If you’re in the process of building or upgrading your home you may have already been asked to choose some safety glass for some of your windows and doors.
Tempered and laminated glass are the two types of safety glass you can get.
This article will review the differences between tempered and laminated glass and go into more detail on the following topics:
Example of broken glass types. Image from Pioneer Glass.
Laminated glass is made of multiple layers or lites of glass joined by a lair of plastic called PVB (Polyvinyl butyral). It is commonly used for safety glazing.
Glazing, or safety glazing, refers to glass that has been processed to be less susceptible to breakage and more importantly to reduce the potential for serious injury when it comes to human contact..
If laminated glass is hit with a high-intensity impact, one side of the glass can shatter without causing the other side to shatter. Even if the glass does break on either side the pieces will stay together resulting in a spider-web pattern.
Some additional benefits of laminated glass are that it reduces transmission of high-frequency sound (soundproofing) and it blocks 97% of ultraviolet radiation. One major benefit is that laminated glass with minor impact damage can be repaired with a special clear adhesive resin.
Tempered glass, also known as toughened glass, is stronger than ordinary glass but can shatter.
What makes tempered glass safety glass is that it is significantly more durable than ordinary glass and it is designed to break into less harmful pebble-like pieces instead of sharp and jagged shards.
Similar to laminated glass, when tempered glass suffers an impact it can break into a web-like interlocking pattern and remain within its frame. This is not always the case as the broken pieces only hold onto adjoining pieces and can fall out of their frame.
Unlike laminated glass, tempered glass cannot be repaired. Laminated glass can be repaired in cases of minor damage but damage to any part of tempered glass will eventually result in the glass shattering. The glass shatters because the balanced stresses in the glass are disturbed by the high-stress impact.
Tempered glass does cost more than standard annealed glass. Initial price estimates may not include the cost of tempering glass unless it has been specifically requested.
Make sure to discuss the added cost with your window retailer if you are requesting tempered glass or it's required to meet the building code. Some windows require tempering, but not all.
Homeowners often ask for our thoughts on tempering all of the windows on their order. Generally, we don't recommend getting tempered windows throughout your entire house. If it's not required by code then it’s best to get regular windows and save some money.
Tempering glass can increase the cost of a window anywhere from 15% to 50%, depending on the size of the glass.
However, there are special cases where tempered windows would make more sense for your home. For example, homeowners living near a golf course might consider additional tempered glass for some exterior windows if they are concerned their windows are at risk.
Despite the higher cost of tempered glass, it is still cheaper than laminated glass.
Keep in mind that both tempered glass and laminated glass qualify as safety glass and that laminated glass is more expensive than tempered glass.
Although laminated glass is stronger than tempered glass, tempered glass is more often used in household windows and doors. Due to its expensive price, laminated glass is used sparingly in residential construction.
Tempered glass offers strength and breakage resistance but laminated glass provides UV resistance, extra security, and soundproofing. Both types of glass are easy to clean and maintain as long as they are installed properly.
Tempered glass is much stronger than laminated glass and better at resisting force up to certain levels. Laminated glass is favored for security purposes, particularly in commercial buildings. The layer of PVB makes it much harder to breach, despite it not being as strong.
Tempered glass differs from laminated glass in that it is a single piece of glass. Remember, laminated glass is two pieces of glass sandwiched around a piece of plastic film.
Laminated glass is typically used as external glass. For buildings, tempered glass is often used in homes on the interior for purposes such as shower doors although it is good for tall commercial buildings for protection from the weather.
Image: Pella
In general, tempered glass is incredibly durable and reduces the risk of injury when it does break. Although it does not stay together the way that laminated glass sticks to the PVB, tempered glass breaks into small, round pieces as opposed to sharp shards with jagged edges. Broken tempered glass is easy to clean up with a vacuum or swept up using a broom and dustpan.
Bottomline
After learning about the benefits of safety glass it can seem like a good idea to use it in all applications, especially when considering them for your home. However, opting for all safety glasses can be very costly. Regular glass is perfectly adequate for most situations.
In fact, the vast majority of window glass is not required to be tempered, but all door glass is tempered.
If you have any questions regarding the use of safety glass in your home windows or doors, please reach out to us with any questions.
Tempered glass is the preferred choice for home applications where safety glass is required. Its design and characteristics make it resistant to damage and lessen the chances of injury if it does break and is easy to clean up. It is also the most cost-effective choice.
If you live outside DFW and have questions about your glass or are thinking about window replacement, contact a reputable professional in your area. If you are in DFW, contact us and one of our friendly and knowledgeable consultants will follow up with you in a timely manner.
Here at Lancaster Paint & Glass, our team of glass experts have worked on a very wide variety of custom glass cutting projects for both individual and business needs. A question we commonly get is, "How much will this project cost?"
This is difficult to answer succinctly because pricing varies dramatically between projects, but we'd still like to give a little clarity to this answer.
So in a nutshell, how much does custom cut glass cost typically?
For common projects like single pane windows, picture frames, etc, the glass itself typically costs approximately $5-$7 per square foot. Generally speaking, the thicker the glass the higher the price. Additional costs are incurred depending on the complexity of the cuts required, the edgework, and other customizations.
For a more detailed explanation, with project examples, keep reading below or contact us for a custom quote.
3/32 inch thickness is common for picture frames, and this size is often referred to as "single strength" (sometimes abbreviated as "ss"). A square or rectangular piece of glass of this thickness typically runs about $5-7 per square foot. This cost goes up depending on edgework, the complexity of the cuts, and other customizations.
1/8 inch thickness is common for window glass, commonly called "double strength." Since it's slightly thicker than 3/32 inch, the cost goes up to approximately $6-7 per square foot for square or rectangular pieces, and cost increases depending on what types of customizations are needed, edgework, and complexity of the cuts.
1/4 to 3/8 inch thick "clear float" glass is commonly used to protect furniture - desk tops, dressers, nightstand, coffee tables, etc. The cost for this type of glass is typically more than $7 per square foot, with the most common customization being edge cuts which increases the price further.
1/2 inch and thicker clear glass is less common, typically found in businesses and other commercial settings. Price depends on thickness, and typically exceeds $6 per square foot plus the costs of customizations.
Another major factor that impacts cost is the type of glass. The most common types are annealed, tempered, and laminated.
One of the most common types of glass is annealed glass, and the cost to custom cut this type of glass is reflected in the pricing listed above.
Tempered glass, which is annealed glass that has been further strengthened during the manufacturing process, costs slightly more than annealed but the cost of custom cutting this type of glass is similar, so the total cost is about the same as annealed glass.
Laminated glass consists of two layers of annealed glass that are held together with an inner layer. This type of glass is typically used for car windshields, sound proof booth, safety shields in fabrication facilities, etc, because it is stronger, more durable, and it holds together better than a single layer of glass. Because it consists of multiple layers, laminated glass is more expensive to cut than annealed or tempered glass. Exact pricing can vary drastically in each situation, but generally speaking you can expect to pay 20-40% more for custom cut laminated glass compared to annealed or tempered.
Without training and experience, cutting glass can be not only difficult and time consuming but also unsafe. Special tools are required to cut glass without damaging it or hurting yourself. There are many projects that you can do yourself to save money, but glass cutting is not one of them. We strongly recommend having a professional handle your glass cutting needs.
If you are in or near Lancaster County (Pennsylvania), we can service your custom glass cutting needs. We are located conveniently in Lancaster city, and we have been in business since 1884. Whether your project is small or large, click here to get in touch with us today to see how we can serve you. Our team is prepared to answer your questions, help you decide what type of glass you should use, and provide a quote on exactly how much it would cost for the custom cut glass you need.
For those who are not close to our facility in Lancaster, you may search online for "glass and mirror shops" near you.
*NOTICE* All prices are subject to change without notice. Please call or visit us if you would like a quote on your project.