Obscure Glass & Frosted Glass

What Is Obscure Glass?

Obscure glass covers a type of glass that includes frosted glass, patterned glass, textured glass and privacy glass that all have reduced transparency. Visibility through the pane of glass is limited and this is most often used in bathrooms and homes for privacy.

Frosted, or privacy glass, is opaque so that light can transmit, but you can't see through the glass. Patterned and textured glass obscures the view so that it's transparent in varying degrees.

Types of Obscure Glass

Frosted Glass

Glass can be given an opaque or frosted translucent appearance by acid-etching to produce fine detailed patterns.

Textured Glass

Glass can be obscured by creating a textured pattern into glass.

How Obscure Glass Is Made

Obscure glass is created from standard annealed glass, or it can be created from toughened or laminated glass if safety standards are also required.

Acid-etched

To apply a frosted and translucent finish to glass, an acid or caustic substance is applied that eats into and removes the surface glass creating a slightly rough imprint. This process is applied after the glass has been manufactured.

Glass can have a solid frosting for maximum translucency and privacy, or be used to create artistic and geometric patterns. Acid-etching is also popular on door glazing for the application of numbers and words, such as a house name or number.

Glass that has been acid etched has an even surface.

Textured Glass

Patterned or textured glass has the pattern pressed into the glass while the glass is still in its molten state on the production line.

During manufacturing, a molten sheet of glass is passed through rollers with a pattern mould, this imprints into the glass and then the glass is quickly cooled for the pattern to remain. Patterned glass has an uneven and textured surface in varying degrees and can be textured on one or both sides.

Can You See Through Frosted Glass?

The transparency is defined on a rating scale from 1-5, with 1 being the most transparent (see-through) and 5 the most translucent (opaque). Obscure glass can offer a range of privacy levels as this is dependent on the amount of decorative etching applied.

In daylight, obscure glass does offer a reasonable level of privacy, but at night when it's dark outside and there is a light inside, the window may be more transparent. Solid frosted glass is more opaque than patterned glass and not easy to see through, even at night.

What Is Obscure Glass Used For?

Obscure glass is most commonly used for bathroom windows to provide privacy whilst allowing light into the room. For bathrooms, we recommend a privacy rating of 4/5.

Obscure glass can also be used in front or back external door glazed panels for privacy but to allow light into a dark hallway or room. Or, for security purposes in back doors. For secluded doors, we recommend choosing a laminated option for additional security.

Obscure glass can also be used for windows in living spaces or bedrooms adjacent to roads or paths, or where they are overlooked by neighbours.

Obscure glass can also be used for decorative effects in door glazing. Obscure glass with a privacy rating of 1 is often used as decorative panels for doors.

Obscure Glass Patterns

Minster

Privacy Level 2

Taffeta

Privacy Level 3

Autumn Leaf

Privacy Level 3

Mayflower

Privacy Level 4

Oak Leaf

Privacy Level 4

Stippolyte

Privacy Level 4

Pelerine

Privacy Level 5

Cotswold

Privacy Level 5

Everglade

Privacy Level 5

Acid Etched

Privacy Level 5

Commonly Asked Questions