When you design or install a curtain wall, you know there is no room for error: any air or water leakage can lead to complaints, extra maintenance and a bad image with your customer. And in many cases, the difference lies in something you can’t see: the seals.
That’s why choosing the right seal manufacturer is not a minor detail, it’s a strategic decision.
Here is a practical checklist to help you evaluate your next curtain wall joint supplier.
Materials: the right rubber for your façade?
Not all joints are the same, nor does all rubber behave in the same way when exposed to the sun, rain or building movements. A good supplier should:
- Work with specific mixtures for façades, usually based on EPDM or other suitable elastomers.
- Provide clear technical data sheets: hardness, temperature range, weather and ozone resistance.
- Advise you when you have doubts between several joint extrusion solutions depending on the climate zone or type of curtain wall.
If the supplier only talks about ‘standard rubber’ without much further detail… that’s a bad sign.
To learn more about this topic, take a look at this article on curtain walls: joint geometry and drainage to prevent leaks.
Dimensional control: tolerances that make the difference
In a curtain wall system, everything has its tolerance, and joints are no exception. A good supplier of joints and profiles for façades should guarantee:
- Strict control of the extruded profile (widths, thicknesses, sealing lips).
- Periodic verification with specific control tools or gauges.
- The possibility of adapting the design if you detect small deviations in the aluminium or glass on site.
Always ask how they check the dimensions and how often. If the answer is vague, the actual control is probably vague too.
Validations and tests: beyond ‘this has always worked’
Your supplier should not rely solely on experience, but also on data. A joint extrusion company specialising in curtain walls should be able to offer:
- Preliminary air and water tightness tests.
- Performance against accelerated ageing and UV radiation.
- Quality certificates (ISO, documented internal controls, batch traceability).
They don’t need to test everything for every project, but they do need to be able to demonstrate that their compounds and designs are validated.
> More info on how a tightness test is performed.
Deadlines, service and continuity of supply
The best seal in the world is useless if it doesn’t arrive on time. When choosing between several seal manufacturers, consider:
- Actual manufacturing deadlines and ability to respond to emergencies.
- Minimum stock of critical seals or the possibility of manufacturing short runs.
- Stability of supply: they should not depend on a single raw material supplier with no alternatives.
On site, every day counts; a joint supplier has to be aligned with that reality.
Custom design and technical support: you are not just ‘another order’
In many curtain wall projects, standard joints fall short. That’s where a partner who can create custom profiles and joints makes all the difference:
- Adaptation of the joint design to the aluminium system.
- Technical support during the prototyping and assembly testing phase.
- Joint review of construction details to ensure sealing.
Why choose ISOGOM?
At ISOGOM, we specialise in the design and manufacture of rubber profiles and gaskets for façade applications. As a gasket extrusion company, we can accompany you from the design phase to the construction site, combining:
- Materials adapted to demanding outdoor environments.
- Strict dimensional control of our profiles.
- Testing and validation according to project requirements.
- Tight deadlines and continuity of supply.
If you are looking for a reliable supplier of curtain wall joints, with custom design capabilities and local technical support, let’s talk.
Request a quote and tell us what type of system you are developing: together we will find the joint extrusion solution that best suits your project.
