Does Frosted Glass Scratch Easily?

Acid-etched glass — also known as French Embossing — is highly technical and involves applying acid to glass that etches away the surface.  It’s made by applying a mixture of acid and water to the surface of the glass.  This mixture can be applied across the whole surface, or a stencil can be used to mask off certain areas and create a pattern or design.  The acid etching creates a matte finish on the glass and does “etch away” a thin layer of the top surface of the glass, but when compared to sandblast etching, the acid etching creates more of a “sheen” or smooth finish when compared to the rougher, slightly more gritty feel of sandblast etched glass.   Acid etching is a relatively cost-effective way to achieve a frosted look, but it doesn’t have the same level of durability of sandblasted glass.  It also doesn’t allow for any dimensional shading or deep carving into the glass the way sandblasting does.

Although this process can be used to create decorative designs and indeed creates an “etched” look, it is NOT highly durable over time.  That’s because the process involves treating the glass with a fine, abrasive powder made of ceramic material.  The frit is applied TO the top surface of the glass using a special printing process.  The glass is heated to a high temperature to fuse the frit onto the surface of the glass. This means the “etching” is being applied TO the glass, or  layered ON to the glass.  Unlike sandblast etching where the glass surface is etched INTO, thereby permanently REMOVING and etching the top layer of the glass, transforming the shiny glass surface into a matte, etched finish.  In addition, this process can only create a 1-dimensional look.  The ceramic frit is certainly much more durable and resistant to scratches than plain, smooth glass, as the surface is indeed, already “etched”.   However, because it is APPLIED TO the glass, it is possible for the ceramic frit to become damaged or worn over time, from cleaning or heavy use.  The frit may begin to peel or flake off the surface of the glass over time.   If you have ceramic frit glass, you’ll need to use very gentle cleaning methods to avoid damage and peeling.

This type of glass is made by bonding layers of glass together, sandwiching a layer of semi-transparent material in-between two layers of glass.  The interlayer is typically made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), which is a strong and flexible material that helps to hold the glass layers together.  The interlayer being semi-transparent, allows light to pass through while obscuring the view through the glass.   The interlayer is what creates the frosted look.  Since the interlayer is between the layers of glass, both sides of the glass will be a shiny, smooth surface.  This is different than other types of etched or frosted glass, where one surface is shiny and smooth, and the other etched or frosted. 

This type of frosted glass involves applying a film that is applied to the surface of the glass that features a matte or frosted finish.  The film is typically made of a thin, semi-transparent material that is applied to the glass using an adhesive.  The film can be applied to the entire surface, or used to create a pattern or design.  While it is a lower cost choice than other types of frosted glass, the film is NOT permanent.  The films are made of durable material that’s resistant to wear and fading, but given that it’s a material applied to the surface with an adhesive, it IS removable, and more prone to damage than other types of decorative finishes.  For example, if you’re looking to temporarily label a glass door or window, then glass film is a good option, as the film letters can be removed.  One danger in that, however, is that in the process of removing the film lettering, the glass can easily be scratched or gouged by the razor edge that will need to be used to remove the film.   It can last for years, but is susceptible to damage and requires more maintenance and upkeep than other types of etched finishes, and will need to be replaced over time.  

Sandblasted glass is a type of etching or frosting where the glass is treated with a blasting method to create a frosted, matte fish on the surface.  The process of sandblasting glass involves using a stream of high-pressure air to blast abrasive sand against the surface of the glass.  The abrasive particles etch the surface of the glass, creating a rough, frosted texture that is 100% permanent, cannot fade or wear over time and cannot be removed.  Sandblasted glass is not only durable, but is easy to clean and maintain, as sandblasted glass can be cleaned with acetone or alcohol if any oil spots of blemishes should appear on the glass.

When it comes to decorative, frosted glass, sandblasted glass is the only type of glass etching that allows for artistic dimensional, gradient shading and sculpture carving, into the glass.  Being able to implement these artistic techniques means the designs can feature highly intricate and beautiful detail that other types of glass etching simply cannot have.    Given the highly durable finish and the beautiful effects it can create, sandblast etched glass is the top choice when it comes to decorative frosted glass.   There’s basically no comparison to the other types of methods when you consider its benefits, stacked against the others.