The thickness of the type of glass required is always related to the size of the sheet, and to the degree of exposure to wind and consequent suction loads on the surface. Manufacturers produce readily available tables which give the correct weight and thickness of glass to be used for particular purposes. Most glass used for domestic glazing in Britain is 4mm thick.

The glazing quality of the glass you are using is also an important consideration to make. For general glazing purposes, the toughened laminated safety grade is suitable.

Types of standard glass

Sheet glass
Use for normal glazing work, this is a clear, drawn glass. Since the opposite sides of a pane are never perfectly flat; and parallel, some degree of distortion is inevitable. Sheet glass is commonly used for domestic glazing and is available in thicknesses from 3mm.
Float glass
This type of glass is made by floating molten glass on a bed of molten tin. Such a process produces a glass similar to plate glass, but its higher quality dispenses with the need for additional polishing and so it has generally superseded plate glass. Float glass comes in thicknesses from 5mm. As this glass is quite free from distortion and is strong, it is often used for domestic purposes, especially for large picture windows and table tops. Float glass is also produced in plain or tinted decorative forms, by using various processes including acid etching, electrofloat and sandblasting. Additional decorative effects are obtained by the introduction of certain materials into the molten glass mix to alter its light and heat transmission qualities. Mirrors are also made from float glass of the SQ grade, which has been moisture proofed, silvered and edged in a variety of ways by machine and hand grinding.

Patterned glass – frosted or obscure glass

This range includes glasses with several different decorative finishes which are frequently used for ‘modesty’ purposes in bathrooms and toilets. They are specially designed to allow light through while obscuring vision. One typical example is rough-cast glass, which is smooth on one side and obscured on the other. These glasses, which are usually produced by passing liquid molten glass through rollers, are available in a variety of styles such as arctic, cotstvold, reeded, autumfi, flemish and patchwork, in either plain or tinted versions. The degree of transparency and light diffusion desired will largely determine the type to be used. Thicknesses generally are between 3mm and 5mm.

Wired glass
This glass has a metal mesh embedded into it to reduce the risk of injury from falling bits of glass. It is also accepted as a fire retarding material. The mesh may be of a square (Georgian) or diamond pattern. This type of glass is often used in porches and garage roofs where breakages may occur, because the wire mesh helps to hold the glass together if it is broken. If you intend to re-use this glass, you may find it dillicult to cut, and for this reason it is advisable to buy it already cut to size from a merchant. Wired glass is available in 6mm thickness only.

Toughened glass
Float, sheet and even some patterned glasses can be toughened by a special process which can increase the strength of the glass by four or five times is particularly suitable to use for doors and similar areas where there is a danger of impact, since it shatters into granules instead of sharp splinters if it is broken.

Profilit glass is a strong, translucent glass used mainly outdoors for carports and the like, although it can be used indoors.
Solar control glass reduces the transmission of heat, light and glare from sunlight. It comes in a range of colours in float, laminated, rough-cast and patterned form. Diffuse reflection glass, commonly known as non-reflective glass, is coated on one side to reduce the amount of light reflection and thus improve viewing. It is frequently used for picture framing.

Lean-to roofs glazed into a timber frame work are apt to cause some trouble. The timber frequently warps, and the putty dries out and shrinks, permitting water to enter tiny crevices. Eventually, this water leaves unsightly stains all along the wooden frame.

Cracking of the glass is also quite common, and leaks may occur between the roof and the main wall of the house, even though a strip of lead, zinc or felt called a ‘flashing’ is positioned there to form a weather-tight joint. If the timber frame has warped, it may be the cause of any cracked glass. In this case you will need entirely new frames before you can do any reglazing.

Glass is one of the most versatile building materials. Modern glass production offers a wide range of glass for glazing purposes, both plain and decorative, which are relatively inexpensive, and easy to obtain. Simple glazing techniques requiring the use of few tools are quite simple to learn, and when coupled with a basic knowledge of the different types of glass and their uses, will enable you to use glass to its best advantage in decorating.

All building materials are to some extent controlled by building regulations and local by-laws. In new building works and where any alteration is carried out, the size and the type of glass and its position in the building may have to be considered with regard to fire resistance, heat and sound transmission. If in doubt, consult the local building authority or employ a London Roofing Company to carry out the roofing repairs.

Panel pins will usually do an adequate job of fixing the glazing beads around heavier glass over a fairly large area (especially on curved beads, such as quarter round), but a more secure job can be achieved by using either screws, or cups and screws. The cups and screws are usually made of brass or white metal, and they look especially good fixed on natural or varnished hardwood. Another interesting visual effect can be achieved by using glazing beads which are slightly raised or proud of the edge of the glazing rebate.

Any rattling of the glass in the frames from wind or vibration can be avoided by using adhesive glazing felt which has been cut to length and set into the rebate before the glass is positioned. To fasten the glass with screws, or cups and screws, measure all the rebate sides as before, cut the beads to length, mitre and smooth them off as necessary. In the same positions as previously described for panel pins, drill clean holes through each bead. Once this has been done use the countersinking bit in the drill to countersink the holes to the size of the screw head. If the cups are used, omit the countersinking as the head of the screw is driven into and recessed inside the cup. Spread bedding putty as before. Now, with sufficient screws, or cups and screws, to hand, place the glass in position together with a side bead held firmly in the angle of the rebate.

Drill slightly, using a bradawl, into the rebate through each of the holes you have made in the bead. This will help to give the screws a good grip. Fasten the screws, or cups and screws into these holes and proceed to drill and fix the screws into the beads along each of the remaining sides, checking the position of glass as you work. If screws without cups are used, the head should be driven well down into the countersinking and filled as described for panel pins. Smooth and paint as before.

Wood glazing beads may be used as a substitute for the sloping putty around the outside of a window. You will still need to use bedding putty between the glass and the rebate, but in this case it need not be quite as thick-about 2mm thick as for ordinary glazing with putty.

Materials needed:

Prepared softwood beading-square, splayed, quarter round, or other shape as required panel pins l9mm- 25mm, and glazing felt.

Glazing lightweight glass in small areas

Measure the top, bottom and sides of the rebate separately and then the diagonals to check that the frame is in square. Cut four lengths of beading slightly over-size for the sides, top, and bottom, and mark these accordingly. (Cutting slightly over-size will help the lengths to fit snugly when mitred.) Smooth off any roughness with glasspaper and carefully mitre the ends using a mitring block and dovetail saw. Paint the backs and mitred corners with priming paint. Lay the beads flat. Take one and gently tap two panel pins part way into the centre of the bead width, about 25mm from the face of each mitre. When you have worked out the direction the panel pins should run in, remove them and drill the nail holes; this will prevent the wood from splitting.

Continue doing this, positioning the pins at equal distances, about l50mm apart, along the length. Do the same for the remaining beads and check to see that the beads fit into the rebate. Spread bedding putty as described above, place the glass in the rebate leaving an equal expansion gap around each edge. Holding the glass firmly with the palm of the hand and pushing a side bead squarely into place with the thumb, gently tap the pins down to the face of the bead with a hammer.

Do not fix the beads permanently until all four are in position. Similarly, fit the opposite side bead, then the top and flnally the bottom, checking that the glass has not slipped down. With a centre punch and the hammer gently punch the heads of the pins about l6mm below the bead surface. Use a square-ended filling knife to fill in these indents with putty or filler and smooth off. A final rubbing over with glasspaper and the beads are ready for priming. Finish with an undercoat and an oil-based top coat.

Glazing repairs seem to fall into the category of ‘tasks that are put off until tomorrow’- many people simply do not know where to begin. Both timber and metal framed windows are easy to repair, however, with a few techniques. Warm weather is the time to tackle those external glazing repairs needed around the house, such as replacing cracked panes of glass, renewing crumbling old putty, and repairing leaking skylights or lean-to roofs.

Improvements can also be made, such as installing wholly or partially glazed doors in a hallway or on a landing to give better illumination to these areas. Or, you might want to insert plastic circular, cord operated, ventilators in kitchen or bathroom windows to improve ventilation and reduce condensation. Whatever your plans, warm weather is the best time to handle glass, since it may be brittle to handle in cold weather, and more apt to crack or leave jagged cutting edges

Removing broken glass

Removing broken glass requires care at all times, but especially when working above ground level. If doing so, place obstructions around the area below and warn others to keep children and pets away from the area. Whenever possible remove sashes and frames and work on ground level.

Putty glazing to wooden frames windows & doors

In a wooden door or window frame, the glass is held in the rebate with putty and special nails called sprigs, or occasionally with panel pins. To remove the broken glass, first loosen all putty and fixings around the outside edge, in front of the glass. A glazier’s hacking knife is useful to use here or an old screwdriver and chisel. Remove panel pins or glazing sprigs, or drive them well below the wood surface with a hammer. Now, wearing thick gloves of some sort, such as gardening gloves, remove the old pane of glass; be careful that the glass does not fall out of the rebate. Broken or loose pieces can be pried out and detached with pliers, working always from the top so that loose bits do not fall on to your hands. Once this is done, clear out about 3.17mm of putty around and behind the glass; you should now be down to bare wood. With the glass removed, smooth the rebate with glasspaper, and give it a good coat of primer. Allow this to dry before proceeding -about four hours usually.

Reglazing

Begin by measuring the rebate-each side, top and bottom separately-and the two diagonals. Use a steel tape and take the measurement from the inside edge of each rebate. Deduct 1.6mm off each side or 3.17mm all round if the pane is more than 0.37sqm to allow for glass expansion within the rebate. Now, cut the glass. Avoid using old or weathered glass for reglazing, as it may be brittle and difficult to cut accurately. After cutting, any sharp edges can be smoothed down with an oil-stone which has been wet with turpentine, water or oil.

Once the piece is ready, mark the glass top on the outside face so that it is ready to offer up correctly into the rebate. Roll a lump of putty in your hands until it is soft and easy to work. If the putty is too oily, wrap it first in newspaper to absorb some of the oiliness. With your thumb, lay a continuous strip of bedding putty about 3mm thick all round the back of the rebate against which the glass will be placed. With sprigs or panel pins to hand, place the glass in the rebate, bottom first, leaving an equal space all round the edges and press it gently against the back putty. Never press from the centre. Squeeze out the surplus putty until a thickness of about l.6mm remains between the back ,cf the glass and the rebate. To fix the glass in place, tack the sprigs or panel pins into the side of the rebate, against the face of the glass.

Fix one close to each corner and space the others equally-about l50mm apart-around the pane. Use a small hammer to knock the sprigs in and keep it touching the glass as you work, so that you do not knock the glass and break it. Cut off the excess back putty around the rebate with the putty knife. A strip of weathering putty must now be placed around the outside of the pane. Knead the putty in the hands as before and lay a thick continuous strip into the angle of the rebate against the lace of the glass. Lubricate the knife with water to keep the putty from sticking to it. Hold the putty knife in one corner of the window with the blade against the rebate and the tip resting on the glass at an angle of 45″. Cut the excess putty off all round the pane in one clean stroke, so that a slope is formed to allow the rainwater to run off, and tidy the corners with a square-ended filling knife to form a mitre.

Finally, all the putty surfaces may be brushed over with a damp, soft brush. After two to three weeks, the putty may be painted over, using an oil undercoat and finishing coat to match the existing paintwork. Allow the brush to run over the putty onto the face of the glass about 3mm to seal the joint.

Putty glazing to metal frames

The procedure is the same as described for wooden sashes with three important differences:
1. A special putty for glazing to metal frames is necessary.
2. Small bits of plastic strips are needed to set in the bottom of the rebate to allow for expansion.
3. Sprigs are not used; the glass is held in position by spring clips which look like a bent’S’. These are hooked into the rebate and press onto the face of the glass. It is important to retain these for re-use.

When all the glass and old putty has been removed from a metal frame, there may be rust present in the rebate. No matter how little, this must be removed and bare metal exposed with wire wool or emery paper. Treat the bare metal areas with a rust inhibitor as soon as they have been exposed and, when dry, prime the whole rebate with a metal primer. If this is not done, the expansion of the rust in the rebate will eventually crack the glass. Steel windows may tend to distort and twist in shape from the effects of heat and cold. In such instances they will not shut properly and the glass will crack. Do not attempt to reglaze if this appears to be the situation, since you will first need to consult a blacksmith to straighten and square the sashes. Some steel and aluminium windows have metal glazing beads fixed to the exterior with grub screws. Before attempting removal of a glass pane, lubricate these with a drop of penetrating oil; it will make the job much easier.

In some cases the glass in windows is still sound, but the putty on the face has rotted away. To repair this simply chisel out all the remaining putty, rub the rebate smooth up to the glass, prime it and when dry, proceed as described in the section on apptying weathering putty under Reglazing.

Roof gardens & terraces in London

Vibrant green walls offer complete privacy in the roof garden of this three-bedroom house in Kensington. The house has recently been completely refurbished on the inside, while retaining a period façade.

Large roof terrace with wooden decking in Chelsea. It belongs to a Grade II listed house with three bedroom. It also has a conservatory, for those cold months when you’d prefer to look after plants indoors.

Penthouse roof terrace in St James’s Park, which lets you admire London landmarks including the London Eye, the Gherkin, Big Ben, Nelson’s Column and the Shard

Chelsea
A suspended metal staircase winds through a glass roof to this roof terrace, filled with planters, cloud and yew trees. The house is a maisonette, fitted in contemporary style.

Penthouse in Knightsbridge. This flat has a gym, home cinema and separate guest suite. The roof terrace has sweeping views over Hyde Park.

Belgravia
A fourth-floor flat with a decked roof garden/terrace area, featuring an attractive L-shaped seat in the corner.

Knightsbridge
A few moments from Hyde Park is this three-bedroom, three-bathroom flat, which has views over Chelsea from its roof garden.

Primrose Hill
A former piano factory has been converted into a stylish home. The sleek urban roof garden has views of the park and London skyline

Knightsbridge
Another roof terrace with cracking views, this time belonging to a penthouse in a period mansion.

Hammersmith

Roof garden in South Kensington

Builders usually leave a new home with a minimum of flexible shelving, which is expected to cater for all needs, and the lazy planner may not think to improve on this situation. Even in an ultra-modern home where the architect or builder may have provided what he considers the optimum storage space, you may be able to take a closer look around the house and even find nooks and crannies which can be used.

Space under the stairs

More often than not the space under the stairs tends to be a glory hole, where awkward things are thrown because they have no other home. With a little thought, this space can be put to good use, and become an organised storage area, particularly if it is closed in. The inside of the door is an ideal place for storing tools, where they are out of sight, but within easy reach.

Check existing cupboards to see whether the space can be used more economically, for example. Then look for extra room. The space under the staircase of many houses is ripe for development, for example.Unless you want to build a second bathroom under the stairs, the space can be used for storage.

Your house may have a door in the kitchen, leading to a larder under the highest part of the stairs. In Britain, there may also be a door in the hall leading to a meter cupboard under the lower portion. Larder arrangements, which often have three or four deep shelves can be classic examples of wasted space,it is better to ‘slim’ down all but the bottom one so they are only wide enough to take single items, this can more than double the amount of easily accessible storage space.

Always try to use the wall for storage, rather than the floor, because large empty floor areas create an illusion of space. On the other hand, avoid having all your storage units hugging the walls.

Types of storage that can be built

Cupboards, shelves and drawers each have their good and bad points. Cupboards are clean and generally look neat. However, doors can be a nuisance. Sliding doors, which are, admittedly, wonderful space-savers, tend to limit the view into a cupboard but they are easily obstructed by tightly packed clothing and by small objects stuck in the tracks, and they can do damage to delicate equipment.

Doors with horizontal slats or louvres are expensive and attract, rather than repel dirt. Two kinds of doors which may solve difficult problems are concertina-action and ‘up-and-overs’.

If you have eye-level wall cupboards it is always worthwhile taking them up to the ceiling. This prevents a dirt trap and provides valuable long-term storage space. Shelves are usually cheaper than cupboards and offer easy access to their contents, but the amount of work and skill involved in making good shelves is often underestimated.

They tend not to show their weaknesses until long after they have been put up. The ‘box’ method is a good way of making shelves and it makes a variety of objects look neat and compact. The vertical pieces act as dividers or book ends and form supports to prevent the shelves from sagging. If the whole unit is made soundly it will require far fewer fixing points than conventional shelves would.

Drawers tend to be expensive and can be a nuisance unless they are a good fit. The best place to position them is below working surfaces where they can use awkward space economically and their contents can be seen easily. Sometimes it is possible to buy good sets of drawers cheaply from second-hand shops, but check first for dry-rot and woodworm. By painting them and changing the handles they can be successfully incorporated into your fitted storage units. Cupboards, shelves and drawers can be free-standing, fitted or built-in.

Consider the following points before making any decisions. Free-standing units have the distinct advantage of allowing you to alter the layout of your rooms frequently. You can also take them with you if you move. Although they probably require more knowledge and skill to make than other types, there is a wide variety available on the market.

Dual purpose seats, and tables which are either portable or fitted with castors, can be quickly transferred between rooms. The principle of using ‘dead’ space under furniture, especially beds, is ideal, if space is very limited. Often capacious drawers can fill up the space under beds which would otherwise just be a dust trap. Fitted furniture, by definition, is usually screwed to the wall or floor, but it can be removed if you wish.

There is an excellent range of units on the market suitable for all kinds of storage requirements. Built-in furniture is an integral part of the structure of a building, and is strictly permanent.

If you intend to carry out any structural work yourself and you are in any doubts then consult a specialist carpenter.

Choosing suitable storage for house

If you never allow personal preferences to influence your decisions all the fun would go out of home planning. However, there are certain practical aspects to consider before making your final decisions.

A pergola draped with flowering plants will enhance any garden and not only is it attractive, it can be placed to give seclusion to a favourite spot or cut off an unwanted view. When pergolas and fences are carefully planned they make a garden a more beautiful and intimate place. There is no strict definition of what a pergola is and the variety of designs are endless. At its most basic, the pergola consists simply of a single line of upright posts which are linked at their tops by thinner horizontal sections. Various patterns can be created by adding more poles between the uprights, or by combining conventional trellis work, so that even this simple structure is capable of great variation.

By bridging two parallel lines of uprights a simple arch is created which can be built over a path to provide an attractive covered walk. Really, the only limitations on pergola design are provided by your imagination. As the designs become more complex, the finished structures should perhaps be more properly called arbors, but tire construction techniques arid materials remain the same. The well designed pergola is an attractive feature in itself, but it is seen at its best when clothed in climbing or trailing plants. Because it will be a prominent feature of the garden a lot of thought should go into its location. A simple design can be set in the middle of a lawn to provide a feature of interest.

Pergolas are assembled in situ and the construction is easy if alt joints have been cut correctly. Care should be taken when spacing all sections to ensure a uniform pattern. If you are looking for a London Carpentry Company for your fencing, pergolas or garden features, contact us.

Rustic fences

The overall appearance of your garden owes a lot to the type of fencing which surrounds it. Not only are fences decorative, there are styles which lend seclusion to a garden, or provide protection from wind and rain. Before choosing a fence, look at your own garden and decide whether it is too exposed or too enclosed and cramped looking. Then choose a design of fence which not only looks good but which is suited to your particular garden. A rustic fence which retains the natural look yet provides seclusion and weather protection is the best.

Storage for offices
You can never have too much storage space in an office. In fact, it is worth providing a specific space folder and paper work. You can get a carpentry company to build cupboards and shelving that fits neatly into the office.

Flooring for a garden office

Floor treatments are an important factor in work safety. Avoid shiny surfaces ; beware of smooth concrete, which becomes especially slippery when wet. Liquid treatments are available which harden the surface of concrete, thus reducing wear which creates a great deal of dust. Different floor-coverings can help distinguish between separate areas in a office, especially if some are ‘danger zones’ near sharp or powerful equipment, or power points. Some flooring has a sound-deadening quality which is particularly useful in a confined space.

Line up open storage and cupboards as uniformly as possible, and choose wall coverings which are appropriate to specific activities. At the same time, do not over-furnish your office to a point that makes it hard to clean.