Whether you are ordering a frameless shower enclosure, a glass railing, a wall partition, or a storefront, custom glass follows a process that is unfamiliar to most homeowners until they go through it once. Understanding the steps, and where the time actually goes, makes the whole project smoother. Here is how it works at IG Glass, from first call to final wipe-down.
Step 1: Consultation and Quote
Every project starts with understanding the space and the goal. For straightforward shower enclosures, photos and rough dimensions are often enough for an initial estimate. For railings, partitions, and storefronts, a site visit lets us assess structure, anchoring, and code requirements. You will get a written quote covering glass type and thickness, hardware and finish, and installation.
Step 2: Field Measurement
This is the step that separates custom glass from off-the-shelf. After you approve the quote, and after tile, flooring, or framing is complete, we measure the actual opening to the millimeter. Walls are never perfectly plumb and floors are never perfectly level; precise field measurement is how a frameless panel ends up with clean, even reveals instead of visible gaps. For shower enclosures, this means measurement happens after tile is done, not before.
Step 3: Fabrication
Your glass is cut, edged, drilled for hardware, and tempered (or laminated) to your exact dimensions. Tempering is what makes the glass safety-rated, and it is also why last-minute size changes are impossible: tempered glass cannot be cut or drilled afterward. Fabrication is typically where most of the calendar time goes, commonly one to two weeks depending on glass type, thickness, coatings like low-iron or protective treatments, and current demand.
Step 4: Installation
Most residential installations are completed in a single visit: a few hours for a standard shower enclosure, longer for multi-panel railings or partition systems. Our installers set panels, align hardware, verify swing and clearances, and seal where required. For railings, anchoring is the critical phase, into concrete, wood framing, or a base shoe, per the engineered specification.
Step 5: Cure Time and First Use
For shower enclosures, silicone sealant needs to cure before the first use, typically 24 hours. Railings are generally ready immediately once anchored and inspected. We walk you through care basics before we leave: what to clean with, what to avoid, and how to keep protective coatings performing.
Realistic Timelines at a Glance
A typical frameless shower enclosure runs about two to three weeks from field measurement to installed. Railings vary more with engineering and permitting: a simple interior stair rail may match that timeline, while a permitted balcony system in a condo building takes longer for approvals than for the glass itself. Storefronts and commercial partitions are scheduled around your build-out. The single best thing you can do to keep any project on schedule is to lock in your measurement date as soon as tile or framing has a completion date.
Common Questions
Can you match existing glass or hardware? Usually yes, bring us a photo. Can I supply my own glass? We install what we fabricate, because we stand behind the fit. What if my opening is out of square? That is normal, and it is exactly what custom fabrication solves.
Start Your Project
Ready to get a quote or schedule a measurement? Contact IG Glass or call 786-312-8778. We serve all of Miami-Dade and Broward with precision custom glass, measured right the first time.
