Curtain Wall Refurbishment & Repair in London
ARRT Group provides curtain wall refurbishment and repair for commercial buildings in London and across the UK — gasket and seal replacement, drainage upgrades and fixing repairs to stop water ingress without replacing the façade.
A curtain wall rarely fails all at once. Across London commercial buildings, gaskets harden, seals shrink, drainage paths block, pressure plates loosen — and the first anyone hears about it is water on a windowsill.
Curtain wall refurbishment for commercial buildings in London
ARRT Group refurbishes commercial curtain walling in London and on UK-wide commercial work, replacing gaskets and seals and repairing drainage and fixings.
ARRT Group is SafeContractor accredited and can offer an insurance-backed guarantee of up to 20 years on the work.
Refurbishment is almost always cheaper than replacement. We survey the system, establish why it is failing, and rebuild its weathering performance element by element — replacing perished gaskets and sealant, clearing and reinstating drainage, renewing fixings and gaskets, and recoating tired aluminium.
Work is phased around occupancy so floors stay in use. Every intervention is photographed and referenced against a facade drawing, which gives you an auditable record for warranty, insurance and future planned maintenance.
If the frame, finishes and glass are sound and the problem is mainly failed gaskets, targeted curtain wall gasket replacement is often the more economical fix. For glazing work on ropes, see rope access glazing.
What we deliver
- Gasket, wedge and weather seal replacement
- Structural and weather silicone renewal
- Drainage path clearing and pressure-equalisation upgrades
- Pressure plate, fixing and bracket repairs
- Thermal break and insulation remediation
- On-site aluminium recoating and finish restoration
How the work is done
| Systems | Stick, unitised, capped and silicone-glazed aluminium curtain walling |
|---|---|
| Access methods | Rope access, MEWP, mast climber, cradle, temporary platforms |
| Survey outputs | Defect schedule, elevation mark-up, prioritised remedial programme |
| Phasing | Elevation by elevation, floor by floor, or full envelope |
| Deliverables | Photographic evidence, materials data sheets, workmanship warranty |
Questions we get asked
Is refurbishment really cheaper than replacing the facade?
In the great majority of cases, yes — often by an order of magnitude. Replacement is a capital project; targeted refurbishment is planned maintenance that buys you years of additional service life.
Will occupants be disrupted?
External access means most of the work happens outside the building line. Internal work is programmed out-of-hours or floor-by-floor with protection and clean-down.
What gets repaired on a curtain wall before anyone prices a new facade?
Perished gaskets and weather seals, failed sealant, blocked drainage, and defective fixings or pressure plates. Aluminium recoating is included where the survey shows the system can stay in service.
What handover does the facilities team receive?
Each repair is photographed and referenced against the facade drawing, so estates and insurers have a record for warranty and later planned maintenance.
What if a cap or fixing could fall?
Loose or missing external caps, and fixings or pressure plates that are no longer holding, are made safe before anyone prices a new facade. The repair stays on the defect schedule with the gaskets, seals and drainage. If the hazard is broken glass, that is the emergency glazing path.
What does curtain wall refurbishment involve?
Curtain wall refurbishment typically covers gasket and seal replacement, drainage upgrades and fixing repairs, targeted at the cause of the water ingress rather than replacing the façade.
Do you need scaffolding for curtain wall refurbishment?
Usually not. We select rope access, MEWP or spider access on cost, disruption and geometry, so most curtain wall work is delivered without full scaffold while the building stays occupied.
Proven at Alexandra Palace
On 20 October 2026, ARRT Group completed an emergency make safe of the Great Hall roof ventilation louvres at Alexandra Palace, a Grade II listed London landmark. We were on site within 4 hours of the first call, serviced and made safe three roof vents by rope access, and resolved the leak in a single visit without scaffolding.
- On site within 4 hours of the first call
- Three vents serviced in a single visit
- Rope access — no scaffolding
- Before-and-after photographic record
Four steps, every time
Enquiry & triage
You speak to someone who understands glazing and access. Emergencies are prioritised; everything else is booked for survey.
Close-quarters survey
We access the defect, identify the system and photograph the condition, so the price is based on what is actually there.
Fixed price, access plan & RAMS
A written price setting out scope, materials, access method and programme, with task-specific RAMS issued for approval before mobilisation.
Delivery & close-out
Trained operatives on site with a named supervisor, and a photographic record before, during and after the work.
Often needed alongside this
High-Level Glass Replacement
Failed, cracked, blown or vandalised units replaced at height — from single panes to full elevations, with access designed around your building.
View service 03Atrium & Rooflight Glazing
Overhead glazing repaired and refurbished over live public space — with the temporary works, protection and rescue planning that overhead work demands.
View service 04Leak Detection & Repair
Find the actual entry point instead of resealing everything and hoping — forensic water testing, tracing and a targeted, evidenced repair.
View service
Need a specialist on site?
Send us the building, the defect and a photograph if you have one. We will tell you the access method, the likely scope and a realistic programme.