How will my glass be delivered?

Congratulations! You’ve reached the stage of the project where all that’s left is to take delivery of the goods and install it. Right? If only life was that simple 😊

This article will cover the most frequently asked questions about glass deliveries. Hopefully, this will give you more confidence about taking delivery of the glass.

The lead time on processed glass, from confirmation of sizes to delivery of glass, varies throughout the year. This is due to demand, and is also influenced by how much glass needs to be processed. In general, lead times tend to be longer during the summer months and slightly shorter during the winter months. The balustrade industry tends to be busier during the summer months, so lead times are often elongated across the board. On average, you should allow 2-3 weeks for the processing of toughened glass and 3-4 weeks for toughened & laminated glass, but feel free to call us to confirm the current lead time.

The glass will be delivered in one of 2 ways, either palletised and sent by courier or a direct delivery. Whether the glass is palletised or a direct delivery depends on whether your glass order meets the minimum order requirement. There are other factors involved, such as are they large panels? Or is it a shaped CNC panel? Large panels are more costly to send on a pallet, and sometimes this just isn’t feasible. We’ll always be upfront with you about this; if we won’t be good value on your glass, and you would be better off getting the glass from a local company, we’ll tell you. This won’t affect any prices or delivery of the metalwork, as glass is costed as a standalone.

Glass coming on a direct delivery will be delivered on an 18-tonne curtain-sided lorry. As a general rule of thumb, if a double-decker bus can drive down the road, then the glass lorries will be fine. If required, we can arrange direct delivery on a smaller van if access is a problem, with costs varying depending on where in the country the delivery will be. If you’re concerned about whether access will be a problem, give us a call, and we’ll be happy to talk it through with you!

First and foremost, someone must be in to receive the delivery of the glass. Unlike an Amazon delivery, glass panels can’t just be left somewhere safe, such as down a side passage or behind the black bin. And like all delicate and/or high-value deliveries, think fridges or dishwashers, it will need a signature as proof of delivery.

The glass is unloaded by lifting equipment or handballing it off the lorry. Handballing off the lorry means lifting each panel down by hand. If you have lifting equipment on site, the glass can be easily lifted off the lorry on its stillage. Alternatively, you will need to ensure you have enough people around to handball the glass off.

How heavy will my glass be?

A word of warning, glass tends to be a lot heavier than you may expect. It looks lovely and delicate, but it is deceptively heavy. Below is a rough guide for the weight of the most common thicknesses of balustrade glass, based on a 1000x1000mm square.

What are the acceptable glass standards?

We strive to provide the best quality possible and fully meet your expectations. The glazing industry works to a universal standard for the quality of glass to provide consistency and quality. However, the industry has a certain amount of tolerance for glass panes. Due to the nature of glass processing, there is an understanding that modern processed glass will not be 100% flawless. If you’re concerned about the quality of the glass when it’s delivered, please mark it on the paperwork before you sign it!

These standards, often known as acceptable tolerances, are regulated by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF).

The GGF’s standards state that flat transparent glass, including laminated, toughened or coated glass, is acceptable if the following are neither obtrusive nor bunched:

• Bubbles or blisters
• Fine scratches not more than 25mm long
• Minute particles

When inspecting the glass for defects, please ensure the following:

1. When viewing the glass, stand a minimum of 3 metres away, facing the glass. In typical, everyday situations, looking through the glass is usually done at a distance and not with your nose a few inches from the surface
2. Look through the glass and not at it. The glass is there to enable a view beyond the balustrade, and not there to be inspected…
3. Ensure the glass is clean and dry, inside and out. It’s impossible to check glass with rain, dust or condensation on it.

Another good test is if you can get a photo of the scratch when standing slightly back from the balustrade. If you can’t get an image which shows the imperfection, it’s likely that the imperfection falls into the ‘acceptable tolerances’ of glass.

Transporting the glass onwards…

If you’re transporting the glass onwards, always secure the glass in your vehicle. It’s best to avoid that awful moment when you turn a corner and hear all the panels in the back smashing! Another note on storing the glass, it’s good to put down some cardboard or offcut of carpet, especially if the floor is slippery. If you have an ‘A-frame’ or stillage to store the glass on until it’s ready to be installed, that’s great.

We can arrange for the glass to be strapped to a timber stillage for onwards transportation. If this is required, just let us know! Alternatively, the glass can be delivered on a larger metal stillage, which will need to be collected within 4 weeks of delivery. We will liaise with you to arrange the collection for a day that is convenient. If we are unable to collect the stillage, then this will be chargeable at the cost of £900+vat.

Do you have any further questions? Please give us a call and one of our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

03300 414 881 | sales@whitemetal.co.uk