Birmingham · West Midlands
Curtain Walling in Birmingham
Is water getting in around an older glazed facade in Birmingham? We can inspect gaskets, seals and drainage paths and quote for the repairs or replacement needed.
- B3
- B2
- B4
- Guide from £455 per m²
Curtain wall glass replacement for homes and businesses in Birmingham
Where a glazed screen must resist fire, the glass only performs as part of a fire-resistant system tested with its frame, seals, beads and fixings. Ratings use letters such as E for integrity and EI for integrity and insulation, and components must not be swapped without test evidence.
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.
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.
What you get
- Fabrication drawings and coordination with other trades
- Survey of openings, supporting structure and access
- Supply and installation of framing, glass and panels
- Sealing, weathering and drainage details at all interfaces
About Birmingham for this job
- Postcodes covered
- B3, B2, B4 and the surrounding area, including Aston, Smethwick and Washwood Heath
- Coast
- Birmingham is well inland, around 84 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In Birmingham the midwinter sun reaches about 14° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.4 hours of daylight, rising to about 61° and 16.6 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 Birmingham
| 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.
Options to choose between
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.
Solar control glass
Coated glass that limits solar heat gain on sunny elevations while keeping good daylight, reducing overheating and glare inside.
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 Birmingham: questions
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 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.
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.
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.
Do you cover Birmingham for curtain walling?
Yes. We can quote for curtain walling across Birmingham and the surrounding West Midlands area, including postcode districts B3, B2 and B4, and nearby Aston, Smethwick and Washwood Heath. 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 Birmingham
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.