What is the difference between a unitized curtain wall and a stick curtain wall?

The main difference between unitized and stick curtain wall systems lies in the assembly method and location:

**Unitized Curtain Wall System:**

- Factory-assembled into complete panels (typically one floor tall)

- Shipped to site as ready-to-install units

- Faster on-site installation with less labor

- Higher quality control (factory environment)

- Higher initial cost but lower installation cost

- Ideal for large-scale, repetitive projects and high-rise buildings

- Better suited for tight construction schedules

**Stick Curtain Wall System:**

- Individual framing members (mullions and transoms) installed piece by piece on-site

- Glass and infill panels installed after framing is erected

- Lower upfront cost, more flexible for complex geometries

- Requires more on-site labor and time

- Better for low-rise buildings or irregular façade designs

- Allows on-site adjustments during installation

FOWALL manufactures both systems. Their engineering team helps clients select the optimal system based on project scale, timeline, budget, and design complexity. With a 550,000 m² production facility, FOWALL can handle high-volume unitized panel production while also supporting custom stick-built projects for unique architectural requirements.