Should You Get LED Lighting for Your New Glass Item?

Whether it’s a home bar, a restaurant, a small neighborhood tavern, or a homeowner’s kitchen, who wouldn’t want their bar tops, countertops, and other surfaces to impress friends, family, customers, and other passersby? Of course, choosing fashion over function normally means spending an exorbitant amount of money, which just may not be in the budget for some.

At CGD Glass Countertops in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we believe in a different approach. We want customers to be as happy as possible with our glass products, which include items like backsplashes, countertops, glass tabletops, bar tops, partitions, sinks, panels, doors, and more. That’s why we allow our customers to customize the look of their glass item from start to finish.

We offer countless ways to make a glass accent piece completely unique. Perhaps you want to get it backpainted for a funky dash of color. Maybe you want a pale aqua blue glass base. You could be into textures, choosing to get the glass carefully etched so its surface looks like shooting stars or calm ocean waves. All this is possible at CGD.

One of our favorite features we offer is backlighting some of our products, namely our counters and other tabletop surfaces, with LED lights. LEDs are smart and sustainable. Despite that these shine far brighter than traditional light bulbs, they use less energy since their wattage is lower. Not only that, but these lights last far longer than traditional bulbs, making them a time-saving, environmentally friendly option for your home or business.

With LED lights from CGD Glass Countertops, your options are nearly limitless. Do you prefer the simplicity of white LEDs? We have them in stock. Do you wish you could illuminate your counter with some color? Choose from hues like blue, green, or red. Can’t narrow it down to just one color? You don’t have to! We also have color-changing LEDs that gradually switch between those three shades.

Imagine what LEDs could do for your glass bar top, countertop, or tabletop. Imagine inviting people over for dinner or to your home bar and surprising and impressing them with your light-up surfaces. If you’re a bar or restaurant owner, think about the revenue potential. Adding a soft glow to a bar or tabletop with LED lights is certainly one way to get people talking. Even in today’s technological society, word-of-mouth should not be discounted since it’s still a very useful way to get customers.

Cool White LED

If you are a fan of textured glass, as mentioned above, LEDs are a great choice. These light up beneath the glass surface, allowing the rough or soothing textures to really stand out. If you get special edging work done on your glass accent piece (which is another of the services that CGD gladly offers), these will also be much more visible.

At CBD Glass Countertops, we make it easy to order a glass accent piece your way. Simply send us a drawing or blueprint or just send along the room measurements. From there, we’ll get back to you with a quote. Contact us online through our mailing form or give us a call today.

Will Decorative Glass Match My Home Decor?

As you’ve planned your home remodeling project, you’ve likely spent weeks if not months researching and getting design inspiration. You’ve probably browsed blogs and websites, watched videos, read magazines, and maybe even talked to an interior decorator or two.

You want to do something different, and you’re thinking glass is the answer. After all, glass accent pieces are one way to really modernize and update the house. Instead of metal, which is overdone, and wood, which is prone to warping and chipping, glass is a durable and appealing choice. Cleaning it is easy, as the homeowner only needs a soft microfiber cloth and some water. Maintenance is few and far between.

However, metal and wood can be painted to match wallpaper, paint, and other central colors that make up a room. Glass, on the other hand, just kind of comes the way it does: translucent. Right? Not exactly. Those who are wondering if a glass accent piece will match their home décor in the midst of their remodeling project should get in touch with CGD Glass Countertops.

Located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, CGD Glass Countertops is yes, known for its glass countertops, but it also produces glass doors, panels, sinks, partitions, backsplashes, and more. The company can also customize any of these pieces to match a customer’s exact specifications, making decorative glass accent pieces the perfect touch for those remodeling their home.

Glass doesn’t just have to be translucent. It can be, or it can be as colorful as the rainbow. It’s really all up to you. CGD Glass Countertops lets customers choose between ultra clear or translucent glass or aqua clear or pale blue glass bases. Right off the bat, you can already inject some color into your glass accent piece or leave it as transparent as you want.

CGD also lets customers choose a surface treatment for some of its glass items, including countertops. The colored glass is a multicolored treat with shades of yellow, deep navy blue, and white. Green onyx adds a slight pastel hue for those who have a demurer remodel in mind. You might want to consider adding some texture to your surface treatment to really let any color pop. Even if you opt for translucent glass, textures like spacy galaxies, gentle water currents, and desert winds make for quite a unique touch.

No matter the color scheme of your home’s décor, you can get your glass accent piece backpainted at CGD Glass Countertops. This process just involves painting one part of the glass to give it some brightness sure to last for years to come. Want some texture and shine? Try the textured crimson, gold, silver, copper, or multicolored options. Feeling bold? Go for hues like silver metallic, red, jet blue metallic, and purple. Need to keep it tame? You can always select from white, gray, black, and beige.

Once you have your remodel design in mind, make sure to send along a floor plan or even a drawing to CGD Glass Countertops. You can then get a quote and the work can begin.

All You Need to Know About Glass Doors

Glass is undoubtedly beautiful, but is it an appropriate material for household décor and items like doors? Actually, it absolutely is. If you’re considering getting a glass door built and installed at home or at the office, you may have some questions about durability, privacy, and maintenance. Here is everything you need to know about getting your very own glass door.

Is a Glass Door Going to Hold up?

While you may have a notion that glass is a fragile material, it isn’t always. Glass doors are designed to be thick and tough so they can be used as often as a door made of metal or wood. As long as you don’t slam these and use them carefully and conscientiously, your glass door should last you for years to come, making it a worthwhile investment.

Are Glass Doors as Durable as Other Doors?

As mentioned, they absolutely last for years with the right care and maintenance. Of course, glass is more easily breakable than a wooden door, but this material also requires less maintenance. Wood can fade, chip, and warp. A glass door will look as good as the day you got it even a year or two down the road.

What about Privacy? Can People See Right Through the Door?

Glass doesn’t necessarily have to be transparent. Perhaps your friend, family, or neighbor has had a glass front door. Think about that. It was likely textured or beveled to keep prying eyes out. The same goes for an interior glass door. You can choose to get a variety of textures added to the door that will decrease visibility and let you enjoy your privacy. Some textures you can choose from include a spacy galaxy texture, a calming wavy glass texture like that of running water, and a grainy, tough texture like sand blowing in the desert.

Is Cleaning a Glass Door Difficult?

You’ll find that you spend less time with maintenance on your glass door compared to doors made of other materials. With a wooden door, if the paint begins to fade or the wood at the bottom of the door begins to chip away, there’s nothing you can do about it. If someone accidentally puts a dent in a metal door, you’re stuck with that. With a glass door though, cleaning is a breeze. You simply need a wet cloth. Just gently rub it over the surface of the glass to remove dust and dirt. It doesn’t get any easier than that.

Where Should You Order a Glass Door?

Interested in ordering a glass door? Contact CGD Glass Countertops. This Toronto, Ontario, Canada glass designer and manufacturer sells decorative glass pieces like backsplashes, sinks, partitions, panels, and doors. No matter which glass product you choose from, at CGD, you can get it customized exactly to your liking, choosing the size, glass texture, and color. To learn more or get a quote today, contact CGD Glass Countertops by phone or email.

Just in Time for Spring Cleaning: Organize Space with Glass Partitions from CGD Glass Countertops

The days are longer and the cold temperatures are slowly thawing out. With that extra daylight, it’s time to get active and reorganize the house inside and out. Decluttering not only makes your home more appealing, but it gives you peace of mind as well. Organizing can be tough though. You can try arranging items on shelves, in bins and containers, on hooks on walls, and in closets, but if you need something more, why not try glass partitions from CGD Glass Countertops?

CGD Glass Countertops produces a variety of beautiful glass home items, including doors, panels of any size, sinks and vanities, backsplashes for the kitchen or bathroom, and of course, countertops. All these products are made of thick, durable glass that’s sure to last for years to come. You can customize the glass any way you want, choosing its shape, size, texture, color, and more.

Glass partitions are a flexible solution for the home or office. You can move these from room to room to open or close up space. If you just started working from home, you can carve out your space so you can be productive and enjoy distraction-free days. If you’re hosting a party and want to keep guests from venturing into certain rooms, just set up one of these partitions. These can also be installed more permanently as a type of replacement wall.

Sunshine, in small dosages, is good for your physical and mental health. Imagine letting in the beauty of natural light on a daily basis instead of relying on lamps and other sources of artificial light. You’ll feel peaceful, energetic, and ready to take on the day. Your house will be more appealing than it was before.

If privacy is a concern, these glass partitions from CGD Glass Countertops do not necessarily have to be transparent. As mentioned, you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to designing your partition. CGD Glass Countertops lets you choose all aspects of the design, including the glass texture. Some of the options available include a folded style, an avalanche style (deep cuts in the glass), a desert style (designed to look like cracked sand), a galaxy style (made to look like space), a stream style (mimics the smooth currents of running water), a sandstorm style in semi-frosted or ultra-clear, and a melting ice style in semi-frosted or ultra-clear.

Do certain rooms in your house already adhere to a specific color scheme? Your glass partition from CGD Glass Countertops can blend right in. You can choose to get your glass backpainted to give it a luminous blast of color. Just a few of the options you have at your disposal are black, antique copper, gold, charcoal gray, blue, red, green, yellow, white, silver, and multicolored.

Ready to order your glass partition from CGD Glass Countertops today? It’s easy. You simply measure the room or the wall and send those specs along. If you have a blueprint, illustration, or picture of the room, that’s even better. From there, CGD Glass Countertops will get in touch and send a quote.

5 Interesting Facts About Recycling Glass

Although we here at CBD Glass do not create recycled glass countertops, we take pride in the fact that all of the glass materials we produce are 100% recyclable. In today’s article we’d like to share 5 interesting facts about the glass recycling industry you may not know!

#1 – Glass can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity!

Unlike many other recyclables like plastic & paper products, glass can continually go through the recycling process and maintain its integrity.  This makes glass products one of the most environmentally safe sectors as they are infinitely recyclable.

#2 – Glass is 100% recyclable

What does it mean to be 100% recyclable? It means that all parts of the glass products can be recycled! Many other recyclables need to be sectioned to remove parts that cannot be used in the recycling process, while all parts of glass products can be re-used endlessly.

#3 – Recycled glass returns to sand

Recycled glass is processed into a form called “cullet”, which is essentially powdered glass.  This cullet resembles sand and is furnace ready recycled glass material used for production.

#4 – More than 1 ton of natural resources are preserved per 1 ton of glass that has been recycled.

This means that quite simply, the production of recycled glass pound for pound saves the same amount of natural resources.

#5 – Over 3 MILLION TONS of recycled glass is purchased annually!

That’s a lot of recycled glass!

A Brief History of Glass Making

Glass is something that we see everyday.  Whether it’s on our car windshields, our windows, or on our desks/furniture glass is something that we in the modern world take for granted.  In the ancient world however, glass was a marvelous and rare product reserved for only the wealthiest people.  Glass making dates as far back as 3000 B.C. and below is a brief timeline of glass making starting from the beginning:

3000 B.C. – Mesopotamia – Glass Making Begins

Although it is true that primitive man used natural occurring forms of glass (such as tektites & obsidian) to create tools, the first traces of glass creation date back to ancient Mesopotamia.  It then traveled quickly to surrounding areas of the world such as Africa, Asia, & Greece where it evolved in various ways depending on their unique cultures.

650 B.C. – Assyria – The First Glass Making Manual is Found

Having been practiced for thousands of years, a formal manual has been found that dates back to ancient Assyria where the process detailed was much more tedious and costly than our current standards.

100 B.C. – Syria – Glass Blowing is Invented

Somewhere around the 1st Century there was a major revolution in glass making.  Glass blowing was a method invented in Syria which forever changed how glass was distributed and used.  With this new technique glass could be made quickly and cheaply, making glass more widespread and common in many various different forms.  To this day glass blowing remains one of the main forms of glass creation.

100 AD – Rome – Glass is First Used in Architecture

With the advent of clear glass in Alexandria glass was now beginning to be used for architectural purposes, such as windows.  This spread quickly all over Europe and by the 14th century there was a bustling glass industry which continues to this day.

1950 – Great Britain – Float Glass Method of Glass Making is Pioneered

The most recent major development in the glass making industry is the development of the “float” method of glass production invented by Sir Alastair Pilkington.  He honed this method over 7 years and it has now become the most used form of industrial glass creation worldwide.  Although many glass craftsman still use other methods for glass creation and production.

There you have it! A brief history of glass making which has brought us to the modern day era.  CGD utilizes the most advanced methods for custom glass creation available and we’d like to think that we are at the forefront of creative glass products in our time.

Glass Backsplashes Have Endless Possibilities!

Backsplashes are one of the areas of a kitchen that can make a big design impact on a low budget.  CGD Glass specializes in some very unique and special forms of glass backsplashes that can re-create and re-invent many different styles.  From solid colors, clear glass, & full art work displays to textured surfaces with backlit LED lighting, the possibilities really are endless!  Let’s take a tour of some of our unique glass backsplash creations, some fully designed by our clients & created by us, while others are fully created/designed by us.

#1 – Backpainted Color Backsplash

The above backsplash is a representation of a simple countertop with backpainted glass

#2 – Custom Colored Backsplash with Mosaic Patterns

The above backsplash is a great example of our versatility, this countertop features unique mosaic patterns inserted directly into the glass

#3 – Custom Color & Textured Backsplash

This backsplash was designed and created to match the feel of the current kitchen set-up with custom colors and textures.

#4 – Custom Texture/Etching & Colored Backsplash

A unique combination of our “antique” color and our “forum” texture sets this backsplash apart.

#5 – Custom Backsplash with Unique Beauty

Looking for something modern? This backsplash is a beautiful combo of our aqua clear glass, melting ice texture, & LED backlighting

#6 – Custom Painted & Textured Backsplash

Another fantastic example of how backpainted glass with melting ice texture can create a very unique backsplash!

As you can see, the type of backsplash we can create is only limited to your creativity!  For more info on our unique glass backsplashes contact us today!

Review of our Unique Glass Textures & Surface Treatments

Here at CGD we have a large collection of different textures and surface treatments that can be performed on virtually any piece of glass you order from us.  Surface treatments can be added directly onto textures thus adding an extra element to the uniqueness of every one of our glass pieces.

TEXTURES

Textures affect the surface of the glass adding a unique organic look and feel.  CGD has the largest variety of textures for glass anywhere and our most popular is our “melting ice” texture shown below in both regular and semi-frost:

MELTING ICE

MELTING ICE “SEMI-FROST”

These only begin to scratch the surface of our different textures.  Below is a list of some of our textures:

SURFACE TREATMENTS

Surface Treatments can be added on top of textures or can be applied to glass which have no texture.  These treatments expound the organic feel of the product and display elegance at its finest.  Our most popular surface treatment is our “White Onyx” treatment which provides a matte finish and looks brilliant with LED back-lighting.  Check out how it looks below:

WHITE ONYX

Check out our full list of surface treatments below:

If you’d like any more info on textures or surface treatments contact us today!