There are several things to consider when buying glass tabletops. Is it an indoor or an outdoor table? How thick should the glass be? Are the edges hidden under a frame, or will they be exposed? Is the glass for decoration, protection, or both? Is the table modern, or more rustic? Are there young children in the house?
What is Standard about Glass Tabletops?
Clear is the most common glass for an indoor tabletop, and Aqualite is standard for an outdoor table. Table top glass thicknesses range from the standard ¼” thick to ½” thick. And Flat and Pencil are the most commonly used edges.
Why Tempered Glass Tabletops?
Tempered is a safety glass and breaks like a car door window, in small tiny pieces, not in sharp shards. Outdoor tables are required to be tempered, and there are some cases where you might choose tempered inside the home as well. For example, a desk with a metal frame, where the glass is only supported by the frame at the edges. It would be wise to have this glass tempered to avoid injury if the glass breaks while you are working at the desk. Many of our patterned glass comes in tempered as well.
The Different Edges Available on Glass Tabletops
A seamed edge is just smoothing the edges down to take away the sharp edges of the glass, this option is not the most appealing to the eye but may work great for a garage tabletop. Flat and pencil edges are the most common edges. A pencil edge is rounded similar to the side of a pencil. The flat edge is a beautiful touch to any square or rectangular desk or tabletop, where the pencil edge compliments a round or oval shape. Both Flat and Pencil come in a polish or a flat. Polished edges have been given a high shine and really brings the tabletop edge to life especially in a more professional setting. A grind is more of a softer muted edge that would be well suited for pine or antique furniture. Examples of our edgework can be found on our website under gallery or by clicking on the link. Edgework Examples
Why use a beveled edge?
Beveled edges are very unique and decorative, the bevel can range from ⅜” to 2” depending on preference or the length of the tabletop. Beveled edges are a bit fancier than the flat or pencil edges. They are especially exquisite in an executive office or on a dining room table.
The different corners.
If you have children or large pets the nipped corner would be a good choice for your tabletop or desk. We also cut angled and rounded corners to perfectly accommodate every shape, size, and preference.
Outdoor tabletops and umbrellas.
If you need to replace your outdoor tabletop we can ensure a good fit for your outdoor umbrella with a 2” or 3” cut in the center.
When to use patterned glass?
Patterned glass is a creative way to decorate a desk or tabletop. Say you wanted to protect your daughter’s desk at home with a tabletop glass, we offer many different textures and patterns to personalize her desk. The Florentine-Wissmach, or the Daisy pattern for example, would be very pretty in a girls room. Patterned glass also can be very appealing on a side table in your living room, for example the Delta Frost, or the Sycamore Leaves would be a gorgeous touch to an otherwise boring table. Pictures of our many different patterns and textures can be found on our website under Gallery or by clicking on the link. Pattern Glass