Decorative? Obscure? Etched? A guide to choosing door glass

Thinking of getting some doors with glass windows but don't know where to start? Learn about the most common options in our handy guide to door glass.

First, let's talk aesthetics. Door glass comes in a range of styles and adds an undeniable air of elegance to your home. Whether it's clear glass letting the light flood in or decorative glass creating gorgeous silhouettes, door glass can give your home a facelift.

Secondly, there's the security angle. This might seem counterintuitive – isn't glass easier to break than wood or uPVC? Well, not necessarily, as most glass panels these days are made from tough-as-nails toughened or laminated glass that takes an absurd amount of effort to shatter.

On top of this, door glass lets you see easily who's at the door – so you can make a better decision about who to answer to.

Finally, there's the question of kerb appeal. This is a significant factor in the value of your home and your ability to sell when the time comes. An attractive front door with glass panels or sidelights is an easy win where saleability is concerned.

Types of door glass

There are two main types of door glass: clear and decorative.

Clear glass is self-explanatory, but decorative glass is a broad church with a whole host of congregants. Some are patterned. Some are darkened. Some are partially see-through. Some are opaque. What they all have in common is that they're meant to be aesthetically pleasing and to change the look of the door.

In domestic properties, the most common types of door glass are frosted, etched and obscure glass. In commercial properties, you might see door glass that's been sandblasted or digitally printed with the company's logo or other text.

What is obscure glass?

This term refers to any type of glass that obscures or distorts the view. As such, it serves to improve privacy and is commonly used in bathroom settings.

Frosted glass is a popular type of obscure glass. It's glass that's been etched with acid, creating a pitted surface. Light can pass through – but you can't see much through it except for distorted shapes and silhouettes.

Other types of obscure glass include satin glass and sandblasted glass.

What's the difference between etched and frosted glass?

To look at, there's not much difference between etched and frosted glass. The difference lies in the extent of the treatment.

Etched glass has been sandblasted. This effect can be applied by degrees, from a light dusting to total opaqueness. Frosted glass is a term for etched glass that's fully or almost fully opaque.

What about doors that are entirely made of glass?

If you get a door made entirely out of glass installed in your home, you need to make sure that it's made out of toughened safety glass. Otherwise, you're putting your property at risk. Sandblasted glass is an option if you want to ensure privacy.

Glass doors are much more expensive than normal doors with glass panels – but they undeniably add a touch of class, as well as glass (sorry).

How we can help

Door glass can turn an unremarkable door into something special – and at Calder Windows, we have a range of options for you to look through.

We hope that this article has helped you to understand your options and perhaps inspired you to make a choice. Whether it's decorative, obscure or frosted glass you're after, we can sort you out. Get in touch for anything from the austere to the eye-grabbing. We'd love to help you in your journey.

Calder Windows is a window and door installation specialist based near Wakefield. With more than 100 years of combined experience, we're trusted throughout West Yorkshire.