From balustrades in residential properties to doors and partitions in workspaces, glass is a popular, highly valued component in all kinds of interiors.

When searching for a sturdy glass option, you’ll come across two different types: Toughened and laminated glass.

At first glance, the differences between the two are minimal, but when you look a little closer, you’ll discover the two have their own distinct properties that make each of them unique.

So, which should you choose?

Join the experts at Express Toughening as they share everything you need to know about toughened and laminated glass in this post, to help you make the right decision for your upcoming project.

What is toughened glass?

Toughened glass, also known as tempered glass, is a type of safety glass that is up to five times stronger than typical annealed glass.

This type of glass endures a meticulous heating and rapid cooling process to get its superior strength, making it ideal for applications where high resistance to physical stress is required, like low-level windows, for instance.

Benefits of toughened glass

As well as its enhanced strength, toughened glass offers many other advantages, including:

  • Improved safety – Rather than shattering into large, sharp shards, toughened glass breaks into several small, blunt pieces, making it a much safer option for homes and offices.
  • Durability – Thanks to the rigorous heating and cooling process, glass is much more resistant to rapid temperature changes and high impacts, meaning it’s also super durable.
  • Cost-effectiveness – Toughened glass is more affordable than other safety glass alternatives, like laminated glass, for example, which has a higher upfront cost.
  • Heat resistance – Again, thanks to the heating and cooling process, toughened glass can withstand sudden and extreme temperature changes of up to 250°C.

Drawbacks of toughened glass

One significant drawback of toughened glass is that once it’s been manufactured, it can’t be cut or modified, meaning that precise measurements are incredibly important.

In addition to this, whilst it shatters into small, blunt pieces which typically pose less of a risk, they can still be considered hazardous in certain scenarios, so this is definitely something to bear in mind when making your decision.

What is laminated glass?

Laminated glass, on the other hand, features two or more glass sheets, with a sturdy interlayer wedged between them, which is typically made from Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) or Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB).

This distinctive construction makes laminated glass the perfect choice for home and business owners on the hunt for a safer alternative to traditional annealed glass to use for display shelves, partition walls, and doors, for example.

Benefits of laminated glass

  • Enhanced safety – The interlayer mentioned above bonds the glass sheets together, which prevents shattering and keeps the glass intact even upon impact, which significantly reduces the risk of injury.
  • Improved security – Laminated glass is incredibly resistant to forced entry, making it a great deterrent in commercial and residential settings against break-ins, robbery, and vandalism.
  • Noise reduction – The interlayer also acts as a sound barrier, effectively dampening external noise, making it the best choice for loud environments.
  • Energy efficiency – The unique construction of laminated glass can improve thermal insulation, leading to better energy efficiency.

Drawbacks of laminated glass

Despite the advantages listed above, laminated glass also offers some drawbacks.

Not only is it more expensive than toughened glass or other alternatives, but it also has the potential to degrade over time, leading to expensive repairs and replacements.

What are the differences between toughened and laminated glass?

Feature 

Toughened glass

Laminated glass

Strength and resistance

Very strong

Strong and features bonded layers

Breakage behaviour

Breaks into small pieces

Cracks but stays intact

Energy efficiency

Doesn’t provide thermal insulation

Offers some thermal insulation properties

Cost

Generally more affordable

Comes with a higher upfront cost

So, which is best for my project?

The best type of glass for your project depends entirely on your needs and goals.

If you’re looking for a strong, cost-effective option you can use as a bath or shower screen, balustrade panels, for example, you may be better off opting for a toughened glass option.

However, if you have a little more room in your budget and are in need of something to enhance security in a retail setting, for instance, make laminated glass your go-to.

Need help choosing the perfect toughened glass products?

Whenever you’re in need of toughened glass products for your home or office space, the team at Express Toughening has got you covered.

Offering premium products and expert advice, you really can’t go wrong when you speak to their team.

Browse and shop their range online today, or contact their specialists for information and recommendations.