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Transporting glass safely over long distances

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Transporting glass safely over long distances

Transporting glass safely over long distances

In an earlier post, we looked at methods for transporting glass safely. The post only took into account short-distance transportation – from the glass shop to the worksite, for example. But how does glass get from place to place over long distances, and what challenges can arise when transporting glass?

Transporting glass isn’t for sissies!

Transporting glass over long distances or in bulk requires specialized equipment inside a truck. Breakage is always a major concern, since it can range anywhere from 0.5% to a whopping 40%!. Packaging makes all the difference in the world. Great packaging means few losses. Clever approaches to transporting glass can increase the amount of glass that can be transported in a single load, reduce the losses during transport, and reduce the effort required to move glass from place to place.

One way in which glass fabricators minimize the dangers involved in transporting glass is by regionalizing glass production. By minimizing the distance needed to transport glass to major markets, glass manufacturers can reduce losses and simplify the process of transporting glass. Nearly 50 major glass manufacturers in the US operate about 100 fabricating facilities for plate glass production.

Fortunately, glass production does not require specialized locations, nor is it environmentally unfriendly. Most states have at least one significant glass manufacturing facility, however most glass production facilities specialize in creating a limited range of glass types. Additionally, many production facilities are certified to make glass for major glass companies like Guardian and PPG. A sheet of float glass may be sold under a specific brand name, for example, but it may be created in the same facility as a competitor’s glass.

The biggest issue in transporting glass is not how the glass is transported or how far the glass has to travel, but who is transporting glass. The trucking industry as a whole is facing a huge labor gap. That is, there are far more open jobs than people to fill them. Truck driving takes some specialized training, and transporting glass is a niche specialty, so general carriers tend to avoid transporting glass because they are not set up with the right equipment and personnel to move large volumes of glass.

Fortunately, most individuals don’t need to worry about the long-distance concerns related to transporting glass. If you need to transport glass, or arrange for the transportation of glass over a long distance, you’d be wise to look for a carrier that specializes in transporting plate glass. While transporting glass may be expensive, an experienced glass carrier can make sure your glass gets from Point A to Point B in one piece!
Photo Credit: Piotr Kotkowski , via FreeImages.com

The trick to transporting glass

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The trick to transporting glass

The trick to transporting glass

Glass is a pretty durable material – once it’s installed – but transporting glass can be tricky, especially if you need to transport large panes of glass for a decorating project. Here are a few tips for handling large pieces of glass.

Transporting glass accounts for the higher cost of prepainted glass!

Backpainted glass has become very popular as a home decorating material. Prepainted glass is available, but at significantly higher cost than you’d pay if you paint the glass yourself. Transporting glass accounts for some of the cost involved. Anytime you move glass, you run the risk of breakage and surface scratches, so the increased cost of prepainted glass reflects the risks and precautions associated with transporting a “finished” product.

If you choose to create your own backpainted glass, transportation of the glass will be the first order of business. Ordinary “float” glass should be handled with extreme care, not only because it’s fragile, but also because the edges of the glass may be rough cut, and can cause some nasty injuries.

For smaller pieces of glass, cover the edges gently with masking tape before transporting it. Don’t worry about pressing the tape securely to the glass. (That’s a good way to get cut!) Even loosely applied tape will help protect against injuries.

Cover the surface of the glass with cloth or thin foam packing sheets, which you can find at office supply stores and package-shipping services. This will provide some protection against surface scratches. It will not prevent breakage, but it will contain the mess should something unfortunate occur!

Glass needs support, so covering the glass on both sides with something with a little rigidity will help. Smaller panes of glass are often transported in a cardboard “sandwich,” which will offer some protection from breakage.

It seems counterintuitive, but the safest way to move glass is by putting it in an upright position. You’ll need to brace the glass to keep it rigid and upright while it’s being moved. You will only be able to use a standard vehicle to transport small panes of glass. Most passenger vehicles won’t accommodate an upright sheet of glass that’s more than about 2 feet high and a few feet in length.

If the pane you’re moving is large or long, consider having the glass shop deliver your piece. In addition to being awkward, large sheets of glass are heavy! A glass shop will have vehicles that are specially designed to support large glass sheets during transport. If the glass breaks during transport, the glass shop will replace it. On the other hand, if you’re transporting glass yourself and it breaks, replacement will be up to you!

One of the benefits of using Glassprimer™ glass paint is that you apply the paint after the glass has been transported. Glass is most vulnerable to damage when it’s being moved. By creating your own backpainted glass, you avoid the risk of transportation-related scratches and breakage.

If you’d like more information about working with Glassprimer™ glass paint, please check out the rest of our website. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Patrick Moore, via FreeImages.com