Author Archives: Gene Graham

Winter is almost here, and your outdoor pergola area that’s been in use all summer is starting to look like it could be an excellent fit for the cold months as well – if only there are a few ways you could utilize this space during the winter.

To achieve this, you may want to get quotes from glaziers or aluminum window fabricators. Also, you might need help picking between an aluminum window fabricator and a window glazier.

In this article, I’m going to share tips that make the process of getting quotes easier and the difference between an aluminum window fabricator and a window glazier.

Quote Hacks

To get quick and accurate quotes from any company, it is essential to have the following:

1. Know Exactly What You Want: Many people don’t have a clear idea of what they want at the time they call a construction company. This can lead to delays in getting the quote as the staff tries to find out exactly what you want, or a misquote, where they don’t get the picture clearly.
2. Have Exact Measurements: In this business, size matters. The size of the products you need to inform your prices, so if you don’t have exact measurements. You can get a delayed quote or a wrong one.
3. Know What Your Budget is: When you don’t have a figure in mind, it’s easy to get swayed by sweet-talking construction staff. You end up saying yes to everything and getting a quote you can’t afford. When you know your budget and state it upfront. The staff is going to give suggestions based on your budget without any unnecessary delays.

Aluminum Window Fabricator or Window Glazier?

Now that you know how to get a quick and accurate quote. Let’s move on to which of the two handymen you’ll need. This distinction goes back to having a clear picture of what you want.

An aluminum window fabricator is best if you want opening windows and doors. Because they’re set up to complete this task. They’re used to making open-able and operational windows so that they will work perfectly with your outdoor pergola area.

A window glazier, on the other hand, is the best option when you’ve already built your door and window frames and need some glass installed into the opening. This is the primary function of a glazier; supply and installation of glass. We can help you with that; we can cut the glass up and install it for you.

To learn more, download our free guide or feel free to get in touch. Also, if you think you need our services, don’t hesitate to call us.

When a window needs replacement, the first point of call is to figure out what type of glass was previously installed and what type of window glass the replacement should be. Knowing this will make it easier to make inquiries and get accurate quotes. In this article, I’m going to explain the difference between glass types, and how you can identify them from the different break patterns.

Types of Window Glass

When thinking about glass types, there are three different types that you need to consider.

1. Float Glass

Float glass, or annealed glass, as it’s otherwise called, is just your standard glass. This is the glass that’s installed in any of your aluminium sliding windows or timber double hung windows.

This glass is put onto the truck, and cut on site by the glazier; very easy to install, and very easy to identify. When this glass breaks, it breaks into standard shards that go everywhere. It breaks like regular glass.

2. Laminated Safety Glass

Laminated safety glass is the same as the safety glass that’s in the windscreen of your car. It’s simply two pieces of glass bonded onto a plastic interlayer.

The purpose of the interlayer is to hold the glass together when it breaks. It’s easy to identify this glass type, as it usually cracks off in big spider web pattern, but you won’t see any shards of glass and the glass won’t fall out.

3. Toughened Safety Glass

When toughened glass breaks, it explodes into a million tiny fragments, and it does this because the glass is held under immense tension.

It does this instead of cracking off into shards, so it doesn’t cut you when it breaks. It’s important to know that toughened safety glass is approximately seven times stronger than float glass of the same thickness. It’s great for thermal resistance and impact resistance.

You should note that once this glass is made, it can’t be changed or altered. It can’t be cut, or drilled, or processed. Once that panel is made, nothing else can happen to it. If that panel is wrong, we throw it in the skip and start again.

We’ve considered three glass types today; Float Glass, Laminated Safety Glass, and Toughened Safety Glass. Hopefully, the information here helps when you’re inquiring about a replacement window. You can quickly identify what glass has been installed, and make sure your inquiry process is smooth and simple.

To learn more, download our free guide, or feel free to get in touch.

Many customers are often shocked to hear about the lead time on glass replacement orders. They don’t understand why the replacement glass takes so long to reach them. Or the point of lead times on the glass. That’s what this article aims to inform you about.

Let’s say, for instance, you’ve recently broken an aluminum sliding door, and there is glass everywhere.

You’ve taken the dimensions, you’ve rung up your local glazier. And they have explained that there’s a five to seven-day lead time on that toughened safety glass.

This leaves you in a pickle. What do you do as regards safety in the meantime? How do you secure your property? And why does glass have a lead time?

In this article, I’m going to explain to you why a reputable glass and glazing company, would require these lead times to order your glass.

Before we delve fully into lead times, it is important to note that several different combinations of glass go into a residential home and it is impossible for glass companies to stock every single type.

Also, some kinds of glass need to made to order, so glass companies have to wait till there’s an order for that type and then place an order with their supplier.

So, if the aluminum window in your laundry or your rear sliding door breaks and the glass explodes and goes everywhere. The explosion is an indication of the need for toughened safety glass. We don’t have a toughening plant here at Economy Glass, so we need to order that panel from our supplier exactly to size.

It is also essential to note that once toughened safety glass has made, it can’t change, altered, or adjusted. So, it’s not something that can stock up; it has to made to order.

Different types of glass have different lead times. Lead times can vary from five days to two weeks or more.

These influenced by the type of glass, the size and location of the glass (these inform the type of glass to use. And whether or not the glass would be tempered), the color of the glass. And when you place the order (some times are busier than others).

While waiting out your glass lead time, you can contact us at Economy Glass to put in temporary safety measures.

In this article, I answer the most common questions relating to glass replacement service in your home.

What is the Most Feasible Lead Time?

The most common questions about glass replacement service in your home are usually based on lead times. When people break windows, they think it is of the utmost importance, and it is really urgent that they need to get that window replaced as soon as possible.

Now, as with a lot of glass products, we have stock glass in our factory, and we can cut fresh glass on the side of the truck and then replace the damaged one almost immediately.

But, when it comes to toughened safety glass or those odd items that we do not stock, we would need to order them. Sometimes, we have lead times of seven to ten days.

It is always quicker, so long as it is possible, that you can bring that frame into our workshop. If it is standard glass, we can repair the panel straight away.

What Kind of Information is Needed to Ensure Smooth Service?

One more important thing to take note of is that a lot of people come to us, requesting our services, without having the correct information, to begin with. This limited information makes it very difficult to quote your job. If you reach out to a glass replacement service, please ensure you include some helpful photos and some accurate measurements of the window or door that you need to repair. This helps us to have more of an idea of the work, and quote you quickly and efficiently, saving you time and money.

How Important is Clear Communication Between You and Your Glazier?

Over the years, we have done a fair amount of research on what a homeowner expects when a glazier comes into their home. First and foremost, they want you to be on time. They need to arrive when they say they will, and also keep you informed. Clear communication is of absolute importance here.

What Should You Expect Your Glazier to Be Like?

The glazier should be well dressed; they must be clean and tidy, and also provide homeowners with great and impressive knowledge and advice so that the homeowners can ensure that they have got the best product that should be installed in their windows, to ensure maximum security and safety.

In a Nutshell

The process for organizing a glazing and glass replacement service in your home is very easy with Economy Glass if you have the right information at hand. You have multiple options; you can pick up the phone and call us, reach us via email, or on one of our web forums; or you can even jump on our website and chat with somebody directly using our web chat feature.

Please, make sure that before you contact us, you have clear photos of the window or door that needs to repair or glass replacement service. Also, ensure to have very accurate measurements before reaching out to us. This is an important thing to do as it allows us to give you as accurate a quote as possible, avoiding any discrepancies during the progression of the job.

For more information, you can download our free guide or get in touch with us.

Glass replacement services for schools are very important for our business. In this blog, I am going to discuss everything you and your school need to know about glass replacement in Western Melbourne.

Timing

First and foremost, one of the major things that your school needs to consider when working with a local glass and glazing expert is timing. It is of the utmost urgency to get the glass replaced as soon as possible after a school window breaks.

Ensure Regulatory Compliance

Secondly, you will need to think about compliance and make sure that the business you choose to work with has all the appropriate documentation and insurance to undertake work on your school premises.

Ensure Adequate Knowledgeability

The third thing to look out for in your local glass service expert is knowledge. The glass company needs to be able to provide you with enough knowledge that can help you minimize glass breakages in the future.

Strict Adherence to Laid Down Policies and Acts

Any contractor or glass and glazing company that works at your school needs to adhere to the appropriate policies and acts. The first policy is health and safety. Staying safe and healthy should be front and center on the list of priorities.

This entails that you should have a professional company that is fully aware of the risks involved with the work that they are taking on and completing. Also, the glazing company staff should all have Worked with Children and all other relevant police checks. This is very important because these guys will be working in your school with your children and students. Do not for any reason underestimate that.

Then there’s the matter of insurance. Ensure that all of their work is fully insured and that they are completely compliant. You’ll also need to ensure that your glass services expert adheres to the relevant glass and glazing standards or building standards associated with the work that they are going to undertake.

All in All

At Economy Glass, we believe that we are the leader in glass replacement in Western Melbourne, Glass replacement services for schools in the Western Suburbs, and here are a few reasons why.

Firstly, we work swiftly to repair your broken windows as soon as possible. We also prioritize school jobs over everything else in our company.

Secondly, we make sure that we adhere to all the standards and compliance checks that we need to undertake work at your schools. Things like insurance, and others like working with children and police checks. Any policy at all that you need, our guys have it.

And the third reason is our knowledge. We ensure that we provide our clientele with the right advice at the right time.

Thank you for reading. I hope this has helped. For more information, please feel free to download our free guide or reach out to us.