Some homeowners are hesitant to purchase frameless shower glass doors because they’re worried that the lack of a frame makes the doors very fragile and prone to cracks and chips. However, these doors are made out of thick, durable tempered glass, which is much stronger than standard or annealed glass. Tempered glass is a common safety glass option, and it’s often used for windows, skylights, sliding doors, and shower doors.
Shower doors that are made out of tempered glass are less susceptible to breaks compared to shower doors that are made out of annealed glass. But what makes tempered glass better than the other options available and what benefits does it have to offer?
Let’s find out.
4 Advantages of Choosing Tempered Glass over Laminated Glass for Your Shower Door
Both laminated glass and tempered glass are considered safety glass. Out of the two, laminated glass is much more expensive. While laminated glass has a reputation for being stronger than tempered, tempered glass is more commonly used in doors, windows, and bathrooms, while laminated glass is mainly used in residential construction.
Tempered glass offers breakage resistance and strength, but laminated glass provides soundproofing, extra security, and UV resistance.
Annealed glass can be used for many applications, but tempered glass is an affordable, safer option that must be used for shower doors, to prevent serious harm, in the event a door is broken.
Safety
Annealed glass can be dangerous in the home, especially if you have small children. When the glass shatters, it breaks into sharp jagged pieces that can pierce the skin and do serious damage. Because of this, annealed glass is not commonly used for shower doors or windows like it used to be.
Unlike regular glass, which can cause life-threatening injuries, tempered glass is a type of safety glass that doesn’t shatter. Instead, when tempered glass is broken, it breaks into small, pebble-like blunt pieces that cannot cause serious injuries.
High Strength & Damage Resistant
Tempered glass is created by heating panes of annealed glass to 700 degrees and cooling it immediately after. This pushes the glass beyond the standard transmission temperature, causing the glass to soften. The outer layer of the glass cools at a rapid rate, while the inner layer of glass still remains hot. This changes the physical characteristics of the glass, creating center tension. This process is known as thermal tempering and makes the glass 4-5 times stronger than standard glass. It can also handle harsh changes in temperature, without shattering.
Because the shower area is a very slippery place, having a shower door made out of tempered glass is a must.
Optically Clear Appearance
The tempering process strengthens the glass without negatively affecting the clarity or its transparency. For this reason alone choosing a tempered glass door for your shower enclosure is the way to go.
Reasonably Priced
Unlike laminated glass, tempered glass is an affordable option, which is one of the many reasons why it’s more commonly used by glass companies for shower doors, windows, and other items in the household, compared to laminated glass. Due to the materials used and the complexity of the manufacturing process, laminated glass is significantly more expensive, however, tempered glass has a higher price tag than annealed glass, but it’s definitely worth it for the extra protection.
Contact Wise Glass Today
It’s clear that tempered glass for shower doors offers many important advantages, including safety, a surface that’s easier to clean and maintain, and a shower door that can easily withstand heavy-duty use. At Wise Glass, we use only the toughest, finest quality tempered glass on our custom frameless shower doors and enclosures. If you’re ready to upgrade your bathroom and you’re interested in learning more about our tempered glass enclosures and shower doors, contact us today to get a free quote and schedule a consultation.