With the increasing use of glass in contemporary setups, it is no surprise that glass has found its way atop our tables as well. In fact, glass tabletops were one of the first pieces to incorporate glass into our interior design, pioneering the advent of this exquisite yet mainstream material we now find in every house or apartment. Due to the considerable amount of time glass tabletops have had to develop and refine themselves. We now have access to a vast range of said tabletops of all shapes and sizes. And as always, where there is freedom of choice, there is confusion. So, without further ado; here are the 5 things you need to keep track of when you’re in the market for one.
1. Shape of your table
Whether you’re shopping for one the first time, or you’re looking to replace one; the shape is essential as it is the most primary factor influencing the visual appeal of your table. Big tables, especially dining tables, are customarily equipped with a rectangular tabletop. Small tables on the other hand, such as coffee tables, corner tables for your sofa set, decorative tables, TV tables, etc. are better off with an oval, circular or squared shape. There are also custom templates that you can submit to a manufacturer if you’re thinking of doing something out of the box, but exercise caution unless you’re a professional interior designer.
2. Thickness of glass
The key to getting this right is to strike a balance between safety and elegance. The thickness of your glass is the only thing preventing it from cracking or shattering. See glass tabletops have to withstand their weight along with whatever is placed on them. The thicker the glass, the better the resistance it provides against weight. However, you don’t want to go overboard and place a bulky glass top on a coffee table that will only hold cups, smartphones (which are getting thinner everyday), lamps [r the occasional book or two. To get this parameter right, it is highly recommended you talk to an expert (the manufacturers you buy from are also experts on glass obviously) and find out which level of thickness would give you a practical advantage without conceding on aesthetic appeal. After all, the reason you’re going for a glass tabletop is the smooth, sleek and classy finish, right?
3. Tempered or not?
Although not an issue in big tables, you definitely need to have tempered glass installed on your smaller tables, more importantly, the ones which are tall and prone to being knocked over. Tempered glass, often called safety glass, is engineered in a way to not only increase its durability manifold, but in the unlikely case it does break, it will shatter into thousands of tiny harmless crystals instead of big shards. This works excellently for corner tables or living room tables that we inevitably bump into almost every night on our journey to the kitchen. Additionally, tempered glass allows you to reduce the overall thickness of your glass to get that slim look along with the sturdiness of regular bulky glass.
4. Edging of glass
There are a few different types of edging you can customize your glass with. Beveled edges are the pinnacle of luxury, but not surprisingly, they are also quite expensive. If you need glass for a corner table or a central table separating the TV from the sofa set, then you are probably better off with pencil polished edges as the main function of these tables is not to capture attention, but to compliment the rest of your setup. Furthermore, those inevitable bumps in the night we talked about earlier? Beveled edges can inflict quite the damage. Pencil polished edges do not.
5. Knowing when to replace.
If you’ve made it to this point, chances are you’re really invested in this decision. In that case, before you go galloping off to the market, you need to know when to replace and when to repair. The reason glass has become so popular is not only due to its elegant nature, but it offers more practical features over other options including the ability to make your space look open and larger than it is (it also enables you to see who is kicking you underneath the table). Glass is built to last. It can withstand the test of time longer than wooden tables and any blemish on it is really easy to clean. Wooden tables require you to regularly polish them, whereas you only need to wipe the surface of a glass tabletop with a wet soft cloth and some glass cleansing liquid for good measure.
That being said, glass is vulnerable to deformation when exposed to heat. To improve the life of your tabletop, avoid placing hot objects on it, and if you do, be sure to place a coaster in between. Many furniture stores sell these separators in multiple designs. The only scenario in which we would recommend a glass tabletop replacement would be if the glass cracks or is otherwise deformed due to improper handling. However, if you feel an incessant need to change your tabletop just for the sake of renovation, by all means, go ahead because glass tabletops are easily detachable. Go for a different design to spice things up.
Lastly, let’s talk about the replacement or installation process itself. Usually, you will be buying your tabletop along with the table itself so the supplier will handle the entire process. As for replacement projects, you may still want to hire a professional to do it. Glass Genius can help you out in buy quality glass table tops near you. Your manufacturer will often do this for you for a small fee (or maybe even complimentary if you get a good deal). Or, if you’re invested in the DIY lifestyle; there are a number of guides available that walk you through the process step-by-step. Spruce up your ambience with the product of raw ingenuity and advanced scientific procedures that we call glass.
