How to Budget For Glass Installations

If you’re planning a project that involves glass installations, it’s important to budget for high-quality materials and professional installation. Most importantly, you need to know what your end goal is and by when. A thorough understanding of the project’s specific steps is essential to estimate its cost accurately.

1. Determine Your Project’s Scope

The first step is to identify what you want to be done. That means knowing what’s actually going to get done and how much work will be involved.

Are you installing a glass shower door? An home or office glass wall? Trying to be more energy efficient? Or do you only need minor fixes? Knowing this will help determine its associated costs and how much time and effort it will take to complete.

2. Consider the Materials and Size

To get started, you will need to know what type of glass you want for your project. Know your options before you jump in. There are many different types of glass—frosted, tempered, laminated, or insulated.

Shower doors, walls, mirrors, or room enclosures have varying requirements like hinges, finishing, and bases that can affect the overall cost.

Naturally, every material will cost differently. Find out what kinds of glass and frames are available in your area, how much they cost, and if they will work for your project by contacting local glass installers, doing some online research, or asking contractors.

You should also take measurements of the area you plan to cover or install glass in. You can do this with the help of one of the many glass installation calculators available online. Then use this information when you ask for quotations from contractors.

If you want to be sure that your glass installation fits perfectly, companies like Gatsby Glass can take custom measurements for you. Reach out to the team to get a quote and ask about their suppliers.

Since glass installers often source their glass from a variety of glass fabricators, it’s crucial that you verify that the provider you choose, like Gatsby Glass, uses only the highest quality products.

3. Check if You Need Anything Customized

If you want glass in a specific shape or size, want a special coating on it, or want it framed by custom elements like wood panels or metal strips, these can add to the cost.

Be sure to allocate enough budget on top of your base estimate so that you can cover the cost of any glass customizations.

4. Get a Quote From Several Vendors

It can be tempting just to hire the first contractor you find. Instead, take your time and get a quote from several vendors before settling on one. Keep in mind that rates might vary substantially depending on factors such as the installer’s level of expertise, the materials used, and the complexity of the design.

This will provide you with a starting point for prices, and you can use the information later to narrow down the list of contractors.

It’s also essential that you ask contractors about their timing. Rush work is almost always more expensive. However, glass work shouldn’t be rushed because it is fragile and must be installed meticulously.

When getting a quote from a glass contractor, ask for an itemized list of everything they plan on doing for the job so that there are no surprises down the line.

Protect Your Investment

Not only is glass a high-quality, beautiful solution, but it can also become corroded or ruined by dust, oil, or other dirt if it is not taken care of properly.

Gatsby Glass offers an exceptional 4-step glass protection service. Our Ultra Ice Pro service comes with a limited warranty for life that guarantees your glass surfaces will be protected for their entire lifespan.

It involves the application of a solution to get rid of impurities such as oily fingerprints, silica dust, petroleum, and distillates. It will also make the glass extremely resistant to dirt, corrosion, oxidation, and water stains.

Conclusion

Figure out what you want and how much you are willing to spend to achieve your goals. Consider the different options available, as well as their costs and benefits. For instance, anything frameless will require less hardware resulting in less corrosion and a longer lifespan.

Lastly, remember to properly take care of your investment, so it lasts a long time.

Need help to figure out where to start? Need more information? Call Gatsby Glass at 866-GLASS-64 to receive a free consultation and project estimate.