Frameless Glass Showers, London

In the heart of Battersea, located among an unassuming mix of shops, bars & restaurants, is the small but elegant showroom of Glasstrends Limited. Upon further investigation, the showroom houses an impressive selection of shower enclosures. But what’s interesting about this particular display is that they are all manufactured from frameless glass. While this is not unusual in itself, what does capture the interest is that Glasstrends is the only company in Britain that exclusively offers frameless glass for shower enclosures, bathrooms & spas, and nothing else.

The company’s founder and Managing Director, Andrew Long, has an impressive history in the glazing industry. Beginning his career in New Zealand & Australia, Mr Long travelled half way around the world, quite literally, to set up Glasstrends in London, back in 2000. “There was an obvious gap in the market when it came to frameless glass showers in the UK” comments Mr Long. “Back in New Zealand, this method of design and installation was far more widespread. I had many years of experience that no-one else could match here. So I set up the business and positioned myself as an expert in the field. There were few people who could genuinely compete with me at the time and now, our history, level of expertise & experience are the cornerstones of the company. We offer a one-stop-shop style of service, from design right through to installation which appeals to many of our customers.”

The majority of work undertaken by Long’s team of in-house tradesmen is the manufacture and installation of bespoke shower enclosures, which are designed to fit into any space. However, recent projects also include bath screens, sliding doors, wet room & toilet doors. The team have also fitted steam room & sauna doors which require an exceptional level of expertise for successful fitting.

The glass panels used are manufactured from 10 mm thick toughened safety glass, held in position with a U-channel or wall mount clamp then silicone sealed against the wall and base. Unsupported glass panels may sometimes need to be braced and this is done with an overhead glass brace or, where this is unsuitable, a support bar. All of the glass to glass joins have polished mitre edges and are silicone bonded together.

Clients are offered the choice of standard clear glass with a natural green hue or ultra clear low iron glass, which appears colourless. If either fails to fit with the chosen interior design style, there is also the alternative option of coloured or textured glass. All types of glass used can be treated with Clearshield, a protective barrier, which prevents lime scale and residue damage, as well as the growth of bacteria.

To finish off the overall appearance of the installation, clients are encouraged to choose from a comprehensive range of stylish and elegant fittings to complete the custom-built enclosures. This ensures that functionality is coupled with the elegance that has become synonymous with the Glasstrends brand. Bespoke handles and fittings are also available upon request should the client have a particular design style in mind.

The company boasts an impressive list of both commercial and private clients. Not surprising given the quality of the product and level of customer service offered by this small but professional company. When speaking to Mr Long, it also became clear that Glasstrends is keen to support environmental initiatives.

When discussing their ‘green’ credentials, he talked of how the company tries to counter-balance their carbon usage by running a fleet of LPG powered vans and recycling all off-cuts generated during the manufacturing process. All in all, Glasstrends appears to have all bases covered. A visit to the showroom really is a must for anyone looking for bathroom inspiration and style.