November 2020 - New Town Glass Ltd

Make your daily moment of self-care in your shower one of your day’s highlights. You can make this happen with a shower upgrade. There are many options you can choose from to improve your current shower that you don’t find enjoyment in. Do away with your old shower curtain. A shower remodeling to glass showers can make your shower routine a pleasurable experience every time. The change can transform and modernize your bathroom effectively creating an interesting area that could also be one of the major focal points in your home.

Working with a professional shower company in Kelowna is key in making your idea of a dream shower and bathroom a reality. They can guide you in planning and installing one of the best showers you can imagine. You should therefore spend some time identifying the right shower company to make the most out of your shower investment.

Finding the Right Shower Company

There’ll be quite a few glass service providers that will claim they install the best showers. Verify their claim by gathering information about them to confirm their real capability.

You can begin by asking the prospective Kelowna shower company about the following:

How long they have been in the business, particularly working with glass and the approximate number of shower projects they have completed
Provide you with references, preferably both old and new customers
They will likely give you a few names of customers, who you can call to ask about their experience with the shower company and the results of their job.
Whether they are licensed and insured
Check their liability insurance and workman’s compensation.
Their charges and the items that are included
The services they provide
Their experience with projects similar to yours
Give you a written estimate
When your project can be completed
Any disruptions to your daily household routine, if any

Check also if the shower company can work directly with your insurance company if yours is a major home glass replacement or repair. It will help bring down costs for you.

After getting all the important information about the prospective companies, you can limit your choice to the best two or three companies and compare them using your selection criteria.

Kelowna Shower Glass Company

If you are a Kelowna homeowner, you should find it easy to consider New Town Glass in your shortlist if not the leading shower company. For over 25 years, we have been in the glass business installing among other structures Kelowna shower glass. We have dealt with hundreds of projects creating the best showers there are in Kelowna and surrounding areas, providing satisfaction to homeowners, and enhancing the value of their property.

We have the best-qualified glass installers in the industry with many years of hands-on experience. Highly technically competent, they provide excellent service and customer experience. They are licensed and fully insured, friendly, and professional. They undergo specialised advanced training to be abreast of modern glass technology and installation techniques.

You have a wide range of quality glass products and design options to choose from to suit your home’s architectural style. We use state-of-art equipment and tools in executing your installation. You can check that the rates and warranty we offer are among the best in the industry.

Agalite Showers from New Town Glass

While we can install both framed and frameless doors for showers, we take pride in offering Agalite showers. They are frameless doors and shower enclosure designs that can bring out the best in your Kelowna shower glass.

We always recommend Agalite showers to let homeowners get the maximum benefits from a frameless door design. Frameless shower doors and enclosures give you the clean uncluttered look that you don’t get with both shower curtain and framed doors. They are convenient to clean and maintain. It is worth noting the tradeoffs with Agalite showers. While they give your bathroom the charm, airiness, and natural clarity of glass, Agalite showers must be installed with the correct design and accurately cut to prevent water from leaking into other areas of the bathroom. Their cost is higher owing to thicker glass and special hardware required to make the door attachment stronger. There are also intricacies involved in the fabrication of custom heavy frameless shower glass doors and enclosures.

If you can live with the tradeoffs, you get more enjoyment from your Kelowna shower glass by choosing a frameless shower door in your design. Frameless glass shower enclosures from our supplier partner Agalite can create changes in your bathroom to make it a more desirable place for relaxation.

We are committed to providing Kelowna homeowners the enjoyment, safety, and aesthetic upgrade they desire for their homes. Call us to know how we can help you and for a no-obligation consultation.

Railing Installation Guide: Where to Find the Best Railing Company?

November 23, 2020

Harison Pyykko

Installing railings whether for your home’s interior or exterior is critical and can be a make or break home improvement project. Railings for your staircase, balcony, porch, deck, or patio have many implications including safety, aesthetic, and functionality. You cannot afford to have your railings designed and installed shabbily lest you suffer the consequences and waste your significant investment. Railings that do not conform to building codes can be safety hazards that cause serious accidents like falls. Railings with designs that are off and are poorly installed can be ugly and will not enhance the appearance of your home. Moreover, they can even degrade your property’s value. Just as importantly, railings that don’t suit the function for which they are intended will not justify your reasons for installing them.

When you realise the important implications of an inferior railings installation, you would be well-advised not to attempt doing a DIY for your railings. While you can easily purchase railing materials you will need from a railing store, it is always a wise decision to let a professional railing company do the technical work of installing your railings.

Types of Railings

You can choose from a few options of railings from a railing store or what the railing company will offer you. There are wood railings, metal railings such as iron, steel, and aluminum railings, stainless steel railings, wire railings, and glass railings. Each of them has its benefits and disadvantages.

Wood railings are inexpensive and can easily be installed. They can last for at least 10 years when maintained properly.

Iron, steel, and aluminum are inexpensive, strong, and can be stylish while easy to maintain.

Wire railings provide for an open design. Their horizontal cable arrangement makes a unique design. Their costs are comparable to those of wood or metal railings but they have the potential to last longer.

Stainless steel railings use stainless steel rails and parts. The rods can be both vertical and horizontal.

Glass panels instead of balusters are used in glass railings. They typically use a strong and safe tempered glass that can be clear, frosted, tinted, or designed.

Considerations in Railing Installation

1. An understanding of the features and benefits, as well as the downsides of using the different types of railings, is important in your choice of the right railings to install to meet your requirements and expectations.

2. In deciding which railings are best, review their safety performance, functionality, maintenance requirements, how their costs satisfy your budget, and the criticality of their application.

3. Before beginning your home improvement project with your railing installation, it is important to check with your local authorities about building code requirements for your area. The interpretation of building codes can vary greatly from city to city so it best to check with your municipality.

4. Follow strictly the municipality codes for staircases and balconies including railing height, and post and baluster spacing.

5. Prioritise accurate measurement, which can mean the difference between secure, attractive, and wobbly railings. Improper measurements can lead to spills and falls.

6. Don’t just purchase any product the railing store recommends. Make sure your railing style suits and complements the design of your home and enhances its value.

7. Test the completed stair or balcony railing. Test the installed railing out with family members or friends. Check that the height is ergonomically correct and the structure is very stable and robust.

8. It is good to have wood, and metal railings painted, stained, or coated to prolong their service life.

10. Trust only expert installers to ensure quality work. Talk to the railing company you have chosen to do the installation for you. Let them know what your requirements and expectations are even before they begin their plan.

Finding the Best Railing Company

When your home is in Kelowna, you can rely on New Town Glass for your railing project. We are experts in glass with over 15 years of experience in glass installation including interior and exterior railings. Aside from glass, we also work with other materials customers prefer for their railings. As a professional railing installation service provider, we use only railings of the highest quality standards, reliability, and performance. We source our railing products primarily from industry leaders – Falcon Railing and Q-Railing.

Falcon Railing and Q-railing are two of the best railing companies you can trust to deliver the highest quality railings. Falcon Railing Mfg. manufactures topless glass railing and aluminum railing systems. Their non-obtrusive topless glass railing design lets you experience the most beautiful and enjoyable view you can ever imagine. Q-Railing offers top-quality glass balustrades and other products for use especially in modular designs including handrails, glass clamps, glass adapters, and many other innovative solutions.

Call New Town Glass for your railings. We can help you upgrade your home with stunningly beautiful indoor railing for your staircase or outdoor railings for your balcony, porch, or patio. We offer a free consultation.

Top Reasons Why You Should Install Glass Shower Enclosure in Your Bathroom

November 17, 2020

Harison Pyykko

Your shower enclosure can spell the difference between a bathroom with a stunningly great look and a common bathroom like all others. Since the bathroom is one of the major focal points in a home’s features, you should put a lot of attention to your choice of shower enclosure design and its installation.

Avoid shower curtains when you can. They aren’t just old fashioned and ordinary. They also present some disadvantages. They are difficult to clean and maintain. They are messy. When left wet, water can drip on the floor and encourage the growth of mold and the formation of mildew. Opaque shower curtains can also cause a feeling of being claustrophobic to some.

When remodeling your home, using a glass enclosure for your shower can instantly upgrade your bathroom, give it a modern elegant look, and add value to your property. Visual appeal isn’t the only reason you will want to use glass for showers. Installing a glass enclosure for your shower offers many other exciting benefits.

Why You Should Install a Glass Shower Enclosure

1. It promotes sophisticated aesthetic.

The glass enclosure around your shower creates a feeling of more open space compared to a restrictive shower curtain that makes the room feel narrow and confined. The use of glass for showers can immediately transform any bathroom into an elegant area that can become your home’s center of attention from guests.

2. It’s easy to clean.

Cleaning the shower and bathroom can be tedious and unpleasant especially when you have shower curtains or a bathroom that has no shower enclosure. That is not the case when you have a glass shower enclosure installed. Cleaning your shower becomes a breeze. All you need is a squeegee to clean it with preferably followed by a soft cloth for the clearest shine.

3. It prevents water seepage on the floor.

Your bathroom floor is spared from water splash with an enclosure that effectively closes and seals off your shower from the rest of our bathroom. Without water seepage into your tiles not only minimises the cleaning required but can also prevent serious problems over time.

4. Glass can be custom fit for your space.

Aside from the availability of standard shower enclosure designs, you can also have a professional glass service provider customise your panes to fit any specifications. No matter the size and shape of your shower area, the glass enclosure can be designed and cut for your specific needs.

5. Glass offers limitless design options.

Not only can your glass service provider give you a shower enclosure custom fit to your space, but there are also many options for glass, frame, and hardware that can satisfy your taste and complement your bathroom style. You can choose from clear transparent, frosted, tinted, or designed glass options. You can have your glass door framed or frameless. Stylish, durable, and functional hardware is available for you to use.

6. Enjoy high safety standards.

Glass showers are designed for safety. Glass for showers is typically tempered, thick, and safe to use. Tempered glass is four times stronger than regular glass that is not prone to breaking in normal applications such as in glass doors. In the unlikely event it breaks, tempered glass shatters into pellet-like pieces and not into shards that can cause serious injury.

7. It enhances your home’s value.

Investing in an attractive glass shower to replace your old shower curtain or install an enclosure in your open shower is a wise decision. Your investment can go give your bathroom the boost it needs to enhance its visual appeal. Even if you don’t intend to sell your property, the bathroom improvement will provide your home with increased overall value.

Where to Buy Shower Glass

After you are convinced that glass for showers is the way to go in your bathroom upgrade project, you may be asking where to buy shower glass. Glass enclosure for showers is a special glass that should be suitable for the application. Glass panel thickness is generally 1/2”. For a glass door it is typically 3/8” (or a 10 mm equivalent) and 1/2” thickness. The frameless shower normally uses less thick glass than the panel for the panel to be stronger and more stable. Purchase your shower glass only from reputable manufacturers. A professional glass service provider can also let you know where to buy shower glass and even include buying it for you.

When you look for a glass service company that can help you with your glass shower project, contact New Town Glass. We are glass experts with over 15 years of experience with glass structures that include glass shower enclosures. We have helped hundreds of Kelowna homeowners upgrade their bathrooms through our quality glass shower installation. Give us a call at +1 778-400-8001 to find out how we can support your home improvement with our glass design and installation. We offer a free consultation.

8 Benefits of Installing Frameless Shower Door and Enclosure (and Some Disadvantages)

November 9, 2020

Harison Pyykko

The bathroom is one of the most important parts of your home. You spend a significant amount of time in it, especially for your daily shower routine. When installing your shower for the first time or remodeling your bathroom, shower design should be given attention for your maximum benefits and enjoyment. You want to make your shower area unique, space-efficient, and functional.

If you choose a glass shower option, you should first start to determine what the right type of glass shower is for you. There are two major designs you can choose from – frameless shower or framed shower.

Benefits of a Frameless Shower

If you haven’t decided yet whether or not to install frameless shower door and enclosure in your bathroom, here are some of the advantages that can convince you to do so.

1. It offers endless design possibilities.

Frameless showers are customisable and offer far more options in style and size. You are not limited to mass-produced standard sized doors, adding flexibility to your design. Whether yours is a small walk-in shower or an expansive spa shower, a frameless shower can be designed for it. Customisation is one of the biggest advantages of a no-frame shower over a framed shower.

2. It provides significantly more functional doors.

The door in a frameless shower can be opened in and out, unlike a framed shower door that is limited to outward opening.

3. It is relatively easy to clean.

Your frameless shower gives you the motivation to clean your bathroom regularly. Cleaning it is easy. Glass used in the shower is resistant to weathering. You need only to use a squeegee for the glass door and walls before proceeding to clean the floor.

4. The bathroom feels brighter, lighter, and more spacious.

The natural light that a frameless shower reflects gives the appearance of a larger and more expansive bathroom area. The absence of a frame that can cut off your sightlines will let you have a sense that the area is larger. The flow of natural light into your bathroom space can also improve visibility and help make your bathroom look clean and updated.

5. It provides the shower a clean, fresh look.

On a frameless shower, there is no unsightly rubber, metal or other forms of seal you will normally find on bulky looking framed shower.

6. It minimizes mold risks.

Since there are no door seals in a frameless shower door where water and soap can settle, the risk of mold build-up and mildew formation is minimised.

7. It is aesthetically appealing.

For people who go for a modern minimalist design option in their homes, frameless showers are a favorite. They are not as bulky as framed showers and do not have the cluttered look from a shower door with metal or rubber seals. They add a luxurious touch to your home’s overall aesthetic. Frameless shower doors are also classy and have a timeless quality that will be in style for many decades to come.

8. Finally, it increases the value of your property.

The bathroom along with the kitchen are the primary focus of potential home buyers. These two areas can significantly affect the assessment of a home’s value. Having a modern elegant frameless shower can be a great boost when your home is being valuated.

Disadvantages of a Frameless Shower

Even with many benefits from a frameless shower, you need to be aware of its disadvantages as well to guide you in your choice of shower style.

1. It costs more.

The initial cost of a no frame shower can be 4 to 9 times more expensive than its framed counterpart. The significant cost difference comes from the thicker glass used that is required to make the frameless door more stable without the sturdiness of a frame.

10 mm shower glass (or its 3/8” equivalent) and 1/2″ shower glass is typically used for no frame shower designs. 10 mm shower glass is the minimum thickness that can be used for a stable and structural sound glass shower door. Thicker glass is more expensive, the reason 10mm shower glass is a more popular choice among homeowners who prefer a no frame shower.

Another reason for its higher cost is the sturdier hardware required to have frameless shower doors in place such as solid brass.

2. It may sacrifice function.

A no frame shower doesn’t have seals around its door to bind it with the shower wall and floor as leak prevention. When not cut to a perfect fit, there could be gaps between the door and other areas of the shower. This can allow water to leak onto the floor. In some cases, the problem is caused by a wrong design such as the showerhead aimed at the door instead of installing it at a wall away from the door.

3. It offers less privacy.

With transparent glass walls, frameless showers can be a bit revealing especially for families sharing their bathroom space. For a little more privacy, you can opt for a frosted glass that can also offer the same modern open feel.

If you are a homeowner who is looking for impressive and inspiring ways to improve your home, particularly your bathroom, a frameless glass shower is a great solution. You get many benefits with your investment.

To ensure a design that will work best, it is wise to involve as early as possible a professional glass installation service provider. You may call New Town Glass for a free consultation. We are glass experts with over 15 years of experience in the design and installation of glass structures including glass showers and enclosures. We serve Kelowna and surrounding areas.

Should You Use Glass for Stairs and Interior Railings?

November 3, 2020

Harison Pyykko

Both exterior and interior railings can add significant value to your home with their visual appeal and functionality. While exterior railings are commonly used in decks, balconies, porches, and outdoor patios, interior railings are especially useful in staircases and to allow transition from one area of a home to another.

Types of Interior Railings

There are many types of railings that you can choose from when designing your interior railings for your home space. The most popular types of railings include wood railings, metal railings, wire railings, stainless steel railings, and glass railings.

Wood Railings

Wood railings are a popular choice among DIY homeowners and new builders because of the inexpensive wood material they use. Custom wood railings can also be fabricated by professional railing suppliers to complement an elegant staircase design. They require adequate care and maintenance. They can last at least 10 years.

Metal Railings

An inexpensive way to add some style, metal interior railings usually consists of iron, steel, or powder-coated aluminum. They are strong and stylish, easier to maintain, and won’t break the bank as a homeowner.

Wire Railings

Also called cable railings, wire railings provide for an open design. The cables’ horizontal arrangement makes wire railings unique. The cables can be combined with either a wood or metal frame to compliment both a traditional and modern style. The cost of a wire railing can be comparable to that of a metal or glass railing, but with the potential to last longer.

Stainless Steel Railings

Stainless steel railings use stainless steel for their rails. They have flexible designs, use stainless steel posts and rods that can be both vertical and horizontal. Stainless steel railings may also use wire infill.

Glass Railings

They use glass panels instead of balusters for infill. Glass railings using clear glass provide a clear view but the glass panels can also have the option for decorative etchings or a color tint.

What to Consider in Choosing Interior Railings

Understanding the features, benefits, and disadvantages of the different types of railings can make you well informed before deciding to purchase.

1. Safety: You should be most concerned with safety. Consider the safety of use and local building code requirements in your area including factors such as the type of safety glass allowed when you choose railings.

2. Maintenance: Consider the maintenance needs so the railings can always look clean and new and be highly functional.

3. Budget and Cost: The money you will spend should meet your budget expectations and at the same time provide your home interior the improvement in style and function you desire.

4. Installation: The installation of railings can make or break your home improvement. Improperly installed, your railings can be an eyesore and dangerous. Get the services of an experienced railings service company.

Pros and Cons of Glass Railings

Glass is becoming one of the most popular materials for decorative construction applications. There is no doubt glass can bring the visual appeal you want from your structure such as stairs railings but is it safe and practical to use?

Here are the advantages of using glass railings for the interior of your home:

1. More Lighting: Glass panels allow natural light to flow through and reach your steps without any shadow, which can reduce the need for artificial lighting.

2. Safety: They are safe even when used in staircases. The thick tempered glass used in them is not likely to shatter or break. They also keep small children and pets from falling off the edge of the staircases. Clear steps from enhanced lighting also reduce the chances of tumbling downstairs.

3. Unrestricted View: The glass panels do not block off any view in your home interior that you want to be seen.

4. Enhanced Style: Glass railings create a modern luxurious vibe that enhances the style of your staircase and home.

5. Easy Maintenance: You only need to keep them clean to maintain their great condition at all times.

6. Environmentally Friendly: Coming from sand, glass takes nothing from the earth’s natural resources and leaves nothing during processing.

For the disadvantages, you should also consider the following:

1. Lots of Cleaning Required: If you want to keep glass railings always looking clean, transparent, and beautiful, you will need to clean them regularly. They’re not the easiest thing to clean.

2. Price: Standard balustrades such as timber, steel, and others are more affordable. With pricing on the higher end, the cost of glass railings is a tradeoff against the many benefits they provide.

3. Lack of Privacy: When compared with other opaque railings, you are fully exposed when you climb or go down the staircase.

You have many reasons to install glass railings in your home’s interior. With their sleek appearance, they offer a modern aesthetic to any style of home. The open concept feel they bring brightens up space and encourage a fresh, airy atmosphere. They also provide a visual appeal that can increase the value of your home.

Most importantly, they address the concerns on durability and safety. The tempered safety glass with polished wedges normally used in glass railings is four times stronger than regular glass. They do not warp, rot, or deteriorate; they can support your staircases for many years to come.