Curtain Wall and cladding: what are the clear differences between them?
With more and more options in the market to change the design of a building completely, house owners and even architecture companies end up asking themselves which material should they choose in order to reach the desired look.
In order to prevent you from becoming confused with all the new expressions and techniques available, here are the main differences between the cladding and a curtain wall.
What is cladding?
Cladding is a coating applied to the outer walls of a house or building for many different purposes. When it comes to design, the cladding can add texture and patterns to a place, giving it a fresh look without having to change much in the place’s structure.
But, besides from the aesthetical factor, cladding is also used to prevent wind and rain from coming inside the building, acting like insulation especially during winter times.
What is a curtain wall?
Like we said before Curtain Walling has its advantages and disadvantages, a curtain wall is a way to wrap the building from the outside to add more of a modern look to it.
A curtain wall can be used whenever the outer walls are non-structural, hence they don’t have to hold the building’s weight. Usually, they’re framed in lightweight materials that are designed to support only the weight of the glazed panels that seal the building.
As the cladding, the curtain wall has many functions: it adds to the aesthetics of the building, lets the light in and also protects the interior of the place from weather conditions.
So, what are the differences between them?
There are two main differences between the cladding and a curtain wall and one of them revolves around the aesthetic of the products. While you can choose from many materials for designing your curtain wall frames, the panels are always made out of glazed glass. This means you won’t see dramatic differences between two different curtain walling systems.
Cladding, on the other hand, has a large variety of styles that can make your place seem cosier, more rustic or posher, for example. Cladding can be made in materials such as wood, stone tiles or aluminium, all adding different textures, patterns, colours and feels to the exterior walls of the building.
The second difference that you can find between these two architectural options speaks about the structure of the building. While a curtain wall is not part of the exterior wall and supports only itself, cladding is also a structural piece in the construction.
If even after the explanation you still find it hard to choose between cladding or a curtain wall system, don’t worry! Our team of professionals is ready to answer your every doubt and also help you understand which option works better for your project or budget. Our company has over 20 years of experience with manufacturing and installing shop fronts, roller shutter, curtain wall systems and commercial glazing in London, so all you have to do is get in touch with Huxley & Co.
