The 3 Biggest Facade Challenges & How to Solve Them
Built to Last: The 3 Biggest Facade Challenges & How to Solve Them
A building's facade is its most defining feature. It's the face it presents to the world, but it's also a high-performance system responsible for energy efficiency, weather protection, and occupant comfort. Delivering a facade that is both beautiful and functional involves overcoming significant challenges.
At Glaze Techno Facade Systems Pvt Ltd, we believe that understanding these challenges is the first step to mastering them. Here are the most common hurdles in facade design, construction, and maintenance—along with expert solutions to overcome them.
Challenge 1: Design & Performance Failures
The Challenge: Water Leakage & Air Infiltration. Even microscopic gaps or failed seals can allow water and air into the building envelope, causing interior damage, mold growth, and major energy loss.
The Solution: Design for Water Management.
- Use rainscreen principles (ventilated facades, unitized curtain walls).
- Ensure an airtight inner layer with a water-deflecting outer layer.
- Use high-quality sealants (silicone or polyurethane).
- Prioritize correct detailing at joints, openings, roofing, and foundation interfaces.
The Challenge: Poor Thermal Performance (Thermal Bridging). Aluminum frames can act as heat highways, causing condensation, cold spots, and high energy bills.
The Solution: Specify Thermally Broken Systems.
- Use frames with polyamide or other insulating barriers separating inside and outside metal.
- Combine with high-performance Low-E double or triple glazing.
- Eliminate continuous metal paths that conduct heat.
Challenge 2: Flawed Installation & Coordination
The Challenge: Incorrect Sealant Application & Jointing. Sealants applied on dusty, wet, or poorly prepared surfaces will fail prematurely.
The Solution: Prefabrication & Expert Installers.
- Use unitized systems for factory-controlled sealing and assembly.
- Ensure installers are trained and certified in material-specific applications.
- Use backing rods, proper curing time, and correct sealant chemistry.
The Challenge: On-Site Misalignment & Damage. Complex geometries and busy sites increase the risk of misalignment, scratches, and dents.
The Solution: Design-Assist & Meticulous Planning.
- Collaborate early with facade specialists to ensure buildability.
- Plan lifting, positioning, and protection of panels in advance.
- Use BIM and 3D modeling to coordinate with other trades.
Challenge 3: Long-Term Maintenance & Degradation
The Challenge: Material Degradation (Fading, Staining & Delamination). UV, pollution, and rain attack facades daily. Poor-quality ACPs fade, chalk, or delaminate. Porous stone stains over time.
The Solution: Invest in Quality Materials.
- Use PVDF-coated aluminum panels with 20+ year warranties.
- Specify ACPs with fire-retardant (FR) cores from reputable brands.
- Choose durable, non-porous, fade-resistant façade materials.
The Challenge: Lack of Regular Inspection & Cleaning. Dirt and pollutants trap moisture and chemicals that corrode sealants and coatings. Small defects worsen if ignored.
The Solution: A Proactive Maintenance Plan.
- Annual Cleaning: Use professional, non-abrasive cleaning for glass and metal.
- Regular Inspections: Conduct yearly visual checks to identify cracks, loose components, stains, or sealant failures.
- Repair small issues immediately to avoid expensive future failures.
Conclusion: Your Partner in Facade Excellence
Overcoming facade challenges requires a partner who understands every phase—from engineering and design to fabrication and long-term maintenance. Glaze Techno Facade Systems Pvt Ltd brings this expertise to every project, ensuring your building’s facade is not only a stunning architectural statement but also a durable, high-performance system built to last.