The Many Varieties Of Glass And What We Use It For

Instead of sticking to the traditional norms, glass for many years has been used in various avatars to decorate buildings. Glass can be used in a beautiful way to improve the look of the buildings especially windows and entry halls.

Leaded glass has always been a favorite among designers. It's called "leaded glass" as the panels in the window are bound together with lead strips. The name of these strips or pieces is "cames". This technique is popular because lead is easy to bend around the glass shapes, due to its flexibility. Once the leaded glass panes are completed, they can be used in numerous buildings, including houses and churches.

Lead glasses can be manufactured with patterns and textures which make it look more sophisticated and advanced. The strength or performance of the glass is not disturbed when texturing a leaded glass. Texturing adds an attractive and artistic look to the glass. If you are looking for a different and artistic glass for your windows then you can easily find it in leaded glasses.

Another type of glass that is commonly used to decorate the house is the stained glass. People specially use stained glass to decorate their front entry halls since it gets regular attention especially from guests. Stained glasses have been used for centuries to decorate homes. Many building around the world speak volumes of the decorative usefulness of the stained glasses.

Stained glass is, in simplicity, leaded glass that is infused with patterns and colors. The color can be applied while the stained glass is being manufactured by adding pigmentation to the glass. Color can also be added after the cut patterns of clear glass have been incorporated together. The color is then painted onto the clear glass. The paint that is used is made with powdered glass and pigments of color. After the painted color has been added the entire piece of glass is placed into a kiln so that the pigments melt and adhere to the clear glass.

Glass is often marked so that beautiful patterns are created. This process is called "etching". The marking, or etching, is done using chemicals or abrasives that are applied to the clear glass. Any design or pattern is possible when it comes to etching glass. This technique is often used for glass doors and for windows that are a focal point of any room. Many builders are creating etched glass and using it in the entry hall of large homes as a decorating feature.

Still another type of glass is called "Dalle de Verre", also known as a faceted type of glass. The creation of this type of glass involves taking thicker pieces of glass and chipping the edges to give it that "faceted" look. This type of glass is usually seen in large buildings where the effect is most appreciated.

Whatever glass you choose for your new house you will probably have the same goal as others: the combination of glass function and the creation of a beautiful and unique decor. Make picking out glass for your home a fun experience and think of the beautiful rooms you'll make by your choice of window treatments.

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About the author: Jonathon Midel writes exclusively for Rod's Glass, there's a wealth of knowledge on the website, plus while you're there sign up for the free newsletter. If you want to read more Glass articles go to: www.rodglass.com/articles