Structural glazing
Structural glazing removes the visible frame from the outside of the facade. The glass is held by structural silicone bonded to a hidden frame, by stainless steel bolts and "spider" brackets, or by glass fins that stiffen the wall against the wind.
It is used for entrances, atriums, showrooms, link bridges and the glazed walls of private houses, wherever the design calls for an uninterrupted sheet of glass.
Guide price: £75 to £85 per m² extra over a framed system for a flush face; bolted work priced per project
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Where structural glazing is used
- Double-height entrances, receptions and atriums.
- Car showrooms and retail frontages that need the clearest possible view.
- Glass links and walkways between buildings.
- Feature walls on hotels, galleries and education buildings.
- High-end private houses with frameless glass gables or wall-to-wall openings.
- Refurbishments where a tired framed entrance is replaced with a cleaner glass wall.
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What structural glazing costs
| Item | Typical figure, ex VAT |
|---|---|
| Flush glass face, no external caps (stick) Silicone-bonded outer face on a stick system, extra over the stick rate | £75 to £85 per m² |
| Structural silicone flush face (unitised) Structural silicone glazing on a unitised system, extra over | £90 to £100 per m² |
| Stick system base rate The framed wall behind a bonded face | £450 to £525 per m² |
| Reception entrance: inner and outer glazed walls and three sets of doors University of Salford, January 2024, awarded value | £72,295 |
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. Bolted spider glazing and glass fin walls are designed and priced per project; there is no reliable published rate per m², because the glass size, fin depth and steelwork drive the cost.
Planning a frameless entrance, atrium or glass wall? Tell us about it and we will look for a structural glazing specialist.
Get matched3
Three ways to hold the glass
Each method suits a different look and a different budget. The engineering, not the glass, usually sets the price.
Comparing the methods
All three need a specialist to design the glass and its supports for the wind load at that height and location.
| Method | How the glass is held | Usual use |
|---|---|---|
| Structural silicone (SSG) | Bonded to a hidden aluminium frame with structural silicone; no caps outside | Flush facades on offices and towers |
| Bolted or spider glazing | Drilled glass fixed with stainless bolts to cast or machined brackets on steel or glass supports | Entrances, atriums, canopies |
| Glass fins | Large panes stiffened by vertical glass fins, bonded or bolted | Tall clear walls with no steel in view |
Glass specification
Structural glass is normally toughened, heat-soaked to reduce the risk of spontaneous breakage, and laminated so it stays in place if a pane breaks. Where people could fall or collide with the glass, Approved Document K applies, and glazing in critical locations needs a suitable impact classification.
Silicone and maintenance
Structural silicone is designed to last, but its joints must be applied in clean, controlled conditions and checked during the life of the building. A maintenance plan should list inspection of bonded joints, bolts and fins, and how a broken pane would be replaced.
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How a structural glazing job gets done
Concept and engineering
The glass sizes, supports and fixings are designed and calculated for the site wind load.
Approvals and samples
Fittings, silicone colour and glass samples are agreed, and the steel or fin design checked against the structure.
Fabrication
Glass is cut, drilled, toughened, heat soaked and laminated; supports are made to suit.
Installation
Supports are set out, glass lifted with vacuum lifters, joints sealed, and the result inspected.
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Questions people ask
What is structural glazing?
A way of glazing a building with no visible frame on the outside. The glass is held by structural silicone, by bolts and brackets, or by glass fins, rather than by caps or beads.
What is spider glazing?
Bolted structural glazing where each corner of the glass is fixed with a stainless steel bolt to a cast bracket shaped like a spider, which is fixed in turn to steel or glass supports behind.
How much does structural glazing cost?
On a framed system, a silicone-bonded flush face adds about £75 to £85 per m² over a stick wall at £450 to £525 per m². Bolted and glass fin walls are engineered per project and generally cost more per m² than a framed curtain wall of the same size.
Is structural glazing safe?
Yes, when it is engineered properly. Structural glass is usually toughened, heat soaked and laminated, so a broken pane stays in place, and the supports are designed for the wind load with a safety margin.
Does structural glazing meet Part L?
It has to meet the same limits as other curtain walling: for buildings other than dwellings in England, the 2021 edition of Approved Document L sets a limiting U-value of 1.6 W/m²K for new or replacement curtain walling. Bolted glass has fewer frames but more point fixings, so the whole-wall figure must be calculated.
Find a structural glazing specialist
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.