How to get a frosted glass effect

Glass is an excellent medium for painting, but if your glass is going to be in a “working” environment, you may have to address the fact that glass is transparent! On a backsplash in the kitchen, the transparency of glass may not be an issue – in fact, it’s probably an asset. In a bathroom or bedroom, privacy may be a concern. That’s usually where you’ll find frosted glass. What is frosted glass and how can you create it?

True frosted glass is chemically treated

True frosted glass is typically created in one of two ways: sandblasting or chemical etching. Frosted glass starts out as a sheet of ordinary, clear glass. By altering the surface of the glass, you can alter the way it transmits light, and in doing so, you can alter the clarity of the glass itself.

Sandblasting can be used to create a number of different frosted glass effects. Sandblasting is accomplished by firing sand or other coarse materials at the target glass using a high-speed machine. The particles are so fine that the glass does not break, but the surface is permanently altered by the impacts. This method of frosting can be used to achieve a light, medium or heavy frosting. It can also be used to create frosting patterns.

For example, if you want to create frosted stripes or frosted areas on an otherwise clear glass, sandblasting can be used to achieve these effects. Sandblasting is more expensive than other methods of glass frosting. The cost of customized sandblasting can run between $75 and $300 per square foot, depending upon the complexity of the work and the size of the finished piece.

Frosted glass can also be created by chemical etching. Acid etching produces a uniform frosting effect and is less expensive than sandblasting. Etching can also create simple or complex designs. Etched frosted glass is less expensive per-square-foot than sandblasted glass, but etched glass can still run between about $50 and $200 per square foot, depending upon the complexity of the glass and frosting.

Glass paint can also be used to create a frosted effect. Unlike sandblasting or chemical etching, glass paint can create a frosted effect using any color. At about $1 per square foot, glass paint is much more economical than either etched or sandblasted glass. You can create frosted glass for either interior or exterior applications, since glass paint is resistant to humidity, temperature and UV light. Once cured, glass paint will not chip, crack, fade or peel and can turn an ordinary window into a frosted one cost-effectively.

For more information about creating frosted glass using Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our site. To order frosted glass paint, simply choose your color and indicate that you want a frosted effect when you place your glass paint order

Photo Credit: Joanie Cahill, via FreeImages.com