Options for frosting glass?

It is very difficult to get an even texture over a fairly large area of glass by sandblasting, especially for a novice. You might be better served to buy some "privacy" glass from your local glazier and replace the existing glass. BUT..................

One thing to be aware of...if the window happens to be over a tub, check your local glazing codes for any tempered glass requirements. Any changes from the original glazing may not be grandfathered. If you don't already have a certificate of occupancy from the local inspectors...wait until you move in to make the glass changes. Save yourself some red-tape headaches.

Goodness, I didn't realize that there was code for glazing. The windows are not going to be directly over the tub, so hopefully that won't be an issue. I have not been able to find frosted or privacy glass at Home Depot or any local hardware store. Would I have to go to a specialty shop to buy that? Do I just look under "glass shop" in the phone book?

Whatever place you would call for mirrors and shower doors etc., should be able to help you out. There are some chains like Binswanger Glass and The Glass Doctor that should have this in stock. HD and Lowes won't have what you want. If you wanted "color", i.e., white with caramel color streaks, for example, your local stained glass retailer can help. Even some textured clear in color glass from the stained glass retailer might work. You are just looking for 1/8" thick obscure glass.

Look in the Yellow Pages under "Sandblasting" and also under "Glass" and "Glass, Stained and leaded" Some stained glass shops do sandblasting and if they're any good, they can do a nice even blast. They can mask off the wood frames. You might also look at local flat glass shops...they can get many clear textures. Check local building codes to see if you have to have tempered. You might not.

Andy

What you are looking for in a residential/ commercial glass and glazing shop is called by the name of "DS Ground" which is commercially sandblasted glass, very even surface, simply remove the glazing compound and the glass "points " that are holding you glass in and replace it all. Glass with DS Ground and points to hold it in and re-glaze with glazing putty around the edge, (judging by the age of your home.) Much easier than sandblasting your piece.

and as to tempered glass, you are the "king/queen of your castle", you can put whatever you want in there. A commercial company is bound by the safety glazing laws and the BOCA codes. There is no grandfathering or concern needed when doing things to your home yourself, you may have to make changes in order to pass an inspection when you sell the house though.

Not true everywhere. Here in Oregon, if you are doing any remodeling to your home and you have to have a permit, then anything that is affected within the scope of that permit has to be brought up to code. Nowadays it seems like you are required to have a permit to do just about anything although the chances of getting caught are slim being that the inspectors are so busy looking at new home construction. If you've hired a contractor to oversee the remodel then he'll know what you need...or should know.

Andy

In my neck of the woods, the codes are that any window within 36" left or right of an entrance/exit door or any window, the bottom of which is within

18" of a walk surface (floor), must be tempered, additionally any flat sheet glazing in bathrooms must also be tempered.

In existing housing, replacing a window which must now be tempered means that the entire room must now be brought up to code. Replacing a non-tempered sidelite for example means that the other sidelite must also be changed out to tempered glass. Now, I am talking about flat glass. The decorative leaded glass panels are not required to be tempered, obviously. Only the protective glazing, no matter whether it is on the interior or exterior.

I know of a 1960's contemporary style house with floor to ceiling IG windows in the great room where one of the IG units lost it's seal and fogged up. The homeowner had to replace all the windows in the entire room with tempered IG units to bring it up to current code. This work didn't require a job permit, it was the glazing contractor's liability insurer that insisted. It's not just about sneaking one past the building inspector, it's the long-term liability.

Obviously, it seems it is different in other parts of the country.

IF it doesn't involve a permit or inspections, who is to know? King of my castle...

If a contractor came into MY house and said "I MUST do more than you want me to do because MY insurance company demands it" I would tell him to have his insurance company pay for it, you fix what I am paying you to fix, period, or I find another glazier. Just my thoughts on that situation...

Never heard of the other code of all windows in a bath be tempered, new one on me, but I don't mess with stuff that is out of my realm, so I don't pay any attention to the codes that don't pertain to me.

That's how I adapt...

It's called collusion and price-fixing. Their entrepreneurial management guru told them it was OK. The glazing company had attended a glass festival somewhere and came home with a new business model.

Heh, heh.

why re-invent the wheel

double chip

cuts easy, is cheap and available from most SG shops

could even try a few bevels if you want to learn a "new trick"

h

Things nobody has mentioned...... sandblasting is very dangerous, and can cause permanent lung damage, (silicosis) if you breath in the dust. Why not consider leaving your glass in, and simply buy some decorative glass and mount it right over your existing glass with caulking and points? I often do this with stained glass panels I make.

Boy, I can't stand all the codes, requirements, and regulations that has been getting worse and worse at the Federal, State and local level since the

60's. What really kills is that you have to pay them FEES to come jam yet another code up your poopshoot! "That's right, dear, bend over...and don't be looking for any kisses or K-Y jelly either!"

Don't know about windows, but every time some government flunky decides to watch out for the best interests of insurance companies and write another "Mom Law", well that really FROSTS my ass!

If you think it is bad now, just wait until Jan, 2009 and see what the Hildebeast imposes.

hmm...so based on the discussion, I think I've ruled out attempting to do the sandblasting myself. Looks like I need to find a good glass shop in the area to buy some replacement glass or something to go over the existing glass.

I'm not going to worry about the code at this time. It's not a big window, and we're planning to live in it for awhile, so there's no worry about passing any type of inspection anytime soon. Thanks for all the advice/suggestions/debate!

I'm pretty sure that double plating it as I suggested, will not be a code issue. Check out, Glue chip, ripple, granite, seedy, reamy, etc. All good and inexpensive choices.