Comparison guides and an interactive selector written by facade engineers: which system, which material, at what cost, under which climate. Free to read, built to be quoted in your next tender meeting.
Sixteen guides turn three decades of facade engineering into decisions you can defend. Start with the selector for a recommendation, then use the comparison guides to verify it against your project constraints — and the procurement guide to qualify the contractor who delivers it.
Eight curtain wall systems compared head-to-head: unitized, stick-built, point-supported, double-skin, metal cladding, stone cladding, ACP and structural glass. Cost, speed, performance and best-fit scenarios in one table.
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Aluminum, steel, glass, stone, terracotta, GRC and metal panel cladding — a material-by-material comparison of cost, durability, fire rating and aesthetics for your facade.
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Answer five questions about height, budget, program and climate — get a recommended curtain wall system with a clear explanation of the trade-offs.
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The complete engineer’s decision guide: compare cost, speed, quality control, weather resistance and logistics between unitized and stick-built curtain wall construction.
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An 8-step selection process with a qualification document checklist, factory visit framework, technical tender review points and the 10 clauses every facade contract should contain.
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Seven curtain wall families classified — unitized, stick-built, point-supported, SSG, double-skin and sloped glazing — with the cost, speed, span and best-fit use of each.
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The end-to-end installation sequence: survey and engineering release, factory fabrication, logistics, unitized vs stick-built erection, waterproofing, sealing and field testing.
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The QA/QC framework that signs off a facade: incoming material checks, in-process control, mock-up testing, field air-and-water verification and acceptance criteria.
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GB/T 21086, JGJ 102, ASTM E283/E330/E331, AAMA 501 and EN 13830 compared — what each code tests, how classes differ and how to read a test report.
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U-value calculation to EN ISO 12631, thermal break design, Low-E argon IGUs, warm-edge spacers and condensation risk — a practical thermal specification.
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Two-role delivery explained: what single source accountability means when one company engineers, fabricates, installs and services the same envelope — and how to verify any integrated bid.
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Seven glass families in one decision matrix — float, tempered, laminated, Low-E, IGU, coated and fire-rated glass compared by cost, performance and function.
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Typhoon wind and driven rain, desert sand and thermal swing, polar condensation and ice — the design responses and verification tests for every climate duty.
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Ten engineering-backed reasons — daylight, views, speed, weight, durability and more — balanced against the four trade-offs that decide whether glass deserves the budget.
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Wind engineering, seismic racking, heat-soaked glass and the inspection regime that keeps a 300-metre skin reliable — the four pillars of tall-building safety.
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A line-by-line specification comparison against Kawneer curtain wall and storefront ranges — geometry, thermal performance, structural limits and compliance notes for evaluators framing an alternative supply path.
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How a made-to-order unitized program maps onto Schueco-specified projects — system-level performance mapping, compliance statements and the tender questions that keep the comparison honest.
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How to specify glass beyond 3,000 x 5,000 mm — size limits, deflection, thermal stress, heat treatment and the transport plan that makes huge panels buildable.
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Every guide on this page is written by engineers who have delivered the systems they describe. Where a comparison table can show cost, the prose explains why: what drives a unitized premium, when stick-built is the rational choice, and which material penalty is worth paying for the facade you will live with for 30 years.
Need the drawings to go with the advice? Download free BIM and Revit content, or pull the CAD details for your design development package.
Ask an Engineer About Your ProjectProcurement experience, written down for your next tender. Five free guides that walk owners and project managers through the decisions that separate good facades from costly ones.
Each guide is written in plain English, grounded in fabrication and site reality, and free to download.
The qualification criteria that actually predict delivery success — financial staying power, fabrication control, reference verification and warranty behavior.
Download guide 1 →A decision framework for when each system wins — tower height, site access, schedule, quality control and life-cycle maintenance.
Download guide 2 →Where money actually goes in a facade — glazing, unitization, engineering, logistics, installation — and the levers that control each line.
Download guide 3 →Which certifications matter, which are per-project, and how to verify them without relying on marketing language. A practical vetting sheet.
Download guide 4 →The questions to put to every facade bidder — from testing plans and tolerance commitments to interface definitions and warranty administration.
Download guide 5 →Short technical notes from Hanart's engineering team on systems, procurement and performance testing — the same topics, in article form.
Visit the insights blog →The guides are free because Hanart benefits when owners procure facades intelligently: a well-structured tender attracts better bids and yields more buildable projects for everyone. Use them to sharpen your RFP, verify bidder claims during evaluation, and keep the checklist beside you at tender interviews.
Guides are delivered as PDFs from the downloads page. If you register an email there, you will be notified when editions are updated or new guides are released.
| Guide | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| How to Choose a Facade Contractor | Evaluation criteria that separate delivery capability from claims | Owners, main contractors |
| Unitized vs Stick Systems | Comparisons that map to your procurement and installation context | Design teams |
| Cost Factors | The variables that actually move facade budgets | Estimators, owners |
| Certification Checklist | What to verify before a contractor is appointed | Procurement teams |
| Tender Questions | The questions to ask so bids are comparable | Consultants |
Guides are written from Hanart's delivery record and are free to download.
Yes, every guide in the library is free and can be downloaded without registration.
They are maintained against the codes Hanart works to, including GB/T 21086 and project-specific international standards.
Yes, for reference; where a specific figure matters, verify it against the quoted standard or ask us directly.
