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Back to School Time Means More Cooking: Does Your Kitchen Need an Upgrade?

Summer is finally over. While that means no more beach days or vacation hours, for families with kids, it also means back to school time.

You may have gotten through the summer by cooking in the backyard on your grill or going out to eat more often. Now though, the kids will need packed lunches and homecooked, hearty meals so they have the fuel to excel in school.

The start of the school year (and the fall season) is the perfect time to assess your kitchen to decide if you need an upgrade. Here are some areas to start with.

Countertops

When you get busy in the kitchen, your countertops are often the first to show signs of wear and tear. Whether it’s stains, chips, or pockmarks from years of cooking and cutting, it’s okay to be tired of your countertops.

With glass countertops, you won’t have to worry about the above issues. Glass is generally stain-resistant; when you make a mess, simply wipe it up with a damp paper towel. There are no crevices or holes for food and bacteria to hide.

By upgrading your boring kitchen countertop to a glass countertop, your whole kitchen will look much classier.

Backsplashes

Cooking can be messy. Luckily, backsplashes exist to catch water and cooking liquid so your walls don’t stain. The problem is though, metal and wood backsplashes don’t hold up well. Metal can start to rust and corrode, and wood can become warped and soggy. Yuck.

Glass backsplashes, available in a variety of patterns and colors, are a great alternative. These will never rust or warp, making glass a durable choice for the kitchen. If you notice your backsplash has gotten a little dirty, again, use a wet paper towel and some cleaner to wipe away stains.

Sinks

The sink is one of the most important parts of your kitchen. This is where you store dishes and clean them. Since sinks are so important, it’s no wonder they’re so expensive. That may have prevented you from upgrading your old, brittle metal sink even though it’s been there for decades.

Treat yourself. A glass sink is easy to clean and adds so much sophistication to your kitchen. With such a beautiful sink awaiting you every day, you almost won’t mind having to do the dishes. Almost.

Kitchen Islands

As a luxury item, your kitchen island should be a standout part of your eating space. Yet if you choose a kitchen island made of materials like wood or metal, the island may be looking a little worse for wear. Instead of being a source of pride like it should be, you feel embarrassed whenever you walk into the kitchen and see your sad kitchen island.

It definitely sounds like it’s time for an upgrade. A glass kitchen island can often be designed and decorated to your exact specifications if you shop with the right glass manufacturer. This means you can select colors that match your kitchen, adding a cohesiveness to the room.

If you’re ready to redesign any of these parts of your kitchen, give us a call at CGD Glass Countertops. Based in Toronto, we specialize in customized glass items for residential and commercial use. Contact us today to learn more or get a quote.

Commercial Glass Door Uses: Our Five Suggestions

We’ve said it before, but it’s always worth repeating: in the commercial sphere, your individuality is what sets you apart from the competition. Your brand is yours and yours alone, and no one else can touch that.

Today, with Internet marketing so pervasive, some commercial businesses put less focus on their bricks and mortar locations. This is a mistake, as this commercial space should be one of the main hubs where your brand is represented the most.

One way you can introduce your brand is through commercial glass doors. Here are five different business types and applications to inspire you.

1. Restaurant Entrance

The restaurant entrance is the first glimpse that consumers get into the establishment’s interior. First impressions certainly count, so make sure yours is impactful with glass doors at the entrance.

These can be branded with your restaurant’s name or just subtly decorated around the edges. Guests will appreciate the elegance of these doors, and it will put them in the mood for a classy and memorable dining experience.

2. Hotel Lobby

Hotels are often all about opulence, especially in their lobbies. After all, this is their chance to show the customer what their hotel experience will be like. Large, cavernous lobbies with artwork and decorative flourishes from floor to ceiling are the order of the day.

That said, boring doors will detract from the ambiance these hotels are trying to create. By adding beautiful glass doors to your hotel’s entrance, you’ll complete the look of your lobby.

3. Museum

Museums, especially those that focus on artwork or historical artifacts, are often curious, unique buildings meant to draw in customers. While these may not always appeal to the younger crowd, decorative glass doors in a museum will certainly resonate with adults who are looking for an educational experience at said museum.

These doors will also let the sunlight in, showing off certain exhibits.

4. Upscale Retail Store

Retailers are often in cutthroat competition with one another, trying to outsell each other to win the customer’s loyalty. Retail stores today take great care with their window displays to draw in passersby outside.

Another way to draw in passersby is with a stunning glass front door bearing the name of the retail store. This is certainly something the competition hasn’t yet thought of, giving you a leg up.

Much like the museum example above, these beautiful glass doors will filter in more sunlight, making your store offerings seem almost ethereal.

5. New Business

Last but certainly not least are the startups and other new businesses that dot any city landscape. Although you might not think you have it in your budget, if you work with a glass manufacturer and producer like CGD Glass Countertops, you’ll find a glass door is more affordable than you thought.

You can also use this as a branding opportunity and as a means of keeping employees productive. After all, all those florescent lights give people a headache after a while.

If you’re interested in getting glass doors for your commercial space, contact us at CGD Glass Countertops today.

Just How Safe Is Glass Decor?

You’ve heard a lot about glass décor, perhaps by reading this blog or an industry magazine. Your interest is definitely piqued, but you have one major question, and it pertains to safety.

Is glass décor safe? Can you trust that your glassware like tables, doors, and even furniture won’t shatter?

The answer is yes and no.

Wait, why such a complicated response? Because there are a lot of factors that can go into how safe a glass product is. These include the reputation of the glass manufacturer, the thickness of the glass, and the user’s behavior.

We will now explore all three factors more in-depth.

Reputation of the Glass Manufacturer

You know the old saying that you get what you pay for? When it comes to home décor, rarely is this truer.

If you buy a cheap item, such as a glass table or shower enclosure, you can’t expect it to last forever. The reason the cost is so low is because the manufacturer likely cut corners to produce the item. That means durability and reliability come into question.

To prevent wasting your time and money, research glass manufacturers ahead of time. At CGD Glass Countertops, our reputation is unmatched. We produce a wealth of glass items, including home and commercial glass décor. These items are customizable, too.

Glass Thickness

It almost goes without saying that the thinner your glass is, the more likely it is to break. Again, though, this mostly comes down to the manufacturer. Not all thin glass is fragile, but it certainly does depend.

Yet you may find that thick glass doesn’t necessarily fit every home décor item you want. So what do you do? Do you take a gamble on thinner glass or opt for something you might not really like?

At CGD Glass Countertops, you don’t have to. Our customization begins from the moment you begin planning your glass accent piece. We let you choose the thickness based on the desired measurements of the planned item.

The current glass thicknesses we offer are ½-inch, ¾-inch, one-inch, and one and a half inches. With these thicknesses, you can choose your glass item your way so you’ll be happy with it for years to come.

User Behavior

Another major factor that determines glass longevity is user behavior.

While glass may not be as fragile as a feather, it is breakable. If you’re not careful with it, you could shatter your glass item.

That means, as the owner of said glass item, you should generally avoid the following behaviors:

• Using glass surfaces like bar tops, tabletops, and countertops without a coaster or other protection
• Using a knife directly on these surfaces
• Slamming shut glass shower doors
• Generally acting rough with glass surfaces

You should also encourage your family members—especially children—to be careful around these glass items.

Even the thickest and most well-constructed glass items can break with improper use and care. The more you look after your glass items, the longer they’ll last.

Summertime Is the Perfect Time for Glass Doors

Canada may be known for its frigid weather, but in the summer, the temperatures can get pretty toasty. You may feel the itch to take a vacation and enjoy a few sunny days off, but sometimes that’s just not on the agenda or within your budget.

That doesn’t mean you have to spend your summer holed up without any sun, though. This is the perfect season to get new glass doors for the home or office. Here are some great glass door perks.

Brings the Vacation to You

Can’t take any time off? Your summer doesn’t have to be a bummer with glass doors. These doors invite Mother Nature inside your home or office. The sunlight will stream right in all day. Depending on how sunny it is, you may want to bust out the sunblock!

Opens up Any Room

Is your working space feeling a little cramped? Do you wish you could add extra space? Remodeling a room like that can be time-consuming and very expensive. Instead of making such a big change, opt for smaller improvements instead.

A glass door will create the illusion of more space, for instance. By replacing your thick, clunky door with smooth, sophisticated glass, your office will look and feel bigger.

Reduces Reliance on Headache-Inducing Artificial Lighting

Do florescent ceiling bar lights illuminate your office? Maybe it’s row after row of lightbulbs. Being exposed to artificial lighting like this for hours at a time can lead to headaches, which decreases your productivity.

Sunlight not only looks and feels better, but it’s better for you (more on this in a moment). Even if you can’t get outside to take a stroll that day, with a glass door in your office, you’re still getting plenty of sunlight.

Provides a Natural Source of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is necessary to prevent conditions like multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. It also promotes strong teeth and bones. Not only that, but vitamin D is also responsible for ensuring we can absorb phosphorus and calcium in our diets.

Whew, that’s a lot. While sure, you can take a vitamin D supplement, did you know you can also naturally get this vitamin from spending some time in the sun? Besides being necessary for good health, there’s also scientific support that this vitamin can boost your mood, especially benefiting those with premenstrual syndrome, seasonal affective disorder, and depression.

A glass door that’s good for your health and your mood? It’s possible with glass.

Are you interested in learning more about glass doors, including their thickness and durability? Contact us at CGD Glass Countertops. We’re a Canadian-based glass designer and manufacturer. Many of our glass items are customizable, including our doors. You can choose the thickness as well as the design of your new glass door.

To get started, we recommend you measure the space where you want your door to go. Send that along with a blueprint or drawing and we’ll get you a quote.

Sources:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161618.php

Can You Insulate Your Home with Decorative Glass?

Everyone wants to do their part for the environment these days. Going green means different things to different people. You may be careful about not wasting electricity, shutting off the lights and electronic equipment when you’re not home. You might recycle and repurpose as many materials as you can. Perhaps you carpool or eat organically.

What if there was a way you could be more ecofriendly and save some money in the process? You can if your home is insulated.

When you think of insulation, most of the time your mind goes to the foam in the walls of the basement, garage, or attic. Insulation is supposed to trap in warm or cool air so you can reduce your reliance on your heater and air conditioner. You’ll lower your utility bills just by making one small change.

Besides the ability to trap in temperate air, insulation can also keep noise out. If you live on a particularly busy street, you don’t want to have to hear every passing car. If your home is insulated, most of this noise won’t permeate.

The question stands: can you insulate your home with decorative glass? As it turns out, you can. Whether you have glass windows or doors, it’s not hard to add some DIY insulation. You can buy kits and follow the instructions. These kits will seal in all cracks and gaps between the doorframe and the door, even the tiny ones you can’t see.

There are more ways still to insulate with decorative glass. You may want to replace an old glass window with a storm window instead. If these include weatherstripping, your energy savings are even greater.

You can also apply a layer of insulating film on top of your glass surfaces. Designed for windows, doors, and more, this film is transparent and sticky on one side. Just unpeel it from the backing and fit it over the glass. This will alter the appearance of your glass items somewhat though.

Cellular shades have an insulating quality. These are just like regular shades, except they do more to keep your room toasty warm or nice and cool. Just pull the shades closed every morning before you leave for your day and you’ll come home to a room that’s the perfect temperature.

If you have a glass item besides windows, you still have insulating options. You can try caulking or weatherproofing the areas around that glass item. As mentioned, there are tiny gaps and cracks in a doorframe or window frame. You can’t really see these, but they’re there. Each time you turn on your heater or air conditioner, some of that air is getting sucked out through those gaps.

It’s no wonder then that you have to run the heater or AC longer for your house to feel comfortable. You will have to spend an afternoon with your sleeves rolled up if you plan on caulking or weatherproofing, but the results are worth it.

Need some new glass pieces? Contact us at CGD Glass Countertops. We manufacture custom glass items for residential and commercial use. Call us today to learn more or get a quote.

Sources:
http://www.diynetwork.com/made-and-remade/learn-it/tips-for-insulating-glass-on-doors
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4929532/list/easy-green-9-low-cost-ways-to-insulate-windows-and-doors

How to Decide What Your Next Glass Project Should Be

You love your home, but it could always be better. There’s always some little change or addition you could make. However, lacking infinite time and resources, you have to plan your remodeling projects carefully.

With spring on the way, you may be feeling that itch. It’s the itch to do something DIY. It’s the itch to make a change in your home.

If you’re serious about remodeling this season, why not do it with glass? Far from the fragile, unreliable material some still think of it as, glass is sturdy, durable, and beautiful. It also cleans easily. It can be customized any way you want. In short, the possibilities are endless.

Here are a few ideas for your next glass project.

Interior Doors

Winter is finally behind us. It felt like it would never end, but it did. That means more hours of sunlight. Why not enjoy the sun anytime, even if you can’t necessarily be outside to feel its warmth? With an interior glass door, you can.

These glass doors are ideal for an office, bedroom, or bathroom. You can customize the color or these can be clear. If you’re worried about privacy, there’s no need to be. You can also get the glass frosted or textured so that someone can’t see right through.

Backsplash

Is your backsplash looking a little past its prime? It happens. If you have a backsplash made of marble, tile, or even wood, it’s hard to clean these. Stains, splashes, and other food messes accumulate. Eventually, it’s impossible to remove those unsightly blemishes.

With a glass backsplash, you only need a gentle cloth and some soapy water to clean stains and splashes. That saves you precious time in the kitchen.

You also have plenty of ways to make a backsplash your own. Choose the size, shape, and color. This can match your kitchen walls or contrast them for a fun, funky take on personal décor.

Sinks

The bathroom is a quiet place of relaxation…or at least, it should be. Is your sink an eyesore? It can be expensive to replace these, so maybe you’ve been putting it off. With a glass sink though, you can find a cost-effective way to finally get rid of that old sink of yours.

Glass sinks are elegant and contemporary. These can sit on a base or just be a large, bowl-like basin. The choice is yours. You’ll love spending time in your bathroom with such an appealing sink.

We hope you’re feeling inspired after browsing these project ideas. These are just a few options at your disposal.

Once you decide which glass project best suits your home, contact us at CGD Glass Countertops. We’re a glass designer and manufacturer in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. “Countertops” may be in our name, but that’s far from all we do. We also make glass doors, panels, partitions, sinks, backsplashes, and so much more. Give us a call today to start talking about your dream glass project!

Tips for Budgeting for a Commercial Glass Project

Whether you own a restaurant, museum, bar, or retail store, you know that first impressions matter. Those first impressions start with the look of your commercial business. If you have an unappealing storefront or gaudy interior, you’re unconsciously turning away customers.

Remodeling with chic decorative glass is one way to get positive attention on your business. Let us help you. We’re CGD Glass Countertops, and customization is in our name (it’s what the “C” stands for). We’re a Canadian manufacturer of glass items and accents like decorative doors, countertops, partitions, tabletops, and more.

Do you want to do some remodeling? You’re going to have to plan ahead, especially when it comes to money. If your company can’t spare a ton of cash right now, you don’t necessarily have to put a remodel on the backburner. You just have to budget smart.

Here are some handy budgeting tips for commercial businesses.

1. Have a clear end goal in mind: What do you envision for your commercial space? Do you want glass tabletops on every seat at your restaurant? Do you want an LED-lit glass bar top at your bar? Do you want breathtaking glass fixtures at your museum or retail store?

Plan in as much detail as you can. This prevents anyone else involved in the project from changing the crux of the design later. After all, as the design changes, so too does the cost.

2. Ask for a quote: You shouldn’t have to guess what the final cost of your remodeling project is going to be. At CGD Glass Countertops, we offer our quotes upfront to our customers before any work begins. This way there’s no surprises on either side. Surprises may be fun in most circumstances, but not when they involve a big bill at the end.

3. Always plan for more: Have a bit more money set aside than what was quoted to you. Plan for a somewhat longer timeframe for the work. While you might not need that extra cash (especially if you work with us) and the glass item may be installed on the date you planned it, you should stay flexible.

Although it’s rare, sometimes there are snags in plans. Be ready for these snags ahead of time and you won’t get flustered.

4. Put money in now, get it back later: Remodeling can be pricy, but that doesn’t mean you should shy away from the idea. Think of it as an investment. The money you put into making your commercial business look good now is going to come back to you later, maybe twofold or even tenfold.

The better your business looks, the more people are going to buy from you. That makes glass additions a fantastic ROI.

We make it easy to know how much your project is going to cost. Just send us some info about your proposed project, including the thickness of the glass and the size of the room in question, and we’ll send you a quote. Contact us at CGD Glass Countertops today!

Sources:
https://constructionbydaniels.com/budget-intelligently-commercial-remodeling-project/
http://gsdcontracting.com/company-news/how_to_control_commercial_construction_costs/

The Costs of Installing a Glass Door

Although it might not seem like it with the freezing temperatures, wintry, biting winds, and snowfall and ice, spring will be here before you know it. Eventually, the snow will thaw, the sun will shine, and you will want to embrace the season. What better way to do that than with a new glass door?

Glass doors are a viable option for the interior of a home. These look especially sophisticated in offices, restaurants, and retail spaces. Of course, you may have your concerns about glass doors. Are these really as thick as regular doors? They are indeed. Do they offer any privacy or can people see right through? Not if you choose to get a textured glass door, such as the ones we offer at CGD Glass Countertops in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

We’re a glass manufacturing company that encourages our customers to custom-order nearly all our glass items, from countertops to backsplashes, glass doors to sliding shower doors, vanities and sinks, and much more.

The biggest question a prospective customer may have is how much is this going to cost? Is glass a more expensive material compared to wooden or metal doors? Actually, it isn’t. Glass door prices can range anywhere from roughly $300 for baseline doors to $1,000+ for ornate doors. Of course, those prices can vary.

Do you want to know for sure how much your glass door will cost at CGD Glass Countertops? Contact us for a quote. To give you the most accurate quote, we need to know as much about your planned project as possible, including the measurements of the room in question from top to bottom. If you have blueprints or even drawings to pass along to us, we want to see these, too. They all give us a comprehensive picture of the kind of work our team will be doing for you.

Once you get your quote and have a cost in mind for this project, you may wonder, what are the benefits of glass doors? There are plenty of them, and we’ve even touched on them on this blog in the past. Let’s reiterate. Glass is an incredibly easy material to clean. Whether it’s handprints and other smudges, with just some soap and water, you can clean your glass door until it’s shining and beautiful.

Do you not spend enough time outside? It happens to most of us. Life just gets too busy so you don’t get enough time out in nature. Instead of relying on vitamin D supplements to care for your health, why not get the real thing with some actual sunlight? Open the windows and your glass door and the light will just flood in!

So sure, perhaps you don’t have as much time to get outside as you wish, but you can still reap the mood and body benefits of sunlight just by switching out your boring current door to a glass door.

Are you ready to get started with your next home remodel? Are you ready to install a glass door? Contact us at CGD Glass Countertops today.

Sources: http://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/doors-and-windows/sliding-glass-door/, https://www.fixr.com/costs/sliding-patio-door-installation

Modern Applications for Glass Doors

When it comes to your house, you don’t make any décor decisions lightly. You research constantly, looking at pictures online, paging through magazines, and creating online dream room boards. You have countless ideas, and now it’s just a matter of narrowing them down.

One of the ideas that you’ve been tossing around is getting a glass door. You love how these look. You think they add instant class and appeal to any room. However, you have questions about them. For one, how durable will the glass be? And how could you fit in a glass door with the rest of the house? You want it to blend in seamlessly but still attract attention.

As it turns out, regarding the question of durability, when you order your door from Toronto, Ontario, Canada company CGD Glass Countertops, you don’t have to worry. Our doors are made thick and are sure to last for years to come with regular care and maintenance. If you still have questions about style, we can help there, too.

At CGD Glass Countertops, we let customers create the designs of their dreams. All aspects of our glass doors can be customized, to the shape and size to the color and texture of the glass. You should have no issues finding a way to decorate your home with these new fantastic additions.

Why not open up a living room or den with a large floor-to-ceiling glass door? Think of how a door like this can benefit your home. First, there’s the amazing views. You can take in and appreciate the beauty of nature right outside your door. Sunlight will spill in. Did you know that sunlight and mood are tightly connected? Indeed, sunlight contains vitamin D, which can improve your mood. Lastly, you can save money on your electricity bill since you won’t have to be so reliant on artificial lighting.

Imagine kicking back and reading the newspaper or a good book by your large glass door. You could relax and dream the day away.

Glass doors also have a home in the bathroom. We know what you’re thinking: what about my privacy? As mentioned, at CGD Glass Countertops, we can add a frosted texture to your glass door so no one can clearly see in or out. If your bathroom feels small and stuffy but you can’t afford to get it expanded, just get a glass door instead. You’d be surprised how much roomier the bathroom will feel!

Do you work from home and want privacy? A sliding glass door lets people know when you need time to yourself. Imagine this: instead of being interrupted by kids or other family members when you really need to get work done, you can just close your door and get to it. That’s efficiency at its finest.

If you’re ready to learn more about getting a glass door today, we encourage you to email or call us at CGD Glass Countertops. We can answer any questions you have and we can even discuss your glass door ideas. Just send us a blueprint or a drawing and we can get you a quote right away.

Tips for Planning a Remodeling Project with Glass

You’ve been quietly saving and dreaming, and now a home remodeling project is finally within reach. You’re so excited that you’re finding it tough to narrow down your options. Just how should you remodel your home? Should you gut it and start all over? Change out rooms slowly and subtly, making minor but significant improvements? Should it be something in between?

It can be tough planning a home remodeling project. You want it to look absolutely perfect. It is your home, after all. You also want it to be timeless and contemporary so you won’t have to think about remodeling again five years from now.

At CGD Glass Countertops in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we want to help. We’re a decorative and accent glass manufacturing company that specializes in glass countertops as well as glass doors, tabletops, bar tops, panels, partitions, sinks, backsplashes, kitchen islands, and more. When you order these glass additions from us, they don’t just come as-is. We encourage our customers to engage in their creative side and customize their glass accent piece to their liking.

Need some tips on how to plan your remodeling project with CGD Glass Countertops? Here’s what we recommend.

First, measure. You can’t plan for a big glass accent piece like a countertop or a kitchen island if you don’t correctly plan out the space in your kitchen or other room in the house. At CGD, we’re happy to make all glass pieces to a customer’s preferred size specifications. Be exact in your measurements. Double-check your work. If you think it would help, get a professional drawing or blueprint made.

Think about colors. We’re quite used to making glass quite colorful at CGD. We offer pale blue aqua clear glass bases as well as translucent glass bases. We also specialize in a service known as backpainting, where we apply paint to the back of the glass to add a fun burst of color to your glass countertop, sink, partition, or other glass addition. As you can imagine, we let you choose the colors used when backpainting. You can even select a mix of colors!

When picking colors, it helps to match your new glass addition to the rest of the room. This creates a natural sense of symmetry that will make other family members second-guess whether that glass piece was there all along. Your remodel will be effective but affordable. Who doesn’t want that?

Lastly, think about textures. With our substrate layers, surface treatments, edge work, and other texturing, we can make your glass accent piece as smooth and soothing as a snowy night or as rough and pointed as the stars in the galaxy. Textures can also play nicely with other features in a room, or these can be used to make the glass accent piece the star of the show. Choose wisely!

Interested in getting started with your remodel today? Contact us at CGD Glass Countertops by phone or email. We can send along a quote so you can start budgeting.