Obscure Glass: Everything You Need to Know About Privacy Glass

Posted by KLG Glass on 17/10/2025 with 0 Comment

There are so many benefits to installing privacy glass in doors, windows and even walls in homes and workspaces. They can be stylish, adding a decorative feature in keeping with a minimalist design, or bringing embellishment to a professional environment. They can help you soak a small room in sunlight, magically making it appear twice the size and so much happier.

In fact, there’s only one drawback that people really imagine when it comes to lots of windows and transparent walls: loss of privacy.

But you don’t have to sacrifice your privacy if you want to feature glass in your interiors. By using obscure glass, you can couple all the bright, beautiful benefits of regular glass and still keep out prying eyes.

We’ve put together this FAQ to introduce you to the many possibilities presented by obscure glass, an option that many don’t even realise exists.

What is obscure glass?

Obscure glass is a very broad term that actually covers any type of glass that is not crystal-clear and transparent. It is glass which ‘obscures’ the view through it, distorting or concealing what is on the other side, because of this, it’s often referred to as privacy glass.

This obscuring effect can be achieved in a variety of ways, usually by use of a texture or pattern. It can range from offering complete privacy by obscuring the view completely or simply showing silhouettes. It can also be more of a style choice, that offers only a very mild distortion.

Obscure glass can be highly decorative and very practical. It is also versatile.

What types of obscure glass are there?

As mentioned above, ‘obscure glass’ is an umbrella term for many types of glass you may have heard of. Here are some of the more specific types you can choose between:

1. Frosted Glass

Frosted satin glass: this type of glass has an almost mottled effect on its surface, and it is the most commonly seen type of obscure glass. In fact, it’s so commonly seen, we’ve actually got a whole post dedicated to frosted glass.
Sandblasted glass: another popular obscure glass is sandblasted glass. It is a specific type of frosted glass, where the mottled surface is created by firing a material like sand or walnut husks at the glass. To find out more vi, visit our post on how to use sandblasted glass in your home.

2. Patterned / Textured Glass

This type of glass is created by rolling the molten glass between patterned rollers. As well as diffusing light and obscuring the view, patterned glass tends to be highly decorative.

Common patterns seen on textured glass include:

Reeded / Fluted: Surfaced is ‘ribbed’ with vertical lines or ridges
Delta Frost: A fern-like pattern that’s highly decorative
Chinchilla: Lots of short, thin lines, looking almost like fur on the glass.
Cathedral: Wavy texture reminiscent of the texture of stained glass.
Cotswold: Rough, bark-like texture — very common in bathrooms and doors.
Arctic: Crystalline pattern resembling frost.
Glue Chip: Frosted pattern formed by dried glue — looks like ferns or frost crystals.

3. Wired and Safety Obscure Glass

Sometimes obscure glass comes with an embedded mesh for added security and safety. This tends to have a wavy texture to obscure sightlines.

4. Tinted Glass

This is glass that has been coloured to obscure the view through it. Most common colours are bronze, grey and blue, and this is sometimes combined with textures to create an even more obscure effect.

Is there a difference between obscure glass and frosted glass?

As we discussed above, ‘obscure glass’ is an umbrella term that refers to a variety of obscure glass patterns, including frosted glass but not limited to it. This means all frosted glass could be called obscure glass, but not all obscure glass is frosted.

There are options available that would still count as obscure.

One of the attractive benefits of frosted glass types, is that you can embed designs, logos and embellishments, giving you complete control over the design. These can range from generic floral frosted glass patterns or unique company branding.

They’re particularly popular as door panels or glass walls.

Are there different levels of obscurity available?

By now you’ve probably realised that obscure glass is very versatile. You can choose between obscure glass windows or doors that are almost completely transparent, or ones that are completely opaque. As we mentioned before, Pilkington textured glass is available in 5 different levels of privacy, allowing you to decide on the best level of opacity for your requirements.

While some styles of obscure glass might be limited in how much flexibility is offered in terms of opacity, there are so many options across the range that you will always find a type of glass to suit your needs.

Is obscure glass different to opaque glass?

Obscure glass allows you to lower the visibility through a glass panel. Opaque glass sits right down at the very extreme end of that scale, and leaves the glass completely impossible to see through. And, unlike obscure glass, opaque glass won’t let any light pass through it either, though it is highly reflective, Opaque glass is most commonly used for things like kitchen splashbacks.

If you like the cool, clean lines that glass brings without wishing to compromise privacy at all, opaque glass could however be the perfect choice for you.

Can you ‘temper’ obscure glass?

Tempering is a process you can apply to glass in order to strengthen it. It involves heating the glass to very high temperatures, then exposing it to a very cold temperature. As the outside of the glass cools quicker than the inside, this creates ‘tension’ inside the glass which makes it very strong.

Tempered glass can withstand a higher level of impact without breaking. It also shatters in a certain way, breaking down into crumb-like pieces rather than jagged shards. This means that as well as being stronger, it is safer.

This process is commonly used for large glass panels, such as those in full length windows, doors and furniture, to make them safer.

Obscure glass can be tempered just like other glass, and often is. If you are choosing obscure glass to place in a window, door panel or similar setting, you would definitely be better off having obscure glass that is tempered.

Where can you use obscure glass?

The flexibility and versatility of obscure glass mean you will find it at home in a whole host of settings. You can bring light and space to your narrow hallway while still keeping your home secure, by placing an obscure glass panel in your front door.

Or you could give workers a lighter, brighter, cheerier space to work while still allowing them their privacy by installing obscure glass walls in an office, the possibilities are endless!

One of the most popular places to use obscure glass is in bathroom windows. In a space where your privacy is paramount, choosing obscure glass allows you to maximise the light in the smallest room of your house, while maintaining a sense of seclusion and safety.

Why does glass break spontaneously and how can this be prevented?

Posted by KLG Glass on 16/09/2025 with 0 Comment

Have you ever been relaxing in your home, lost in a streaming boxset only to have your attention stolen by the sound of glass shattering? And when you warily clamber to your feet to investigate, you find that your window or splashback or even shower screen is cracked into crumbs with no culprit in sight?

No? Lucky you!

Actually, modern glass production processes have made spontaneous breakage a relatively rare occurrence. But it does happen – and can be very alarming when it does.

In this post, we’ll look at the reasons why glass can break spontaneously as well as sharing some tips on how to avoid it happening.

What is spontaneous glass breakage?

Spontaneous glass breakage is glass breaking with no obvious cause. No direct impact or identifiable damage.

It happens most often with tempered glass (for reasons we’ll get into) but it can happen in many types of glass. It can also happen to a range of glass objects such as windows, doors, shower screens or glass balustrades.

What makes glass spontaneously break?

The name ‘spontaneous glass breakage’ means there’s no reason for it to break. But this isn’t the case. The cause can be impossible to trace after it happens, but there is always something behind it – usually either the quality of the glass, or its installation.

Specifically, it usually boils down to one of the following factors:

Nickel sulfide (NiS) in the glass

The most common reason behind spontaneous glass breakage is nickel sulfide inclusions in the glass. These small internal defects can lead stress to build up in the glass and eventually exceed the strength of the glass so it shatters.

These inclusions can form when nickel and sulphur are in the raw materials used to make glass. They combine during the manufacturing process to form tiny particles of nickel sulfide (nickel sulfide stones) that are trapped in the glass.

These defects are usually too small to see. However, they can make a big impact on the stability of the glass, and can cause the glass to weaken over time. In turn, as the glass weakens, it becomes more likely to shatter due to the internal stress points.

The only way to reduce nickel sulfide stones is by detecting them before the glass is tempered. Even then, it isn’t always possible, but it will reduce the likelihood of spontaneous glass breakage as a result.

Thermal Changes

Glass is a poor conductor of heat. This makes it great at providing insulation in double glazing but also means it expands and contracts slowly.

If it’s exposed to sudden temperature fluctuations, the different parts of the glass expand and contract at different rates. This can cause the glass to crack or even shatter completely. An easy way to see this is if you took a glass dish out of the oven and put it straight into cold water. This temperature change causes thermal stress points in the glass, which weakens it – sometimes to the point of breaking.

Your windows are unlikely to be subjected to such extreme and quick temperature changes. However, the heat of direct sunlight on just one part of a window, or the change between indoor warmth and outdoor cold can weaken glass over time. If this happens too often, the glass can just shatter.

Edge Damage

If your window panes are handled poorly, small chips and scratches can form at their edges. This can weaken the glass, and this weakness can increase over time, leaving the glass susceptible to spontaneous breakage.

Badly Fitting Frames

When being fitted, it’s important to leave allowances for glass to expand and contract with temperature exposure. If this doesn’t happen, the restriction can cause stress on the glass which leads to a spontaneous glass breakage.

Conversely, if there is too much space between the pane of glass and the frame holding it, wind can pass through the gap causing the glass to deflect and bend. Again, over time this will cause stress to the glass and can lead the glass to break.

As you can see, a lot of the cases of spontaneous glass breakage are not actually spontaneous glass breakage at all. It is the glass pane struggling to regulate the stress inside it that toughens/tempers it.

How to Prevent Spontaneous Glass Breakage

It is essentially impossible to fully prevent spontaneous glass breakage. So many factors can cause it, many of them difficult to predict. However, there are some steps you can take to reduce the chances of it happening.

A lot of the risk to glass caused by thermal stress is unavoidable. Having a window that faces the sun is quite nice actually, and that will always need glass in it.

Careful installation
Getting your windows installed by an experienced expert has many benefits to protect the life span of your windows including reducing the chance of spontaneous breakage. Over the years they will have learned what to do – and what not to do – to make sure your windows are installed correctly. They’ll even be more likely to know how to spot if something is wrong so they can address it.
Choose laminated glass
While there is a lot to recommend tempered and toughened glass, the treatment process does bring about a risk due to any nickel sulphide inclusions. Laminated glass doesn’t undergo the same production method meaning it isn’t at risk of breakage as a result of sulphide stones – but this type of safety glass may have other drawbacks so you should weigh your choice against your needs carefully.
Heat soaking
Heat soaking can be included in the glass manufacturing process to reduce the chance of breakage as a result of nickel sulphide inclusions. It involves an extra heat cycle that activates nickel sulfide expansion and accelerates it – creating the same degradation that would otherwise happen over years. If there is a potential problem, this will cause the glass to shatter during the heat soaking process instead of while in use.

Heat soaking is not a common practice however. Nickel sulphide inclusions are relatively rare, and in the majority of cases the risk of spontaneous breakage is too small to make heat soaking necessary. However, if you’re looking for glass that is going to be used at height or any other high risk area, it can be worth exploring the possibility of heat soaking.

Inspect your glass regularly
Unfortunately, inspecting your glass for any signs of weakening or damage won’t actually prolong it’s life. However, it can help you spot the potential for breakage before it occurs so you can get the replace your double glazed glass without having to worry about cleaning up a heap of broken glass.

What to do if your glass breaks unexpectedly?

Unfortunately, spontaneous glass breakage tends to leave the entire pane broken (particularly with tempered/toughened glass). This means your only option is to replace the entire pane.

Here at KLG Glass we can replace your double glazed window units with high-quality that is expertly installed. We will take every possible step to make sure your new window does not meet the same fate as the last. Talk to us today to find out more about how we can make sure your windows have the longest possible lifespan with the highest performance too.

Single pane mullion window with two broken panes of glass

When to repair or replace glass in your home?

Posted by KLG Glass on 29/05/2025 with 0 Comment

We’ve all felt that deep sense of dread settle after spotting the dark thread of a crack in a pane of glass. Whether the crack is in a mirror, a kitchen backsplash or even a window, it’s impossible not to feel a spiral of doom from knowing this item is damaged and needs to be replaced.

But does it always need to be replaced?

Replacing glass items isn’t always cheap or convenient – it’s easy to see why the mere prospect of doing it is enough to ruin your day. But ignoring damaged glass can cause a whole host of other issues, some more costly. It can even pose a safety risk.

In this post, we’ll look at when you should replace damaged glass, and in what situations you can repair it instead. We’ll also look at glass maintenance tips to help you prolong the life of your glass and avoid unnecessary damage.

First, though, we’re going to look at the importance of dealing with damaged glass quickly.

Why do you need to replace damaged glass?

Regardless of where it is, if you spot glass damage, you need to address it as quickly as possible. Even small chips or cracks can make a significant impact on the strength and stability of a pane of glass, whether it’s in a window, a mirror or a glass splashback.

And once the stability of glass is compromised, that

glass becomes a safety risk. It is more likely to break and, depending on the type of glass used, this can be a significant health risk.

Certain types (like tempered glass) are designed to shatter into small pieces that are unlikely to cause harm, but standard non-treated glass can shatter into sharp shards that can cause deep cuts.

While this is the worst-case scenario, there are other risks to not repairing damaged glass. Damaged glass is weaker and easier to break, so if your window or external door ends up with cracks or chips then your house is left at increased risk

from intruders.

The final issue posed by damaged glass is towards your heating bills. If the integrity of your window or door is compromised by a crack, this can let cold air into your home and let hot air out. As well as creating an unpleasant draft, this will drag down the overall temperature of your home so you turn up the heating and increase your bills.

The quicker you repair your glass, the better your chance is of avoiding these issues. Delay dealing with it, and the problem is likely to get worse – possibly to the point that repairs are no longer an option.

When to repair damaged glass

When trying to decide whether to repair damaged glass, there are many things you need to consider, including what damage has occurred, where the glass is being used and what type it is.

The type of glass alone can sometimes determine whether a repair is worthwhile or even possible. It will impact the chance of the repair being successful, how long it will hold and whether it will be too visually obvious to be worth the effort.

Assess your damaged glass to see if it fits the following criteria. If it does, you’ll likely achieve a successful repair.

Glass with minor damage
The main consideration is the extent of the damage. A small chip or crack – smaller than an inch – can usually be repaired using resin. The resin won’t significantly compromise the strength or clarity of the glass and won’t ruin the look of the glass. In some cases, it could even be unnoticeable.
Single-pane non-treated glass
If the glass has not been treated to strengthen it, it’s a lot easier to repair, and you are much more likely to end up being able to lengthen the lifespan of your glass item. This holds true for both window repair, mirrors and general glass objects.
Decorative glass
It is also possible to repair decorative glass that has small imperfections. However, as it is so important to protect the aesthetic appeal of decorative glass so if it’s an intricate, old, or expensive item, you should seek professional advice before attempting to repair it.
Frosted glass
It is possible to repair frosted glass – as long as it meets the other conditions. However, you will need to take a couple of extra steps to make it match the look of the glass around it. If you don’t, your repair will be easy to spot.

When to replace damaged glass

If you’re still unsure whether your glass can be repaired, it can be helpful to know the situations that rule it impossible. If it meets the following conditions, avoid wasting time, money and effort on a repair and skip straight to replacing the pane.

The glass is severely damaged
Glass that has significant damage (like multiple cracks or chips) is usually beyond repair. Its stability is so compromised that even the impact of the fix could cause further damage. Your glass may even shatter completely as a result.
Even if you manage to complete the repair, it won’t restrengthen or restabilise the glass for long. Certainly not long enough to be worth the effort.
The glass has been tempered or toughened
The tempering process intentionally creates a carefully calibrated stress distribution inside the glass. This increases its durability and should mean that tempered glass won’t crack at all. But if one does appear, that tension is completely compromised and you won’t be able to fix it without compromising it further.
Also, tempered glass is used in situations where it needs to meet strict safety standards (such as glass balustrades or glass walls). Any cracks or chips, however small, will compromise that stability. This means that the glass will no longer meet those safety standards, leaving it unfit for purpose.
If the glass is old
As durable as it is, we’ve already established that glass can’t last forever. If it is already 15 or more years old, it is a bad idea to attempt to fix it. While an undamaged window should last 20-25 years, it will weaken over time. And, when it does, any work done to repair it risks doing more damage than good.
The exception to this is historic or antique glass, but that should only be repaired by trained experts.

How to Decide: Repair or Replace?

So you’ve noticed a crack has appeared in a piece of glass in your home, and the doom has descended. How do you decide whether to attempt a repair or to just replace it?

Answer the following questions:

How extensive is the damage?
Is the glass in a high-impact location like a high-traffic door or an external window?
How old is the glass?
Is it treated or traditional glass?

If you’re still unsure, you can consult a professional for advice. This is a good option to explore for particularly large or delicate glass – anything that would be very expensive to repair. Otherwise, you may end up paying for advice, then paying for the repair anyway.

Should you repair your glass or replace it?

As you can see, there is no blanket answer to this question. When it comes to windows, there will be some undeniable signs that show they need replacing. But for other types of glass, you should consider the factors listed above before reaching for your wallet.

Of course, despite being a strong, safe and sustainable building material, glass won’t last forever. If you decide your damaged glass needs replacing, talk to our team to find out how we can help you find a replacement.

Mirror Buying Guide

Posted by KLG Glass on 22/01/2025 with 0 Comment

Hanging a mirror in your living space can have many benefits. You can use a mirror to maximise the space, make it feel bigger and brighter, and use it as a design feature.

But this is only if you get the right mirror. Get one that’s the wrong size, shape or design and it could catch attention for all the wrong reasons.

As there are a surprisingly large number of variables to consider when picking out a new mirror for your home, we’ve put together this buying guide to help you find the right one. We’ll cover shapes, sizes, materials so you can see what your options are. Then next month we’ll be back with a second post to help you choose which mirror is best for you.

Types of Mirror

When choosing a mirror, the first thing to decide is what type you want. The right mirror for you will depend on where you want to put it and what function to perform.

There are benefits, features and drawbacks to every type though, so let’s take a look so you can see what might suit you best.

Freestanding mirrors

A freestanding mirror has a stand built into its frame and sits on the floor without support. As they are standalone, this type of mirror is very flexible – it can be used anywhere and you can move it around as much as you want with minimal effort.

This type is also the easiest to set up, and will often come pre-built and ready to use. No need to worry about finding nails and levels to hang them – they stand on their own.

Their main drawback is that they can be clunky and will take up more space than something fitted to a wall. As well as the space needed for the mirror and the stand, most freestanding mirrors will also sit at an angle to give the best possible reflection – and this takes up even more space. If space is at a premium, this won’t be the right mirror for you.

Wall mirrors

A wall mirror needs to be fixed or mounted onto a wall to keep it upright.

This limits where they can be used as you need a wall surface that is large enough to fit the whole mirror. And if you want a big or heavy mirror, then you’re also going to need a strong wall.

The counterpoint to this, and their biggest benefit, is that they are space-saving. You don’t need any floor space to support the stand or account for an angle. They sit flat to the wall and are quite thin – they’re not going to cause any obstruction or encroach on your space.

Dressing table mirrors

Dressing table mirrors are smaller freestanding mirrors, usually designed for use on the top of a cabinet, desk or dressing table (explaining the name.)

Being smaller, they are obviously even easier to move than freestanding mirrors, though they don’t give as much of an expansive view.

Also known as vanity mirrors, these are a functional choice if you just need a reflective surface to look in occasionally, but they offer little benefit in terms of brightening up a room.

Illuminated mirrors

If you need to make sure you can always see the reflection clearly, an illuminated mirror is a great option. This type of mirror has in-built lighting to make sure the surface is always bright enough to see details in its reflection.

Most illuminated mirrors have a light source around their entire perimeter making them perfect for use in places where natural sunlight is scarce. You want light to cover their surface evenly, otherwise shadows will be cast and obscure the view.

You should also pay attention to whether the light is warm or cool depending on what you need to see with it.

This is again a type of mirror you choose for the particular function of using the reflection. They’re usually too small to increase the natural light or feel of a room, and the light they provide is not usually enough to create their own light source.

Mirrored furniture

If you’re short on space in a room, it’s often a great idea to look into getting a mirror that is mounted to the door of a cupboard, such as a mirrored bathroom cabinet or wardrobe door.

With this built-in option, your choice of mirror shapes and sizes is usually more limited than it is with types. For example, it’s harder to find round mirrors that fit on a piece of furniture like a cabinet, but oversized mirrors and floor-length mirrors can make a great addition to wardrobe doors.

The type of mirror you choose is almost always dependent on where you’re planning to put it. Once you know that, and you know what type of mirror you want, you can start to think about specific design elements that have a more aesthetic effect.

Mirror sizes

When it comes to mirrors, there are very few size limits on what you can buy. While certain types – like vanity mirrors – are limited in terms of size, wall mirrors are pretty much open to your needs.

You can even get a bespoke mirror to fit a particularly awkward or outsized wall space.

However, one thing that might be affected by the size of mirror that you choose is the frame material, as some materials are better suited to certain sizes.

Mirror Frame Materials

One of the biggest design choices you can make about a mirror is what frame material it has. This will define almost the whole look of the mirror, helping it sit neatly or create a stylish contrast with the general design of the room.

The most common mirror frame materials are:

Wood

Wood is probably the most flexible choice of frame material, which makes it pretty popular. The wood itself can be stained dark for a dramatic look or pale for a Scandinavian look. You can even paint it a block colour for a bold statement or complete colour cohesion.

You can give it a completely clean finish for a modern or minimalist style, while distressed finishes could give it a more shabby chic or coastal look.

It even has more practical flexibility. It’s strong enough to allow for a thin frame without compromising its life span, and it’s not so heavy that it rules out a thicker frame design either. It should have a long life, though may require a little upkeep. And with a solid wood frame, if you decide to change up the look of your room you can even refinish the mirror to fit the new style.

There are few interiors that you couldn’t match a wooden mirror to and is often the default choice. The only downside is a potentially higher cost, but it’s far from the most expensive option and you’ll often find mirrors with a wooden frame are reasonably priced.

Metal

Perfectly suited to ornate frames, metal is also sleek enough and strong enough to be used for thin, minimalist frames.

While you may think of a bright shiny brass, gold, or chrome colour for a metal frame these choices can look cheap – particularly on large mirrors. Instead, a more matte finish, such as brushed chrome or even a matte black paint can create a luxury feel.

Many of the benefits of metal frames are practical. Metal is strong, so it can be used to make very thin frames that can withstand the edge of the mirror without adding much weight—both visually or literally.

Metal is also easy to maintain, but if it does get damaged (dinted or scratched), you won’t be able to fix it.

Plastic

If you want a mirror that is cheap but cheerful, plastic is a great option. It is obviously very flexible, with some designs being more intricate than others, which gives great flexibility but you’re not going to get a luxury feel with a plastic frame.

Plastic frames can be an easy way to add a splash of colour to a functional item though. They’re also easy to clean and lightweight but they’re not particularly durable or robust and may crack or snap easily depending on how thick or well-made they are.

Mirror frame

If you want a mirror that’s sure to stand out, then one with a leaded glass frame is sure to do it. Ranging from a mosaic pattern of smaller mirror tiles to bigger chunks split by leading, one thing is sure about this type of frame—it’s going to draw attention.

This can affect how flexible it is in terms of a design choice. Depending on the shape and layout of the mirror tiles, you can find a mirror that ties into a more contemporary look or a more traditional one.

Another benefit of this type of frame is that it can be designed to mimic panes of glass and look like a window. This makes it a fantastic choice to use in rooms that are low on natural light or to break up large interior walls.

In terms of practical benefits, a frame made of yet more mirrors is very similar to a frameless mirror in terms of durability and lifespan. Depending on the size of the mirror tiles (or, more accurately, the pattern of the leading) it might be quite fiddly to clean, especially to keep streak-free.

Frameless mirrors

With a frameless mirror, the mirror surface remains smooth and undecorated right to the very edge. This can leave it with a plain, minimalist look that can tip over into cold or functional in certain settings. It does, however, give the most expansive reflection possible which makes it a great choice if you’re using a mirror to create a brighter space.

Find a mirror to suit your home

Mirrors can change the look of a room in a whole host of different ways, as long as you find the right one. Now you know the choices you need to make, the next step is simply to start finding the right mirror for your space.

And if you think you need something extra special, like a custom mirror to suit your exact needs, speak to our team to find out more about our options.

Year: 2025