5 Interesting Facts About Recycling Glass
- At January 21, 2016
- By Mark
- In Uncategorized
0
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!
Concrete Countertops vs Glass Countertops
- At January 04, 2016
- By Mark
- In Countertops
- 0
The increase in popularity for different countertop materials is well under way and two of the most trending materials are concrete & glass. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of both materials:
[divider] [/divider]Concrete Countertops Pros & Cons
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Concrete is essentially a building material that is produced by mixing a load of broken up gravel, cement, water, & sand which is then molded into a variety of forms and hardened. In the case of concrete as a countertop material, many other elements can be added such as pieces of glass and other decorative items.
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Pros:
- Versatile
- Can be molded into a variety of different shapes and sizes
- Can be colored & polished to achieve many different looks
- Heat resistant
- Resistant to most household chemicals
Cons:
- Chips and cracks can happen easily
- Installation is tricky and very costly
- Concrete is a porous material that can stain relatively easily
- Patterning tends to be inconsistent
- Must be waxed every 3 months to protect a covered sealant
- Color is susceptible to fading over time
- Scratching is a real possibility
- As expensive as granite without the durability
Glass Countertop Pros and Cons
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Glass countertops are the specialty of CBD Glass, made from melted sand and silica, glass is a fantastic countertop material because of it’s elegance, versatility, and beauty. They can also be customized using LED underlighting and a variety of different colors.
Pros:
- Versatile, easy to form shapes with
- Can create unique layers to add lighting, space, or artwork
- Non-Porous
- Heat Resistant
- Low Maintenance and Easy to Clean
- Various textures to choose from
- Highly Customizable
Cons:
- Finding High quality glass manufactures may be difficult
- Expensive
- Repairs may be difficult
- Sharp objects may scratch surface
To learn more about how glass countertops stack up against other materials, contact us today!
Glass Countertops for Retail
- At December 15, 2015
- By Mark
- In Countertops
- 0
Our glass counters and glass countertops are world renowned for their beautiful, unique, and functional design. However most people think of our glass counters for kitchen & bathroom purposes. Our unique glass counters are also perfect for retail uses and commercial uses as well. Some of the more popular retail uses are for cafe’s and bars, as well as many high-end boutiques and store fronts. Let’s look at some examples of our glass counters being used in retail:
#1 – Cafe Counter
The above example comes from the Three Buddhas cafe in San Francisco, if features our Melting Ice texture with Cool White LED underlighting.
#2 – Restaurant/Bar
The above examples show how fabulous our glass counters can look when being used as bar tops for restaurants, bars, and lounges.
#3 – Storefront/Retail
The above examples show our unique glass countertops used in retail/storefront locations. The middle example for “Chernaya Bridal House” also shows an example of our magnificent glass signage paired alongside.
There you have some incredible examples of our counters being used in retail and commercial locations. If you’re interested in learning more about our glass counters for residential or commercial use please contact us today!
The 3 Top Uses for Glass Countertops
- At December 01, 2015
- By Mark
- In Countertops
- 0
It is quite common to see glass countertops/surfaces used in many different areas of a home or commercial space. With that said below are the 3 top uses for glass countertop surfaces:
#1 – Glass Kitchen Countertops
Kitchen surfaces are the number 1 use for glass countertops and for good reason. Glass countertops can make any kitchen look more open, clean, spacious, & modern almost instantly. We have provided glass kitchen countertops for thousands of different clients all over the world, below is a small sample:
#2 – Glass Bathroom Countertops
Bathroom surfaces can be very creative, and with good reason! It can be difficult to maintain a clean look and feel in your bathroom area. Glass countertops are a great solution to this dilemna, by creating a hygenic and beautiful surface for your bathroom. Glass bathroom countertops can be customized in a plethora of different ways, check out some examples below:
#3 – Glass Bar Tops
Glass bar tops are another big surface for glass countertops to be used. The trendy look and feel provided by glass countertops can transform any bar top. Glass bar tops are also many times accented by LED underlighting which can add a very modern feel to any dimly lit bar environment. We also offer the option to customize any glass bar top by adding an elevated glass area to show off premier alcohol bottles. Check out some great examples of our glass bar tops:
That was a quick tour of our 3 most popular surfaces for our glass countertops. Glass can also be used on a ton of other unique surfaces such as railings, skylights, dividers, & much more. To learn more about our glass countertops or any of our other custom glass products click here to contact us today!
A Brief History of Glass Making
- At November 13, 2015
- By Mark
- In Uncategorized
- 0
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.