Curtain walling installation
A curtain walling installer is normally a specialist subcontractor who takes design responsibility for the wall, buys a proprietary system from an aluminium systems company, fabricates it in their own workshop, and fits it on site with their own glazing teams.
On most projects they are appointed by the main contractor; on smaller jobs, such as an entrance or a school block, the client or estates team often appoints them directly.
Guide price: £450 to £525 per m² (stick) to £1,400 to £1,600 per m² (unitised)
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What a curtain walling installer takes on
- Detailed design of the wall from the architect's drawings and performance specification.
- Structural calculations for brackets, mullions and glass under the site wind load.
- Thermal calculations for the whole wall U-value and condensation risk.
- Fabrication of frames and, on unitised work, glazing of panels in the factory.
- Installation, interfaces with the roof, floors and other cladding, and site testing.
- Operation and maintenance information, warranties and as-built drawings.
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What curtain walling installation costs
| Item | Typical figure, ex VAT |
|---|---|
| Stick curtain walling, flat, powder coated Supply and install, flat elevation | £450 to £525 per m² |
| Unitised curtain walling, flat Supply and install, flat elevation | £1,400 to £1,600 per m² |
| Primary school: rotten windows replaced with aluminium curtain walling, windows and doors St Helens Council, March 2022, awarded value | £68,631 |
| School: defective curtain wall screen and windows replaced, with associated works Westmorland and Furness Council, July 2024, awarded value | £159,531 |
Where these figures come from
Per m² rates are for a proprietary aluminium system on a flat elevation, supply and install, excluding VAT, from the RIBA Journal cost guide by Gleeds (March 2025). They do not include scaffolding or access, preliminaries, design fees or testing. Public contract figures are the awarded value on each Contracts Finder notice and cover the whole package described.
Looking for an installer for a new build or a replacement facade? Send the outline and we will find out which specialist can take it on.
Get matched3
Choosing an installer
The installer you pick carries the design risk for a wall that has to keep water out for decades. These are the checks that matter.
Before you appoint
Ask each tenderer to show the following, and compare them side by side.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Design responsibility | Who designs the wall, and the professional indemnity insurance that backs it |
| System and test evidence | Which proprietary system, and its laboratory test report to the CWCT standard or BS EN 13830 |
| Similar projects | Walls of a similar type, height and size they have completed |
| Workshop and labour | Their own fabrication and fitting teams, or subcontracted |
| Programme | Design period, lead time for materials and installation rate |
| Warranty | Length and cover for the installation, and the system and glass warranties behind it |
Interfaces cause most problems
Leaks and cold spots rarely start in the middle of a curtain wall. They start where it meets the roof, the ground, the slab, the brickwork or another cladding system. Make sure the drawings show who is responsible for each interface, and that membranes and fire stopping at each floor are in the right package.
Testing during the job
Expect the system to have laboratory test evidence already, a mock-up test on larger or bespoke projects, and on-site hose testing of a sample of joints once installed. Structural warranty providers commonly ask for at least 5% of critical joints to be tested by a UKAS-accredited body before internal finishes go on.
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From appointment to handover
Design and survey
Fabrication drawings, calculations and samples are produced and approved; slab edges are surveyed.
Order and fabricate
Profiles, glass and panels are ordered; frames or units are made in the workshop.
Install
Brackets, frames, glass and panels go in, with interfaces sealed as the work proceeds.
Test and close out
Hose testing, snagging, cleaning, and handover of manuals and warranties.
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Questions people ask
What do curtain walling installers do?
They design, make and fit the curtain wall: turning the architect's intent into fabrication drawings and calculations, fabricating the frames or panels, installing them and testing the finished wall.
How much does curtain walling installation cost?
Supply and install typically runs £450 to £525 per m² for a stick system and £1,400 to £1,600 per m² for unitised, before VAT, access and design. Public school contracts to replace curtain walling and windows have been awarded at £68,631 to £161,481.
How long does curtain walling take to install?
It depends on the size and system. A single entrance screen can be fitted in days once made; a multi-storey facade takes weeks to months. The longest part is usually design approval and material lead times before site work starts.
Do I need planning permission to replace curtain walling?
Replacing like for like may not need permission, but a change in appearance, colour or glass usually does, and listed buildings or conservation areas have extra controls. Check with the local planning authority. Building Regulations apply to replacement curtain walling either way.
Who should appoint the curtain walling installer?
On larger projects the main contractor appoints them as a specialist subcontractor. For a stand-alone replacement or repair, the building owner or estates team can appoint directly, ideally with a facade consultant or architect checking the design.
Find a curtain walling installer
Location first, then the package, then your contact details. Each step is short.
We are an introduction service, not a curtain walling contractor. We look for one that covers the project and name them to you first; nothing is passed on until you agree.
Thanks, we have your enquiry.
- We look for a curtain walling contractor that covers the project and handles this kind of package.
- When we find one, we email or call to tell you who they are. Your details reach that firm only if you say yes.
- They review the drawings or the building and price the work. No marketing from us.