Aesthetics & Application: Choosing the Right Tempered Glass

Whether you are looking for tempered glass for your home, business, office, or industrial space, you may be unsure what type or thickness to opt for. You are not alone. The array of choices can seem overwhelming, but with a few considerations, you will soon be able to decide.

Tempered Glass versus Regular Glass

When choosing tempered glass for your project, it is important to completely understand what it is and what it can and cannot do. The easiest way to do this is to compare it to regular glass. When you do so, you discover that tempered glass:

Manufacturing Process	is cooled rapidly during the manufacturing process, which creates tension, and therefore strength, inside the glass
Customization	cannot be cut or altered; customization beyond size, shape and patterning is not possible
Strength & Durability	is four times stronger than regular glass; breaks at 10,000 psi – 24,000 psi
Safety	shatters into small, pebble-like pieces has smooth, safe edges
Maintenance	require care so that scratches and other damage do not occur and compromise its integrity need soft, lint-free cloths and mustn’t be cleaned with harsh chemicals, scrapped, or scrubbed
Cost-Comparison	generally doubles the cost of a window
Common Uses	automobile windshields, shower doors, tabletops, commercial building doors, foyer/entrance glass and windows, backsplashes, fireplace guards

Tempered Glass Aesthetics

Once you have a clear understanding of what tempered glass is and how it compares to regular glass, your next consideration is the aesthetic you wish to achieve. There are six main types of tempered glass to consider:

1. Clear tempered glass is transparent with a slight greenish tint

2. Low iron glass lacks the tint and allows for more light to pass through, but streaks, stains, and fingerprints stand out more

3. Rain-patterned offers a blurred, opaque glass

4. Frosted glass is high-privacy glass that allows light to pass through; it is easy to clean and fingerprints and smudges are not as visible

5. Bronze glass has a warm, smoky hue that allows light to pass through and people to see both in and out; stains and streaks aren’t as visible as with clear tempered glass

6. Grey glass is very similar to bronze tempered glass, except the hue is softer; the darker the hue, the greater the privacy.

Application

The purpose of your tempered glass will affect not only your aesthetic choice but also the thickness. Here is the recommended thickness for some common tempered glass applications:

• Shower doors: 9.5 mm – 12.7 mm

• Tabletops: 4mm to 6mm for protecting furniture; 10 mm or 12 mm for stand-alone tables

• Commercial building doors: 10 mm or 12 mm or more

• Industrial safety glass: 3 mm to 19 mm or more

• Fireplace glass: 3 mm to 6 mm

Finding Tempered Glass in the GTA

To find tempered glass for any residential or industrial project, contact Verrage Glass and Mirror Inc. We have been serving the many communities of the GTA with top-quality glass products and mirrors since 1989. We provide specialized services and can help you find the right tempered glass for your needs whether they be for your home or business. Contact us today to learn more about our supply of tempered glass and more in Woodbridge, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Markham, Vaughan, and the surrounding areas.