Types of Glass and Their Decorative Uses in Homes – Bishop Ltd

We spoke about the different types of basic glass used in construction in an earlier blog. Below we are going to look at different types of decorative glass and a number of ways in which they are used to accentuate parts of a home (or building).

Types of Glass:

Glass Blocks

Frosted Glass

Colored glass

Decorative Uses of Glass:

Glass Panelling

Clear or Painted Glass Balustrades

Painted Glass Splash-backs

Glass floors and Stairs

Glass Balconies

Opaque Glass Kitchen Cabinets

Glass Doors and Partitions

Glass Shower Cubicles 

Stained Glass or Glass Mosaic

Types of Glass

Glass Blocks

Glass blocks (or glass bricks) can provide light and serve as a decorative addition to a structure, they give an aesthetic look when light is passed through them. However, due to their hollow center, glass blocks do not have them as high load-bearing capacity as masonry bricks, unless otherwise stated. They are manufactured as two separate halves and, whilst the glass is still molten, the two pieces are pressed together and annealed. The appearance of glass blocks can also vary in color, size, texture, and form. They are ideal in providing visual obscurity while admitting light and are very often used in the construction of walls and skylights, and for other decorative purposes.

Frosted Glass

Frosted glass is often used to obscure the onlooker's view of what’s behind the glass. For this reason, it is ideal to use this type of glass for bathroom windows, preventing passers-by from seeing into the bathroom when you are undressed. A pane of glass can be either a solid frosted panel or have a unique frosted design on it, often used by companies to display company logos or simply add privacy to glass offices.

Coloured Glass

Colored glass is regular soda-lime glass with the addition of metals and oxides, at the time of manufacturing, to change the color of the glass and enhance its aesthetic appeal. This process does not change the integrity of the original soda-lime glass. Colored glass can be used in a number of ways, some of which are listed below.

Decorative Uses of Glass:

Glass paneling

Glass panels are an effective way to protect your walls and to add a contemporary and striking decorative effect to your home.

Clear or Painted Glass Balustrades

Whether you choose clear or painted glass for your balustrades the effects can be amazing. The clear glass gives you a more stylish and minimalist feel, but those looking for a dramatic design statement should consider installing color block painted glass. 

Painted Glass Splash-Backs

Painted glass splashbacks have become increasingly popular in kitchens. This is due to them being tough and durable, more hygienic and extremely stylish. They are available in an unlimited range of colors, and commercial glass suppliers can even color match your glass splashbacks to fit your needs. 

Glass Floors and Stairs

For a dramatic and striking look consider a glass floor or staircase in your home. Glass floors are great, they are hard-wearing, easy to clean, beautiful to look at and allow lots of natural light to flow through a home. But remember, don’t install a clear glass floor above your head - where you can see people walking, for obvious reasons! Instead, install a frosted glass floor, it avoids any embarrassment while doing nothing to diminish the other benefits. The added benefit of frosting (or sandblasting) is that it creates a rougher surface giving you more grip than clear glass, therefore, less chance of slips and falls.

Stairs are always a focal point in any home so constructing them from glass is always going to have that “WOW” factor. If you don’t feel brave enough to go for glass treads on your stairs then maybe consider adding glass railings or balustrades to your staircase, that way you still get the look.

Glass Balconies

Glass balcony railings will make your balcony seem much larger and more open than other types of materials often used. It also gives better views when you are seated. 

Opaque Glass Kitchen Cabinets

Using the opaque glass on the front of kitchen cabinets is ideal, it’s easy to clean and you can't really see all the things stored inside. It also gives the kitchen a light, airy and sophisticated look. 

Glass Doors and Partitions

Using bi-folding doors, traditional glass doors or blasted glass doors are all great ways of dividing rooms internally, and in creating extra natural light to flood a room.

Opaque glass partitions are a slim-line solution to easily dividing up a room, they also allow the unobstructed passage of natural light to space. It’s a great way of saving space, no need for thicker stud walls!

Glass Shower Cubicles  

Glass shower cubicles always give any bathroom a beautiful modern and elegant look. You can use any type of glass finish you like; clear, frosted, sandblasted stripes, etc. but the result will always look amazing! As a tip, coat the inner side of the glass with a clear film to save from watermarks, the water will simply slide off the glass, which means less cleaning for you! 

Stained Glass or Glass Mosaic

This crafted glass can still be a great add-on to any type of traditional or modern interior. It can truly enhance the appearance of a place. Stained glass crafting requires several tools and materials and a special set of skills.

Thank you for reading this blog, I hope you enjoyed it. 

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Understanding Flat (Float) Glass Production – Bishop Ltd

There are two types of glass manufacturing, blown glass (by hand or machine) or flat (float) glass; we will be talking about the latter below.

Glass is a rigid material which may be either transparent or translucent and, unless a process is applied, brittle in nature. The machine required to produce flat glass was first designed by Sir Alistair Pilkington in 1952 and is now the standard method of making flat glass. The production line, from the furnace to flat glass, can be half a kilometer long and the machine can churn out 6,000 tons a week, amounting to a staggering 6,000 thousand kilometers of glass a year!

The Process

Flat glass is manufactured by the fusion of limestone, Silica Sand, Soda Ash, Dolomite, and Feldspar, using the steps below.

Step 1 – Smelting and Refining

By far one of the most important steps. It highly influences the overall quality of the glass produced. The furnace melts the glass at around 1400-1600°C to ensure it is refined and homogenized and the glass coming out onto the float bed is removed of any gas bubbles or insertions.

Step 2 – Float Batch

The spout pushes out the heated glass onto a layer of liquid molten tin. The molten glass sticks together and does not mix with the liquid molten tin, literally ‘floating’ on top. This, with a little help from gravity, creates a perfectly leveled contact surface (and a sheet of glass!). The thickness of the glass is controlled by the speed at which the molten glass is spread over the molten tin.

Step 3 – Coating

Coatings are applied to the glass according to the customer specifications. This is done at an area in the production line that uses advanced high temperature wielding robots to apply the coatings. Another way to add coatings to the floating glass is through a chemical vapor depositor (CVD), which can cover the liquid glass with a variety of coatings less than a micron in thickness as it passes beneath the applicator.

Step 4 – Annealing

This is to further ensure that the glass has no unwanted insertions or bubbles, which can occur if the glass was cooled unevenly. Along furnace cools the glass at varying temperatures best suited to keep the glass perfect. More recent technology includes a sensor to detect the stress level of the glass and in turn controls the temperatures of the furnace.

Step 5 - Inspection

Occasionally a grain of sand, tremor or a single bubble will create a lower quality sheet of glass. To prevent this, improved automated and highly sensitive technology is used to pick up these glitches. This automated inspection method can also control the cutters and take 100 million measurements a second across the ribbon of glass.

Step 6 – Cutting to Order

The final step is also controlled by a computer program. This is where the glass is cut to the client’s requirements. Any waste material produced is fed right back into the furnace as cullet.

Major Properties of Glasses:

•                 Transparency
•                 Strength
•                 Workability
•                 Transmittance
•                  U value
•                  Recycle property

Transparency

Transparency is the main property of glass, allowing us to see through it. Glass can be transparent from both sides or from one side only. In one side transparency, glass behaves like a mirror on the obscured side.

Strength

In general, glass is a brittle material but by adding admixtures and heat processes we can strengthen it.

Workability

Generally, you can find any type, size or shape of glass you need. Glass is very adaptable. However, some glass panes and units can be extremely heavy and there is always the greater risk of breaking the glass. Great care and attention need to be taken when handling a glass of any form.

Transmittance

Transmittance refers to the percentage of radiation that can go by throughout glazing, that being, visible transmittance, UV transmittance, or entire solar energy transmittance. With the advances in glazing technology, manufacturers can control how glazing materials behave in such instances. The basic underlying properties of the material (glass or plastic) can be altered, and coatings can be added to the surfaces. For example, a window optimized for daylighting and for reducing heat gain can be tinted on one side to reflect the sun’s rays, without losing visibility through the glass from the other side.

U value of Glass

The nationally recognized rating method is for the whole window, including glazing, frame, and spacers. U-factor of the center-of-glass is also sometimes referenced, and describes the performance of the glazing alone; note that the whole window U-factor reading is always more than the center-of-glass U-factor. High-performance double-pane windows can have U-factors of 0.30 or lower, while some triple-pane windows can attain U-factors as low as 0.15. The lower the U factor, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and enhanced its insulating properties.

Recycle Property of Glass

All glass is 100% recyclable, therefore, causing less impact on the environment.

Reliable Local builders in Kent and Essex | Bishop LtdLocal builders in Chigwell Essex

BishopLtd is a leading bespoke commercial and residential construction company. We have offices in Loughton Essex and Aylesford Kent and operate across Essex and Kent. We control the complete construction process seamlessly, spanning the Pre-Construction, Construction and Post-Construction phases of a project.Our main services include Architecture and Construction, Project Feasibility, Cost Analysis, and Project Management. We provide a turnkey solution or 360° Design and Build service.

As a construction company, our bespoke service is based around your dream, seamlessly blending considerations of practicality and aesthetics to help you create your ideal commercial or residential property.

Our highly professional Project Management Team is made up of experienced construction managers, working in both the UK and abroad. They have decades of experience across diverse Construction projects, as both Main Contractors and Sub- Contractors on large projects.

As a company, we understand each project is unique, and therefore, every Project team is assembled based on their specific suitability, skill-set, and experience. Our Construction team is made up of only the very best tried and tested tradesmen.

Basic Types of Glass Regularly Used in Construction – Bishop Ltd

There are various forms of flat glass (also known as float glass) used in the construction industry, each for a different purpose. Glass in its more basic form (as listed below) is regularly used in general construction, in windows or shower screens for example. However, fancier versions are also used but mainly to highlight parts of buildings as architectural enhancements, or internally for decorative purposes. We will be looking in short at the basic forms of glass regularly used by builders here.

Basic types of glass used in construction:

• Flat or Float glass / Pilkington glass

• Chromatic glass / Smart glass

• Self-cleaning glass

• Laminated glass / Shatterproof glass

• Toughened glass / Tempered glass

Float Glass / Pilkington Glass

Modern-day windows are made from float glass, also known as soda-lime glass. It is a sheet of glass prepared by floating molten the glass on a bed of molten metal, normally tin or lead. This method gives the glass a uniform thickness and a very flat surface. The process of making a float glass is also known as the Pilkington process (named after the British glass manufacturer, Sir Alastair Pilkington, who invented the technique in the 1950s in Merseyside UK). Float glass comes in various thicknesses, sizes, and weights to meet all building requirements.

Chromatic Glass / Smart Glass

Chromatic or Smart glass is used in place of regular glass to control the level of daylight passing into the interior of a room. Light transmission properties are altered when voltage, light or heat is applied to the glass. Normally, the glass changes from translucent to transparent, changing from blocking some wavelengths of light to letting light pass through. There are three forms of chromatic glass, photochromic – which has a light-sensitive coating on the glass, thermochromic - which has a heat-sensitive coating on the glass, and electrochromic -light-sensitive glass transparency of which can be controlled by an electrical switch. This type of glass is often used in meeting rooms.

Self-Cleaning Glass

The self-cleaning glass keeps itself free of dirt and grime. Here the special coatings applied to the glass fall into 2 categories, hydrophobia and hydrophilic. Both are self-cleaning but their method is different, the former by rolling droplets and the latter by sheeting water that carries away dirt. In addition, the hydrophilic coatings based on titanium dioxide have an additional property; they can chemically break down absorbed dirt in sunlight. It is, therefore, very easy to maintain.

Laminated Glass / Shatterproof Glass

Laminated or shatterproof glass is a form of high strength security glass. If broken, the two or more layers of glass are held together by one or more plastic like interlayers. This interlayer’s keep the glass bonded and prevents it from breaking into large sharp-edged pieces, instead of creating a spider’s web appearance when the impact is not enough to completely pierce the glass. The panes are heavier than normal glass panes. Laminated glass is normally used where the glass could fall and hurt someone if shattered, e.g. Skylight glazing and car windshields, and also for aquariums and architectural applications. There are two main types of the interlayer, special "acoustic PVB" and EVA. Both forms increase the sound insulation rating of a window. An additional property of laminated glass for windows is that a PVB and EVA interlayer can block essentially most ultraviolet radiation, with EVA blocking up to 99.9% of the UV rays.

Toughened Glass / Tempered Glass

Toughened or Tempered glass is a type of heat-strengthened safety glass. It is physically and thermally three to seven times stronger than regular annealed glass. Tempering is the process of putting the outer surfaces of glass in compression and the interior into tension. Such stresses cause the glass, when broken, to crumble into small granular chunks instead of splintering into jagged shards as regular glass does. The rough chunks are less likely to cause harm. As a result of its safety and strength, tempered glass is used in a variety of demanding applications, frameless shower screens or doors, table tops, shelves, fireplaces, balconies, skylights, large windows, windows which extend close to floor level, sliding doors, and near swimming pools.

Garage Conversions with Local Builders –Bishop Ltd

Are you in need of space? Who isn't? A garage conversion could be your answer!

Garage conversions are an economical way to gain more room from your property, in turn, utilizing an area of your home that is often neglected. No matter what you want to use this room for by employing a reputable builder you can make it happen. For these smaller works, it makes sense to employ a good local builder as a local builder will be more inclined to accept a smaller job if it is closer to his home, garage conversions would be classed as smaller jobs for a good building company. Logistically, there will be less likelihood of late arrivals to hold up your work and less time spent by your builder fighting traffic jams! The builder may also reduce his price if he does not have to account for lengthy travel and fuel costs. Should any issues arise after the work is completed, it would be easier for a local builder to pop in and fix the problem rather than you having to wait until the long distant builder is able to come your way again. Generally, you will be able to find experienced builders in your area if you talk to friends and family or by a quick search on the internet. However, make sure you do your homework before employing them.

A basic garage conversion should only take a matter of weeks to complete. In most instances, existing garages usually have lighting and, depending on what you are using the new space for, you could also have heating installed in readiness to use as an extra room within (or adjacent to) your home. In addition, you should not experience much inconvenience while the work is in progress as it will be away from the main house. However, and very importantly, you should always contact your local council offices to check if your intended building work is subject to planning permission before starting any works. If your conversion is subject to planning then consider laying foundations to accommodate a second story at a later date (again subject to planning permission!) Don’t forget to also budget for the demolition and removal of any existing garage/building!

Garage conversions are perfect for many homeowners looking for that gym/playroom/ extension to your existing lounge etc. Why not contact your local builder and ask them for advice on how best you can utilize the space? Local builders will have completed many jobs like yours and are a valuable source of knowledge, both for the design and build and also with planning requirement questions. Just make sure you have chosen the right builder for you, and tap in! You may be amazed at all the options you come up with once you get your thinking cap on. Wouldn’t it be great to wake up in the morning and walk less than 20 feet to the office, with all your paperwork stored outside of your home but still to hand? What more could you ask for?

A further great advantage of garage conversions is that they add value to your home. It’s a “win-win” situation! It’s time to stop using that valuable space as a very large junk cupboard and put it to good use, whilst also increasing the value of your property. You will love the return on your investment come sale time!

If you have a garage collecting cobwebs and are crying out for more space it’s a no brainer…Convert that garage!!

Contact Bishop Ltd – Builders and Developers - for all your building needs!

We are a leading bespoke commercial and residential construction company. Our services include a completely managed construction process, spanning the Pre- Construction, Construction and Post-Construction phases of your project. Our main services include Architecture and Construction, Project Feasibility, Cost Analysis, and Project Management. We have offices in Loughton Essex and Aylesford Kent and operate locally across Essex and Kent.

General Local builders Dartford Essex| Bishop Ltd

Are you looking for building services in ME20 7BT? We are working in Kent, Essex; Dartford is one of the major towns in Kent, for all your Dartford General Local Builders, look no further. Bishop Ltd has over 25 years of excellent experience in this industry, so you know you’ll be choosing a top quality company for the work you require. 
We manage the complete construction process seamlessly, spanning the Pre-Construction, Construction and Post-Construction phases of a project. Our highly efficient Project Management Team is made up of experienced construction managers, working in both the UK and abroad. 
As a company, we understand each project is unique, and therefore, every Project Team is assembled based on their specific suitability, skill-set, and experience. Our Construction team is made up of only the very best tried and tested tradesmen.

We pride ourselves on safety and competitive prices, so get in touch with us today and see what we can do for you. Just call us on 02089262010.