Glass and Glazing Contractors
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 6,500 glass and glazing contractors in the US install glass panes in prepared openings and perform other types of glass work for buildings. Projects include new installations, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Smaller operators generally specialize in residential projects and emergency glass repair. Commercial projects include interior projects, such as the installation of decorative room dividers, and exterior projects, such as the replacement of storefront windows.
Dependence On The Construction Industry
Demand for glass and glazing services is highly dependent on the health of the construction industry, which is cyclical and influenced by economic conditions.
Specialized Labor Shortage
Glass and glazing contractors struggle to find qualified glaziers, who are workers that cut glass and perform the physical installation process.
Industry size & Structure
The average glass and glazing contractor operates out of a single location, employs 12 workers, and generates about $2 million in annual revenue.
- The glass and glazing contracting industry consists of about 6,500 firms that employ about 75,500 workers and generate $14 billion annually.
- Small, independent companies operate within a limited geographical market.
- Large firms that manufacture, design and install building exteriors, such as aluminum curtain walls, stone, and composite panels, often also work with glass products.
- Large firms include Harmon, Karas and Karas Glass, and Giroux Glass.
Industry Forecast
Glass and Glazing Contractors Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Nov 5, 2024 - Residential Construction Wages Spike
- The wages of residential building workers posted a year-over-year increase of 9.9% in September after jumping 10.8% in August, according to analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Wages in residential construction have been rising even as the number of job openings in the construction sector have fallen. In September, there were 288,000 construction sector job openings compared to 328,000 in August. Wages in the residential building construction industry have been rising amid overall wage growth and a shortage of skilled labor in the construction market.
- North American construction and engineering spending in 2024 is expected to grow by about 5%, according to FMI’s fourth-quarter 2024 North American Engineering and Construction Outlook. With growth of 29%, public safety will lead 2024 nonresidential building construction, followed by manufacturing (21%), amusement and recreation (10%), transportation (5%), educational (4%), and religious (2%). Commercial construction spending is expected to decline 8% in 2024 amid weaker demand for warehousing space. Lodging construction spending is forecast to drop 6%, and stubbornly high office vacancies will continue to weigh on new office construction, which is projected to see spending rise by 1% in 2024. Despite favorable demographic trends, project delays for some private hospital developments will cap healthcare construction spending growth at 1% in 2024. Amid moderating interest rates, single-family construction spending is forecast to rise 5% in 2024 as new home affordability remains competitive with existing home prices. Multifamily spending is expected to decline by 4% in 2024 amid a recent wave of fresh inventory. The rise in available apartment units has contributed to flat or falling rents in some metros, prompting developers to pause new projects.
- Home remodeling spending is expected to resume stronger growth by the middle of 2025, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) report released in October by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard. Homeowner improvements and repairs are expected to decrease 2.1% to $469 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to Q4 2023. In the first quarter of 2025, remodeling spending will drop 2.1% from Q1 2024 to $454 billion. Spending will then rise to $473 billion in Q2 2025, up 0.6% from Q2 2024. In the third quarter of 2025, year-over-year spending is forecast to increase by 1.2% to $477 billion. The Joint Center expects improvements to be supported by improving existing home sales and higher home values, which will boost spending for necessary replacement and discretionary remodeling projects.
- The total value of US construction put in place rose 0.1% in September 2023 compared to the prior month, according to the US Census Bureau. Residential spending grew 0.2% and nonresidential spending increased 0.1%. In the nonresidential buildings segment, growth was led by transportation, which saw growth of 0.8%. Lodging and educational spending each rose 0.3%, while spending on commercial projects increased 0.2%. Public safety, office, and amusement and recreation each saw spending decline 0.1% in September, and healthcare spending was off 0.6%. Communication spending declined 0.3% in September.
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