Dorset · England
Curtain Walling in Dorset
Our glaziers install aluminium curtain walling and full-height glazed screens in Dorset, coordinating with other trades and sealing every interface with the structure.
- Guide from £455 per m²
- 7 towns covered
- Postcode areas BH, DT, SP
Curtain walling in Dorset
The Centre for Window and Cladding Technology publishes the Standard for systemised building envelopes, the recognised UK industry standard for specifying, testing and assessing curtain walling. It draws in BS EN 13830 and the relevant building regulations, and is often referenced in commercial specifications.
The look of the facade depends on how the glass is held. Capped systems clamp the glass with pressure plates hidden behind a visible cover cap, while structural silicone glazing bonds the glass to carrier frames so the outside reads as a smooth, almost frameless surface.
BS EN 13830 is the product standard for curtain walling. It treats the system as a kit, including its fixings, set from vertical up to 15 degrees off vertical. Sloping roof glazing and patent glazing fall outside it and are covered by other standards.
A stick system is built on site piece by piece. Aluminium mullions and transoms are fixed to the structure first, then the glass and infill panels go in, and finally the pressure plates and caps. It suits low-rise buildings and screens but needs access to both faces.
Towns we cover for curtain walling in Dorset
Choose your town for local details, nearby areas and the postcode districts we cover.
What applies in Dorset
Approved Document K requires safety glass in critical locations in England: glazing in doors and in side panels within 300 mm of a door, up to 1500 mm above floor level, and any glazing in walls or partitions up to 800 mm above floor level.
Replacing windows and doors with similar ones is usually permitted development for houses in England. Flats, listed buildings and homes in conservation areas or covered by an Article 4 direction can need permission, so check with the council first.
Dorset has its own coastline, so for homes and businesses near the sea, salt air and wind-driven rain are part of the brief. Facades near the sea face salt-laden wind and driving rain, which attack frame finishes and stress seals. Suitable coating specifications, regular washing, gasket checks and higher design wind loads for exposed sites all matter for curtain walling there.
City-centre facades often need crane or hoist bookings, pavement or road licences, out-of-hours deliveries and close coordination with other trades. Tight sites need careful sequencing, and unitised panels can reduce the amount of work at height.
Guide prices
| Typical job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Curtain walling, per m² (stick system) | £455 – £795 |
| Curtain walling, per m² (unitised) | £545 – £955 |
Choosing your curtain walling
Capped system
Glass clamped by pressure plates behind a visible external cap, available in different profiles and colours to emphasise the grid.
Structural silicone glazing
Glass bonded to carrier frames with structural sealant, giving a flush external face with minimal visible framing.
Unitised curtain wall
Factory-assembled, pre-glazed storey-height panels lifted into place, reducing site joints and work at height on taller or tight sites.
Integrated opening vents
Top-hung or parallel-opening vents built into the curtain wall grid to provide natural ventilation without breaking the facade line.
Curtain Walling in Dorset: questions
How does curtain walling keep water out?
Curtain walling uses outer gaskets and seals to shed most rain, with drainage routes inside the framing that collect any water getting past them and lead it back outside. Inner seals then provide the air seal. Keeping drainage outlets clear and gaskets in good condition is essential, because blocked drains or shrunk seals can let water into the building.
Should I choose a stick or unitised curtain wall?
A stick system is assembled on site and generally suits low-rise buildings, entrances and smaller screens, with simpler logistics. A unitised system uses factory-made panels lifted into place, which reduces site joints and work at height but needs cranage and longer planning. The building's height, access and programme usually decide which is the right fit.
Can a single broken glass unit in a curtain wall be replaced?
Usually, yes. In capped systems the cap and pressure plate are removed to release the glass, and a new unit is fitted and resealed. Structurally bonded glass needs the new unit bonding to its carrier, which takes more preparation. Height and access drive much of the work, so we survey the unit and access before quoting.
What affects the cost of curtain walling?
The main cost drivers are facade area, system type, glass specification, infill panels, opening vents, building height and access equipment such as scaffolding, hoists or cranes. Structural silicone glazing, unitised panels, fire-resisting sections and testing requirements add cost. See the guide prices for typical ranges, and your written quote fixes the price for the specification.
Which parts of Dorset do you cover for curtain walling?
We cover the whole of Dorset, including Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, Christchurch and Dorchester, and postcode areas BH, DT, SP. Building rules for curtain walling here follow the regulations for England. Enter your postcode on the quote form and we will confirm cover; then a glazier will arrange a free survey before giving you a written quote.
Other glazing services in Dorset
- Replacement Glass in Dorset
- Misted Glass Repair in Dorset
- Emergency Glazing in Dorset
- Safety Glass in Dorset
- Window Repairs in Dorset
- Window Film in Dorset
- uPVC Windows in Dorset
- Aluminium Windows in Dorset
- Sash Windows in Dorset
- Composite Doors in Dorset
- Bifold Doors in Dorset
- Sliding Doors in Dorset
- Secondary Glazing in Dorset
- Roof Lanterns in Dorset
- Glass Balustrades in Dorset
- Frameless Glass in Dorset
- Shower Screens in Dorset
- Glass Splashbacks in Dorset
- Bespoke Mirrors in Dorset
- Glass Roofs in Dorset
- Shopfront Glazing in Dorset
- Glass Partitions in Dorset
- Property Glazing in Dorset
All glazing in Dorset · Curtain Walling & Glazed Screens across the UK
Get a written quote in Dorset
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.