Quick Checklist to Decide If Glass Flooring Is Right for Your Space

You love the look of glass flooring, but you aren’t sure if it’s right for your space. From design considerations to budget to logistics, here’s a quick five-question checklist to see if glass flooring is a perfect fit…or a pass.

Ask Yourself These 5 Questions before Committing to Glass Floors

1. Would the Space Benefit from More Natural Light?

One of the biggest advantages of glass flooring is its ability to bring in more natural light into a space. This makes a room feel larger, more open, and more inviting.

For many spaces, that’s highly desirable. However, there are some instances where that wouldn’t be advantageous.

Maybe you want to keep a bedroom, den, or library feeling cozy, private, and contained. In those instances, glass flooring would undermine your design intent.

Think through how you want that room or area to feel. This will go a long way to helping you decide if glass floors are the right choice there.

2. What’s the Desired Design Aesthetic?

Glass flooring creates a very distinctive feel in a space. It’s modern, streamlined, clean, and bold.

Depending on the look you want in your private residence or commercial space, this could or could not be a good fit. While glass is quite neutral and complements many materials well, there can be a dissonance between its contemporary nature and an older style of furnishings, coloring, and building materials.

Say, for example, everything in a space is very ornate or antique. Putting in something as modern as glass flooring could feet a bit at odds in that space.

Unless you’re planning to overhaul the entire design scheme, make sure glass will work from a design perspective.

(Want to read through a few more considerations? Check out what to do before you install a glass floor.)

3. What’s Directly Below Where the Glass Floor Will Go?

Before committing to glass flooring, think about the logistics of where it will go in your build. What will be revealed directly beneath that glass flooring?

Once you’ve determined this, ask yourself a few important questions:

• Are there any privacy concerns to consider?
• Would the flooring create a desirable new view (or enhance an existing one)?
• Could see-through glass flooring reveal something interesting or unique below (for example, a wine cellar, art gallery, or vintage car collection)?

4. What’s My Budget?

Glass flooring is stunning and can transform the functionality and aesthetics of a space, but it’s not the cheapest flooring option around.

If you’re on a strict budget, it could mean one of two things. One, glass flooring is simply out of reach for the project. Two, you’ll need to sacrifice in other areas of the build to free up funds.

In either case, it’s tempting to jump at the lowest glass flooring bid you receive. However, that can end up hurting you in the long run. Here’s a breakdown of why the lowest glass flooring bid does not make it the best glass flooring bid.

5. Will the Space Work with Glass Flooring?

Whether you’re thinking about installing interior or exterior glass flooring, you’ll have to ensure the space is suitable. This includes thinking through things like:

• How much weight will the floors be expected to hold?
• Can the space accommodate the proper support system for the glass flooring?
• Is the type of customization you want (glass flooring panel size and shape, for example) feasible in the space?

To get definitive answers to all these questions, you’ll need to consult with an architectural glass product expert. They can walk you through every step of the design, manufacturing, and installation processes.

When it comes to the potential safety of your glass flooring, don’t leave anything to chance or to substandard contractors. Thoroughly vet your glass manufacturers, and always ensure they work with reputable engineers who have relevant glass experience.

Not sure where to start? Here are five tips for choosing the right glass manufacturer.

Get a Glass Flooring Bid for Your Upcoming Project

If you’ve gone through this checklist of questions and you’re still interested in adding glass flooring to your space, take the next step.

Reach out today to ask any questions you have about glass flooring.

We’re Jockimo, a custom glass manufacturer specializing in architectural glass products. (That includes glass flooring, antique mirrors, glass countertops, and more.) We’re always happy to answer questions or provide an estimate for your next glass project!