From allowing more natural light to flow through your property, to effortlessly enhancing the aesthetics of a room and providing a safe, easy-to-clean option for families, toughened glass is a great option for many homes.
Specialist suppliers, like Express Toughening, have a range of toughened glass products available that can elevate your home, and go beyond windows and mirrors.
Discover everything you need to know about toughened glass, and how you can introduce it into your home’s design, in this article.
What is toughened glass?
Toughened glass, also referred to as tempered glass, is a type of safety glass that’s much stronger than standard, everyday glass and shatters into small, blunt pieces if broken, that are much less likely to cause injury.
It’s most commonly used to construct windows, doors, display cases, and any other pieces or structures where strength, thermal resistance, and security are the top priorities.
How is toughened glass made?
Toughened glass is made by heating annealed glass (a type of glass that’s cooled gradually to reduce internal stresses) to a high temperature – around 650°C – and then rapidly cooling it with jets of air.
This rapid cooling process creates compressive stress in the glass, which ultimately makes it stronger and more resistant to heat and shock.
During this process, the glass is put under stress patterns so that when it breaks, it breaks into small, blunt pieces.
So, how can I use toughened glass around my home?
There are several ways, beyond windows, mirrors, and display cases, that you can use toughened glass around your home, but some of the most popular include:
Glass balustrades
Many modern homeowners are updating their old, worn-out wooden staircases with beautiful glass alternatives.
By replacing wooden spindles, handrails, baserails, and newel posts with sleek glass panels, you’re guaranteed to give your property a new lease of life, making it feel much brighter. more open, and giving the illusion of a larger space – perfect for smaller homes.
Some people are concerned about sacrificing safety when considering a glass balustrade, but being made from toughened glass, you needn’t worry about the panels shattering thanks to their unmatched strength.
Modern glass staircase panels are also manufactured to meet all relevant safety standards, and feature something called a ‘Kitemark’, a universal symbol of quality to reassure you that they’re completely safe to use in your staircase design.
Glass kitchen splashbacks
If you’re looking for a practical and trendy upgrade for your cooking space, a glass kitchen splashback is definitely the way to go.
Protecting the walls underneath from cooking splashes and keeping them looking like new, a glass kitchen splashback could be exactly what your kitchen is missing.
Being easy to clean, durable, and super versatile, they’re guaranteed to help you add a touch of style and personality to your kitchen, and are an excellent alternative to tile or stainless steel splashbacks.
Glass Juliet balconies
A toughened glass Juliet balcony is an excellent addition to any living space, providing quick, easy access to natural light and fresh air.
If you have a room on the upper floor with large windows, installing a glass Juliet balcony across the opening can create a minimal, yet safe barrier, allowing you to reap the benefits of a ‘real’ balcony but without the complicated structural planning.
Glass bath and shower screens
Glass baths and shower screens are the perfect alternative to the outdated shower curtain, and help add a touch of style whilst enhancing the safety and functionality of your bathroom.
Whether you have a shower enclosure, wet room, or shower-bath combo, a toughened glass screen is the ideal way to protect your floors and prevent water from splashing everywhere.
Order toughened glass products online
The list doesn’t end here, and there are many other ways you can incorporate toughened glass into your interior design – the possibilities are endless!