Everything you need to know about frameless glass doors

Simon Edward • 17 फ़रवरी 2025

Share this blog:

Interested in installing a frameless glass door but don't know where to start? Find out more in our guide.

The word "modern" changes its meaning all the time. Certainly, the Modern Times of Charlie Chaplin's 1936 film are a far cry from the Modern Times of Bob Dylan's 2006 album.

In the world of architecture and interior design, however, the word "modern" is relatively stable. Sure, trends come and go. But frameless glass in a bank, home, office or indeed any other building is indisputably modern.

Perhaps it's the sleek aesthetic, the hidden seams, the combination of splendour and minimalism. Whatever the reason, it looks like frameless glass is here to stay.

Frameless glass doors are a strong example of the aesthetic. There's a reason why banks and other commercial buildings like to use them for main entry doors. When you swing open that frameless door, you're leaving behind the everyday world and entering a world of affluence and style.

The same goes (with slightly different flavour notes) for meeting room doors, hotel cupboards and domestic shower enclosures.

Like all structural glazing, frameless glass doors have to be super-safe. This is why they're made out of thick, toughened glass. Anything less will put passersby at risk.

What are the benefits of frameless glass doors?

Perhaps the biggest draw of frameless glass doors is that they're built to impress. They look good. They look, let's face it, expensive. And they have a way of blending seamlessly into modern facades and interiors.

But frameless glass doors have other advantages. They let natural light come flooding into a room. Some say this has benefits for the mind and body – either way, it can make for a pleasant environment.

They're also safe. Gone are the days when the phrase "glass door" implied a structure as feeble as a paper bridge. Toughened and laminated glass are built to last, meaning no amount of slamming will lead to a shattered door.

They're easy to maintain and long-lasting. No frame means no rust. With a frameless glass door, you get a sparkling expanse that can easily stay sparkling.

Picture of a sparklingly attractive frameless glass door.

Are frameless doors actually frameless?

No door is completely frameless. Without a frame, you'd need at least two members of staff to hold the door up at all times. However, frameless glass doors appear to have no frame.

This is because the frames are kept to a bare minimum and concealed within the structure as much as possible. In commercial buildings, for instance, you'll often see a glass door with a thin steel bottom and top rail – nothing more.

Can glass doors offer privacy?

Ask the person on the street to think of a drawback of glass doors and it won't be long before the issue of privacy comes up. But with the right installation, privacy doesn't have to be a problem.

This is partly because toughened glass is so customisable. There's no need for a frameless glass door to be completely see-through. It can be semi-clear, frosted or patterned. It can be printed with a logo, text or other design.

You could even install a frameless door made out of smart glass. This innovative product, sometimes known as "switchable glass", can be switched from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button. This makes it ideal for places like offices where you need privacy on demand.

But privacy isn't limited to vision. It also relates to sound. Historically, glass doors were bad at soundproofing. But today's materials help muffle the sound, meaning you can get on with your work without too much disruption.

What kind of glass is used for frameless glass doors?

Glass doors, framed or unframed, are made out of toughened glass. This is a type of safety glass that's up to six times stronger than standard annealed glass.

Toughened glass doesn't just have toughness in its favour. It's also classed as safety glass because of its unique breakage pattern.

When toughened glass breaks, it shatters into lots of small, relatively harmless pieces. This protects passersby and makes the glass far easier to clean up.

This is all thanks to the manufacturing process. Toughened glass is produced by heating the glass to over 650°C (1200°F) and then rapidly cooling or "quenching" it.

Toughened glass is also highly customisable. Depending on your requirements, it can be fire-rated to stop the spread of fire and smoke. It can be decorated in lots of ways. And, as mentioned, it can be made smart or switchable.

When installed high up, glass doors are laminated. This is to stop the risk of falling glass in the event of breakage. If in doubt whether toughened or laminated glass is required, check the relevant building regulations.

How do you install a frameless glass door?

Different installers will install frameless glass doors in different ways. However, a typical installation will consist of the following steps.

First, measurements are made and guides set out to make sure the glass door and glass partition are aligned.

Next, a limit slot is installed at the top of the door, along with metal trim panels from the centreline and a wooden bracket at the bottom. Once the installer is sure that the frame is rigid, the glass door leaf is installed.

Wooden flat squares are nailed onto the bottom joist and the unit is sealed with glue. Finally, the butt of the joint is joined to the glass. Voila! You have a frameless glass door.

How we can help

At ToughGlaze, we provide high-quality toughened glass for frameless glass doors. These materials can be customised to meet your exact requirements, whether for extra safety, extra strength or decorative purposes.

Our glass is tough, durable and manufactured in line with BS EN standards. What's more, we cover every stage of the manufacturing process right here at our state-of-the-art facilities.

So, if you're in the market for some top-of-the-market toughened glass panels, don't hesitate to get in touch. We'd love to fix you up with the right materials for the job.

< Older Post

Newer Post >