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applications & uses

What would you do with etched glass?

Etched or sandblasted glass has many uses including the following:
Side Lights ~ Table Tops ~ Signage ~ Hanging Panels ~ Room Dividers
Interior Doors ~ Mirrors ~ Lanterns ~ Cabinet Doors ~ Windows

Why would you choose to use etched glass?

       Etched glass is an excellent choice for decorative glass applications for many reasons. Sandblasting glass obscures the view from one space to another without blocking out natural light.  In fact, it actually intensifies the light.  Sandblasting breaks down the glass giving it a finely ground surface which refracts and scatters the rays.
       Sandblasted glass generally reflects whatever colors are around it. It can have a silvery look or a whitish one.  If a piece of glass is edge lit it will show off the wonderful blue-green color that is the natural color of glass but is not dense enough to notice otherwise.  The magic of all glass is in the way it interacts with light and color.  A piece of etched glass changes with its environment taking on many moods depending on the time of day or even the weather.  Sandblasted glass is versatile in that it can be used in any space regardless of the color scheme.  It does however, need natural or artificial light.
       Glass panels can be used anywhere you want to divide space or create privacy. The percentage of area that is etched compared to the area that is left clear determines the level of obscurity. You may want an exterior door window completely obscured so a visitor cannot see in. If you do not want to totally interrupt the visual flow between two spaces you might use a partially obscured piece of glass.  For instance, you could use a room divider or hanging piece between a living area and dining room. This method creates an intimate feel in the two spaces without making them seem like completely separate rooms.

       The ways one can use sandblasted glass are left to the imagination. However, a few restrictions remain. 
~Tempered glass cannot be blasted more than 1/16 of it’s thickness. Thicker than usual glass must be used in a situation where tempered glass in required by building codes such as with a shower door. 
~Exterior windows that are incased (like a standard dual paned window) cannot be blasted because they are too thin and the casing is difficult to work with.  The glass must be etched out of any frame including doorframes.  Decorative glass that faces the exterior of a building is generally installed in a sill on the inside of a picture window or the manufacturer can install the etched glass in the encasement. 
~A piece of decorative glass cannot be added to the inside of an opening window, or the window could not be opened.

       Take a tour through the glass gallery and explore some of the possible applications for etched glass.  Whether used architecturally as an integral part of a room, or as a piece of freestanding art, etched glass weaves in and out of space unlike any other solid object. It is visually weightless and bestows an ethereal effect, like a ghost or a hologram.

P.O. Box 637, Maple Falls, WA 98266
Phone: (360) 599-1883

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