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 Industry Structure, How Firms Opertate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Quarterly Insight, Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 5,800 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 $2-3 million in annual revenue.
- The glass and glazing contracting industry consists of about 5,800 firms that employ about 70,700 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
Coronavirus Update
Nov 3, 2021 - New Coronavirus Variant Causes Concern
- Health officials and scientists are tracking a mutation of the Delta coronavirus variant amid concerns that it could be more transmissible than the original strain. The subvariant of the Delta variant, labelled AY.4.2, was detected in at least 42 countries, including the US, by the end of October. The vast majority of cases have been reported in the United Kingdom. Experts warned that the spread of the variant, which some have labelled as “Delta Plus,” could be the result of a number of factors, including public health measures set out by governments or the extent of adherence to those measures.
- Several surveys have shown that as many as half of unvaccinated workers say that they would leave their jobs if vaccination is required, but a June 2021 survey, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that 16% of employed respondents would quit, start looking for other employment, or both, if their employer instituted a mandate. Among those who said they were “vaccine hesitant” – almost a quarter of respondents – about 48% would quit or look for another job. Scientific American magazine found, however, that based on a sample of companies that already have vaccine mandates in place, the actual number who do resign rather than get the vaccine is much smaller than the survey data suggest.
- Total construction spending decreased 0.5% in value month over month on an adjusted basis but increased 7.9% in value year over year on an unadjusted basis in September, according to the US Census Bureau. Residential construction spending decreased 0.4% month over month but increased 19.2% year over year in September. Nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.6% month over month and 1.2% year over year in September.
- Homebuilding across the nation expanded the fastest in places with the shortest commute times, according to the quarterly National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Home Building Geography Index (HBGI). The HBGI also shows that the suburban shift in new home construction to low density, low cost markets stemmed largely from the Covid-19 pandemic, was first reported in the second quarter of 2020, and continued into 2021.
- The number of hotel projects completed, a driver of demand for glass installation, will increase 11.5% year over year in 2021 and 11% year over year in 2022, according to Lodging Econometrics.
- Nonresidential construction is expected to decrease 5.7% year over year in 2021, according to a consensus forecast from the American Institute of Architects. Health care and public safety are the only two major sectors in the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast projected to see slight increases — up 1.2% and 1%, respectively— in 2021. Overall nonresidential construction spending is projected to increase 3.1% year over year in 2022.
- Employment in the specialty trade contracting industry increased 2.4% year over year in September but was down 1.2% compared to September 2019.
- The number of building permits issued for privately-owned housing units decreased 7.7% month over month but was unchanged year over year in September. Housing starts decreased 1.6% month over month but increased 7.4% year over year in September. Housing completions decreased 4.6% month over month and 13% year over year in September.
- Pella and Infinity from Marvin offered virtual appointments to remain connected to customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both companies reported an increase in demand for virtual appointments.
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