CURTAIN WALL
REPAIR & SERVICES
IN HOWE, TX.
Howe's US-75 commercial corridor grew 37% in a decade as Sherman-Denison metro spillover arrived — but the buildings anchoring that strip date to 1983 or earlier. Original curtain wall sealants, glazing gaskets, and wet seals are past their service life. With the Union Pacific rail corridor adding continuous ground vibration to North Texas' severe weather exposure, deferred curtain wall maintenance isn't a cosmetic issue — it's a structural one.
What Curtain Wall Repair Includes
Comprehensive curtain wall services for commercial buildings — from wet seal replacement to full panel and infill work.
Wet Seal Replacement
Wet seal is the primary weather barrier between curtain wall frame members and glazing. When it hardens, oxidizes, or loses adhesion — common on Howe's 40-year-old commercial strip — water entry is inevitable. We remove all degraded sealant, clean and prime substrates, and install commercial-grade silicone rated for the actual thermal movement range of your building.
On buildings adjacent to the Union Pacific rail corridor, we select sealants with higher fatigue resistance to handle the persistent vibration loads that accelerate standard sealant failure.
Gasket & Dry Glazing Repair
EPDM and neoprene gaskets compress and harden over time, losing the compression seal that keeps water out of the glazing pocket. Dry glazing systems rely entirely on gasket integrity — once compression drops below design thresholds, the system leaks regardless of how good the wet seal looks.
We inspect, measure, and replace gaskets with materials matched to your frame system's original specification, restoring the compression seal without requiring full frame replacement.
Leak Investigation & Diagnosis
Water entry points rarely align with where damage appears on the interior. Our diagnostic process uses controlled water testing, boom truck elevation access, and infrared thermography to trace infiltration back to the actual source — whether that's a failed wet seal, a compromised gasket, a corroded anchor, or a panel transition detail.
For Howe properties where repair budgets are constrained, accurate diagnosis is particularly important — it prevents wasted spending on the wrong repair scope.
Panel & Infill Replacement
When panels are cracked, spalled, or beyond repair, we coordinate panel sourcing and replacement with minimal disruption to building operations. This includes spandrel glass, aluminum composite panels, and opaque infills.
As Howe businesses compete for commercial traffic driven by the Texas Instruments semiconductor corridor 12 miles north on US-75, facade condition directly affects tenant perception — panel replacement is often the highest-return exterior investment available.
Industries We Serve in Howe
Why Howe Buildings Need Curtain Wall Service Now
Howe's commercial strip along the US-75 Business Route dates primarily to 1983 or earlier — placing virtually every commercial building past the 40-year mark where original curtain wall sealants, gaskets, and glazing compounds have exhausted their service life. The town's lower median household income ($51,108) has historically produced deferred-maintenance cycles that convert manageable sealant replacements into water damage and structural facade problems.
The Union Pacific rail corridor running through Howe adds persistent ground vibration that accelerates sealant fatigue — a stress pattern not present in most commercial markets. Combined with Grayson County's expansive clay soils and the severe weather exposure of Howe's open plain position, curtain wall systems here face multiple simultaneous degradation drivers.
Howe grew 37% between 2010 and 2020 as the Sherman-Denison metro expanded southward. With Texas Instruments' semiconductor campus 12 miles north, the commercial corridor now needs to present professionally — and weathertight curtain wall systems are a baseline requirement for that competitive positioning.
Howe's commercial stock is 40+ years old — original curtain wall sealants and gaskets well past service life
Sherman-Denison metro spillover driving commercial pressure on aging US-75 frontage strip
Texas Instruments' Sherman fab — the commercial traffic driver raising standards for Howe corridor properties
Why Choose Griffin Restoration
Commercial exterior restoration since 2000
Licensed in TX, OK, AR, and LA
56' and 72' — self-performing capability
Full coverage for commercial projects
Curtain Wall Repair FAQ
What causes curtain wall systems to fail on commercial buildings?
Curtain wall failures trace to four primary causes: sealant degradation from UV exposure and thermal cycling, gasket compression loss over time, fastener corrosion allowing water tracking, and substrate movement that opens joints beyond sealant elongation limits. On Howe's US-75 Business Route corridor, where commercial buildings average over 40 years old, original wet seal and glazing compounds have long exceeded their design service life. The persistent ground vibration from the Union Pacific rail corridor running through Howe adds a mechanical stress factor that accelerates sealant fatigue in ways not seen in most commercial districts.
How do you diagnose leaks in a curtain wall system?
Leak diagnosis begins with a visual survey to identify sealant failure, glazing compound deterioration, and visible panel gaps. We follow with a spray-rack water test or hose test to isolate active infiltration points under controlled conditions. For complex or multi-story facades, we use our 56' and 72' boom trucks to access upper elevations without scaffolding. Infrared thermography can identify moisture-laden insulation behind panels before visible damage appears. On Howe buildings, we also evaluate whether the Union Pacific rail corridor vibration has introduced fatigue-pattern cracking in sealant joints — a pattern we look for specifically in rail-adjacent commercial structures.
What is wet seal repair for curtain wall systems?
Wet seal is the silicone or polyurethane sealant applied between curtain wall frame members and glass or panel infills to create a weather barrier. Over time, wet seal hardens, oxidizes, loses adhesion, and develops cohesive splits that allow water entry. Repair involves removing all existing sealant, cleaning and priming the substrate, and installing new commercial-grade silicone matched to the frame and glazing materials. We specify sealant movement capability (typically ±25–50%) appropriate to the building's actual thermal movement range — critical for older Howe commercial buildings where original engineering assumptions may predate North Texas temperature extreme data.
How often should curtain wall sealants be inspected?
We recommend a professional curtain wall inspection every 3–5 years for systems under 20 years old, and annually for older systems or those with known repair history. After any significant hail event — Howe's open position on the Grayson County plain means no topographic shelter from North Texas severe weather — immediate inspection is warranted, as hail impact can open micro-tears in sealant that aren't visible from grade. Given Howe's deferred-maintenance history due to the area's lower median household income ($51,108), many buildings on the US-75 strip have gone far beyond recommended intervals and require full sealant replacement rather than spot repairs.
Can curtain wall repairs be done on occupied commercial buildings?
Yes — nearly all curtain wall repair work can be performed with the building fully occupied. Our boom trucks allow exterior access without requiring interior access or tenant disruption. We schedule work in sections, maintaining building weather-tightness throughout. For buildings on Howe's US-75 frontage strip competing for commercial traffic from the Sherman-Denison semiconductor corridor, minimizing business interruption during repairs is a priority we plan around from the start of project scoping.
Related Services
Curtain wall repair often works alongside these complementary services.
Commercial Caulking & Sealant
Perimeter sealants, expansion joints, and transition details at window and door heads complement curtain wall wet seal replacement for complete building envelope protection.
Learn more about our caulking services →Commercial Waterproofing
Elastomeric coatings and membrane systems protect the opaque areas of your building envelope, working in conjunction with curtain wall repairs for comprehensive moisture control.
See our waterproofing capabilities →Exterior Building Repair
Spalled concrete, deteriorated masonry, and damaged facade substrates are often discovered during curtain wall inspection. We handle both scopes in a single mobilization to reduce cost.
Explore exterior repair services →Protect Your Howe Property
Whether you manage a retail strip on the US-75 Business Route, an institutional campus, or a commercial building adjacent to the Union Pacific corridor — we'll assess your curtain wall system and provide a detailed scope of work.