Frosted and Sandblasted Glass in Melbourne
Privacy and style in one panel. We make frosted glass Melbourne homes and offices use for doors, windows, shower screens, partitions and splashbacks, designed to your brief in our own Dandenong South factory and backed by a lifetime guarantee.
- 25+ years
- Custom designs
- Toughened safety glass
- Lifetime guarantee
- Made in Melbourne
Privacy where you want it, light where you need it
Frosted glass is glass given an even, obscure finish so you cannot read detail through it, while the light still comes through. That is the whole point of it. A blind or a solid wall solves privacy by taking the light away. Privacy glass keeps the room bright and simply stops anyone seeing what is on the other side.
We can frost a whole panel, run a band across it at eye height, or blast a pattern or a business logo permanently into the surface. Because the work happens here rather than being ordered in, the obscure glass Melbourne clients ask us for can be matched to an existing panel, a door style or a fit-out specification.
Frosting and sandblasting: what is the difference
The three methods compared. Ask for sandblasting or etching and you get a finish built into the glass, not stuck on it.
People use the two words interchangeably, and on a finished panel the look is often the same. The difference is in how the surface is treated.
Ask for glass sandblasting Melbourne wide and you are usually getting one of the first two. We will recommend the right one for the panel, and say so honestly if film is better value for your situation.
- Sandblasting. An abrasive is blasted at the surface under pressure, which micro-pits the glass so it scatters light. Sandblasted glass has a very slightly textured feel, and it is the method we use for patterns, borders and logos, because the blast can be masked to any shape.
- Acid etching. A chemical treatment that produces a smooth, uniform frost across the whole panel. It suits full-panel privacy where you want a flat, consistent finish with no texture.
- Applied film. A vinyl film applied to glass you already have. It costs less up front and we will tell you when it is the sensible choice, but it can lift, bubble and scratch over time. It is not permanent the way glass frosting Melbourne jobs done properly in a factory are.
Where we use it
Doors and entry glass
A frosted glass door gives privacy at the front entry or on internal doors without shutting out the light. Common for entry sidelights, study doors and anywhere a solid door would darken the hallway.
Obscure glass for shower screens and bathroom windows, easy to clean and made in toughened safety glass for wet areas.
Frosted bands, full privacy panels or manifestation for meeting rooms and quiet zones in a fit-out. Also the standard way to make a full-height glass partition visible and safe.
Windows and panels
Bathrooms, stairwells, laundries and street-facing rooms where you want to keep the outlook private without losing daylight.
Frosted or sandblasted decorative panels used as a feature wall, a splashback, or a screen between two spaces.
Logos and signage
A blasted logo on a reception panel or shopfront reads as permanent and considered in a way a stuck-on decal never does.
Choosing your finish
The four finishes we make. All are cut, treated and toughened where needed in our own factory.
All of it is cut to size in our factory, toughened where the application needs it, and installed by our own glaziers. Every frosted glass Melbourne order goes through the same shop, so the finish is consistent panel to panel. You can also collect from Dandenong South if you would rather fit it yourself.
- Full frost. An even, obscure finish across the whole panel for maximum privacy. The usual choice for bathrooms and entry doors.
- Banded frost. A frosted strip at eye height with clear glass above and below. Standard in offices, and the simplest way to make a large panel obvious to anyone walking towards it.
- Pattern or logo. Bands, borders, geometric designs or a business logo blasted permanently into the glass. Sandblasted glass Melbourne businesses use on reception panels is almost always this.
- Partial or graduated. Frosting that covers the lower half only, or fades out, for rooms where privacy matters at one height and the view matters above it.
Safety and compliance
Frosting does not change what the glass is underneath. Frosted glass Melbourne homes rely on for doors, side panels beside a door, shower screens and any low-level glazing is made in toughened safety glass to AS 1288, exactly as any other panel we supply. A frosted panel in a door is a safety panel first and a privacy panel second, and we do not supply it any other way.
One practical point worth raising early: a large frosted panel can be harder to notice than a clear one, which is precisely why banded frosting and manifestation exist. On commercial fit-outs we bring this up at quoting stage rather than after installation.
Care and cleaning
Frosted and sandblasted glass cleans like any other glass, with one caveat. The etched surface is slightly more open than clear glass, so oils and residues show sooner and are best dealt with promptly rather than left.
Use a glass cleaner or a mild soap solution with a soft, lint-free cloth. Avoid abrasive pads and harsh solvents, which can polish shiny patches into the frost and leave a mark you cannot undo. In bathrooms, drying the panel after use stops water spotting building up in the etched surface.
A sandblasted pattern is blasted into the surface itself, so it never peels or fades.
Frosted glass questions
What is frosted glass?
Glass given an even, obscure finish by sandblasting or acid etching, so it provides privacy while still letting light through.
What is the difference between frosted and sandblasted glass?
Sandblasting is one of the ways to frost glass, using abrasive under pressure. Acid etching is the other, and gives a smoother, more uniform result. For patterns and logos we sandblast, because the blast can be masked to any shape.
Can you frost an existing door or window?
In most cases we supply a new frosted panel to fit your opening, which keeps the glass toughened and safe. Taking an installed panel out to treat it and refitting it is usually more work than replacing it.
Can you sandblast a logo or pattern?
Yes. We do custom bands, patterns and business logos blasted permanently into the glass. Send us the artwork and we will tell you how it will translate.
Is frosted glass private at night?
It obscures shapes and detail day and night. With a light on inside, a silhouette can still be read at close range, so for bedrooms and bathrooms we will advise on frost density and placement rather than assume.
Is frosted glass toughened?
Where the application requires it, yes. Doors, side panels, shower screens and low-level glazing are made in toughened safety glass to AS 1288.
Is film a cheaper option?
Applied film costs less up front and has its place, particularly for rentals or a temporary need. It can lift, bubble and scratch over time, where factory-frosted glass does not. We will tell you which one actually suits your job.
Is it guaranteed?
Yes, with a genuine lifetime guarantee.
What our customers say
“Absolutely amazing service !! Star Glass came highly recommended to us and they certainly didn’t disappoint. From the measure and quote process, to the final installation, their communication and dedication to the task was excellent.”
“Emily and James were friendly and professional from start to finish. Always on time, great quality product, and efficient and careful installation.”
“Great work from James and Will, highly recommend their professional and friendly approach and giving advice on the perfect colour to complete the end result.”
“Professional, prompt and courteous service by James and Chris. Awesome job done on our Glass Turret.”
4.9 ★ from 252 Google reviews
Get a free quote
Tell us your suburb and what you want frosted, and we will call you back within two hours during business hours.
(03) 9706 8805 · info@starglass.com.au · 220 Frankston-Dandenong Rd, Dandenong South VIC 3175