Christchurch · Dorset
Frameless Glass in Christchurch
Need a clear glass entrance for a shop or office in Christchurch? We can quote for frameless doors with floor springs, locks and the markings that busy entrances need.
- BH6
- BH23
- BH7
- Guide from £795
Glass entrance doors across Christchurch
A frameless door hangs on one of three main hardware types. Patch fittings clamp to the corners and pivot on a floor spring or top pivot, glass-to-wall hinges suit lighter internal doors, and sliding gear runs the panel along a track fixed above the opening.
A floor spring sits in a steel box set into the floor below the door, controlling closing speed and hold-open. It needs a recess cut into the screed, so it is far simpler to plan before tiles, stone or timber flooring are laid than to retrofit later.
Toughened glass can very occasionally break on its own because of nickel sulphide inclusions. Heat soak testing to BS EN 14179 reduces that risk by breaking flawed panels in the factory before delivery, though it cannot remove the risk entirely. It is often specified for large doors and screens in busy buildings.
For buildings other than dwellings in England, access guidance says a manual door should open with no more than 30N of force at its edge from closed to 30 degrees, and 22.5N from 30 to 60 degrees. Heavy glass doors and closers are set up with that limit in mind.
What's included
- Templating for made-to-measure toughened glass
- Survey of the opening, floor and fixing points
- Holes and cut-outs made at the factory before toughening
- Hinges, patch fittings, floor spring or sliding gear
Christchurch at a glance
- Postcodes covered
- BH6, BH23, BH7 and the surrounding area, including Bournemouth, New Milton and Ferndown
- Coast
- Christchurch is about 1 km from the coast or a tidal estuary, so salt air and wind-driven rain are worth planning for. External frameless entrances near the sea face salt spray on patch fittings, pivots and floor spring covers, which can mark or pit finishes over time. Hardware suited to exposed sites, and rinsing fittings during routine cleaning, help them stay smooth and presentable.
- Daylight and sun
- In Christchurch the midwinter sun reaches about 16° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.7 hours of daylight, rising to about 63° and 16.3 hours in midsummer. Clear frameless doors and screens pass daylight deep into hallways and inner rooms. Where a screen faces low winter sun, glare and reflections can be strong, so satin bands or tinted glass can help, while low-iron glass keeps pale colours true.
- Access and setting
- Older cottages and farmhouses rarely have square openings or level floors, so templating matters even more for frameless glass. Floors may also lack the depth for a floor spring, in which case top-hung sliding gear or wall hinges can suit better.
- Rules in England
- Approved Document K requires safety glass in critical locations in England: glazing in doors and in side panels within 300 mm of a door, up to 1500 mm above floor level, and any glazing in walls or partitions up to 800 mm above floor level.
Guide prices in Christchurch
| Typical job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Frameless glass door with fittings | £1,295 – £1,895 |
| Door with fixed side screen | £2,195 – £3,195 |
| Fixed frameless screen, about 2 m² | £795 – £1,095 |
Get a guide price for your size
For shops and other non-domestic buildings in England, Approved Document M covers accessible entrances, and Approved Document K requires large areas of glass that people could walk into to carry manifestation (visible markings).
Options to choose between
Hardware finishes
Patch fittings, handles and hinges in satin or polished stainless steel, black or other finishes to match the room or shopfront.
Frameless sliding door
A glass panel running on top-hung sliding gear across the opening, saving floor space where a swinging door would get in the way.
Low-iron glass
Glass with less iron, removing the green tint seen on the edges of standard glass, so thick panels look clearer and colours stay true.
Frameless Glass in Christchurch: questions
What thickness of glass is used for frameless glass doors?
Frameless doors usually use 10mm or 12mm toughened safety glass. The thicker glass is generally used for taller or wider doors and for busy commercial entrances, while 10mm often suits internal doors in homes. The hardware maker's limits for panel weight and size also guide the choice, and we confirm the thickness in your written quote.
What happens if a frameless glass door breaks?
Toughened glass breaks into small, blunt pieces rather than large shards, so the door will need to be fully replaced rather than repaired. We can make the opening safe and secure in the meantime, then remake the panel from the original measurements or a fresh template, with holes and cut-outs formed before toughening.
Can a frameless glass door be fitted into my existing doorway?
Usually, yes. We survey the opening to check the head and walls can take the fixings, and template it so the glass follows any out-of-square edges. A floor spring needs a recess in the floor, so where that is not practical we may suggest a top pivot, wall hinges or sliding gear instead. Some making good of plaster may be needed.
Can a frameless glass door be locked?
Yes. A patch lock at the bottom of the door shoots a bolt into a keep in the floor, and a centre lock can join a pair of doors. A glass door does not offer the same resistance as a solid door, so for external entrances you may also want shutters, an alarm or laminated security glass in adjoining screens.
Do you cover Christchurch for frameless glass?
Yes. We can quote for frameless glass across Christchurch and the surrounding Dorset area, including postcode districts BH6, BH23 and BH7, and nearby Bournemouth, New Milton and Ferndown. Start with your postcode on the quote form and a glazier will arrange a free survey before giving you a written quote.
Get a written quote in Christchurch
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.