The biggest risk isn’t in your product. It’s in assuming the crew knows how to use it.
Every contractor install crew has their own method. Some read every spec. Some skim. Some ask questions. Many don’t. And when assumptions go unchecked—orientation gets reversed, anchors go in at the wrong depth, or cure time gets cut in half.
Contractor onboarding is the single most overlooked success factor in glass and refractory installs.
Common onboarding gaps:
No one explains product-specific install details—like expansion joints or corner details
Language barriers prevent crews from understanding spec-critical steps
Install crews never receive or review the job-specific cure or inspection plan
What smart distributors do:
Host a pre-install huddle (even virtual) with crew leads and foremen
Use visuals: laminated install cards, sequencing maps, fastener callouts
Tailor briefing tools to field crews—not engineers
Good onboarding prevents bad rework. And in today’s labor-constrained environment, rework is the last thing any PM has time—or budget—for.
