Make it work for you
JESSICA’S CHOICE: GLASS SCREENING
Cleverly positioned internal glazing can improve views, brighten dark corners and help zone living spaces
As Jessica’s bathroom shows, glass ‘walls’ are perfect for en suite bathrooms, helping to keep steam enclosed without losing the feeling of space and light in the bedroom. Swapping solid internal walls for seethrough can work wonders in the rest of your home, too.
QWhere should I use it? To brighten an inner room – hallways are prime candidates – add glazing in the wall of the sunniest adjacent room. New internal glass beneath a skylight will also help spread light. Glass partitions can also be used to create quieter areas within an open-plan space. Use frosted or fluted glass for extra privacy.
QWhat are the options? The simplest solution is to replace existing solid internal doors with glazed. A cleverly placed picture window (nonopening) can also transform inner light levels without serious disruption. Windows installed at high level, usually above internal doors, bring in ‘borrowed light’ without impacting privacy.
QCan I replace an entire wall? Yes, but you’ll make life easier (and cheaper) if you target stud walls rather than load-bearing. The latter will require steel supporting frames to carry the weight from above. Adjacent rooms may also need redecorating where the steels cut through. You can also install structural glass in floors and ceilings to spread the light vertically. Always consult a structural engineer.
QDo I need planning permission? No, but if your property is Listed you may need Listed Consent. To comply with building regulations, and for your own peace of mind, the glass used should always be specialist toughened or safety glass so that it won’t splinter into lethal shards if it gets broken.
“With
the rise of open-plan living, internal glazing caters to a growing need to divide larger rooms while
openness.” maintaining a sense of ADRIAN BERGMAN, BRITISH STANDARD BY PLAIN ENGLISH