Choosing the Right Obscure Glass for Privacy Glass Balustrades in the UK

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Gardens and outdoor spaces often serve as a sanctuary from our bustling lives, but at times, the tranquillity can be disrupted by nosy neighbours or passersby. Fortunately, we have the power to enhance our privacy. It doesn't have to entail an unattractive solution; instead, it can become a stylish element in your balcony design, adding elegance and distinction. Whether you seek to enjoy your morning coffee in peace or entertain family and friends without unwanted observers, our obscure glass is the solution.

At Balconette, we provide a range of obscure glass options to cater to your specific needs, tastes, and budget. Continue reading to learn how you can shield your garden from prying eyes and explore the privacy glass options we offer.

What is Obscure Glass?

Obscure glass refers to any type of glass that distorts or conceals what lies on the other side. This effect is achieved through texture, colour, or patterns. Obscure glass can vary from providing a mild blurring to complete opacity of what's behind the glass panel.

After extensive product research and testing of various obscure glass types, we are confident in our selection of the two most appealing and suitable options for our customers. Our offerings include Satin Glass and Laminated Glass with an Opaque Interlayer, perfect for an obscure glass window.

What is Satin Glass – is it right for me?

When it comes to enhancing the privacy of your space, you have various options, but satin obscure glass might be the smoothest choice.
As the name suggests, Satin Glass boasts a silky finish that contributes to a sleek aesthetic. Satin Glass undergoes a chemical treatment known as acid etching, which imparts its distinctive and matte satin finish. Acid etching proves to be a more cost-effective option when compared to alternative obscure glasses, such as Sandblasted Glass, as the Hydrofluoric Acid used in Satin Glass production is readily available in abundance.

 

Neither your privacy nor daylight is compromised when you use Satin Glass, as it provides a high level of privacy while allowing a generous amount of light to pass through. The acid etching gives the glass a unique quality, making objects further from the glass appear more obscure. Our Satin Glass ensures security and privacy from a distance, ideal for shielding your daily activities from your next-door neighbours!

If your house is home to busy little hands, you'll be pleased to know that Satin Glass is more resistant to smudges and fingerprint marks than other obscure glass, thanks to its smooth surface. A quick wipe down with a damp cloth will do the trick!

One thing to consider about Satin Glass is that when the acid-etched side of the glass becomes wet, its degree of obscurity temporarily reduces, allowing you to see through more clearly. The matte glass loses its opaque characteristic when in contact with water, but don't worry – once the glass dries, it will return to its normal translucent state. This characteristic might work to your benefit by allowing more light to filter through on rainy days, ensuring you're not left in the gloom.

What is screen printed glass?

Similar to our Satin Glass, Opacity can be achieved through screen printing onto the glass. This can range from 10% printing up to complete 100% coverage. On our Orbit screens, we use 10% printing on 12mm glass, which achieves a level of opacity very similar to satinised glass.

What is Laminated Glass with Opaque Interlayer – is it right for me?

Similar to our Satin Glass, Laminated Glass with an Opaque Interlayer does exactly as the name suggests. Laminated Glass comprises two toughened glass sheets fused together by a highly durable plastic interlayer. The plastic interlayer we use has a matte, milky white appearance, providing opacity to the glass panel.

Each piece of toughened glass in our Laminated Glass has been tempered and reinforced to be approximately four times stronger than regular float glass. This exceptional strength makes Laminated Glass highly resistant to breaking. In the unlikely event it does break, the glass remains attached to the plastic membrane. Even under direct impact, Laminated Glass is designed to stay intact, reducing the risk of injury.

The opaque interlayer is the key to the glass's privacy features. This translucent white interlayer allows light to pass through while concealing shapes and figures behind the glass, ensuring complete privacy. Additionally, it provides UV protection, filtering out harmful rays to preserve the lifespan of your garden furniture by reducing fading over time. The interlayer can be combined with clear, tinted, or low-iron glass to achieve various levels of obscurity.

If you're considering Laminated Glass with an Opaque Interlayer, it's important to note that it may be slightly more expensive compared to our Satin Glass due to the intricate manufacturing process. This process involves exposing the panels to extreme heat and pressure, requiring substantial amounts of fuel and energy, which contribute to the higher price tag. However, the additional cost is justified by the enhanced strength and impact resistance it provides.

Is the level of obscurity the same across all Obscure Glass?

No, the level of glass privacy can be measured on a scale from 1 to 5, with Level 1 being the least obscure and Level 5 being the most obscure.

Here at Balconette, we've deliberately chosen obscure glass with a Level 5 rating for use across our systems to ensure the highest level of privacy for you and your family.

Can Obscure Glass be used on any Balconette system?

Yes, every balcony system can be fitted with either our Satin Glass or Laminated Glass with Opaque Interlayer.

Satin Glass is available in 10mm, suitable for our standard Juliet Balconies, Hybrid® Balustrades, and Aerofoil Infinity Screen. Our Orbit Privacy Screen systems use 12mm Toughened with 10% White Screen Print (Privacy).

We also offer two additional sizes in Laminated Glass, 21.5mm and 25.5mm. These thicker glass panels are best suited for Frameless Juliet Balconies and Frameless Glass Balustrade systems, as the thicker glass adds strength to the system's structure.

 

Flexible Options

Choosing to incorporate obscure glass into your toughened glass balustrade design provides you with extensive options. For instance, you have the flexibility to use obscure glass for the entirety of your balustrading, multiple sections, or only part of your balcony. Obscure glass and standard glass make an excellent combination, especially if your garden, decking, or balcony area is overlooked on one side. Installing obscure glass on the overlooked side while enjoying transparent glass at the front gives you the best of both worlds, a satisfying balance between privacy and unobstructed views of your garden and beyond. 

BalcoNano® Self-Cleaning Coating

To maximize the lifespan of your obscure glass, we recommend coating it with our BalcoNano® self-cleaning solution.

Glass, upon closer inspection under a microscope, reveals a textured surface that resembles gorges and ravines. Water vapor can penetrate these crevices, leaving watermarks and dirt once it evaporates. BalcoNano® applies a thin, transparent layer to the glass, creating a water-repellent surface that smooths out these imperfections. This prevents dirt and other deposits from adhering to the glass.

Our self-cleaning solution not only maintains the smoothness of your glass surfaces but also significantly reduces the time and effort required for keeping your balustrade's glass in pristine condition.

Contact Us

If you're looking to restore your garden's privacy, our experienced team of Balconette professionals is here to offer advice and assist you in implementing your plans. Contact us here for more details.

 

FAQ

1. What are the main types of obscure glass available for balustrades?

There are two main obscure glass options available: Satin Glass (10mm) and Laminated Glass with Opaque Interlayer (21.5mm and 25.5mm). Satin Glass features a chemically treated, acid-etched matte finish with a silky, smooth appearance. Laminated Glass consists of two toughened glass sheets fused with a milky-white plastic interlayer. Additionally, Screen Printed Glass (12mm) is available with 10-60% screen printing coverage for opacity, used specifically on Orbit screens.

2. What privacy level do Satin Glass and Laminated Glass provide?

Both Satin Glass and Laminated Glass with Opaque Interlayer provide Level 5 privacy, which is the highest obscurity rating on the 1-5 scale. Satin Glass offers high light transmission while maintaining privacy, with objects further from the glass appearing more obscure. Laminated Glass provides complete opacity with its translucent white interlayer, ensuring total privacy.

3. Which is more cost-effective: Satin Glass or Laminated Glass?
    

Satin Glass is the more economical option compared to Laminated Glass. Satin Glass is cost-effective compared to sandblasted glass and more economical than laminated options. Laminated Glass is more expensive due to its complex manufacturing process that requires extreme heat and pressure to fuse two toughened glass sheets with a plastic interlayer.

4. What are the strength advantages of Laminated Glass with Opaque Interlayer?
   
   Laminated Glass with Opaque Interlayer is four times stronger than regular float glass and offers enhanced impact resistance. Even when broken, the glass stays intact due to the durable plastic interlayer holding the pieces together. This makes it a safer and more durable option for balustrade installations.
    

5. Which Balconette systems are compatible with Satin Glass?
    

Satin Glass is compatible with Standard Juliet Balconies, Hybrid® Balustrades, and Aerofoil Infinity Screen systems. It can be used across multiple Balconette system types for customers seeking privacy solutions in these configurations.

6. Which systems work best with Laminated Glass with Opaque Interlayer?

Laminated Glass with Opaque Interlayer is best suited for Frameless Juliet Balconies and Frameless Glass Balustrade systems. The thicker profile (21.5mm and 25.5mm) and complete opacity make it ideal for these frameless applications.

7. Does Satin Glass maintain its privacy when wet?
   
   Satin Glass experiences temporary transparency reduction when wet, meaning it becomes slightly less obscure when water is on the surface. However, it returns to its normal privacy level when dry. This is a characteristic of the acid-etched finish on Satin Glass.

8. What is BalcoNano® and what benefits does it provide for obscure glass?
   
   BalcoNano® is an optional transparent nano-coating treatment for glass surfaces that creates a water-repellent surface by smoothing microscopic glass imperfections. It prevents dirt and water deposits from adhering to the glass, significantly reducing cleaning time and effort. This coating is recommended for all obscure glass installations to maintain their appearance with minimal maintenance.
    

9. What additional benefits does Laminated Glass provide beyond privacy?
   
   Beyond complete privacy, Laminated Glass with Opaque Interlayer offers UV protection to prevent furniture fading, making it beneficial for protecting indoor furnishings from sun damage. It is also available in clear, tinted, or low-iron glass combinations, providing customization options for different aesthetic preferences and functional requirements.
    

10. How does Screen Printed Glass achieve privacy levels similar to Satin Glass?
    
    Screen Printed Glass achieves opacity similar to satinized glass with just 10% printing coverage on 12mm glass. The screen printing coverage can be customized from 10% to 100%, allowing for variable privacy levels. This type is used specifically on Orbit screens within the Balconette product range.
     

11. Is Satin Glass more resistant to fingerprints and smudges?
    
    Yes, Satin Glass is more resistant to smudges and fingerprints compared to standard clear glass. The acid-etched, matte satin finish provides a silky, smooth texture that naturally resists showing fingerprints and smudges, making it easier to maintain a clean appearance.
     

12. Can obscure glass be combined with clear glass in the same installation?
    
    Yes, the page shows combined installation examples with photos demonstrating partial obscure and partial clear glass configurations. This allows customers to customize their balustrade systems to balance privacy needs with unobstructed views, creating flexible solutions for different areas of their outdoor spaces.