Laminated Glass vs Tempered Glass

What’s the Difference Between Laminated and Tempered Glass?

Laminated and tempered glass are different in many ways. The manufacturing process, comparative strength, and safety features are very different between these glass types.



Before you understand the differences between laminated and tempered glass, it's helpful to know about annealed glass. Annealed glass is a standard glass that has been thermally treated and then slowly cooled. It's strong, but can be shattered on impact with something hard. Annealed glass breaks into sharp, jagged shards that can cause significant injury. Its brittleness, the ease with which it breaks, and the way it breaks into many shards can be a problem for windows. This is why many homeowners turn to laminated and tempered glass.

The Manufacturing Process: How Each Type of Glass Is Made

Tempered glass is produced by heating annealed glass to a temperature of 700 Celsius. Once the glass is heated, it is cooled rapidly. This creates surface tension as the surface of the glass hardens faster than the core. The result is a glass that shatters into tiny pieces when it breaks. These pieces are not as sharp as shards of broken annealed glass.



Laminated glass is created by attaching two pieces of tempered glass to plastic resin. Because the laminated glass is attached to the plastic in the middle, laminated glass doesn't shatter. Broken laminated glass stays in one large piece.

Comparing Strength and Safety Features

Both tempered and laminated glass are considered very safe and durable. Tempered glass produces small, smooth pieces when it breaks. This reduces the chance of injury. Tempered glass is also far less likely to break than standard annealed glass because it's about four times stronger.



Laminated glass is also strong and unlikely to break when impacted by a hard object. The multiple layers of laminated glass can stand the force of a rock or flying debris. Laminated glass is approximately 100 times stiffer than annealed glass and about five times as strong.

Common Applications: Where Each Type of Glass Works Best

Different types of glass have unique benefits. Here are some of the benefits you may get from installing new glass in your home:



• Sound reduction: Laminated glass reduces noise by about 10 decibels because the multiple layers have a way of stopping sound waves.
• UV-resistance: The plastic resin center in laminate glass offers excellent UV resistance. UV rays can cause fabric and flooring to fade, raising the temperature in your home.
• Customization: Tempered glass is easier to customize than laminated glass because it is made of a single layer of glass (versus laminated glass, which consists of multiple layers). If you're seeking a custom window or would like a window in frosted or colored glass, tempered glass may be the best option for you. Tempered glass can also be etched or engraved with messaging, images, and more.
• Energy efficiency: Laminated glass can help prevent heat loss in colder climates. Tempered glass is not more energy efficient than annealed glass, but when a Low-E coating is applied, tempered glass has excellent energy efficiency. Low-E coatings reflect heat, thus preventing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
  

Cost Considerations: Which Glass Offers Better Value?

Tempered and laminated glass are typically considered upgrades from standard annealed glass. Laminated glass is often more expensive because it consists of multiple layers. If you're interested in laminated or tempered glass for your new window installation, talk to your window dealer and installer to learn more about the costs of the windows that interest you.

Choosing the Right Glass for Your Project

Choosing the right glass for your project can be tricky, especially when you're considering laminated glass vs tempered glass. These two types of glass offer many of the same benefits but with some unique considerations for each type. Tempered glass is ultra-strong and, when it breaks, shatters into many tiny pieces that are smooth and harmless.

Laminated glass comprises multiple panes sandwiched together into one stiff, tough piece of glass. Laminated glass doesn't shatter at all, but stays together when impacted by flying debris and hard objects. Laminated glass is also energy efficient and has beneficial sound-reduction qualities.

If you're having a hard time choosing the right type of glass for you, these steps can help:

• Write down your goals, so you can choose a glass type that meets your goals.
• Know your budget, so you can find a window type that is the right cost for you.
• Go over the benefits with a window dealer and installer you can trust. Ask questions and compare the two types of glass.

At Woodland Windows and Doors, we offer modern window design styles to help our customers find the best window for their needs. We also sell many glass types. We sell windows and doors made by the best brands to help solve your energy efficiency problems and help you find the right product for your needs.

Do you want to know more about the benefits of laminated glass vs tempered glass? Contact us today for a consultation to discuss your window or door replacement.