Margins are thin. One missed detail can turn a profitable job into a write-off.
Project cost overruns aren’t just a contractor’s problem. For glass distributors, a single error—like underestimating freight, misquoting a coating, or overlooking handling costs—can wipe out months of earnings or worse, result in chargebacks. Many cost overruns trace back to assumptions made during the initial quote phase and a failure to reassess them when conditions change.
A real-world case: a distributor in the Midwest bid on a civic center project requiring oversized, heat-soaked tempered glass with custom ceramic frit. The quote included basic handling and delivery. But once fabrication was complete, the units required specialized A-frames and a dedicated escort due to size and weight. That cost alone ran over $40,000—none of which had been built into the initial margin.
The distributor absorbed the loss. And worse, the contractor was unhappy due to the delay in securing the right transport permits.
Where did the planning fall short?
No verification of unit size against route restrictions
No freight surcharge buffer
No coordination with fabricator on post-processing weight additions
To avoid these scenarios, experienced distributors now conduct post-award project audits. These include:
Confirming crate size and freight class
Reviewing delivery constraints and site logistics
Recalculating margins against actual post-fabrication specs
Even standard products like annealed IGUs can carry hidden costs when stacked, transported, or delivered in bulk. In large-scale projects, every tenth of a point in margin counts. Make sure it’s protected.
