Obscure glass: patterns and privacy levels

The five patterns

• Minster: privacy 2/5. A soft hammered ripple that keeps rooms bright and gently blurs the view; the classic period-property choice.
• Contora: privacy 3/5. An even all-over texture with a balanced trade of light and privacy.
• Stippolyte: privacy 4/5. A fine, dense stipple; the default recommendation for bathrooms and front doors.
• Satin: privacy 5/5. A smooth, uniform etched finish for maximum privacy with a clean modern look.
• Everglade: privacy 5/5. Deep leaf-like swirls; maximum privacy with traditional character.

What obscure glass costs

Obscure glass is priced by the square metre of glass over clear. Today, any of Stippolyte (level 4), Satin (level 5), Minster (level 2), Contora (level 3) or Everglade (level 5) adds £27.07 on a 600 × 900mm Full Side Opener (£148.02 to £175.09) and £79.53 on a 1200 × 1200mm Classic Combination (£337.52 to £417.05), inc VAT. Those patterns all cost the same; the prices below open the designer with Stippolyte (level 4).

As standard, each window is: Full Side Opener, an opening window, 600 × 900mm overall, white inside and out, double glazed (28mm), clear glass, 150mm cill, trickle vents: 2000 (300mm), white handles, standard key-locking espag lock; and Classic Combination, an opening window, 1200 × 1200mm overall, white inside and out, double glazed (28mm), clear glass, 150mm cill, trickle vents: 2000 (300mm), white handles, standard key-locking espag lock. Only the glass pattern changes. More options are priced in our window cost guide.

Prices include VAT at 20%. Delivery is extra: priced by straight-line distance from our factory (M28 2LY) to your postcode district, from £30, to mainland Britain addresses within 300 miles, not Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands or islands reached by ferry. Or collect free from the factory. Delivery and collection.

How privacy levels work

Pilkington rates each texture 1-5 by how much it distorts a shape viewed through the glass. Level 2 blurs outlines; level 5 reduces even a close-up figure to light and shadow. Remember that privacy works both ways and changes with light: at night, with the room lit, any obscure glass shows more silhouette than in daylight. For ground-floor bathrooms, level 4-5 is the sensible floor.

Combining with toughened and laminated glass

Obscure texture is a surface finish, not a strength property. The pattern can be carried on toughened safety glass where regulations require it (within 800mm of floor level, or 300mm of a door). The designer prices the correct combination automatically: pick your glazing first, then the pattern, and the unit arrives as one sealed, obscured, safety-rated package.

Frequently asked questions

Which obscure glass is best for a bathroom?

Stippolyte (level 4) or Satin (level 5). Satin is the more contemporary look; Stippolyte is the traditional bathroom standard.

Can I see the patterns before ordering?

The designer previews your chosen pattern on the window drawing, and our products page shows each texture as a close-up swatch.

Does obscure glass cost more?

Yes, obscure patterns carry a per-square-metre uplift over clear glass, shown live in the designer for your exact pane sizes.

Can just one pane be obscured?

The pattern applies per window in the designer. Where you want one obscured pane beside clear ones (a WC window next to a landing window, say), order them as separate windows.

Is obscure glass available with triple glazing?

Yes, patterns can be combined with any of our glazing options, including toughened, laminated and 36mm triple glazed units.