A glazier is a professional craftsperson who deals with various types of glass. They frequently work on both business structures and residential dwellings while practicing their vocation.
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Who is Glazier?
Modern life makes extensive use of glass. For instance, sound and condensation are reduced, and warm or cool air is retained through carefully treated and insulated glass. Doors and windows are more secure when the glass is laminated and tempered. Buildings become bright, open, and welcoming through the inventive use of huge windows, glass doors, skylights, and sunroom expansions.
Responsibilities
A glazier should prioritize the following tasks:
- Fasten glass to a variety of surfaces and locations, including doors, shower doors, storefronts, mirrors, ceilings, tables, interiors of walls, display cases, and skylights.
- Put glass panes into wood sashes or frames using glazier’s points, and use a knife to smear weather seal along the edges to seal the seams.
- After installing the prefabricated glass door into the frame and hinges, quickly attach metal hinges, locks, and other components.
- Make sure all safety rules and regulations are adhered to, especially the wearing of safety gear such as gloves and clothes.
- Drive the vehicle to business installation sites or clients’ homes to unload the tools and equipment needed for installing glass.
Job Scheduling
You will primarily work full-time during your career as a glazier. Around 8% of glaziers were self-employed in 2012, allowing them to choose their own hours and work according to their preferences. Additionally, some specialists in this field are paid hourly and operate in shifts. It can be physically taxing to work as a glazier, just like it is to work in other maintenance and repair occupations.
You must feel at ease working outside in a variety of weather situations, including snow, ice, and rain. The majority of your working hours will be spent stretching, standing, or bending while moving or lifting heavy objects like glass sheets.
Job Growth
As long as construction projects continue to call for glass interiors and exteriors, the glass production industry will have high growth until the year 2020, according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics. Modern building designs will include glass thanks to enhanced designs and more energy-efficient glass materials such as specialty laminated glass.
Promising employment prospects are anticipated for aspirants due to older workers retiring or looking for better opportunities. Since there are more glass shops and hired glaziers in metropolitan areas than in suburban ones, there will be more employment prospects there.
Common Employers
Employers that hire glaziers include large corporations, full-service glass shops, commercial glazing, and construction industries, as well as businesses that manufacture glass. You might also be hired to offer solutions for homes, businesses, and workshops, depending on the project. Several potential employers are listed below: AT&T, Construction Labour Contractors, Tradesmen International, Inc., and USI All Purpose Windows & Doors.
The demand for Glaziers in the American labor market
Currently, the United States has an estimated 50,100 glaziers. The employment of glaziers is anticipated to increase by 10.4% between 2016 and 2026.
How easily can Glaziers find work?
Glaziers get a D employability grade from CareerExplorer, which indicates that job possibilities will be scarce for the foreseeable future. It is anticipated that the US will require 12,800 glaziers during the next ten years. That figure is based on the retirement of 7,600 current glaziers and the hiring of 5,200 new glaziers.
Do employers demand Glaziers?
As glass producers continue to increase the energy efficiency of glass windows and architects and commercial builders plan and build more buildings with glass exteriors, demand for glaziers will remain strong. Installing new windows is a frequent part of the continual need to repair and update existing structures, including many homes, which creates employment for glaziers.
The demand for specialist safety glass and glass with protective laminates is rising as a result of security concerns and the need to reduce potential damage brought on by extreme weather. This could lead to further opportunities. However, the accessibility of prefabricated windows that general contractors and carpenters may install may severely restrict job prospects in the industry.
The employment of glaziers are vulnerable to economic situations, just as other professions in the construction industry. Openings are often concentrated in urban locations, where the majority of glass shops and glazing contractors are found. The best career chances for glaziers will go to those who have other construction-related skills; this will be particularly true during business downturns and in slow economies when hiring is curtailed.
Only Florida and Connecticut in the US require glaziers to be licensed. The National Glass Association’s voluntary Certified Glass Installer Technician accreditation for glaziers should improve their employability. Those that succeed in the field typically create their own enterprises or work as managers or estimators.
Getting Into Glazing
You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or its equivalent to be able to work as a glazier. It is especially helpful to have taken mathematics coursework in order to perform precise technical calculations and measurements as needed for a project. A three-year apprenticeship program that includes 144 hours of technical training and 2000 hours of on-the-job training each year will also eventually be required of you.
Classroom instruction on pertinent subjects like reading blueprints, fundamental algebra, and construction techniques may be part of the technical training. Due to the high likelihood of injuries at work, you will also learn the most recent safety procedures and receive first aid instruction. To get a feel of what to expect in the real work environment and which skills should be prioritized, on-the-job training is very beneficial. You will be known as a journey worker or someone with the skills to handle assignments without supervision once your apprenticeship is over.
A successful glazier must possess outstanding physical strength and excellent hand-eye coordination in addition to formal training. To complete the task, you must feel at ease using scaffolding, ladders, and high elevations.
