April 4, 2013

Tips for Planning an Order with a Glass Specialist

Written by Rebecca Clayton

"When specifying elements of specialist glazing to your project obviously using a specialist glazing company, such as IQ Glass, is the preferred method"

When specifying elements of specialist glazing to your project obviously using a specialist glazing company, such as IQ Glass, is the preferred method, with technical expertise and years of experience with glass and technical glass products. Below is a guide to help you navigate the world of specialist glazing and help you to specify a specialist glass package to your project.

The very first thing to ensure you have before placing an order for specialist glazing is a firm and detailed price broken down to the individual elements for the glazing required. This will provide clarity to both yourself and the specialist glazier and will also make the task of value omitting elements or increasing sizes much easier.

Once you have a firm quotation it is best to discuss with your glass specialist what attendants or items will be required by your general contractor prior to installation, such as a solid base to fix to or suitable access to the work area. This will highlight any additional costs and save you from surprises on the builder’s applications for payment

"The very first thing to ensure you have before placing an order for specialist glazing is a firm and detailed price broken down to the individual elements for the glazing required"

If the contractor is not appointed at this stage, which in most cases they will not be, you should ask the glazing specialist to list any exclusions or ‘work by others’.  IQ Glass work very hard to identify any hidden costs to the client from the process and ensure all works are identified irrespective of who is going to carry them out.

The reason the large proportion of residential glazing packages are ordered before the main contractor’s appointment is due to the fact that designers/architects require the technical details of the installation to be incorporated in the tender drawings. The other obvious benefits of planning the glass order early is that the prices are fixed and the tender can include details of the glazing works allowing main contract tenders to be more specific.

"IQ Glass UK are in contract with clients direct on approximately 60% of their schemes "

IQ Glass UK are in contract with clients direct on approximately 60% of their schemes and if the client wishes to ‘novate’ IQ to the contractor a facility is available. By ‘novating’ IQ the clients can include IQ Glass within the main contact package and let the main contractor take over from the architect for liaison.

The prices of glass associated products and systems are affected by energy costs, currency exchange and rates for raw materials. By placing an early order for the glass package it will allow ‘cost certainty’ and assist with budgeting.

IQ’s team of expert estimators and technical executives are happy to answer questions on costing and detailing and if you are ever in any doubt please do contact us and we will be happy to assist.

(0)1494 722 880

hello@iqglassuk.com

www.iqglassuk.com