How does unit pricing break down for materials, fabrication, and installation of a glass curtain wall system?

Understanding unit pricing for a glass curtain wall system requires breaking down costs across materials, fabrication, logistics, and installation. Material costs include glass (laminated/tempered/low-e), aluminum extrusions, thermal break polyamide bars, gaskets, sealants, spandrel insulation, and anchorage hardware. Fabrication costs cover CNC machining, wet seal application, glazing, anodizing or powder coating, and assembly—unitized systems generally show higher factory fabrication costs but lower on-site labor costs.

Installation costs include site labor, scaffolding and mast climbers, crane operations for unitized panels, temporary protection, and interface works with the building structure. Additional budget lines should include mock-up construction, performance testing, third-party inspections, and contingency for replacement panels or rework. Factor in logistics: oversized panel shipping, customs, and inland handling costs can be substantial in Central Asia where road transport and permits add expense.

For cost modeling, express prices per square meter of glazed façade, with line items for glazing, framing, infill panels, installation labor, and testing. In many Middle East projects, coatings (solar control) and high-performance thermal breaks constitute a noticeable premium but yield lifecycle energy savings. Offer value-engineering options: switching to stick-built assemblies, optimizing mullion spacing, or altering spandrel compositions can reduce upfront cost with trade-offs in QA and maintenance.

Provide transparent unit pricing in tenders including allowances for access, protection, and defects liability period to avoid surprises during construction in Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, or Almaty.