In many cases, people tend to think that glass manufacturers produce one type of glass which is not true. The composition of glass can be altered to attain certain properties for particular applications. They can also be modified to various shapes, sizes, and shades. Different products and applications call for different glass types. This is because the material is so versatile. Its capability of being engineered to attain particular thermal, chemical, mechanical, and optical properties confirms its uniqueness and versatility. Through engineering, its properties that comprise strength, capability, U-value, transmittance, and transparency are modified with respect to the intended application. Some of the typical applications include making glass utensils meant for drinking beverages, storage of food, windows for homes, and windscreens for automobiles. It is also applied in other unsuspected and unseen areas such as reinforcement of orthopedic casts, wind turbines, and surfboards, building insulation, electronics, and medical diagnostic equipment. Therefore, everyday people interact with various forms and compositions of glass. This article discusses five glass types namely, clear glass, heat resistant glass, tempered glass, frosted glass, and tint glass that can be used as the 5 Best types of Replacement Glass for Patio table Available in Market.
1. Clear Glass
This is a normal glass, also known as annealed glass. It is comparatively cheaper than other types having price range is between 80$ to 350$ SQFT depending on size and thickness of glass. It is a normal type of glass and does not shatter into small pieces. Which makes it little;e dangerous if broken. Clear glass is available in the market in different thickness like 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, 1/4, 4/8, 1/2, and 3/4.
Pros of using clear glass
- Cheaper than other glass.
- Easy to cut in different shapes.
- Easy to clean
- Available in multiple and size thickness like 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, 1/4, 4/8, 1/2, 3/4.
Cons of clear glass
- Does not shatter into small pieces which pose dangers of deep cuts and injuries thus making it unfit for use in human environments
- Its transparency reduces privacy
- It has low strength, therefore, breaks easily on impact and collision
- It is not resistance to scratches that wears and tears easily
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2. Heat resistant glass
This type of glass is characterized by the ability to withstand a higher temperature than that of the ordinary glass. It has got a high melting point. Also, its coefficient of expansion is high, making it withstand a high contrast of expansion and contraction. If the temperature gets too extreme, the glass shatters. They are made of soda-lime and borosilicate. This glass type is applicable in industrial as well as for purposes of cooking. This type of glass would be a convenient substitute for your patio table. The glass is available in sizes 0.02 to 2.25 inches thick. The price range falls in between $100 and $200 per square meter depending on the thickness and its composition. This makes it comparatively expensive than ordinary glass. It would be a suitable choice, especially for areas that have relatively large diurnal temperature range like in desert areas. If you reside in places like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, etc. Then it would be wiser if you chose this type of glass for your patio table.
Pros of installing heat resistant glass
- The performance is reliable especially in thermal shocks exposure
- It can cool down rapidly without cracking under extreme temperatures
- This glass type has higher dimensional accuracy under temperature conditions that are fluctuating
- It can resist higher temperatures than other glass types
Con of installing heat resistant glass
- The glass is expensive for application in making patio tables
- In case of weakness in the glass, it causes it to crack
- It easily shatters in case of impact or collision
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3. Tempered Glass
The strength of this glass is four times compared to that of the ordinary or annealed glasses. It tends to break by fracturing into small and comparatively harmless pieces, unlike the annealed glass which shatters into jagged shards. It is for this reason that It is recommendable to use tempered glass in environments where the safety of humans is an issue. This type of glass is commonly used in microwave ovens, skylights, rear and side vehicles window, patio furniture, entrance doors, and shower and tub enclosures. Preparation glass for the process of tampering involves first cutting it to the desired sizes; therefore, the replacement patio glass will be in the required size. This helps in avoiding the reduction in strength and failure of a product if any operations meant to fabricate it, such as edging or etching are conducted after heating treatment. The glass then has to be examined for the presence of imperfections that could result in breakage during the tempering process. The tempering process involves heating that results in differential tension and compression at the center and the outer surface, thus giving the tempered glass strength. The common thickness sizes of tempered glass are 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, 1/4, 4/8, ½, ¾ inches. The price range of the product is between 50$ to 350$ per square feet, which is dependent on the thickness of the glass.
Pros of tempered glass
- Safety is one of the valued and evident benefits of the tempered glass. This is because it has a higher resistance to breaking, and if it does break, it disperses into blunts that look like pieces of pebble instead of the sharp shards that are associated with traditional glass. Those sharp shards can inflict severe injuries and deep cuts. For that reason, it would be the best choice for patio table replacement to prevent serious injuries and to protect people.
- The glass is stronger to breakage because it is strengthened against blows, impacts, weather events, and strong winds.
- It is resistant to damage and scratches, thus allowing it to withstand wear and tear. It remains clear and flawless for a long time.
- The glass has relatively higher resistance compared to ordinary glass.
- The versatility in its design allows it to be used in many creative and unique applications.
- The glass can be availed in ranges of patterns such as clear colored, patterned, engraved options, and frosted.
- The glass offers a crystal-clear clarity and is of high quality, which makes it outstanding in several settings.
Cons of tempered glass
- It is quite expensive compared to ordinary glass.
- It has a fragile overall performance because of the hard and brittle property.
- It has lower workability compared to the ordinary glass since it is not modifiable through cutting or processing after tampering.
- Its surface has irregularities characterized by a reduction in thickness.
- There is a possibility of self-breakage, unlike in common glass.
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4. Frosted Glass
The modern architecture has adopted the use of glass so widely because of its aesthetics and flexibility when used in a structure. It has been applied in many areas due to its versatility. Naturally, glass is transparent, thus limiting its application in areas where translucency and privacy are desired. Frosted glass is a processed type of glass that assumes a translucent milky surface which prevents a clear through-view. It also has a decorative look on a surface. The convenience of this glass on a patio table is to improve the aesthetics through decorations. Also, due to some sort of clothing by people, especially ladies, it can conceal their below belt body parts by offering unclear view thus instilling comfort on the users. Therefore, if transparency, aesthetics, and privacy is your then frosted glass is the best choice for your patio table. The price range of frosted glass is between $100 to $200 per square feet depending on the glass thickness and the nature of the frosted glass. The glass is available in thickness sizes ranging in between 1/8 and 1 inches.
Pros of frosted glass
- The translucent surface provides privacy and comfort to the users.
- Allows transmission of light, thus making a room to be well-lit and reducing the need for artificial lights.
- It is availed in different colors and designs, thus imparting a decorative look in the home and hotel interiors.
- It is easy to clean
- Has high resistance to scratches
- The uniform diffusion light reduces the light glare, thus enhancing comfort.
Cons of frosted glass
- Quite expensive compared to clear glass
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5. Tint Glass
This glass type employs the use of a thin laminate film that is mainly installed in the interior surface of the glass. In the case of a patio table, it would be on the lower surface of the table. The film is usually obtained from polyethylene terephthalate, which is a thermoplastic polymer resin. It is preferred because of the clarity, dimensional stability, adhesiveness, and tensile strength. Its application is similar to that of frosted glass that enhances privacy by blocking through-view. Tint glass useful in glare and heat reduction, decoration, privacy, and thermal insulation. It would be useful in the patio table in reducing the visibility of the lower body parts while seated. The price range of this glass is between $100 and $200 per square feet depending on the thickness of glass. The available thicknesses of the glass are 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 3/8, and ½ inches.
Pros of using tinted glass
- Enhances privacy
- Provides heat insulation
- Enhances aesthetics through decoration
Con of using tinted glass
- It is quite expensive compared to the common annealed glass.
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The Bottom Line
These are only some of the different glass types available. There are, in fact, a wide variety of glass variants available in the market to choose from. By getting acquainted with some of the glass types, along with their characteristics, you can choose the ‘right’ type of glass for your patio table that complements your outdoor.