Glass for table tops: guide for manufacturers, restorers and DIYers
Share this blog:
Do you need glass for table tops? Then you'll need to get high-quality glass from a trusted processor. Learn about your options.
If you work with tables, you'll know that they're a great example of what can happen when the functional and the beautiful collide.
It's the same story with glass. Yes, you can get a plain sheet of glass to protect an existing table. But you can also customise that glass cover so it's
coloured or
textured. You can even have a
glass cover that changes from transparent to opaque via a smart home system. And that's before you enter the world of all-glass
tables…
But any old glass won't do. Skimping on materials means more breakages, and more breakages mean more complaints and more refunds.
For this reason, you should consider using
toughened glass for your tables. That goes for manufacturers, furniture restorers and anyone who needs to create or replace a glass table top.
Using toughened glass ensures a quality product that's safe and durable – and one that opens up a whole host of design opportunities.
Why use toughened glass for glass table tops?
Toughened glass has four main benefits for glass table tops: durability, safety, aesthetic appeal and versatility.
In terms of durability, it's up to five times stronger than regular annealed glass. It takes a heck of a lot of force to break a toughened glass table top. This means happy customers and appealingly long warranties.
It also means extra safety. You see, toughened glass has a secret. You wouldn't know to look at it, but when toughened glass breaks, it bursts like a balloon into a shower of tiny, pebble-like pieces.
These are far less likely to cause injury than the hefty shards a broken annealed glass table top would create. By using toughened glass in your designs, you maximise your chances of good reviews and return customers.
As for aesthetic appeal, a well-manufactured sheet of toughened glass simply
looks good. There's no trade-off between safety and appearance. Instead, it's clear and smooth – exactly what customers want from a good-quality glass table top.
And finally, toughened glass is versatile. Perhaps you need a thin sheet of glass for a table top protector. Or maybe you need a chunky sheet for a standalone piece of furniture.
In either case, a glass processor can cut your glass to size. What's more, they can laminate two sheets of toughened glass with a plastic interlayer to create attention-grabbing decorative effects.
But before we get on to those decorative effects and design opportunities, it's worth pointing out one thing. Because of the way it's manufactured, toughened glass shatters when broken. This means you can't cut or drill it once it's been heat-treated.
The upshot is that if you want a glass table top with holes, they must be drilled before the glass goes into the furnace.
How laminated glass creates new design opportunities
Toughened glass consists of a single sheet of glass heated in a furnace and then rapidly cooled. Laminated glass, by contrast, consists of two sheets of glass (toughened, annealed or heat-strengthened) bonded with a plastic interlayer.
In structural glazing and other applications, laminated glass is mostly about strength. But in the case of glass table tops, that interlayer can also provide colour, texture and pizzazz.
Fabric, mesh and coloured interlayers
The plastic interlayer in a laminated unit can be any colour – and we mean any. This means you can offer customers an unlimited palette to choose from.
It can also be textured to look like a
woven metal mesh or a
type of fabric. This can help you achieve industrial, rustic, abstract, vintage and modern effects, depending on what your customers want.
Digitally printed glass
Toughened and laminated glass can be printed with photorealistic digital images. These could be designs you come up with – a Tube map, say, or a catchy quote or saying.
But the table top could also be printed with designs supplied by customers. They send you a photo and we print it onto the glass. This gives customers greater control over the product and greater satisfaction when it arrives.
Sandblasted glass
Sandblasted glass has a frosted effect that's gritty to the touch. You can either sandblast the whole table top or use a stencil to create shapes, letters or other designs. You can also add a Ritec ClearShield coating to eliminate the gritty feel and create a smooth, easy-to-clean, non-stick surface.
As with digital printing and colours, sandblasting is only limited by your imagination. Why not unlock your creativity and catch customers' eyes?
Switchable glass
This is perhaps the most mesmerising decorative option of them all. Switchable glass – also known as smart glass – is a relatively recent development in the world of glass fabrication.
It's a type of glass that can be changed from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button or with a voice command. It's used in offices, homes, hospitals and even cars for privacy on demand.
But on a glass table top, it could reveal something fun or exciting installed beneath the glass panel. In a restaurant, the waiter could press a button to reveal the menu. In a domestic setting, the table top could conceal a foosball table or a piece of art.
Edgework
Furniture quality is all in the details – and in the case of glass table tops, edges are all-important. A good glass processor will be able to smooth, round or bevel the edges of a glass table top, adding elegance and a marker of quality.
Maintenance tips for customers
When you sell a customer a glass table top, you may want to include guidance on how to keep it clean and prolong its life. This could include:
- Regular cleaning with a soft, preferably microfibre cloth and a non-abrasive cleaning solution
- Using coasters and place mats to avoid scratches and spills
- Immediately cleaning up spills and stains to prevent ongoing damage
- Using rubber or silicone pads to keep a movable glass table top cover in place
Are you looking for
glass lamination or
toughening services? At ToughGlaze, we've processed and supplied high-quality glass for more than 30 years.
Get in touch today for a quick, competitive quote.
