Process Guide
How to prepare for a glass site measure
Custom glass is fabricated to fit conditions that already exist, not conditions that are still being finished. A field measure is the point where the project's actual dimensions, not the drawing's, become the number every panel is cut to — and because tempered glass cannot be trimmed or adjusted once it is made, getting that visit right matters more than almost any other step. This guide covers what a homeowner or general contractor should have ready before the measure, by project type.
Written by the Gloria Glass installation team
Why measurement timing is non-negotiable
Tempering is a heat treatment that locks in a panel's final dimensions and any cut-outs or hole positions. Every edge, notch and hole has to exist before that process, which means nothing about a tempered panel can be trimmed, drilled or adjusted after fabrication. If the surrounding construction shifts even slightly after the glass is ordered — a tile course that ends up a bit thicker, a wall that gets furred out, a curb that moves half an inch — the panel made to the earlier measurement may no longer fit. That is why the measure happens against finished, or nearly finished, construction rather than a plan.
What needs to be finished first, by project type
Shower enclosures. Tile, the curb or pan, and any niche or bench should be complete, grouted and cured. The finished floor and wall surfaces the glass will meet need to be in their final state, since even a fraction of an inch in tile thickness changes hardware and panel dimensions.
Custom mirrors. Wall finish — paint, tile or wallpaper — should be complete, and any fixtures the mirror will meet or wrap around, such as sconces or a vanity backsplash, should be installed and in their final position.
Glass partitions. Flooring, the ceiling grid or bulkhead, and any wall abutments the partition lands against should be complete, and services that interact with the partition line — conduit, sprinkler heads, diffusers — should be in their finished locations.
Railings and guards. The deck, slab edge, curb or stair should be at finished grade with any topping, pavers or finish surface installed, since the guard's anchoring and height are both measured from that finished surface, not a subfloor or subslab condition.
Storefront glazing. Framing and any structural openings should be complete and plumb, with surrounding finishes far enough along that the rough opening dimensions are final and unlikely to change before installation.
Access and logistics to sort out beforehand
Confirm parking or loading access for the visit, and again later for delivery and installation, since large panels are limited by what can physically be carried into a space as much as by what can be fabricated. For occupied buildings, arrange any access card, elevator booking or security sign-in in advance. For a home, make sure the area to be measured is clear of furniture, boxes or drop cloths, and that pets are secured so the visit can move efficiently.
Decisions to lock down before the measure
Some choices need to be settled before the tape comes out, because they change where holes, notches and hardware land: door swing direction and hardware type, whether a partition includes a door and where, mounting method for a mirror or railing standoff, and any fixed obstruction the glass has to work around. Changing these after the measure usually means measuring again.
What happens after the measure
Field dimensions are translated into shop drawings for review and approval. This approval step is the last point where changes are inexpensive, since fabrication and tempering follow immediately after and cannot be undone. Once approved, panels are fabricated, scheduled and installed, with any final adjustment limited to hardware and non-glass components rather than the glass itself.
A universal preparation checklist
- Relevant construction finished to the stage appropriate for your project type.
- Area clear of furniture, materials and obstructions.
- Parking, loading or building access confirmed for the visit.
- Door swing, hardware, mounting method and any fixed obstructions decided.
- A decision-maker available on site, or reachable, to confirm details on the spot.
- Any building or landlord approvals already in hand if the project needs them.
Where to go next
For a full walkthrough of how a project moves from first call to installation, see our process page. Browse the full range of what we install on the services overview, or get in touch to schedule a visit.