In modern buildings, glass curtain walls are also emerging in an endless stream. Glass curtain walls are like the “second skin” of buildings, which can not only protect against wind and rain, but also give buildings unique visual effects. However, when many people see the price of curtain wall glass at hundreds or thousands of yuan per square meter when quoting for decoration glass curtain wall projects, they can’t help but wonder: where is the money spent? Today, Zhongdong Curtain Wall will show you what you don’t know behind the price of curtain wall glass
1. Curtain wall glass material: the starting point of price difference
The core cost difference of curtain wall glass is first reflected in “what material the glass itself is made of”. Just like buying a mobile phone, there are basic and flagship models, and there are also different grades of glass:
1. Ordinary tempered glass
The basic model, after high-temperature tempering, is 35 times stronger than ordinary glass
Commonly used for office buildings and shopping mall facades
2. Laminated glass
A synonym for “explosion-proof glass”, with PVB film in the middle
Standard for high-rise buildings, the glass will not fall and injure people when it breaks
Double-layer laminated glass is about 30% more expensive than single-layer
3. Low-E glass
The “thermos cup” in the coating industry, warm in winter and cool in summer
The ability to reflect infrared rays directly affects the price, and the price difference between single silver, double silver, and triple silver coatings is about 15%
4. Ultra-white glass
The “crystal” in the glass industry, with a light transmittance of over 91%, a favorite of museums and luxury stores
III. Glass curtain wall installation cost: Is labor more expensive than materials?
In second- and third-tier cities, the “labor + machinery” cost of glass curtain wall installation has exceeded 160 yuan/㎡, and there are many details here:
1. Suspension basket rental
For buildings with more than 30 floors, the installation period of the suspension basket may be as long as 2 months
If the work is suspended due to bad weather, the rent will be calculated as usual
2. Gluing process
Ordinary workers can glue 50 meters per day, and veterans can glue 80 meters
The difference in the fullness of the glue joint is 1mm, and the risk of water leakage in the later stage increases by 40%
3. Measurement and layout
BIM layout technology keeps the error within 3mm, but an additional technical fee is required
The rework rate of traditional layout is as high as 20%, and these costs are ultimately passed on to the owner
IV. Regional price difference: Different countries and regions have different labor costs
The price difference of the same curtain wall glass in different regions may reach 300%:
Cost advantage of curtain wall glass in the Middle East
A well-known deep processing factory in Guangdong, China, integrates the advantages of Chinese glass resources, and the profiles and glass are relatively more cost-effective
V. Curtain wall glass selection and avoidance guide
1. “Package price” trap
Beware of the promotion of “all-inclusive price xxx yuan/㎡”. You need to disassemble whether it is included. Some modules used in curtain wall glass will require additional costs later.
2. Sample comparison method
A 10cm×10cm glass sample is required:
Use ultraviolet light to illuminate the laminated layer to see if there are bubbles
Check from the side whether the LowE film layer is uniform
3. Key items for acceptance
Water spray test: each window is sprayed for 5 minutes
Air tightness test: leakage is ≤1.5m³/(m·h) when the pressure difference is 150Pa
