Using glass in multi-family construction

2016 is shaping up to be the year of new construction. Commercial construction has outpaced residential building for 10 consecutive years, and in that time, designers have made increasingly heavy use of certain architectural materials, like glass. Most of the residential construction in 2016 is expected to be multi-family units. Home ownership has declined in the past decade, following the housing bust of the mid-2000s, but that has opened up design opportunities in multi-family spaces.

Energy-efficient glass can benefit multi-family construction

Glass can be incorporated in multi-family design to achieve the same goals as it does in commercial spaces -primarily light transmission and energy efficiency – without sacrificing the component of privacy, which is not only desirable, but necessary in residential spaces. Energy efficiency in multi-family spaces is exceptionally important because a disproportionate number people living below the poverty line live in multi-family housing. By making multi-family housing as energy-efficient as possible, it can help support and stabilize impoverished families by reducing their energy costs – one of the biggest variables in a low-income family’s budget.

Beyond energy efficiency, glass can play a major role in the look and function of interior spaces. Glass can be used effectively in most spaces to improve the transmission of natural light, create privacy without impairing light transmission and to improve the hygiene of surfaces in areas of the home like kitchens and bathrooms.

In addition, glass is widely available, easy to produce and easy to replace, which makes it an ideal surface for use in multi-family dwellings. Tempered glass is safe, and is designed to reduce or eliminate injuries in the event of breakage. Glass can also be decorated with coatings like Glassprimer™ glass paint. Its replaceability and ease of decoration mean that multi-family spaces can be updated cost effectively. Glassprimer™ is UV-resistant and can be used in challenging spaces because it not only resists fading, it also resists the effects of humidity, which means no peeling, even over repeated exposure to rapid changes in temperature and humidity.

If you’d like more information about decorating with glass, please check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Tom S , via FreeImages.com