FAQ’s

Does Chicago Glass and Mirror sell to designers, architects and contractors?

Yes, as a matter of fact, we do a lot of business with designers, architects, and contractors. We welcome all new business whether you are a contractor looking to complete a project, or if you are the home owner looking to add a little something to your space. Feel more than free to come into our full walk-through showroom, or have us come to you to give you a free estimate!

What services does Chicago Glass and Mirror offer?

We offer a wide range of services here at Chicago Glass and Mirror. We have been in the service installation business for over 25 years. Our highly experienced installation crews are able to install anything from shower doors and mirrors to even glass back splashes. Installation is of course not the only service that we offer. We have designers and artisans on staff that can help bring a personal touch to your product with our glass etching and back painting services.

Can I walk in to Chicago Glass and Mirror and receive a free consultation?

Yes, and if our showroom isn’t in a convenient location for you take advantage of our free in-home consultations and let one of our sales representatives come to you.

What can I use to keep the glass clean?

Make sure you clean the glass every other week with normal use, and when doing so you may use whatever glass cleaner you prefer. However, we recommend you stay away from cleaners with ammonia. Be sure you do not let the glass air-dry, but wipe it dry with a clean lint free cloth. You may also use vinegar and water; 1 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water. For “heavy duty” jobs, add more vinegar. Cleaning your glass once every other week will keep your glass looking great for years to come.

What’s the advantage of your pivot hinge versus the traditional wall mount hinge?

There are several advantages of using our pivot hinge versus the wall mount hinge. The advantages can be identified at various stages of the door’s lifespan. During installation – two holes are required for the pivot hinge, whereas four holes are required for the wall mount hinge! When installing a wall mount hinge there is a greater chance of cracking a tile or drilling a misaligned hole. Installed – a pivot hinge allows for the door to rest upon the hinge offering a smooth swing, whereas a wall mount hinge places the weight of the door against the wall. Overtime the door on a wall mount hinge may require service as a result of the wall settling or may cause damage to your wall. Maintenance and service – a pivot hinge is more reliable than a wall mount hinge because of the
vice the pivot hinge places on the glass. A wall mount hinge uses gaskets to pressure the glass and over time those gaskets thin and must be replaced to prevent the door from shifting position. Overall look – pivot hinges are placed at the top and bottom of the glass door out of your line of sight to give you the true frameless look you desire.

Can I use glass for my a backsplash in my kitchen?

Yes! Glass backsplashes are a trend that has become popular over the last few years and we at Chicago Glass & Mirror are proud to say we are leaders among our industry and innovators with techniques that capture different patterns, textures, and colors inside the glass. Carving, etching and painting are a few of the various techniques that we can apply to glass. Just like any other piece of glass, it’s easy to clean. The creative work is done behind the glass leaving the face of the glass smooth. A glass backsplash eliminates the grout lines, looks great, and best of all you control the elements. Because every piece of glass is made to order we can incorporate elements that will tie everything in your space together. These same techniques can be applied to mirrors,vanity tops, counter tops, walls, ceilings and even floors!

Will the shower door leak without gaskets on the side?

No. We get our frameless glass shower doors as close as possible to the walls (or glass panels) that there is no need to install gaskets around them. The gap left between the shower door and the walls is so small that the water forms a seal and trickles down the edge of the glass and back to the pan. Every shower area is different and sometimes we do recommend using a gasket (if the tile is not flat or if there is a body spray pointed in the direction of the gap) but most of the time we are able, with the use of our unique pivot hinge, to get as close as needed to prevent leaking. Other hinges do not allow the glass to be placed close enough to prevent leaking and that is why gaskets are required with other hinges.

What does tempered glass mean?

Glass used in a shower area must be tempered glass. Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that undergoes controlled thermal or chemical treatments. Not only does this process increase the strength of the glass but, if someone were to fall through the tempered glass, the glass upon breaking would crumble into small granular chunks preventing injury instead of large dangerous shards. Generally glass shelves and table tops do not need to be tempered. If someone would hit the corner of a shelf or table top with a heavy object the glass would chip rather
than shatter in a million pieces.

What is the Difference between Frameless and Semi-Frameless?

Semi-Frameless shower doors have metal framing around the entire glass unit. When the glass door is open there is no metal frame except for the hinged side of the door. Frameless shower doors have no metal around the glass unit.
Our unique top and bottom pivot hinge system for the door and low profile channel on the bottom and wall side of the stationary panel is the only metal; the rest of the glass is completely frameless.

What is the standard width and height for a shower door?

There is no exact standard sizing, however most common frameless shower doors
are at a 28″ width and an 80″ height. We can custom cut the glass to accommodate any entry way.

What is Starphire Glass?

Starphire Glass is the next step above normal clear glass you may be familiar with. Regular clear glass has a green hue to it due to the iron in the glass. You can see this hue when you look at the edge of the glass; it is usually dark green. Starphire Glass has a lot less iron in it, therefore gives you much clearer glass. You will not see much of a green tint, if any, when you look through the glass. Not only will you be surprised by the visual difference in glass, but also that Starphire Glass still fits most budgets.

What is ShowerGuard Glass?

Ordinary glass is prone to damage and aging from hard water, soap, humidity and more. But ShowerGuard glass is extraordinary. It’s an entirely different kind of glass that’s protected during manufacturing with a patented ion beam process. This technology permanently seals the glass surface, for a shower that stays beautiful shower after shower with just a minimal amount of cleaning. ShowerGuard glass also comes with a 10 year warranty!