If you’re interested in becoming a tradesman, then you might have wondered about which path would be right for you. Maybe you have friends who started working in the trades after they graduated from high school. Some may have gone on to study to become an electrician, while others could have started their apprenticeship as a carpenter. A less popular yet highly sought-after trade is window installation.
You may have wondered who installs the windows on different properties. Or you may never have considered that there might be an occupation related solely to doing that. Yet that’s exactly what a window installer is – someone who installs windows for a living.
How Will You Learn Your Skills?
Say you’ve decided that you want to be a windows installer. The next step then is to do your research on how to become one. If you do a simple online search, you’ll find pages and pages of information on how to become a software installer for Windows. This refers to the computers created by Microsoft. It’ll be much harder to find information on how to install actual windows for a living.
One way you can ensure that you’re learning essential skills is by working for a window installation crew. Look for a crew in your area and ask them if you can do an apprenticeship under them. This way, you’ll get to learn from other window installers directly. If you ask them where they got their training from, they are likely to tell you that they weren’t officially trained.
Crew leaders have had decades to perfect their window installation skills, so they’ll be able to guide you.
How To Become A Window Installer
If you want to become a window installer, then you’ll need at least your high school diploma, or your GED equivalent. You should also have completed an apprenticeship in a related field. You should be proficient in using specialized tools and equipment. You can also choose to get yourself certified, although this isn’t compulsory. It will help you learn more about your trade, and can help you offer a wider range of services.
These are the steps involved in becoming a window installer:
1. Learning Important Trade Skills
Your employer will probably not ask you to show formal training if you want to be a window installer. You can find employment under independent contractors, or even under home improvement businesses. Here, you’ll receive training on the job from experienced carpenters as well as other tradesmen.
The kind of work that you have to do, could include measuring the size of window frames and then ordering frames from the supplier. You’ll need to prepare the opening in the wall, where the window will be placed. You’ll then need to secure the window properly, and ensure that it’s weathertight.
Consider investing in door and window installation insurance as well. This is because working as a window installer leaves you open to certain career risks, such as getting sued by clients. When you have door and window installation insurance, you ensure that your career and your finances are protected. To learn more about door and window installation insurance, please click here.
2. Getting Yourself Certified
If you want to install commercial glass windows, then you’ll need to get yourself certified. A course in glass installation can be found at the National Glass Association. To be eligible, you’ll need to have work experience greater than six months. You’ll also need to complete a class online, and will also need to purchase study manuals.
You’ll also need to pass your exam. Every three years, you’ll need to take the recertification exam to ensure you stay certified. There are also programs available in the country, on how to make window installation more energy efficient. This is available from the American Architectural Manufacturers Association. You’ll be a part of a program that lasts two days and ends with an exam. After this course, you’ll be certified to install residential and commercial windows. Every three to four years, you need to appear for your recertification exam.
3. Career Advancement
If you’re an entry-level window installer with few skills, then there’s a lot of potential for career growth ahead of you. When you gain experience, you can find yourself overseeing installation crews. You could also be a project manager or a contractor. If you build experience alongside customer service skills, then you can manage your own crew eventually. You’ll need to get your work van, and the necessary tools, and hire other window installers to work on a larger number of window installation projects.
Window installers earn an hourly salary between $20 and $31, depending on their experience. The average hourly wage for a window installer in the US is $25.
Conclusion
Becoming a window installer isn’t hard. However, to learn skills pertinent to your trade, it’s recommended that you work under a window installation crew. You could also consider doing an apprenticeship under them.
As you gain more skills and experience, you’ll start overseeing other window installers. With time, you could start your very own window installation service as well.