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Wired Glass
Made by feeding a welded wire net of a particular design into the molten glass just before it enters the roller. The wire holds the lite in the sash in case it shatters.
5000 BC Volcanic obsidian arrowheads and blades have been found all around the world, prehistoric flint knappers used obsidian whenever they could to produce razor sharp tools. The ancient Aztecs used the obsidian blades for human sacrifices. These artefacts, found in museums all over the world and are the first record of mans use of this amazing material Glass.
3000 BC There are a lot of stories about how the secret of glass making was discovered. Therefore it is difficult to find evidence as to who first managed to create enough heat to be able to melt silica sand, soda and limestone to produce the first usable Glass.
The most popular version is the story told by the Roman historian, Pliny the elder: Phoenician merchants, trading in Natron, a soda-based enabling material, built a campfire on the beach, using the soda as a windbreak. The next morning the merchants found the inside of the soda block had fused with the beach sand to give a primitive form of Glass.
Carefully dated archaeological findings show enough evidence to locate the event to Mesopotamia sometime during the third millennium BC, when Amorite masters of iron and Sumerian potters, combined their knowledge and manufactured what is thought to be the first useable Glass.
1500 BC The Egyptians then imported these glassmakers to produce beads, scarabs and amulets to adorn themselves. The method use to produce hollow glass pots was to compact sand, mud and straw into the required shape (known as the core method), then dip it into the molten glass and shape the outside on a slab of stone. The earliest example of glassware from Egypt is a core formed blue and yellow jug bearing the name of Pharaoh 9th Century BC Thoutmosis III, now in the British Museum.
900 BC In the 9th century BC there was a revival in glass production in Mesopotamia that over the next 4-5 hundred years was thought to spread to Italy.
600 BC The first glass instruction manual was found in the 6th Century BC library of the Assyrian king Ashhurbanipal (669-626 BC).
27BC - 14AD The change from casting glass, to glassblowing with a hollow tube, is attributed to Syrian Craftsmen living in the Sidon/Babylon area in the first Century AD. This breakthrough in the manufacture of glass 27 BC-14 AD has changed very little to this day.
100 AD It was the Romans were first to see the potential for the use of glass in architecture. The discovery, (around AD 100), that adding Manganese dioxide to glass would mask its inherent green tinge and give a clear cast glass, was quickly put to use in the most important buildings in Rome. The use of cast glass windows spread all over the Roman Empire.
The Romans using the Crown technique also produced window or flat glass (also know as bullseye glass). The process involved spinning a large globe of glass with a hole in it, in the mouth of the furnace, using heat and centrifugal force to produce a flat disk of glass up to 4 feet in diameter. Fragment of crown glass has been found in the Middle East dating back to the fourth century AD.
Benedict Biscop in A.D.674 imported French craftsmen to produce glass windows for St. Peter's Monastery, Sunderland. This is the first recorded use of stained glass in Britain.
1000 AD At this time Alexandria being the most important area for glass making, were producing luxury glassware for export, the famous Portland Vase is the finest example of these skills.
1100AD Then came a period when there are no real records of glass making and with the breakdown of Roman control over Europe, and greater difficulty in obtaining the raw materials meant that glass making seemed to stagnate and all but disappeared in Britain. However in small pockets all over Europe craftsmen continued to produce work.
In the 12th Century there was a renewed interest in glassmaking especially stained glass to be used in new churches and Cathedrals all over Europe but mainly in Britain and France. The finest windows are considered to be in the 13th and 14th century. The windows in Chartres Cathedral, and Canterbury Cathedral are examples of this quality. The Flat or broad glass for these windows mainly being produced in Lorraine and Normandy.
1500 AD The Venetian's were to dominate glass production from the 15th century though to 1700s. Based on the island of Murano the Venetian's had developed some colourless highly transparent glass known as cristallo. The craftsmen were able to exploit the high ductility of cristallo glass to produce a wide range of items, impressing Alfonso, King of Naples and the Duke of Milan with their skills. Another commission was for King Henry VIII, of the famous ring-handled vase produced using an enamelled opaque glass called lattimo.
1700 AD During the early part of the 1700s in an effort to restrict the burning of wood (so it could be better used to build ships to be used for commerce) James the First granted a small group of glassmakers a monopoly. Sir Robert Mansell quickly bought out all of the members and dominated glassmaking until 1642. Sir Robert chose Newcastle to be his main glassmaking centre because of cheap coal and transport costs.
Around 1696 in an effort to break the monopoly of Newcastle's Guild of glassmakers, the Sunderland Company of Glassmakers was formed. Over the next century more glass making companies moved to Sunderland producing a wide range of products some in very large quantities, such as bottles and tableware Including the then revolutionary pressed glass method.
1800 AD Up until the mid 17th century bottles were made from metal, wood, or leather. Sunderland's Company of glassmakers saw the potential in mass-producing glass bottles, and during the 19th century the Ayres Quay became one of the world's largest manufactures of glass bottles.
Because of foreign competition from the Belgians and Germans, the English glassmaking industry was very badly hit during the latter part of 19th Century. The imports were cheaper, and because of increased costs for transport and raw materials English companies could not compete.
There were improvements in the manufacture of flat glass but even up to the building of the Crystal Palace in the 1851 the technique of pouring molten glass onto a metal plate and flattening it with a roller was being used. The glass then had to be polished to remove the blemishes from the surface. During this time the craftsmen using the famous muff blowing or Lorraine technique were able with the use of deep trenches produce glass cylinders of up to 6 feet long. Because this technique produced lighter sheets of glass it was this glass that was chosen to supply glass for the new Crystal Palace.
James Hartley in Sunderland introduced a method of making thin sheets of glass by ladling hot glass onto a casting table; the glass was cheap and was in great demand for use in skylight etc. The glass produced by this method was rough and unpolished; James Chance improved this method by, passing the glass through two rollers producing a glass that was reasonably clear and bright on both sides.
1900 AD It was not until 1952 that there was a continuous flat glass process capable of mass producing good quality flat glass. The process invented by Sir Alistair Pilkington involved drawing glass directly out of the furnace then floating it on a bath of molten tin.
Pilkingtons who acquired the British Cast Glass Co. in 1901 continue to be one of the main manufactures of flat or float glass to this day, the process has been use under license, by glass manufactures all over the world.
2000 AD Whatever the origins of glass the fact is that from the dawn of history mankind has used glass to help him survive. From volcanic obsidian arrowheads used by prehistoric man, through to the use of fibre optic cable for the transmission of information on the internet, man has found glass to be an indispensible material.
BEST GLASS SHOP
Commercial Glass
Types of Commercial Glass
Patterned and Wired Glass
This glass is great for furnishing anything from construction architecture to shop and department store equipment.
Wired glass is very suitable for glazing skylights, balconies, staircases, doors, windows and industrial buildings where safety is very important.
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Tempered Glass
This kind of glass offers greatest resistance against impact. When the glass breaks, it shatters into small, blunt pieces, which are less harmful than other types of glass. Also, it holds a lot of resistance against high temperatures. We supply this glass for halogen lamps, and gas or oil burners.
Plexi-Glass can be manufactured into almost any color and shape!
Laminated and Armoured Glass
* Protection
* Less glare from the sun
* Reflects heat
* Absorbs noise
* Reduces UV radiation
Bullet Proof Glass
This kind of glass can be as thick as 20mm to 78mm - whatever your prefer. Banks, airports, subway ticket booths - any place where protection is a priority, we want to help keep you alive.
Glass Blocks
We offer architectural glass blocks in a number of colors, patterns and designs.
Glass is thought to have been invented around 3000 BC during the bronze age. Historian Pliny relates this story about the discovery of glass making :
At the time of the Phoenicians, a commercial Cargo ship with a load of saltpeter anchored near the province of Prolemais in Syria. The sailors tried to light a fire on the sandy beach. Since they could not find any stones nearby to make a fireplace, they used some of the saltpeter from the ship. As the wood burned they saw that the sand and saltpeter fused together to from a transparent substance which flowed from the fireplace. In this way, by pure coincidence, the glass was discovered.
The first evidence of use of glassware in the eastern Mediterranean region was found in the cargo section of a sunken merchant ship as early as 2000 BC, near a southwestern town of Turkey, namely, Kas. Merchandise included ingots of blue glass formed by pouring molten glass into moulds.
Together with glass objects produced in Mesopotamia, glass making techniques were exported around the Mediterranean. Initially, they used glass blocks and carved them into different shapes.
The lost-wax technique was invented in the fifth century, which consisted of pouring the molten glass into a single outer mould made of beeswax. Traditional lotion bottles were produced by the inner mould technique until the 1 st century BC. This was followed by sandwich gold-glass, whereby gold foil was sandwiched between two layers of glass. Such vessels were made from the mid-3rd century BC onwards. During the Roman period the glass industry developed rapidly, and for the first time cheap mass production became possible, particularly as a result of the blowing technique discovered in the 1 st century BC.
Glass found wide application in daily life. The invention of mirrors made by coating flat glass with silver or gold foil also dates from Roman times.
Mirrors
The history of mirrors dates back to ancient times when mankind first saw reflections in a pond or river and considered it magic. At first polished stone or metal was used in the first early man-made mirrors. Later glass was used in combination with metals like tin, mercury, and lead to create mirrors. Today, combining glass and metal is still the design used in almost all modern mirrors. Mirrors made by coating flat glass with silver or gold foil dates from Roman times and the inventor is unknown.
The definition of a mirror is a reflecting surface that forms an image of an object when light rays coming from that object fall upon the surface. A plane mirror which is flat, reflects light without changing the image. A convex mirror looks like an upside-down bowl, in a convex mirror objects look bigger in the center. In a concave mirror which has a bowl shape, objects look smaller in the center. The concave parabolic mirror is the principal element of a reflecting telescope.
The two-way mirror was originally called the "transparent mirror". The first US patent goes to Emil Bloch, a subject of the Emperor of Russia residing at Cincinnati, Ohio -- U.S. patent No.720,877, dated February 17th 1903.
Just like a regular mirror there is a silver coating on the glass of a two-way mirror which when applied to the back of the glass renders the glass opaque and reflective on it's face under ordinary light conditions. But unlike a regular mirror, a two-way mirror is transparent when strong light is flashed in the rear.
CLEAR GLASS IS A TRANSPARENT FLOAT GLASS WHICH HAS A TRUE FLAT PARALLEL PLANE SURFACE OF SUBTLE BRILLIANCE AND REFLECTIVITY. TRANSPARENCY, CLARITY, FLATNESS AND LONGEVITY ARE ONLY A FEW DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
1. HARDNESS
1. MOH'S SCALE(SCRATCH HARDNESS): DIAMOND, 10; SAPPHIRE, 9: ETC. APPROXIMATELY: 6
2. KNOOP HARDNESS NUMBER (INDENTATION HARDNESS) INDENTER LOAD 500 GRAMS: 470
2. POISSON'S RATIO: 0.22
3. DENSITY: 156 LB/CF or 2.5 G/CCM
4. MODULUS OF ELASTICITY (YOUNG'S): 10,600,000 PSI or 73.1 GPA
5. TENSILE STRENGTH (DETERMINED AS MODULUS OF RUPTURE, ULTIMATE) 6,000 LB/SQ IN: 41.4 MPA
6. SPECIFIC GRAVITY AT 70°F (21°C): 2.5
7. WEIGHT
THERMAL PROPERTIES
1. HEMISPHERICAL EMISSIVITY AT 0-150°F (-18 TO 66°C): 0.84
2. EXPANSION COEFFICIENT (LINEAR IN THE RANGE 25 TO 300 DEGREES CELSIUS)
PER DEGREE C: 8.6 X 10-6
PER DEGREE F: 4.8 X 10-4
3. SPECIFIC HEAT (AT 32-212 DEGREES F/ 0-100 DEGREES C): 0.205
4. THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY (K) AT 120°F (49°C) MEASURED FOR A THICKNESS OF
ONE INCH BTU PER HOUR PER SQUARE FOOT PER DEGREE F: 6.5
WATT PER SQUARE METER PER DEGREE K (KELVIN): 36.9
5. SOFTENING POINT: 1333°F or 723°C
6. ANNEALING POINT: 1011°F or 544°C
7. STRAIN POINT: 939°F or 504°C
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
(NOTE: OPTICAL PROPERTIES PROVIDED FOR CONTROL THICKNESS OF .223 IN.)
1. COLOR DEEPENS AS THICKNESS INCREASES
2. REFRACTIVE INDEX MEASURED AT SODIUM "D" LINE: 1.5184
3. CIE ILLUMINATE "C" DATA
CHROMATICITY COORDINATES: X = 0.308 Y = 0.31
LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE: 89%
DOMINANT WAVELENGTH: 500 NM
EXCITATION PURITY: 0.7%
4. RADIANT ENERGY TRANSMITTANCE (ULTRAVIOLET - WAVELENGTH IN NANOMETERS)
Shower Doors
When installing any type of shower, provisions must be made to make sure the water stays in the shower area. This can be most easily accomplished by use of either a shower curtain or a shower door.
Shower curtains have the advantage of being generally inexpensive and easily replaced, but their disadvantages are that they are hard to clean; they lack durability and wear out rather quickly. Light doesn't penetrate them well. Most important, they're also usually inefficient at holding water in the shower.
Fixed doors solve all of these problems.
Shower doors are sold in a variety of configurations depending on the opening that they are designed to cover. This may be the opening over a tub, the open side of a one-piece enclosure, or the doorway to a custom shower.
Shower doors may operate as sliding (bypass) doors, swinging doors, or a combination of both (bi-fold). The choice depends largely on personal preference, but also on the layout of the bathroom.
ADA compliance note ADA compliant shower doors do not have a bottom track and must provide barrier free access. For wheel chair access, safety reasons and/or individual needs, a heavy-weight, hotel style shower curtain could be the best choice.
Sliding Doors
Sterling Vista Glide Tri-panel Sliding shower doorSliding, or bypass doors are the most common. These doors are sold in two or three sections. They use the least amount of space. They glide in a track, both at top and bottom. Sliding doors are attractive and are easy to care for.
Most problems that occur involve the track, which can be difficult to keep clean. The rollers can wear out or fail over time and may need to be replaced, but quality units can give many years of trouble-free service.
Sterling Finesse bath tub shower door Sliding doors are most frequently mounted over bathtubs because of the length of the opening. They require a space at least twice the width of one door.
A disadvantage of this type is that they restrict access to the tub, making it more difficult to clean and provide an obstacle when bathing children or pets. They can sometimes be difficult to clean thoroughly because they overlap even when closed.
Bi-Fold / Curved Doors
Basco bi-flod shower door Bi-fold doors are a good choice when the opening is narrow and circumstances don't allow for a large sheet of glass to swing into the bath area. These doors are made in folding sections that open like an accordion and use minimal space, while providing full access to the shower.
Opening inward, bi-fold doors prevent water from dripping onto the bathroom floor.
The disadvantage of bi-fold doors is that they ride in a track like a bypass door, usually at the bottom, and sometimes the twisting movement of the doors causes them to bind and not move freely. The tracks also tend to collect dirt and oils and can be difficult to keep clean.
Basco curved shower doorLike the bi-fold door, curved shower doors offer the advantage of "zero clearance" and are the perfect solution for corner installations.
The door itself is a curved glass panel attached to a frame at both the top and bottom for stability and smooth operation. The door is reversible for right or left access.
Illustration of standard corner installation vs. curved shower installation
The tempered glass door is arced for a full 90°, creating a larger and more spacious shower area than standard corner enclosures
Swinging Doors
Swinging doors are made as wide as 48", but rarely are they more than 36" in width.
When swinging doors are used to cover a wide opening, they're usually combined with matching fixed panels.
In large, spacious baths, a wide swinging door adds a touch of elegance and grandeur, but care must be given to ensure that the door doesn't swing into sinks, towel bars, doorknobs, or other barriers that might present a hazard.
Swinging doors may be hinge-mounted or pivoting, and are secured with magnetic catches.
Swinging Shower Door by Sterling Large, heavy doors are normally hinged, and these hinges can be single action (one direction only), or double-action (swinging both ways).
Safety standards require all single-action hinged doors to open outwards to prevent someone from being trapped inside the shower should he become incapacitated.
A double-action hinged frameless door, on the other hand, may swing both ways.
Framed / Frameless Doors
Doors may be framed or frameless. Framed doors have aluminum framing on all sides of the panels. Frameless have none.
Frameless shower door with pivot jam by Basco On frameless doors, the handles and hinges are mounted directly through the glass rather than being attached to the frames.
Frameless doors have the advantage of giving a room a larger, more open feeling, and in being easier to clean. Fitted with clear glass, they show off a decorative wall tile or marble.
Basco frameless, hinged shower door Because they lack the protection of metal framework, they are usually made of thicker, heavier glass (3/8" to 1/2" vs. 3/16" to 1/4"on framed doors); this gives a feeling of luxury and durability.
When the doors have mounted side panels, those panels are often framed even when the door is not.
Frameless doors are no more dangerous than framed doors. Glass, while being quite fragile, is actually very strong on its edge. Thick tempered glass is extremely durable and difficult to break.
It also becomes safety glass through the tempering process. Should it break, it will shatter into tiny pieces, thus reducing the risk of injury.
The Frames
Just a few of the many frame colors available from Basco Frames are generally made of anodized, extruded aluminum.
Anodizing gives the frame a corrosion-resistant surface that is chemically inert, but porous and able to accept dye into the coating. In the final stage of the process, a seal coating is applied that helps retain the color and helps the aluminum to better resist staining and corrosion.
The color can fade over time if exposed to ultraviolet light or to harsh cleaning chemicals, however.
Hard water can leave mineral deposits on the glass or extrusion that can cause spotting; these deposits can be removed by wiping off the door each time it is used.
This is Important! Any chemical strong enough to remove accumulated mineral buildup will also attack the anodic coating. That is why most manufacturers recommend only Glass Plus or Comet Bathroom Cleaner (not cleanser).
Most manufacturers offer frames in a wide variety of finish colors to match any decor. Frameless doors are typically fitted with polished brass or chrome hardware, although the trend is to even more stylized materials.
Glass Options
Just a few of the many glass options availabe for shower doors Glass is offered in a variety of styles. While they are generally either clear or opaque, several other types are available, from reflective to a choice of patterns.
Obscure is the most popular pattern, but glass may also be fluted, etched, or beveled. Some manufacturers even offer stained glass in some models. Clear glass is popular in some locales, but it should be noted that clear glass is very unforgiving when being cleaned. Streaks and spots are much more obvious than in opaque styles.
Basco sells a number of units specially built to fit specific branded shower enclosures. These also market a special line offering a Quick 'nStall feature, designed to fit a number of typical situations. This system cuts installation time in half and eliminates glazing, because glass panels are snapped into the framework at the factory.
Custom / Specialized Doors
Basco Steam door Specialized units are available for neo-corner showers, and for curved showers. Custom Enclosures can be designed in any height, width, and configuration. A number of matching accessories are also available for most units/.
If the door is to be used for a steam unit, a transom panel over the door seals the enclosure to the ceiling.
In these cases, regardless of whether a sliding or swing enclosure is preferred, vinyl gaskets are installed between the panels and completely around the unit to keep the steam from escaping.
Considerations
When choosing a shower door, some thought should be given to where to place towel bars where they will be convenient.
This is Important! Some doors come with integrated towel bars. In these cases, note that towel bars are not substitutes for grab bars. They are not designed for this purpose.
Installation
While it is possible for a layman to measure and install shower doors, most customers arrange for the manufacturer to perform these services. This ensures a proper fit, and generally carries a warranty on this work.
Measurements should be made precisely to the sixteenth of an inch, and checked twice. The opening may not be perfectly square or uniform and the door may have to be modified to fit the opening properly.
Measurements must be taken not only at the top and bottom of the opening, but also at the middle. In addition, the opening should be measured corner to corner to check for square-ness. The installer will also need to know to what kind of surface he will be mounting the door. But in no case should measurements be taken until the enclosure is complete and the walls are finished.
Custom Showers
Part 1 - The Basics
Custom showers are multiple-head showers. They consist of valves, water outlets, volume controls, shower heads, hand showers, or body sprays.
Custom showers require plumbing changes and/or major considerations before installing. You cannot just simply add more shower heads or sprays to an existing shower stall or tub enclosure. Custom showers should be installed by a licensed plumbing contractor.
Water Pressure
Water pressure is a critical factor in a custom shower. GROHE recommends at least 50 psi for a system with 3 or more outlets. If water pressure is below 45psi a water booster pump should be installed.
Hot Water
The bigger the custom shower, the more hot water will be required. A water heater of sufficient size, dedicated to the custom shower is recommended.
A dedicated 50 gallon hot water heater will supply a four-outlet custom shower for approximately 8 minutes (assuming shower heads are restricted and all are turned on for the entire duration). For best performance, GROHE recommends a 100 gallon water heater as a minimum.
Water Softeners
Water softeners can restrict the flow of hot water needed for maximum shower performance. If you must use a water softener to control hard water conditions, choose a model designed for high water flow installation.
The Drain
Drain capacity is critical. For example, two Grohtemp 34.902 valves can flow 32 gallons per minute ... enough to fill a typical 5' bathtub to the very top.
Kohler's Full Body recirculating shower systems (carwash showers) offer a water-saving alternative.
In the shower, two 2" floor drains or one 3" drain is recommended, especially when an accessible shower pan is installed.
Note: A water well or cistern might not be able to service these showers, and your current septic tank might not be able to handle the additional demands. Make sure to discuss this with your plumber before deciding on a custom shower.
Ventilation System
Custom showers produce high levels of humidity. An adequate ventilation system must be provided in order to maintain proper household humidity.
The Valves
The valve can be a single handle, which controls both water temperature and water flow, or a dual handle valve - with one control for water temperature, and one for water flow.
Thermostatic Control Valve
If a single valve is used, it should be a single handle thermostatic temperature control valve, and preferably a 3/4" thermostat valve.
Temperature control in a custom shower is much more than a performance consideration, it is a safety consideration.
A pressure balance valve is not a high flow valve, and cannot be expected to replace a thermostatic temperature control valve, especially in a multiple shower outlet installation.
It is not necessary to have a 3/4" supply line to use a 3/4" valve.
A 1/2" supply line plumbed into a 3/4" valve will still effectively increase water flow, but a 3/4" supply line is preferred.
Given adequate water pressure, one 3/4" thermostat valve can supply enough water to simultaneously power 6 outlets ... a shower head, a personal hand shower and up to four body sprays... while maintaining a specific, pre-selected water temperature.
If the number of shower outlets desired is more than one valve can accommodate, it will be necessary to use two (or more) thermostat valves.
When more than one valve is necessary
GROHE recommends the water supply line be 1" or larger.
Each valve should be plumbed directly from the main water supply. Using a "tee" can cause inconsistency in both water flow and temperature.
Volume Controls (water flow controls)
A volume control is a valve that turns the water on and off. Starting at the "off" position, you can steadily increase water flow through to the "full on" position.
Custom showers are generally designed with separate on/off (volume) controls for each outlet . Usually. one volume control for the shower head, one for the hand shower, and one for three body sprays.
Kohler comparison chart showing water flow at various levels of water pressure using the Hiflow shower valve
Volume controls, of course, have their own flow rates. Manufacturers recommend using 3/4" volume controls throughout the system. If cost is a concern 1/2" volume controls can be used, however, the flow rate is reduced to 8 gpm at 45 psi.
If the combined flow rates of the outlets exceed the volume control flow rate, there will be a reduction in performance.
Diverter Valves
Because diverter valves can only change the direction of water, and not turn water flow on or off, they are rarely used in custom shower systems.
A diverter valve can channel water to the showerhead OR the handshower OR the body sprays...but not all at the same time. If a hot supply and a cold supply were plumbed into a diverter valve, the water would run constantly with no way to stop it.
How Many Shower Outlets?
The sum total flow rate of all shower outlets (shower heads, hand showers, or body sprays) combined cannot exceed the maximum flow rate of the valve at the given water pressure
Exceeding the capacity of the valve will only lower the overall performance of the shower system.
Shower Sprays
Showerheads, Body Sprays, Handheld showers
There are so many choices available, that deciding on outlets for the custom shower can be very confusing.
First, decide what is most important to you ... function or appearance.
Function - Typical Spray Types
* Showerhead
Fixed position, usually above shoulder level (on wall or ceiling).
Water direction may be adjustable depending on product
Usually has 2 or more adjustable spray styles.
* Handheld
Movable, has hose connection.
Can be mounted to shower wall with bracket or sliding bar
Usually has 2 or more adjustable spray styles.
* Body Spray
Fixed position, usually at and/or below shoulder level.
Usually In groups of 2 or more
Water direction may be adjustable depending on product
Usually has 2 or more adjustable spray styles.
Function - Typical Spray Styles
Spray options vary with product and manufacturer
soft gentle sray Wide - soft-aerated spray
wdie,strong spray Wide strong spray - deep massage
wide pulse spray Wide pulse spray revitalizes your body
full-flow, strong spray Full-flow - strong concentrated spray
concentrated pulse spray Concentrated pulse spray - all over body massage
mixed spray Mixed - wide strong, and pulsating
Before you purchase any type of shower spray, have it demonstrated so you know exactly what the effect will be. Our showroom has dozens of working showersprays, making it easy to compare the different manufacturers and models.
Some sprays will only work with a particular valve. Make sure the spray you choose is compatible with the shower valve used.
Appearance
Shower sprays come in almost as many finishes as faucets: Polished, brushed, pearl or a combination in chrome, nickel, brass, bronze, gold, white, etc. And like faucets, the final finish or coating will determine how long the appearance lasts.
Warranty
Most manufacturers of shower sprays offer a limited warranty on their products. Some warranties cover only the working parts, others include the exterior finish. The length of the manufacturer's warranty can range from one year, to life. Most manufacturers have warranty information posted on their websites.
PRODUCT COMPARISON
Kohler
Create Your Personal Retreat using Kohler custom shower components. Seated hydro-massage? Do you want room for two? Do you seek versatility and small-room solutions?
Kohler's wide variety of showering options allow you need to create a luxurious showering experience, designed specifically for your own personal needs and desires.
Kohler Ultra Flow Bodyspray In addition to the standard Hi-Flow body sprays, Kohler's Ultra Low Flow Bodysprays use less water to provide exceptional water coverage for warmth and massage.
Both the spray pattern and the power are adjustable. Flexible spray nozzles prohibit calcium build-up and are easy to clean. Hand showers can also be mounted on an adjustable height slide bar.
Available custom shower options include:
Electronic control panel to let you select the desired water action
Sheetflow spout which delivers a cascade of water
Oscillating/pulsating adjustable body sprays for massage action
and choices of wide soft, slow pulse, or soft aerated spray
Find design ideas, and plan out your custom shower using Kohler's
Virtual Shower Planners:
Kohler Custom Shower Design Ideas and Plan your own Custom Kohler Shower
Moen
Moen offers three distinct control and transfer valve options: the ExactTemp, with 5 function transfer valve, and the Moentrol with either a 3-function or 5-function transfer valve. These valves control pressure and flow rate, and allow flow to switch from one component to another, often running two components simultaneously. All valves are pressure-balanced. Moen has designed their half-inch valve to provide adequate spray force at standard flow rates to conserve water.
Moen - Revolution ShowerheadChrome with purple accents Moen's new RevolutionTM massaging showerhead delivers a unique showering experience. Based on extensive research, it offers several features not available elsewhere. Revolution technology spins and twirls the water stream, delivering full-body coverage and creating the illusion that more water is flowing with greater pressure than with traditional showerheads.
FreedomDialTM offers a range of showering sensations, controlling force, frequency, and coverage. It eliminates confining pre-set showerhead functions, and can be set from a gentle rain like shower to a deep, therapeutic massage. Innovative shape allows the control to be positioned out of the water stream, and allows shower users to adjust functions with just one hand and their eyes shut. Rubber spray tips allow easy cleaning.
All components are built on M-PACT, a system that permits a change or upgrade to a new faucet style without changing the valve. Moen body sprays can be placed on multiple walls and at various heights. Pivoting heads direct water over a wide area. They come in large or small sizes to accommodate different shower spaces.
Virtual Design Planner: Design Your Own Moen Vertical Spa
Delta Jetted Shower System
This enhancement easily retrofits to existing shower fixtures with minimal plumbing and comes with a Scald-Guard® valve that helps keep water temperatures consistent (+/-3° F) when the water inlet temp. is set correctly even when hot or cold water is being used elsewhere in the house.
Delta Monitor 1824 Jetted Shower System Delta's Monitor 1800 Jetted Shower System is designed with two adjustable spray jets that spray 40% more water for a more relaxing shower experience.
Delta Monitor 1855 Jetted Shower System Delta produces dozens of models of shower valves in various styles and finishes, but most operate in similar fashion.
The N1824, 1848, and 1855 models offer twin adjustable jets with chrome, single lever handles, pressure-balanced valves and Touch-Clean® showerheads. (N1855 shown at right)
See all Delta Jetted Shower System products
Grohe
Grohe Freehander ShowerGrohe's Freehander combines shower head and body spray functionality into one easy to install and use unit. Its unique design joins two shower heads on a sturdy tubular arm which pivots 180° to convert shower heads (up position) to body sprays (down position). Both shower heads can be rotated a full 360° to satisfy individual needs and tastes. A unique tension system allows it to be set at any height simply by moving the arm up or down. Freehander offers 18 choices of shower spray combinations.
Freehander is available in two different models; one for installation directly to a mixed water source behind the mounting bracket, or the other for installation via a hand shower hose to an existing shower arm or tub spout. Either installation system may be retrofitted to an existing system without cutting into a wall.
Grohe Custom Shower offers a selection of showerheads, body sprays and interchangeable personal hand showers, as well as thermostatic mixing valves.
Choices include spray patterns (hard or soft jet, champagne, pulse); the number of sprays on at a given time; or a choice of hand sprays. Relexa Plus features SpeedClean®, a patented anti-lime system which maintains "like-new" shower performance indefinitely.
Grohe sprayheads can be controlled individually, in combination, or all at the same time. All components of a GROHE Custom Shower can be purchased separately to create any size or shape shower environment. Unique features include a snap coupling which eliminates kinking of the hose and allows interchangeability of sprayheads; an ergonomically curved handle; and double wall construction which insulates the handle from hot water temperatures.
Grohe Relexa Plus showerheads and hand showers are available in four standard configurations each of which offers multiple spray options. The Plus line includes eight shower heads, six hand showers, three body sprays (all with the Speed Clean system), and hand shower accessories such as adjustable height shower bars, unions, soap dishes, etc. with matching designs and accents.
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* Leading aluminum framing systems
* Glass including high performance reflective glass
* Commercial Aluminum Doors
* Automatic Doors
* Curtainwalls
* Value Engineering
* Design recommendations
* Windload calculations
* Air and water infiltration testing
* Plate Glass
* Insulated Glass
* Laminated Safety Glass
* Tempered Safety Glass
* Bullet Resistant Glass
* Security Mirrors
* Mirrored Walls
* Door Closures
* Showcase Repairs
* Desk Tops
* 24 Hour Board-Up Service
* Store Front Repair/Replacement
* Commercial Door Repair/Replacement
* Pre-Measurement Plans
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GLASS
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MARINE
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Mirrors
Patio Doors
Store Fronts
Insulated Glass
Furniture Tops
Mirror Bi-pass Doors
Replacement Windows
Storm Windows & Doors
Shower Doors & Tub Enclosures
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Custom fabricated storefront packages, doors, windows and hardware. We own and operate a 20,000 foot area metal fabrication shop and 20,000 foot area full service glass shop.
Doors: Aluminum, heavy glass, hollow metal, ADA, automatic.
Aluminum/glass curtain walls, architectural bent metals.
Glass replacement, overhead, insulated glass, single pane.
Custom mirror, shelving, table top, and shower doors.
Glass options: Safety, curved/bent, decorative, historic.
Lock repair, door closer service and replacement.
Mylar films for: Security, solar control, graffiti, privacy.
Scratch polishing or damaged glass products.
Exterior caulking, weather proofing of windows and joints.
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* Installing GDS in Windows NT
* Manage the Number of Jobs
* Managing Jobs on a Network
* Re-Importing Vendor Data
* Importing Jobs from Old System
* DXF Tips
* Fabrication Labor Only
* Elevation Tips
* Butt Glazed Silicone Tips
* Perimeter Caulking
* Splitting Elevations
* Tall Curtain Wall Elevations
* Fixed Bulkhead w/ Equal Panels
* Splitting Above the Sill
* Changing Component Lengths
* Processing Selected Elevations
* Adjusting Transom Lite Glass
* Adjustments for Sill Cans/Sub Sills
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Batching of raw materials
The main components of Soda Lime glass, Silica sand (73%), Calcium oxide (9%), Soda (13%) and Magnesium (4%), are weighed and mixed into batches to which recycled glass (cullet) is added. The use of 'cullet' reduces the consumption of natural gas. The materials are tested and stored for later mixing under computer control.
glass manufacture
Melting of raw materials in the furnace
The batched raw materials pass from a mixing silo to a five-chambered furnace where they become molten at a temperature of approximately 1500°C. Every operation is carefully monitored.
glass manufacture
Drawing the molten glass onto the tin bath
The molten glass is "floated" onto a bath of molten tin at a temperature of about 1000°C. It forms a ribbon with a working width of 3210mm which is normally between 3 and 25mm thick. The glass which is highly viscous and the tin which is very fluid do not mix and the contact surface between these two materials is perfectly flat.
glass manufacture
Cooling the molten glass in the annealing lehr
On leaving the bath of molten tin, the glass - now at a temperature of 600°C - has cooled down sufficiently to pass to an annealing chamber called a lehr. The glass is now hard enough to pass over rollers and is annealed, which modifies the internal stresses enabling it to be cut and worked in a predictable way and ensuring flatness of the glass. As both surfaces are fire finished, they need no grinding or polishing.
glass manufacture
Quality checks, automatic cutting, storage
After cooling, the glass undergoes rigorous quality checks and is washed. It is then cut into sheets up to 6000mm x 3210mm which are in turn stacked and stored ready for transport. An automatic stacker takes plates of glass directly from the end of the production line. This is approximately half a kilometre from the beginning of the float line. The entire production process from the batching of raw materials to cutting and stocking is fully automatic and computer-controlled.