There are six basic types of glass edge finishes:
- Seamed edge – merely removes the sharpness for safer handling.
- Flat edge – a polished “square” edge.
- Pencil edge – a polished round edge.
- Beveled edge – a straight sloped edge from ½ inch to 1 ½ inch slope.
- Mitre edge – similar to a bevel, but with a sharper end to the slope.
- Ogee edge – similar to bevel sloped edge but with a curved slope instead of straight.
All insulated units will eventually fail. Insulated glass is made using two pieces of glass bonded together with a spacer creating an air space in the center that produces the insulation. Even when properly installed, heat, cold, expansion, contraction, UV-rays and moisture eventually cause seal failure. Glass Depots USA provide a limited 5 year manufacturers warranty.
Tempered glass is a safety glass used in doors and windows were safety is a concern. It is manufactured by heating and then rapidly cooling the glass. This cooling process causes the outside surface to form a hard “skin” which is up to 7 times stronger than “annealed” glass. When broken, it shatters into small, less harmful fragments.
Laminated Glass is both a safety and security glass. It is made by bonding two pieces of glass together with a plastic inner layer called polyvinyl butyral. The plastic prevents the glass from separating when broken, which reduces the danger of serious lacerations. However, laminated glass cracks much easier than tempered on impact.