What Is Annealed Glass And Is It The Right Choice For A Table?

Tables with a glass top can be a great part of your decor. That is, right until the glass table top breaks. When that happens, you need to get a replacement. But, you don't want to get just any kind of glass for it. You want to make sure that the glass you get is strong enough to stand up to daily use so it won't break again. One option you have is using annealed glass:

What Is Annealed Glass?

Annealed glass takes glass that is made in the normal way and then puts it through another process to make it stronger. The glass is slowly heated up to a precise temperature and then slowly cooled back down. Doing it slowly means that the glass doesn't have any kind of inner stresses in it.

Heating and cooling glass quickly causes it to have some tension in the glass, which can cause it to be weak at the edges. Annealed glass doesn't have that issue. 

Are There Benefits to Using Annealed Glass?

The biggest benefit to using annealed glass instead of just regular glass is that it is stronger. It is less likely to break under normal usage. The glass can also be tinted while it is being made, so you don't have to just choose clear glass.

You can replace the glass with the original color or with something you might like better. It can also stand up to temperature changes really well, which can be a big benefit when you are using a glass table as your dining table. 

Another benefit is that it is going to be less expensive than some other options, including heat toughened, tempered, or laminated glass.

Are There Drawbacks to Using Annealed Glass?

When annealed glass does break, it can cause some serious issues. Tempered glass, which is what your car's windows and what glass cooking dishes are made of, breaks into chunks. Those chunks are safer because they aren't as sharp and are less likely to hurt you. However, when annealed glass breaks, it can break into shards. Shards leave sharp edges all over the place which means that someone could get cut. 

Annealed glass is found in glass table tops and glass cabinet doors. As long as it is handled properly when it breaks, it is a great option to use to replace your broken glass table tops. It can be cut to any size and shape, so even if you have a custom shaped table, you can get the replacement glass for it.

If you have more questions or just want help learning about annealed glass, try contacting a company like City Glass for more help.

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