Installation of bespoke art glass is carried out by the client's local contractors — carpenters, riggers, glaziers. Studio Vetrarte provides the technical direction: numbered drawings, installation protocol, pre-installation briefing and on-site supervision where required.
The person who designs and produces a complex art glass commission is the right person to direct its installation — not necessarily to carry it out physically. Studio Vetrarte operates as technical director of the installation phase: we provide all documentation, specifications and guidance required for the client's local team to install correctly, and we supervise on-site at the critical moments.
Labour and equipment: scaffolding, lifting equipment, glaziers and general labour are provided by the commissioning party. This is standard practice in international art and architectural commissions — it keeps logistics simple, reduces costs, and ensures the local team has familiarity with site conditions and access requirements.
Every panel is numbered and keyed to a dimensioned installation drawing showing exact position, orientation, fixing points and clearances. The drawings are produced in English and — on request — in the destination language. Format: PDF and DWG.
A written installation protocol specifying handling procedure, sequence of installation, approved sealants and fixings, expansion joint requirements, and prohibited operations. Produced for every commission — not a generic document.
Video call with the installation team and site manager before panels arrive on site. We walk through the drawings, clarify the sequence, answer technical questions and confirm subframe readiness. Typically 45–60 minutes. Available in English and Italian.
Technical support by video call during the installation phase — available for questions, problem-solving and real-time guidance if unexpected site conditions arise. Response within one working day; critical issues within two hours.
For complex installations — large formats, overhead glazing, multi-panel compositions, heritage buildings — Paolo Corpetti travels to the site to supervise the installation directly. Two visits are standard: pre-installation subframe inspection, and final supervision during panel fitting. Worldwide.
On-site or remote inspection of the completed installation against the shop drawings and master sample. Written commissioning report with photographic documentation. Written guarantee and maintenance manual issued on handover.
Before panels are dispatched, the client's team photographs the installed subframe against our reference drawings. We verify dimensions, flatness, fixing point positions and surface condition. Any corrections are identified before the glass arrives on site.
Video call with the installation team. We review the numbered drawings, confirm the installation sequence, specify approved sealants and fixings, and answer all technical questions before work begins.
For complex commissions, Paolo Corpetti is present on site during the installation phase. He directs the sequence, supervises handling and fitting, and resolves any site conditions that require real-time technical decisions. The client provides scaffolding, lifting equipment and labour.
Completed installation inspected against shop drawings and master sample. Sealant lines, expansion joints, panel alignment and visual quality checked. Any remedial work identified and supervised before handover.
Written commissioning report with photographic record of the completed installation. Written guarantee covering materials and workmanship. Maintenance manual specifying cleaning products, inspection intervals and contact procedure for future restoration work.
The most common installation failures are not caused by defective glass — they are caused by incorrect handling and fitting by teams unfamiliar with art glass behaviour.
Leaded panels have a structural front and back — reversing the orientation places the leading in compression instead of tension, causing premature bowing. Numbered drawings and pre-installation briefing eliminate this entirely.
Art glass panels expand and contract with temperature. Fixing without the specified expansion clearance causes lead fatigue and glass cracking within the first thermal cycle. The installation protocol specifies exact clearances for every panel format.
Many standard glazing sealants contain acetic acid or solvents that attack lead came and patina. Only neutral-cure silicone or approved mastics are compatible. The installation protocol specifies approved products by name.
Multiple panels stored or moved in contact with each other cause lead abrasion and surface damage before a single fixing has been made. The numbered packing sequence and unpacking protocol prevent this.
Ammonia-based glass cleaners — the most common on construction sites — attack lead patina and oxidise copper foil on Tiffany panels. The maintenance manual specifies approved cleaning products and prohibited substances.
Tell us your project location, panel count and installation timeline. We will confirm what level of on-site support is appropriate and include it in the project quote.