PATTERNED GLASS
Patterned glass has a texture rolled into one face during manufacture. The texture distorts vision while letting light through, so it gives privacy without blocking daylight. Unlike frosting, the pattern is part of the glass itself and cannot wear off.
It is used for bathroom and toilet windows, internal doors, side panels, stair partitions and cabinet fronts, and it is a common replacement item in older homes where the original patterned glass has broken.
Our range covers three patterns. Cathedral is a soft rippled texture. Satinlite is a fine, even texture giving the highest privacy of the three. Spotswood is a distinct linear pattern widely used in Australian homes.
Available in 4mm, 5mm and 6mm depending on the pattern. If you are replacing a single broken pane, photograph the old glass before ordering. Patterns look similar in a catalogue but are easy to tell apart side by side, and matching the existing pattern matters in a run of panels.
Patterned glass used in doors, beside doors, or below 500mm from floor level must be safety glass.
Which pattern gives the most privacy?
| Pattern | Texture | Privacy | Thicknesses | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satinlite | Fine, even | Highest | 4, 5, 6mm | $210/m² |
| Spotswood | Directional lines | Good | 4, 5, 6mm | $194/m² |
| Cathedral | Soft ripple | Softest | 4mm | $181/m² |
Want a flat contemporary satin instead of a rolled texture? See acid etched frosted glass, from $200/m².
All prices update as you type once you pick a product — no quote request. Minimum $99 per piece, free delivery across Melbourne metro and Geelong.
Which thickness?
4mm for bathroom and toilet windows and most existing timber-framed panes — if you are matching a broken pane in an older home, 4mm is usually what came out. 5mm for larger windows and sidelights. 6mm for doors, stair partitions and cabinet fronts.
Replacing a broken pane
Patterned glass is the single most common replacement item in older Melbourne homes, and the patterns are easy to confuse. Photograph the existing glass against a plain background with a ruler or coin in shot for scale, and measure the glass, not the frame opening. Both steps are covered in identifying patterned glass in an older home and measuring for replacement window glass.
If the pattern turns out to be one no longer made, Satinlite is usually the closest general-purpose substitute for an obscure texture, and Spotswood for a linear one.
Safety glass
In a door, beside a door, in a shower, or with glass below 500mm from floor level, AS 1288 requires safety glass — we can toughen any of these patterns. See when Australian Standards require safety glass.
We do not provide structural or engineering advice — confirm thickness and glass type with your installer or a qualified professional before ordering.
