Curtain walls have recently become a defining feature of modern architecture, with their sleek and elegant style. However, despite appreciating its visual structure, what is the curtain wall exactly? What is a curtain wall in construction? Is it recommended for your building? That’s why, in this article, we will delve into various factors of a curtain wall system, including its types, materials, advantages, etc.
What Is The Curtain Wall?
Curtain walls are architectural structures attached to the external section of a building. Unlike traditional walls, curtain walls are not load-bearing, which means they don’t provide structural support to the building but only support their own weight.
They are usually made from lightweight but robust materials, which we will mention in the following sections. In addition to its modern appearance, the curtain wall design is quite beneficial as it can improve natural lighting, reduce the thermal load on buildings, and provide certain sound insulation and thermal insulation effects.
Window Wall vs. Curtain Wall: What’s The Difference?
It’s easy to confuse between window walls and curtain walls when learning ‘What is the curtain wall?’ as both can be a bit similar. However, you’ll find certain differences between them given below:
- Structural Build: Curtain walls attach to the building’s frame and serve as an outer covering without carrying structural loads. In contrast, window walls are built one floor at a time and are supported by upper and lower slabs.
- Protection Against Elements: The curtain wall is a much stronger and more durable solution than a window wall for extreme weather conditions. That’s because the unique connection technique between curtain walls and the building structure, along with the potential use of more robust materials, could help transfer excessive loads.
- Aesthetics: Curtain walls offer a sleek, uninterrupted glass facade that creates a uniform and modern appearance. On the other hand, window walls provide a segmented look, with visible breaks between floors.
What Materials Are Commonly Used In Curtain Walls?
To understand more about ‘What is the curtain wall?’ here are two common materials used in its manufacture:
- Glass that may be double or triple-glazed and treated with various treatments, like coatings, heat reflective, low emissivity, etc.
- Metal, typically aluminum and steel, that may be finished with various surface treatments such as anodizing, electrophoretic coating, and powder coating.
In addition to these two, there are other options, such as stone curtain walls, ceramic curtain walls, and timber curtain walls.
Different Types Of Curtain Walls
While learning about ‘What is the curtain wall?’ you’ll also need to know about its types:
- Stick Curtain Wall System
In these types of curtain wall systems, the components are assembled on-site. This allows for precise matching and adjusting to fit the project’s specific measurements, which endows stick curtain walls with flexibility. Specifically, they are suitable for projects where there are low-rise buildings.
- Unitized Curtain Wall System
Unitized curtain wall systems consist of framing and glass components that are assembled before being transported to the installation site. As it is preassembled, the unitized curtain wall can be bigger and require thoughtful protection methods along the way. However, it is an ease when installing unitized curtain walls because it saves time and effort for on-site component assembling.
Functions And Advantages Of Curtain Walls
The functions and advantages of installing curtain walls include:
- Keeping Out Air And Water
The primary purpose of curtain walls is to keep out air and water. They serve as a barrier for the building, protecting it against intense weather conditions like rain, wind, and snow. As a result, the elements are prevented from entering the building, keeping the interior dry and warm.
- Reducing Noise While Improving Lighting
By utilizing different materials, including acoustic materials, curtain walls can do a good job in noise reduction. Additionally, the utilization of glass materials can help the transmission of natural light rays, which means less dependence on electrical lighting and further saves energy.
- Thermal Efficiency
Curtain walls are also capable of stabilizing the internal temperature of a building. This usually involves glazing or insulating the glass panels to reduce heat transfer. With the temperature inside the building being more controlled, you’ll also benefit from a significant decrease in energy costs for heating and cooling.
Curtain Walls From HOMI
With different advantages, the curtain wall system can be a sound investment. The key is to choose a high-quality one. Here, you may explore HOMI for sturdy, innovative aluminum curtain wall systems.
As one of the top-rated aluminum construction product suppliers, HOMI offers diverse aluminum solutions, including but not limited to aluminum doors and windows, office partitions, and aluminum curtain walls. Specializing in semi-unitized and unitized systems, we deliver the perfect balance of efficiency and flexibility. Our semi-unitized systems offer factory-assembled components for precise installation, while our unitized curtain walls are ideal for high-rise buildings.
These products are designed to meet industrial and architectural demands. You can rely on us to have professional advice and customized solutions that are specific to your needs!
Conclusion
Here, we solve the question: What is the curtain wall? But if you have more questions, feel no hesitation to contact HOMI. These systems have multiple benefits, including protection from weather conditions, thermal efficiency, fire resistance, etc. HOMI aims to offer durable and high-end curtain wall solutions that provide all these and even more benefits.
You can trust our professional service with our mature experience in different projects, like CYBERZONE in the Philippines, GLAS TOWER in the Philippines, and MOFP in Tanzania. Our commercial curtain walls can exceed your expectations and deliver solutions combining aesthetic appeal and functional performance.