Karas & Karas
Karas & Karas Glass Co. is a 100-year-old, family-owned glass and glazing company based in South Boston that operates a Contract Division providing full-service curtain wall installation and a Wholesale Division distributing fabricated glass, mirror, and shower enclosures to general contractors, architects, developers, and trade customers across the Northeastern United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1924
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Karas & Karas does
Karas & Karas Glass Co. is a 100-year-old, family-owned glass and glazing company headquartered in South Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1924 and currently led by owner and president Joey Karas, the company operates two divisions: a Contract Division that delivers full-service curtain wall installation—including engineering, fabrication, and on-site erection using in-house composite work crews of carpenters, ironworkers, and glaziers—and a Wholesale Division that fabricates and distributes glass, mirror, and shower enclosure products to trade contractors throughout the Northeastern United States. The company's principal customers are general contractors, architects, and developers in the Greater Boston commercial and residential construction market for contract work, and trade contractors and distributors across the Northeast for wholesale supply.
The company's technical capabilities center on custom glass fabrication—sandblasting, beveling, polishing, cutting, and tempering—combined with certified specialty products. Karas & Karas is New England's only UL certified provider for FireLite NT, FireLite PLUS, and WireLite fire-rated glass, applies Diamon-Fusion protective coatings in-house, and offers both frameless heavy glass and Alumax framed/semi-frameless shower enclosures. Stock sheet offerings span window, float, laminated, mirror (clear, tinted, beveled, starphire, antique), specialty, and ceramic glass categories. Material supply is anchored by partnerships with Guardian Glass, Gardner Glass (Dreamwalls), Technical Glass Products, All Team Glass, FHC, and Alumax.
Revenue is generated through two mechanics: project-based contracts for curtain wall engineering, fabrication, and installation on multi-year engagements with commercial developers and general contractors, and transactional wholesale distribution of fabricated glass and mirror products to trade accounts. Pricing is quote-based for both streams and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is relationship-driven and geographically organized, with an outside sales team covering named territories (Greater Boston, Maine, NH, MA South Shore, CT, RI, VT, and parts of NY) and an inside sales team handling wholesale inquiries across dedicated product specializations including FireLite, tempered, Alumax, and frameless heavy glass.
Karas & Karas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Karas & Karas
- Legal name
- Karas and Karas Glass Co.
- Website
- https://karasglass.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1924
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Karas & Karas Glass Co. is a 100-year-old, family-owned glass and glazing company based in South Boston that operates a Contract Division providing full-service curtain wall installation and a Wholesale Division distributing fabricated glass, mirror, and shower enclosures to general contractors, architects, developers, and trade customers across the Northeastern United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Karas & Karas industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Glass and Glazing Services
- NAICS
- Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass (327215), Glass and Glazing Contractors (23815)
- SIC
- Glass Products, Made Of Purchased Glass (3231)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interior Glazing & Glass Partitions (IMAFANAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fire-Rated Glass & Glazing Assemblies (IMADAHAH)
Keywords
Where Karas & Karas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Karas & Karas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Contract Division: Full-service curtain wall installation including engineering, fabrication, and installation for large construction projects. Company retains own labor forces and composite work crews.
- Wholesale Glass & Glazing Supplies: Fabricated glass and mirror products sold to trade contractors and distributors throughout the northeast. Includes shower enclosures, stock sheets, fabricated glass, and sundries.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Contract installation services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Karas & Karas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Karas & Karas operates two divisions: a Wholesale Division that fabricates and distributes glass and mirror products (shower enclosures, stock sheets, fire-rated glass, specialty glass) to trade contractors throughout the northeast, and a Contract Division that provides full-service curtain wall installation including engineering, fabrication, and on-site installation using composite work crews of carpenters, ironworkers, and glaziers in the Greater Boston area.
Product overview
Karas & Karas is a full-service glass company founded in 1924, operating two divisions: Wholesale Division and Contract Division. The Wholesale Division provides fabricated glass and mirror products throughout the northeast, featuring shower enclosures (frameless heavy glass and Alumax framed/semi-frameless), stock sheets (window glass, float glass, laminated glass, mirrors, specialty glass), glass fabrication services (sandblasting, beveling, polishing, cutting, tempered glass), FireLite fire-rated glass products, and Diamon-Fusion protective coating. The Contract Division handles curtain wall installation with engineering, fabrication, and installation services using composite work crews of carpenters, ironworkers, and glaziers. Notable product lines include FireLite NT, FireLite PLUS, and WireLite (UL certified), as well as Alumax shower products and Diamon-Fusion coating. Sundries including sealants, glazing tape, and moldings are also offered.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Curtain Wall Installation Professional curtain wall installation services for general contractors, architects, and developers in the Greater Boston area, with attention to detail and adherence to design specifications, executed by composite work crews of carpenters, ironworkers, and glaziers.
- Engineering Services Professional engineering services for curtain wall projects, ensuring precise integration within building envelopes and adherence to design specifications.
- Project Management Overseeing curtain wall installations from start to finish, with planning, procurement, logistics, and on-site coordination for smooth and successful project execution.
- Frameless Shower Enclosures Custom fabricated heavy glass frameless showers professionally engineered to specifications, available with hardware or glass only.
- Alumax Framed and Semi-Frameless Shower Enclosures Alumax standard and custom fabricated framed and semi-frameless shower enclosure products with optional Diamon-Fusion surface coating applied at the facility.
- Stock Glass Sheets Stock glass sheets in various types and thicknesses, including window glass (single strength, double strength, 1/8" low-E hard coat), float glass (3/16" and 1/4"), heavy float glass (3/8", 1/2", 3/4"), laminated glass (5/32" and 1/4" clear plus tinted variants), mirrors (1/8", 3/16", 1/4" clear plus bronze/grey/black and specialty), and specialty glass (transparent mirror, pattern glass, cabinet glass, ground/frosted, plastics, ceramic).
- Glass Fabrication Services Custom glass fabrication services including sandblasting, beveling (straight line or shape, in 1/2" to 1-1/2" widths), polishing, cut-to-size fabrication including holes/notches/cutouts, and special order tempered glass with edgework options.
- FireLite Fire-Rated Glass Products Fire-rated glass products including FireLite NT (3/16"), FireLite PLUS (5/16"), and WireLite, distributed by New England's only UL certified provider.
- Diamon-Fusion Protective Coating Protective coating applied to glass products to enhance durability and longevity, with application capability at the company's facility.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1000+ projects completed over company history
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Karas & Karas
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Karas & Karas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Karas & Karas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Guardian GlasscoreMaterial supplier providing glass products used in Karas & Karas fabrication and installation projects. Listed as a partner in the company's supply chain ecosystem.
- Gardner Glass (Dreamwalls)coreGlass supplier partner for specialized glass products used in construction and glazing projects.
- Technical Glass ProductscoreSupplier of specialized glass products including fire-rated and specialty glass materials.
- All Team GlasscorePartner supplier providing glass materials for the company's fabrication and distribution operations.
- FHCcoreSupplier of glazing hardware and accessories used in shower enclosures and other glass installations.
- AlumaxcoreSupplier of framed and semi-frameless shower enclosure products offered through the wholesale division.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Karas & Karas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Harmon Inc. One of North America's largest full-service glazing contractors offering curtain wall, custom architectural glass, and installation services. Directly comparable to Karas & Karas' Contract Division but at significantly larger national scale, often competing for the same large commercial envelopes.
- Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope: Large vertically integrated manufacturer, fabricator, and installer of architectural glass and glazing systems. Comparable across both Karas & Karas divisions (wholesale glass supply and curtain wall installation), with broader geographic reach and product portfolio.
- Enclos Corp. National custom curtain wall and facade contractor serving complex commercial buildings. Comparable to Karas & Karas' Contract Division for high-rise curtain wall work but with national reach, larger engineering teams, and the ability to take on larger and more complex projects.
- Vitro Architectural Glass: Major North American flat glass manufacturer producing float and coated glass products for architectural applications. Comparable to Karas & Karas' Wholesale Division as a glass product supplier to trade customers, though Karas & Karas fabricates from purchased glass rather than melting its own.
Direct peers
- W&W Glass LLC: Northeast-based glazing contractor and fabricator specializing in custom curtain wall, storefront, and architectural glass projects. Closest regional competitor to Karas & Karas' Contract Division with overlapping service territory in the New York/New Jersey area and similar custom-fabrication capabilities.
- Standard Bent Glass Corp. Specialty fabricator of bent, tempered, and laminated architectural glass serving commercial construction. Comparable to Karas & Karas' fabrication capabilities for stock sheets, tempered, and specialty glass products supplied to trade customers in the Northeast.
- Dillmeier Glass Company: Mid-Atlantic architectural glass fabricator specializing in custom fabricated, tempered, and decorative glass products. Directly comparable to Karas & Karas' Wholesale Division in terms of custom fabrication, sandblasting, beveling, and trade distribution.
- Technical Glass Products (TGP): Supplier of fire-rated glass and specialty architectural glazing products including FireLite line. Listed as a Karas & Karas supplier partner; directly comparable as a fire-rated glass specialist, though Karas & Karas is also a downstream UL-certified installer of these products.
Regional players
- Glasswerks LA: West Coast-based architectural glass fabricator and distributor offering custom fabrication, tempered glass, and shower enclosures. Comparable product mix to Karas & Karas but serves a different geographic market without overlap in New England.
Others
- Guardian Glass: Global manufacturer of float, coated, and fabricated architectural glass. Comparable to Karas & Karas as a glass product supplier (listed as a Karas & Karas partner) but operates upstream as a raw glass manufacturer rather than a fab/installer.
Market position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Karas & Karas social profiles
Digital presenceKaras & Karas compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Karas & Karas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Karas & Karas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Karas & Karas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Karas & Karas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Karas & Karas
What does Karas & Karas do?
Karas & Karas operates two divisions: a Wholesale Division that fabricates and distributes glass and mirror products (shower enclosures, stock sheets, fire-rated glass, specialty glass) to trade contractors throughout the northeast, and a Contract Division that provides full-service curtain wall installation including engineering, fabrication, and on-site installation using composite work crews of carpenters, ironworkers, and glaziers in the Greater Boston area.
Is Karas & Karas a public or private company?
Karas & Karas is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Karas & Karas founded?
Karas & Karas was founded in 1924. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Karas & Karas based?
Karas & Karas is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Karas & Karas make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Contract Division is the primary driver. The others are wholesale Glass & Glazing Supplies.
Who are Karas & Karas's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Harmon Inc., Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, Enclos Corp. and Vitro Architectural Glass. Direct peers are W&W Glass LLC, Standard Bent Glass Corp., Dillmeier Glass Company and Technical Glass Products (TGP). Glasswerks LA is listed as a regional player. Guardian Glass is listed as an others.
Does Karas & Karas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Karas & Karas.
What industry is Karas & Karas in?
Karas & Karas's product category is Glass and Glazing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFANAK, Interior Glazing & Glass Partitions, with a secondary code of IMADAHAH, Fire-Rated Glass & Glazing Assemblies. Its NAICS code is 327215 and its SIC code is 3231.