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Redefining quality in glass for showering spaces

Industry Insights, Company News | 19/08/2019

When you see a shower, it’s easy to focus on the hardware: the shiny metal attracts the eye and the taps and showerhead command the most attention. However, the main component of most modern showering spaces is actually the glass. By its very nature, it is most often looked through rather than looked at. Because of this, homeowners may not consider the quality of the glass unless the designer/installer points it out or they discover its limitations.

The general assumption in our market is that the thicker the glass, the better the quality. We would question this, however. Yes, the space needs to be safe and robust and there are times where a combination of glass thickness, bracing arms or framing is required for overall structural integrity. But once the glass is thick enough to achieve this, what is the benefit in making the glass thicker? Over-engineering by using glass thicker than it needs to be risks over-spending and makes life difficult for one-man installers, who may struggle to position unnecessarily heavy glass panels.

Glass technology

Our view is that the way the glass impacts the showering experience is a much more persuasive tool than focusing on thickness. Glass technology has come a long way in recent years and it’s the glass’ characteristics that denote quality. For example, high levels of iron oxide in standard glass reduces the amount of light that can travel through it, giving it a greenish tinge. This in turn affects the colour of tiles and paint – and how the rest of the bathroom looks from inside the showering space. Homeowners may not have noticed it, but when they see a low-iron example like Lakes Glass with PureVue^HD, the difference is startling – the green hue is almost completely removed. Being able to see your bathroom in its true colours is a much better indicator of quality than thickness, and PureVue can be easily demonstrated in the showroom.

Equally, the sense of sanctuary and wellbeing of a shower shouldn’t be marred by glass that is smeared with limescale or soap scum. Lakes Glass comes with AllClear^®, a special coating that uses nanoparticles to fill microscopic gaps in the naturally pitted surface. This ensures water, limescale and soap scum slide off the glass rather than sticking to it, keeping it clear and unblemished.

This kind of benefit is particularly important when you consider modern homes. Busy, active lives as well as the rise of multi-generational living means the shower can be one of the most used functions in the house. Even the most glamorous showering space can quickly become humdrum when reality sets in and it becomes a laborious task to keep it clean and looking good. Thanks to AllClear, a simple wipe with a damp cloth keeps Lakes Glass looking like new – which in turn reduces the need for harsh chemical cleaners that can harm the environment and hands. It is also 10 times more scratch and impact resistant than standard glass, so it’s perfect for families with young children – or for showrooms where people walk past with bags and objects that could scratch the surface.

Lakes Glass comes with PureVue and AllClear on both sides as standard, not as an optional extra. It’s added value built in to the glass itself because we believe genuine quality is essential for creating the premium spa-style shower experience today’s homeowners demand. And what constitutes quality is changing. Thickness of glass should be considered in the context of the overall design of the showering space for practical and safety benefits. Today’s well-informed, demanding homeowners don’t care about the difference between 8mm and 10mm – it’s how the quality of the glass enhances the showering experience that matters.

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