Glass is the perfect answer for customers looking for novel designs solutions and to create personal statements. This is the view of Conor McGinty, General Manager of Cambridge-based Clear Glass, which has been supplying glass and glazing services for 12 years.
“We have customers who approach us looking for ways to improve their living spaces, and more often than not, glass products provide the perfect answer,” Conor said. “A case in point is when a homeowner recently approached us to create a soundproof barrier between a mezzanine balcony, which led to the master bedroom, and a well-used living area.
“Thanks to the imaginative use of FrameTec 2.0 glass partitioning system, we were able to create an effective soundproof barrier that also looked very attractive.”
FrameTec 2.0 glass partitioning from Bohle is designed and built to support fast and cost-efficient installation using a modular design and easy-fix system.
Clear Glass used the system to create a full-height glass barrier in the open-plan home. It supported three 13.5mm toughened glass panels, which were expertly notched to accommodate the ornate architrave. Flat bars were used on the joints to give a modern Crittall aesthetic.
“There was enough space in the house to manoeuvre the glass panels, but they were very heavy,” Conor said. “The Veribor suctions lifters from Bohle allowed two men to lift each panel in to place. Fortunately, the measuring was spot on, and the installation went smoothly. The homeowner was delighted.”
Another project featuring FrameTec 2.0 for a commercial project in Cambridge found its way into the client’s in-house magazine.
“The Hill Partnership wanted a create break-out quiet spaces in a communal area of an apartment block,” Conor said. “Maximising natural light was important, and anything other than glass would have been claustrophobic. With FrameTec 2.0 we were able to use space efficiently, while maintaining that open feel.”
Conor explained that Clear Glass’s positive relationship with supplier Bohle allows the company to confidently provide consulting services to customers using the latest products and technology.
“Michael Turner, Bohle’s Area Manager, is always on hand to advise us on new developments, and helps us to price jobs to make sure we are competitive while building in a healthy margin,” Conor said.
“Thanks to his advice, we are now using the Juna hinge on bathroom projects, including an impressive steam room which should be completed soon.”
Developed and designed by Bohle, the Juna hinge for glass shower doors boasts minimum gap dimensions, which give a clean high-quality appearance. Other modern aesthetic features include no visible screws, a practically continuous sealing strip, and the above-average return angle of 20°, which closes the glass door automatically.
Clear Glass also regularly uses the MasterTrack FT and ST sliding door systems, which are very popular with homeowners.
“MasterTrack is a very robust sliding door system, and homeowners regularly comment on its performance,” Conor said. “They particularly like the hydraulics system and double-sided spring that slows the door in a single, ultra-smooth operation.
“They’ve even reported that this works just as well even with forceful closing!”
In one novel project, a homeowner with a bathroom on the ground floor asked for a sliding door with opaque glass to be installed in front of an existing clear-panelled door, which allowed light into the room while offering privacy.
“The products are great, but it is also working with a supplier that you can work closely with to come up with exciting design solutions,” Conor concluded.
