Glass for the Home or Office

Store Front Glass
Here at Orange County Glass Works we provide a number of commercial glass services. One of our services is providing commercial glass for business store fronts. When building or replacing the glass on the store front it is crucial to adhere to your design concept. Architecture and type of business are two key components in the glass choosing process. Depending on your needs Orange County glass can provide you with the glass to fit your needs. For example, a day spa would likely need to have a soft frosted glass to provide light and privacy for its patrons. A dress shop would likely need to have a clear glass store front in order to display the latest trends. Our company provides free estimates to potential clients. We are happy to come to visit your business location, assess your needs and provide our expert knowledge to help you in making the best choice. If you have an existing store front we can provide repairs or upgrades. For example, if you have glass door that is slamming upon opening or closing, we can correct that for you. If you have a glass door that is cracked, chipped or scratched we can repair it for you. We can also provide a mail slot into your existing glass door. Perhaps your store front has become drafty and it is costing you money to maintain a proper climate inside your business. Correcting this problem is also a service that we can provide. Orange County Glass Works can provide different types of frames for your glass store front. We can customize almost every aspect of the design to fit your needs. Our years of experience are available as a resource for all your glass needs. Along with providing glass for the store front and door, we also can provide glass partitions for the interior of your business. Perhaps you need a little privacy to separate and designate a space inside your business. A glass wall is a great way to add style and privacy and still let in the light. All of the glass can be customized in color and etching design. We provide three different types of glass. Below is a description of each type of glass.
The first and most commonly used glass is clear glass. Due to the ability this glass has to allow maximum natural light and visibility. This is a preferred choice for a retail business who wants to display their products to the passersby. In some cases the clear glass can be accented with frosted or etched glass. This adds a design element that captures the consumer’s attention.
The second option is Stained glass. These artistic windows are actually mosaics of colored glass attached together to create a picture or design. When the light shines through the glass it creates a hue on the inside or outside of a surface. This style of glass is most often seen in churches but is becoming increasingly popular for use in the store front of many restaurants and bars, giving a festive and inviting feel to people dining and drinking inside. It is a fantastic way to create warmth and ambiance inside of an establishment. Although these windows are beautiful and have an impact, they can be very costly. As such often times our clients will choose to include a panel or two on either side of a window or door to incorporate the effect without the cost of a large window of stained glass.
Frosted glass is a third option for storefronts that want to allow natural light inside but don't want everyone passing by to be able to look in at customers or employees. This effect is created by applying a frosted finish on the surface of the panes of glass allowing the glass to become cloudy. This frosting effect may be customized with tinting for a more dramatic look. This glass still allows diffused light to pass through without detail, colors or shapes being visible. The frosted glass is ideal for businesses like day spas or doctor's offices because it provides a level of privacy for clients and customers.
Another choice that the client has is between three different qualities of glass. Much like any other product glass to has different grades which provide different functions. Choosing the right glass depends on the needs of the business. Environmental conditions can also play a role in deciding which type of glass must be used.

The most common and inexpensive form of glass is called soda-lime glass. The physical/ chemical properties of soda-lime glass are what make it acceptable for so many uses. Soda-lime glass is primarily used for bottles, jars, drinking glasses, and window glass. It usually contains 60-75% silica, 12-18% soda, and 5-12% lime. This glass is not resistant to high temperatures, sudden thermal changes, or corrosive chemicals.

Another glass compound that is somewhat different than soda-lime glass is called leaded glass which has a high percentage of lead oxide (at least 20% of the batch). Lead glass has a relatively soft surface, in comparison thus making it ideally suited for decorating with the grinding, cutting, and engraving processes. Although this glass is great for embellishments it will not withstand high temperatures or sudden changes in temperature. Therefore it is most commonly used for interior walls that are maintained in a steady temperature.

The third form of glass is called borosilicate glass. It is any silicate glass having at least 5% of boric oxide in its composition. Its major property is that it demonstrates greater resistance to thermal changes and chemical corrosion. It is for this characteristic that borosilicate glass is suitable for use in industrial chemical process plants, in laboratories, in the pharmaceutical industry, in bulbs for high-powered lamps, etc. Borosilicate glass is also used in the home by consumers for cooking dishes and other heat-resistant products. Chances are that most people have an “oven safe” baking dish that is composed of borosilicate glass.There are several choices for the consumer to make when creating or repairing a storefront. The most important objective is to have trained professionals such as those from Orange County Glass Works, there to guide you in making the best decision for your business. The knowledge and experience that Orange County Glass Works brings to their clients is by far the best in Southern California. Please call them to schedule your free estimate with a trained glass professional.
http://www.orangecountyglassworks.com/