Author: Janssen Glass

10 Ways To Enhance Your Patio With Custom Glass

Did you know you can get more out of your patio with glass enhancements? If you are considering updating your patio and you want to be the envy of all of your neighbors, this list of stunning custom glass upgrades will give you inspiration to take the plunge into having the outdoor look you’ve always dreamed of. You’ll never think of your patio the same way again.

1.  Glass Gazebo

A beautiful custom glass gazebo can become the focal point of your patio and yard with its unique and elegant look. Additionally, this backyard retreat will keep you well protected on a rainy day or allow you to take advantage of the warming rays of the sun on a cooler afternoon while blocking the chilly wind.

2. Pergolas

PergolasWhile pergolas do not include walls and are known to be open and airy, adding glass to the top of a pergola can be the perfect way to enhance your patio. The glass roof offers a protective cover while not blocking the sun or your view of the sky above.

3.  Folding Glass Patio Walls

A folding glass patio wall will have a considerable impact on your patio. When closed, a glass wall is a statement piece offering forever views. The ability to open that wall expands your living space and brings the outdoors in while allowing a great area for entertaining.

4.  Decking Panels or Railings

Any panels or railings made completely of wood are wonderful but will obstruct your view of a yard you are proud to show off. Replacing them with custom glass panels will allow the same protection while enhancing the look of your outdoor space. Panels made of heavy glass are thick and sturdy enough to handle the demands of the great outdoors.

5.  Glass Pool Fencing

Glass Pool FencingLike the panels and railings above, glass fencing can be used around your pool. For safety reasons, glass is a plus as it permits you an unobstructed view of the pool from diverse areas of the yard. Plus, this facelift will give your pool a resort feel.

6.  All-Season Room

Get more use out of your patio year round by enclosing it in glass. Imagine watching a snowstorm cuddled up on the couch reading a book or watching a movie. It’s a great way to connect the indoors to the great outdoors.

7.  Glass Tables

Glass adds beauty and sparkle. Simply updating a current patio tabletop with a custom cut glass top is an easy way to update your patio area.

8.  Exercise Room

If you’ve always wanted an exercise room, enclose your patio and transform it into one. The sunny area with a great view of the outdoors will keep you motivated.

9.  Glass Fire Pit Wind Guard

Glass Fire Pit Wind GuardPatio gathering spaces are more comfortably enjoyed into the cooler evening with a fire. A custom glass wind guard surrounding a fire pit allows for the enjoyment of the warmth of a fire with the additional reflective beauty of glass. A uniquely produced guard will add its own charm as it shelters the flames from the wind.

10.  Patio Mirrors

Mirrors are easily incorporated into any patio design. Custom sizing and shapes will add beauty to any space. Mirrors will reflect back the colors of your yard and even make a small space feel larger.

Give Janssen Glass a call at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online if you are ready to add an elegant custom glass upgrade to your patio.

The Latest Bathroom Design Trend – Converting Your Tub to a Luxury Shower

If you’re thinking of remodeling your bathroom, there is one trend you need to know about – tubs are out and showers are in. According to Matt Muenster, a licensed contractor and host of DIY Network’s Bath Crashers and Bathtastic!, in his list of the 10 Best Bathroom Remodeling Trends, showers are becoming far more popular than tubs. While freestanding tubs are also a trendy feature in bathroom remodels, you may want to consider how much use a tub will get vs. a large, luxury shower.

Space is a premium feature in bathrooms, so if yours is on the smaller side, you may want to consider replacing your bathtub with a larger, more attractive shower. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), showers are becoming far more popular than tubs.

Must-Have Features for a Spa-Inspired Shower

frameless shower doors1. Heavy Glass (Frameless) Shower Doors

If you are updating your bathroom, don’t take it back in time with old school framed shower doors. Sure, they’re cheaper, and they look like it. Heavy glass shower doors don’t need frames so you can get that modern, sleek, look without all the hardware.

They also make the bathroom seem bigger because their frameless style creates a clear view. If you are updating your shower with decorative tile, frameless shower doors help to show it off better too.

2. High-Tech Shower Heads

To help create a spa-like look and feel, upgrade that boring old shower head to multiple shower heads including body sprays, water jets and rain shower heads.

3. Steam Showers

Fully enclosed steam showers are becoming popular as well especially in new homes and master bathrooms.

4. Shower Benches

Built-in and portable benches add to the relaxation mode being created in these spa-like enclosures. Having a place to sit to shave legs or moisturize skin is relaxing and convenient.

5. Zero Entry

With the recent emphasis on aging-in-place remodeling, zero-entry showers or curbless shower stalls are also a consideration. Instead of a pan for the shower floor (a floor with raised sides to corral water and send it down a center drain) a curbless floor (the drainage slope of the floor is built below the level of the surrounding flooring surface) allows wheelchair entry with no barriers.

It is more expensive and harder to install, but if you’re interested in retiring and living in your home in your later years, it may be worth the extra trouble. If you are planning on aging in place, some other features you may want to consider are grab bars in the shower, slip-resistant floors, a handheld showerhead mounted lower on the wall, and floating/wall mounted sinks/counters that a wheelchair can roll under for easy access.

Tips for Shower Remodels

 

Don’t Replace Your Only Tub
Don’t make the mistake of replacing your home’s only tub as they are handy for washing large items (think window blinds) as well as giving pets a bath. You will want at least one tub in your home for convenience and for resale value.

Don’t Build around a Window
You may be tempted to build a shower enclosure around a window if there was a window above the original tub. We warn against it. The window casing simply presents too many opportunities to allow water to seep around it and into your walls. The result will be ugly mold and possibly having to tear out the window/wall to fix it. Close up the window before finishing the shower if possible.

Make Your Shower as Big as Possible
People rarely regret making a shower too big. Making it too small, however is a common “coulda, woulda, shoulda” complaint by homeowners who have remodeled. Most building codes say a shower stall should be at least 30” by 30”. The NKBA recommends making it 36” by 36”. Don’t cheat yourself out of a bigger shower even if you have to bump out an interior wall or two to create the space.

Key Measurements for Bathroom Remodels

Finished ceiling height:
80” minimum

Distance from side of toilet to shower wall:
15” minimum (measured from the center of the toilet to the wall)
18 “ recommended

Distance from front of toilet to shower wall (or any wall):
21” minimum
30” recommended

Shower door swing:
Should clear all obstructions including toilet and vanity cabinet. Sliding doors or curved doors can help solve door swing problems.

If you’re considering remodeling your bathroom, give Janssen Glass a call at (913) 677-5727. We can help you design a shower enclosure that makes the most of your bathroom. If you’ve got a tricky space, we can custom design a shower enclosure just for you. For inspiration, visit our shower door gallery online.

Top 5 Trends to Inspire Your Bathroom Remodel in 2018

If you’re like a lot of homeowners, you know it’s time to remodel your bathroom, but where do you start? There are a lot of small decisions to be made and it can seem overwhelming. What you need is a dose of inspiration! The team at Janssen Glass has gathered these five design trends that will add some serious POW to your powder room.

Luxurious Spa Features

spa features for bathroom remodelOne of the biggest trends, really for the past several years has been the spa trend.

Adding relaxing and upscale elements like chandeliers, towel warmers, aromatherapy, and live plants creates a secret getaway from the stresses of everyday life.

If your budget allows, you can even add steam showers and heated floors to your spa-like bathroom.

Try The New Neutral: Soothing Sage

sage for new neutral color for bathroomIf you’re looking for a relaxing color to complement your spa-like redesign, sage is the perfect suspect.

It’s relaxing, classy, and works well with every taste – from rustic, to modern, to chic.

Sage is the new neutral! Use it liberally…it won’t get old.

Mix It Up With Mixed Metals

mix metal bathroom fixturesApparently, mixing your metals is no longer frowned upon.

This is good news if you thought you had to replace all of your faucets and shower heads to match a new look.

Leave them there in all of their brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze glory and feel free to add light fixtures or cabinet hardware that is a completely different finish.

It’s kind of liberating when you do it!

Show Your Personality With Herringbone

herringbone floor tile patternLooking for an interesting pattern to spice things up a bit?

Herringbone is popping up in everything from backsplashes to floor tile.

If you’re updating the floor, look into laying tile or wood planks in this intriguing design.

Herringbone patterns have the added benefit of bringing depth and dimension to an otherwise flat surface.

Max Out Your Mirror(s)

mirror framesSimply changing your mirror(s) can make a dramatic change to the look and feel of your bathroom. Gone are the flat, frameless mirrors that span the entire wall.

Replace them with individual mirrors above each sink with elegant and interesting frames. This upgrade will make a huge difference, without cutting into the budget dramatically. Reflect on it and we’re sure you’ll agree.

If replacing your old framed shower doors is change you’d like to make, come see all of the beautiful heavy glass shower doors we have at Janssen Glass. Frameless shower doors will bring your bath into the modern and will be fashionable for decades to come. Check out our beautiful shower door gallery.

Call us if we can help you remodel your bathroom in the coming year at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online.

How to Get Your Bathroom “Guest-Ready”

Guest-Ready HomeExpecting weekend guests over the winter? You may already have the guest room tidied up and ready to receive them, but you’ll also want to make sure that your bathroom is in “guest-ready” shape too. Here are some quick tips from the crew at Janssen Glass to make your bathroom shine when company arrives:


Make the Tub and Shower Sparkle


The last thing you want your guests to see when they step into your shower is a buildup of soap scum on the shower surround or in the shower door tracks (yuk!). Zap soap scum by combining two of the trustiest non-toxic cleaners around — baking soda and white vinegar. All you need is a cup of baking soda in a plastic bowl and a cup of white vinegar. Mix together to form a thick paste and wait a moment for the fizzing to stop. Then, simply dip a microfiber cloth into the mixture and apply to the tub surround, shower doors, or wherever soap scum has built up. Let sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing with plain water. (If the soap scum is really heavy, pour some salt into a separate bowl and after dipping your cloth into the baking soda/vinegar paste, dip it into the salt, which will add a little extra abrasive power to the formula. But be careful not to scratch the metal finish on the frames surrounding your doors.)

To keep the area clean on a daily basis, mix vinegar, water and a drop or two of dish soap in a spray bottle and spray the shower and shower door after each use. Allow the spray to sit for a few minutes, and then rinse with hot water, and dry to avoid spots and/or streaks. Use an old toothbrush and a commercial cleaner or your baking soda/vinegar paste to clean shower door tracks, rinse and dry thoroughly with a paper towel.

Shine up the Fixtures


Vinegar also makes a great cleaner for chrome and stainless steel fixtures. Simply spritz on, wipe and buff to bring out the shine. While you’re at it, remove your shower head and let it soak for a few minutes in a bowl of vinegar to dissolve any buildup that can clog up some of the holes. An even easier way to clean the shower head without removing it is to fill a plastic bag with vinegar and attach it to the shower head with a rubber band. Just make sure the vinegar covers the parts of the shower head that have mineral buildup. Leave it on for 15 minutes to an hour. It’ll not only look better, but work better too.

Welcoming Details


Clear away clutter and put out a pretty basket filled with handmade soaps, washcloths, and personal toiletries to make your guests feel at home. (Include small bottles of aspirin and antacid in case they’re needed so your guests don’t have to announce that they’ve got a headache or an upset stomach in the middle of the night. A couple of new toothbrushes is a nice touch as well just in case someone forgot theirs.)

Put out fresh towels, make sure there’s plenty of toilet paper, soaps, shampoo and washcloths, and add a pretty plant or a small vase of flowers to brighten up the room, and a candle for atmosphere. If you don’t have a covered waste basket, add one now. Voilà — You’ve just created the perfect, welcoming bathroom for your overnight guests!

Have a wonderful holiday season and if you’d like to get rid of the dated look of a shower curtain or framed shower doors and spruce up your bathroom with a new frameless shower door, be sure to contact us at Janssen Glass & Door!

How to Clean Up Broken Glass – Hacks That Will Keep You Safe

No one likes to clean up broken glass. It’s not only messy, it’s dangerous. The glass experts at Janssen Glass are sharing some glass clean up hacks that will help you clean it up faster, easier, and safer. So the next time you drop a glass, miss the trash can, or break a window, try one of these tips.

Safety First

Broken glass is sharp and dangerous. Don’t take any chances. Make sure anyone in the room carefully backs away from the glass. If anyone is barefoot, it’s best to just have them stand still until you can remove the broken shards from around them. If you can, put on some thick rubber gloves, this will protect your hands.

4 Household Options for Safe Glass Cleanup

The best ways to clean up broken glass

Pick up the large pieces first, being very slow and careful. Put those pieces in a trash can. The hardest pieces to clean up are the smallest. Here are four great ways to get the small glass pieces completely:

Bread – Yes, bread. Get a piece (or two if the broken glass piece was large) and gently press the bread against the glass shards. The softness and moistness of the bread will cause the pieces to stick to it.

The Potato Trick – Take a raw potato and cut it in half (lengthwise is best for more surface area) and press the potato against the floor. The shards will press into the flesh of the spud and the moisture will make even the smallest pieces stick. Through the potato away when done. (You may have to wipe up the floor with a damp cloth to remove any starch left behind.)

Tape – Masking tape or duct tape will do (duct tape is a little thicker and may offer more protection). Wrap the tape around your gloved hand so the sticky side is facing outward. Dab the area where the glass was broken to gather all of the small pieces. They will stick to the adhesive. Carefully remove the tape from your hand and throw away when finished.

Damp Paper Towel – Fold a paper towel a few times to provide some thickness. Dampen the paper towel(s) and press into the glass shards. Throw the paper towel away when finished collecting the glass pieces.

Vacuum – If glass breaks on or near carpet, it’s best to pick up all of the pieces you can see and use any of the above methods as well. Finally run a vacuum cleaner over the area thoroughly in every direction to be sure you got all of the pieces.

how to clean up broken glass

Other Glass Cleanup Tips

  • Beware that glass can get caught in a broom’s bristles, so if you must use a broom, thoroughly clean it afterwards or throw it away.
  • Glass can shatter much farther than you think. Be sure to check areas as far away as 15 feet and don’t forget to move furniture to look for hidden pieces.
  • If you vacuum, remove the vacuum bag and place it in the garbage, too, and take it out of the house.
  • If you put large glass pieces in the trash, take it out to the big can to avoid injury by an unsuspecting family member who decides to press the trash down with a hand or foot.
  • Don’t forget to also clean off the soles of your shoes!

Use these handy tips the next time you need to clean up broken glass. If you have other glass questions, or want to add glass to your home (shower doors, mirrors, shelves, etc.) give Janssen Glass a call at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online.

How to Extend Your Patio Season with Glass

Just because the weather gets cooler in the fall, here in the Kansas City area, you don’t have to sacrifice time outdoors! Consider adding glass to enhance your patio. There are many ways to add glass to your patio that will add to its beauty and functionality. Glass also makes an excellent windbreak without obstructing your view. Envision trying one of the following four ideas in your backyard. It may just make your patio your favorite place to be in the fall season.

Make the Entrance to Your Patio a Sliding Glass Wall

sliding glass wall for patio

A sliding wall that opens to a back patio is a great way to extend your living area both visually and literally. By replacing the wall with movable glass, you naturally extend your home to the outside by removing any physical barriers. Imagine the ease of entertaining and how wonderful your next family gathering would be with the addition of a sliding glass wall.

Fire Pit Wind Guards Allow You to Enjoy the Warmth No Matter the Wind

glass wind guard for fire pitFire pits have become an extremely popular staple in many backyards, especially on cool nights. But sometimes cool nights are windy nights which disturb your fire.

The perfect solution is a glass wind guard that perfectly surrounds your fire pit. Enjoy the fire pit, reap the warmth, and assure that the flames stay in place.

Enclosed Patios Protect from Rain, Wind & Cold

Enclosing part or all of your patio with glass would give you longer periods of use assuring that you are still able to enjoy the outdoors, even when it’s rainy, windy or cool. Glass patio enclosures are attractive, leave the view intact, and add value to your home.

Glass Pergolas Add a Touch of Class

glass pergola for patio
Glass pergolas are an attractive alternative to the very popular wooden models. They add a unique beauty to your backyard, can protect from the sun and rain, and can be custom designed to your personal taste. Yet, because they are glass, they let the light through making the entire area seem unencumbered by architecture.

The experts at Janssen Glass & Door are ready to work with you to help enhance your outdoor living space and extend your patio season. Being specialists at customization, we will create beautiful glass pieces to fit your needs.

Call the experts at Janssen at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online and let us put our expertise to work for you.

Looking for a New Shower Door? Consider these 6 Features…

beautiful brass and wooden showerYou’ve decided it’s time to install a new glass shower door in your home, but you didn’t realize there were so many choices. It can be a little overwhelming, so the team at Janssen Glass put together this guide for updating your shower door. Take a peek and you’ll know which questions to ask when it comes time to purchase.

Invest in Different Types of Door Openings

Believe it or not, sliding doors are not the only kind of shower doors you can choose from. Today’s styles include sliding, door and panel enclosures, and swinging doors. Consider the floor plan of your bathroom. Is there room for a swinging shower door? Every bathroom is different but it is also important to consider your lifestyle.

Traditional Framed Doors or Heavy Glass Doors?

Almost all of the shower doors we replace are framed doors. That’s all that was available until about a decade ago when heavy glass was created. Heavy glass is much thicker than traditional glass making it more rigid as well. Because it is so strong and rigid, it doesn’t require the frame around the outside to keep it stable. Now you can have a frameless shower door which provides a much sleeker and more modern look in your bathroom. You should know that edges on frameless doors get darker the thicker the glass gets, and you will notice. Make sure to ask what the edges of the finished product will look like.

Don’t Forget Door Hardware Decisions

chrome shower handleThe type of hardware you would like on your door is another decision you will have to make.There are plenty of choices from brushed nickel to oil rubbed bronze to rose gold. However, if you choose heavy glass doors, your hardware is drastically reduced. You may only need a door handle and some clips to keep the panels together. If your goal is to truly update your bathroom, heavy or frameless glass doors are what you want. Look through our gallery of glass shower doors and take note of those that do not require a metal frame. This also means no more cleaning shower door tracks!

Glass Patterns & Colors Can Brighten Your Shower

What pattern and color of glass do you prefer? We have 20 options for you whether you are installing a new shower door or replacing an old one. We can sometimes even do multiple textures to give you privacy while still showing off your fabulous tile. You just let us know what you want and we’ll create it.

Think About Replacing Your Bath with a Shower

Many homeowners find that they don’t use their tub for soaking and would rather have a shower enclosure only. Think about it. If you have a guest room with a bathtub, but you have three other bathrooms with bathtubs as well, do you really need that one to be a tub? Probably not. Deciding to replace the tub with a shower usually gives us room to expand a small shower and can really enhance a bathroom. Our designers can help you visualize a larger shower. Sometimes, the shower becomes the focal point of the entire room!

Zero entry showers are becoming popular with some older homeowners who plan to age in place. They find that they don’t use their tube because they have trouble getting in and out of it. Zero entry showers also allow wheelchairs to roll right into the enclosure should they need to in the future.

Do You Have an Unusual Floor Plan in Your Bathroom?

marble shower

Sometimes homeowners run into the problem of having an unusually configured bathroom which makes it hard to visualize many options for a shower. If your bathroom is an unusual configuration, no problem, contact us! We specialize in custom shower enclosures and doors that will maximize your space and show off the other upgrades you’ve done in your bathroom.

Now you know what to look for and what questions to ask when considering your new shower. For more information about glass shower doors, call us at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online.

Homeowner Hacks: How to Clean Your Shower Door Tracks

dirty door tracksDirty door tracks. They’re gross, unappealing, and plain annoying to clean. They’re easily neglected and forgotten. But the longer you put off cleaning them, the more disgusting the job gets. That’s why we’ve devised a super easy way to clean shower door tracks with household items that are already probably in your possession! Best of all, this cleaning trick is all natural and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals that will come in contact with your skin.

The Recipe for Homemade Shower Door Track Cleaner:

  • Vinegar
  • Paper Towels
  • Old Toothbrush for Scrubbing
  • Q-Tips for Tight Spots
  • Spray Bottle with Water (for rinsing)

How to Squeaky Clean the Shower Tracks Away

clean shower doorStart by pouring a little vinegar onto a paper towel so that it’s soaked. Then lay this onto the tracks, and let them sit for 30 minutes. Soak and lay enough paper towels to cover the length of your shower tracks. Turn on your exhaust fan during this process because the smell of vinegar can be strong.

 

After 30 minutes, remove the paper towels, and take your old toothbrush and run it across the tracks. With little effort, all the gunk should brush right off. Use the Q-tips to clean tight spots like corners and around screws. When you’re done scrubbing, take the spray bottle and rinse all the vinegar off the tracks. Once you’re done it should look as good as new!

Related Read: 7 Shower Door Cleaning Tips From the Pros

Sick of dirty showers? Get a heavy glass door!

If you’re sick and tired of cleaning shower door tracks, you should consider installing a shower with heavy glass doors. These types of shower doors typically swing open, and don’t normally require as much hardware such as tracks. Check out our gallery of heavy glass shower doors to see the difference.

Dirty shower door tracks, no more! Contact Janssen Glass & Door today for tips on how best to care for your glass shower doors, or to install new heavy glass shower doors.

8 Amazing Ways to Take Your Bathroom Mirror from Drab to Fab

Bathroom Mirror Ideas

Is your bathroom mirror boring? Most are. There’s still hope! You can give your bathroom some serious personality points with a simple bathroom mirror update. It’s easy to do too. Simply find a frame that you like (and you’ll see in the examples below that we use the word “frame” loosely) and bring to Janssen Glass to have it made into a mirror and voila, you have a unique focal point that will make guests look at your mirror almost as much as they look into it! Be inspired by the examples below and let your creativity overflow.

These 9 Wall Mirrors Floored Us

  • thrift store carved wooden frame turned into a mirror frame
    An intricately carved wooden frame found at a thrift shop creates a stunning focal point as a one-of-a-kind mirror in a small bathroom.

Even if you just want to give your bathroom a traditional, finished look, a framed mirror will do the trick! Just bring your frame into our custom glass shop and let us help you create a beautiful bathroom mirror that’s uniquely yours!

How to Hang Your Mirror Properly

Sure, you’ve hung various items on your walls before, but were you doing it the right way? Make sure your mirror is hung securely to avoid seven years of bad luck. Here are a couple of handy tips:

1. Find a Stud: Studs are the wooden structural supports for a wall. You should use a stud as the anchor for your mirror to ensure added support. Finding a stud can be done by knocking for a non-hollow part of the wall, using an electronic stud finder, or looking for signs of a stud such as windows, outlets, or molding nails.

2. Use a Level: A level is your best friend when hanging pictures, shelves, and mirrors. It is important to know what type of hardware you will be using so that you can measure and mark your wall accordingly!

3. Hardware Dos and Don’ts: Be sure to account for the weight of your mirror. Heavier objects will require brackets for support. With wired mirrors, you will want to use hooks to hang the mirror onto.

If you are interested in a custom cut mirror for your bathroom, just give the team at Janssen Glass a call today, at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online. We’ll be happy to help you add some woo hoo to your loo!

3 Awesome Swimming Pool Glass Design Ideas

pool and hot tub with glass fence

At Janssen Glass & Door, we want to remind you that summertime is a great time to spend days and evenings outdoor. And while you may think of glass as an indoor design element, it makes a stunning addition to outdoor features like pools, hot tubs, decks and more!

Take a look at these cool and creative ways to incorporate glass into your outdoor designs. Get inspired and then let us know where you would like to add it to your outdoor living spaces.

Replace That Pool Fence with Glass

glass pool fenceNever wonder who’s in the pool again. With glass walls instead of wood or metal fences, you can see it all.

Not only that, but glass walls don’t obstruct the view past your pool either.

Beautiful concrete work and landscaping can now be seen by everyone from your patio or deck.

Glass pool fences provide a beautiful aesthetic upgrade for your entire yard. If you’re on the fence, give us a call and we’ll give you an estimate.

Frosted Glass Fences Enhance the Look, Yet Keep the Privacy

While the clarity of glass enhances your view, it also decreases your privacy. For areas where privacy is prized, you can always use frosted glass to keep the area light and open, yet achieve the intimacy you desire.

Enhance the Pool View with Glass around Your Patio or Porch

glass wall for patio and poolSummer is beautiful and there’s usually not enough hours in the day to enjoy the great outdoors.

While you’re enjoying the beautiful flowers and landscaping, make sure your view is maximized with glass railing instead of the typical wood, metal, or solid railings.

Call Janssen Glass & Door today at (913) 677-5727 to install custom glass pieces into your pool area before pool season is in full swing.