Uh-Oh! Broke a Glass Accent Piece? Here’s What to Do

It’s probably happened to you before: you accidentally drop a drinking glass and it shatters to the floor. Perhaps you’ve broken a mirror or even a window. What do you do in each of those cases? Carefully sweep away the glass shards, replace the broken item, and get on with your life.

However, when it comes to glass accent pieces, especially ones that are custom designed, the answer isn’t so simple. What do you do if you break something like that? While decorative glass is typically made to be thick and durable, if dropped or slammed, it will break or at least crack. You may have bumped a backsplash in a cooking frenzy or damaged a glass partition when cleaning.

So just what do you do? Well, there are a few methods that could potentially salvage your unique decorative glass piece.

In some cases, if the damage is incredibly minor, like a few chips or a small hairline crack, glue or a similar product could reseal the glass for further use. However, this will not work in all cases and even if it does, the glue may not be a long-term solution. If it gets wet, it may fail to work at all, leading to further damage to the glass item.

Sometimes replacement glass may be able to fix the problem. Of course, this all depends on what type of glass item has broken. Is it a shower door? Replacement glass should do the trick. Is it a backsplash? That should work too. You can even try this method with damaged countertops. However, if it’s a colorful or textured item, it will be nearly impossible to find similar glass for repairs.

Of course, when dealing with broken glass, always be very careful to avoid cutting yourself. You should also work gently to avoid further breaking the fragile glass. Do be aware that in some cases, it’s just not possible for you to take care of the job yourself. That doesn’t necessarily mean the glass accent piece is a goner. You should just call a professional.

CGD Glass Countertops is a Toronto, Ontario, Canada glass manufacturing company that produces and sells decorative glass doors, panels, partitions, sinks and vanities, backsplashes, bar tops, kitchen islands, countertops, and more. These items are often customized with unique colors, textures, and sometimes even LED lighting.

Depending on the extent of the damage, a CGD Glass Countertops professional may just suggest you get a replacement piece. If you remember the options you chose when getting your decorative glass piece in the first place, replicating it shouldn’t be too difficult if you rely on CGD.

In the future, when cleaning or dealing with glass accent pieces, make sure to treat them gingerly. While glass is a fantastic material for household goods and decorative items, and while it’s far from fragile if produced by a quality company, accidents do happen and glass can still break. Luckily, you can call on CGD Glass Countertops in such a situation.

Sources: http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Repair-Broken-Glass-/10000000177770680/g.html

The Advantages of a Glass Countertop

You have to admit, you’ve been charmed by the appeal of glass countertops. This material is beautiful and can be as simple or ornate as one wants. If you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen and getting a new countertop, you may be strongly considering getting one made with glass. However, something is giving you pause.

Perhaps you’ve heard a horror story or two from a friend or coworker who had a beautiful glass structure that shattered. This makes you nervous about choosing glass for the main material of the countertop. Of course, any material is only as good as the company that manufactures it. Those contemplating getting a glass countertop should consider the many advantages of glass.

First, it’s durable. It all depends on the thickness of the glass. Obviously, a thin, flimsy glass mirror probably won’t hold up as well as a heavier glass countertop. CGD Glass Countertops in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is a renowned glass manufacturing company that specializes in making and selling lasting glass countertops. The company also produces glass doors, panels, partitions, sinks, backsplashes, bar tops, and more.

Next, a glass countertop is easy to clean. The kitchen is arguably one of the messiest rooms in the house since everyone’s always cooking, eating, or otherwise dealing with food. Over time, stains and messes can ruin even the most stain-resistant countertop, leaving it yellowed and sticky. That’s not so with glass. It won’t ever get to that point since cleanup is so easy. You simply need a soft cloth and some warm water and the stains come right off. If dealing with a particularly stubborn stain, add a little dish soap to the cloth.

Not only is glass easier to clean, it may keep the family healthier. How often do you deep-clean your kitchen, gutting all the cabinets and shelves to get at every dark and dusty corner? How often do you scrub the wood to make sure no stains or dirt are left behind in those subtle crevices? What you miss could lead to the spread of germs. Glass has no such crevices, reducing the chances of everyone getting sick.

These are also customizable beyond belief. If you want a simple countertop to match the rest of the kitchen, this can easily be done. If you want something more complicated, like an interesting shape, textured glass, colored glass, and sometimes even backlit glass, CGD Glass Countertops can more than likely make this a reality. You certainly don’t have those sorts of options when choosing a wooden countertop.

Speaking of wood, how well does it really hold up to hot temperatures? You probably do a lot of cooking in your kitchen, so the oven is on often. Wood is likely to warp. Once that happens, there’s nothing you can do about it. Even metal may not be totally resistant to changing temperatures. Only glass can handle a cold beverage and a warm dish at the same time.

Interested in ordering your glass countertop? Contact CGD Glass Countertops today.

Sources:  http://nlcatp.org/7-critical-pros-and-cons-of-glass-countertops/, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-glass-countertop.htm

Tips on Glass Maintenance and Cleaning

You’ve invested a lot in your glass accent piece, whether it’s a door, large panel, partition, sink, backsplash, countertop, decorative item, or something else. If you buy any of these items from CGD Glass Countertops in Toronto, you know these are made of durable, thick glass that is customized to your liking and is sure to last for years to come. However, you still need to handle the glass with care. Here are some tips on glass maintenance and cleaning for long-term beauty.

If you have any window cleaner around the house, feel free to use this on your glass products. If you’re feeling especially handy, you can even make your own with a bit of vinegar, water, and rubbing alcohol mixed into a spray bottle. Alternately, some soap and water also suffices in a pinch.

While you can choose from practically endless textures at CGD Glass Countertops, including ones that mimic the flow of running water, the sands of the desert, the pixels from your favorite old school video game, and the vastness of space, you don’t want to wear down these textures over time from cleaning. If your glass is smooth and translucent, you also want to avoid ugly streaks or smudges. Just what do you use to clean then?

You can try a few different options. Use a rag, a discarded t-shirt, a squeegee, or a cloth specially made to clean glass. Just make sure that whatever you use is especially soft to prevent accidentally scratching or damaging the glass. You can even try using a newspaper to give that beautiful glass accent piece an appealing shine. Of course, you have to make sure you don’t accidentally get the newspaper soggy, since the ink will bleed. You should also probably wear a pair of rubber gloves to avoid transferring the ink to your fingers.

If you don’t want to waste a perfectly good sunny day spending time cleaning your glass pieces, you don’t have to. Experts actually recommend getting out the cleaning products on a day when it’s rainy or cloudy. This gives plenty of time for your cleaning products to dry naturally so the glass is left sparkling.

As you clean, make sure to follow a certain technique. You want to avoid smudges, so don’t go bottom to top. Instead, do the opposite. This prevents excessive amounts of liquid cleaner from pooling down and ruining the polished appearance of the glass.

Just how often should you clean your glass accent pieces? There’s no real set timeframe. If you want to polish these weekly, you can. If you want to clean them once a month, go for it. You put the thought and money into these timeless glass accent pieces, so you want them to look as good as possible.

Of course, if you have any questions about your glass products, feel free to reach out to CGD Glass Countertops. You can call 416-398-9733, send an email to info@cgdglass.com, or fill out a handy form online, where you can also upload images and other files.

Sources: http://www.minneapolisglass.com/technical-documents/cleaning-and-maintenance-instructions.asp, http://housekeeping.about.com/od/bathrooms/tp/10-Glass-Cleaning-Tips.htm