4 Questions to Ask before Opting for a Glass Floor in Your Home

The appeal and allure of glass flooring in a residential space is hard to deny. It’s beautiful. It’s modern. It’s functionally innovative. If you’re undertaking a new build or you’re looking to renovate, you might be wondering if glass flooring is right for you. Here are some considerations to help you answer that question.

 

Is Glass Flooring Right for My Home? Answer These 4 Questions

1. Is the Cost of Glass Flooring within Budget?

The price of glass flooring varies based on numerous factors. This includes all the following:

• Type of glass you’re using
• Antislip finish
• Anti-scratch treatment
• Glass thickness
• Support system
• Size of individual glass panes
• Installation-related costs

The list goes on.

The one consistent is this: glass flooring is more expensive than a comparable amount of square footage in many other types of flooring material.

Natural hardwood, stone, engineered wood flooring, vinyl flooring, various kinds of tile, and carpet all come in less per square foot than glass.

That being said, glass flooring is a design statement. It often ends up being the aesthetic focal point of a home. If glass provides the bold, unique look you want and it’s within your design budget, you have to decide if the cost is worth those benefits.

2. Do I Want a Modern Aesthetic in My Home?

While the contemporary, sleek, minimalist design approach is very popular, it’s not for everyone. Glass might not suit your personal design preferences. This is an important factor to take into consideration.

In terms of design approach, here are a few additional points to think through:

• If you love the look of glass and all other factors make sense (from budget to the effects of natural light), go for it!
• If you’re thinking about selling or renting out your property—eventually or in the short term—glass can be a great high-end addition to the home. It can transform a house into a high-end space, fetching you a higher asking price or a better rental rate.
• Ask yourself if a glass floor will complement or be at odds with the rest of the home’s design. If the glass flooring is a one-off renovation project, it could look like a design afterthought in an otherwise-dated home. The nice thing about glass is that it is often neutral enough to blend into many design styles. Based on your home’s current design and the intended renovation, the compatibility of glass flooring is something you’ll have to assess.

3. Would the Space below the Floor Benefit from Natural Light?

One of the biggest benefits of glass flooring is the ability to harness the effects of natural light. When you add a glass floor, this allows light to filter down into the space below that flooring. (Even when you opt for frosted privacy glass, light still penetrates to the lower level.)

This has a laundry list of benefits. It makes the space feel bigger, more open, and airier. It allows you to reduce your dependence on artificial lighting. It introduces natural light into your home, which can have positive effects on mood, sleep, and even productivity.

For many homeowners, these are the marquee reasons to install glass flooring. It does, however, mean you have to think carefully about where you want to install a glass floor. Think about whether the room or space beneath the flooring will benefit from natural light or if it would be too bright, present too much glare, or make the space feel overly exposed and less private.

4. Is My Glass Manufacturer, Designer, and Installer Knowledgeable about Glass Flooring Safety?

Glass flooring is a beautiful addition to a home, but safety must be your primary concern. Designed, manufactured, and installed properly, glass can be a highly safe material for flooring.

If, however, your glass is not properly handled at any of these points (design, manufacturing, or installation), it could break, shatter, or even fail entirely. Again, this is not the case if the proper failure redundancies, support systems, and glass specifications are used.

It just means you have to be confident in the experience, expertise, and knowledge of the people creating your glass floor. Choose a glass manufacturer with extreme care and diligence.

Thinking about Adding Glass Flooring to Your Home?

Whether you’re building new or renovating an existing home, glass flooring can be a beautiful luxury addition. If you want to know more or have questions, contact us today. We’re happy to talk through your intended project!