Decorative Film vs. Custom Glass

One of the best ways to improve the layout and flow of an office space is by the deliberate and thoughtful use of glass. High-end modern office spaces value the use of glass in the workspace for the easy transmittance of natural light and general feeling of openness that glass creates. Of course, there are areas where certain levels of privacy or partitioning is required, so people look for opportunities to get the best of both worlds.

An obvious source of comparison is between the modern technology behind decorative film, and the age-old technique of etched glass. We are going to do a side-by-side comparison to help you figure out which is better for your workspace.

Cost

Custom etched glass can cost thousands of dollars per pane. When you add up the costs of equipping an entire workspace, the sum total can be staggering. By contrast, decorative glass film, which is applied to existing glass, costs a fraction of etched glass. Look at it this way, modifications are always cheaper than replacement.

A frosted glass door that costs in the neighbourhood of $2000 can be had for closer to $100 simply by using decorative films. When comparing costs, there is no comparison. The ROI from decorative films is simply exceptional.

Time

We all know the saying. No one in business has time to wait around for specialized manufacturing processes when they need an office upgrade NOW. Even the most advanced methods of manufacturing etched glass takes considerable time. Tooling, molds, and equipment has to be optimized for the exact dimensions of the panes being constructed; try to add in your own custom desires to the mix and you’ve quickly doubled cost and wait time.

Time efficiency is probably the best part about decorative glass films. These films are custom cut to retrofit the existing glass, and professional installation is relatively quick. The short lead time of using films is a huge advantage over traditional etched glass.

Quality

At a glance, and even a close inspection, it takes an expert to discern the difference between etched glass and frosted films. A lay person could possibly tell the difference by touching the glass, but hopefully your clients and employees are too occupied with other things than running their hands over your windows and glass partitions.

Professional quality glass films perfectly mimic the look of etched glass, making them a suitable substitute for expensive, time consuming custom glass. Check out what privacy films can do for your building right here.

The Winner

If cost, time, and quality are major factors in your decision, then then answer is clear. Decorative films offer unbeatable performance for the price, and are sure to give your building a serious competitive advantage. To get started talking about the options that are available to you, just send us a message or give us a call.