Decorative & Specialist Glass for Trade Projects - What Are the Options?

For installers, builders and trade professionals, glass is rarely a one-size-fits-all product. The right specification will depend on where the glass is being used, the level of safety or security required, the appearance the customer wants and the overall performance of the finished installation.

At Distinctive, we supply a broad range of glass products for residential and commercial trade projects, from everyday insulated glass units through to toughened, laminated, decorative and specialist glazing.

Insulated Glass Units

Insulated glass units remain at the heart of modern window and door installations. Depending on the project specification, units can be supplied with options including high-performance soft-coat glass, Argon or Krypton gas and acoustic glass.

The important thing for the installer is having the correct unit manufactured for the application rather than trying to make a standard specification fit every job.

Toughened & Laminated Glass

Where additional strength, safety or security is required, toughened and laminated glass provide different solutions depending on the application.

Toughened safety glass is widely used where increased strength and safe breakage characteristics are required. Laminated glass incorporates an interlayer that helps retain the glass if it is broken, making it suitable for many safety and security applications.

Different thicknesses and specifications are available for windows, doors, screens, balustrades and other specialist projects.

Decorative Glass

Decorative glazing can completely change the appearance of a window or door while also providing varying levels of privacy.

Distinctive can supply patterned and obscured glass, feature glazing and bespoke sizes and shapes, making decorative glass particularly useful where the customer wants something more individual than a standard clear unit.

The shaped window shown in this article is a good example of how decorative glazing can become a genuine architectural feature rather than simply a functional part of the window.

Bespoke Sizes & Shaped Glass

Not every opening is square or rectangular.

Arched, curved and unusually shaped windows often require glass manufactured specifically for the opening. Accurate measurements and clear specification are particularly important on these projects, and discussing the requirement before ordering can prevent costly mistakes later in the job.

For installers working on renovations, extensions or properties with unusual architectural details, access to bespoke glazing options can make a significant difference.

Secondary Glazing

Secondary glazing provides another option where retaining the existing window is important.

It can be particularly useful on refurbishment, heritage and conservation-style projects where replacing the original windows may not be desirable. Depending on the system and specification, secondary glazing can help improve thermal performance, acoustic performance, security and condensation control while retaining much of the original appearance of the property.

Glass Juliet Balconies

Glass Juliet balconies provide a clean, contemporary solution for upper-floor doors and openings while helping retain natural light and views from inside the property.

Options can include different laminated glass thicknesses, stainless-steel or chrome fixings, clear or low-iron glass, frosted finishes, coloured interlayers and tinted glass.

As with any safety-critical glazing application, the correct specification for the particular opening and project is essential.

Specialist Glass for Trade Supply

Behind every finished installation is the less glamorous but equally important part of the job — getting the correct product supplied when it is needed.

The glass delivery arriving at Distinctive shown in this article is exactly that: genuine product coming into us for trade supply.

Whether the requirement is a straightforward sealed unit or something considerably more specialist, providing the right sizes and specifications at quotation stage helps us get the order right from the outset.

Need Glass for an Upcoming Trade Project?

If you have an upcoming project and need help with glass sizes, specifications or options, speak to the Distinctive team.

Call: 01354 811 812Email: enquiries@distinctive-group.com

Trade Only • Fast Response • No Obligation

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