Aluminum Wall
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Sea Gull Lighting Cast Aluminum Fluorescent Outdoor Wall Lantern in Black $114.00 |
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NEW Craftmade Cast Aluminum Beveled Glass Wall Mount Rust Z28407 $35.00 |
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LOT OF 2 VINTAGE SEXTON CAST ALUMINUM WALL PLAQUES $9.99 |
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Aluminum foil anti-oil / kitchen stickers Wallpaper Wall Decals Decor Clover $3.99 |
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Aluminum foil anti-oil / kitchen stickers Wallpaper Wall Decals Decor petals $3.99 |
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3/8″ X .035 Wall Aluminum Tubing Roll – 25 Feet $26.12 |
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Silver Aluminum/ Black Hard Case+Car DC+Home Wall AC Charger For iPhone 4 4S $6.54 |
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USB Wall Home Charger+Blue Aluminum Hard Case For iPhone 4 4th 4G 4S $7.06 |
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Aluminum foil anti-oil / kitchen stickers Wallpaper Wall Decals Decor Lotus $4.24 |
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Aluminum foil anti-oil / kitchen stickers Wallpaper Wall Decals Decor kitten $3.99 |
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Aluminum foil anti-oil / kitchen stickers Wallpaper Wall Decals Decor pears $3.99 |
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Aluminum foil anti-oil / kitchen stickers Wallpaper Wall Decals Decor grassland $3.99 |
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Aluminum foil anti-oil / kitchen stickers Wallpaper Wall Decals Decor sunflower $4.50 |
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LEVITON 83028 Aluminum Wall Plate Range/Dryer Qty 6 $13.50 |
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Green Aluminum Back Snap On Case+LCD Film+Wall+Car Charger For iPhone 4 4G 4S $5.94 |
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NEW Zombies Crossing Glow in the Dark Wall Sign 12″ x 12″ – Aluminum Pre-drilled $12.97 |
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CTG Brushed Aluminum Single Gang Wall Plate $74.99 |
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Purple Aluminum Hard Case+US Wall Home Charger Adapter Kit For iPhone 4 G 4S $8.43 |
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Festive Bells Mold, Copper Color Aluminum Christmas Wedding Shower, Wall Hanging $5.99 |
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Black Aluminum Hard Case+US Wall Home Charger Adapter Kit For iPhone 4 4th 4G 4S $8.43 |
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Ford Racing Aluminum Diecut Wall Sign RARE L@@K NR $9.99 |
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6″ OD x 24″Long x 1/4″ Wall 6061 T6 Aluminum Round Tube $58.35 |
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6″ OD x 12″Long x 1/4″ Wall 6061 T6 Aluminum Round Tube $32.21 |
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ERGOTRON 31-017-182 ERGOTRON WALL TRACK 26INX5IN ALUMINUM $70.78 |
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Aluminum Bicycle Wheel Rubber Tire Wall Clock – Black $39.99 |
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Green Aluminum Back Snap On Plastic Case+Cable+Wall Charger For iPhone 4 4G 4S $6.90 |
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I Love WALLS, MISSISSIPPI City Limit Sign – Aluminum $10.99 |
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Vtg 1960s Aluminum Hand Engraved Light Switch Plate & 3 Aluminum Wall Tiles NEW $9.99 |
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Dryer Vent Pipe System 4″ Rigid Aluminum Wall Vent Hood $9.99 |
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I Love WALL, SOUTH DAKOTA City Limit Sign – Aluminum $10.99 |
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I Love WALL, TEXAS City Limit Sign – Aluminum $10.99 |
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826055 PetSafe Large Aluminum Wall Entry Pet Door $169.00 |
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ALUMINUM VERDE GREEN EXTERIOR WALL FIXTURE*NIB* $44.99 |
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826042 PetSafe Medium Aluminum Wall Entry Pet Door $139.00 |
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Car+USB US Wall Home Charger Kit+Silver Aluminum Hard Case For iPhone 4 4S 4th $10.45 |
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6061 Aluminum Round Tube 2″ OD x 1-3/4″ ID x 24″ $7.00 |
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TG™ Weather Forecast Wall Clock – 12 inch Aluminum $55.00 |
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NEW HARLEY DAVIDSON BAR & SHIELD ALUMINUM DIAMOND FEATURE STANDARD WALL PLAQUE $59.95 |
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Aluminum Original Painting-Mini Wall Art-Space Art-Surrealism-SurrealArt-Boland $24.99 |
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Aluminum Silver Hard Case Cover+US Wall Home Charger For iPhone 4 4G Gen 4S $8.75 |
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GE Security GEA-102 Wall Mount Arm, Cast Aluminum New! $49.95 |
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Dual Headed Wall or Ceiling Spot Fixture Aluminum $99.00 |
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Car+AC US Wall Charger+Silver Aluminum Hard Case Skin For iPhone 4 4G 4S $10.43 |
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Purple Aluminum Hard Case+USB US AC Wall Home Charger+Cable For iPhone 4 4S $9.21 |
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Green Aluminum Back Snap On Case+Film+AUX Cable+Wall Charger For iPhone 4 4G 4S $6.05 |
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Black Aluminum Hard Case Skin+Car+US USB AC Wall Travel Charger For iPhone 4 4S $10.03 |
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PLC MALTA 6412 MODERN CONTEMPORARY WALL SCONCE IN ALUMINUM WITH FROST GLASS $52.00 |
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PLC GAYLE 6416 MODERN CONTEMPORARY WALL SCONCE IN ALUMINUM WITH FROST GLASS $52.00 |
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Silver Triangle Aluminum Flake Hard Case+Car+Wall Charger+Cable for iPhone 4 4S $8.44 |
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Silver Aluminum/ Black Case Cover+Travel Wall Home Charger For iPhone 4 4S $5.74 |
From Medieval to Modern Times: Curtain Walls Serve Multiple Purposes
Unless you’re an architect or a structural engineer, the term “curtain wall” may be an unfamiliar one to you. It is not an interior design feature. A curtain wall is a type of façade often found on commercial and office buildings.
A curtain wall does not carry any dead load from the building other than its own. In other words, a curtain wall does not carry any roof or floor loads. Instead, it transfers loads to the main structure of the building through connections at the buildings different floors or columns. Essentially, it is like covering the front of a building with a “curtain” of aluminum and glass.
While aluminum and glass are fairly modern materials, curtain walls are not a modern invention. They have actually been around for centuries. The earliest of these structures were made of stone. They were most often built to surround and protect castles. These curtain walls were typically connected by a series of several towers. The towers provided defensive strength, and were also used as lookouts. The towers were the weight-bearing structures of the walls. Some medieval curtain walls, or at least remnants of them, still stand in European countries.
You won’t find many curtain walls made of stone today. Modern builders construct them out of aluminum and glass. Aluminum is a natural choice for contemporary curtain walls because of its excellent strength-to-weight ratio. It also weathers well, in part because it oxidizes naturally when exposed to air, creating an extra barrier of protection against weather. Aluminum is less brittle than heavier metals like steel, and is pliable enough to be molded and bent into unique and customized configurations.
Curtain walls are constructed by fashioning aluminum into a large grid-like frame. The spaces in the frame are infilled with glass. While glass is the most common material used, it’s not the only one. Metal panels, louvers and stone veneer can also be used. The structure is attached to the main building at each floor and at its corners.
Glass and aluminum tend to be the materials of choice for commercial buildings when it comes to curtain walls. Using glass is advantageous because of the natural light that it provides. Buildings with these glass facades often save money on electricity because the need to use interior lighting during the daytime is reduced significantly. Plus, glass is aesthetically pleasing, creating a modern, open-air look both inside and outside the building.
Curtain walls are advantageous for other reasons too. They are resistant to air and water infiltration and thus decay more slowly than other types of building materials. They also resist forces of nature on the building, like high winds earthquakes.
In addition to the natural oxidation process which protects the aluminum in curtain walls, another coating is usually added. The two main options for coating include anodization and electronically-sprayed polyester powder. Both of these methods enhance the weatherproofing of the aluminum and can be color-matched.
Modern curtain walls have advanced in both style and materials from their medieval stone ancestors. Today’s structures can be custom-manufactured to fit any size and style of building. Aluminum colors can also be customized to match. Tinted or clear glass may be used as infill. The result is an overall look and feel that can be tailored to suit every cityscape, business park or individual developer or owner’s taste.
About the Author
Jenny Schweyer is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest.
Steiner Doors: Manufacturer of custom architectural curtain walls and aluminum doors.
Popular Hardware: Major supplier of commercial door hardware.
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