Toughened Glass vs Laminated Glass: Which One is Best for Your Home?

Have a broken window or glass panel in your home? Maybe you’ve been putting off those glass repairs for some time and now you must do something about it?

Either way, when it comes to your domestic windows and glass panels, you’ll be looking for something slightly sturdier than float glass. The two most popular glass choices for this are toughened glass and laminated glass. But, which one should you go for? Is one better than the other?

We’re going to be looking at both to answer all your questions before making a decision.

Toughened Glass

            Advantages

• When looking to replace windows or glass doors, toughened glass is the most common safety glass to do the job. Tempered to withstand pressures that float glass would crack under, toughened glass reduces the risk when being installed for windows, balustrades and staircases.
• Due to its tempered nature, toughened glass is highly resistant against natural elements and brute force, making it the perfect choice for external windows and doors.
• If you’ve set a budget on what you can afford to spend on replacing your windows and glass panels, toughened safety glass will be the best choice for you. Praised for its cheaper production in response to demand, there’s a reason why it’s the most common choice for homeowners.

           Disadvantages

• If not manufactured correctly or looked after properly, damaged edges can make toughened glass susceptible to shattering. Such an incident would naturally bring you back to square one.
• Easily marked and scratched. Depending on who has manufactured the toughened glass, fabricating debris can occur. This can cause the toughened glass to be of low quality and increases the chances of it scratching. Do your research into the manufacturer to make sure you get the most for your money.
• Unfortunately, if broken or damaged, toughened glass will shatter. Therefore, little shards of glass are left behind, contributing to injuries if the damage involves a person.

Laminated Glass

            Advantages

• Similar to toughened glass, laminated glass is for those looking to further the protection and safety of their properties. This is why it is particularly popular with business premises and shop fronts.
• Anti-bandit. As a result of the way laminated glass is manufactured, should a burglar attempt to break the glass, a spider web type pattern will appear in the glass as the shards collapse in on themselves and stick together. Ultimately, this prevents a burglar accessing the property after breaking the glass.
• Following on from the point above, if the glass is damaged accidentally or by severe weather conditions, the spider web effect stops anyone from being exposed to injury.
• Resistant to UV rays. It’s beneficial for homeowners who are conscious of UV exposure on the skin as well as helping to keep your property cool during the warmer months.
• Should you wish to reduce the unwanted external noise of the outside world, laminated glass is known for having superior acoustic properties if fitted correctly.

           Disadvantages

• The most negative upshot of all these advantages is the price tag that comes along with it. If you’re looking for the best quality glass to use for your windows and doors, then this won’t be a problem. However, for those on a budget, you may want to consider all your options before rushing into it.
• Quality manufacturers are rare. Most likely another factor that contributes to its price, but laminated glass manufacturers are hard to come by, a consequence of the quality and standards it has to live up to.

Both have good qualities and negative qualities to them. If we had to sum it up, we would recommend toughened glass for those who wish to have safe and secure glass on their property but are on a budget. Whereas, if price isn’t a concern to you, then we would suggest laminated glass for expert quality.

At the end of the day, research is the best piece of advice anyone can give. Not just into the type of glass but be sure to research various manufacturers that you could buy from and read their reviews. This should make your decision just that little bit easier.