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Just saw a stat that the average glass panel in a modern skyscraper is replaced every 15 years, not 30 like I always assumed.
I read it in a trade journal article about stress cycles on high-rise curtain walls, and it makes me wonder how many of you guys are seeing that replacement timeline in your own commercial work.
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linda_ward6mo ago
That 15 year stat is wild. Are they talking about full replacement or just resealing? I've seen some older buildings where the glass itself is fine but the gaskets and seals are totally shot after a decade or so. Makes you wonder if it's the material failing or the installation methods.
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benk266mo ago
Honestly, that 15 year number feels like a scare tactic to sell more glass. Most of the high rises I walk past every day have had the same windows since they were built, and they look fine. Unless there's a design flaw or really bad weather, glass is pretty tough stuff. I bet that stat comes from a worst case scenario, not the normal life of a building.
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grantt116mo ago
Yeah I mean I get where you're coming from. My old apartment had windows from like the 80s and they were honestly fine, just a little drafty. But my buddy lived in this newer condo and his seals failed in under ten years, had constant condensation between the panes. Maybe it's just cheaper materials now or bad installs like Linda said.
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