Glass is an integral part of most buildings. You’ll find it in homes, offices, and shops. But, have you ever stopped to think about how it got there or how it was made to fit your window frames? If you have (and even if you haven’t), then now’s a great time to find out.
What is a Glazier?
Glaziers are the tradespeople responsible for cutting, shaping, and installing glass in windows, doors, mirrors and more. They’re skilled at preparing glass for structural and non-structural use in commercial and residential buildings.
In residential environments, glaziers are responsible for replacing and repairing damaged or broken glass, installing new glass doors and windows, securing mirrors to walls, fitting shower screens and doors, sizing and placing glass tabletops, and even designing and making display cases.
In commercial environments, glaziers will cut and install security doors made of glass and fix or secure internal glass panelling and room dividers. You’ll also find them installing or repairing shop fronts made of glass, for everyone from boutique salons to more traditional corner stores.
Beyond commercial and residential buildings, glaziers work on high-rise construction sites, using cranes to lift large glass panels into place before securing them to the building frame.
A day in the life of a glazier?
Working as a glazier means spending a lot of time on construction sites ensuring the glass fits the building. They often install aluminium, timber, or stainless-steel frames, fitting glass using putty, chemical compounds, or rubber strips.
Glaziers also handle broken glass and mirror glaze, preparing these surfaces for reglazing. They assemble and install pre-made glass units like shower enclosures and sliding doors.
Before glass arrives on the job site, glaziers often carry out prep work in a workshop, scoring the glass with cutting tools to ensure it’s the correct size and removing any excess with specialist tools. These tools include diamond-tipped drills and saws, grinders and bevellers (for polishing edges), and inscribers for adding decorative finishes.
Glaziers work alongside other professionals and tradespeople, interpreting drawings, diagrams, and specifications to determine glass fabrication and installation needs. They might also use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create scaled drawings.
What training is required to become a glazier?
To become a glazier, a certified apprenticeship must be completed and a Certificate III in Glass and Glazing obtained (there are several TAFE courses across Perth).
A Construction Induction Card or White Card is also required for glaziers to work on any construction site. To help with these qualifications’ glaziers should have a strong understanding of maths and complete the Certificate II in Glass and Glazing.
It’s also helpful to complete the Master Glazier program through the Australian Glass and Glazing Association, which will give you a certification through the professional organisation
