What Does it Take to Become a Glazier?

Glaziers are skilled craftsmen who work with glass and glass substitute products in windows, doors, display cases, storefronts, skylights and other fixtures. They follow blueprints to cut glass into specific shapes and sizes, remove old or broken panes and secure new ones using mouldings, sashes and fasteners. The job is highly specialised and requires excellent attention to detail, physical strength and stamina as well as mechanical aptitude.

Most glaziers train in 4-year apprenticeships after completing high school, typically sponsored by unions and contractor associations. Some states require a licence to practice the profession. Other routes into the role include taking vocational education and training (VET) courses, completing an industry-recognised qualification or working directly for construction or specialist fenestration companies.

The typical working environment for a glazier is on construction sites, collaborating with other tradespeople and following project timelines to complete installation tasks. Workers often need to climb ladders or scaffolding and handle delicate materials. They may also need to lift heavy or cumbersome materials, which can cause back problems.

Glaziers need to have excellent eyesight and hand-eye coordination, as well as mechanical aptitude, in order to accurately cut glass on site. In addition to these skills, glaziers need a high level of physical strength and stamina in order to spend all day standing, bending or lifting heavy materials. It’s also important for them to have a good sense of balance as they sometimes work at height, and to be comfortable climbing and handling ladders or scaffolding.

While the demand for glaziers is steady, the salary varies considerably depending on location and specialty. Glaziers who work in the commercial sector, for example, tend to earn more than those who focus on residential projects. The pay gap is even wider between glaziers who are self-employed and those employed by a company or organisation.

The best way to advance in the field of glaziery is through on-the-job experience. A successful career as a glazier is likely to lead to supervisory or managerial roles, such as estimator or project manager.

Taking our free career test is a great way to see if you’d be suited to a job as a glazier. It will ask you questions about your strengths, weaknesses and interests to help you find the perfect job match.

source https://murphyglassandmirror.wordpress.com/2023/10/12/what-does-it-take-to-become-a-glazier/