Category: Glasses

At Glass Showers & More, we often receive the question, “What is back-painted glass, and how is it used?”

While it sounds like it might be something complicated, back-painted glass is exactly as the name suggests – glass which has been painted on the backside. This leaves the front side of the glass shiny and smooth but no longer transparent. Rather than seeing through the glass, you see the colour painted behind it.

Back painted glass is especially popular in modern kitchens and office spaces. It’s a great choice for a concept room or a statement wall, standing out from the rest of your home in its shiny opulence.

Back-painted glass adds a touch of elegance, modernity, and uniqueness to every room it graces. It’s the perfect way to spruce up an outdated design, add a little something extra to your office, or increase the sell-factor of a model home.

Here we’ll discuss the major benefits of back-painted glass and why so many homeowners are choosing to incorporate it into their designs.

1. Thinking outside the box

If there’s one thing every design-conscious homeowner is looking for, it’s uniqueness. Many houses are being built with the same cookie-cutter exteriors, and many of the same interior features as well. Setting your house apart with something bespoke to you is an excellent way to increase the ‘wow’ factor and show up the neighbours.

Back-painted glass isn’t hard to come by, but many homeowners either don’t know about it or don’t think to use it in their home design plans. It’s quite astounding how something so simple makes such a large impact on the look of a room, but back-painted glass manages to draw the eye every time.

2. Increase your selling factor

For homeowners hoping to list a house on the market, adding a back-painted glass accent makes all the difference. On the lengthy tour of local houses, yours is sure to stand out in their minds as the one with that beautiful glass feature.

Use back-painted glass in your island counter, floor, wall, room divider, or fireplace mantle. Whatever the choice, it will keep your house at the forefront of the buyer’s mind as they make their rounds.

3. It’s easy to install

One of the worst parts of a home redecorating project is waiting for everything to be complete so you can resume life. An advantage of using back-painted glass in your design is the ease and quickness of installation.

The delicate nature of glass helps keep it one of the quickest installation projects as professionals want to carefully get it into place before anything happens to it. If measurements are precise and the glass is cut well, installing the pieces into your project is simple.

Of course, some projects take longer than others to complete. For example, if you’re installing back-painted glass into a portion of your walk-in shower, it might take longer to install than if you’re using it in a kitchen wall as a backsplash.

4. No shortage of selection

Back painted glass has so many amazing choices to offer from a myriad of customizable shapes and colours to the option of texturization. Your back-painted glass is designed to fit in with your dream motif perfectly.

Back painted glass is versatile, used in many rooms for many purposes. You can use the same colour and style of glass in the bathroom as you do the kitchen or in the bedroom that you do the living room.

Tie your house together with the same colours, textures and keep your guests wondering how you’ve made such a noticeable change to your home in such a short time.

5. Easily accessible to Ontarians

Some home décor projects must be shipped in from Italy, bought on vacation in the United States, or flown over from Southeast Asia. Back painted glass is accessible to you right here in Ontario.

All you need to do is partner with a local glass specialist and inquire about their back-painted glass options. Some specialists only produce the glass, requiring you to contact an installation expert. Other companies provide the glass and installation, depending on the project.

Shopping local means supporting the local economy. This is a great way to achieve the home design look you want while sustaining the community you live in.

6. Easy to clean

Unlike porous wood and paint, back-painted glass gives you all the colour you want without the rough surface to clean. Like all glass surfaces, these products wipe clean with glass cleaner or a solution of vinegar and water. Wipe with a microfiber cloth for best results and enjoy a shiny, streak-free glass feature.

Another benefit is that back-painted glass unless being used as a backsplash, shouldn’t require regular cleaning the way that other surfaces do though this depends on lifestyle and use.

Houses with small children and pets, for example, might find a few nose and fingerprints on their back-painted glass from time to time. Otherwise, a gentle cleaning once a week is plenty to maintain optimal shine.

7. The privacy factor

Back-painted glass is a great addition to an external containment unit, like a balcony or deck fence. It gives the shine and modernity of glass without transparency. This offers some privacy from nosy neighbours and onlookers.

The same concept works for back-painted glass shower doors. The easy to clean, mildew resistant glass door works like any standard glass door, but nobody can see you in the shower.

If you’re interested in back-painted glass and what it could do to liven up your living space, call Glass Showers & More at 1-416-800-1156 or contact us here.

Some designs are timeless, while others require updates from time to time. Unfortunately, remodelling an entire house isn’t something every homeowner can afford. It takes time, money, and plenty of professional help to overhaul a house.

Glass home design is a great way to revive the appearance of an older home’s design without breaking the bank. It’s surprising how big of a difference it makes to add a few new glass elements to your living space.

At Glass Showers & More, we work with homeowners on several projects, supplying everything from new shower doors to new front door window inserts. We’ve made it our job to understand what’s hot in home design and help our customers find products that make their home feel fresh and new.

Are you looking for some insight on how to use glass in home design? Here are some tips from the expert team at Glass Showers & More.

Glass Enclosures for a Better View

If you have a fantastic view from your home, the worst thing you can do is obstruct it with wood or metal fencing. A simple update that makes a huge impact is adding a glass enclosure to your deck or balcony in place of an opaque fence.

Glass enclosures are made using large, durable glass panels. They withstand the elements and are designed to take an impact without breaking. Here in Ontario, we see some nasty weather in the winter, and homeowners might be concerned that a glass enclosure will shatter.

The glass used in outdoor fencing is unique and made specifically to stand up to Canadian weather. This lets you enjoy the view, stress-free.

Swap Out Surfaces for Glass

Nothing opens a living space more than glass. Whether you live in a huge condo with vaulted ceilings or a tiny 1-bedroom apartment, switching your standard oak dining table for a glass-topped chrome dining set will make a huge difference to your space. This modern look is clean, airy, and light, brightening any space immediately.

One of the reasons glass opens up a room so quickly is because the light entering through windows and skylights isn’t being absorbed by dark wood or plastic. Instead, it can reflect and refract through the glass, casting bright light throughout your home.

Create a Mirror Statement Wall

Mirrors are an amazing tool for small spaces. They create the illusion that everything is longer and wider than it really is. They also bounce light throughout your house, creating a bright living space you won’t want to leave.

A wonderful new trend is incorporating mirrors into a statement wall. Whether you choose one large ornate mirror or select many tiny intermingling mirrors, the point is to design an eye-catching, reflecting wall to open the room, brighten the space, and modernize your home.

Shock Guests with Glass Floors

A super-modern addition to any outdated design is glass flooring. Glass floors aren’t a new concept, but they’re so rarely seen in standard homes that it’s a shock to step onto one. Glass floors help brighten rooms and reduce the feeling of claustrophobia in smaller spaces. A bonus to having a glass floor in one room is that you have a glass ceiling in the room below it.

A glass ceiling into an upstairs space is perfect for darker rooms, like those situated in the basement. Most basement rooms have smaller windows that allow less light to filter in. A glass ceiling/floor concept allows the natural light from the main level to spill into your downstairs.

Aside from the brightness factor, glass floors are downright shocking. You may find many of your guests wondering if they’re ok to walk on. This will leave you home the talk of the town for a long time to come.

Textured Glass Pieces

Textured and designed glass are making a splash in modern home design. Kitchen island tops, tabletops, shower doors, and even entire walls are being designed using textured glass. This beautiful style of glass allows all the light with no detraction of privacy.

Depending on the piece you’re using the textured glass for, you may need a thicker, more durable glass. It’s important to discuss with your glass specialist the use of each piece. This helps ensure that the glass is strong enough for its intended use.

Glass Lighting Fixtures

Gone are the days of chrome and copper. The latest lighting trend is glass on glass. Frosted glass, clear glass, geometric crystallized glass, and textured glass are all making a comeback in this year’s lighting fixtures. From full-sized chandeliers to three-tiered lighting arrangements, you’ll find glass making a big difference to every room in your home.

Unlike the metal fixtures popular in the past, glass lighting fixtures don’t block any of the light from the bulb. You can use tinted glass to change the way the light looks in different rooms or soften the light with frosted or textured glass.

Glass in the Bathroom

From partition walls to swinging shower doors, glass gives a bathroom the clean, bright look modern designers are going for. There’s been a recent renewal of the spa theme for bathrooms this year. More homeowners are choosing to use white linens, glass shower doors instead of shower curtains, white accessories, and shiny chrome plumbing fixtures.

Using glass home design in the bathroom takes a room that could be considered mundane and turns it into something truly luxurious. Take your time, enjoy your shower, bath, or facial with clear, clean glass and white tile.

Choose the Glass Experts

Using glass in home design is tricky and requires the work of a trained professional. When you choose a specialist to install your glass products and services, it helps to speak with them directly. Ask about:

• Prior projects
• Types of glass offered
• Suggestions for modernizing your home with glass
• What experience they have with glass home design

If you’re interested in learning more about using glass in your home design, call Glass Showers & More at 1-416-800-1156 or contact us here.

A bathroom shower can mean the difference between luxury and austerity in the bathroom. Choosing everything from the tile on the walls to the glass door changes the way your bathroom looks and feels.

For a frameless glass door shower install, there are many factors to consider when deciding on door type. Are you considering a frosted or clear glass door? Do you want to take the minimalist approach or turn up the wow factor with something more opulent? Whatever the case, it’s important to take your time when selecting.

At Glass Showers & More, our experienced team sees a wide variety of frameless glass door shower installations. We’ve seen the difference one door makes over another, and the ability showers must tie together an entire bathroom setting.

If you’re considering making updates to your bathroom but aren’t sure which shower door is right for you, we can help. Here are a few options to consider and why they might be the right pick for your bathroom remodel.

Getting Started with a Glass Shower Door Install

Measurements are a crucial component of selecting a glass door, especially if you’ve got a custom shower setup. Getting exact dimensions — including the space between fixtures — is the first step to selecting the doors you’ll install. If you’re using a shower door company to remove old doors and install new ones, they may take these measurements for you.

We don’t recommend making glass door installation a DIY project. As tempting as it is, many things could go wrong, including broken glass and injury. You can find a specialist in your area through recommendations and doing a bit of online research. Shower door businesses’ with great online reviews and plenty of experience are your best choice for a successful installation.

What are the benefits of a glass shower door?

Frameless shower doors use an extremely sturdy glass, which is tempered and around ½” thick. Due to the durability and thickness of this product, the glass doesn’t require the same metal enclosure for support.

This provides a unique aesthetic with contemporary clean lines that you just can’t achieve with gaudy metal edging. Without the opaque surroundings, the clear glass appears larger, creating the illusion of a larger shower.

By excluding a frame on your shower, you can highlight other fabulous features in your bathroom. From updated hardware to bespoke stonework, your washroom can really shine. The price of a frameless glass shower door vs. a basic framed door is more, but the quality and longevity of these pieces far outweigh the extra money spent on them.

Styles of Glass Shower Doors

Now that you know a bit more about frameless glass shower doors, it’s time to consider the different options for style and utility. Here are some of the most common types of glass doors affiliated with the frameless concept.

Glass Enclosures for the Bathtub

If your bathroom doesn’t have a stand-up shower, but rather a tub and shower combo, you could opt to go with a bathtub enclosure. This provides the same feel like a shower stall, with a sleeker look than the average shower curtain.

The same thick glass used in frameless glass shower door installs is used for glass enclosures. Thick, durable, and treated with a protective outer coating. Most tub enclosures run on a track and wheel system made with stainless steel.

Semi-Frameless Options

There are also semi-frameless glass door models to choose from if the fully frameless doors aren’t within your budget. These look very close to a frameless installation but have tiny bonded hinges or clips which hold the glass in place. The 3/8” glass is tempered and coated, with handles matching other metal used on the frame.

Sliding Frameless Glass Doors

Finally, getting into the traditional frameless glass doors, sliding door option is the most common. The practicality of these doors works best for narrow bathrooms, where space becomes an issue for pivoting doors. The doors slide seamlessly on metal runners, making it easy to get in and out of your shower.

Bi-Fold Door Options

As the name suggests, these doors bend to open as though they are folding in on themselves. Still, with no frame to speak of, the clean-cut look of these doors is something to be admired. Bi-fold doors butterfly in and out and work best in medium-sized bathrooms.

Swinging Frameless Shower Doors

Swinging, or pivoting, shower doors swing on a hinge to open and close much the same as your bathroom door. For a large bathroom, this lavish door creates a feeling of grandeur. Just be sure your measurements are accurate because pivoting doors take up more space than you might think while open.

These are a few of the more popular styles of frameless glass shower door installations to choose from. Working closely with your glass shower company, you may find other models more suited to your bathroom.

Glass Finishes and Unique Touches

It’s not only the door style that needs to be considered when choosing new frameless glass doors for your shower. The type of glass also comes into question. There are a few different styles to select from, including:

1. Clear glass

   Simple, clean, and modern, clear glass lets you see exactly what’s in your shower.

2. Frosted glass

   A traditional shower glass style, frosted glass allows light to enter the shower while protecting your privacy inside.

3. Textured glass

   Modern and unique, textured glass designs vary. Like frosted glass, it provides an added level of privacy without foregoing light.

4. Decorative glass

   Choosing a pattern of engraving or metal applique to add to your glass door could create an entirely new look. Some decorative glass is more delicate than standard clear glass, so speak to your glass specialist before choosing a decorative option.

With door style and glass type in mind, you can now begin recreating your shower.

For more information on glass showers and door installation, call Glass Showers & More at 1-416-800-1156 or contact us here.

Installing frameless shower doors in your bathroom is a great way to add style and elegance to your space. That is until the glass becomes dirty or stained with hard water and soap scum. However, you don’t need to stress about adding another time-consuming chore to your busy week. While several products on the market will sufficiently clean glass, tiles, and other shower accessories, there are many simple methods and household products (that you probably already have in your home) that can help you maintain your frameless shower doors.

Below are some easy ways to help prevent and remove residue from your shower door glass to keep it looking clean and pristine.

Why Does Shower Glass Get Dirty?

Let’s start by talking about why your frameless shower door gets so dirty in the first place. Hard water is high in minerals such as calcium and magnesium carbonates. When hard water mixes with your sudsy shower products, it can leave stains on your shower door glass. This soap scum can be harmful over time and diminishes the aesthetic appeal of your bathroom. Since glass is porous, it allows the hard water minerals to seep into the glass and cause corrosion. Additionally, soap scum is a type of mildew that can cause some health risks. Keeping your frameless shower door clean is the best way to prevent long-term damage and stains.

Shower Cleaning and Maintenance Tips Using Common Household Products

Removing mildew with hydrogen peroxide:

As stated above, the mildew that is caused by soap scum causes a thin coating to form on glass and other shower surfaces that can be difficult to remove. This mildew primarily forms around the edges of your shower and where the glass meets the frame. Mildew can be harmful, and you will want to get rid of it as soon as possible using a simple solution made with hydrogen peroxide and water. Add both products into a spray bottle and apply it to affected areas. Once it has a moment to sit, simply wipe the area dry. You can repeat this process as many times as necessary without worry!

Cleaning your shower with vinegar:

Did you know that while some popular cleaning products on the market will kill bacteria and remove soap scum from your frameless shower door, not all of them remove mould? If hydrogen peroxide is not doing the job for you, try cleaning with distilled white vinegar. You can even try both products! Apply the vinegar using a spray bottle and then use a rag to wipe down the shower glass and other shower surfaces to leave them sparkling clean and mould-free.

Vinegar is also great for removing scum from the shower. For general shower maintenance, wet the shower and then use a squeegee to clear the water from the glass. Afterward, use a spray bottle with undiluted vinegar to cover the area you wish to clean. Now, just wash it down with regular water one more time to remove hard water deposits to minimize their chance to stain once more.

Removing mildew with baking soda:

If you are absolutely at a loss for cleaning the old stuck-on stains on your frameless shower door, baking soda will do the trick. Mix the baking soda with a little bit of tap water to make a paste. Apply the paste to the areas you wish to clean with a cloth or sponge. Use this mixture to remove tough hard water stains and all other grime in your shower that requires a bit of elbow grease. This method can be used with the peroxide or vinegar methods mentioned above as well.

Have a squeegee on hand:

The easiest way to stop stains and mildew from forming on your frameless shower door is to maintain it on a regular basis. Having a squeegee on hand means that right after you shower, you can remove excess water and soapy suds from the glass so that it does not dry into stains. This simple precaution will make your life easier in the long run and keep your chore list at a minimum.

Pre-cleaning with Bounce Fabric Softener:

Believe it or not, Bounce and other fabric softeners are excellent products to remove soft soap scum and build-up that would otherwise be difficult to remove from your frameless shower door. All you need to do is take a sheet of fabric softener to the dry glass and scrub. Doing this will loosen tough build-up and remove lighter stains from the glass and other surfaces. When finished, take some tap water and your squeegee and wash the glass or even use the vinegar or peroxide solutions described above for best results.

Want More Information?

For more information on how to keep your shower and frameless shower door clean, contact Glass Showers and More today! Besides offering recommendations on cleaning supplies and tips, we can recommend products that can be installed in your shower to make cleaning and maintenance easier.

What is acid-etched glass?

Acid-etched glass, or “French Embossing,” is a popular technique developed during the mid-1800s that is still widely used in both residential and commercial spaces today! This method is one that provided individuals with a means of adding elegant privacy to areas without feeling as if privacy or access to natural light has been compromised.

Historically, to achieve the acid-etched glass effect, hydrofluoric acid was used to remove some of the silica from the glass surface, leaving behind a frosted etched appearance in delicate tones of white diffused shades. Another popular method of creating designs using acid involved applying a non-reactive substance, such as wax, to the glass where the acid could not penetrate, thereby allowing artists to get their creative juices flowing. Like the Victorians’ love for the luxurious and expensive feel the acid-etched glass generated within a room, this same method persists today. After all, why improve on an already perfect method?

Decorating with acid-etched glass

Why not consider participating in this age-old tradition by investing in the variety of decorative statements that acid-etched glass offers a space? With new industrial developments to this technique, involving a process where sheets of float glass are treated with hydrofluoric acid and are permanently changed, enhancing the aesthetic and personalizing the style of your home won’t break the bank. Not convinced? Since the process of creating acid-etched glass is permanent, this product will not degrade, the finish will not wear out over time, it will not discolour, and it is smudge-free! As for personalization, acid-etched glass allows you to choose from a variety of opacity levels within a design, and if you still aren’t satisfied, the glass can be back-painted to achieve your desired pattern. Back-painted etched glass is also favoured for its ability to create a unique contemporary classic ambience, and is often used as partition walls on doors, and even as tiling.

Not sure where you can use acid-etched glass? Here are just a few of the popular places people use it:

• Doors
• Partitions
• Walls
• Shelves
• Railings

Uses of acid-etched glass in windows and doors

There are also so many interior and exterior applications for acid-etched glass. Many contractors, remodelers, architects, and design specialists use it to enhance every area where glass can be used and where a little privacy and natural light is desired. In addition to many more applications, this classical art form has been used to create feature walls or partitions, to enrich doors and windows, to heighten the look of balustrades, and to augment shower and bath enclosures.

An acid-etched glass product can be made simple or as complicated as a person wants it to be. Translucency is created via patterns that offer degrees of transparency and diffusion of light. One can usually see this method applied to doors, windows, kitchen cabinets, etc. Or, one can consider doing gradient-etched glass, which is a unique ink technology that creates a faded look. This feature presents a sense of openness, while providing loads of privacy. One can expect a fade to begin with a dense opaque white line (thickness is determined by personal preference) that slowly fades to a clear ending, hence, the term “gradient.” Opacity varies between a range of 0 percent (being fully clear) to 100 percent (being fully opaque). Opacity needs to be specified when ordering, no matter what design feature you decide on. This method offers a more sophisticated look.

Usually, acid-etched items are only one-sided, but the technique can be done on both sides depending on the glass thickness. If you are looking into acid-etched glass for double-sided hotel walls or office partitions, for example, this is becoming an increasingly popular method that is offered by many companies.

To find out more about acid-etched glass, visit our website or to talk to a Glass Showers and More consultant by calling 416-800-1156 today!