Benefits of Tempered Glass Compared to Normal Glass
Whether you are buying a new window or installing a brand new shower, you always have to choose whether you want tempered or untempered glass. This decision is more important than you might think, as there are potential hazards to using regular glass in anything that comes into human contact on a regular basis. The only problem is that tempering glass costs a little more due to the extra steps required to temper it. Luckily, over the years this process has been improved and the costs have gone down quite a bit, so it’s always a good idea to consider your options on whether you should go with tempered or regular glass.
The first thing you need to know is what exactly is the difference between tempered glass and regular glass. To put it simply, tempered glass is able to withstand way more punishment than normal glass. Regular glass will break at times for almost no apparent reason. Tempered glass is treated by a special method to increase its strength by about five times what it normally is.
To be more specific, tempered glass is cut to the shape that’s required before it’s tempered. This is because once it’s tempered you can’t cut it, or else it will shatter into thousands of tiny pieces. When glass shatters there is less of a chance for someone to get hurt from it. With untempered glass, tapping it the wrong way could break it, leaving large and sharp chunks remaining. These chunks are very dangerous, and if you aren’t careful you could get injured due to them.
Glass is tempered by cleaning and sanding it into the shape that’s required, then heating and cooling it rapidly. It’s very important for a good quality job to clean off all the debris and really sand down the glass to make it nice and smooth; otherwise the tempered glass could be cloudy and rough as a result. The glass is then heated at nearly 1200 degrees Fahrenheit and immediately cooled, which hardens it and makes it impossible to work with any further. It’s just as smooth and just as clear as regular glass, just harder.
Poor tempering jobs can lead to poorer quality of glass. If you notice any tempered glass that’s rough or not crystal clear, you are dealing with amateur work. The most common reason for poor-quality tempered glass is when the glass isn’t properly washed of all debris. When the debris mixes with the glass, it creates chemical reactions that don’t allow the glass to bond with itself and make it stronger, and it clouds the clarity of the glass as well. While poor-quality tempered glass is still stronger than regular glass, it isn’t nearly as beautiful, so make sure you get a company that knows what they are doing.
As you can see, there are pretty much no reasons at all to go with non-tempered glass. Tempered glass is just plain safer for uses that require human contact on a daily basis. The risks of injury alone are more than enough reason for most people to stick with only tempered glass, and it’s hopefully enough for you.
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