Choosing the right type of glass for your home or business can ensure the best performance and longest useful life for these installations. Deciding between tempered glass and laminated glass products can be a challenge, especially for those with little or no experience. Working with an established Houston residential glass and commercial installation firm can provide much-needed guidance for homeowners and property managers to ensure the best and most cost-effective solutions for a wide array of needs. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing between laminated and tempered glass for your property.
Differing Construction Methods
Understanding the methods used to create tempered glass and laminated glass may help you to determine the right choice for your home or business:
• Tempered glass is fabricated by heating sheets of glass and allowing them to cool rapidly. This process increases the strength and durability of glass to a considerable degree and causes the glass to fracture into small chunks when sufficient force is applied. Chemical treatments can also be used to produce similar results and to increase the tensile strength for these installations. Tempered glass is considered significantly safer than plate glass and is used in car windows, automatic doors, and other areas where rugged durability is an important factor.
• Laminated glass can be constructed of tempered or plate glass layers joined by a transparent adhesive layer that adds an added degree of tensile strength to the finished product. Depending on the amount of protection required, multiple layers of glass and adhesive can be added to achieve greater thickness for improved safety. Because the fragments of glass adhere to the inner layer rather than shattering when broken, laminated glass is the preferred material for car and truck windshields. This type of glass also offers superior soundproofing, which may be a deciding factor for retail establishments and private homes alike.
The location and conditions in which the glass products will be installed can provide added help in deciding between tempered and laminated glass for your Houston home or business needs.
Applications for Laminated and Tempered Glass
For most residential uses, tempered glass offers a good balance between durability and cost. Windows constructed of tempered glass can resist most mild to moderate impacts and can reduce the risks to families when breakages do occur. For ground-level windows and entry doors that see heavy traffic, opting for laminated glass can provide even greater protection against breakage and intrusion. Commercial facilities and retail shops, on the other hand, may benefit from laminated glass installations to provide superior protection for their customers and their inventory. These durable glass panels can reduce the chance of break-ins and can virtually eliminate risks associated with fragments of glass scattering after a serious impact.
Combination Options
In some cases, laminated glass can be constructed using tempered glass to provide Houston residents and business owners with the best of both worlds. These advanced glass solutions can offer increased durability and resistance to impacts, making them ideal for commercial use in high-traffic areas. Combining tempered glass layers to create laminated safety glass can also increase the protection provided by sliding glass doors to help Houston residents feel safer in their own homes.
Working with a Houston commercial glass specialist can help retailers and other business owners make the right decisions regarding windows, doors, and other glass installations for their facilities. By partnering with an established Houston glass company, homeowners and property managers alike can enjoy added peace of mind and increased protection against unwanted intruders. The expert technicians at Northwest Glass & Mirror can provide the most cost-effective solutions for businesses and residents of Houston. Contact us by phone at 281-463-7801 or stop by our showroom in Houston to discuss your requirements with one of our experienced staff members firsthand. We look forward to the chance to serve your needs.
