Achieving an ideal curtain walling installation is not as simple as it may appear. From the exterior, a completed building with a smooth glass façade appears sleek, clean, and seamless. Behind that glaze, however, much skill, design, and troubleshooting occur in every curtain walling installation.
Installers are confronted with many challenges along the way. Big ones. Small ones. Sometimes surprise ones. And handling those challenges the correct way is what makes a fantastic installer and an average one different.
Let’s examine some of the most common issues that arise during a curtain walling installation—and why getting the right team is so critical.
1. Handling Structural Tolerances
Buildings never quite live up to blueprints. Walls are not flat. Angles are not always precisely 90 degrees.
When installers begin to work on an actual site, they usually discover slight shifts or irregularities in the structure of the building. Even minute problems can disrupt a curtain walling installation.
Skilled installers understand how to compensate for such flaws. They fine-tune the system carefully to ensure a flawless, smooth appearance without inducing pressure points or leaks. It’s science, experience, and sometimes a little creative problem-solving.
2. Dealing with Weather Conditions
Weather can be a giant headache when installing.
Heavy rain, freezing temperatures, or high winds can all cause delays or completely halt work. Certain forms of curtain wall glazing can’t be properly installed when it’s too cold or too wet.
A quality installation team looks ahead, monitors the weather, and is aware when it’s wiser to wait than to push and risk trouble later. Safety will always come first—but so will quality.
3. Coordinating Difficult Designs
Modern architects love pushing the limits with building designs. And honestly, the results are often stunning.
But for installers, complicated shapes, curves, or huge panels can be a real challenge. Each custom piece has to fit just right. And when you’re working with a curtain walling system, even a few millimetres off can cause major headaches.
It requires careful precision—and plenty of double and triple-checking—to ensure that all pieces of curtain wall glazing fit properly. That’s why experience working on various types of projects comes in so handy when selecting your installer.
4. Safety Concerns at Heights
Working with curtain walls typically means working high off the ground. And the higher you are, the more danger you’re in.
There’s a lot of heavy lifting, and the added risk of gusty winds at altitude. Installers require the proper safety equipment, sturdy scaffolding, and rigorous safety procedures to ensure everyone stays safe without sacrificing the job getting done correctly.
Pro teams don’t skimp. They find a balance between speed and caution—and that’s precisely what you need when your project is taking place 10, 20, or 30 stories in the air.
We are the curtain wall fit specialists for UK businesses across the board. We have the experts in curtain walling who have the knowledge necessary to deal with all the challenges of the real world involved with the installation of a high-performing curtain walling system. We have the experience, skill, and precision it takes to ensure your job is completed securely, on time, and of the highest level.
Final Thoughts
Curtain walling may appear easy on the outside—but behind each successful project lies a team of experts who know how to work with structural oddities, difficult weather, fiddly designs, and worksite safety.
Selecting qualified curtain walling contractors guarantees your curtain walling installation not just looks great but works flawlessly as well. Whether it’s precision-fitting fiddly panels or coping with unpredictable weather, expert installers are the ones who perform the magic.
So when planning your next project, ensure that you are doing it with a team that thoroughly understands curtain wall glazing and the complete expectations of a professional curtain walling system. You’ll save yourself time, money, and loads of headaches in the long term.
