High-Quality Float Glass Manufacturer and Supplier
Float glass is a versatile material known for its clarity and uniform thickness, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications. As a leading float glass supplier, Ipswich Glass provides top-quality float glass panels and products tailored to meet the needs of diverse projects, including float glass for doors and float glass for windows.
Manufacturing Excellence at Ipswich Glass
Ipswich Glass is renowned for its state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, ensuring each float glass piece meets rigorous standards. Whether you need float glass cut to size or specialized float glass design, our products guarantee optical clarity and durability. Our facility utilises advanced technology to produce standard and custom float glass panels perfect for residential and commercial settings.
Features of float glass
Float glass is renowned for its exceptional optical quality, featuring high clarity and transparency, making it suitable for various applications, from architectural windows to display cases. Floated glass can be tailored to meet diverse needs and used in different thicknesses, from thin sheets ideal for picture frames to thicker panes used in balustrades and furniture. It is durable, resisting scratches and wear over time, and versatile. This glass can be further processed into tempered or laminated varieties, enhancing its strength and safety features and making it a preferred choice for interior and exterior applications where quality and safety are paramount. Here's a detailed look at the product features of float glass, focusing on optical quality, thickness and sizes, as well as durability and versatility:
Optical Quality
High Clarity and Transparency: Float glass is prized for its superb optical clarity, ensuring clear, undistorted views. This makes it an ideal choice for applications where visual clarity is paramount, such as windows, display cases, and glass partitions.
Light Transmission: Due to its purity, float glass allows a high level of natural light to pass through, enhancing interior spaces' brightness and energy efficiency. This feature is especially beneficial for reducing the need for artificial lighting in buildings.
Thickness and Sizes
Range of Thicknesses: Float glass is available in various thicknesses, typically ranging from 2mm to 19mm. This versatility allows it to be used in many applications, from thin picture frames to thick and sturdy glass for tabletops and balustrades.
Customisable Sizes: The float glass manufacturing process enables it to be produced in large, continuous sheets, which can then be cut to specific dimensions as required by different projects. This makes it suitable for large architectural projects, including expansive window installations and full-length glass walls.
Durability and Versatility
Strength and Scratch Resistance: Float glass is inherently strong and more resistant to scratches than other glass forms, such as annealed glass. This durability stems from its production process, which ensures a smooth and robust surface.
Processing Capabilities: Float glass serves as the base for many other types of glass. It can be further processed into tempered glass, which is much tougher and shatters into small, blunt pieces less likely to cause injury. Laminated glass, another derivative, comprises two or more glass layers bonded with an interlayer to enhance impact resistance and safety.
Thermal Resistance: When treated, float glass can withstand significant temperature variations, making it suitable for applications like exterior glass panels that must cope with different weather.
Applications of Float Glass in Modern Architecture
Our float glass products are integral in modern architecture, providing solutions for everything from floating glass shelves to large-scale float glass for windows. The seamless integration of glass floats into building designs not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also brings functional benefits like improved light flow and energy efficiency. Floating glass shelves and bathroom glass floating shelves are popular for their clean lines and modern look, adding elegance to any interior. Here are detailed points on its applications in architecture, interior design, and speciality uses:
Architectural Uses
Windows and Doors: Float glass is predominantly used in constructing windows and doors due to its clarity and strength. Its high transparency ensures maximum natural light penetration, reducing the need for artificial lighting, while its customizable sizes allow for large, seamless glass installations that are aesthetically pleasing.
Façades: Modern architectural designs frequently incorporate float glass in building façades, creating visually striking exteriors that blend indoor and outdoor environments. Its ability to be treated or coated makes it adaptable for energy efficiency requirements, such as solar control coatings that minimize heat gain while maintaining light transmittance.
Interior Design
Furniture: Float glass is often selected for furniture components like tabletops, shelving, and cabinet doors because of its aesthetic appeal and structural integrity. Its smooth surface and clear finish enhance the visibility of items placed on or behind the glass, making it ideal for display cases and decorative shelves.
Decorative Pieces: Due to its excellent light transmission and customization options, float glass is used in various decorative applications, including mirrors, glass partitions, and artistically etched or sandblasted panels that contribute to the décor's sophistication and uniqueness.
Specialty Uses
Soundproofing: Float glass can be transformed into soundproofing materials through modifications such as laminating with special interlayers. This application is crucial when noise reduction is essential, such as recording studios, offices, and homes in noisy areas.
Automotive Applications: In the automotive industry, float glass is used to manufacture wind shields and windows. It provides the necessary visibility and strength and features such as tempering or laminating, which are critical for safety, reducing the risk of injury in accidents due to glass shattering.
Working with Specialist Providers: Ipswich Glass
At Ipswich Glass, we pride ourselves on being more than just a float glass supplier; we are partners in innovation. For architects and designers, our bespoke floating glass shelf brackets and floating glass shelves brackets offer limitless design possibilities. Our floating glass shelves bathroom solutions cater specifically to the unique demands of moisture-prone environments, combining style with functionality.
Custom Float Glass Solutions for Every Need
Understanding the diverse needs of our clients, Ipswich Glass offers a range of glass floating shelf and floating glass frame options that can be tailored to specific requirements. Our floating glass shelf systems are designed for easy installation. They can be custom-made to fit any space perfectly, making Ipswich Glass the go-to manufacturer for glass shelf floating and other tailored solutions.
Contact Ipswich Glass
Contact Ipswich Glass today for more information on our float glass products or to discuss your specific project needs. Our team is ready to provide you with expert advice and premium glass solutions that reflect the latest in glass innovation.
At Ipswich Glass, our diverse range of glass products meets both practical and aesthetic needs. We offer sandblasted glass perfect for privacy without sacrificing light, alongside standard single-glazed options for traditional applications. Our energy-efficient lineup includes double-glazed and triple-glazed glass for optimal insulation, and innovative switchable privacy glass for modern settings. As a dedicated Greenhouse Glass Supplier, we support horticultural projects, and our Self Cleaning and Solar Control Glass options are celebrated for their maintenance ease and energy efficiency.
Our catalog also features back painted glass and Coloured Glass, enhancing interiors with vibrant hues, and Crackle Glass for a unique decorative touch. Textured Glass adds a tactile dimension to any space, while our specialty in Float Glass ensures high-quality, versatile solutions. For those seeking classic charm, we provide Georgian Bar Glass and Decorative Leaded Glass, as well as custom-sized mirrors and elegant Bevelled Glass Panels for a refined finish. Whether upgrading existing windows with an additional protective layer or seeking bespoke designs like Sunburst Georgian Grille Glass, Ipswich Glass delivers exceptional glass solutions for a variety of needs.
FAQs about Float Glass
1. How durable is float glass?
Float glass is known for its strength and scratch resistance, making it suitable for various applications, from residential windows to commercial façades. It can withstand normal wear and tear much better than other types of glass. However, for even excellent durability, float glass can be processed into tempered or laminated glass, which are much more rigid and more resistant to breakage.
2. What is the cost of float glass?
The cost of float glass can vary depending on its thickness, size, and any unique treatments it has undergone (like tempering or laminating). However, due to its wide availability and the efficiency of its manufacturing process, it is generally considered a cost-effective option for many applications. For specific pricing, it is best to contact suppliers like Ipswich Glass for a detailed quote based on your project requirements.
Here's a detailed price table for float glass based on the latest market data from the UK, with prices listed in pounds sterling (GBP). This table reflects the rough costs for standard float glass as well as toughened float glass, which has been specially treated for increased strength and safety.
Float Glass Price Table (UK Market - April 2024)
Thickness | Float Glass (per sqm) | Toughened Float Glass (per sqm) |
4mm | £4.93 | £15.53 |
6mm | £6.35 | £19.57 |
8mm | £9.99 | £32.73 |
10mm | £11.73 | £37.11 |
12mm | £15.11 | £45.87 |
15mm | £19.57 | £59.03 |
19mm | £26.58 | £68.81 |
These prices are for standard sizes and treatments; custom dimensions and additional treatments like coating or laminating could affect the price. It's always best to contact a supplier directly for the most accurate quote based on your specific project needs.
For detailed inquiries or custom orders, you might want to reach out directly to Ipswich Glass to discuss specifications, availability, and pricing.3. How should float glass be maintained?
Maintaining float glass is relatively straightforward. It can be cleaned with a simple solution of mild detergent and water. To avoid scratches, use a soft, non-abrasive cloth or sponge for cleaning. Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive tools, which can damage the glass surface. Regular cleaning helps maintain its clarity and prevents the build-up of dirt and grime that can obscure its appearance.
4. Can float glass be used for energy-efficient applications?
Float glass can be treated with coatings that improve its thermal performance, making it ideal for energy-efficient building designs. These coatings can help control solar gain and heat loss, reducing heating and cooling costs. Float glass is an excellent choice for eco-friendly projects that improve energy efficiency.
5. Is float glass environmentally friendly?
Float glass is sustainable since it is made from natural materials like sand and can be 100% recycled. Its ability to be repeatedly recycled without losing quality reduces waste and energy consumption, contributing to environmental sustainability. When opting for float glass, choosing products from suppliers who prioritise environmental responsibility can further enhance the eco-friendliness of your project.
