Structural Laminated Glass

[nelsonic]

In the original sketch of the Sun Room: #14 (comment) I used quite a lot of glass ...
Sadly the price has sky-rocketed since the 2020 pandemic so it's no longer feasible to have as much of it in the build.
But I still want around 8-10 m² of it to allow light through to the lower levels.

http://simulador.giuditta.pt/publicFTP/Tabela_Precos.pdf

Also came across this calculator used by civil/costing engineers:
http://www.geradordeprecos.info/obra_nova/Fachadas/Vidros/Especiais__seguranca/Vidro_laminado_de_seguranca_0_0_0_1_0_0_0_0_5.html

This is the lower-bound of the cost/price we can have in-mind when finding our eventual supplier.
I'm operating under the assumption of spending 170/m² for the glass.
Though depending on the complexity/quantity needed, it could be marginally cheaper than this.

If it comes to it and the PT-based suppliers want toooo much money, I'm not averse to ordering it from China:
https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?tab=all&searchText=structural+glass+panels+10mm

e.g: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/tempered-laminated-structural-glass-floor-panel_1600795268593.html

Seller: https://vattiglass2.en.alibaba.com/minisiteentrance.html?spm=a2700.details.0.0.76a2733bW9PtSE&from=detail&productId=1600795268593

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Factory-custom-anti-slip-transparent-interlayer_1600690012663.html?spm=a2700.details.0.0.1c2023a0k1Lyvi

@iteles what are your thoughts on ordering a sample from China ASAP so that we can determine how much of it we can use in our final design for the Sun Room? 💭

[nelsonic]

@iteles guessing you're just snowed under with GitHub notifications. 💭

I Registered an Alibaba account (using Google OAuth) so I don't have to remember/store a password.
Sent a request for sample panel + shipping cost:

Will check back tomorrow. ⏳

[nelsonic]

RFQ approved:
https://message.alibaba.com/message/buyingLeads.htm?from=rfqlist&activeTab=rfq

Expecting them to respond with confirmation of specification (dimensions + thickness) for the glass ...
But for now the ball is in their court. ⏳

[iteles]

Happy to get a quote and go from there (and yes, sorry, so many notifications that it's hard to see what actually requires my attention).

[nelsonic]

They Glass Supplier replied with the following:

Sample images:

Of these I think I prefer the last one with the "dots". How about you @iteles ?

[nelsonic]

Keen to get the sample(s) ordered + paid for today as they will take 3-4 weeks to arrive. ⏳
While we are waiting for them to arrive we can continue with the build prep. 🚧
And once we have the "final" design of the Sun Room we can order the glass we need. 🌻

[iteles]

Visually I definitely prefer the dots but are they actually embossed or sunken into the glass (and therefore would be a nightmare for cleaning)?

If not (and the leaf shape looks like it's not so this might also not be) then definitely the dots.

[nelsonic]

To have an anti-slip effect, the "dots" or groves are almost certainly embossed (protruding off the surface of the glass).
In terms of cleaning, while it's definitely good to consider it, I'm not at all concerned
because the places where this glass will be used will be easy access and "pressure washable".

Glad we share the same taste in the glass. 😉
Going to follow-up with the Seller in CN to get a sample sent ASAP. 🤞

[nelsonic]

Sent the follow-up. ✉️ ✅ https://message.alibaba.com/message/messenger.htm gotta love this URL. 😜

[nelsonic]

@iteles if you have time today please let me know your thoughts on the level of clarity in the glass.
Should we have clear to maximise the light entering the building?
Or "frosted" for privacy/modesty? 💭

[iteles]

I don't see clear as an option if we want women or anyone in a skirt or looser shorts to use the 1st floor unfortunately 🙃

[nelsonic]

Yeah, agreed. I had already axsked the supplier for the various levels of frosting 🧁 …

[nelsonic]

@iteles supplier sent us the following images as requested:

I'd say these offer decent privacy while still letting in enough light. 🙈 ☀️
I'm just trying to decide how much to order ... 💭
A 1 x 1 m "sample" is 80kg and will cost like €100+ to ship here. 💸
But if we order more it will be a similar shipping cost but take 6 - 8 weeks to arrive. ⏳

Thoughts?

[iteles]

Are you thinking we just order what we need?

It kind of depends what you want a sample for.

A sample for me is like 20cm x 20cm and we place wood panels all around to check how much light can be let through and what can be seen. But if you want to test it for other things, that's different.

I would maybe go for the mid level frosting.

[nelsonic]

@iteles my thoughts on the glass is pretty simple: I don't think any amount of it will go to "waste". I will use any amount for "projects" e.g. table top

I think if we sat down together and focussed on the Sun Room design for T25m we could put together the Glass requirements and get this ordered. 💭

[iteles]

If you are comfortable with the seller and confident the quality of the glass will be good, let's book a 'date' to get this done once the kids are in bed tonight.

[nelsonic]

Calendar invite sent:

[nelsonic]

@iteles still up for doing this pairing session? 💭
(our evening of computer work got scuppered by 👶 ...)

[nelsonic]

This site has lots of good examples/images: https://innovativebuildingproducts.com/glasswalk