Seeing a shift towards faster installs at the cost of craft

I've been a glazier for about twelve years now, and something's changing on the job site. More and more, the big bosses want everything done quick, even on complex jobs like storefronts or big windows. Last month, we had a rush order for a office building, and they told us to skip the final sealant cure time. Now, we're going back because the glass is fogging up between the panes. It's not just my crew, I talk to guys at the supply house and they say the same thing. This puts a lot of strain on us because we know a bad install can lead to bigger problems down the road. Makes you question if saving a day is worth the headache later. How are other shops handling this push for speed?

3 comments

3 Comments

angela_baker3d ago

That fogging glass issue is exactly the kind of call back nobody wants. When you're told to skip cure time, does that pressure trickle down to the newer guys too? Like, are they getting the proper time to learn the right way, or just being told to hurry up? Feels like the whole idea of a good install gets lost when speed is the only thing that matters.

milawright3d ago

And it's your name on that bad install forever.

the_vera2d ago

They really tell you to skip the 48-hour cure time? That's wild. I saw a job last year where they rushed the sealant and every single pane fogged up within a month. The whole crew got called back on a Saturday to redo it. How does saving a few hours ever beat that kind of mess?