Glass fence instead of wood: information on costs and cleaning

For many people, glass fences are an interesting alternative to conventional materials such as the classic wood, PVC or metal. A big advantage of glass fences is that they are not sensitive to fungi or climbing plants, which, for example, can cause severe damage. Thanks to the smooth surface, cleaning is quick and effective. Thanks to the element construction offered today, the acquisition costs are quite low.

Cost of a glass fence

In the past, glass fences weren't really affordable because they had to be designed by an architect. More and more manufacturers are offering individual glass fence elements in numerous variations, which you can even purchase in hardware stores. This keeps the costs lower than is often expected and the installation is also quite easy in this way, since you only have to set up individual elements and connect them together. The elements are often offered in the following dimensions:

• rectangular: 180 cm x 90 cm
• rectangular: 180 cm x 120 cm
• rectangular with slope: 180 cm x 90 cm; Inclination starts at 90 cm height

There are no other sizes for finished elements. The further height of the fence is determined by the fence posts, which glass fence in the garden carry. With these, heights of 2.5 meters can even be reached. Another advantage is the possibility of using short fences with a maximum height of 90 cm. To do this, the fences are simply taken across and installed accordingly. This gives you the freedom to choose how high and wide the fence will be. The prices do not necessarily depend on the size, but on the decoration and the glass structure. Clear fences are the cheapest and harder to clean than those with privacy screens or ceramic digital prints. The prices for an element measuring 180 cm x 90 cm x 0.8 cm in different variants:

• clear toughened safety glass: 90 to 110 euros per element
• Single pane safety glass with sandblasting (one side) and optional color: 130 to 180 euros per element
• Laminated safety glass with digital printing (ceramic): 230 to 280 euros

With beveled variants, you have to calculate an average of 30 euros more per variant. In total, the elements cost between 90 and 280 euros per meter in length, and between 120 and 310 euros for sloping variants. Of course, you also have to purchase accessories. The costs for this at a glance:

• Posts: 20 to 50 euros each depending on the design
• Clamp rails: 20 to 50 euros each depending on the design
• Clamp holder: 10 to 15 euros per piece
• Post caps: 2 to 3 euros each
• Consoles: 20 to 30 each

Depending on the system used (concreting or dowelling), the average cost for an element is between 300 and 450 euros. That depends heavily on the design. So you would have to pay between 900 and 1,350 euros for three elements. Complete sets can also be ordered, which can reduce costs by 10 to 15 percent. The costs for delivery and possible assembly vary greatly from provider to provider. Here you should inquire beforehand. Cast-in fences are usually cheaper, but of course you have to factor in the cost of a foundation here as well. Dowel systems are more expensive to purchase, but do not require a poured foundation.

cleaning

Cleaning a glass fence is quite easy compared to other materials, since mold, plants and dirt cannot adhere to or spread over the material for long. You can even clean large glass fences in a short time and enjoy the view as soon as dirt, fingerprints or dried rain are finally gone. Best of all, you don't need any special cleaners for cleaning, as commercially available agents for windows and glass often cause more streaks than desired. The following list gives you an overview of the utensils needed to make your glass fence shine:

• Soft sponge or window wiper with sponge
• organic dishwashing liquid
• alternative puller
• alternatively glass scraper
• clean tea towel
• Gloves

The glass scraper is required if there are stains on your glass fence that cannot be removed with the sponge alone. When choosing the sponge, make sure that it does not contain steel wool and is soft. That's enough for cleaning. Organic dish soap is important because the fence is right next to your yard and you certainly don't want chemicals getting into your plant's substrate or soil. The time of cleaning depends on the weather in the region. Particularly dry regions with a lot of dust can quickly soil the glass, as can rainfall, which carries dirt with it. The following intervals have proven their worth:

• normal weather: every 6 months (spring and autumn)
• humid or dusty weather: every 4 months (March, July, November)

Of course you can clean your fence more often, especially if you live close to a source of dirt. Even larger roads can quickly cause cloudy glass due to exhaust fumes and particles being thrown up. It is therefore advisable to clean the fence more often, especially over the summer. In winter you can do without cleaning and it is best to start with this in March. From March to November most of the dirt accumulates, which is not the case in winter. Therefore, you can safely do without cleaning during the cold season. Of course, larger stains that appear suddenly should be cleaned up immediately, especially if they are sticky substances.

Cleaning the glass fence: instructions

Once you have the cleaning supplies on hand, you can get started with this one. Choose a day when the sun is shining, because then the fence can dry by itself. This not only saves you work and time, you also prevent streaks in this way. You should also contact your neighbors if the fence is directly adjacent to their property and you would have to enter it to clean. A glass fence only looks good if it is clean on both sides. Even if you choose a variant that is colored or patterned on one side, it is necessary. Ideally, you have placed your fence in such a way that you always have room to clean. Follow these instructions to effectively clean your glass fence:

• make soapy water
• a bucket or large container is ideal for this
• Dosing depends on the degree of soiling
• the dirtier, the more detergent to use
• Soak a sponge or window wiper in soapy water
• wring out well
• clean one item at a time
• this will prevent the cleaning agent from drying on
• rinse with clear water
• Use a watering can or garden hose for this
• Then let the fence air dry
• this is particularly favorable on sunny days
• otherwise help with tea towels
• also clean connectors and edges
• Brackets can be cleaned with a brush
• after drying check glass fence for dirt
• treat stubborn stains with a glass scraper
• Apply flat to avoid scratching glass

Glass fences are not difficult to clean, even if they are large, and make a pleasant change compared to wooden, PVC or metal fences. Of course you could hire a cleaning service, but in the long run this can turn out to be more expensive than you think.

surface treatment

Alternatively, a surface or nano-coating can be used. These products are liquid agents that are applied directly to the glass and ensure that rain rolls off and dirt has difficulty adhering. These are used for showers, car windows or pool barriers, but due to their properties they are ideal for glass fences. One liter is sufficient for around 30 square meters of window and costs between ten and 15 euros. This saves you time and effort, as the fence has to be cleaned much less frequently. These coatings are applied in the following way:

• Treat glass with an alcohol-based cleaner
• Apply a thin layer using a spray bottle
• according to the manufacturer's instructions, allow it to act for a certain period of time
• then polish by hand or polishing machine

Such an impregnation is particularly recommended for long glass fences, as this means that they can absorb significantly less dirt.

Find out more about picket fences, fences & fences