Frequently Asked Questions: Residential Glass Services

Framed shower doors use a continuous metal perimeter and typically 3/16 to 1/4 inch glass at the lowest cost tier. Semi-frameless doors use metal only at the wall channel and hinges with 1/4 to 3/8 inch glass. Frameless doors carry no perimeter metal, run 3/8 or 1/2 inch tempered glass, and rely on hardware-only support like CRL hinges and clamps. Most Northern Colorado luxury bathrooms specify frameless for the clean sightlines and substantial feel, though semi-frameless remains a strong middle option for tighter openings. We help spec the right configuration during your on-site measure.

A custom heavy-glass shower enclosure in Northern Colorado typically runs $2,000 to $3,500, depending on size, glass thickness (3/8 inch vs. 1/2 inch), hardware finish, and glass treatment such as low-iron or a hydrophobic factory coating. Final pricing reflects the in-house fabrication and on-site measure that go into every Moffat enclosure.

A custom frameless shower door typically takes 1 to 2 weeks from approved on-site measurement to installation. Because Moffat fabricates and tempers glass in-house at our Northern Colorado shop, our lead time runs faster than the 2 to 3 weeks typical of vendors who outsource to out-of-state fabricators. Install day itself usually runs 3 to 5 hours.

Yes, frameless shower doors are safe. The glass meets ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Category II tempering standards, making it roughly 4 to 5 times stronger than annealed glass. If a tempered panel ever breaks, it shatters into small rounded pebbles rather than sharp shards. Every piece of Moffat shower glass is tempered before it leaves our shop.

No, properly templated and installed frameless shower doors do not leak. Water control comes from clear silicone seals along the hinge wall, a polycarbonate sweep at the bottom of the door, and a vinyl drip seal at the door edge. Moffat templates every shower on-site so the door fits the actual opening, not a nominal size.

3/8 inch tempered glass is the standard for most residential frameless shower enclosures: rigid enough for typical door-and-return-panel configurations and light enough for standard hinges. 1/2 inch tempered is the premium specification for fixed panels wider than 36 inches, doors taller than 78 inches, wall-mounted hinges anchored into stud-blocked walls, or designs that benefit from visibly heavier glass. 1/2 inch adds roughly 15 to 25 percent over 3/8 inch on materials, and we generally recommend it for any single panel over about 40 square feet. We'll spec the right thickness during your on-site measure.

Squeegee the glass after every shower. That single habit removes hard-water minerals before they bond to the surface, which matters along the Front Range where municipal water runs hard. Weekly, use a pH-neutral glass cleaner and skip vinegar, harsh acids, and abrasive pads. A factory-applied hydrophobic coating further reduces water spotting and cleaning time.

Related: What is Diamon-Fusion coating and is it worth adding to my shower? (See below.)

Heavy glass is thicker tempered glass, typically 3/8 or 1/2 inch, used for wall partitions, wine rooms, and heavy-glass doors. Common residential applications include open-concept room dividers, walk-in wine displays, primary-suite walkthroughs, and all-glass office walls inside the home. Moffat fabricates and tempers heavy glass in-house at our Northern Colorado shop.

A custom wine room or heavy-glass partition typically takes 1 to 2 weeks from approved on-site measure to installation. Moffat fabricates and tempers every panel in-house at our Northern Colorado shop, so our lead time runs faster than the 2 to 3 weeks typical of vendors who order glass from out-of-state fabricators. The build flows through our 4-step process: on-site measure, in-house fabrication and tempering, scheduled install, and final walkthrough. Install day usually runs 4 to 8 hours depending on panel count and cooling-unit or hardware coordination.

Custom wine cellars and wine walls typically run $4,000 to $7,000, and heavy-glass wall partitions typically run $3,000 to $5,000. Pricing reflects panel count, glass thickness (3/8 inch vs. 1/2 inch), premium hardware finish, and (for wine rooms) coordination with the cooling unit.

1/4 inch plate-glass mirror with safety backing is the standard specification for most residential bathroom and closet applications. For oversized full-wall mirrors, home gyms, or dance and studio spaces, 3/8 inch reads more substantial and holds rigidity across larger spans. Code requires vinyl safety backing on any mirror installed adjacent to a shower or wet area.

Custom-cut mirrors in Northern Colorado typically run $200 to $1,000, depending on size, thickness (1/4 inch vs. 3/8 inch), edge treatment (flat polish vs. beveled), safety backing, and install method (Z-clip, adhesive, or J-channel). Each mirror is cut and edged in-house at our Northern Colorado shop.

Yes, Moffat custom-cuts and tempers glass tabletops, desk tops, furniture tops, shelving, and cooktop covers in-house at our Northern Colorado shop. Specialty finishes include frosted, textured, back-painted, low-iron, and beveled-edge glass for design-driven residential projects. Send your measurements and design intent and we'll spec the right glass for the application.

Under the International Building Code adopted across Colorado, glass guardrails on open sides of decks, balconies, and mezzanines must be at least 42 inches tall, and 34 inches on open sides of stairs. Pool enclosures typically require 48 inches with self-closing, self-latching gates. Material spec runs 3/8 to 1/2 inch tempered glass for interior applications and tempered laminated glass for exterior or load-bearing conditions. Larimer and Weld County jurisdictions adopt the IBC with local amendments, and Moffat specs and installs to the controlling code on every railing project.

Residential glass railings typically run $450 to $800 per linear foot installed, depending on style (frameless, standoff, post-and-clamp, or top-rail), glass thickness, interior or exterior application, and hardware finish. Exterior installations call for 316 stainless hardware to handle Front Range UV and freeze-thaw cycles.

Yes, Moffat installs interior glass doors, sliding patio doors, French doors, and all-glass entries for residential projects. These are a separate scope from custom shower enclosures, with their own hardware specifications and threshold details, typically built around installation-grade hardware.

Foggy windows are caused by seal failure on the insulated glass unit (IGU): the inert gas between the panes escapes and humid air condenses inside, producing the haze or moisture you see. In most cases the IGU itself can be replaced without replacing the surrounding window frame. Moffat measures the existing frame and orders a factory-built IGU sized to match, which typically takes 5 to 10 business days from the manufacturer regardless of installer. The IGU carries a 10-year pro-rated manufacturer warranty (labor not included). Send us a photo of the affected window.

All four are quality residential window manufacturers Moffat installs. The right choice depends on style, energy package, climate exposure, and warranty preferences. AMSCO is value-forward within the premium-brand spectrum, with Colorado-region distribution and a broad color range. JELD-WEN carries a deep national product line spanning wood-clad, vinyl, and composite. Milgard brings West-region heritage and a strong full-lifetime limited warranty. Gerkin is a Midwest-region all-vinyl specialist. We help spec the right brand during your on-site measure based on your home, climate, and design goals.

Diamon-Fusion is a factory-applied hydrophobic coating that chemically bonds to the glass surface, reducing water spotting, hard-water buildup, and routine cleaning time. Moffat is an authorized applicator, and the coating typically lasts 10 or more years with proper care. It's worth adding on Front Range hard-water households, large-panel showers, and premium-finish glass.

Moffat works through a 4-step process: on-site measure, in-house fabrication and tempering, scheduled install, and final walkthrough. The on-site measure puts our team in your space to take precise dimensions and understand the design intent. Fabrication and tempering happen in-house at our Northern Colorado shop, never outsourced, which is where the 1 to 2 week lead time vs. 2 to 3 weeks for vendors who outsource comes from. Install is scheduled at your convenience, performed by Moffat technicians. We walk every detail with you before we leave.

Moffat Glass has served Northern Colorado since 1921, over a century of in-house glass craftsmanship, from three locations in Evans (headquarters), Loveland, and Fort Collins. Our service area covers Larimer and Weld County, including Greeley, Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor, Timnath, Severance, Eaton, Johnstown, Berthoud, and Wellington.