| A new trend in bathroom fixtures has emerged in the | | | | When working with glass, keeping the material hot is |
| past few years - glass bathroom sinks. These sinks | | | | crucial to preventing shattering. After the color has |
| are encountered again and again in trendy homes, in | | | | been applied to the glass and a generally round shape |
| newly constructed buildings, and throughout the bath | | | | has been created, the glass is handed over to a |
| departments of local home improvement stores. | | | | finishing team for final shaping of the sink. In the final |
| These glass sinks bring an elevated sense of | | | | shaping, a small opening is created in the glass bubble |
| elegance to any ordinary bathroom. When shopping | | | | where the lip of the bowl with be formed. Often, |
| for a glass sink, some shoppers may be surprised at | | | | additional colored glass will be added to the lip of the |
| their price tags. These sinks usually start at $100 and | | | | sink bowl. By spinning the substance, the lip of the bowl |
| can cost as much as $1,000. While the raw materials | | | | opens up and forms the rough-shape of a sink. The |
| for these sinks, glass, is quite cheap, the manufacturing | | | | material is then pressed onto a mold to finalize the |
| process is not so simple. A respectable amount of | | | | shape of the sink. The sink is then slowly cooled over |
| craftsmanship is required in order to produce these | | | | a period of 1-2 days. The end result of this process is |
| luxurious fixtures. | | | | a one-of-a-kind glass sink for a lucky bathroom. |
| How They are Made | | | | Buying and Installing |
| Usually, these glass sinks are created by a team of | | | | Glass sinks can usually be purchased with an |
| glass artisans. Glass is heated to a red-hot state in a | | | | installation kit. The installation kit will include a pop-up |
| furnace and manipulated on the end of a long, | | | | drain, a mounting ring, a piece of plumbing known as a |
| hollowed-out stainless-steel blowpipe. The worker | | | | p-trap, and a decorative ring. These items can be |
| responsible for gathering and crafting the molten glass | | | | assembled easily by the average homeowner. To |
| on the blowpipe is known as the gaffer. The hot glass | | | | complement a beautiful glass sink, sterling silver or |
| is shaped by pressing it against wood blocks and steel | | | | gold-colored faucets can be installed as well. For a |
| tables. Color is added to the hot glass by rolling it in a | | | | truly modern look, a lighted mounting ring can be placed |
| crushed-up metal oxide material and then reintroducing | | | | beneath the sink to project light up into the bowl, |
| the glass and metal oxide combination to the furnace. | | | | creating a glowing wash basin. |