Glass Guide
Thickness, glass types, strengths, edge work and fabrication, in one place. Compare options before you order, then tell us what you want and we will quote it.
Thickness and weight
Nominal thickness in inches and millimeters, with the weight of each square foot. Weights are for the glass itself and are nominal.
Single pane, one layer of glass, from single strength up to 1″.
Two or more layers bonded with an interlayer. Nominal thickness runs from 1/4″ up. Interlayers are listed in thousandths of an inch (.030 is 30 mil).
Bullet-resistant laminated glass is rated by threat level. Levels 1 to 8 follow UL 752. Levels 9 and 10 come from our fabricator’s own chart.
Not sure which thickness fits your project? Tell us what you are building and we will recommend one.
Design your glassGlass types
Colors on screen are illustrative only. Ask for a physical sample before you choose a tint or texture.
Clear and low iron
Standard float glass. A slight green tint shows at the edge, more so as it gets thicker.
Ultra-clear, low-iron glass with very little green. Good for showers, shelves and display work.
Low-iron glass with the same neutral look. Edges stay clear even at 3/4″ and thicker.
Low-E coatings
A thin metallic coating that reduces heat flow and filters solar heat. Low-E is used inside insulated glass units. Each product has its own U-value, solar heat gain and visible light figures, which the maker publishes.
Low-E coated glass for energy-efficient windows and doors.
Solar-control low-E that balances heat control with a bright, clear view.
Higher solar control in the Solarban line. A clear look with stronger heat reduction.
Solar-control low-E for sunny exposures and large glass areas.
Triple-silver coating with strong solar control and high visible light.
Cardinal’s LoE² series for all-around energy performance.
Obscure glass lets in light and blocks the view. Textured patterns have a pattern side and a smooth side. Tell us which way the pattern should face.
Vertical, water-like texture. Softens the view and hides detail.
Fine-textured pattern. A popular privacy choice for showers.
Smooth, even frosted surface. Easy to clean. Heavy privacy.
The same frost on low-iron glass for a whiter, brighter finish.
Parallel vertical ridges. Gives a fluted, architectural look.
Reeded pattern on low-iron glass for a cleaner, brighter tone.
Frost-like, feathered pattern with strong privacy and a handmade look.
Tinted glass cuts glare and heat and adds color. A darker tint blocks more light and more view.
Soft blue-green tint. Cool, calm look with good solar control.
A clearer, bluer tint than Azuria, with a coastal feel.
Warm brown tint. Classic for storefronts and commercial glazing.
Reflective bronze coating with strong heat and glare control.
Neutral grey tint. Reduces glare without shifting colors.
Reflective grey coating with strong heat and glare control.
Dark grey with high privacy and low light transmission.
The darkest grey. Very little light passes through.
Soft blue-green tint with good solar control and a clean, bright look.
Rich deeper green with good solar performance.
Mirrors are silvered on the back. Back-painted glass is coated on the back in a solid color.
Standard silver mirror. Slight green cast at the edge.
Silver mirror on low-iron glass. Cleaner edge and truer color reflections.
Warm tinted mirror for dining areas, bars and feature walls.
Cool tinted mirror with a modern look.
Aged, softly mottled finish for a vintage look.
Solid color on the back for backsplashes, wall panels and furniture. Pick any paint color.
Custom laminate
Color, pattern or a special function is built into the layers. Each piece is made to order.
Tinted PVB or other films in a wide range of colors, sandwiched between clear or low-iron glass.
Diffused interlayers for light with privacy.
Digital prints, fabric or metal mesh sealed between layers.
Combine tints, textures, low-iron or etched glass in a single laminate.
Sound-damping interlayers for noise reduction.
A stiffer, stronger interlayer for railings, canopies and coastal or high-wind glazing.
Insulated glass units (IGUs)
Two or three panes with a sealed space between them. This is how Low-E is used in windows, doors and skylights.
Argon slows heat flow more than air at the same spacing.
Reduce condensation and heat loss at the perimeter.
Use Low-E, tints, tempered or laminated glass on either pane.
Ask for U-value, solar heat gain and visible light for your unit.
Decorative and specialty
Frosted, clear or shaded designs, logos and borders.
Fired-on dots, lines or solid color for privacy and solar control.
Switches from clear to frosted at the flip of a switch.
Rated by minutes of fire protection. Special framing is required.
Curved panels, flat or laminated.
Surface coatings
We use Diamond Seal. It repels water and soap film so glass stays cleaner, longer.
Cuts reflection for display cases and framing.
Tell us the glass you want and the size. We will confirm what is available and quote it.
Design your glassGlass strengths
Strength comes from how the glass is heat-treated or layered. It sets how the glass breaks, where code allows it and what it costs.
| Strength | Relative strength | How it breaks | Common uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annealed | 1x (baseline) | Large sharp shards | Windows, mirrors, picture glass, inside laminates. Can be cut after it is made. |
| Heat-strengthened | About 2x annealed | Large pieces that stay mostly in the frame | Laminated units, spandrel, vision glass that needs more strength than annealed. |
| Tempered | About 4 to 5x annealed | Small, dull-edged pieces | Showers, doors, railings, tabletops, shelves, safety glazing. Cannot be cut or drilled afterward. |
| Heat-soaked tempered | Same as tempered | Same as tempered | Overhead, large or high-risk glazing. An extra test lowers the chance of spontaneous breakage. |
| Laminated | Depends on the layers | Cracks but stays together | Railings, overhead glass, security, hurricane, sound control, UV protection. |
| Ballistic | Levels 1 to 10 | Resists the rated threat | Counters, cash windows, secure entries. |
Laminated interlayers
PVB is the standard interlayer. SentryGlas is stiffer and stronger. Acoustic and colored interlayers are also available. See Glass Types for custom laminate.
Tell us where the glass goes and we will tell you which strength it needs.
Design your glassEdge work
The edge changes the look, the feel and the safety of every piece. Diagrams show the glass edge from the side.
Tell us where the edge will be seen and touched and we will suggest a finish.
Design your glassFabrication
Cuts, holes and surface work are done before tempering. Give us hardware templates or specs and we will match them.
Holes
For hinges, handles, standoffs and fittings. As a rule, a hole should be no smaller than the glass thickness.
A tapered hole so a flat-head fitting sits flush with the glass.
Holes need room from the edge and from each other. We check this for your size and thickness.
Notches and cutouts
Cut to match your hardware so doors and panels fit square.
For railings, posts and wall brackets.
For mirrors and back-painted panels around switch plates and outlets.
A small radius in each notch corner keeps the glass from cracking there.
Patterns and surface work
Custom designs, borders and logos in frosted or shaded finishes.
Fired-on patterns that last as long as the glass.
Full-color images and patterns, often inside laminated glass.
Rain, P516, reeded and other patterns from the obscure glass list.
Shapes
Rounded or angled corners on tops, shelves and panels.
Circles, ovals, arches and templated shapes.
Two panels meet in a clean, near-seamless corner.
Curved panels, tempered or laminated.
Send your hardware specs or a drawing and we will quote the fabrication.
Design your glassWhich glass for what
Typical starting points. The right choice depends on size, span, support and code, so we confirm each job.
| Project | Typical glass | Typical thickness | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower enclosure | Tempered clear, low iron or obscure | 3/8″ to 1/2″ | Seamed, flat polish or pencil polish |
| Table top | Tempered clear or low iron | 1/2″ to 3/4″ (thicker for large spans) | Flat polish, pencil polish or bevel |
| Shelf | Tempered clear or low iron | 3/8″ to 1/2″ | Flat polish or pencil polish |
| Railing | Tempered laminated | 1/2″ to 3/4″, engineered per job | Flat polish |
| Window | Insulated unit with Low-E | Per unit makeup | Framed |
| Mirror | Annealed mirror | 1/4″ typical | Flat polish or bevel |
| Interior door or partition | Tempered clear or tinted | 3/8″ to 1/2″ | Seamed or flat polish |
Tell us the project and we will match the glass, thickness and edge.
Design your glass