6 Common Glass Partitioning Installation Challenges (and How to Overcome Them)

With over 30 years of experience in the commercial interior industry, we’ve seen our fair share of challenging projects – and still do!

At Glass Partitioning UK, we thrive on creating beautiful glass offices that upgrade your workplaces, no matter how challenging the task may seem. Our team are experts in the field and have a few tricks up their sleeves when it comes to initial issues you may encounter during your installation. From slanted ceilings to awkward angles, we confront and conquer common hurdles that others shy away from.

Each project is unique, however, here are a few of the most common glass partition installation challenges our customers face, and just how we overcome them.

1. Sloped Ceilings

You wouldn’t believe how many of the UK’s offices have sloped or slanted ceilings. This architectural feature makes it difficult to install the glass partitions as they usually have a flat, straight line at the edges. In some cases, additional glass may be needed to fit the ceiling’s shape. Whilst many of our customers have been told this is an impossible task, we have the answer.

Raking is a technique we commonly use to overcome this installation challenge. The process involves cutting our glass partition walls to a specific angle to fit an uneven surface.

We begin by gathering accurate measurements of your space during an initial site visit. In some cases, we use plywood to create a template shape of your ceiling, leaving little room for errors or inaccuracies. These measurements are then passed on to your glass manufacturers, and the partitions are raked to fit your ceiling’s formation. All our glass partitioning arrives on site made to measure, ensuring efficiency and quality with every project.

2. Trunking, Skirting Boards and Window Sills

Trunking is used to cover unsightly utilities such as wires and cables that are necessary in the modern workplace. Whether it runs along the floor, ceilings or sides of the wall, they can seem like a challenge when it comes to installing your glass office. 

Once our team has been made aware of this feature, including any thick skirting boards or window sills, we will take it into account and deliver a solution that won’t compromise quality. For most projects, we specially cut the glass panels to make allowances for the trunking, ensuring your glass walls are high end and the acoustics in your office remain high performing.

3. High Ceilings

The standard height of a ceiling to ensure your glass partition walls are sufficiently supported is 3.2m, given it’s a nice, flat surface. Any higher, and the stability and support provided to your system will be unsafe.

For these challenges, we often use bulkheads. These are fitted prior to any glass being installed. They’re used to reduce the height of your ceiling and can even cover ceiling lights or bars that may get in the way during installation, securing your glass partitioning from above.

4. Brick Walls and Uneven Surfaces

In the ideal world, we’d all have a smooth and secure surface to fit our glass partitions. But, that’s not always the case. Many of our customers have brick walls that we’ll be the first to admit, look great. We understand that you may want to preserve this architectural feature, so have a few solutions to help you overcome them if you’re considering installing a glass office.

The simplest solution is to create a level surface to attach your perimeter tracks to. This is a quick and affordable way to resolve any concerns you may have about irregularities and compromised performance.

5. Awkward Angles

We love the finish of curved glass partitioning and, whilst they’re incredibly popular for their design and modern appearance, they’re also a great solution to optimise office space.

Take this case study, for example. To maximise space in the office, we installed curved glass partitions to follow the form of the existing staircase. Not only did this optimise their available space, it also creates a unique and impressive design feature that leaves a lasting impression with clients and employees.

6. Flooring Renovations

If you’ve decided to install glass partitions into your office, chances are you may also be updating other interior features too. For spaces receiving new flooring, for example, we are flexible to install glass both before and after it has been fitted. All you need to do is make our team aware so that our installers can make necessary allowances during the manufacturing stage. For the smoothest installation, we advise that any flooring is installed first to ensure our measurements are as accurate as possible.

In cases where your flooring is planned to be fitted after your partitioning, our fitters will leave a 5-10mm allowance. This is especially important if you require a glass door to ensure it operates as smoothly as possible across your flooring or carpet – if it’s too thick after installation, your door is likely to stick!

Installation Success Stories

The proof is in the pudding. We take pride in our track record of turning installation challenges into success stories. For more bespoke advice or inspiration for your own project, be sure to check out our portfolio, dedicated to those tricky projects.

Glass Partitioning Installation Advice and Tips

If you have a challenging project, get in touch with our team. We’re happy to take on all projects, big or small.

When you’re ready to get started, arm yourself with these essential tips and advice to ensure a seamless installation:

1. Plan, Plan, Plan – Start with a solid plan. Assess your workplace to identify any potential challenges such as slanted ceilings, uneven surfaces or awkward angles. Don’t worry too much as our detail-oriented team will also survey your space to note any problematic areas.
2. Communication – We can’t fix what we don’t know. If you are anxious or concerned about any installation issues, get in touch with our team. We’re always happy to discuss your options with you, obligation-free. We’ll offer bespoke advice unique to your project.
3. Minimise Difficulties – Minimise any other installation difficulties. For example, clearing your site of any obstacles can make it quick and easy for our team to get in and get to work.

Get a Quote

We love a challenge. Whether you’re facing sloped ceilings, uneven surfaces or awkward angles, we have the experience and expertise to help you overcome any challenge. To discuss your project, get in touch. We provide quick, free quotes to offer glass solutions for your space.