Aluminum mullions and rails (4-8 inch face dimensions), structural anchors at slab edges, insulated glass infill, spandrel glass at slab lines, weep and pressure-equalization system, sealants, shop drawings, structural engineering, and field installation including crane time for unitized assemblies. Excludes building permit, slab edge tolerance correction, and architectural feature back-up structure.
Stick-built curtain wall is assembled member-by-member on-site. It's cheaper, easier to fix at install, and works on small-to-medium projects (under 8 stories typically). Unitized curtain wall is prefabricated in panels at a fabrication shop and hoisted into place by crane. Costs more but installs faster (one panel covers an entire floor bay), gives better weather-tightness, and is the standard above 8 stories.
2) Glass spec — clear vision low-E vs. ceramic-frit vs. structural-silicone laminated impact, each is a step-change. 3) Mullion depth — 4" face profile is base, 8" face for high-wind exposure adds significantly. 4) Finish — class I anodize is the baseline; PVDF paint and custom anodize add cost above it. 5) Project height — slab-edge access, crane requirements, and rigging add cost above 8 stories.
Use stock mullion sections rather than custom extrusions. Limit color count to 1-2 in the same building. Lock the design package before shop drawings — re-engineering after pricing is the #1 cost overrun.
Stick-built is cheaper, simpler, and works for projects under 8 stories or with simple geometry. Unitized is faster to install (saving schedule), more weather-tight, and is the standard for high-rise. The right choice depends on project size, schedule, and budget.
Yes, but most value-engineering on curtain wall hurts performance: thinner mullions reduce wind capacity, cheaper glass reduces solar performance, single-source manufacturer products lose owner negotiating leverage. Better to optimize the design package upfront than VE after pricing.
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