Problems With Glass Curtains

Misalignment

• Installing a glass curtain can be a difficult task. If undertaken by someone who is not an expert in the process, the results can be less than desirable. When builders install glass curtains, they place a sheet of glass into a track made usually of aluminum. If the track is not properly installed or the curtain not appropriately sized for the track, a misalignment could occur. Particularly when installing a wall of glass curtains, a misalignment will prove rather unsightly. When a glass curtain is misaligned, it will protrude from the facade and be visibly unattractive.

Improper Sealing

• After slipping a glass curtain into the aluminum base that will house it, the installer must seal around the window. If this sealing is not completed, or is completed improperly, the curtain will not be water- or even air-tight. This could result in leaking or loss of energy through the cracks and crevasses that surround the curtain. Even if sealing was properly completed when the curtain was initially installed, this insulation can, over time, deteriorate, so checking the integrity of the seals from time to time is a must.

Energy Efficiency

• Glass curtains are not known for their energy efficiency. Because single-paned glass is not a good insulator, much heat can be lost through the curtain in the winter, and the sweltering sun can heat up the inside space during the summer. To reduce this problem, the glass curtains can be glazed with an energy efficiency-boosting glaze.

Replacement Cost

• Because glass curtains are comprised of large plates of glass, replacing them if they become broken can prove expensive. Particularly when mounted low on a facade, these panes must be able to withstand quite the beating. If this wear results in a curtain break, there is no other option but to replace the entire pane, leaving the property owner footing a sizable bill.