Glazier

You'll measure and fit glass to transform the look of different spaces, such as:

• windows

• doors

• greenhouses

• staircases

• kitchen splashbacks

• showers

You could fit double glazing at a house, install windows at a new office development or carry out glass repairs.

Glaziers need to follow technical drawings and plans. Accurate measurements will be important for cutting the glass to size and you must work carefully and precisely.

Your tasks might include:

• measuring the spaces and advising on designs

• selecting the correct glass for the job, such as safety glass for a shop front or security glass for a bank

• removing old or broken panes, using tools such as suction pads, chisels and pliers

• removing the beading or putty from frames

• fitting the new glass, making it watertight using sealants, rubber strips, or lead and aluminium flashing

• manufacturing glazed units, such as timber or UPVC-framed windows and doors

You'll normally use made-to-measure glass panes that have been cut to size in a workshop beforehand. As a glazier, you may need to make some small adjustments to shape pieces on site using diamond or wheel-cutting tools.

With experience, you may be able to use your skills on specialist projects, for example on churches or restoring listed buildings.

Some jobs involve working at heights from ladders, scaffolding or suspended cradles.

• Glass Industry Occupations – Modern Apprenticeship where you'll learn glazing techniques as a paid employee

• Sidey Factory – YouTube video giving an insight into a glazier workshop in Perth

• Construction.org.uk – Advice from the building industry on becoming a glazier