We live in a world of glass. From our phone screens to furniture pieces and kitchenware to bathroom shelves, everything is made up of glass. But wasn’t there a time when glass was considered a delicate material? How does glass go from just being used in high-end decorative items to building facades?
The widespread use of glass is accredited to the evolution of the glass manufacturing industry. Advanced methods are now used to strengthen the glass. That’s why glass is now a household thing. Toughened glass is used in most of the applications around us. Similarly laminated, low-E, and some other types of glass are also being used for different purposes. But owing to the similarity in appearance, we can’t tell the difference just by a look. However, there are some easy ways to determine which type of glass you are using. The methods of identification are proportional to the types of glass. But we will only consider the most used glass type, tempered glass, here and have a detailed look at tempered glass vs regular glass. So let’s dive in.
The Pros and Cons of Tempered Glass
Tempered or toughened glass is a marvel of advanced glass manufacturing methods. Its widespread use is an evident indication of its set of benefits. However, there are some limitations to using toughened glass as well. Let’s briefly explore the pros and cons of toughened glass briefly.
Pros
Here are some major reasons why toughened glass is the number one option for most applications these days.
Strength – the strength value of toughened glass is around 4 to 5 times more than that of ordinary glass.
Impact Resistance – owing to its strength, enduring hard impact without any break or scratch is very easy for toughened glass.
Safety Value – tempered glass is safe for use in everyday applications. Even on an impact hard enough to break it, toughened glass shatters into small harmless pieces instead of sharp and injurious shards of glass.
Optical Clarity – although tempered glass is processed to achieve high strength value, its optical clarity is not compromised in any way. In fact, it allows better light transmission than ordinary glass.
Heat Resistance – as toughened glass is manufactured in a super-heated environment, so it is safe for use in high temperatures.
Cons
Below are some of the constraints to using toughened glass.
No Alterations – once the glass is tempered, it cannot be customized at all. Even an attempt to drill a small hole in the glass sheet can result in shattering.
Complete Shatter – on a hard impact, the complete sheet of toughened glass shatters. Thus leaving a wide opening for intruders to enter.
How to Tell the Difference Between Regular Glass and Tempered Glass?
Although tempered and regular glass looks the same. Both flaunt the same transparency. But with a little attention to detail, you can easily identify a tempered glass from a non-tempered one. Here are some of the ways through which you can tell tempered glass vs regular glass.
Edges
Contrary to regular glass, tempered glass has very smooth and even edges. You can touch the edges of tempered glass to evaluate if it is properly tempered or not. The edges of an ordinary glass sheet are rough to touch.
Imperfections
Tempered glass usually catches minor flaws, distortions, or mild bendings during the heating process. These imperfections qualify as proof of telling that the glass is tempered. Look closely for minor defects in tempered glass.
Use Polarized Glass
You can detect tempered glass by using polarized glass. When you look at the tempered glass through polarized glass, you will find spots and lines all over the glass. These spots are proof of the extensive manufacturing process and demonstrate that the glass is tempered.
Tempered Glass vs Regular Glass – Which is Better?
The tempered glass vs regular glass debate has been settled for quite a long time now. Considering the strength, impact resistance, and practical value, it’s a no-brainer that toughened glass leads the way.
Being a more durable and resilient option, everybody chooses tempered glass over regular glass.
No doubt toughened glass is manufactured through a comprehensive process, but it is still easily available and a cost-effective option.
So tempered glass is the clear victor in the tempered glass vs regular glass debate.
Buy Tempered Glass From Glass Genius
Whether you want to replace window glass, install a glass backsplash or want to invest in a glass coffee table, tempered glass is the ideal option. However, you can only cherish the true brilliance of toughened glass if you invest in quality toughened glass. Glass Genius offers the best quality glass for all your needs. It’s a glass-exclusive online platform to fulfill all your glass and mirror-related needs. You can trust Glass Genius for high-quality tempered glass. Get in touch with your desired fabricators at the Glass Genius platform and get your hands on the best quality glass products.
