Maybe you spotted some amazing buildings in the past that were almost entirely made of glass. These buildings are indeed quite impressive, so it is understandable when you talk to an architect and request that a similar building design be created for you. If you want to know a little more about this unique, floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall architectural design feature before you talk to an architect, here some information to get you started.
It Is Called "Glazing"
When you think of glazing something, you generally think of coating it — maybe coating a donut, cake, or some other kind of food with a sweet glaze. The word "glass" actually comes from the same root word as "glazing." In pottery, when you glaze the piece, you are applying a colored coating of silicate material that will turn glass-like when it is fired in the kiln. The technical and professional term for anyone who installs glass and windows is "glazier."
In the architectural design sense, glazing refers to the fact that you are creating this structure that is largely made of glass. Giant sheets of glass are "glazing" the building structure and turning it into one immense piece of glass. So, when you talk to the architect, you can confidently use the word "glazing" to describe how you want your building to look, and what you want it crafted from. The architect will know that you want a large, mostly glass building (or wall of a building) with a unique design, and one that provides a lot of natural light.
How Glazing Is Installed
A mostly glass building, or "glazed building," requires some sort of structure to which every one of the glass panels is attached and installed. In commercial buildings, there tends to be steel, aluminum, or a mixture of these metals that is used to create the framework for every panel of glass. The glass may be installed by pressing it between the metal framework, or it may be installed by attaching it to a lip of metal all around an open area where the glass is supposed to go.
If metal is not used as the framework of the building, other materials may be used instead. Wood and brick are the other options, although these are a little more difficult to work with when you are trying to install glass. Discuss your options with your architect to see which framing material will give you the look you want with the least installation effort.
For help with this or other projects involving glass, contact a company like Desert Empire Mirror & Glass to learn more about custom glass glazing in your area.
Share9 July 2019
Are you currently remodeling a room in your home? Perhaps, you’re in the process of giving an older kitchen a facelift. If you can relate to this exciting scenario, think about incorporating glass into your design. For example, you might wish to put up a colorful tile backsplash made from recycled glass. Or, you may want to install counter-tops constructed with this versatile material. Another way to add style and sophistication to your new kitchen is to install glass knobs on your cabinets. On this blog, I hope you will discover fun, unique ways to incorporate glass when renovating a space. Enjoy!
