Plymouth Etched Glass

Leadbitter Glass was established way back in 1994 and our specialist studio supplies decorative glass panels to homes around Plymouth. We also deliver to other areas of the UK and from time to time we send glass to other countries around the world. From our dedicated studio we manufacture and deliver bespoke Sandblasted Glass and Victorian Etched Glass Panels to homes and businesses. Etched Glass (also known as Sandblasted Glass) is an older form of decorative glass that is becoming increasingly popular for modern glazing. Etched Glass is now the most popular request we receive from clients. Although etched glass was traditionally used for Victorian style panels, it is increasingly being used for modern glass designs. Etched Glass can be seen in many homes and commercial buildings around the Plymouth area. Leadbitter Glass offers free delivery to all homes in the Plymouth area for almost every job we create.

Our glass studio also provides Stained Glass, Bevelled Glass and Fused Glass to clients in Plymouth.

See your glass before it is made!

If you order glass with our studio you will receive our brilliant design service. The Client Pages Service is a great way to allow you to see your glass design in your specific sizes before the glass is made. A few days after ordering, a Leadbitter Glass Artist will create and send you, your very own Computer Generated Image. When you receive the image, you may want to request changes to the layout before the artist starts work on the glass. You may simply want a border moving or an element of the design resizing. We will make the changes you request and if you need any extra alterations, just let us know. We do not charge extra for alterations to the pattern you order. We want you to be 100% happy with how your glass will look before we create it.

Your numbers up!

Etched glass is the ideal form of decorative glass for house names and numbers in door glass or Transoms. Many homes around Plymouth have plain panels above the front door. This area is commonly known as a transom but can also be known as a fanlight or a toplight. These panels are one of the most popular orders we receive today. If your house has a door transom, we can create your house name or number in your chosen font. You can also add a decorative etched glass border to finish off the look of the panel. We can also create matching glass panels for your door if required.

Browse Our Etched Glass Galleries

Leadbitter Glass creates ‘made to order‘ decorative glass panels from customers own drawings or photos. If you haven’t decided on a design yet, just visit our Etched Glass Gallery. There are over a thousand stunning patterns to view and they are perfect for doors and windows. There are many categories to browse, such as Traditional, The Edinburgh Range and Repeat Backgrounds, Modern, Victorian and more.

How is Etched Glass made?

We DO NOT just add a sticker to a glass panel and call it Etched Glass. We etch the actual glass with a powerful sandblasting machine and the pattern will become permanent. Etched glass is created when the glass is sandblasted at high pressure. Our etched glass will not discolour or peel after just a few short years. Some businesses may offer ‘Etched Glass’ but some just apply an etched effect sticker to the glass. Stickers can discolour with exposure to UV rays and vinyl stickers will shrink. Other companies screen-print an ‘Etched Glass Effect’ onto glass and the ink will ‘yellow’ after time. Always make sure you are getting a genuine glass product because as the saying goes – Buy cheap, Buy twice. See a result of ordering fake etched glass.

The process

A specialist machine cuts your chosen pattern into a temporary mask. This full mask is then applied to clear toughened glass with the areas of the design that need etching, being removed from the glass. The glass is then blasted by the sand-blasting machine as coarse grit is fired across the glass panel.

Once a smooth even etched finish is achieved, the remainder of the decorative mask is pulled away from the glass. The protected areas of the panel have now been left clear with the unprotected areas now having an obscure etched finish. We apply a protective sandblast coating to all single glazed panels free of charge. If the glass is to be double glazed, we do not add this coating because the etched side would be protected within the sealed unit.

Etched glass supplied to any home throughout the Plymouth area:

Exeter – Torquay – Paignton – Exmouth – Newton Abbot – Tavistock – Tiverton – Brixham – Sidmouth – Dawlish – Teignmouth – Ivybridge – Kingsbridge – Totnes – Salcombe – Dartmouth – Okehampton – Honiton – Crediton – Bideford