What to Look for in a Glass Etching Company

Have you ever stood in a building and admired a gorgeous scene of nature carved onto the window? Then you've enjoyed the beauty of glass etching. Glass etching is the art of roughening or abrading certain parts of glass, like windows and mirrors, to create words, patterns, or intricate scenes.

With glass etching, you could engrave your business's name onto your glass door front or your business's logo onto its front window. You could even have skylights etched with patterns so that they appear on your floor whenever the sun shines through them.

Glass etching can be both functional and artistic, as well as a unique way to provide your company with prestige and atmosphere. If glass etching sounds like something you'd like to look into for your business, here are some things to consider when searching for a glass etching company.

Experience

Yes, you want experience in just about any company you hire, but there are important reasons for it in glass etching. As you well know, glass is very delicate, and as such is easy to break.

An inexperienced etcher may even break the glass while trying to etch it. Glass etching gone wrong can cost you a lot of money, so look for a company that has been in the industry for a while.

Talk to their clients

Ask any glass etching company you're considering for a portfolio of their work, as well as references from current and past clients. When you get in touch with the clients, ask them these questions:

1) What was the company's original quote for the budget? Did they meet it, or did they exceed it?
2) How long did they say it would take them to finish? How long did it really take?
3) How did the company handle errors? Was it to their satisfaction, or yours?

A good etching company will take pride in their reputation and customer relationships, and will do everything in their power to maintain those, even if it means losing money on a job. They should not make you, the customer, pay for their mistakes.

Find out what kind of equipment they have

The company should have the equipment necessary to do the work that you need. Multiple sandblasting booths enable them to finish your work faster, as well as an automated blasting booth. A glass-washing machine (kind of like a car wash) is also a vital piece of equipment.

They should also have the capabilities to do dust-free work on-site. Places like restaurants, offices, airplanes, boats and such need to be dust-free. A dust-free unit can pull dust back into the unit for small jobs so there is no contamination of the area.

Make sure you get a drawing

Once you send them the specifications of what you're looking for, the company should send you back a drawing so that you know what to expect. They should not move forward with any etching until you have given final approval on the drawings they've made. If they don't give you drawings, then you need to look elsewhere.

By keeping these things mind, you can find a reputable glass etching company that will be able to fulfill all your etching needs. Whether you just want your name and logo on your front window, or you want to add atmosphere to your business with a beautiful etched mural, the right company can give it to you within budget, on deadline, and without headaches.

About the Author
Derek Lindeborg is the vice president of On-Site Systems, a glass etching company in Georgia that has been in the business for 25 years. They have done etching work for Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium and Arlington National Cemetery. To see how they can add a touch of the artistic to your business, visit them online at http://www.on-sitesystems.com.