Established in 1972, Sheerwater Glass is a leading provider of highquality glass, glazing and door solutions for both residential and commercial properties. Offering installation, repair, maintenance and cut glass services, the company aims to meet all client needs. Director Mark McCluggage discussed sustainability and recent investments, in conversation with Antonia Cole.
Sheerwater Glass has the expertise and experience to meet specific requirements, Director Mark McCluggage said: “What sets us apart is our level of service. We use the highest quality materials and latest technologies to guarantee we are delivering the best possible results. If something goes wrong, then we make sure to put it right and go that extra mile for our customers. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional service.”
Headquartered in Guildford, Sheerwater Glass is a family-run company operating across Surrey, Middlesex and the surrounding counties. The company tries to limit its area of operation to approximately an hour’s drive. This enables its engineers to easily reach customers and provide necessary services quickly and efficiently.
With five dedicated service engineers, as well as its installation teams, Sheerwater Glass is able to provide reactive and reliable repair operations. This reduces wait times for clients and guarantees satisfaction with the end result.
“Our company is structured to put our customers first,” added Mr McCluggage. “With our high level of service and flexibility, we understand their needs and meet them quickly. We also invest in innovative products that provide better results, such as our exclusive range of Slimline uPVC Windows. It is important to us to offer the best solutions on the market.”
Innovative investment
One of Sheerwater Glass’ most recent investments was into its new showroom in Slyfield, Guildford. The new facility is larger and allows the company to display its full range of products, including different colourways and sizes. Having traded out of the previous building for the past 50 years, the new showroom was a substantial capital investment for the company.
“It was a big change for us, but one that will facilitate steady growth into the future,” explained Mr McCluggage. “Although we limit our products to the ones we truly believe in, we still have a wide range to display. This
new showroom allows us to demonstrate our entire portfolio, enabling better customer experiences and results.”
The showroom features Sheerwater Glass’ unique products, including the Slimline uPVC windows. Typically, PVC windows are large and bulky, but the Slimline range offers a sleek and technically impressive solution. They have 12% more glass than a standard window while also being the thinnest uPVC windows in the UK. The company has designed the Slimline products to integrate with its full range, from doors to windows.
Sheerwater Glass has a wealth of experience in providing a wide range of glass and double-glazing products, from custom mirrors and glass banisters to replacement greenhouse glass. The company recently completed a project for a local school with a broken glazed roof light. Sheerwater Glass carried out the lifting risk assessment, organised a crane and replaced the window in a safe and cost-effective way for the school.
“We are able to manage anything to do with glass,” continued Mr McCluggage. “From simple installations to complex repairs, we adapt our services to meet our clients’ needs. Our customers are the most important part of our business, so it is essential that we are able to provide solutions that improve the quality of their building. As a local company, we aim to help the community with our services and make the area even better.”
Energy-efficient
As well as helping the community to live better, Sheerwater Glass is committed to sustainability in operations. With its own
waste carrier’s license, the company is able to recycle all uPVC and metal frames, as well as any excess glass. All waste is separated and recycled, resulting in fewer resources being used and less damage to the environment.
“Many of our projects involve replacing a full set of windows on a house, or new doors,” commented Mr McCluggage. “It is important in these cases that we don’t let the materials go to waste and dispose of them appropriately. Our repair services, however, are inherently sustainable. They minimise resource use and, due to the high quality of our services, the final product lasts long into the future.”
Additionally, Sheerwater Glass has adapted its facility to be energy-efficient with a range of sustainable appliances. The company uses an efficient heating system and has replaced
all lighting with LED bulbs. Features like this combine to limit the environmental impact of Sheerwater Glass’ operation.
The company’s products enable customers to be more sustainable as they offer a more energy-efficient option for home improvements. Double Glazed windows, doors and conservatories retain thermal energy, making clients less reliant on heating systems. This minimises greenhouse gas emissions and saves customers money on energy bills.
“As people want to bring more views of nature into their home with bigger windows, it is essential that the glass is energy-efficient,” commented Mr McCluggage. “Using glazing and specialised coatings, we are able to help our clients live more efficiently and protect
the environment. With our sister company, Sheerwater Solar, we are also able to offer solar panels to customers, which promotes renewable energy sources.”
The company plans to install solar panels on its own facility, minimising its carbon footprint. As well as this, Sheerwater Glass already has four electric vehicle chargers installed at its sites and is looking to transition its fleet to being fully electric.
Prioritising people
Moving forward, the company intends to maintain sustainable growth. As a local business, Sheerwater Glass hopes to keep developing its product range and services to provide the best solutions for its client base.
“We are not focused on rapid growth,” said Mr McCluggage. “We will continue developing our product portfolio to better suit the
individual needs of our customers, growing steadily. As a company, we are more interested in long-term goals and building a business that lasts far into the future.”
The company has built many long-term relationships with suppliers and partners, enabling it to deliver high-quality products. By maintaining integrity, honesty and transparency, Sheerwater Glass is able to build positive relationships throughout the industry.
“Partnerships are what really drive a company,” said Mr McCluggage, in conclusion. “Having great supplier relationships where we really trust the products allows us to deliver the most effective results to our clients. Our company really focuses on people, both our customers and our team. It’s great to work with kind, likeminded people. We all support each other to get each job done right.” n
