In a Glass of its own

And today, you see it almost everywhere — in hotels, shops, restaurants, industries and homes. Although fibre glass has virtually unlimited uses, most people use it in their homes as a substitute for glass. You can use it in windows, doors, partitions or dividers, to cover up balconies and verandahs, to create domes for natural light, for sunshades and in shower curtains. According to Himanshu Tiwari, Marketing Manager of Keshav Puram-based SRM Fibre Glass Industries, fibre glass is better than other mediums like wood and glass in every way.

“Fibre glass is very flexible and virtually unbreakable, unless of course, you consciously attempt to break it with a hammer. It is more resistant to humidity, extreme temperatures and water than wood. It cannot be harmed by insects or termite and does not rust either. It is a perfect medium in every sense except for the fact that although it replaces glass, it can never be transparent”.

Although we usually associate fibre glass with a translucent look, it is available in a wide range of colours and textures. Basically, it is a very versatile medium that can look like wood at one place and smoked glass at another. It is used to make planters, bath tubs, roofs, false ceilings, cubicles, fences and railings. It can also be used to make bumpers for cars, life-size statues, furniture like tables and chairs, artificial rocks and waterfalls. Shiv Gupta, the owner of Kotla-based Designer Shoppe specialises in what he calls wrinkle glass, which to a layman, looks simply like stained glass in bright colours and attractive designs. Explains Gupta: “Wrinkle glass, available in a wide range of textures, can be used for decorative wall panels, door and window inserts, skylights, false ceilings and room dividers”.

If simplicity is your code, then use fibre glass just the way it is plain and translucent. But, if you like experimenting with designs, then playing around with Gupta’s wrinkle glass is a bright idea. Otherwise, you can try the printed sheets, as recommended by Sunny Paruthi of Paharganj-based Fibre Glass Sales Corporation. He says: “We use printed fibre glass to make roofs and tables to match the rest of the house. You can use fibre glass embedded with leaves or any other design to match your curtains or walls.” You also have the option of getting furniture made out of fibre glass. It is lighter and easier to maintain than wood. Yet, this hasn’t really caught on in India though most dealers insist that it won’t be long before it does.

Artificial waterfalls and rocks for farm houses are probably the other most common use of this medium. Although it is claimed that fibre glass is virtually unbreakable, Tiwari feels that it depends a lot on the quality of the material. Fibre glass is available in varying thicknesses from 0.5 mm to 15 mm. The thicker the sheet, the greater the strength. The quality of fibre glass depends on the raw material used. While Gupta feels that fresh raw material means good quality, Tiwari insists that the better the quality of the mat, the stronger the product will be.

The only drawback of fibre glass is its price. It can cost anywhere between Rs 8 per square feet to Rs 80 per square feet. But as Gupta insists: “Although fibre glass is slightly more expensive than wood, it lasts much longer without giving any problem.” Seconding him, Tiwari asserts that fibre glass is a very practical and cost effective medium. “If you use it in the exterior as a roof or fence, then the onslaught of weather and temperature can reduce its life to between 6 and 8 years. But if you use it inside the house, it can last you for twice as much time”.

Fibre glass is an interesting medium, for it can take any shape, colour or texture that you want it to. Unfortunately, most us are not aware of its uses. But the more you find out, the more you want to know. If used wisely, it is a medium that can virtually transform our living!