Types of Glass

Specialist Glass Options for Every Application

When it comes to getting the exact performance and look you desire from your glazing products, whether it’s with windows and doors, internal glass balustrades, shower screens or anything else, there are different types of glass available. Every type of glass serves a specific function and can enhance the performance of your glazing products. Here at SGC Glass, we offer a wide range of specialist glass options, including privacy glass, temperature control and greenhouse glass, as well as a variety of safety glass types and specialist finishes and forms.

All types of glass can be supplied and fitted by our professional glaziers in Essex and London. If you are looking for certain types of glass that are not listed here, contact SGC Glass and we will most often be able to order it in especially for you. Find out more about the different types of glass we can help you with below!

Integral Glass Blinds 1

Obscure Glass and Privacy Glass

Obscure Glass
This type of glass is float glass that has been treated so that it continues to let in light but ensures that what can be seen through is indistinct. Obscure glass is sometimes referred to as patterned or privacy glass.

Sandblasted Glass
This product is made by sandblasting a clear sheet of glass, creating completely obscure glass visually while still allowing it to transmit light. Sandblasted glass is commonly used in doors, shelving, glass balustrades and shower screens.

Satin Glass
Satin glass has been chemically treated to give it a satin finish and is sometimes referred to as acid etched glass. This type of privacy glass ensures that the further away objects are from the glass, the more obscure they become. Unlike other types of glass, this ensures privacy at a distance, but isn’t completely private when viewed from closer in.

Contact a glazing expert to get a quote

Mirror Glass Types

We offer a range of made to measure mirrors to suit any application. Below are some of our most common finishes, but we can supply practically any tint, shape and style you could desire.

Low Iron
Low iron mirrors offer unbeatable clarity due to their special crafting process.

Bronze Tinted
At face value, bronze-tinted mirror glass offers minimal difference over its plain cousin, but in fact can be used effectively to subtly change the aesthetic of a space. Bronze mirror glass is commonly used on splashbacks or simply wall mounted.

Grey Tinted
As with bronze-tinted mirror glass, you will find that grey tints can alter the appearance of a space greatly when used selectively with the right lighting and is becoming increasingly popular.

Antiqued
These aged-look mirror finishes can add a subtle charm to your living space and fit well with wooden furniture and a rustic or cottage style.

Impact Resistant
Suitable for use in spaces such as dance studios and gyms, these tough types of mirror glass can withstand being hit with considerable force.

Hygienic and Self-Cleaning Glass

Self-Cleaning Glass

Self-cleaning glass also known as low maintenance glass, is a product which can keep itself free of dirt, thanks to the use of specialised hydrophobic and hydrophilic coatings. Low-maintenance self-cleaning glass is typically categorised with the types of glass often used in hard to reach areas such as in high level glazing.

Antibacterial Glass

Antibacterial Glass uses silver ions inside the glass to eliminate 99% of all bacteria that form on its surface, not to mention the spread of fungi. This incredible product is perfect for environments that have strict hygiene requirements, such as hospitals and even leisure centres.

Thermal Controlling Types of Glass

Solar Control Glass
Solar control glass allows sunlight to move through while removing much of its heat, allowing for better climate control. It’s the ideal choice for large expanses of glass such as shopfronts, as well as in south-facing conservatories.

Low E Glass
Low E glass or low-emissivity glass is a type of energy-efficient glass that is coated to prevent heat escaping through your windows. Low E glass can significantly improve the energy efficiency of your property, reduce your heating bills and keep you comfortable all year round.

Greenhouse Glass
Also known as horticultural glass, greenhouse glass is designed for use in outdoor applications, such as greenhouses, and is a highly cost-effective choice.

Contact a glazing expert to get a quote

Safety Glass

Plate Glass
The most common type of glass used in windows, plate glass is sometimes referred to as float glass or annealed glass, which refers to the cooling process it undergoes when it is being fabricated. It is versatile but lacks strength when compared with toughened types of glass.

Laminated Glass
Laminated glass is commonly used in installations that require enhanced security, such as in commercial properties. Laminated safety glass uses an interlayer to ensure that it will not shatter on impact, reducing the risk of injury and offering more security in the event of an accident or break in.

Anti-bandit Glass
Anti-bandit glass is similar to regular laminated Safety Glass, but it differs in the respect that it is stronger, thanks to a much thicker interlayer. This type of glass is typically used in applications such as shopfront windows and doors to jewellers and banks.

Toughened Safety Glass
Toughened glass is, as its name suggests, a type of glass which is far more resistant to breakage than usual glass. If it does break, the glass shatters into very small, square pieces rather than shards, ensuring less chance of injury.

Heat Soaked Toughened Safety Glass
Heat soaked toughened safety glass goes through a rigorous testing process to ensure that it has a much lower risk of fracture than conventional thermally toughened glass. This glass is typically used in high rise installations, balconies and balustrades and any area which demands a higher-grade safety glass.

Toughened Laminated Safety Glass
This glass combines all of the benefits of toughened glass, such as superior strength and safe breakage with an interlayer to ensure that it provides a barrier that is exceptionally hard to penetrate. Perhaps the most robust of all safety types of glass, toughened laminated safety glass is often used in overhead glazing applications such as glass canopies.

Fire Rated Glazing
Fire rated glass products are specially designed and manufactured to offer protection from the various hazards associated with fire. These types of glass are compulsory in certain circumstances under UK Building Regulations.

Double and Triple Glazing

 

Double Glazing
Double glazed units consist of two panes of glass separated by a vacuum or gas filled space. These units reduce heat transfer between your home and the outside. Most modern homes and new build developments are fitted with double glazing.

Triple Glazing
Triple glazing is made in a similar way to double glazing, with the exception that they feature three panes of glass instead of two. Triple glazed windows give superior performance in controlling heat and condensation. It is also a great acoustic glass and can help with controlling noise levels, which is ideal if you live in a built-up area. Triple glazed windows also offers increased efficiency and can help to improve a home’s security too!

Speciality Types of Glass

Low Iron Glass
Low iron glass is manufactured with lower levels of iron to increase light transparency by as much as 6%. This glass offers excellent clarity and does not have the same greenish-blue tint that is typically seen in other types of glass, especially larger or thicker panes, and is widely used for back painted glass.

Back Painted Glass
Back painted glass is a clear glass that is painted from the back and viewed from the front, making it opaque. It is a great alternative to surfacing materials like tile or laminate. It is hygienic, easy to colour match to tie into a chosen aesthetic and a great decorative addition to any property. 

Lacobel Glass
Lacobel glass is a clear glass that is coloured on one side while still retaining its transparency. It is a durable glass which will retain its appearance for a long time and is a great way of adding colour to your property. Importantly, it is also made in an environmentally friendly way.

Acoustic Glass
Acoustic glass is a specialised glass used to considerably reduce noise levels. This is accomplished by using multiple panes bonded by a special polyvinyl resin in the manufacturing process.

Windows with Integral Blinds
Integral blinds are essentially double glazed windows which feature blinds installed between the panes, giving you control over the light that enters your property while staying clean and dust-free.

Curved Glass
As its name suggests, curved glass is used for special applications where shape is critical to design language and aesthetic.  Curved glass is sometimes referred to as ‘glass bends’.

All Types of Glass Supplied are of the Highest Quality

All types of glass featured here will be installed to the highest professional standards by our glazing team and offered at extremely competitive prices. With so many different types of glass, it can be easy to be overwhelmed with the choices. If you have any questions about any of the types of glass listed here or would like to enquire about one that we haven’t covered, contact SGC Glass today and we will be more than happy to help.

Contact a glazing expert to get a quote

We supply the following glass

This is float glass that has been treated so that it continues to let in light, but ensures that what can be seen through is indistinct, it is sometimes referred to as patterned or privacy glass.

This product is made by sandblasting a clear sheet of glass, obscuring the glass while still allowing it to transmit light. It is commonly used in doors, shelving, balustrades or shower doors.

Satin Glass has been chemically treated to give it a satin finish. This glass ensures that the further away objects are from the glass, the more opaque they become. This ensures privacy at a distance, but isn’t completely private when viewed from closer in.

We offer a range of custom made mirrors, to suit any application.

At face value bronze-tinted mirrors offer minimal difference over their plain cousins, but in actual fact can be used effectively to subtly change the aesthetic of a space when used on splashbacks or simply wall mounted.

As with bronze-tinted mirrors, you will find that grey tints can alter the appearance of a space greatly when used selectively with the right lighting and is becoming increasingly popular.

Low iron mirrors offer unbeatable clarity due to their special crafting process.

These mirrors can add a subtle charm to your living space and fit well with wooden furniture and a rustic or cottage style.

Self-cleaning glass is a product which is able to keep itself free of dirt thanks to the use of specialised hydrophobic and hydrophilic coatings.

Solar control glass allows sunlight to move through while removing much of its heat, allowing for better climate control.

These units feature blinds installed between the panes, giving you control over the light that enters your property while staying clean and dust-free.

As its name suggests, curved glass is used for special applications where shape is critical to design language and aesthetic.

This glass is designed for use in outdoor applications such as greenhouses and is cost effective.

Antibacterial Glass uses silver ions inside the glass to eliminate 99% of all bacteria that form on its surface, not to mention the spread of fungi. This incredible product is perfect for environments that have strict hygiene requirements.

Fire Rated Glass products are specially designed and manufactured to offer protection from the various hazards associated with fire. They are compulsory in certain circumstances under UK Building Regulations.

Laminated glass is commonly used in installations that require enhanced security, such as shop windows. Laminated glass uses an interlayer to ensure that it will not shatter on impact, reducing the risk of injury and offering more security in the event of an accident or break in.

Anti-Bandit glass is similar to regular Laminated Safety Glass, but it differs in the respect that it is stronger, thanks to a much thicker interlayer. This type of glass is typically used in applications such as shopfront windows and doors to jewelers or banks.

Toughened Glass is, as its name suggests, a type of glass which is far more resistant to breakage than usual glass. If it does break, the glass shatters into very small, square pieces rather than shards, ensuring less chance of injury.

Heat Soaked Toughened Safety Glass goes through a rigorous testing process to ensure that it has a much lower risk of fracture than conventional thermally toughened glass. This glass is typically used in high rise installations, balconies and balustrades and any area which demands a higher grade toughened glass.

This glass combines all of the benefits of toughened glass, such as superior strength and safe breakage with an interlayer to ensure that it provides a barrier which is exceptionally hard to penetrate. Toughened laminated safety glass is often used in overhead glazing applications such as glass canopies

Double Glazed Units consist of two panes of glass separated by a vacuum or gas filled space. These units reduce heat transfer between your home and the outside.

Triple Glazed Units are made in a similar way to Double Glazed Units, with the exception that they feature three panes of glass instead of two. This gives superior performance in comparison.

Float Glass is the most common type of glass used in windows. It is sometimes referred to as annealed glass, which refers to the cooling process it undergoes when it is being fabricated. It is versatile but lacks strength when compared with toughened glass.

Low E Glass or Low-emissivity Glass is a type of energy-efficient glass that is coated to prevent heat escaping through your windows. Low E glass can significantly improve the energy efficiency of your property.

Low Iron Glass is manufactured with lower levels of iron to increase light transparency by as much as 6%. This glass offers excellent clarity and does not have the same greenish-blue tint that is typically seen in other types of glass, especially larger or thicker panes, and is widely used for back painted glass.

Back Painted Glass is a clear glass that is painted from the back and viewed from the front, it is a great alternative to surfacing materials like tile or laminate. It is hygienic, easy to colour match to tie in to a chosen aesthetic and a great decorative addition to any property.

Lacobel Glass is a clear glass that is coloured on one side, it is a durable glass which will retain its appearance for a long time and is a great way of adding colour to your property. Importantly, it is also made in an environmentally friendly way.

Acoustic glass is a specialised glass used to considerably reduce noise levels. This is accomplished by using multiple panes bonded by a special polyvinyl resin in the manufacturing process.

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Types of Glass FAQs

What type of glass is the most secure?

Using laminated glass can provide a more secure environment as it is shatter-proof if damaged. This helps to reduce the risk of injury and stop would-be intruders or burglars from getting easy access. Most burglaries occur at the rear of the house gaining entry through a toughened glass door. Changing toughened glass to laminated would add extra security. You may also want to consider triple glazing as this can offer more security when compared to other types of glass. The three panes of glass instead of a standard two in double-glazing can make a huge difference.

Which type of glass should I choose for my home?

This will depend on the needs for your home, and as there are many different types of glass to consider, the choice isn’t always easy. You may want a different type of glass depending on the room, such as a bathroom compared to a bedroom. Privacy glass is used in bathrooms, whereas standard double glazing would be a popular choice in your main rooms. If you have rooms that experience a lot of sunlight throughout the day, you may want to consider tinted or solar control glass, as this will help to avoid rooms becoming too hot. If noise is an issue acoustic glass is a good option. If you are unsure about which type of glass to choose for a particular room, we’ll be happy to help advise further.

Which type of glass is the most energy efficient?

If you want to have better energy efficiency in your home, you’ll want to consider low emissivity glass, or Low-E. This will help to ensure you can retain heat during the colder months, which will help to reduce energy bills. It does this thanks to a thin coating of metal oxide, which prevents heat from escaping easily when compared to other different types of glass. All of our double glazed units are argon gas filled as standard as well as including thermal spacer bars to add to their thermal energy efficiency. On request we can offer krypton gas filled double glazed units for even better thermal energy efficiency. Talk to us today about energy efficient windows and doors for more information.