Captivating Varieties of Glasses - By: Jonathon Midel, Posted on: 2006-10-18

Throughout the years there are different types of glass and glass effects that can be used to decorate buildings, rather than just using glass in a functional way. People are often more interested in improving the look of a building with beautiful glass than sticking to the stark look and feel of modern glass techniques.

Leaded glass has always been a favorite among designers. It's called "leaded glass" as the panels in the window are bound together with lead strips. The name of these strips or pieces is "cames". This technique is popular because lead is easy to bend around the glass shapes, due to its flexibility. Once the leaded glass panes are completed, they can be used in numerous buildings, including houses and churches.

Lead glasses can be manufactured with patterns and textures which make it look more sophisticated and advanced. The strength or performance of the glass is not disturbed when texturing a leaded glass. Texturing adds an attractive and artistic look to the glass. If you are looking for a different and artistic glass for your windows then you can easily find it in leaded glasses.

Many people also choose stained glass to add decorative touches to their homes. They often install it in an entry hall as this is the first area any visitors see. Countries all around the world have used stained glass for centuries, and it's still seen in a variety of buildings.

Basically, stained glass is leaded glass with color and patterns added. Artists add pigmentation to the glass while they are making it. They can also add the colors once the cut pieces of plain glass have been put together. They do this by painting the color onto the glass. The paint is made from powdered glass and color pigments. Once all the painting is completed, the glass is put into a kiln where the heat will melt the pigments and fuse them into the glass.

Glass is often marked so that beautiful patterns are created. This process is called "etching". The marking, or etching, is done using chemicals or abrasives that are applied to the clear glass. Any design or pattern is possible when it comes to etching glass. This technique is often used for glass doors and for windows that are a focal point of any room. Many builders are creating etched glass and using it in the entry hall of large homes as a decorating feature.

"Dalle de Verre" is another variety of glass which is also known as the faceted type of glass. The "faceted" look on the glasses is created by taking thicker pieces of glass and chipping their edges. Large buildings are ideal place for such type of faceted glasses for its effect to be properly reflected.

No matter what type of glass is chosen for new homes and buildings the goal is always the same: to combine the functionality of glass with the creativeness of home decorating. Choosing glass for any home can be a fun experience and the net result is a room with unique window treatments.

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Jonathon Midel is the chief writer for, and editor of Rod's Glass, there's a wealth of knowledge on the website, plus why not sign up for the free Glass newsletter. Read many more interesting articles on Glass at: www.rodglass.com/articles

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