Last Updated on August 31, 2019 by Kimberly Crawford
Technological development brings about various impressive changes. Architecture and interior designs have become a professional thing, with advancement growing daily.
The use of replacement glass in homes, offices, and businesses have become a new and impressive trend. Some people will use glass walls, furniture, doors, and windows to give a fancy look. There are various types of replacement glass today. Each of these replacement glass types has its applications and advantages.
Similarly, there are areas they cannot apply. Some situations will prefer a clear glass while others may require a colored lens. All in all, these replacement glass types have revolutionized the art of interior design.
Below is a discussion of the recently available types of replacement glasses. It covers their pros and cons, applicable and inapplicable situations. For price updates of each glass type, you can visit here
1. Tinted Glass-For a Colorful look
The tinted glass has become very popular in residential and commercial interior designs. Designers use different designs and colors for various functions in homes and offices.
The colored lenses have evolved from the simple application like windows to sophisticated uses. Some designers have successfully used colored glass to make quality and classy roofs.
Pros
Most of the time, the designers use bright colors like sky blue or turquoise to create an impressive ceiling. Other designers use the colored glass to complement the color schemes in the house of the office.
That is, the glass walls reflect or complement the colors inside the home or office. The colored glass is also handy while trying to maintain a glassy yet private look. They give the house a polished look while maintaining its privacy.
Finally, some office designs use colored glass as a way of representing the organization. For example, if the organization’s color is blue, so blue-printed windows would be appropriate.
Cons
However, in some cases may be disadvantageous to have colored glass. In cases where the interior design needs a clear glass, using colored glasses may be ineffective.
For example, some people want to have glass windows that allow them to enjoy the sunlight and the outside view. Colored or tinted glass may hinder the sunlight and outside view.
People in beachy or other areas with pleasant views may want to watch the sea or scenic views. Thus, in such an environment, colored or tinted glasses may not be applicable. The tint may affect the inside view significantly.
Some home associations are also strictly against dark tinted windows. Therefore, it may all look fancy and classy to use tinted glasses. However, it would be better to check all the regulations before using the same.
2. Clear Glass-A Most Common Glass
The clear glass has become a popular replacement type of glass in many interior designs. It applies to home and office use.
Pros
Clear glass’s most significant advantage of its transparency quality. It not only makes the room look more spacious but also gives it a classy and stylish look.
The clear glass is applicable in a variety of interior designs. One, a bathroom made of clear glass insinuates cleanliness, class, and comfortability at the same time.
Similarly, an office made of transparent interior speaks class and professionalism at the same time. Clear glass is very useful when one wants to enjoy natural light and outside view.
For example, a house on the beach would have a better view if it had clear glass windows. The clear glass allows the individual to experience the outside environment at a closer level. Some architects have used clear glass to make staircases. The clear glass gives the stairs a floating look and feel.
Cons
However, clear glass may be disadvantageous in a couple of situations. The clear glass gives little or no privacy. Passersby can easily see what is inside or happening inside the house or office.
This is still one of the reasons why bathrooms with clear glass have become so controversial. Bathrooms in public places like public rocker-rooms need privacy. As such, installing a clear glass door or walls may violate that privacy.
Similarly, people may want privacy in their rooms. Thus, installing transparent glass walls to separate rooms, especially bedrooms, home library, and home office may violate the need for privacy.
If overused, clear glass may have that “too-much” effect and end up ruining the style. Hence, moderation is essential while installing clear glass features in the house or office.
Finally, clear glass roofs may expose people to too much direct sunlight. While it is all fancy to have a clear glass roof, it may end up being uncomfortable after all.
3. Frosted Glass-Best for interiors
The frosted glass gives the glassy but dull look, which supplements and complements clear glass in various interior designs. Its most significant advantage is its translucent property, which makes it applicable in different situations.
Pros
The use of frosted glass to make bathroom doors and walls is becoming very popular. First, frosted glass is beautiful, especially in a clean environment.
Secondly, it gives that teasing look, where one can almost see what is happening inside. The bathroom can have enough privacy but retain the glassy look by using the frosted glasses.
Frosted glasses are also applicable as bedroom walls or separating other rooms in the house. In the offices, the frosted glass gives employees enough privacy. Still, they communicate transparency and professionalism in the office.
Frosted glasses have also become standard on the pathways, stare cases, and other parts of the house.
Cons
However, frosted glass has its disadvantages as well. The biggest limitation is that it lacks transparency. As such, these glasses cannot be applied in displays at home or office.
For example, people often love to display their home-bar. The bars may have a variety of drinks, which collectively make it very appealing. However, using frosted glass for the bar would hinder people from enjoying the colorful look of the bar.
A similar situation applies to the office and businesses. Using frosted glass blocks the vision and frustrate the customers because it is translucent.
Frosted glass may not be applicable as windows, especially if there is a need to enjoy the outside view. It is tough, if not impossible, to enjoy the night sky through a translucent window or room. As such, if the intention is to enjoy the view, frosted glass is the wrong option.
4. Tempered Glass- For Safety Purpose
Tempered glasses are often five or more times stronger than ordinary glasses. They are created in such a way that they can withstand high pressure without breaking.
If the tempered glass breaks, it shatters into small pieces rather than large sharp pieces. As such, it reduces the potential risk of injuries in case of breakage.
They even allow easier cleaning up because there are no sharp pieces. Tempered glasses are available in various forms. Some are colored; others are transparent, while others are translucent.
Pros
Interior designers often use tempered glass in offices, especially on the large office windows. for example, a high skyscraper made of glass. The risk of falling on the glass walls or windows is relatively high.
However, the tempered glass offers the strength and durability of these walls. As such, they provide a similar kind of strength as a story building would. Also, glass furniture often uses frosted glass.
Most of the furniture, like tables and cupboards, are exposed to pressures and breakage. To reduce this risk of damage, designers often use tempered glass, which is harder to break.
Cons
Still, tempered glass has its limitations like any other type of glass. The most significant disadvantage is its expensive cost. In most cases, tempered glass costs more than ordinary glass.
As such, it may be hard for people who cannot afford extra-expenses to use it. Tempered glass may also be too thick for some minor applications.
5. Plexiglass
Inventions and ideas in modern interior designs are breathtaking. The use of plexiglass is among these fantastic developments, which has become popular in interior designs, especially in the creation of home and office furniture.
One good example is the use of plexiglass to create colorful and impressive lampshades. The lampshades can be in an office, the living room, or bedroom. Wherever they are, they make the environment look sophisticated. Plexiglass is also popular in roofing.
Pros
They allow enough lighting and heat into the house. As such, rather than using electricity during the day, one can use plexiglass roofing. Plexiglass is also becoming increasingly popular as a glass wall. It creates a translucent but classy look in the home or office.
Cons
However, it lacks the hardness of the glass and may, at the time, absorb greasy substances. Consuming fatty substances makes it hard to clean.
6. Reflective glass
Reflective glasses are becoming popular, especially in the eco-friendly houses. It has a reflective metal coating that gives it the reflective properties.
Pros
The reflective glass prevents heat loss from the interior and allows heat gain from the outside. Another significant advantage of using reflective glass is that it reduces the glare effect of glasses. Hence, it improves the working environment in the offices and comfortability at homes. It also blocks the internal view from outsiders.
Cons
Its disadvantage is that it is more expensive than ordinary glasses and some people may not afford it.
