A glass balcony is one of the most overlooked options for expanding your outdoor space. A lot of myths persist about the safety and cost of glass, which we hear in anxious questions from customers: Are glass balconies safe? Do they offer value for money? Are they suited to small spaces? The answer to all is an emphatic “yes”.

To explain more, we’ve put together our five top reasons to invest in a glass balcony…

1. Superior views from any angle

The great flaw of traditional balconies – i.e. those made from wood, stone or metal – is that the view is often obstructed. This becomes a problem when sitting down: who wants to eat breakfast while staring at an opaque balustrade that blocks your view?

By contrast, glass balconies offer a fully unobstructed view of your surroundings. Clear toughened glass panels are a godsend, letting you lie back on your balcony without missing out on the view. Furthermore, glass allows sunlight to shine across the entire balcony area, with no ugly shadows forming throughout the day.

One day, perhaps, someone will invent a see-through metal sheet. Until then, glass balconies are the only option for guaranteeing the fullest, most dramatic views from the comfort of your home.

2. Perfect for tight spaces (and limited budgets)

Space can be overrated. After all, the main purpose of a balcony is to offer views, rather than a space for swinging a cat. Many of our favourite glass balconies offer a limited amount of space, such as Juliet balconies and simple glass balustrades across a large door. Such designs are ideal for small homes and apartments that lack the space for a full-on glass balcony. Unsurprisingly, these compact balconies cost rather less than their bigger, more imposing cousins.

Another bonus to glass is the relative ease of installation. The glass can be cut and predrilled to suit a variety of prefabricated clamping systems, making it easy to install the glass panels quickly.

3. Can be 100% frameless

Frameless made-to-measure glass panels are a staple of modern shower rooms, partitions and doors, staircases, and more. But they can also be harnessed to create stunning frameless glass balconies and balustrades. We use glass edge polishing techniques to give the exposed panels a smooth, rounded edge ideal for frameless glass balconies. They’re also a natural choice for smaller balconies such as simple glass balustrades.

4. Dozens of laminated or decorative glass options

In our experience, many homeowners opt for laminated glass panels when designing their balcony. The most common reason is privacy – frosted or tinted glass prevents anyone from peeking into your balcony space, while still allowing plenty of sunlight to pour through. You could even go big and bold with coloured glass panels, or steal the show with decorative glass patterns.

5. A glass balcony is safe

Framed and frameless glass balconies are exceptionally robust. The glass panels serve as load-bearing supports that can withstand all kinds of abuse and footfall. Modern designs use extra-strong base mounts and clamps to help bolster the integrity of the structure. Toughened safety glass is often used for glass balconies – our machines can produce toughened panels up to 2.5m x 4m in size.

Are you interested in a glass balcony for a domestic or commercial project? abc Glass offers 20 years’ experience in glass processing for all kinds of glass balconies. Our experts are happy to answer any questions you may have – just get in touch via the contact page.

OK, we admit it: glass safety codes like EN12150 aren’t the most exciting topic in the world. But ignore them at your peril.

Toughened safety glass is an essential feature of any modern domestic or commercial building. As such, designers and architects must ensure that every sheet of toughened glass used in a project is up to scratch. So, how can you check whether your supplier is being truthful about the strength of their toughened glass? The answer lies in the magic code: EN12150.

Put simply, EN12150 is the legal British standard for making thermally toughened safety glass. All toughened glass, whether at home or in a commercial space, must meet EN12150 standards. No ifs, no buts.

Why is the EN12150 standard so important?

EN12150 requires all glass manufacturers to meet a minimum standard when producing toughened safety glass. This guarantees quality and conformity across the whole glass industry, as well as improving public safety. Indeed, using glass without certification could put people at risk of serious injury.

Toughened glass must be able to withstand all kinds of pressures. In the worst-case scenario, when a sheet of toughened glass breaks, it needs to shatter – not crack. Shattered EN12150 glass forms tiny pieces no greater than 5mm in size. This prevents any large glass shards from forming, which in turn reduces the risk of serious injury.

More generally, EN12150 safety glass is a stronger and more robust product, able to tolerate intense loadings. It also offers greater resistance to impact and sudden changes in temperature, as well as edges polished to safe smooth finish.

What glass products must meet EN12150 standards?

Look around your home – almost every piece of structural glass you see will be toughened to EN12150 standards. The only exception is laminated glass, which falls under a different safety regulation (EN 14449).

Shower doors, shower screens and glass partitions all require EN12150 certification. So do glass worktops, tabletops and glass shelves. For any new project, designers and architects must confirm the quality of their non-laminated toughened glass. As a rule, if it’s not laminated, it has to meet EN12150 standards.

How can I tell whether glass is EN12150?

EN12150 glass can be identified in two ways: either written on the product as or indicated by a kitemark etched into the glass. All reputable suppliers will feature this on their toughened glass products. At abc Glass, relevant safety standard identifiers are displayed clearly on every sheet of our thermally toughened glass.

We have been producing toughened safety glass for 20 years. Our technicians offer a range of pre-toughening services to produce five kinds of safety glass: clear, tinted, painted, frosted and mirrored. These can be used in all manner of home and commercial products for showers, frameless doors, table tops, partitions, balustrades and balconies, staircases, and much more. If you’d like to know more about our toughened safety glass service, or speak to one of our glass processing experts, please get in touch.

Glass processing is a true blend of art and science. A touch of flair is essential – as is a skilled team and state-of-the-art production facility.

Fortunately, at abc Glass our glass processing team includes some of the country’s finest glass technicians, trained to utilise both modern and traditional methods. These wizards make use of industry-leading machines and technologies to create stylish and robust glass products. Jobs that used to take days, such as made-to-measure shower doors, glass balustrades, and bespoke mirrors, can now be turned around in a couple of hours.

Intrigued? Here’s a run-down of some of the niftiest glass-making skills we deploy on a typical day…

1. Machine cutting

20 years ago, when abc Glass started out, we couldn’t have foreseen the vast leaps in glass-cutting technology that would follow. Today our factory is stuffed with ultra-modern kit, such as the brand-new vertical CNC (Computerised Numerical Cutting) machine.

This behemoth allows our technicians to cut and shape glass to virtually any spec, with thickness from 4mm to 19mm. Ideal for cutting complex shapes, the machine also lets us cut precise holes for sockets and hinges in shower doors and glass partitions.

Another essential piece of kit is our water jet cutting machine. Its nimble 3-axis design is suited to cutting even more complex glass shapes than the CNC machine, such as unorthodox curves and sharp angles. See this gorgeous “abc” blue glass script as an example of what water jet cutting can achieve:

2. Hand crafting

As much as we love our big machines (and boy, do they save time…), there are certain limitations to computer-based processing. Some jobs require us to produce fine details that can only be perfected by hand. These tend to be ultra-intricate features such as steep curves and round bevelled edges. Our glass technicians are more than happy to cut and shape glass the old-fashioned way – after all, there’s a certain pleasure in keeping alive this timeless craft.

3. Glass toughening

Now that your glass is cut to size shape, it’s time to toughen up. Our toughened safety glass meets all the safety standards for commercial and domestic use. We create it by heating glass sheets in a special furnace up to 600⁰C, before quickly cooling the outer faces. The result is a robust sheet of glass that, if broken, shatters into to hundreds of small pieces instead of leaving razor-sharp shards. Perfect for balconies, shower screens, staircases and floors, and even bespoke mirrors.

4. Laminating

Our laminated safety glass is used all the time in balustrades, partitions, shower screens, floors and stair treads. We create it by bonding an interlayer between two or more sheets of regular or toughened glass. This interlayer can be clear or fully decorative – take your pick from coloured, frosted or even patterned laminated glass. Multiple bonded layers result in an extremely robust glass panel that keeps its form even when shattered. Other benefits include better sound insulation and blocking out harmful UV rays.

5. Edge polishing

Polished edges are an increasingly common sight in interior design. Trends such as frameless showers and structural glass balustrades have led to increased demand for our glass edge polishing service. Glass edge polishing makes the edges safer but can also be a stylistic choice. Our specialists can polish both standard and irregular shapes of glass and mirrored glass with a flat or diagonal finish.

6. Bevelling

This age-old technique is often found in traditional mirrors, as well as glass door panels, shelves and table tops. Bevelling involves grinding and polishing the glass to an exact angle, creating a “framed” look. Our mighty bevelling machines allow us to bevel straight and curved edges in any glass width from 6mm to 40mm. For the most unusual shapes, we are one of only a handful of companies left in the UK who can apply a bevelled edge by hand.

7. Sandblasting

Better known as frosted glass, sandblasting lets designers get creative with the opaqueness of their glass. It’s also ideal for adding a spot of privacy, especially in bathrooms and bedrooms. Our sandblasting specialists can create custom patterns that block out certain areas of a glass sheet, leaving the rest clear. We use a special non-stick coating to protect the glass from smudges, dirt and finger marks.

8. Back painting

Back painted glass allows designers to colour match their glass to its surroundings. It’s the final possible step in the glass processing chain, and possibly the most impactful. Painted glass splashbacks are now a common alternative to tiles or stainless steel, but we can also produce back painted glass for glass partitions, shower screens and worktops. Just pick any colour from the RAL colour chart range or let our experts colour match to your design.

If you’d like to make use of our team’s glass processing skills, please contact us today. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are on hand to answer any questions you may have about glass processing. We can help to get the ball rolling on your next interior design project, no matter how complex.

When designing a building, architects must always plan for the worst. An out-of-control fire can destroy buildings and put lives at risk – which makes fire rated glass a great solution both inside and outside a building.

Fire rated glass (also known as fire-resistant glass) is a specialist product that offers a robust barrier against heat, flames, and smoke. Unlike regular or toughened glass, its fire resistance is determined by a controlled test. But what else separates fire rated glass from its cheaper, but less safe, cousins? Let’s explore.

A place of greater safety

With its ingenious design (see next section), fire rated glass can withstand heat in excess of 800°C whilst keeping flames and smoke at bay. A matter of life and death, in other words.

Building regulations are strict when it comes to fire safety-specific glass. As a legal requirement, all fire rated glass must pass a Fire Resistance Test to be considered usable. This test is used to measure the performance of a glass panel at different levels of fire intensity.

Fire Resistance Tests look for two kinds of performance. These are:

Integrity – The length of time that the glass remains intact whilst keeping out flames and smoke. This is indicated in the rating itself – E30 means the glass keeps its integrity for at least 30 minutes.
Insulation – The level of heat protection offered by the glass. The non-fire side of the glass should stay at a safe temperature for the length of time indicated in the rating.

Layer upon layer

Fire rated glass comes in two types: laminated and non-laminated. The secret to laminated fire rated glass is found in its intumescent layer. This baffling word has a rather simple meaning: a substance that expands when it heats up.

Laminated fire rated glass uses multiple layers of toughened glass sheets with an intumescent gel layer in between. (Non-laminated versions use just a single sheet, which is toughened after the process.) When a fire breaks out, the first glass sheet will shatter, activating the first intumescent layer. This causes the gel to expand, creating a more effective barrier against flames and smoke.

These individual layers are extraordinarily thin. Indeed, abc Glass’s stock fire rated glass boasts a thickness of only 7mm. But for the glass to work, it must be installed within a fire-resistant frame or surround. This not only secures the glass but prevents the intumescent gel from leaking out at the perimeter. Manufacturers install a spacer around the edge of the glass to prevent such a mishap.

What fire rated glass do we offer?

At abc Glass, our expertise lies in cutting and shaping laminated fire rated glass. We do not manufacture the glass itself, nor the framing system. However, the extent to which we can process fire safety glass for your specific requirements is nearly unlimited. Our technicians can drill, polish, bevel, and paint your fire rated glass, as well as shape it to precise measurements using our state-of-the-art CNC machinery.

Our go-to fire rated glass is Pyrobelite 7, a popular product that meets the European standard (BS EN 13501-2). This popular glass is kept in stock all year round and is by far our best-selling fire-resistant glass. We can also order in other types of fire rated glass at a 2-3 week lead time. These include thicker glass sheets better suited to internal partitions and balustrades.

If you’re interested in our fire rated glass services, feel free to contact our friendly and knowledgeable team. We look forward to answering any questions you may have about fire-resistant glass and to discuss your next project.

Glass flooring is a key component of some of the world’s most famous buildings. Think of the death-defying platform atop Toronto’s CN tower or the glass panels above the ruins of the Acropolis. Then there’s our personal favourite: the glass-bottomed bridge in the British Museum’s Great Court.

However, the future of glass flooring lies not with nerve-jangling attractions but with domestic and commercial spaces. Homes, offices, shopping centres, and hotels are leading the trend for new glass flooring and glass staircases. This trend grows as interior designers look for new ways to “open up” spaces to the fullest extent.

4 great uses for glass flooring

Designers need to choose carefully which spaces deserve a glass floor. After all, too much glass can spoil the magic. But when used correctly, laminated glass flooring is a stunning option for these four features:

Stair treads

You cannot have a glass staircase without a stylish and structurally sound set of glass stair treads. A notable example is the majestic spiral staircase in Hong Kong’s IFC Apple Store. Closer to home, abc Glass can produce glass stair treads in many different shapes and styles.

Suspended walkways

A great option for showing off a building’s architecture. Popular for heritage buildings such as church, warehouse, and barn conversions. And did we mention how much we love the bridge in the British Museum?

Decorative structural glass panels

These come in all shapes and sizes, from small “trap-door” glass panels to vast displays that cover a whole floor. Ideal for letting light flood in to a lower floor or basement.

Glass balcony floors

Not for the feint-hearted! Brave homeowners and designers are embracing glass balcony floors for the exterior of a house. The results are often stunning.

How is glass flooring made?

Glass flooring and stair treads are made by laminating together sheets of toughened glass. At abc Glass, we combine three 10mm sheets of glass with either a 0.75mm or 1.5mm interlayer. This results in a remarkably strong sheet of glass that is safe to walk on. It goes without saying that all our glass flooring is made to British Standards (BS EN 1991-1-1).

What’s more, our technicians can work to custom measurements and DFX files for all kinds of spaces. We use the latest CNC and waterjet machines to cut, shape and drill glass flooring to a precise design. With a minimum thickness of just 31.5mm, we can theoretically process glass flooring up to 3000x1000mm and 1500x1500mm in size. That said, we advise that the actual thickness and loading of your panel be calculated by a structural engineer and, for safe manual handling, a maximum panel weight of around 200kg is advised.

What different styles of glass flooring are available?

Again, there are plenty of paths you could follow, each with their own merits. For maximum slip-resistance we suggest a frosted or sandblasted finish. We also offer clear, tinted, and decorative styles for areas such as lightwells where a frosted finish would be unnecessary. All of these styles can be combined with glass balustrades for the ultimate glass interior.

If you have any questions about glass flooring or glass treads for your next project, please get in touch. We offer delivery across the south-east of England, both to merchants and directly to site.

When it comes to mirrors, interior designers are always on the lookout for creative styles. Made to measure mirrors are a godsend when ‘off the peg’ just won’t do. abc Glass specialises in making custom mirrors of all shapes, sizes, and finishes. Our state-of-the-art glass cutting, polishing and bevelling machines can bring virtually any design to fruition. Odd shapes, stunning finishes, and bespoke patterns and text can be easily produced at a scale of up to 3.2m x 1.8m (polished only).

The age-old question – modern or traditional?

Two styles of mirrored glass are most common – silvered with clear glass and antique. We specialise in producing made to measure mirrors in both styles for a versatile range of uses. Here is a quick explanation of what each style offers:

Standard – Your typical “modern” mirror: clean, bright, and without distortion or effects. This style of mirror is commonplace in domestic and commercial spaces.
Antique – One for the traditionalists. Usually found in period interiors, this style is created by “aging” – using chemicals to alter the mirrored backing for an old and distressed or industrial look.

Choosing the right style will depend on the function of your mirror. Standard mirrors are ideal for clean and contemporary spaces such as modern home interiors, offices, gyms, bathrooms, and so on. Made to measure mirrors are increasingly being used for home features such as cladding wardrobes, frameless mirrored doors, and bathroom and kitchen splashbacks. Modern clear mirrors are the best choice for uses where clarity and detail are important, such as in bathrooms while large clear mirrors can add light and space to small rooms.

Antique mirror glass, meanwhile, is growing in popularity as a design statement. Just searching #antiqueglass returns a plethora of images and ideas on Instagram, Houzz, and other image sharing platforms. This style is perfect for boutique hotels, nightclubs, and other buzzing commercial interiors. Homeowners, too, are embracing the antique trend, combining the aged glass effect with traditional frames. Demand also comes from those seeking to restore an antique mirror due to breakage.

The beauty of bevelled edges

A key design feature of many mirrors is a bevelled edge. This is where the edges of a mirror are polished at an angle, resulting in a neat, decorative edge. Aside from the classic mirror, bevelled edges can be applied to glass table tops, glass door panels, and even glass shelving.

Indeed, bevelled edges are so popular you could be forgiven for thinking that bevelling is simple to do – far from it. At abc Glass, our skilled technicians use a top-of-the-range Bavelloni B73 bevelling machine for glass and made to measure mirrors. Simply choose your bevel width – we can achieve anything between 6mm and 40mm – and marvel at the results.

Our pièce de résistance, however, is a hand bevelling service. Bevelling by hand is a rare skill among modern glass processing companies, and one that we are proud to keep alive in the age of automation. This option is ideal for certain kinds of made to measure mirrors, such as round mirrors and mirrors with complex shapes.

Applying the perfect finish

Aside from bevelling, there are many exquisite finishes you can choose for your made to measure mirror. These include:

Polished – Ideal for frameless mirrors where glass edges must be made less pronounced. With our glass polishing machine, we can produce either a neat flat finish or a diagonal finish on any mirror between 4mm and 19mm.
Sandblasted and frosted – For a cool “obscure” effect, abc Glass can sandblast either the whole surface or create frosted patterns.
Part-painted – Simply choose your desired RAL colour, and our technicians can create any patterned mirror of your choosing. Text, artwork, geometrics – anything goes!

Contact us for made to measure mirrors

If you are keen on a made to measure mirror for your home or commercial building, please speak to our glass processing experts. We will answer any questions you may have about mirrored glass, from design and production to cost and delivery. Call us on 023 92 678 222 or send the team a message via the Contact Us page.

With bad news arriving each day, it’s easy to forget that we live in an age of innovation. From driverless cars to robots that deliver food, dozens of exciting products are poised to enter the market in the coming years. The home design world is no different, with new smart glass technology posed to transform our homes.

So, what are these technological wonders that await? In this article, we pick out the most exciting glass products set to enter our homes over the next 10 to 20 years. What’s more, many of these innovations promise to save us money while reducing our carbon footprint.

“Chameleon” glass

Colour-changing glass is set to revolutionise how we think about interior colour schemes. Scientists in the US have made astonishing breakthroughs in this particular field, with early samples yielding amazing results. The idea is simple: by flicking a switch, molecules bounce around in the glass to turn into a new colour.

Does this new tech require lot of electricity to make work? Quite the opposite. The amount of energy used to switch from colour to colour is minuscule. Indeed, 100 panes of colour-changing glass uses the same energy of an incandescent lamp for this simple task.

Smart glass for your appliances

Smart glass is coming soon to a fridge near you. Soon enough, current features such ice dispensers and digital clock faces will look rather quaint by comparison. Future fridges will instead boast a plethora of integrated gadgets to make life that much easier. Chief among them is a tablet-style smart glass screen built into the face – great for flicking through recipes, checking the family calendar or playing music.

Windows, but not as we know it

Glass windows aren’t supposed to do anything complicated. For most homeowners, letting in light whilst keeping out noise and foul weather is all that’s needed. Researchers, however, have spotted a potential new benefit for glass windows: helping to saving the planet. Solar panel collecting windows use the sun’s energy to charge nearby devices, such as smart speakers and TVs.

By 2040, most homes will have obscure glass that deflects up to 98% of outside light. A great substitute for blinds, obscure glass also removes the need for expensive air-conditioning costs. Homeowners will have smart-home systems installed to adjust their window’s light-to-dark settings, whether at home or out and about. Smart glass apps will soon be commonplace, just as modern gadgets like Hive and Ring let us remotely change our home settings.

A frosty reception

Frosted glass is an always-popular choice, especially in the bathroom. However, users are currently restricted to a binary choice: frosted or clear? This is all set to change with smart glass. With the flick of a switch, you’ll be able to enter “privacy mode” by changing your clear glass shower screen to frosted – and back again. Shower areas will also boast waterproof touch screens to adjust the controls, from water flow and timings to temperature.

Unfortunately, at least some of these exciting glass innovations are still very much in the future. In the meantime, abc Glass offers a market-leading range of services to create inspirational glass doors, splashbacks, mirrors, and much more. Get in touch to discuss your requirements with our team, who are working remotely until the Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed.

Are you looking to make a real statement with your next interior design project? A glass interior door could be just the ticket. There are many different styles of glass interior doors, from crystal-clear panels to frosted and patterned glass. But choosing the right door to suit your surroundings can be tricky. In this article, we take you through the basics of interior glass doors, helping you to pick the most suitable style for any interior.

Why choose glass interior doors?

The popularity of glass interior doors has soared in recent years. Designers are becoming more aware of the benefits of letting light flow through the space. Glass doors – especially when combined with glass partition walls – result in a brighter and more “open” feel. Furthermore, advances in glass cutting technology make producing glass doors easier (and cheaper) than ever. This all fits in with a general trend towards frameless glass, as typified by the rise in frameless shower enclosures.

Glass interior doors are ideal for open-plan spaces. In the home, these may include “window walls” used to partition an ensuite bathroom from the bedroom. Or they could form part of a glass partition for the living room, kitchen, or dining room. We’re seeing a resurgence in grid or Crittall style glass partitions with a matching glass interior door. For commercial spaces, glass interior doors truly come into their own, letting light flood into communal areas.

What styles of glass interior doors are available?

There are two basic types of glass interior doors: hinged and sliding. However, the customisation options for each style give you plenty of scope to be creative. These include:

Clear or ultra-clear – The natural choice for most interior spaces. What better look to tempt people further than a crystal-clear glass door? Jaw-dropping examples include glass doors flanked by glass wall partitions.
Frosted glass – Great for privacy, frosted glass interior doors are extremely popular for bathrooms. You can even include a frosted pattern into the design for a personal touch.
Digitally printed – Why not print an image or pattern onto your glass interior door? You can pick any RAL colour and all kinds of photo-realistic printed patterns.
Fabric interlayer – Decorative laminated glass is another stylish option. The look is achieved by bonding a mesh or fabric interlayer between two sheets of glass.

There’s no hard and fast rule as to the best style of interior glass door. But a good designer will know which style goes best with the space, be it domestic or commercial.

How are glass interior doors made?

Glass interior doors are made from a single sheet of toughened safety glass. At abc Glass, all glass doors are produced using state-of-the-art CNC cutting machines in our Portsmouth warehouse. We simply input the dimensions of the glass door, as well as cut-outs and holes for hinges and a door handle. The machine handles the rest!

Glass interior doors are a stylish and understated way to enliven an interior design project. If you are interested in abc Glass’s bespoke frameless glass doors service, feel free to get in touch with our team. We will take the time to listen to your requirements and suggest how to get the very most from your glass interior doors on a budget.

We just can’t imagine a world without mirrors. They’re everywhere, from the home to the workplace and all manner of public spaces. Whether used for beauty, safety or even entertainment, the process of making a mirror is rather simple. In this article, we look at how mirrors are made for both commercial and domestic use.

A brief history of mirrors

Like many modern technologies that we take for granted, mirrors actually owe their heritage back to the ancients. Both Aztecs and Mayans used obsidian stones to create mirrors, which they believed were portals. These extra-shiny tools did the trick for hundreds of years, until materials such as gold and aluminium replaced them.

Modern mirror technology was pioneered in the early 19^th century in Germany, with a method called “silvering”. This process – using a sheet of glass sprayed with aluminium or silver – forms the backbone of mirror-making today. Indeed, at ABC Glass we use a very similar method to the Victorian pioneers, but with far greater efficiency and design flexibility.

How do mirrors work?

In short, it’s all about basic physics. Rays of light will always bounce away from a surface at the same angle as it arrived. The lower the angle of the light, the more glare that comes off a reflective surface – just like a puddle of water in the morning sun.

A mirror, however, treats light differently. On the smooth surface of a mirror, light rays to not scatter like on an ordinary object. Instead, light rays bounce back level with it’s path of arrival, reflecting back directly in a process called “specular reflection”. This is what allows us to see ourselves with perfect symmetrical clarity when we look into a standard mirror. It also explains why some mirrors behave differently to others based on how they’re made. Which leads us to…

How is a standard mirror made?

A standard mirror – say, one used in a bathroom splashback – involves a few simple steps. First, we cut a toughened 4mm or 6mm glass sheet into the required size using state-of-the-art glass cutting machinery. We then polish the glass surface to ensure absolute smoothness; any small imperfections will show up on the finished product as a “wave”, distorting the mirror’s reflection. Lastly, we bring the metal element to the boil in a custom-build chamber, leaving it to condense over the glass surface for a perfectly even layer.

Further steps can include applying safety backing to the entire mirror area to prevent breakages. For bathroom mirrors and splashbacks, we often apply a metal foil backing to reduce condensation on the surface.

Applying finishes to your mirror

We also offer the option of “finishing” your mirror with a stylish design. We can produce shaped bevelled edge mirrors to any dimension, as well as polished, drilled or sandblasted finishes. You can also explore your creative side with our part-painted mirrors, ideal for designers looking to colour match their mirrors to suit the surrounding space.

If you would like to take advantage of our supply and fit service for custom mirrors and splashbacks, get in touch with our glass experts. We are always on hand to answer any questions about your next interiors project, as well as general information about glass and mirrors.

The popularity of glass has never been higher in the interior design world. From sleek glass stairways to jaw-dropping glass partitions, we’re seeing more homeowners and designers embracing glass’s versatile and stylish properties. But what are the hottest new glass design trends for 2020? Let’s explore some of the best on-trend uses for glass in the home and the garden.

Glass for Walk-In Shower Areas

According to Houzz, walk-in showers and wetrooms were among the most popular trends of last year. Naturally, glass is an essential part of any stylish and practical walk-in shower area. Frameless shower screens, for instance, are very much in demand. As we explored last month, these made-to-measure screens bring a genuine “wow-factor” to any bathroom. It’s no wonder our toughened glass shower panels are in high demand, with so many homeowners wanting big showers that offer easy access.

Energy Efficient Windows & Doors

Climate change has taken centre stage in the news this year. As such, there’s more pressure than ever for home renovation projects to strive to be as energy-efficient as possible. Designers can prevent heat from escaping more easily by installing windows and doors with wooden, uPVC or aluminium frames.

Fluted & Frosted Glass

Fluted designs have been around since the ancient Greeks. It’s a classic style that transcends eras and tastes, so no wonder fluted glass is considered a major feather in our glass processing cap. 2020 is tipped to see kitchen designers embrace fluted glass cabinets, combined with other effects such as frosting. The 3D quality of fluted glass adds character to any interior as well as bouncing light across the room.

As for frosting, more homeowners are using it for more privacy, especially in the bathroom. With an increasing trend of open-plan and glass partition bathrooms, having a fully frosted bespoke shower screen guarantees privacy whilst being far more sleek than a semi-dividing wall. At abc Glass, our sandblasting technology will help you achieve that perfect frosted look for your next shower screen, as well as cabinets, worktops, and even glass shelves.

Glass With Fewer Sightlines

The beauty of glass is its lack of obstruction. There’s no better way to let natural light permeate through the home and garden than with an abundance of glass. The best way to maximise light through doors and windows is to make the frames as small as possible. As such, we’ve noticed a resurgence in floor-to-ceiling windows and glass sliding doors – and this trend is set to continue into 2020. Why not make the most of our frameless glass doors service and customise your glass door with clear, ultra-clear, frosted or patterned glass.

The best glass design Trends for 2020

We hope you’ve been inspired by our round-up of the best 2020 glass design trends. If you have a bold glass vision for your next home or commercial space, give us a call or email. In the meantime, you can explore our many glass processing services to see how modern glass technology can bright light and style to your interior.