About Glass Rainscreens

Glass is a perfect material choice for rainscreen cladding due to its characteristic ease of maintenance, resilience to permanent staining (including graffiti), and timeless aesthetic appeal. A non-porous building material, glass is uniquely positioned to stand up to the punishing effects of water, salt spray (in coastal environments), wind, and time. Glass is also a non-combustible building material, an important added benefit.

The unprecedented technological development of the architectural glass industry has produced a never-before-seen variety of decorative glass options suitable for rainscreen applications. Colored and patterned glass varieties are especially popular. They help “brand” and differentiate buildings, creating dynamic contemporary facades. Advanced, customizable architectural glass types, including photographic printed interlayers for laminated safety glass and direct-to-glass printing techniques for tempered safety glass, can convert building facades into art canvasses of architectural scale and proportions.

A unique type of specialty architectural glass – Channel (U-shaped) glass – can create virtually seamless all-glass rainscreen assemblies that can reach heights up to 23 feet (7 m). Channel glass rainscreens do not require the use of vertical structural supports (mullions). The glass is typically captured at the top and bottom only, including glass-to-glass corners. Channel glass’ unique U shape and slim profile make it an elegant and easy solution for straight and curved facades alike. Channel glass rainscreen claddings feature a distinctive, streamlined linear appearance that is immediately recognizable.