Aluminium Curtain Walling in London & Nationwide

What is curtain walling?

Curtain walling is an external façade system that encloses a building without supporting its main floors or roof. Its own weight and the loads acting on the façade still need to be transferred to the building through a designed support and fixing arrangement.

Aluminium framing can accommodate glass and suitable infill panels, with opening windows and entrance doors coordinated where required. The result is a building envelope rather than simply a row of windows: joints, drainage, support, movement and connections to the surrounding construction all form part of the design.

For a ground-floor entrance or a smaller retail frontage, a shopfront system may be the appropriate route. Curtain walling is considered where the wider façade, building height or glazing arrangement needs a coordinated envelope solution. We can discuss which approach fits your brief.

Compare curtain-walling systems

There are two different choices here. Capped or structural-glazed describes aspects of the external appearance and glazing arrangement. Unitised describes an assembly approach. These are not always mutually exclusive categories. Skylight and sloped roof glazing introduce a different orientation and their own design requirements.

Capped curtain walling

Capped curtain walling uses an expressed aluminium grid to frame the glass or infill areas. It offers a defined façade pattern that can be coordinated with the building's proportions and the position of entrances or opening windows.

The selected system determines the available profiles, cap details and permitted arrangements. Single-storey and multi-storey projects need their own assessment of the spans, fixing positions, glazing and interfaces. A chosen visual grid is the starting point for specification, not a substitute for it.

Structural-glazed and uncapped curtain walling

Structural-glazed curtain walling creates a more glass-led exterior by reducing visible external capping in the selected configuration. It should not be understood as a façade without supporting framing or as a promise that no aluminium will be visible anywhere.

The glazing-retention method, joints, glass specification and compatible components must be considered as a complete system. The design also needs to allow for movement, weather detailing and future maintenance. We discuss the desired appearance alongside the practical and technical requirements rather than treating “uncapped” as one universal construction detail.

Unitised curtain walling

Unitised curtain walling uses façade modules that are assembled before installation on the building. Module dimensions, connections and the sequence of installation are coordinated with the structure and the project logistics.

This approach can be considered where the elevation and construction programme suit modular assembly, including multi-storey work. It is not automatically the best choice for every building. Transport, lifting space, access, tolerances, module joints and replacement arrangements need to be reviewed early. Any programme advantage must be assessed for the actual project rather than promised in advance.

Skylights and sloped roof glazing

Skylights and sloped glazing bring daylight through the roof or another inclined glazed area. They need a roof-specific solution, not a vertical façade system simply turned on its side.

The brief should address the slope, glass selection, supporting structure, drainage routes, surrounding roof connections, solar exposure and access for cleaning or maintenance. The intended use of the space below also matters. Walk-on access, specialist safety functions or particular performance results must never be assumed without a specification for the exact system.

Integrated aluminium windows and doors

Opening windows and doors should be planned with the curtain wall from the outset. Their positions affect the façade grid, surrounding framing, access and the way the building is used.

Windows within the façade

Discuss where opening windows are required, how they will be operated and who will use them. The selected curtain-wall and window combination determines compatibility, sightlines and the available opening arrangements. Ventilation, access for maintenance and any project-specific restrictions should be considered together.

Entrances and automatic doors

An entrance needs to work for the people and activity it serves, as well as fit the elevation. We coordinate appropriate aluminium doors and can discuss automatic doors where required, subject to the selected system and project design.

Bring information about traffic, access control, operating needs and the surrounding floor and threshold conditions. Automatic operation, emergency-use functions or particular safety features are not assumed to be included in every door arrangement; they belong in the agreed specification.

Materials, glazing, infill and finishes

Aluminium framing

Aluminium profiles provide the framework for the façade. Profile selection needs to reflect the elevation, glazing, openings and support arrangement rather than appearance alone. Bespoke work is developed around the project while remaining within the engineering and compatibility limits of the chosen system.

Glass and suitable infill panels

Glass selection balances the desired appearance with the building's requirements. Daylight, solar exposure, privacy, thermal and acoustic targets, pane size and the location of each glazed area need to be considered. The glass build-up is confirmed through specification; one glass description or sample does not establish the performance of the whole façade.

Suitable opaque infill panels can be considered where the elevation needs non-transparent areas. Panel material, build-up, compatibility and any project-specific requirements must be confirmed before selection. No fire, thermal or acoustic classification is assumed for an unspecified infill panel.

Powder-coated colours and anodised finishes

Powder-coated RAL and BS colour options are available, along with appropriate anodised finishes. The choice depends on the profiles and system being specified. Agree the finish, appearance and relevant sample before manufacture, particularly where new work needs to sit alongside an existing façade.

Colour selection is separate from any claim about coating durability or performance. Those details need the applicable finish specification rather than a general promise across all options.

Design the complete façade, including its interfaces

A useful specification covers what happens between the visible panels as well as the panels themselves. We work from the project brief to identify the details and evidence needed for the proposed façade.

Structure, support and movement

The design needs to account for façade weight, wind actions, spans, fixing locations and movement between the building and the glazing system. Existing substrate condition is particularly important in replacement work. Engineering criteria and calculations must relate to the actual building; no universal height or load capacity is implied by a system category.

Drainage and weather exposure

Water management needs to be considered through the system joints, drainage paths and connections to adjacent walls, roofs and openings. Site exposure and the way these interfaces are constructed affect the detail. Any air or water performance statement should identify the tested system and its applicable configuration, not be inferred from the use of aluminium or glass.

Thermal performance and condensation

The frame, glazing, panel areas, opening units and installation interfaces contribute to thermal behaviour. Thermal targets should be set for the relevant assembly, with attention to junctions and the building's internal conditions. A glass-only value is not automatically a whole-façade value, and no condensation-free outcome is promised without a project assessment.

Acoustic requirements

Traffic, plant and other external noise can influence the glazing and façade specification. The glass build-up, frame, seals, openings and surrounding construction all need consideration. If a measured acoustic result is required, ask for evidence that matches the proposed arrangement; we do not assign one noise rating to every curtain-wall system.

Glazing location, access and product evidence

Ground-level, overhead and other glazing positions can have different design requirements. Installation, cleaning, inspection and future pane replacement need to be considered alongside daily use.

Any claim about a standard, certification, conformity mark, fire performance or specialist safety function must be supported for the identified product and configuration. We do not apply one system's certificate or test result to every curtain-wall project. Share any written project requirements with your enquiry so they can be addressed in the specification.

From survey to installation

1. Brief and survey

Start with the building location, drawings or photographs, approximate dimensions and the purpose of the work. For refurbishment, include what is wrong with the existing façade and any records available. Survey information establishes the opening, surrounding construction, access and interfaces that the proposal needs to address.

2. System selection and specification

Agree the façade arrangement, system approach, glazing and infill, opening windows or doors, and finish. Identify the required performance criteria, supporting information and responsibility for the relevant design details. The scope should distinguish supply-only from supply and installation.

3. Quotation and programme

The quotation is based on the defined scope and project requirements. Discuss the proposed sequence, access, logistics and any phased work before agreeing the programme. Design approvals and specification decisions need to be coordinated with manufacture and installation.

4. Manufacture and preparation

Manufacture follows the confirmed drawings and specification. Depending on the selected approach, preparation may involve framing components or preassembled modules. Changes to sizes, glazing or openings after approval can affect the programme and should be reviewed before work proceeds.

5. Installation and handover

Installation is arranged around the building, access and agreed sequence. The scope includes the relevant interfaces and handover requirements for the supplied work. Supply-only projects instead follow their agreed supply arrangements, with installation responsibilities clearly identified.

Repair, replacement and refurbishment

Not every enquiry needs an entirely new façade. London City Group provides repair, replacement and refurbishment services, with the proposed work based on the condition and identity of the existing system.

Assess the existing system first

Bring photographs, drawings, product identification and maintenance information if available. Describe the problem: for example, damaged glazing, deteriorated joints, an opening-unit fault or signs of water ingress. Similar symptoms can have different causes, so the appropriate scope follows assessment rather than a generic repair promise.

Plan compatible replacements

Replacement glass, panels, openings or components need to be checked for compatibility with the remaining system. The appearance, existing support and surrounding construction also need consideration. A component change should not be assumed to preserve an original tested performance or certificate without checking its scope.

Coordinate work around the building

Occupied buildings may need phased work and specific access arrangements. Discuss the areas affected, operating hours and any restrictions early. Refurbishment should consider how the old and new work meet, as well as the practical arrangements for removal and installation. No universal disruption level or completion period is promised.

Applications across different sectors

London City Group covers single-storey and multi-storey projects in the following sectors. These examples describe project needs, not claims about named clients or completed contracts.

London expertise, nationwide service

We provide curtain-walling services in London and nationwide, with supply-only and supply-and-installation routes. Your location, building access, project scale and selected system help define the practical arrangements.

London City Group brings 30 years' experience to the discussion and offers free quotations. Tell us whether you are a property owner, business, contractor or project designer, and what stage your project has reached. We can then discuss the information needed for a useful proposal.

What affects curtain-walling cost?

Curtain walling is quoted to the project rather than a single fixed price. The main factors include:

• Façade area, height, geometry and the size and arrangement of individual bays.
• The selected system and whether components or unitised modules are appropriate.
• Glass build-up, suitable infill panels and the performance evidence required.
• Integrated windows, doors, operating arrangements and finishes.
• Support, fixings and interfaces with the surrounding structure.
• Survey and design scope, site access, lifting arrangements and installation sequence.
• Removal, replacement or phased refurbishment where existing work is involved.
• Supply-only versus supply and installation, including the agreed delivery and handover scope.

A useful comparison between quotations starts with matching scopes, not just totals. Confirm what is included, which requirements the proposal addresses and what remains to be agreed. Request a free quotation with drawings or photographs to begin that discussion.

How long does a curtain-walling project take?

The programme depends on the project. Survey, design coordination, approvals, material and component availability, manufacture, site readiness and installation access all influence timing.

A small replacement and a new multi-storey façade do not follow the same programme. Tell us any target dates, phased handovers or operational restrictions so they can be considered. We do not apply a fixed completion period to all curtain-walling work or transfer lead times from other product ranges to your façade project.

Curtain-walling FAQs

What is the difference between curtain walling and a shopfront?

A shopfront generally addresses an entrance or display frontage, often at ground level. Curtain walling addresses the building envelope and its supports, joints and interfaces, which may extend across several storeys. The appropriate route depends on the building and scope, not simply the amount of glass.

Is curtain walling load-bearing?

It does not support the building's main floors or roof. It still needs an engineered arrangement to support its own weight and transfer façade loads to the building. Project-specific structural design remains necessary.

How do capped and structural-glazed systems differ?

Capped curtain walling expresses an external aluminium grid. Structural-glazed or uncapped configurations aim for a more glass-led appearance with reduced visible capping. The actual framing, retention and joint details depend on the selected system.

Does unitised mean uncapped?

No. Unitised describes assembly in modules before installation; capped or structural-glazed describes aspects of the façade treatment and glazing arrangement. The assembly method and external appearance must be specified together.

Can you provide skylights and sloped glazing?

Yes. London City Group provides skylight and sloped roof glazing. Roof geometry, drainage, support, glazing selection and maintenance access need a suitable roof-specific specification; a vertical system cannot simply be assumed suitable overhead.

Can windows and doors be included?

Yes. Compatible aluminium windows and doors can be integrated. Their location, operation and interface with the façade are agreed around the selected systems and project requirements. Automatic doors can also be discussed where needed.

What colours and finishes are available?

Powder-coated RAL and BS colour options and appropriate anodised finishes are available. The selected profiles and system determine the options. Agree the finish and relevant samples before manufacture.

Do you provide supply-only curtain walling?

Yes. We provide supply-only as well as supply and installation. Confirm the route you need so the quotation can distinguish the supplied items, design scope, delivery arrangements and installation responsibilities.

Can you repair or refurbish an existing façade?

Yes. Repair, replacement and refurbishment are available. The condition and identity of the existing system, component compatibility and site access determine the proposed scope. Send photographs and any existing records with the enquiry.

What thermal or acoustic rating will my façade achieve?

That cannot be answered from the system category alone. The frame, glazing, infill, openings, interfaces and project criteria need to be specified, with applicable calculations or test evidence. We do not publish one U-value or acoustic rating for all curtain walling.

Do all systems share the same certification?

No blanket certification claim is made. Any standard, certification, conformity or specialist performance statement must identify the applicable product, configuration and supporting evidence, including its limitations.

Do you work outside London and on multi-storey buildings?

Yes. London City Group covers London and nationwide projects, including single-storey and multi-storey applications. The proposed system, engineering, access and programme are assessed for the building.

Is there a standard price per square metre or fixed lead time?

No standard figure is quoted on this page. Cost and timing depend on the façade, specification, scope and site. A free project quotation is the appropriate starting point.

What should I send for a quotation?

Send the postcode, drawings or photographs, approximate dimensions, intended system or appearance, window and door requirements, and whether you need supply-only or installation. Include performance requirements, refurbishment issues and target dates where available.

Related services and project photographs

Explore Shopfronts, Glass Shopfronts, Aluminium Doors and Automatic Doors when planning the wider frontage and entrances.

View our project photographs for examples of London City Group work. Each photograph should be considered for what it actually shows; it is not proof of an unidentified system or performance rating. You can also contact us to discuss the project brief.

Request a free curtain-walling quotation

Tell us about the building, the façade you have in mind and the work you need. Whether you are planning a new glazed elevation or assessing an existing one, we can discuss design, manufacture, supply, installation and refurbishment around your requirements.

Useful enquiry details: location; new work or refurbishment; drawings or photographs; approximate dimensions; preferred system and finish; integrated windows and doors; supply-only or installation; performance requirements; and target programme.

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