Nowadays a walk around the CBD or Orchard Road will leave us mesmerized by the many buildings using glass as part of their architecture. Many would also take inspiration from them and fit their properties with glass facades and canopies. Glass offers numerous options besides the obvious clear glass and wall mirrors.
Sandblasted glass for one, offers privacy in addition to letting some amount of natural light in. Many businesses use sandblasted glass in Singapore as dividers or walls since it offers privacy and some design element. So if you are looking for glass that offers all of this, then read on to find out about sandblasted glass.
What is Sandblasted Glass & How it’s made
Sandblasted glass is actually your typical translucent glass which has been made rough. This roughness gives the glass a frosted look. Due to this, light gets scattered, thus obstructing view to offer privacy. Despite this, sandblasted glass still allows some light to pass through. This is why many people find this type of glass an ideal material for their premises.
Sandblasted glass is made by a technique called sandblasting. Clear glass is “blasted” with very fine particles, like sand, at high velocity by steam or air. Patterns or designs can be created by masking of the areas that don’t require frosting.
To achieve texture and dimension to thick glass, sand carving can be done. This is achieved by blasting the glass for longer periods to get depth and a 3D look. This one way of etching on the glass surface, the other being with the use of Acid.
Sandblasted vs Acid-Etched Glass
With various options available for the type of glass finish, it can get confusing to choose which best suits your needs. One may wonder how does acid-etched glass compare with Sandblasted? Here’s a quick comparison against 2 of the most common types of finish.
| Sandblasted Glass | Acid-Etched Glass |
|---|---|
| Uses very fine materials to blast onto the glass surface | Use of acid to erode top layer of glass to give a frosted look |
| Consistent, high quality finish | Complex, decorative design |
| Better suited for large glass projects or simple designs by masking of areas | More intricate designs can be created by masking of areas. Better suited for small projects |
| Prone to leaving fingerprint marks | Less prone to leaving fingerprint marks |
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Where is Sandblasted Glass most suited?
Sandblasted glass has a wide range of uses in various commercial and residential settings. In fact any place which wants to add glass patterns or elements in their space, be it an office or shopping mall, with the added feature of having privacy can consider sandblasted glass.
Some of the popular architectural choices include dividers, doors and shower screens where patterns can be added. Many hotels or building lobbies and even residences use decorative mirrors and decorative sandblasted glass as design elements. Smaller artistic panels can also be used as kitchen backsplash.
Hope this offers a better understanding on Sandblasted glass. As with any renovation or home improvement project, it is best to speak to an expert on the matter. Let House of Glass help you with your glass queries.