Tilda Publishing

A Guide To Glass Roofs

Glass roofs were not so long ago considered a real curiosity, unusual, fascinating, but very questionable construction experiment.
Glass, considered exceptionally fragile, did not claim to be a reliable and safe roofing material, but the skilful use of new technologies and skill of the builders themselves fundamentally changed this view.
Today, glass roofs are still heard of as voluminous, airy and impressive structures, but they are also respected for their high technical and performance characteristics.


WHAT TYPES OF BUILDINGS ARE SUITABLE GLASS ROOFS?

The materials currently used for glass roofs allow for the creation of structures of various sizes and shapes. With the support of highly qualified specialists, the glass roof can cover a wide variety of objects in terms of size and purpose: from a small country house, greenhouse or swimming pool by it, to huge shopping centers and Olympic stadiums.
As for the relevance of such significant structures made of glass to modern architecture, they can blend perfectly into any architectural ensemble, whether it is designed in high-tech style or in the always popular classic style. Since modern materials allow you to create glass roofs of any complexity, their appearance can be limited only by the imagination of the designer himself.

Which glass is used for the roof

Obviously, normal home narcotics glass will not work. It just can't withstand temperature, rain, wind, snow. Therefore, special materials are needed. There is no need to save money on them, because safety in the house depends on quality and durability.

What kind of glass is used for the roof

The most popular solution in such cases is double-glazed windows with tempered glass (external) and triplex (inside). The results showed that triplex perfectly withstands loads in large-span facades and roofs. Tempered glass is safer, it splits on impact into small pieces with no sharp edges.
The polymer film will provide additional protection. It will retain fragments and pieces of glass will not break. Reinforced glass also works, but the fragments are not held back by the film, but by a metal mesh.
The third option is laminated coating. In fact, these are two layers of glass of different thicknesses. They are glued together with a special material and do not scatter on impact due to the difference in density.
    HOW RELIABLE AND SAFE IS A GLASS ROOF?
    The steel profile, which is the basis for the glass roof, has a high load-bearing capacity and can easily hold the largest possible sheets of glass (double-glazed windows).

    The glass used for roofs is also very strong and resistant to temperature changes. If necessary, you can use energy-saving glass, which in the warm season will save the building from excess solar heat, saving money on air conditioning, and in cold season - from heat loss to the atmosphere, providing savings on heating. In order to maximise safety, tempered or laminated (triplex) glass can also be used, which, if damaged, cannot cause injury to a person.

    When it comes to the construction as a whole, the glass roof:

    firstly, it can withstand high wind and snow loads;

    secondly, it reliably protects the building from rain, snow and hail;

    thirdly, it provides the upper floor with excellent natural sunlight, which is economically advantageous in terms of energy savings and also has a beneficial effect on the well-being of the occupants.

    For more information on glass roofs and other glass structures, please contact our specialists. Professionalism of our employees, based on knowledge of the material part and practical experience, guarantees high quality performance of all works on designing, manufacturing and installation of glass structures according to the parameters specified by you and in a given time.
    Reasons You Need A Glass Staircase In Your Home
    If you choose the material for the stairs in an apartment building in terms of popularity, the first place will be, of course, wood, the second metal, the third - the various combinations of these materials, then stone and concrete. Glass - not the most common choice in the construction of stairs, but we will try to prove that the glass steps and railing has many advantages. In addition, a glass staircase will always look original, being a very visible part of the interior.

    To date, there are three types of fences made of glass:

    Classic rack fence. The racks can be made not only of glass, but also of metal and wood. This option will perfectly fit into the classic style of the interior and does not require special material costs.

    Fence variants for glass stairs

    Glass railing with concealed fasteners. This type of fence is especially popular because it helps to achieve weightlessness of the staircase structure, making it transparent (for safety requires additional lighting of steps or local illumination of this part of the room).
    Glass stair railing with concealed fasteners
    Glass railing point fixing. The railing is fixed to the wall, to the end of the structure using special point fasteners. This saves space in the stairway and makes moving between floors safer.

    Despite the seeming lightness and airiness, the glass steps are very reliable. They are made of impact-resistant tempered triplex material, which is three layers of glass bonded with a special polymer. Special combined tempered glass for stairs can also be used, which can withstand heavy loads. In this case, the steps of the three layers are complemented by LED lighting.

    Climbing up such a staircase will actually have to be done by air. It's a good example of how weightless a glass staircase can look. Visually, it takes up much less space than structures made of stone, metal and wood.

    Glass combines perfectly with all other materials that can be used for stairs. Transparent railing visually facilitates the construction, making it more modern. Although often glass stairs are used in the classic interior as well.

    The disadvantages of glass stairs can be attributed to their cost, because special hardened glass is worth a lot. In addition, there may be difficulties in finding a master who can qualitatively erect such a design. Glass stairs on the street are not used, because in winter such steps will be a real ice rink, fraught with injury.

    In this case, for convenience on top of the glass on the railings are metal rounded handrails. The stairs have perfectly entered into a laconic interior, the steps have turned out convenient. However, if any detail of a ladder will be damaged nevertheless, it is necessary to change it completely, after all glass cannot be repaired.

    Such a dizzying look will not suit those who are afraid of heights. But in general, the whole spiral staircase turned out to be very light and reliable. Rails are metal, with thin balusters, and the stairs as if permeate the whole house vertically, descending smoothly curves.

    Taking care of the glass stairs is easy on the one hand, but on the other - it requires regular efforts. After wet cleaning can remain divorce, on the steps will be visible every dust, and on the glass handrail - handprints. However, it will not be difficult to cope with this problem with the glass cleaner.

    Of course, the best glass stairs fit in the hi-tech style, which loves the shine of metal and clear lines. Some people will think it's too cold a solution, not suitable for the organization of home comfort, but modern styles have many fans who prefer this kind of urban chic.

    The shape and size of the glass staircase on a metal base can be any. This is almost always an individual project, so it is very difficult to find two identical staircases made of glass. This option with a metal base and glass steps can be called the most common choice when using this material.

    Unusual glass railing descending from the ceiling. On one side of the steps it is simply a glass wall dividing the room into separate zones. There are indeed a lot of glass in the interior, but the steps themselves have been chosen more solid - wooden, to match the color of the floor.


    Conclusion
    A glass staircase can be a great decoration for an interior. It will fit perfectly into both classic living room and modern kitchen or dining room design. Despite its fragility, this design is very reliable and durable (by using tempered glass). The only drawback of this product is the complexity of installation and the need to replace the entire structure in case of severe damage to individual parts.