In our contemporary living spaces, privacy has become an increasingly precious commodity. The desire for tranquillity, solitude, and a shield from the prying eyes of the outside world is a sentiment shared by many. With this growing need in mind, specialised glass types that enhance privacy in windows have emerged as a transformative solution.
Join us as we introduce the innovative world of window glass treatments for privacy, designed to safeguard your space and grant greater security and seclusion. As an expert double-glazing company, we discuss four glass treatment options that add a layer of privacy to your home.
Obscure glass, as the name suggests, is a type of glass that obscures or partially blocks visibility while allowing light to pass through. The glass achieves this effect through its textured or patterned surface, which scatters and diffuses light, making it difficult to see through clearly. The level of obscurity can vary depending on the specific texture or pattern used in the glass. We recommend contacting experts like Atlas Glass for more information about obscure glass types.
Frosted glass is obscured glass featuring a semi-opaque or translucent appearance. This transformation is achieved by sandblasting, acid etching, or applying a frosted glass film to the surface. This glass type is a popular choice for bathrooms and shower enclosures, ensuring the area remains concealed while creating a soft and inviting glow in the interior.
In commercial spaces, obscure glass is used for office partitions, conference rooms, and storefronts to maintain discretion while allowing ample light to flood the room. Its adaptability makes it a preferred choice where privacy is a priority, but natural light is cherished.
Tinted glass is a unique solution that imparts privacy while adding a touch of sophistication to your living or working spaces. Glaziers create this specialised glass by adding a tint, typically a metal oxide, during the glass-making process. The tint absorbs and reflects a portion of the incoming sunlight, reducing the visibility from the outside while maintaining an unobstructed view from the inside.
This glass treatment comes in many variations, including different colour options. The tint can vary from light shades to dark hues, allowing you to customise the level of privacy and the aesthetic appearance according to your preferences. For instance, light grey or bronze tints offer a subtle privacy enhancement, while darker tints like charcoal or bronze provide more pronounced privacy. The choice of tint colour can also influence the overall aesthetics of your space.
Tinted glass enhances privacy while improving your environment's comfort and energy efficiency. It effectively reduces glare from direct sunlight, making it ideal for spaces with excessive sun exposure, such as conservatories or large windows. The tinted layer helps block some of the sun's heat, reducing energy consumption by lightening the load on your cooling system and potentially lowering energy bills.
Textured glass is a captivating option for enhancing privacy by introducing intricate patterns and designs. This type of glass features a textured surface that scatters light as it passes through, diffusing it and preventing a clear view from either side. The textured patterns and designs serve as both a functional and decorative element, offering privacy while adding an artistic touch to your space.
Textured glass comes in many patterns and textures, each with a unique visual appeal and privacy level. Renowned for its ability to interact with natural light in a captivating way. Light filters through the textured surface, creating captivating shadows and patterns within your interior space. The diffused natural light enhances privacy and creates an inviting and visually appealing ambience. It softens harsh sunlight, reducing glare to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Textured glass is ideal for spaces needing privacy and an infusion of natural light, such as dining rooms, kitchens, or living areas.
When selecting window glass treatments for privacy, consider the specific room or area you're outfitting and the level of privacy, natural light, and design you desire. Ultimately, the right glass type should align with your individual needs and preferences, ensuring that it complements the functionality and aesthetics of your living or working space.
Contact Atlas Glass for more information if you need help choosing a suitable glass type. As Auckland's trusted glazing specialist, we provide solutions such as double glazing for noise reduction, custom laminate products, and more. Let us help you with a tailored privacy window glass treatment!
Choosing the right glass for each purpose is essential, and laminated glass is consistently dependable and versatile. But what is laminated glass? It is a unique glass type that comprises layers bonded with a durable interlayer, holding it together and offering added strength and resilience. This composition provides laminated glass with unique properties, making it an indispensable choice for several residential, commercial, and automotive applications.
Below, we discuss the various applications laminated glass sees in different situations and how a reputable double-glazing company can help you utilise this unique choice in your home windows.
Laminated glass is created by sandwiching a resilient and transparent interlayer, often made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), between two or more layers of glass. These layers are then subjected to heat and pressure, bonding them securely. When laminated glass meets impact or force, it may crack but generally remains adhered to the interlayer instead of shattering into dangerous shards like standard glass.
This prevents the glass from breaking apart, enhancing safety and security by reducing the risk of injuries from sharp glass fragments. This unique construction contributes to laminated glass's noise reduction and UV-blocking properties. It's an excellent choice for applications where safety, comfort, and protection are paramount.
Safety Considerations: Laminated glass enhances safety by reducing the risk of injury from broken glass. In case of an impact, the glass may crack but typically stays intact, held together by the interlayer. This is especially important in homes, particularly those with children or pets, as it minimises the danger posed by sharp glass fragments. In regions prone to natural disasters like hurricanes or earthquakes, laminated glass prevents shattering and reduces the risk of flying glass shards during severe weather events. In accidents, such as impact from falling objects, laminated glass can minimise injuries by remaining as a whole, even if it cracks.
Prevents Break-Ins: Laminated glass acts as a formidable deterrent against break-ins. Intruders find it challenging to penetrate laminated glass, as it remains intact even when cracked. This added security layer helps protect your home and belongings, offering peace of mind.
Noise Reduction: Laminated glass provides excellent noise insulation, making it ideal for homes in noisy urban areas or near traffic. The interlayer's properties help dampen sound vibrations, creating a quieter and more comfortable living environment.
Security Enhancements: In commercial buildings, security is of utmost importance. Laminated glass provides an effective barrier against forced entry and break-ins. Even if the glass cracks upon impact, it remains in place, making it difficult for intruders to gain access. This feature is crucial for protecting valuable assets and inventory and ensuring the safety of employees and customers.
UV Protection for Merchandise: Retail stores, galleries, and commercial spaces often showcase merchandise sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, such as artwork, textiles, and high-end retail items. Laminated glass can be designed with UV-blocking properties, preventing harmful UV rays from damaging or fading merchandise over time. This protection helps maintain the integrity and value of displayed items, reducing the need for replacements or refurbishments.
Car Safety: Laminated glass is primarily used in windshields to improve car safety significantly. In the event of an impact or collision, the laminated windshield remains intact, preventing the glass from shattering into dangerous shards and reducing the risk of injuries to the vehicle's occupants. It also helps keep the driver and passengers inside the vehicle, enhancing their safety during accidents.
Reduces Road Noise: Laminated glass effectively dampens sound vibrations, resulting in a quieter cabin environment. Reducing road noise, wind noise, and external disturbances enhances driving comfort and reduces fatigue. Passengers can enjoy conversations, music, and phone calls with less interference from external sounds.
Incorporating laminated glass into various aspects of our lives, from residential to commercial and even in automobiles, has revolutionised safety, security, and comfort in these spaces.
Whether you're seeking protection from break-ins, UV radiation, or simply a more serene and peaceful environment, laminated glass is the versatile solution you've been looking for. Elevate your surroundings with the unmatched advantages of laminated glass, and experience peace of mind like never before.
As Auckland's double-glazing specialist, Atlas Glass features a wide range of glass options for your needs—from windows to art projects. Our in-house glass oven allows us to craft custom laminate pieces according to your design. Contact us today to find out how we can help you with a suitable glazing solution.
As an established glass company in Auckland, Atlas Glass offers a full spectrum of high-quality glass solutions for homes, including retrofitting services to meet the unique needs of every client. But how did we get started? What is our story? And what makes us your one-stop-shop for everything glass?
Learn more below about why Atlas Glass is your number one glass company in Auckland.
Atlas Glass was first established in Auckland over 40 years ago. In 2008, new owners Ryan Bramwell and Alan Glider took the reins and started moulding it into the company that is well respected in the industry today.
What started as a small glazier has, today, evolved into a well-established glass company with a team of glass installers and manufacturers and a network of dedicated suppliers.
Kiwi-owned and operated, Atlas Glass understands the needs of NZ homeowners very well. We can provide in-depth, reliable advice concerning the best glazing options for homes throughout Auckland.
Ryan Bramwell and Alan Gilder remain pillars in the glass market to this day, with extensive industry knowledge, years of experience, and a hands-on approach.
Not only do we specialise in retrofit double-glazing for timber joinery, we also offer glazing solutions for new timber joinery and more. All our products are made to the highest quality and produced with exceptional care and skill.
Our double-glazed units, and toughened safety glass are both manufactured locally at our Saunders Place premise in Avondale, Auckland. And we have just procured new machinery which will allow us to manufacture and supply toughened laminated glass. From there, they can be supplied throughout the greater Auckland area.
Our team will assess your needs carefully and supply the exact products you need on time and at a competitive price. We guarantee that all double-glazed units we manufacture will be made to the highest standards in the market, because they are made to the current NZ standard by our trusted team in our factory. We re-test our units regularly using BRANZ, an independent research organisation for building and construction companies. Each unit is warrantied for 10 years per the New Zealand standard for insulated glass units.
Every product we manufacture is thoroughly tested to ensure it meets New Zealand window standards for production and installation. Furthermore, we guarantee that all glass and glazing conducted on your property will meet New Zealand legal standards.
When it comes to increasing home comfort and value, double-glazing is the ultimate solution to consider for your property! It’s no secret that double-glazing works, providing respite from harsh temperatures throughout the year and reducing the effects of condensation and external noise.
What with the reduced cost of energy bills and the additional peace, quiet, and warmth, upgrading your glass to double-glazed units can significantly increase your home’s level of comfort and standard of living.
If you’re interested in retrofitting your windows with high-quality double-glazed units, get in touch with our team of experts today for the best service and prices you could ask for!
For retrofit double glazing, timber joinery glazing or Auckland glass supply, contact us today to see how we can work together on your next project.
A commonly overlooked element of window design is tinting. This is fairly understandable, as there are more important aspects to consider first; joinery, glazing, materials, among others.
But for those of us who want to fully explore the options we have around installing or restoring windows, tinting is well worth looking into, as it has a number of advantages. These benefits include security, reducing glare, and of course, increasing privacy. For more details, read on!
It’s not going to make your windows bulletproof, or even completely shatterproof, but window films do help keep windows together in the event that they do break. Loose glass can be a major safety hazard, so if there’s a chance that a stray football or heavy storm is going to break your windows, a window tint does go that little bit toward better safety for you and your family.
Securing a home against theft is near the top of all homeowner’s priorities, and there are a number of ways to do it. You may already have a good security system and are thinking of more ways to bolster your home security. A one-way window tint film could do just the trick.
Essentially, if a burglar can’t see into your home easily, the chances of them attempting a break-in drop dramatically. Imagine it from their perspective; they have no idea what they’re going to grab—they don’t even know if you have anything worth taking at all. Being able to see inside a home is a prime motivator for robbery, since most theft is opportunistic, not planned. If someone can’t glance in your home and plan their entry and exit in a moment, they won’t bother, as there’s too much risk involved.
This also applies to commercial settings, like offices. If the windows are tinted, people are less likely to smash and grab, as they have no information on whether or not the office is empty.
Sometimes you have a view so good that it seems a shame to cover it up in favour of privacy. One-way window tinting allows you keep your windows open, and let the sunshine in to warm and brighten your home without putting you in a position where you feel like you’re on display for passers-by to see.
Another point for both home and commercial locations—window tints can help you manage the heat in a space. Whether you’re at home or at the office, you could have concerns about your power bill, especially through the summer, when you’re more prone to running air conditioning as often as you can.
Window tint films can help keep your space cool by deflecting some of the heat from outside and shave off a portion of the price of air conditioning. You might be surprised by how much you can save depending on the size and shape of your windows.
This also means you can more effectively manage hot spots, as these can help you get hot spots under control. Hot spots are typically more of an issue for residential homes, where you might find that certain locations build up heat much faster than anywhere else.
Ever tried to use a computer during the day with the sun behind you? Screen glare can be one of the most frustrating issues to deal with when you move into a new space, and suddenly realise your windows bounce light right off your TV or computer screen. Glare can cause eye strain, and even lead to headaches.
Window tints can mitigate this issue, and this can be a way to keep large windows as a design element in your office, without jeopardising all of the staff who sit facing away from them.
The team here at Atlas Glass has been designing and installing windows for over four decades. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us—we’ll be happy to help!
There are many different types of glass, and they all have relatively different energy efficiency levels. In this blog post, we’re exploring Low E glass to help you find out if it’s right for you. We’ll cover the basics of what it is, what it’s for and how it works, so read on if you want more details!
Low-E stands for ‘low emissivity’, which means it radiates less absorbed energy. Low-E glass has been the standard material for windows since around the 1980s, so newer glass is more likely to have Low-E coating already in place.
Essentially, Low-E glass works by blocking some wavelengths of light and allowing others; a lot of the extremes of the sun’s spectrum are left outside, while the sun’s visible light waves will pass through normally.
You’ve probably already heard of the different groups of light waves – ultraviolet (UV) light, visible light (VL), and infrared (IR) light. These categories each have a band of wavelength (measured in nanometres) that they are associated with – UV spans 310 to 380, VL 380 to 780, and IR is 780 and above. Low-E coated glass allows visible light from 380nm to 780nm to be transmitted through the glass.
The reason Low-E glass cuts out as much of the UV and IR light as possible is largely to prevent heat passing from one side to the other. This means it keeps your home cooler in summer by keeping heat inside, and warmer in winter by keeping heat in.
This is all thanks to the Low-E coating, a tiny layer of reflective material that is applied over the glass. It’s important to coat the right side of the glass, as this has an impact on performance. If you’re just coating a single pane, for instance, you’d want it on the inside. If it’s on the outside, it will wear off by exposure to the elements much faster than if it was on the interior.
In double-glazed windows, Low-E coating can be applied to the sides that face the vacuum on the inside of the window, keeping it safe from any exposure at all!
There is also a difference between soft-coat and hard coat Low-E glass. Soft-coat tends to be better at blocking heat, but only works for double glazing. Hard-coat is great for single panes of glass, and is still much more effective than no Low-E coating at all.
If you have double-glazing, you may already have Low-E glass. Today, we’re focusing more on single pane windows, since there’s a higher probability that these need to be updated.
Single pane Low-E glass coating is great for retrofitting into old windows. If you want to preserve your historic windows, but need to keep them from bleeding heat in or out of your home, Low-E glass is the perfect solution. There are a few ways you can achieve this, depending on the window in question.
For example, if your historic window already has exterior storm glass, swapping this out for hard-coat Low-E will provide an immediate and noticeable boost to the efficiency of your older windows.
If storm windows aren’t an option, you can always replace the glass in the windows themselves. While this doesn’t suit everybody (as it doesn’t preserve the original condition of the historic window design), it is the next best path to take, as it saves the basic structure of your older windows.
Finally, you can try a Low-E tint film. Using quick and easy film tints is a cheap and fast way to block heat. However, it is less efficient long-term.
Whether it’s summer or winter, Low-E is a great way to optimise your environmental efficiency, cut power costs, and make your home that much more comfortable.
To find out more about Low-E glass, retrofit double-glazing, timber joinery glazing and more, talk to the expert team at Atlas Glass. With over four decades of experience, we know we can help you get the windows your home deserves. Contact us today!
The world of window design has a deeper creative undercurrent than some might think, and this extends all the way to decorative glasswork, too. Everyone has a mirror above the bathroom sink, and we’ve all seen glass table tops before, but beyond that, how else does glass feature in a home?
Glass is practical, but often underused – or misused – in décor. There’s no shortage of common areas to place glass fixtures, so today we’ll explore some stranger ones. If you’re planning on redecorating or renovating, browse this article for inspiration!
If you want to bring your kitchen into the modern age, why not try a glass backsplash?
There are a number of different ways to use glass instead of tiles in your kitchen. Tinting or frosting glass can boost its character and really help it become a cohesive element within your kitchen’s overall aesthetic, especially if you lean toward neutral palettes. Alternatively, using panels of glass to cover painted surfaces is a great way to get intricate designs that still function as a backsplash.
Rather than hanging art, filling oddly shaped or ornate frames with mirrors by custom-cutting them to fit is a fantastic option for wall décor. If you don’t want to highlight one large mirror, you can also explore the idea of grouping several together. This way, the dimensions of your wall space open up to all sorts of possibilities.
Hanging mirrors is also a great way to make your spaces seem bigger than they really are. Despite being a well-known optical illusion, using mirrors to enlarge rooms is still an underutilised interior-design trick.
Other ways to use glass in a decorative context is to use glass tiling around your fireplace, if you have one, or as a faux-window above the mantlepiece. This look works best in homes that employ a distinct, rural aesthetic.
Mirrors are expected in the bedroom. Whether you have a mirror over your bedroom dresser, or a full-length mirror by your wardrobe, they are a well-established staple of bedroom design. In order to break the mould, you have to get creative – try turning mirrors into mirror mosaics, or using a faux-window where you would expect a mirror.
Mirrored furniture is also an option, though it’s worth mentioning that you should try not to overdo it - you don’t want your room to blind you every time you walk in. Pick one or two statements pieces, and stick with those.
If you need the help of an expert glazier, get in contact with Atlas Glass today. Our friendly team has been providing the greater Auckland area with quality double glazing for more than 40 years, so you can trust us to see your windows done right. Whether you want help with broken windows, reflective glass, or even UV protection, we can help. Call today to get a free quote!
