c/glaziers

The new guys keep using the wrong cleaner on insulated units

I've seen three separate crews this year spray ammonia-based glass cleaner on the spacer bars. It eats the sealant over time, guaranteed. Anyone have a good way to explain this to clients who want to 'help' clean?

3 comments

chen.casey•21d ago

Pro tip: I just cut a 96 inch piece of tempered glass with zero waste for the first time.

I was doing a big storefront job in Phoenix and the main panel was the full sheet length. Measured it three times, set the score line, and it broke clean on the first try. How do you guys handle the nerves on a single-shot cut that big?

3 comments

dixon.spencer•22d ago

Watching a crew install a huge curved glass wall in Chicago made me stop using the 'three-man lift' rule.

I was on a job site at a new hotel on Michigan Avenue about two years ago. They were putting in a single piece of curved laminated glass that was 12 feet tall and weighed over 800 pounds. Every shop I've worked at always said you need three guys minimum for anything over 400 pounds. This crew used a special vacuum cup rig with a powered cart and did it with two guys, moving slow and talking through every step. They said adding a third person just creates more points where something can go wrong if someone trips or pushes wrong. Since then, for big panels, I focus on having the right gear and two very good hands instead of just more bodies. Has anyone else moved away from the old 'more men equals safer' idea for big glass?

3 comments

jordanhill•23d ago

Warning: That 'universal' glass cleaner from the hardware store cost me a whole day's work

It left a haze on a big office window job and I had to redo everything, losing about $400 in time. Anyone know a solid brand for commercial glass that actually works?

3 comments

gracewebb•24d ago

My old boss insisted on using a single pane for everything, but I switched to insulated glass for a big job in Denver last winter.

We used to just cut and set whatever the client asked for, no questions. Then I did a full window replacement on a 1920s house near downtown, and the owner was shocked by their first heating bill. Now I always talk through thermal performance and local codes before we even measure. It adds maybe ten minutes to the first meeting, but it saves so many callbacks. Has anyone else found a simple change that improved client satisfaction a lot?

3 comments

sarah829•25d ago

Got a tricky tempered glass cut to fit an old window frame in a Boston brownstone

The frame was out of square by almost 3/8 of an inch corner to corner, and the architect wanted a perfect fit for a new tempered unit. My usual method is to square the frame as best I can and cut to the smallest measurement, but that leaves a big gap to fill with setting blocks and sealant. This time, I tried something different. I cut the glass to the exact, out-of-square shape of the opening, which felt totally wrong. I was sure it would stress and pop in the frame or just look bad. But after tempering, we set it, and it slid right in with a perfect, even reveal all the way around. The installer said it was the easiest fit he'd done all month. I'm torn though, because everything I was taught says to keep the glass square. Has anyone else tried cutting to the frame's actual shape on a rehab job, or is this asking for trouble down the line?

3 comments

finleyw58•25d ago

A raccoon tried to pay me in acorns for a window repair

I was replacing a broken pane on a sunroom in Oak Park last Thursday when a raccoon climbed up the ladder and dropped a pile of acorns on my tool bag. It just sat there on the sill, staring at me like it was waiting for a receipt. I had to gently shoo it away with my putty knife before it tried to 'help' with the glazing. Has anyone else had wildlife get a little too involved in a job?

3 comments

graceblack•26d ago

I used to think those fancy diamond hole saws for glass were just overpriced hype.

But after burning through three cheap ones on a single 2-inch hole in a 3/4-inch thick shower door, I finally bought a Diablo one and it cut clean in under a minute. Anyone have a cheaper brand that actually holds up?

3 comments

finleyh89•27d ago

That time a squirrel ran through a window I just installed in Portland

I was finishing up a big picture window job at a house in the West Hills, just about to clean the final pane. The homeowners were inside, and I had the old frame out and the new unit ready to go in. I turned my back for maybe thirty seconds to grab my level, and I heard this wild scratching sound. A gray squirrel had jumped off a branch, sprinted across the patio, and launched itself straight through the open hole where the window would be, right into their living room. The lady inside screamed, the squirrel panicked and started bouncing off the walls, and I'm standing there with a tube of sealant in my hand, totally frozen. We finally got it out with a broom and a lot of yelling. Now, no matter the job, I always have a piece of plywood or a drop cloth ready to cover any opening the second the old glass is out. You just never know what's going to try and move in. Has anyone else had an animal try to claim a window space before you could finish?

3 comments

the_parker•1mo ago

Just had a big tempered glass panel blow out on me during install

It was a 6 foot by 4 foot piece for a storefront in Phoenix, and it just popped when we were setting it. The thermal stress from the morning sun hitting the shaded edge must have been the trigger. Anyone have a good method for checking surface temp differences before you handle big glass like that?

3 comments

rubyk86•1mo ago

Had to pick between a 6mm and 8mm pane for a weird bathroom window job

Got a call for a window in this old house in Tacoma, a tiny bathroom with a weird slanted frame. Homeowner wanted a clear pane but was worried about privacy. I gave them two choices: go with the standard 6mm clear glass, cheap and fast, or get an 8mm pane with a light acid etch on the bottom half for some blur. They picked the 8mm, saying 'just make it feel fancy'. Well, getting that thicker, etched glass to fit the odd angle was a nightmare. Took me three tries to get the bevel right without chipping the edge. In the end, it looked great, but I spent an extra hour and a half on what should have been a simple swap. Anyone ever have a simple choice turn into a way bigger job than you planned?

3 comments

the_cameron•1mo ago

Just realized my old caulk gun was costing me time on every job

I used a basic hardware store gun for years, but my buddy lent me his Dripless Pro model last month. The smooth release and no drip tip let me seal a 12-foot window in half the time, with way less cleanup. Anyone have a favorite brand that holds up to daily use?

3 comments

quinnc98•1mo ago

Question about using a 4-inch grinder versus a belt sander for edge work

Had a big beveled edge job on 3/4 inch glass and went with the grinder for speed. Ended up with a cleaner finish after switching to 220 grit belts, but it added an hour. Anyone have a better method for this?

3 comments

the_luna•1mo ago

My old foreman in Cleveland swore by using a 3/8 inch bead for storefront doors

He said anything less was asking for trouble with wind load. I ignored him on a job last fall and went with a 1/4 inch line to save on sealant. Sure enough, after a big storm, the client called about a major draft. Had to redo the whole 12-foot run. What's your go-to bead size for a standard commercial door?

3 comments

sarahbailey•1mo ago

My boss told me to use a 1/8 inch spacer for a 10 foot shower door install last month, and the whole thing rattled like crazy.

He said it was 'standard practice' and wouldn't listen when I mentioned the weight. Sure enough, the homeowner called two days later saying it sounded like a train going by every time they touched it. Had to go back, pull the whole unit, and reset it with 1/4 inch. Lost a whole afternoon. What's the biggest spacer you'd use on a door that size?

3 comments

daniel_lane30•1mo ago

This cafe job is making me doubt standard glass thickness charts

I'm putting in big windows for a local cafe, and the plans say to use 1/4 inch tempered glass. But with how wide these panels are, I'm worried it won't hold up to the wind we get here. Last spring, I did a similar setup and the glass had a visible bend on windy days. The owner wants to save money, but I don't want callbacks for cracks or leaks. It feels like the charts don't account for real world conditions sometimes. How do you guys decide when to go thicker? Do you ever add your own margin of safety beyond what's written down?

3 comments

jamesfox•1mo ago

My glass cutter is wrecking my wrist after all these years

I've been a glazier for over ten years, and lately, my right wrist hurts all the time. It starts aching after just a few cuts with the glass cutter. Last week, I had to stop mid-job because the pain was too sharp. I tried wearing a brace, but it gets in the way when I need precision. Now I'm worried about how long I can keep doing this work. Has anyone else dealt with this? I mean, it's really messing with my speed and accuracy.

3 comments

the_kevin•1mo ago

Getting the sealant line crisp on a big patio door felt amazing

We had this huge sliding door to install, and the sealant always gives me trouble. Today, I took my time with the gun and kept a steady hand. The line came out straight and even, with no smudges. It's a tiny detail, but it makes the whole unit look finished. I let out a little cheer when I stepped back to look at it.

3 comments

kelly_west1•1mo ago

PSA: Everyone's into those pre-cut tint films now, but I think they're junk.

Saw three vans this week loaded with the pre-sized rolls. A sharp blade and a steady hand with bulk film ALWAYS looks better, no bubbles.

3 comments

the_barbara•1mo ago

Caught a serious flaw in our skylight glass before it gave way

Last week on a commercial atrium job, I spotted a hairline crack in a tempered glass pane during final checks. It was from over-tightened mounting clips at the factory. This could have led to a dangerous shatter. Always double-check all glass under proper lighting before signing off.

3 comments

kelly_green20•1mo ago

Rant: Skipping the pre-clean on a tint job ruined a perfect pane

I was in a rush and thought a quick wipe would do, but the adhesive bonded to dust streaks instead of the glass. Now it's peeling and the client is furious over a simple avoidable error. Ever had a small shortcut blow up in your face?

3 comments

james767•1mo ago

A quiet warning about modern glass installation methods

Back in the day, we used putty and glazing points to secure windows by hand. It was messy but gave a solid seal that lasted for years. Now, with pre-made seals and adhesives, jobs are faster, but I've seen them fail in cold weather. That old hands-on approach made sure the glass stayed put through seasons.

3 comments

felixm30•1mo ago

Unpopular opinion: Hand tools still beat power tools for fine glass work

I've noticed more people choose hand cutters for detailed jobs lately. They let me score the glass with better precision.

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thomas_wood•1mo ago

My crew still ribs me for using ketchup packets as shims

I ran out of proper shims on a door install and used ketchup packets from my lunch to level the glass. It held perfectly until I could get real ones, and now I think they're a decent backup. The guys won't let me live it down, but it worked in a pinch.

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dakota_garcia66•1mo ago

The stress from this custom curved glass job is messing with my head.

I've been obsessing over the measurements for days, worried it won't fit. My appetite's gone, and I'm just staring at the blueprints.

3 comments