Grays · Essex
Curtain Walling in Grays
Planning a glazed facade in Grays? Our glaziers can survey the building and quote for stick or unitised curtain walling specified for its height, exposure and energy needs.
- RM17
- RM16
- RM20
- Guide from £455 per m²
About curtain walling in Grays
Wind load on a facade rises with height, exposure and building shape, and it decides the mullion size, bracket design and glass thickness. Calculations for the specific site are part of the design, so a system suited to a sheltered ground-floor screen may not suit an exposed upper storey.
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.
Toughened glass can very occasionally break on its own because of nickel sulphide inclusions. Heat soak testing to BS EN 14179 reduces that risk by breaking flawed panes in the factory, and it is often specified for toughened glass high on facades where a breakage is harder to deal with.
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.
What's included
- Survey of openings, supporting structure and access
- System selection and glass specification for the building
- Supply and installation of framing, glass and panels
- Sealing, weathering and drainage details at all interfaces
About Grays for this job
- Postcodes covered
- RM17, RM16, RM20 and the surrounding area, including South Ockendon, Gravesend and Dartford
- Coast
- Grays is about 4 km from the coast or a tidal estuary, so salt air and wind-driven rain are worth planning for. 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.
- Daylight and sun
- In Grays the midwinter sun reaches about 15° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.6 hours of daylight, rising to about 62° and 16.4 hours in midsummer. Large glazed facades bring in plenty of daylight but also solar gain and glare, especially on south and west elevations. Solar control glass, shading and blinds are balanced against light transmission so interiors stay bright without overheating.
- Access and setting
- 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.
- Rules in England
- 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.
Guide prices in Grays
| Typical job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Curtain walling, per m² (stick system) | £455 – £795 |
| Curtain walling, per m² (unitised) | £545 – £955 |
Get a guide price for your size
Approved Document L sets the minimum energy performance for replacement windows and doors in existing homes in England: a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K, or Window Energy Rating band B for windows; doors can instead meet a Door Set Energy Rating (band B, or band C for doors more than 60% glazed); rooflights need 2.2 W/m²K.
What you can choose
Structural silicone glazing
Glass bonded to carrier frames with structural sealant, giving a flush external face with minimal visible framing.
Stick curtain wall
Mullions and transoms assembled on site with glass and panels fitted afterwards, suited to low-rise buildings, entrances and ground-floor screens.
Opaque spandrel panels
Insulated or back-painted glass panels that hide floor slabs, ceiling voids and services while keeping the facade's appearance consistent.
Curtain Walling in Grays: questions
How should curtain walling be maintained?
Curtain walling should be cleaned regularly and inspected at planned intervals. Check that drainage outlets are clear, gaskets have not shrunk or slipped, sealant joints are intact and fixings show no corrosion. Address misted or cracked units early. A simple maintenance schedule kept with the building records helps facilities teams spot problems before they become leaks.
Do glazed screens in offices and entrances need markings?
Large areas of clear glass that people could walk into need to be made visible. In England, the guidance for buildings other than dwellings puts manifestation at 850–1000mm and 1400–1600mm above the floor, and workplace rules across Great Britain require glass to be marked where needed for safety. Frosted bands or logos can meet this.
What is the difference between curtain walling and windows?
Curtain walling is a continuous framed wall of glass and panels that spans across floors and hangs off the building structure, carrying its own weight and wind loads. Windows sit within individual openings in a masonry or framed wall. Curtain walling suits large glazed areas and multi-storey facades, while windows suit punched openings.
What glass is used in curtain walling?
Curtain walling normally uses sealed double or triple glazed units, with toughened or laminated panes chosen for safety, security and wind load. Coatings control heat loss and solar gain, and heat-soaked toughened glass is often specified for upper levels. Where fire resistance is needed, a tested fire-resistant glazing system is used instead of standard glass.
Do you cover Grays for curtain walling?
Yes. We can quote for curtain walling across Grays and the surrounding Essex area, including postcode districts RM17, RM16 and RM20, and nearby South Ockendon, Gravesend and Dartford. Start with your postcode on the quote form and a glazier will arrange a free survey before giving you a written quote.
Get a written quote in Grays
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