Architects and general contractors increasingly expect glazing contractors to provide complete daylighting solutions, including skylights, canopies, and specialty glazed structures. For many glass houses, that demand creates a challenge: these systems require engineering, fabrication, and testing capabilities that most local glass companies don’t maintain in-house.
This is where partnering with a commercial skylight supplier like Crystal Structures Glazing creates a powerful growth opportunity.
Crystal Structures Glazing is a leading manufacturer of engineered commercial skylights, canopies, greenhouses, and specialty glazed systems. Rather than competing with glass houses, Crystal Structures operates as a supplier and sub-contractor, enabling glazing contractors to expand their offerings while staying focused on installation and project management.
Offering Skylights Without Becoming a Manufacturer
Most glass houses excel at storefronts, curtain wall systems, and installation—but skylights and architectural glazed structures introduce additional complexity:
- Structural engineering requirements
- Water management and thermal performance
- Code compliance and testing
- Custom fabrication at scale
By partnering with Crystal Structures, glass houses can bid skylight packages using pre-engineered, code-compliant systems backed by manufacturing expertise. This allows contractors to say “yes” to skylight scopes without taking on manufacturing risk.
Accessing Higher-Value Project Segments
Commercial skylights and architectural canopies are typically:
- Less price-competitive than commodity glazing
- Driven by performance, not just cost
- Included earlier in project design phases
Working with a commercial skylight supplier allows glass houses to participate in:
- Educational facilities and campuses
- Healthcare and civic buildings
- Hospitality and mixed-use developments
- Commercial greenhouse projects
These scopes often carry stronger margins and help contractors differentiate from competitors limited to traditional glazing.
Reducing Risk While Expanding Scope
Crystal Structures supports glass houses with:
- Engineered shop drawings
- Proven glazing systems
- Fabrication and logistics coordination
- Installation support when required
This partnership model reduces exposure while increasing bid confidence—especially on complex architectural projects.
Becoming a More Valuable Partner to Architects and GCs
Glass houses that can offer skylights, canopies, and specialty glazed structures position themselves as solutions providers, not just installers. That leads to:
- Larger scopes of work
- Earlier involvement in design discussions
- Stronger long-term client relationships
