Whether it’s a rustic kitchen table or contemporary coffee table, wooden tables often become a room’s centre piece.
But while wood is beautiful, maintaining it can be a chore as it can crack and swell due to moisture and lose its colour over time.
A glass tabletop is an excellent answer to these wood woes. It helps you enjoy the elegance of your wood table while protecting the surface from wear and tear. And with customized glass tabletops, you don’t have to worry about your furniture complementing your interior decor. This is because glass is versatile and suits almost every room design.
Why Invest in Custom Glass Table Tops?
Here are some of the biggest benefits of having a custom glass tabletop for your wooden table.
- They’re Stylish
Glass tabletops look luxurious, and their sleek aesthetics enhance the beauty of any space. You can also add to its style by customizing its edges with trendy and elegant motifs.
- They Create an Illusion of Space
The transparency of glass creates an illusion of space by making a room look larger and airier than it is. This is why a glass tabletop is a great choice for kitchens and dining rooms with limited space.
- They Require Minimal Maintenance
Cleaning glass table tops is easy. All you need is a clean cloth and glass cleaner. They can be easily replaced in case of cracks or breakage, which is cheaper and better than buying an entire table. Moreover, micro scratches are hardly noticeable on glass countertops.
- They Protect the Wood Underneath
A glass tabletop protects your wooden table from scratches, stains, water rings and sun damage, which will eventually ruin the wood’s quality and performance. The only thing you need to do is to ensure the table base is sturdy enough to bear the glass’s weight.
5 Glass Types for Your Custom Glass Table Top
- Clear Glass
The clear glass tabletop shares characteristics with acrylic plastic: it’s clear, bright, and can protect the table from a reasonable amount of damage. It’s typically a colourless glass with an edge that can be tinted. It’s the most commonly used glass type and quite affordable.
- Tinted Glass
As the name implies, this glass type comes in a range of colours, including black, grey, green, and even green-black. It can absorb more thermal stress than clear glass, reflects less light, and is best suited for spaces where low light is required.
- Tempered Glass
Unlike clear or tinted glass, tempered glass is a very strong tabletop material, with high-impact resistance. It’s made by compressing silica and then strengthening it with heat. It cannot be scratched, broken, cut or drilled easily.
- Frosted Glass
Like tempered glass, frosted glass is highly dense and is 6x stronger than clear glass. It’s typically used for tables in workspaces like conference rooms.
- Laminated Glass
This is made by fusing two panes of glass over a thin layer of polyvinyl which allows it to withstand heavy thermal or mechanical impacts. One major advantage of laminated glass is the capacity of its inner layer to hold the glass when broken. It can also absorb sound and resist the harmful effects of UV rays.
3 Glass Edge Polish Options
- Pencil Polish for Sparkling Shine
Pencil polished glass edges are perfectly smooth, feature a slight curve, and are finished with a shiny or glossy polish. This unique finish blends seamlessly with the table’s edges which makes it perfect for both regular and luxurious applications.
- Bevelled Edge for Smooth Appearance
Beveling features a decorative angle, starting near the edge of the glass. For example, a 1-inch bevel will start one inch from the edge of the glass. Bevelled edges are often expensive because of their custom cut sizes and curves.
- Flat Polish for Matte Finish
As the name implies, a flat polish is a flat edge with a small 45-degree chamfer on the top and bottom to remove sharpness. For custom-made ½-inch and thicker glass tabletops, it’s best to go for flat polish.
How to Decide on the Thickness of Glass
The best thing about custom glass table tops is that you get to choose the glass thickness. Usually, the larger your tabletop the thicker the glass should be, to ensure safety, balance and durability. The minimum recommended glass thickness for tables that are 24 inches in diameter, length or width is ¼ inch. If your table is smaller, mounted on a solid surface, or has a strong frame, you can choose table tops with ⅛-inch thickness. Oversized tables require more strength and durability, so you may want to go all the way up to a ¾-inch thick. Although you’re free to choose the thickness for style reasons, never compromise on safety.
Glass tabletops don’t just protect your tables’ surfaces for years, but they also add a touch of elegance. If you’ve been wary about using glass table tops in your home or office, this guide should be helpful. For additional information and assistance regarding glass table top customization, contact a reliable and experienced glass company in your area.