Stepping up to glass

LIKE SO many commercial building products, the glass floor is popping up more often in homes.

“It’s the hottest product I manufacture,” says Artwork in Architectural Glass Studios owner Tim Czechowski, whose Newport Beach firm makes dozens of glass designs, including those for windows, doors and counters. His firm has manufactured glass floors for about eight years, but only recently have they become popular for residential use.

“It’s a high-liability product,” Czechowski says, noting the safety considerations. He recommends using only glass that is tempered and laminated so that the panels will hold together even if the glass breaks. For most applications, he says, 1 1/4 -inch thickness is adequate, though larger panels may need greater thickness.

Slip-resistant finishes are available; some don’t impede transparency, but they cost more. Czechowski compares glass to cars: The equivalent of a Yugo will run about $135 per square foot, while a Mercedes-Benz level may be $300.

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Times staff