The irresistible appeal of frameless glass

Glass is an extremely versatile material. It can be both decorative or purely functional – and when it’s the latter, its primary benefit and attribute is its transparency; allowing light into our homes and maximising views of surrounding vistas and cityscapes.

It’s an ancient material that has had many purposes throughout history, and as such has seen several technological innovations. In the 21st century, we still use glass for the same reasons we used it centuries ago – but such innovations have rendered the material more useful and versatile than ever.

One such technological achievement is the advent of frameless glass: a seamless glazing option which has no obvious frame around the edge. It’s a technique that’s becoming increasingly popular and embraced for its clean, minimalist look – and in New Zealand, Stake Glass is a pioneer in its use and installation.

The company, formed in 2016 in Christchurch with the aim to provide customers with the highest quality glass solutions, has since its inception emphasised the kind of innovation in its offerings that frameless glass embodies. Stake Glass is now a specialist in a wide range of high-quality frameless glass products – from showers, mirrors and splashbacks, through to doors, balustrades, pool fencing and glass partitions.

Tim Andrews, the sales manager at Stake Glass, says their pursuit of this specialisation is a direct result of the market’s appetite for achieving contemporary looks with glass, while also offering safety, practicality, and versatility.

“It gives you that seamless, clean look that’s often so important in a home where there is a wider minimalist theme,” says Tim. “Frameless glass showers, for example, look much more modern and sophisticated – and by extension, they’re also easier to clean and maintain.”

Frameless glass showers can also help create the illusion of extra space – often a very valuable asset in bathrooms. Stake Glass’s frameless showers are made from 10mm toughened safety glass – affording it greater strength and durability than standard shower glass, and rendering frames redundant.

“Our frameless glass is manufactured to be thicker than usual to offset the lack of frames,” says Tim. “The thickness increases the strength of the product so you're able to achieve a frameless look.”

Of course it’s not just showers that this innovative technology can be utilised with. Stake Glass also offers frameless glass balustrades, for use on balconies, decks, patios, terraces, staircases, or pool areas.

The balustrades derive the same benefits as the showers from the fact that they’re frameless – but also have an extra benefit: a lack of bulky frames means a more expansive, unobstructed view from a balcony or deck.

“If you’ve got a lovely property with a great view, you’re always looking to maximise that view,” says Tim. “You don’t want posts, rails or frames obstructing it. This is a reality with frameless glass, which achieves this without compromising on safety.

“Pool fencing is much the same. People with pool fencing quite often don’t want to see a frame, so the product really comes into its own in this situation.”

There are domestic applications galore when it comes to this innovation – mirrors, splashbacks, fencing and even tabletops can benefit from frameless installation. It’s the same in commercial spaces, Tim says: frameless glass solutions are a great option for glass partitioning in office workspaces, for example.

With interior office design moving quickly towards modern, light-filled rooms that give the illusion of openness, solutions like office partitions make it easy to create or reconfigure such spaces without major building work or hassle.

“We find that for offices, people are wanting bigger spaces that feel open but still functional in partitioning sections off,” says Tim. “Using a frameless partition is the perfect way to achieve this.

“Our glass partitions and glass walls are safe and secure. The glass we use is always toughened safety glass to ensure we meet New Zealand safety and quality standards. There are also many different door options available from pivot, hinged or sliding.”

It’s clear that when it comes to frameless glass, Stake Glass does it all. Like the ancient material it works with on a daily basis, the company is extremely versatile – and hopes to stay that way.

Learn more about Stake Glass and its frameless glass products and solutions.