In recent years glass flooring has become a popular choice of material, with many architects, designers and property owners choosing it for their projects. Glass flooring is an eye-catching design feature and can create an interesting focal point in residential properties, commercial and public spaces, thanks to its visual transparency and ability to transmit natural light.
However, despite its increase in popularity, many are still wary of its suitability and safety. To clear up these misconceptions, we share our insights to provide you with all the information you need to know about glass flooring.
How is glass flooring manufactured?
Glass flooring is typically manufactured from toughened glass – a type of safety glass. This kind of glass is incredibly strong and durable, provides robust impact resistance, and is also resistant to heat, making it incredibly safe. Glass flooring also undergoes an anti-slip floor treatment to ensure that there are no accidents.
Toughened glass gets its strength from the manufacturing process where it is subjected to intense heating and rapid cooling which creates an incredibly resilient outer layer.
Toughened glass is around five times stronger than laminated glass, and it needs to be hit with a tremendous force for it to break. If it does break, toughened glass breaks up into small, blunt pieces rather than sharp shards of glass, which will limit the risk of injury. When safety is a top priority, toughened glass is often laminated, this is where two panes of glass are held together by a strong interlayer of PVB plastic, making it even more robust.
Where is glass flooring used?
Glass flooring can be used for a wide range of projects, most commonly in commercial buildings such as offices, restaurants and bars. But as interior designers and homeowners look to new trends and ways to enhance natural light within a property, we are beginning to see glass flooring used more commonly in the home as an interior design feature.
Glass stair treads are one of our favourite applications. They can be installed to the interior or exterior of your property and manufactured to any size or shape, providing an exciting alternative to traditional staircase designs.
Glass floor panels might also be considered where light is at a premium. These are often placed near a light source such as bi-fold doors or large floor-to-ceiling windows to allow natural light to beam through creating a more bright and airy environment.
In some properties, glass flooring might be used to draw attention to an underground feature. For example, historic buildings may have glass well covers or luxury homeowners may choose to showcase their wine cellar.
How much does glassing flooring cost?
The cost of glass flooring is ultimately dependent on the size and finish required. The larger the panels and addition of features such as frosting will increase the price. However, at Specialist Glass Products, we strive to offer our customers competitive prices that offer excellent value for money.
To discuss your project requirements, contact our friendly sales team today.
Keep an eye out for Specialist Glass Products on an upcoming episode of Channel 4 Amazing Spaces, in which we demonstrate how we produce glass flooring at our site!
