Find out about the diverse varieties of glass and their respective applications for your home
Glass is available in multiple options that offer great functionality and bring in a sense of transparency, lightness and elegance to the exteriors and interiors of a home. Glass is made from a blend of limestone, soda-ash and sand; various categories of glass can be manufactured when metal oxides or other chemicals are added to the basic raw material and subjected to different treatments during production.
Read on and find out how to integrate different types of glass with your home and how you can incorporate the right one in the right space.

Toughened glass

This type of glass is highly resistant to weather conditions and is used to cover large spans to achieve a seamless look. Each glass piece can be manufactured to a maximum width of 20 feet and a maximum height of 12 feet. In case of damage it breaks into very small fragments that are less harmful than the sharp shards produced by standard glass. Toughened glass finds wide applications in structural glazing, partitions, frameless doors and so on.

Pro tip: Ensure that the glass is cut to proper size and all the holes are drilled (for frame-less doors) before it is toughened. Note that no modification is possible after production of the glass piece.

Tinted glass

This is a popular type of glass that controls the amount of light filtered through it. Tinted glass is available in shades of bronze, blue, green and grey when selected metal oxides are added to standard glass.
This type also significantly reduces solar heat and UV transmission into the interiors; it is effective in protecting the upholstery and curtains from fading due to UV rays. Tinted glass is widely used in window panes, as privacy screens and glass doors.

Reflective glass

The reflective property of this type of glass is used here to create a dynamic facade; it reflects the changing colours of the surroundings throughout the day. A special multi-coating is applied onto the glass, which does not allow visibility from outside to inside but it is possible to see out from within.
Reflective glass is available in many options of colour and tints; it imparts a modern look to the building, prevents glare and allows a controlled amount of light to filter into the room.
Make sure to draw the curtains at night because in the dark one can easily see beyond the glass if the interiors are illuminated inside.

Laminated glass

Also known as safety glass, it is made by sandwiching a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) layer with strong adhesion between two pieces of glass. In case of damage the glass shatters into less harmful fragments that are held together by the PVB layer. This characteristic makes laminated glass most suitable for glass flooring and it is able to withstand light to moderate traffic.
Keep in mind that an all-glass floor might be slippery; in this example, just see how metal strips are inserted within the glass flooring to make it slip-resistant.

Lacquered glass

Make a bold statement with coloured or lacquered glass. It is opaque and available in many attractive shades. In this example, lacquered glass is used as a kitchen backsplash that gives a fresh look to the space. This glass is moisture-resistant and highly durable. The coloured lacquer is applied to the rear surface of the glass so the coating cannot peel off easily.

Bevelled glass

Give a framed look to the edges of table-tops and shelves with bevelled glass. During fabrication the sides of the glass are cut at a slant and then polished. This process makes the glass smoother and thinner at the edges while the rest is thicker.
Another interesting characteristic of bevelled glass is that in the presence of sunlight or accent lighting, the bevelled edge works like a prism, which reflects a spectrum of colours. A combination of bevelled glass panels give a sophisticated look when used as insets in cabinets and door panels.

Stained glass

How about installing stained glass as inserts in the openings of cabinets, windows or doors? These panels impart a classic feel and are hand-crafted with coloured pieces of glass to form floral, figurative or abstract designs.

Frosted glass

The process of sand-blasting or acid-etching is used to give the glass a frosted appearance. Frosted glass works to bring you privacy as it obscures the view while allowing light to filter in. These are widely used as shower screens, partitions or privacy windows.

Tip: An easy and affordable way to give a frosted look to glass is by pasting a self-adhesive polyester window film.

Textured glass

This is a decorative glass where textures or patterns are embossed on the molten glass to achieve a textured effect. These glass designs are ideal for use in partitions, tabletops, showers and privacy screens.