From showers and balustrades to pool fences and partitions, frameless glass allows you to create bright, open spaces without compromising on privacy and safety.
There are few materials with as much design flexibility as glass. From windows and doors to bannisters and balustrades, glass is a great way to increase natural light, open up a space, or create visual interest.
A leading South Island architectural glazing company, NZ Frameless Glass, have dedicated the last 11 years to the manufacture and installation of frameless glass systems. As experts in their field, the NZ Frameless Glass team understand how to apply glass to achieve the best outcome in every space.
With sleek hardware and an elegant, frameless finish, frameless glass is ideal for applications where safety and aesthetics are paramount.
Using glass in your space
“The main places we recommend using glass are bathrooms, staircase and balcony balustrades, and pool fences,” says Sam Morgan, NZ Frameless Glass manager.
“With bathrooms, there’s a few different things you can do. We’ve seen fixed panels used a lot recently — so that’s one sheet of glass as a shower screen, with the bathroom designed like a wet room. It’s great for bathrooms with limited space, because you don’t need to worry about a door that might hit a vanity or toilet,” Morgan explains.
The frameless glass balustrade on this staircase helps the space feel bright and open.
Using glass in the bathroom also opens up the space and allows light, both natural and artificial, to flow freely. This, Morgan says, is also one of the key benefits of glass balustrades and staircases.
“If you have wooden or steel staircases and balustrades, it tends to close off the room, whereas glass makes the room feel spacious, almost like nothing is there.”
NZ Frameless Glass offer a variety of glass styles, including clear, low iron, tinted, frosted, and reeded glass.
“Reeded glass is being used a lot in showers at the moment,” Morgan says. “It’s still slightly transparent, but it works well as a privacy barrier, and creates quite a cool effect when the light comes through.”
Frosted and reeded glass is also a great solution for partitions and internal windows, offering privacy while allowing light into the space.
The reeded glass shower door is a beautiful, modern touch in this bathroom.
Keeping glass clean is easier than you think
“We actually recommend steering clear of any window or glass cleaning products because they tend to leave streak marks all over the glass. Warm water with dishwashing liquid is perfect — and a squeegee is great too.
“Cleaning every three months, especially pool fences with the regular splashing of water, is ideal. There are also options to add an easy clean coating that can be put on the glass after it has been installed, which helps to prolong the life of the glass, and makes maintenance easier,” Morgan explains.
Rather than close the shower off, the designer has opted for a fixed panel shower screen that allows the light to flow freely.
Because showers tend to develop calcium build-up over time, Morgan suggests squeegeeing after every shower to keep the calcium at bay. Combined with a regular clean — mixing equal parts dishwashing liquid and white vinegar in a spray bottle — this method will ensure your shower stays as beautiful as the day it was installed.
“We want to encourage people to think outside the square,” Morgan says. “To think about how glass can be used to open up a room, let light through, and create a spacious feel regardless of room size.”
