Glazing and facade subcontracts: the risks and what to negotiate
Glazing and facade packages combine design responsibility, long-lead procurement and installation at height, often on the critical path to building lock-up. Performance warranties, material supply and access decide whether the package makes money.
AI risk report, not legal advice. The scanner gives general information about the risks in a document. It is not a lawyer, does not know your circumstances, and can be wrong. For decisions with legal consequences, get advice from a construction lawyer.
Where glazing, facade and cladding subcontractors lose money
Performance and compliance warranties
Facades carry warranties on water tightness, structural performance and material compliance. Check exactly what you are warranting and for how long, and whether design responsibility sits with you or the consultant.
Procurement and supply delay
Imported glass and framing can have long lead times. Without an extension of time for supply delays outside your control, shipping delays become your liquidated damages.
Access and scaffold dependencies
Installation depends on scaffold, cranes or hoists usually provided by the builder. Interruptions should be delay events with costs, not your risk.
Long retention and warranty periods
Facade warranties often run longer than other trades. Make sure retention release does not wait for the end of every warranty period.
Three things to push for in your departures schedule
- Design responsibility and warranties defined precisely, with a time limit
- Extension of time for supply delays outside your control
- Builder-provided access interruptions treated as delay with costs
The free scanner finds these clauses in your actual contract in about two minutes and writes the departures schedule for you.
What the Index says
Live figures from the Australian Subcontract Index, 90 real subcontracts. The Index holds only 2 glazing and facade contracts so far, under the 10-contract threshold, so these are national figures across all trades. Nothing under 10 contracts is ever shown.
Glazing and facade subcontracts by state
Glazing and facade subcontracts: common questions
What should a facade subcontractor check in the warranty clause?
What is being warranted (design, materials, workmanship or performance), for how long, and whether the warranty mirrors the head contract. A warranty broader than your scope or longer than your suppliers' cover leaves you carrying risk you can't pass on.
Do glazing, facade and cladding subcontractors have payment rights that override the contract?
Yes. Every state and territory has a Security of Payment Act that lets you make a payment claim and get to adjudication quickly, and several states cap how long payment terms can be. The state pages below set out each one.
Is the scanner free?
Yes. No account, no card. Upload the subcontract and the full report appears in about two minutes. General information, not legal advice.