coatings' most common commercial project types, restoring colour accuracy, finish quality, and brand consistency without full replacement.

The graphic display elements, letters, symbols, logos, and illuminated features, used on a commercial building to identify and advertise the business. Signage panels and their supporting metalwork frameworks are regularly included within a broader shopfront or facade recoating programme, particularly where branding colour changes are required or where weathered signage metalwork is inconsistent with the wider facade finish.

The flat horizontal member at the base of a window frame, the lowest member that spans the full width of the window opening. External window sills must shed water efficiently to prevent standing water at the frame-to-wall junction; a correctly formed sill has a front overhang and a drip detail to direct water clear of the wall face. Horizontal sill sections are among the most vulnerable to bird guano damage and dirt accumulation, and their coating condition is an important indicator of overall window frame health.

The exposed underside of an architectural element, most commonly the underside of a roof overhang, canopy, staircase, beam, or ceiling void. External metal soffits are directly exposed to moisture and pollution and require the same level of surface preparation and coating maintenance as any other external metalwork to prevent corrosion. The underside of a canopy or entrance overhang is often one of the most visible elements encountered as building visitors approach an entrance and is included in entrance refurbishment scopes accordingly.

A non-transparent panel, typically metal, glass, or composite, used in curtain walling systems to fill the space between the top of one floor's glazing and the bottom of the floor above, concealing the floor slab and services behind the facade. Spandrel panels are a significant visual element of curtain-walled office buildings and can be recoated in-situ as part of a wider curtain walling maintenance programme.

In coating terminology, the substrate is the underlying base material onto which the coating system is applied. For commercial building metalwork, common substrates include aluminium (window frames, curtain walling, shopfronts), mild steel (roller shutters, cladding, structural steelwork), galvanised steel (external cladding, roof panels), and factory powder-coated finishes where a liquid topcoat is being applied over the existing coating. The substrate material determines the primer type, surface preparation method, and coating system required for a durable result.

Also known as a false ceiling or drop ceiling, a secondary horizontal layer hung below the structural ceiling or floor slab above, creating a concealed void for services. In commercial buildings, the metal grid framework of a suspended ceiling system is often visible and contributes to the appearance of the interior. Spray painting the ceiling void above a suspended ceiling, including structural elements, services, and ductwork, is a specialist application area where controlled airless spray technique is essential to avoid contamination of the tiles below.

A horizontal dividing member within a window or curtain walling frame, running across the full width of the window opening to divide it into vertically stacked sections, or separating a fanlight from the main window below. On curtain walling systems, transoms are the primary horizontal structural members and carry the weight of glazing units. Transoms and mullions together form the visible grid pattern of a curtain walled facade, and their colour and finish condition define the appearance of the building.

Metal or plastic conduits and ducting systems used to conceal and route electrical cables or mechanical services across a building's internal or external surfaces. Exposed metal trunking on the external face of a commercial building, for example, surface-mounted conduit runs on older buildings, may be included in an external metalwork recoating programme to ensure that ancillary items do not contrast visually with the main facade finish.