What’s the difference between frosted glass and obscured glass?

Privacy glass is a popular investment, which widely features in domestic, commercial and industrial properties. It is commonly used in bathrooms, kitchens, front doors, officers and more. 

Privacy glass is available in a range of different varieties, with frosted glass, obscured glass and textured glass being the most common types of privacy glass. 

Below, we’ve outlined the differences between these varieties, including their benefits, and maintenance tips.  

What are the benefits of privacy glass? 

As its name suggests, privacy glass is glass that is designed to allow natural light to still pass through into the property, while obstructing peoples’ view into the room. 

The texture of the glass prevents a clear view into the room. But, rather than blocking the glass completely (with a curtain or another physical object), privacy glass keeps the space bright and light, as natural light is still allowed to pass through. 

The benefits of using privacy glass include:  

• Not blocking or reducing levels of natural light 
• Increasing privacy, in key areas of the property
• Making your rooms more functional 
• Keeps the room feeling modern and inviting 
• Available in a range of stylish and customisable options, including custom patterns and coloured tints, plus varying levels of obscurity  
• Increasing your property’s security 

What is the difference between textured glass and frosted glass? 

What is frosted glass?

Frosted glass is a variety of privacy glass, which is made by sandblasting (or chemical etching) the glass panel, so that it features a uniform but blurred finish. 

Frosted glass has a simple design (compared to other privacy glass types). But, it offers one of the highest levels of privacy. As a result, it is a great choice for bathrooms and office partitions. 

What is obscured glass?

Obscured glass is privacy glass where the view through has been obscured, rather than being completely opaque. Obscured glass can feature a variety of different designs, to suit your property’s specific aesthetic. 

Although obscured glass provides less privacy than frosted glass, it offers far more flexibility in style, design and visibility options. 

What is textured glass?

Textured glass is a variety of obscured glass. What makes textured glass different is that it features textured, physical patterns. These can include ripples, pebbles, leaves and florals, just to name a few.  

The patterns are embossed on either one or both sides of the glass panel. This variety of privacy glass is popular, thanks to its intricate and stylish patterns. However, the use of patterns means that the levels of privacy can vary across the panel. 

To help you choose the right type of privacy glass for your use case, each panel of privacy glass comes with a privacy rating (ranging from 1 – to 5, with 5 being the highest level of privacy). This way, you can choose your preferred glass style, without risking insufficient privacy. 

At Stevenage Glass, we have been supplying premium quality glass for over 50 years. 

Our skilled team of professional glaziers work with clients across the country, to deliver custom glass that fulfils all of their specific requirements. 

So, if you’d like to find out more about privacy glass and its benefits, our team are on hand to help. To explore our range of privacy glass, or to place an order with us, get in touch today.