Curtain wall windows are recently widely used in residential buildings

Nowadays, rising interest in large glass installations is changing the way architects, builders, and homeowners think about walls and windows. The trend right now in homebuilding is toward more glass: large picture windows, sliding or folding glass doors. Curtain walls are just a few of the options homeowners have now to incorporate glass into their building facade.

The concept of the curtain wall dates back to the 1800s. And curtain wall is an old form starting initially at the turn of the 20th century, predominantly in the context of exhibition architecture, like the Crystal Palace. In most cases, glazed surfaces aren’t known for their energy efficiency. They typically achieve very low R-values, the standard the building industry uses to measure a material’s ability to insulate. Even high performing windows only manage to net an R-value of around 4.3. By comparison, a well-insulated wall can reach up to 50-R. So, as you can imagine, replacing a big chunk of that wall with glass is going to do some damage, particularly when it comes to your energy bills. However, if you want more glass in your home, you don’t have to resign yourself to bigger fuel expenses (and a higher carbon footprint!). There are plenty of ways to green up glass curtain walls, using some of the hottest new window tech available.

In the current market, there are various types of curtain wall structures available for a variety of functional and aesthetic requirements while delivering excellent thermal performance. These windows can span multiple stories creating a truly breathtaking focal point for any home. Unique configurations and solutions are available, enabling a custom look to exterior and interior architectural details. And current window trends are pushing the boundaries of what’s expected from windows. Large expanses of glass, desirable views and an obscured line between interior and exterior living have created the demand for more glass. In recent years, curtain wall construction has made great progress in the residential building construction. On the one hand there is the desire to construct economically, with time saving and reliability. On the other hand there is the request for timeless elegance and optimal environmental performance in applications. The continuing development of unitized curtain wall systems and increasing use of cast-in anchor channels for structural connections has enabled facade elements to be mounted in the minimum amount of time with no drilling or welding.