What Do Glaziers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Glaziers install glass in windows, skylights, store fronts, and display cases, or on surfaces, such as building fronts, interior walls, ceilings, and tabletops. They also confer with customers to determine project requirements or to provide cost estimates.

Other tasks include:

• Fabricate or install metal sashes or moldings for glass installation, using aluminum or steel framing.
• Determine plumb of walls or ceilings, using plumb lines and levels.
• Select the type or color of glass or mirror according to specifications.
• Fasten glass panes into wood sashes or frames with clips, points, or moldings, adding weather seals or putty around pane edges to seal joints.
• Prepare glass for cutting by resting it on rack edges or against cutting tables and brushing thin layer of oil along cutting lines or dipping cutting tools in oil.
• Cut, fit, install, repair, or replace glass or glass substitutes, such as plastic or aluminum, in building interiors or exteriors or in furniture or other products.

We asked Glaziers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

---

60% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 51% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Glaziers select the type or color of glass or mirror according to specifications. They drive trucks to installation sites and unload mirrors, glass equipment, or tools.

A typical day for a Glazier will also include:

• Determine plumb of walls or ceilings, using plumb lines and levels.
• Cut, fit, install, repair, or replace glass or glass substitutes, such as plastic or aluminum, in building interiors or exteriors or in furniture or other products.
• Confer with customers to determine project requirements or to provide cost estimates.
• Pack spaces between moldings and glass with glazing compounds and trim excess material with glazing knives.
• Read and interpret blueprints or specifications to determine size, shape, color, type, or thickness of glass, location of framing, installation procedures, or staging or scaffolding materials required.

We asked some Glaziers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	90% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	59% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	92% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	39% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	33% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	61% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Glaziers also cut, assemble, fit, or attach metal-framed glass enclosures for showers, bathtubs, display cases, skylights, solariums, or other structures. They may also set glass doors into frames and bolt metal hinges, handles, locks, or other hardware to attach doors to frames and walls.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Glaziers Measure mirrors and dimensions of areas to be covered to determine work procedures. They might also Cut and attach mounting strips, metal or wood moldings, rubber gaskets, or metal clips to surfaces in preparation for mirror installation.

In addition, they Secure mirrors in position, using mastic cement, putty, bolts, or screws.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Determine plumb of walls or ceilings, using plumb lines and levels.

To some Glaziers, it is also their responsibility to Move furniture to clear work sites and cover floors or furnishings with drop cloths.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Glazier, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/construction-and-extraction/glaziers.htm

http://www.glass.org/

http://www.iupat.org/pages/start-a-career/glazing

http://www.finishingtradesinstitute.org/