A store refit is judged on the day it reopens — and graphics are almost always the last thing to go in. That puts installation at the sharp end of the programme, where any earlier slippage lands. Planning the graphics phase properly is what stops a refit opening with bare windows and an apologetic sign on the door.
Where graphics sit in the programme
Vinyl needs clean, dry, finished surfaces, so it follows the shopfitters, decorators and glaziers. If painting overruns, the graphics window shrinks rather than moves — the opening date rarely does. Building a realistic buffer into that final phase is the single most useful thing a project manager can do.
The graphics phase of a refit
- Hoarding graphics covering the unit while work goes on behind.
- Survey once the shopfront is in, so print matches the built dimensions.
- Window and shopfront vinyl installed after glazing and cleaning.
- Interior graphics and POS fitted alongside the fixtures.
- Hoarding removal and a final clean before the reveal.
Survey after the shopfront is built
Architectural drawings show intent; the finished shopfront shows reality. Frames end up a few millimetres out, transoms move, handles land differently. Surveying after installation of the glazing — not from the drawing — is what stops a full set of panels arriving slightly too wide on the eve of opening.
Frequently asked questions
When should graphics be installed during a refit?
After glazing, decorating and cleaning are complete, so surfaces are finished and dry. Surveys should be taken from the built shopfront rather than the drawings.
Can you work alongside our shopfitters?
Yes. UK Install regularly works as part of a wider fit-out team, scheduling around other trades and the main contractor’s programme.
Do you supply hoarding graphics during the works?
Yes. We install building hoarding graphics for the duration of a refit and remove them before opening. Call 0207 112 8863.
Planning a store refit? Talk to UK Install early or call 0207 112 8863. See our installation services.