Your Guide to Understanding Glass Types and Finishes 

Switchable privacy glass is a modern type of glass that allows you to have the best of both privacy and visibility. This glass looks clear but can become opaque with the activation of an electric polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film.

Most glass in-home use is soda-lime glass and for some historic homes leaded glass. The surface of these glasses are finished in various ways and depends on the usage and location in the home.

Glass Types and Finishes

Tempered glass windows are necessary if they exceed 9 square feet.

Types of Glass

Satin glass is similar to frosted glass but it is not shiny and has a smoother texture and finish. Builders use satin glass in interior and exterior doors with glass panes where privacy is a priority. It is also used as glass for bathroom windows and shower doors where increased opacity is important.

1. Soda-Lime Glass – Soda-lime glass, also called float glass, is a combination of soda, lime, and silica. It is the most common and least expensive type of glass in existence. This type accounts for 90% of all commercial glass produced. It is also known as window glass because fabricators use it for windows, doors with glass, as well as glass containers in your home.
2. Leaded Glass – Artisans use lead glass to create windows and decorative glass because of its reflective qualities. It is also softer than soda-lime glass. Because of its high cost and potential toxicity, fabricators use lead glass in electrical applications rather than for home use.
3. Borosilicate – This glass is long-lasting and heat resistant. Manufacturers use it in cookware, light-bulbs, headlights, and laboratory equipment.
4. Aluminosilicate – This glass has a high heat and chemical resistance. Companies use this glass to create high-temperature thermometers, halogen light bulbs, and smartphone displays.
5. High Silica Glass – Manufacturers create this glass by heating it to a high temperature and removing non-silica elements. Manufacturers use this glass in the fiber optics and semiconductor industries.
6. Fused Quartz – This glass is the most heat resistant of all glasses because it is created using high temperatures. It is expensive and used in specialized applications.

Glass Finishes

There are also other varieties of specialty glass that can enhance the look and use in specific areas.
Insulated glass is one of the most common types for exterior glass doors and windows. Fabricators make insulated glass using two glass panes with a layer of air between them. This creates a more insulated seal that keeps your home more energy efficient.
According to the Corning Museum of Glass, there are six different types of glass. Industry experts base these types on different chemical compositions.

1. Clear Glass Finishes – Clear glass finishes and films are common everywhere there needs to be a clear line of sight. This includes window and front door glass options like laminated, tempered and insulated glass. This category also includes tinted glass that you can see through.
2. Privacy Glass Finishes – Privacy glass finishes obscure the view through the glass through treating the surface with a finish or a film. There are different types of opaque glass which includes finishes like frosted glass, pebbled glass, fluted glass, and mirrored glass.

Popular Glass Types and Finishes for the Home

Most antique glass is made from lead glass. Leadlight refers to old decorative glass work, diamond window panes, and stained glass. Lead glass was also used to create crystal decanters and wine glasses. Lead is toxic, so most modern glass does not use lead. Most modern glass is soda-lime glass. This is non-toxic and less expensive to create. Also, antique glass shatters into sharp shards when broken and most modern homes use tempered glass for safety reasons.

Tempered Glass

Smoked glass doors and windows are clear but have a darkened color. This is a good type of glass for doors and windows where you want to maintain a clear view but increase privacy. Smoked glass doors and windows work best in homes with a modern or contemporary style.
Understanding all the different glass types and finishes is important when choosing glass for your home. Consider the location of your doors or windows to decide on either a privacy or clear finish for your glass.

Frosted Glass

Leaded glass has fallen out of fashion because it is expensive and contains lead, but if you need an antique door glass replacement and you want the same style glass, look for a supplier that sells leaded glass.
Builders use both kinds of glass in the home for windows and doors.
Textured glass is another way to increase privacy but obscure the view. Textured glass includes any glass with an embossed design on the glass like hammered glass or bubble glass. All textured glass has different levels of obscurity. A fluted glass door or window obscures visibility well, but this design preserves the clear light that comes through.
Tempered glass is one of the most common types of glass for exterior and interior doors because of residential building codes. The International Residential Code (IRC) requires tempered glass for all storm doors. Insulated glass doors are also common to maintain internal temperatures and to block outdoor sound.

Leaded Glass

Tempered glass for home use is soda-lime glass that has been treated to make it stronger than standard glass. When tempered glass breaks, it shatters into small pieces without jagged edges. This makes it a safer glass in areas where glass may shatter.
Glass types and finishes are common categories in the glass industry. Type refers to the formulation or the chemical composition of the glass and finish refers to the surface style.

Insulated Glass

There are some frosted glass front door options where the frosting creates unique decorative designs.
One of the most common types of glass for doors and windows in historic homes is leaded glass. This is also common if you have a new house built using old glass doors like a vintage glass door or windows with stained glass.

Because of safety concerns, modern shower doors are made from tempered glass. Manufacturers also have versions of this that are laminated. This means, if the glass breaks, the laminated sheets will keep the glass pieces in place. This would be a good option for a kid’s bathroom where breakage is a concern.

Textured Glass

There are two broad categories of glass finishes: clear glass finishes and privacy glass finishes.

Satin Glass

Bathroom entry doors with frosted glass and frosted windows are common in interior spaces to maintain privacy without sacrificing light. Not every frosted glass entry door has complete coverage.

Acoustic Glass

The location will also determine if you should consider tempered or standard glass. Tempered and insulated glass are some of the most common glass varieties used in the home because they have the broadest application and the least risk.

Switchable Privacy Glass

This is one of the most common types of glass doors or glass for a front door panel. Tempered glass interior doors are also common if they are a full pane glass door and the pane exceeds 24 inches in size.

Conclusion

Choosing the best glass types and finishes for windows and doors in your home is challenging. For people outside the industry, most glass seems the same.
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Residential permits require tempered glass in windows if the window measures more than 9 square feet, is near a walkway, or a certain distance from the floor. Insulated glass is common in most windows. Privacy glass is popular in bathrooms.
Glass finishes refer to the surface of the glass rather than the chemical composition.