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- Cut, install and repair glass in homes or commercial settings
- You'll develop specific skills and normally travel from place to place for specific jobs
- Opportunities to specialise in particular areas like restoration work, conservatories or fitting glass in cars and lorries
As a glazier, you'll accurately and safely measure, cut and install glass products for customers. You could also work for a glazing company specialising in conservatories, glass roofing, flooring or emergency repairs.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Choosing glass for the job
- Removing broken panes, beading and putty
- Working out how much glass is needed for each job
- Fitting new glass and making sure the sealing is watertight
- Shaping glass using diamond or wheel-cutting tools
- Making decorative glass panels or double glazing units
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You could work at a client's home or at a client's business, and your working environment may be at height.
You'll need
To be a glazier, you'll need knowledge of building, construction and maths, thoroughness and attention to detail, the ability to work well with others, ambition and desire to succeed, patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations, and to work well with your hands.
There are no set requirements, so you can apply directly for jobs, but employers usually want you to have maths skills to measure and work out dimensions. Experience in carpentry and joinery may also be helpful.
You could start as a glazier's assistant and train on the job.
You could get into this job through an intermediate apprenticeship in glazing or fenestration installation.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could work on specialist projects, like restoration work on churches or listed buildings. Other options include moving into site management, estimating or glass product design.
You could also work in the automotive industry, repairing and replacing windscreens on vehicles.