If you are considering adding toughened glass to your home, you will have to make a crucial decision at a certain point. That is the choice of toughened glass vs laminated glass. Yet what is it that we mean by toughened glass, and how does it actually differ from laminated glass? Which one is better?
In this article, we will explore what toughened glass and laminated glass are and help you consider which type of glass is right for you.
Both Types of Glass Explained
Both toughened and laminated glass are commonly referred to as safety glass, as they both offer compelling safety advantages when compared to standard glass. At Toughened Glass Systems, we offer both of these types of glass, but what are the main differences between them? In this section, we’ll explore what sets them apart from one another.
What Is Toughened Glass?
Toughened glass tends to refer to tempered glass, which you may be familiar with, as it is commonly used in smartphone screens. This is glass that has been heated to a high temperature and then rapidly cooled, which makes it a lot tougher. To be more specific, toughened glass is up to five times stronger than regular glass. As well as being far stronger and harder to break, toughened glass can also withstand higher temperatures.
If the worst happens and toughened glass does break, it will break into many small pieces. You’ll likely have seen this if you’ve seen broken glass from a car window or a bus stop. These smaller fragments also tend to be fairly blunt and less likely to cause harm to you or your loved ones when compared to standard glass.
What Is Laminated Glass?
Laminated glass is something altogether different from toughened glass, despite them often being confused for each other. The main advantage of laminated glass is that it is designed to stay in shape if it is broken or shattered. This is achieved by adding a thin layer of plastic, usually ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyvinyl butyral (PVB) between two sheets of glass. This layer of plastic sticks to the sheets of glass, keeping fragments of the glass stuck on the plastic rather than falling out, as would happen with standard glass.
This means that if the glass is broken, the glass should stay in place. For this reason, car windscreens are typically made of laminated glass, allowing drivers to return home before finding a replacement.
Is Toughened Glass or Laminated Glass Better?
In terms of which is better, there isn’t one singular answer. Both toughened glass and laminated glass have some fantastic advantages that the other lacks. In this section, we will look at the advantages of both, to help you come to a decision about which is best for your needs.
The Advantages of Toughened Glass
Toughened Glass has a lot of distinct advantages. Chief among them is safety: not only is it far stronger than standard glass, and harder to break, but it breaks into many smaller, blunter pieces. This means that if a window or other glass feature is broken, you won’t have to contend with large, jagged pieces of glass that could pose safety hazards.
Another advantage of toughened glass over regular glass is its stability under high temperatures. Toughened glass can withstand wide ranges of temperatures that could pose problems for standard glass.
These advantages come together to make toughened glass a great option for windows, kitchen splashbacks and worktops, balustrades and more.
The Advantages of Laminated Glass
Laminated glass’ chief advantage is its ability to stay in the frame when broken, which means that it should contain any broken glass. Laminated glass can also improve sound insulation, keeping rooms quiet, albeit not to the level of acoustic glass. Laminated glass is also easy to apply colours to if you would like to customise your home’s appearance.
Finally, laminated glass also offers increased energy efficiency compared to standard glass, with the layer of plastic providing some additional insulation. Laminated glass is particularly useful for shower screens, security glass, and any windows on your doors.
Which Type of Glass Is Best for You?
Both toughened glass and laminated glass have their benefits and use cases. We hope that this article has helped you learn more about the differences between toughened glass vs laminated glass, as well as which one might be right for you.
If you have any questions about these types of glass and would like to learn more, please contact us today. Our experts will be happy to help you.
What Glass Products Do We Sell?
We sell a range of glass products, including:
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Glass Rooflight Products
We stock an impressive collection of rooflights and skylights, including:
Find one that suits your home today, or contact us for more information.
Toughened Glass vs Laminated Glass FAQs
Is Toughened Glass Stronger Than Laminated Glass?
In terms of pure strength, toughened, or tempered glass, is significantly stronger than laminated glass. It will be able to withstand stronger impacts and other potential forces.
Can You Walk on Toughened Glass?
Toughened glass, unlike laminated glass, can be walked on. If you would like to add walk-on glass features to your home, please explore our selection of walk-on glass.
Can Toughened Glass Keep Your Home Safe?
Toughened glass is much harder to break, which can keep your home safer. The presence of toughened glass may also be a deterrent to burglars.
