Façade repair terms: glass, curtain wall, cladding and doors

Curtain wall, stick systems and unitised façades

Curtain walling is the non-loadbearing external envelope supported by the building structure. In a stick system, framing members and infill are assembled progressively on site. Unitised façades use prefabricated units joined together on the building.

Mullions are vertical framing members; transoms are horizontal members. Opening vents, spandrel panels and glazed vision areas perform different functions within the envelope. Describe the affected level, bay and component when reporting movement, damaged glass or water ingress.

Gaskets, pressure plates, EPDM and perimeter seals

Glazing gaskets seal interfaces around glass or infill. Pressure plates mechanically retain glazing in relevant curtain-wall designs, often beneath cover caps. EPDM is an elastomer used in certain gaskets and weatherproofing membranes; the material name does not identify its profile or compatibility.

A visible internal leak may originate away from the damp patch. Drainage paths, gasket joints, interfaces and perimeter membranes should be investigated before simply applying more sealant. A controlled test and a documented repair can help distinguish the source from the route the water follows.

Rainscreen cladding, panels, soffits and fascias

Rainscreen cladding is an outer layer with a cavity and supporting arrangement behind it. A panel defect can involve the panel itself, its fixings, rails, brackets or interfaces. Soffits are the underside surfaces of projecting features; fascias form exposed faces or edges.

Record loose panels, corrosion, cracking, staining or water ingress with photographs and locations. Cladding remediation should be scoped against the actual build-up. A material name or replacement panel alone does not establish the fire performance of the complete wall.

Door hardware: closer, lock, keep and threshold

A closer controls door closing; a lock engages with a keep or strike. Multipoint locks secure at several positions. Hinges support a swinging leaf, while rollers or carriages support relevant sliding-door arrangements. The threshold is the lower opening detail, where drainage, access and weather seals may meet.

For a door that drops, drags, leaks or will not latch, identify the symptom and the hardware. Automatic operators and safety sensors add another set of components. Fire-door maintenance and repair must be matched to the specific assembly and the required performance; a generic hardware swap is not sufficient.

Condition survey, leak investigation and planned maintenance

A condition survey records defects and helps prioritise further work. Leak investigation follows evidence to establish water-entry routes. Planned maintenance schedules inspections and servicing around the installed assets, access constraints and building use.

The Façade Doctor’s work covers façade inspection, glazing and curtain-wall repair, cladding works and planned or reactive maintenance. London projects can involve occupied buildings, public interfaces and high-level access. A useful brief includes the building location, affected areas, previous reports, drawings and the urgency of the problem.

References: Façade leak investigation and water testing · Cladding remediation and replacement