What drives the cost of a ventilated facade per square metre

Why two quotes for one facade differ

Two offers for the same elevation can differ by a wide margin, and both can be honest. The reason is that a ventilated facade is not one product but a set of choices, and each choice moves the cost in its own direction. This article lists the factors, ranks their relative influence in words, and shows how to compare offers. It gives no prices, because a figure without your drawings, height, substrate and city is not a quote.

The cost structure

A ventilated facade cost is made of five parts, plus installation:

1. the cladding;
2. the subframe: brackets, profiles, fasteners;
3. the insulation, wind barrier and fixings;
4. the design: calculation, drawings, supervision;
5. special elements: flashings, junction parts, fire barriers, corner solutions;
6. installation and access equipment.

The cladding is normally the largest single part of the material cost and the main lever on the budget. The subframe comes next, and the insulation and design follow. Installation, as labour, is comparable in weight to the subframe, and it depends strongly on the complexity of the facade.

Factors and their relative influence

Factor	Influence on cost	Why
Cladding material	Very strong	From ceramic and fibre-cement to HPL, aluminium cassettes, clinker and natural stone, the range between cheapest and most expensive is wide, wider than any other choice
Cladding format and fixing method	Strong	Large panels, concealed fixings and custom cassettes need more processing and a denser subframe
Subframe material	Strong	Galvanised steel is lighter on the budget than aluminium or stainless steel, and the choice follows corrosion and weight needs
Building height and wind zone	Strong	Higher suction means closer brackets, heavier profiles and more fixings, especially in corner zones
Seismic zone	Moderate	More demanding fixings and movement allowance in Tbilisi and Kutaisi (intensity 8) than in Batumi (7)
Substrate and anchors	Moderate to strong	Weak walls need chemical anchors, through-fixing or bracket positions in the floor slabs; testing adds work
Insulation type and thickness	Moderate	The thickness follows the thermal check against Resolution No. 354; fire requirements limit the choice of material
Fire requirements	Moderate to strong	Cavity barriers, non-combustible components and tested assemblies add parts and evidence
Junction complexity	Strong	Many windows, reveals, corners, setbacks and curved or sloped surfaces multiply flashings and labour
Wall unevenness	Moderate	Large deviations need long, adjustable brackets and more time to set the plane
Site access	Moderate	Scaffolding, cradles, tight sites and crane availability affect labour
Design and documentation	Small in relation to the total	A small share of the budget that controls the large ones
Delivery and logistics	Small to moderate	Distance, packaging, and custom lengths

Cladding: the main regulator

The range of cladding materials runs from the simplest ceramic and fibre-cement boards, through HPL and aluminium cassettes, to clinker and natural stone. Moving from one end to the other changes the budget by a multiple, and a modest cladding on a good subframe usually costs less than a prestigious cladding on a basic one.

For a client the useful question is not "which is cheapest" but "what do I need the surface to do": colour stability, impact resistance, repairability, weight, maintenance, and fire class. Durability and system selection compare these properties.

Subframe: where "cheaper" hides

The subframe is the part nobody sees, and it is where an offer can lose weight without the client noticing. The usual places are:

• profile section and wall thickness;
• the alloy, or the zinc class and polymer coating of steel;
• bracket spacing and projection;
• presence of thermal-break pads and isolating washers;
• fastener grade, A2 against A4 in aggressive environments;
• edge-protection details and accessories such as end caps and corner profiles.

A "thin" offer often differs from a full one in exactly these lines. Read subframe profiles and alloys and brackets before comparing.

Insulation and thickness

The insulation thickness comes from the thermal check, not from preference. Government of Georgia Resolution No. 354 of 13 July 2021 sets limiting U-values for walls in three climate zones: 0.50, 0.38 and 0.25 W/m²K for zones 1, 2 and 3, which are represented by Batumi, Tbilisi and Tianeti, as amended (current consolidated text on matsne.gov.ge). A thicker layer lengthens the brackets, which changes the subframe. See facade thickness.

Height, wind and junctions

Two buildings with the same cladding area can have different costs. A taller building has higher wind suction, so the subframe is denser and the corner zones are strengthened. A building with many openings, setbacks and balconies has more junctions to detail and more labour per square metre than a flat elevation with a few windows. The honest comparison is by the facade drawings, not by the floor area.

Design cost versus the cost of errors

The design and calculation is a small share of the total, and it determines the quantities of everything else: the bracket spacing, the profile sections, the number of anchors. A project that finds a lighter safe solution reduces the quantity of metal, and a project that finds a problem before installation avoids rework, which costs far more than the design. Compare this with typical mistakes.

How to compare offers

1. Send identical input to every supplier: elevations, heights, city, substrate, cladding and fire requirements. See what to send.
2. Ask for a specification, not only a total: profile sections, bracket spacing, alloy or zinc class, fastener grade, insulation type and thickness, accessories.
3. Check that the calculation is included and signed by a named engineer.
4. Check the product documents: Declaration of Performance or European Technical Assessment where Government of Georgia Resolution No. 476 of 1 October 2018 applies, fire evidence, anchor documents.
5. Confirm what is not included: installation, access equipment, flashings, delivery, supervision.
6. Fix the scope, the completeness of the set and the schedule in the contract.

Where savings are safe, and where they are not

Safe savings come from simplifying the architecture: fewer cladding formats, a regular grid, standard sizes, fewer special corners, and a cladding that suits the budget. They also come from a precise calculation that avoids over-reinforcing the whole facade when only the corner zones need it.

Unsafe savings are in the invisible lines: thinner profiles, lower zinc class, fewer brackets, A2 instead of A4 near the sea, no isolating pads, no anchor tests, no cavity barriers. These reduce the offer price and the service life together.

To get a comparable calculation for your building, send the drawings and the location; the design team will state the quantities and the assumptions behind them.

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