Installing a retail store display window…
or securing the glass panels
of a skyscraper...
takes the craftsmanship of a glazier.
Glaziers cut and install glass
for a variety of structures,
and ensure it is secured
and weatherproof for all seasons.
In homes, glaziers install or replace windows,
mirrors and shower doors
as well as fitting glass for tabletops
and display cases.
On commercial projects,
glaziers install items such as
decorative room dividers,
security windows, or skylights,
and replace storefront windows.
On large-scale construction jobs,
glass arrives on a project already cut
and mounted into frames.
Glaziers position and secure the windows
in place,
with the help of construction workers
using cranes or hoists
to guide the pieces into place.
The work is physically demanding.
Glaziers spend most of the day standing,
bending, or reaching,
and often must lift and maneuver heavy,
cumbersome materials.
They have a higher than average
rate of injuries and illnesses—
typically from falls and overexertion.
Most glaziers work full time,
and the majority work for building contractors.
Some work for building material
and supplies dealers.
Glaziers typically train
in a 4-year apprenticeship,
after completing a high school education.
Unions and contractor associations
typically sponsor apprenticeship programs
in this field.
A few states require licensure.