Glazier

Field & Trades

Installs the glass, curtain wall, and storefront systems that give a building its skin, precision work where a fraction of an inch off is the difference between a weathertight seal and a leak.

What is a Glazier?

A Glazier cuts, fits, and installs glass and metal glazing systems on a project, from full curtain wall and storefront systems on commercial buildings to windows, mirrors, and interior glass partitions. Much of the work happens well into a project, once the structural frame is up and the building needs its exterior skin, and a lot of it happens at height, on scaffolding or a swing stage, coordinating tight tolerances with the structural steel or framing crew that set the openings.

What they do

• Install curtain wall panels and storefront systems per shop drawings and manufacturer specs
• Cut, fit, and set glass panes to exact frame dimensions
• Apply sealants and glazing compounds to create a weathertight seal around installed glass
• Install mirrors, glass partitions, and skylights
• Read curtain wall and storefront shop drawings to plan sequencing and material needs
• Coordinate with structural steel and framing crews so openings come in at the tolerances glazing requires

A typical day

• 6:30 AMReview the day's curtain wall installation sequence and stage glass panels at the hoist
• 7:00 AMSet and secure curtain wall units on the level currently underway, checking plumb and level as each panel goes in
• 10:30 AMApply sealant and weatherproofing around a completed section of storefront glazing
• 1:00 PMFit and install interior glass partitions on a lower, already-enclosed floor
• 3:30 PMWalk completed glazing with the foreman, checking for gaps, scratches, or seal defects before the next trade moves in

Skills

Software

Education

Required:

High school diploma or equivalent, then a registered apprenticeship (typically three years or more, with a minimum of 144 hours of classroom instruction per year plus paid on-the-job training through a union program like IUPAT); most states don't separately license glaziers the way they do electricians or plumbers

Helpful:

OSHA 10 or 30 certification (not a nationwide legal requirement, though several states, including New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Nevada, Missouri, and Rhode Island, legally require it for workers on public construction projects), plus fall protection or aerial/scissor lift certification given how much of the work happens at height

Not necessary:

A four-year college degree; the apprenticeship-to-journeyman route is the standard path into the trade

Career progression

1. 1.Apprentice Glazier
2. 2.Journeyman Glazier
3. 3.Glazing Foreman
4. 4.Glazing Contractor or Superintendent

Who hires for this role