Modern life cannot be thought of without a few essential products like steel, cement, plastic and glass. Glass holds a special place in present day living, serving humanity in several ways. As such, glass merchants / glaziers are indispensable in today’s construction work. Insulated glass and specially treated glass are used in buildings for keeping the inside air either warm or cool, while providing adequate condensation.

This glass contains sound control qualities also and is used in halls and auditoriums for better acoustics. Doors and windows are made safe and secure with the use of tempered glass and laminated glass. Modern commercial complexes, the glass panels not only reduce the necessity of artificial lighting but also provide a distinctive and attractive look and façade to the entire building. Even homes are made to look bright, inviting and airy by the creative usage of glass doors, large windows, skylights, sunrooms, etc.

Glaziers are a specialised profession. They select, cut, install, remove and replace all types of glass in buildings. Those who are experts in residential glazing undertake jobs that include the installation of glass mirrors, glass doors and windows, fitting glass for tabletops, display cases, etc., shower doors, bathtub enclosures, etc.

Commercial glaziers concentrate on entire interior decoration projects, installing heavy, etched and decorative type room dividers, security windows, panels, glass doors, walls, skylights, etc. on a large scale. In commercial establishments like supermarkets, banks, auto dealerships, etc. glaziers do the installation or the replacement of entire storefront windows. In large commercial buildings, glaziers also undertake the work of metal framework extrusions to hold glass panels, curtain walls, etc.

The third type of glaziers concentrate on the automotive industry, installing, repairing and replacing glass in automobiles and trucks.

In nearly all the glass related work, the glass merchants /glaziers pre-cut the glass and mount it in frames. This is done either in a factory or in the shop of that particular contractor. Then the glass is transported to the construction site. If the glass is large and heavy, hoists or cranes are used to lift the glass to its fitting place. When the glass is positioned properly, it is secured with materials like putty, paste-type cement, mastic, rubber gaskets, glazing compound, metal mouldings, wood mouldings, metal clips, etc. Normally, the most used method is to have a rubber gasket, which is a moulded, thick, half rubber tube, having a split running along its length. This gasket is secured around the perimeter in the opening or in the pre-designed frame and the glass is set into the split of the gasket. The gasket clamps the edges and holds the glass in place. Glazing compounds, metal clips, etc. are also used by them wherever needed using their expertise in glass installation work. To cut glass, glass merchants / glaziers use hand tools, glass cutters, suction cups, glazing knives, etc. and also power tools like cutters, drills, saws, grinders, etc.

There are several reputed and renowned glass merchants / glaziers and their details could be obtained from the several trade directories available in Australia.