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.

Glass Versus Granite: The Facts

When it comes to buying new countertops, kitchen islands, and other common household items, you probably spend a lot of time debating the material that will be used. After all, there’s so much to think about, so you want to be sure you made the right choice.

First, you have to think about the looks of the material. Is said material chic and appealing? Then you should check its durability. How many years will it be before you have to get a new countertop or other surface?

Of course, you will have to clean these surfaces, so keep that in mind, too. Some materials are magnets for stains and stickiness while others wipe up clean easily. Last, you have to think about your budget. The more luxe the material, the more it will cost.

Many people, when thinking about remodeling their countertops, get stuck choosing between glass and granite. Which one is the better value for your money? We’ll explore that now.

Granite

Looks: Known for its high-quality looks, granite may be various colors, including brown, black, white, gray, copper, or a combination of these. However, granite only comes in colors available from nature.

Cost: Granite is generally a more expensive material. If you’re thrifty, it is possible to find deals. If you find you’re overwhelmed by the price of granite and you’re trying to stick to your budget, get a countertop made of another material (like glass) with granite accents.

Cleaning: You can clean granite with a household cleaner or soap and water. That said, if there are chips and crevices from years of wear and tear (more on this in a moment), it can be harder to reach into those crannies and clean efficiently.

Durability: Granite, for its cost, is not the most durable material. As the homeowner, you may have to reapply a sealant every few years to prevent dings and scratches. Such damage is mostly inevitable, though. If you have a kitchen spill, you may also permanently stain your granite surface.

Glass

Looks: Above, we mentioned how granite is only available in natural hues. That’s not so with glass. You can get this translucent if you prefer, or glass may be colored or painted any color of the rainbow. There’s no limit to the color palette you can choose.

Cost: Glass can be costly, but not if you buy it from the right manufacturer. At CGD Glass Countertops in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we present our quotes upfront so you know just how much you’ll spend.

Cleaning: Cleaning glass is fast and easy. Like granite, you can use soap and water or a household cleaner and wipe the surface. Make sure to wipe in one direction to prevent streaks.

Durability: Glass is incredibly durable. It will not scratch or chip, even with years of daily use. You can’t stain glass; if you spill something, you can simply swipe it up right away with a paper towel or cleaning rag.

The choice is clear. Glass is the better value for your money. If you want a new glass countertop, call us at CGD today.

Tips for Selecting New Countertops

Are your countertops in desperate need of a change? Perhaps you (or the previous homeowner) chose a style that’s terribly outdated by now. The material could be gaudy, or—even worse—cheap, so your countertop is slowly falling apart with each use.

Regardless of your reasons for wanting to upgrade, you may find yourself overwhelmed with all your choices. There’s marble, stone, glass, plastic…how do you know which countertop is best for your home? Which will stand the test of time and still look great in five or 10 years?

Here are some of our tips for picking the best countertop for your kitchen.

Consider the durability of the material

All countertops are built to last, but some are designed for better longevity than others. Plastic countertops, for instance, are cheap and good for the next several years. You can’t really expect these to be in great condition a decade from now, though.

Marble or glass countertops are considered the best of the best in terms of materials. While these may cost more initially, they last the longest. That means you save money over the long term since you won’t have to worry about replacing your countertops for many years.

Project long-term trends

Then there’s the look of your countertops. It’s easy to look at 2017 trends and decide that way, but that’s not necessarily smart. You have to be discerning when choosing your countertop design.

Think as far out into the future as you can. Is that colorful, funky trend that’s hot this year going to be popular a decade from now? Or should you play it safe and choose a simple yet timeless design?

Your own sense of style comes into play here. Don’t make life harder for yourself by choosing a style that will be out-of-date in a year or two.

Know you don’t have to settle on just one material

Can’t pick between marble and granite or stone and glass? You don’t have to! Today, you have the option to design your countertop out of a mix of materials. A lot of these play nicely with one another, so go ahead, try something a little bold.

Go to a showroom

You can look at tons of pictures of countertops online, but you won’t know what the real thing looks (and feels) like until you see it in-person. Go to a showroom near you. Even if you don’t do business with that particular company, you can still get a solid idea of what your countertop will look like in your kitchen.

This also lets you narrow down options. You may love the look of stone, for instance, but hate how it feels.

Call in the pros

If you’re stumped and need some help picking a countertop, don’t be afraid to call in the pros at CGD Glass Countertops. We’re a Canadian glass designer and manufacturer who specializes in producing countertops. No matter your budget or your ideal countertop design, we’re certain we can help you make it a reality. Give us a call today to learn more!

Sources:

http://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/kitchens/choosing-the-right-kitchen-countertops

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.