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Using glass in interior design

Using glass in interior design

Using glass in interior design

Using glass in interior design

Glass is an ideal material for decorating. When you want to open a space, glass allows light to flow through the space, and naturally makes it look larger. Even though glass is the “go-to” material for this kind of application, glass has many other desirable decorating characteristics.

Transparency is insanely attractive, but you can do a lot with opaque glass. Glass has a tactile quality that other materials don’t have. It’s cool, smooth and solid. It can be heavy, and it’s elegant in a way that no other material is. When you want opacity, there’s no better way to achieve it than with Glassprimer™ glass paint.

Glassprimer™ glass paint comes in virtually any color, and you can create opaque and frosted glass looks for about $1 per square foot. That’s actually less expensive than traditional frosted glass. Traditional frosted glass is created using either a chemical process or sandblasting the surface of the glass.

If you’re not going for opaque, you can also achieve a dramatic translucent effect using Glassprimer™ glass paint. Translucence allows light to shine through a non-transparent surface.

From a decorating standpoint, you can do a lot with translucent and opaque architectural glass within an interior space. Walls, furniture and doors can all be made of or incorporate glass. Glass walls in a conference room can be augmented with Glassprimer™ glass paint or UV-inkjet printing to ensure privacy while still allowing the distribution of natural light.

Other features, including reception areas, walls, partitions and other similar structures can also be augmented with Glassprimer™ glass paint. Glass is a highly cost effective and versatile material, and can be used virtually anywhere – walls, floors, ceilings, doors, walkways, staircases and more.

If you’d like more information about decorating with glass and glass paint in interior spaces, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Thomas Hawk, via Flickr.com

Working with laminated glass

Working with laminated glass

Working with laminated glass

Working with laminated glass

Laminated glass is an industry standard for interior and exterior design. Laminated glass is a safety glass product, and consists of at least two layers of glass with a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) between the glass panels. The PVB layer is applied to the glass using pressure and heat during the manufacturing process. Multiple layers of glass and PVB can be laminated together.

Laminated glass has been used in the auto industry since the 1950’s, and has been used in architecture for about 30-40 years. In terms of design, laminated glass is very flexible, in that the glass layers can be tinted, coated and textured. Laminated glass can also accommodate colored interlayers, and special insulating layers that improve sound dampening. Typically, the thickness of the finished product ranges between 1/8th of an inch and 1/4th of an inch, but thicker glass can be made. Laminated glass can also be cut if the glass layers have been annealed.

Annealing is a cooling technique that strengthens the glass during the manufacturing process. Annealed glass is not tempered, but it is cooled slowly to relieve internal stress. Annealed glass is about 4 to 5 times stronger than untreated glass, but it will break into shards, just like untreated glass. Tempered glass, on the other hand, is heated then quickly cooled. The resulting product is stronger than glass, and breaks into small cubes, rather than shards.

Laminated glass can be used in insulating glass products, like windows and doors. It can also be coated with low-emissivity coatings to help reflect UV and infrared lightwaves. Laminated glass can be made in sheets as big as 16×8 ft. The panel size depends upon the limits of the manufacturing equipment, but the weight of the finished piece is also a consideration.

Laminated glass is used where safety is a consideration. In exterior applications, laminated glass is used in windows and doors, and in structural elements, such as side panels for buildings. It can also be used in display windows, floors and safety barriers.

Laminated glass can be painted or coated, just like any other glass. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be used with laminated glass to coat, frost or decorate glass. Glassprimer™ glass paint permanently bonds with the glass layer to resist chipping, fading and peeling. It can be used in both interior and exterior applications.

If you would like more information about decorating with Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store . .

Photo Credit: Hugh Dutton Associés, via Flickr.com

Incorporating glass bricks into your plan

Incorporating glass bricks into your plan

Incorporating glass bricks into your plan

Glass bricks in the Michigan State Capitol floor

Glass bricks are common, yet they can impart an extraordinary look to a space. Glass bricks were first developed in the early 1900’s as a way to add light to industrial manufacturing spaces. They’ve been used continuously since that time in a number of innovative ways.

Glass bricks are versatile

Glass bricks are right at home in the trendy industrial look, owing to their industrial origins. You can use glass bricks to create a room divider or replace an existing window. The benefit of using glass bricks in windows is that the bricks will allow nearly full transmission of natural light, while preserving privacy. This is a great solution for urban spaces where having a window doesn’t equate to having a view!

Glass bricks are also a great solution for bathroom and basement windows. Again, these are spaces where light is welcome, but full view may not be. Standard glass bricks come in nominal 8″x 8″ dimensions. “Nominal” means that the bricks are slightly smaller, but when they’re set in the recommended 1/4-inch mortar, the finished size of the block and mortar are 8″ x 8″. You can find glass bricks with smaller and larger dimensions, usually available by special order.

Glass bricks have an R-value of about 1.75-2.0, which puts them in the same range as thermopane windows. Glass isn’t known for its heat insulating ability, but you won’t gain much by going with standard windows.

Unlike regular window glass, you can use glass bricks to make both interior and exterior walls. Used inside, glass bricks can be found in room dividers and walls to allow natural light to penetrate a dark, interior space. They can also be used to create privacy in bathrooms, offices, conference rooms and other similar spaces. Glass bricks also have some sound insulating qualities, thanks to the brick’s hollow interior space. Used on exterior walls, glass bricks can create more attractive, light filtering windows. They can also be used in structural spaces to create exterior walls.

Glass bricks can also be used to create walkways and floors. When lit from below, the glass bricks can create dramatic floor space in both interior and exterior applications.
If you’re looking for some additional glass decorating inspiration, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Mitten State Photog, via Flickr.com

Why glass is making a comeback

Why glass is making a comeback

Why glass is making a comeback

Some architectural materials never go out of style, and that’s one really good reason to consider decorating with glass in your home. Glass is appealing for a number of reasons. Here are a few of them.

Glass offers many advantages

Glass is environmentally friendly. Glass is a combination of a number of naturally occurring materials. We’ve been making glass for thousands of years, and glass offers one of the most environmentally friendly manufacturing processes around. Not only are the raw materials natural, but also glass is infinitely recyclable. Glass is also inert, which means that it’s safe to use in food preparation areas, and can be easily cleaned and sanitized.

Glass is economical. Because the raw materials used in glass are readily available, it is among the most economical of all building materials. You can purchase glass in a wide range of thicknesses, strengths and colors. You can custom-cut glass to fit any space, and you can have glass tempered to strengthen it for use in the kitchen and bathroom.

Glass is practical. In the kitchen, few surfaces are more practical than glass. Glass can be cleaned and sanitized with a wide range of common household cleaners, and cannot develop surface stains or discolorations. It withstands acids in food, and will not retain bacteria, mold or mildew.

Glass is locally available. Glass is produced in hundreds of facilities around the country. Chances are very good that you live near a glass factory. For you, that means glass is readily available, and you can often support your local economy by purchasing glass.

Glass is easy to decorate. Glass is easy to decorate, thanks to Glassprimer™ glass paint. Our glass paint is specially formulated to bond with the surface of glass, making a permanent bond that won’t chip, fade or peel. It resists damage from ultraviolet light, so it will look great year after year, even when it’s installed in direct sunlight.

If you’d like more information about the advantages of decorating with glass, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Marja von Bochove , via Flickr.com