Orpington · Greater London
Frameless Glass in Orpington
Our glaziers fit frameless glass doors and fixed screens in Orpington for homes, offices and shops, matching the hardware finish to the room or shopfront.
- BR6
- BR5
- BR7
- Guide from £795
Glass internal doors in Orpington
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.
The guidance in England asks for glass meeting Class 3 of BS EN 12600 in most critical locations, and the higher Class 2 where a door or door side panel is more than 900mm wide. Toughened glass for doors is made to suit, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own guidance.
In buildings other than dwellings in England, large areas of clear glass that people could walk into need manifestation at two levels, 850–1000mm and 1400–1600mm above the floor. A frameless door with a large handle or push plate on each pane is one example the guidance accepts without markings.
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.
What a typical job includes
- Holes and cut-outs made at the factory before toughening
- Hinges, patch fittings, floor spring or sliding gear
- Survey of the opening, floor and fixing points
- Fitting, alignment and adjustment of closing speed
Local details for Orpington
- Postcodes covered
- BR6, BR5, BR7 and the surrounding area, including Swanley, Bromley and Bexleyheath
- Coast
- Orpington is well inland, around 20 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In Orpington the midwinter sun reaches about 15° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.6 hours of daylight, rising to about 62° and 16.4 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 Orpington
| 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).
Choosing your frameless glass
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.
Satin or patterned glass
Acid-etched, sandblasted-effect or patterned glass that gives privacy while still passing light, available as full panels or as bands.
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 Orpington: questions
How do I look after a frameless glass door?
Clean the glass with a soft cloth and a non-abrasive glass cleaner, and wipe metal fittings with a damp cloth rather than harsh chemicals. Do not hang anything from the door or let it slam against a stop. If the door starts closing too hard or drops out of line, the floor spring or pivots can be adjusted before wear sets in.
Do frameless glass doors have to be safety glass?
Yes. Glass in doors is a critical location, so in England it must meet the impact requirements in Approved Document K, and frameless doors are made from toughened safety glass to suit. Toughened glass also lets the door carry its own hinges and handles. Other UK nations have equivalent guidance, and we specify the glass to suit where you are.
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.
How long does it take to get a frameless glass door fitted?
Once the opening is templated, the glass is made to order and toughened, which usually takes a few weeks. Fitting a single door or screen is normally done in a day, while larger entrances or runs of screens take longer. Your written quote sets out the expected programme, and we confirm the date when the glass is ready.
Do you cover Orpington for frameless glass?
Yes. We can quote for frameless glass across Orpington and the surrounding Greater London area, including postcode districts BR6, BR5 and BR7, and nearby Swanley, Bromley and Bexleyheath. 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 Orpington
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.