Want strong security for your house, but also want to view the outside scenery without any interruptions, then a wall and a window are not what you want in your house. You might want to know about the laminated glass and toughened glass which are quite popular for their strong and reliable qualities and provide safety not just for domestic but also commercial properties. While both are quite tough, a lot of people are unaware about the difference between laminated glass and toughened glass. Here is a detailed list regarding what is laminated glass and what is toughened glass apart from also knowing more about the uses of laminated glass.
Laminated Glass
Laminated glass is most commonly known to be used on the windscreens of most cars in the world. When smashed this laminated glass holds its place and does not break up into large shards or hundreds of little pieces. Instead, it holds on for long enough until you find a proper replacement. This happens thanks to the polyvinyl butyral plastic which is used that is sandwiched right between two sheets while the laminated glass is being manufactured. This bounds the two panes together with an adhesive that even when the glass breaks, its small pieces are bound on the thin film.
This safety feature actually reduces any chances of injury due to falling glass. In addition to this, since the panes do not burst apart on a large impact, laminated glass leaves no hole behind for thieves to enter your space. Laminated glass also tends to offer UV resistance and soundproofing to your space. There are also various types of laminated safety glass which differs based on what it can withstand. Some of the types include fire-resistance, blast-resistance, and bullet-resistance glass.
Advantages of Laminated Glass
There are multiple advantages when you using laminated glass and a few of them can be provided as follows:
- Laminated glass consists of a middle layer made of plastic that holds all the shards in place when the glass gets broken.
- As it is quite less likely to break, hence the replacement costs will also be reduced or will be kept to a minimum.
- It can withstand high-temperature changes providing UV resistance and improving sound insulation.
- They are quite easy to paint when it comes to glass painting.
- If the glass is used externally for shop windows or any such use then it can act as a very strong barrier against heavy rain or strong winds.
- Helps improve energy efficiency since the layered design provides better heat insulation.
Common Uses of Laminated Glass
When we talk about the uses of laminated glass, you can commonly find the usage of such types in the following places:
- Shop fronts
- Vehicle windscreens
- Partition walls
- Shelving
- Security glass
- External and internal doors
- Shower screens
Toughened Glass
Toughened glass which is also quite often called tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is almost five times stronger than laminated glass when compared based on the same thickness and size. Toughened glass gets its immense strength due to the process of tempering where it is subjected to intense heat and then immediate cooling while it is manufactured. This toughness gives the tempered glass a higher resistance to hold heavier loads and overcome easy breakage. While laminated glass tends to hold in place when hit, toughened glass tends to get shattered into hundreds of little pieces. Tempered glass also has a higher heat resistance than standard glass and can withstand temperatures that are as high as 250 degrees Celsius.
Benefits of Toughened Glass
When it comes to the usage of toughened glass, you get a lot of benefits. Here are a few of the benefits of toughened glass.
- The various chemical and thermal processes that are used while producing toughened glass allow for higher strength of the glass apart from also an increased ability to withstand higher temperature changes.
- If the glass is broken they tend to break into small pieces of glass instead of large pieces of glass which might cause even more injuries.
- It is almost five times more strong as compared to a normal glass and a very huge amount of force is needed to break it down.
- Thermally and structurally, tempered glass is better than any normal glass.
- During the toughening process of the tempered glass, the composition, color, clarity, and light transmission do not change.
Common Uses of Toughened Glass
Toughened glass can be used in the following places:
- Glass floors
- Internal partition walls
- Kitchen Splashbacks
- Shower screens
- Glass shelves
- Table tops
- Greenhouse glass
- Worktops
- Balustrades
Comparison Between Laminated Glass and Toughened Glass
When you initially take a look, both laminated glass and toughened glass might seem like they look the same. However, they both have distinctive individual properties that make them suited for various applications. Here is a detailed comparison between laminated glass and toughened glass.
Strength and Durability
When it comes to strength and durability, toughened glass is more physically stronger than laminated glass. However, once it is broken, it will be turned into small pieces and will provide no resistance to intrusion.
However, laminated glass has been designed in such a way that it cannot easily shatter when broken and you can also avoid any sort of injury due to the plastic layer holding it together. Laminated glass might have a lower break point however it is difficult to pierce. In certain places, laminated glass is considered to be stronger since it gives resistance to intrusion.
Safety and Security
Due to the several layers in the laminated glass, it is much thicker than toughened glass and hence offers better insulation when it comes to safety and security. However, laminated lass is heavier and is more costly than tempered glass.
Optical Clarity
Tempered glass is known for its high optical clarity due to which it still stands as one of the most common choices for windows and mirrors. On the other hand, laminated glass may have a slightly lower optical clarity which is mainly due to the plastic layer present in between the two glass layers. However, the difference is quite negligible and may not be much noticeable.
Cost-effectiveness
Tempered glass is much lower in price as compared to laminated glass which makes it a much more cost-effective option for a lot of uses. However, when it comes to applications, where safety is a major concern, laminated glass may be the better investment due to its high safety features and ability to withstand breakage and huge impact.
Choosing the Right Glass for Your Needs
The question regarding whether to opt for a laminated glass or a toughened glass for usage would be one of the questions that would not have a definitive answer since both have their own pros and cons. However, when it comes to car windscreen it is for sure which one you need to use.
If you compare both based on its security, toughened glass is definitely the stronger one which requires a lot of force to be broken. However, when it does the area that it was protecting would be left open for entrance.
This however will not be a problem in laminated glass since they stay in place even when shattered. However as laminated glass is not as resistant to breakage, even small accidental impacts could lead to causing the breakage of glass and would need replacement.
Some people tend to choose laminated overhead glass structures since even if the glass does break, they do not fall down and cause injuries. Also if breakage does happen, it might be hard to find a quick replacement.
There are also some other people who argue that toughened glass is a better option since it can resist huge force. And even if they do break they just fall in tiny pieces which will not cause any injury.
So you might want to consider all these factors when choosing which glass fits right for your needs.
Why Choose Finepoint Glass?
With Finepoint Glass, you get to have both toughened and laminated glass delivered to you. We also ensure that we will work closely with all your requirements and provide you with a quote that will fit right into your budget. Not to mention the luxury additions that we provide do not only provide you with beautiful visuals but also wonderful performance. With 30 years of experience, we assure you that your project is definitely in the safest hands ever!
Conclusion
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution when you try to choose between laminated glass and toughened glass, there are still a few factors you can consider to get your needs fulfilled. If you are prioritizing safety and security, then laminated glass is what you need. On the other hand, if you are looking for a cost-effective and way better optical clarity solution, then toughened glass is the right one. Whatever the case, you can always try to consult an expert such as Finepoint Glass to get to know more about these glass types and their uses.
FAQs
- What are the main differences between laminated glass and toughened glass?
Laminated glass due to the presence of several layers is much thicker than toughened glass. Whereas toughened glass is more stronger, almost about 5 times stronger than laminated glass.
- Which type of glass is better for safety and security purposes?
As far as security and safety are concerned laminated glass is much better because even if it does break it will not give a complete opening for entrance.
- Can laminated glass be used in outdoor applications?
Yes, laminated glass is great even for outdoor applications. In fact, they even provide soundproofing for your house.
- Is toughened glass suitable for use in frameless glass doors?
Since toughened glass is almost five times stronger than laminated glass, it definitely makes a great choice for frameless glass doors.
- Are there any special maintenance requirements for these types of glass?
There is no need for any special maintenance. All you need is warm water and a soft cloth to clean the surface.