7 Things You Didn’t Know About Glass

1. Glass was not originally man made

When lighting makes contact with sand, the high temperatures melt the sand to form glass.
When Lava or Volcanos heat up it forms Obsidian, another form of glass which is dark and naturally occurring

2. Man has been making glass for a long time

Findings from Egypt and Mesopotamia are the oldest manmade glass dating as far back as 3500BC!
Telescope and Microscope lenses were originally made in the Netherlands 1590AD

3. Glass can be recycled and reused without losing any purity

Recycled glass conserves anywhere from 5% up to 30% energy compared to making glass from scratch
Recycled Glass keeps high amounts of Carbon Dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere during the process

Bottles and Jars made of glass contain up to 25% of recycled glass
Recycled glass is sorted by color to keep up with bottle “Color Standards”

4. Fiberglass is glass which is pulled into threads and then woven into fiberglass

Fiberglass is used to control temperature and for insulation in homes all around the globe.

5. Glass can be made into stronger or weaker forms of glass

Tempered Glass goes through thermal and chemical treatments to be made into stronger glass
Tempered Glass does not break into large pieces but rather breaks into many small fragments
Windshield glass is tempered glass with a laminate holding it together so it doesn’t fall apart when shattered or broken

6. Glass can be Carved, Sandblasted, Fused, Slumped, Casted, Melted and even Sculpted

Some common technologies to form glass include Thermoforming, Laminated Glass, Glass bending, and UV Bonding

7. Glass can be Opaque, Translucent, Back painted, Rusted, and treated with Special color treatment

Glass is a versatile material which has many uses in today’s society, from windshields to light bulbs, most need or use glass on a daily basis without even knowing it. Here at CGD we work with glass every day and specialize in thermoforming glass countertops & other forms of architectural and decorative glass. We have been doing so for over a decade with love and care. We put our full effort on every piece of glass we produce and have picked up many glass techniques and technologies to give us everything we need to create your unique piece of for your home or workplace!

What is Thermoformed Glass

Thermoformed glass is glass that has been through a unique process of being heated to a temperature where it becomes flexible and then molded in order to give it shape or texture. It differs from glass blowing in that it is not shaped by rolling and blowing hot air but rather by using a mold and is better suited for making flatter objects, such as glass countertops, tables, & related materials.

Here are the steps taken to create thermoformed glass:

A mold shape is made created to the specifications of the desired piece.
Raw glass panels are cut to a size slightly larger than the mold
Glass is cut further in order to take shape of the mold
The glass will be painted on and given a design
Once the glass is cut and decorated it is brought to a kiln
In the kiln it is put on top of its relative mold
The kiln is heated to an extremely high temperature (About 843 degrees Celsius)
The high temperature softens the glass
The glass begins to melt and takes shape of the mold
The exact texture and shape the mold has, the glass will also have
Once cooled, the glass should come out the exact same shape as their molds

Once finished, the thermoformed glass will have the same 3d texturing as the mold with any added colors or art that was applied. The depth and texture that can be given to thermoformed glass is what gives it a unique and modern style.

Patterns as well as repeating a process are more easily done with molds already prepared, we at CGD Glass have many different molds for the textures we apply to our glass products. It is great for tiling glass, texturing glass, shaping glass, creating depth and can be considered a very high quality form of glass art.

When working with table tops and countertops, thermoformed glass can really add the modern look to any room. From adding simple designs and textures throughout the glass you can bring out some of the most amazing qualities in glass. Here at CGD glass we take pride in our wide variety of choices in textures made possible because of thermoformed glass. For example we have our “Desert”, “Flow”, and “Sandstorm.”

Desert

Flow

Sandstorm – Ultra Clear

Avalanche

Thanks to thermoforming techniques we have an endless possibility of designs we can make for our custom glass designs. These examples are just some of the beautiful pieces from our index and should give you an idea as to how thermoformed glass can give your glass the unique look you want.

Glass Countertops vs Granite

Let’s go through the pros and cons of Glass Countertops and Granite Countertops!

Here is a checklist of some things to keep in mind:

Material Quality and Flexibility
Complexity of Countertop
Appearance
Care and Upkeep
Cost

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Granite Countertop Pros and Cons

[one_half] granite1 [/one_half][one_half_last] granite2 [/one_half_last]Granite is a natural product that comes from the slow crystallization of hot magma and is mainly quartz but does contain other minerals. The slow cooling of the magma creates a unique texture of minerals and every slab will be completely unique from the next.

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Pros:

Dense
Easy to make large countertops with
Each slab is unique
Can be Durable

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Cons:

Porous Material
Cleaning chemicals can cause damage
Collects water marks and soaps stains
Prone to water damage also means prone to bacteria
Sealing is required for upkeep
Material may have weak points that break more easily than others
Strip-mining this granite Pollutes the planet
Expensive[/one_half_last]

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Glass Countertop Pros and Cons

[one_half] Enns kitchen3 [/one_half][one_half_last] Kitchen glass countertops (Raj)2 [/one_half_last]
Glass comes from sand, silica being the main ingredient in sand and is melted at 1700 Degrees Celsius. Some other materials or minerals may be used to add or change the color and trans-lucidity. Glass can be fitted as one piece and its reflective properties add a unique touch and color to the kitchen. Glass countertops can also be customized with various textures, edge styles, surface treatments, & LED lighting.

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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

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Cons:

Finding High quality glass manufactures may be difficult
Expensive
Repairs may be difficult
Sharp objects may scratch surface

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Recommendations from CGDGlass:

Full Glass Countertop set-ups can be beautiful but Raised Bar Glass Countertops can be added to existing countertops in your home, see our overview for more info.

Add a Unique Touch with Custom Glass Table Tops

If you are thinking of getting a Glass Table Top and need specific colors, opacity or thickness? Then you need to find a place that will do Custom Glass Table Tops such as CGD Glass. Our selection of table tops can fit anywhere in your home such as Kitchen, Bathroom, & Living Room just to name a few! Here is a list of questions you should ask yourself when choosing a Custom Glass Table Top.

Choosing Dimensions

What shape and size is your Table Top?

Take some measurements and figure out how much space you can take up to comfortably fit your table top.

Is it a Triangle, Square, Circle or Rectangle?

Keep a shape in mind when measuring the dimensions.

What thickness do you want it to be?

Pick a thickness of ½”, ¾”,1”, or 1 ½”

Choosing a Glass Type & Texture

What type of glass fits my home?

Aqua clear is an ocean like clear glass that matches nicely with wood and antique, or red colors

Ultra Clear is a Pearl White clear glass that goes well with blues and silvers, lighter colors

What kinds of Textures are there?

There are many different kinds of textures to choose from such as Melting Ice, Sandstorm, stream, flow, galaxy and many others. The main difference between the textures is the amount of grain or frost that each one has. Some textures look wavy, and others jagged or straight lines too.

Choosing Edge Work and Surface Treatment

What is Edgework?

Edge work is the unique style edge that you pick for your glass table

What types of Edge works are there?

There are Textured, Satin, Brushed Satin, Flat Polished, and Fire Polished

What is Surface treatment?

A unique customization for glass to give the glass a stylish color or texture

What kinds of Treatments are there?

You can choose from Clear Surface, Green, White, Texture, Stone Wash, or Colored

Choosing Your Color

What colors are available?

Colors are available from the Benjamin Moore Color Chart, but there are also Opaque, Rusty, and Translucent Colors you can choose from!

What are the Opaque Colors?

Opaque colors can come in Amber, Antique, Copper, Gold, Dark brown, White, Blue, Black, and Charcoal Grey

What are the Rusty Colors?

Rusty Colors come in Black&Copper, Rusty Gold, Gold&Black

What are the Translucent Colors?

Translucent colors can come in Amber, Blue, Bronze, Brown, Bronze, Clear, Copper, Dark Blue, Gold, Green, Grey, Multi-Colored, Orange, Red, Ultra Clear, White, and Yellow

Choosing Your Substrate and Lighting

What is a substrate?

A substrate goes underneath the glass in order to hold the lighting and the glass table

What does it do?

It reinforces your glass table top and adds a layer to extend tables or raise them

What exactly is the lighting?

You have the option of picking some lighting to put underneath the glass within the substrate in order to add a modern look to your glass table top

What colors are available?

You can pick color changing lights, white LED’s, or Static Colors such as Blue Green, Red and White

Glass Countertop Textures

CGD thermoformed glass countertops are unlike any other countertops in the world. Our unique designs are not only incredibly beautiful, but are also functional and extremely durable. Glass is non porous, thereby making it easier to maintain and more stain resistant that traditional materials such as stone. They offer a unique look and feel that will turn any countertop into a masterful work of art. These beautiful glass countertops can be used for both residential and commercial projects. This gives business owners an opportunity to stand out from their competition. Another incredible benefit to glass countertops is the ability to customize thickness, textures, colors, substrates, LED lighting and more. Specifically, our customized textures add a depth and beauty that is unmatched with any other countertop material. Here are a few examples of the different textures that can be installed within different parts of your home or office.

Glass Kitchen Countertops

These glass kitchen countertops that CGD has created for their clients Is absolutely stunning. It features an Avalanche texture that really gives the countertop depth and uniqueness.

This kitchen sink features a Melting Ice texture that has a clean and smooth look to it. This specific texture can add life to your boring kitchen by adding a sense of color and balance.

Raised Glass Countertops

These countertops offer an easier way to remodel your kitchen without having to redo the entire kitchen. They are able to do this by connecting to your current countertops through a glass-raised bar. This offers a relatively simple and cost effective method of upgrading your current kitchen’s look. Raised glass countertops can also be customized to your exact specifications. Here are some examples of different textures from past projects.

Glass Bathroom Countertops

These countertops can add a sense of calmness and elegance to your bathroom. You can create a certain ambience by using certain types of textures. For more of pronounced “water” feel a customer can use Aqua Clear glass with Melting Ice texture. This adds a sense of style and artistic value that can only be found through beautiful glass countertops. Here are some examples of some of CGD’s bathroom projects.

For more information on how CGD can transform your home into an artistic masterpiece, please contact us today. We would love to answer any questions you may have.