Glass floors have always been considered an exquisite note that emphasizes the individuality of the design. And if only fashionable hotels and crazy rich can be afforded earlier, today anyone can make the glass floor with their own hands. About what it is and why people give preference to glass under their feet we will talk in this article.
Content
Characteristics and features
There are many ways to give the interior features and expressiveness, but nothing is so exconlerating the imagination as a glass floor. Replace even a small part of the flooring of a glass niche, and the room is instantly transformed - it will become spacious, "air" and stylish.
The advantages of glass floors are obvious:
- aesthetic factor;
- visual increase in space;
- the ability to install additional lighting (backlight);
- hygienicity (glass is not the best environment for the development of bacteria, besides, it is very easy to wash);
- durability (with proper operating conditions).
The disadvantages include the fact that the glass floor requires a rather careful circulation. Otherwise, scratches and scratching will appear on it very quickly. It is more decorative element than the functional part of the room. However, this trouble can be avoided by installing glass panels from high-strength tempered glass. Another minus, though insignificant, is that the glass floor is quite slippery, but it can be corrected using linear ornaments and sandblasting strips.
Types of glass floor
Depending on the design and purpose, several types of glass floors distinguish:
- Big - takes up the entire floor area in the room. A pretty bold design solution that will be in a decent amount. Such a glass floor (photo) is rational to make in the bathroom or living room. If you plan to apply a similar solution for the living room, remember that in this case the tempered glass should be installed.
- Ribbons - glass ribbons are located around the perimeter of the room along the walls. The main advantage of such a solution is the visual separation of space on the functional zones without using bulky elements of the interior. Very often, glass tapes can be found around the pools or in large stores (dummy zone, backlight). In residential premises, the tapes perform a decorative function and are more element of additional lighting. With their help, you can visually enlarge the room and present it in a favorable light.
- Niches - glass recesses in the semi of various shapes filled with decorative elements and covered with glass stoves. Glass niches can emphasize the design of the room, set the mood and give the originality of the interior. Decorative elements in niches can be completely any, ranging from dry floral compositions, ending with breast stones, a collection of coins, toys or sculptures.
- Aquarium is an amazingly beautiful and unusual sight, which, however, will cost a round sum and requires constant care. Maintaining the cleanliness of the aquarium mounted in the floor is another task, but extraordinary beauty makes many of the victims. In such an aquarium, you can settle almost any fish and marine animals.
- Overlapping is decorative glass stairs or bridges. Mainly applies when the modern skyscrapers and office buildings are made.
- Outdoor podium - glass elevation at about 15 cm from the floor level.
How to make a glass floor
The price of a glass floor "bites out", but despite this, more and more people prefer this original solution. If you want to make the original interior in your home and at the same time save, we suggest make the glass floor with your own hands.
Glass floor materials
Before running to a construction store behind glass panels and other materials, thoroughly think over the design and purpose of the future glass floor. Choose one of the above species, determine the scale and nuances of the structure. Glass niche is a great option for those who want to practice in front of larger ideas. When all issues are solved and described on paper, you can proceed to the purchase of materials.
Glass panels must be made of heavy-duty glass (it is better to buy tempered glass immediately). The panels are required to withstand the load of about 400 kg per square meter. Triplex or "Three-layer pie" is suitable for mounting floors best. Each of the three layers of this material is at least 8 mm and "tightly" is fastened with a polymer film under strong pressure and high temperature.
In addition to Triplex, you can use laminated tempered glass, coated with a polymer with hollow glass microspheres inside. However, when choosing such glass, it should be borne in mind that it is not cutting, that is, at home you will not be able to adjust the sheet to the desired size even the best glass cutter. Therefore, it is important to very accurately remove the measurements.
Deciding with panels, other tools and materials should be prepared:
- metal profile (for frame);
- decorative profile (for joints);
- finishing material (laminate, ceramics, wood);
- fasteners for interior decoration (grout and glue for tile, for example);
- lighting (LED backlight);
- decorative elements (for the design of the niche);
- silicone sealant;
- bulgarian;
- screwdriver;
- spatula gear;
- rubber spatula;
- fasteners (self-tapping screws, bolts);
- schlifmashinka;
- gloves.
Features of work
The base is the main element of the glass floor. It is it that answers the reliability and durability of the entire coverage. The base can be made of reinforced concrete, wood or steel, but in any case it should be as smooth as possible and durable.
Stages of construction:
- If you highlight a niche, you will need to create a deepening of 15 cm if the podium - the floor will be raised by 15-20 cm. The basis may be any form to your taste, but at first it is better to start with something simpler - a square or a rectangle. We will look at the construction of a glass floor with highlighting in a niche.
- When the deepening is ready, place a metal profile at its perimeter and secure it with anchor bolts. Bolts should be covered with anti-corrosion composition. Choose a very reliable fastener, given that the thickness of the panel can reach 2.5 cm with weight of one panel of about 150 kg. In form and dimensions, the frame must be identical to the size of the base. Place it below the floor level to depth equal to the thickness of the glass with the seal.
- Cut the metallic profile segment with self-drawers, and attach it to the base using bolts. It is very important to reliably install the frame for the glass floor to be deformed.
- At this stage, shtroba is made to display the wires of future illumination. Swipe the wires to the nearest distributor and secure the backlight. LED ribbons can be simply glued to double-sided adhesion to a metal frame. It seems very effectively the neon backlight, the installation circuit of which is located below.
- The next stage is facing. Above, we have already said that cladding can be made by ceramic tiles, laminate or wood. Consider the most common option - ceramic tiles. Its shade is better to select, given the overall color of the interior gamut. Apply the adhesive mixture with a spatula on the reverse side of the tile. Customized products under the desired dimensions should be grinding machine. After laying, process all seams by grouting and remove the excess rubber spatula. Then the complete drying of the glue (2-3 days) should be waited. Carefully clean the tile with a clean dry rag after drying.
- Now you can proceed to the very creative moment - the decoration of the niche. Here you can afford to raise your fantasy and put under the glass any composition - flower petals, pebbles, brought from the distant islands during the holidays, drawings of children or miniature garden of stones. Glass can also be reduced, only for this you should use a solid ceramic paint. You can also toned the glass by making a mirror from it or creating an effect of it.
- It remains only to install glass panels. At first, the seal is stacked, which should be attached to a metal frame. Under any conditions, glass should not touch the metal elements, whether it is a profile or fasten! On the reverse side of the panels, apply silicone sealant and put them on the seal.
- Lock the design with steel bolts and process the seams between the glass panels sealant.
- Secure the decorative profile by putting it on the seal.
In this video, it is shown how it is possible to beat a niche to beat, having placed completely ordinary things into it, making cladding from the mirrors and attaching a multi-colored LED tape:
