Which Is Better: Laminated or Toughened Glass?

Laminate Glass
Laminate Glass
Toughened glass door
Toughened Glass

When we are doing door glass replacement in Sydney, one of the questions we commonly hear from our clients is – What is the difference between laminated and toughened glass?

While both laminated and toughened glass offers better breakage protection compared to regular glass, they are actually quite different, especially when it comes to the way they shatter when broken.

What are laminated and toughened glass?

Laminated glass is a type of protective glass made of thin layers of glass combined together, often with a double laminate so that the layers don’t simply collapse into a single panel when shattered. Toughened glass, on the other hand, is a variety of protective glass, constructed differently than laminated glass, where a single layer of glass is bonded together by layers of an inert compound that helps protect the glass. How do laminated and toughened glass protect against break-ins and flying objects? Laminated glass acts like a surface that crushes, stops, bends and twists quickly enough to deflect a flying object or an object that is too large for the layers of glass to cover.

How do they compare?

Different types of safety glass are made to give varying degrees of protection. This means that the materials in the laminate and toughened glass may not be compatible with each other when used together. The reasoning behind this is that the type of glass used in laminated glass will impact its strength. For example, toughened glass is far stronger than laminated glass, which makes it a better option for homes with pets and young children. Likewise, toughened glass is tougher than laminated glass but is considerably more expensive.

Which is better?

Toughened glass is stronger than laminated glass, and if applied correctly and in the right place, even more protective. It has a lower shatter coefficient (compared to laminated glass), however, and is more susceptible to chipping, cracking and shattering when dropped on a hard surface. By contrast, laminated glass is more brittle, which allows it to absorb impact and shatter more easily than toughened glass. While this means it’s more likely to break from any physical trauma, it also means that it does not shatter when dropped. Instead, it splits into several pieces, which can then be easily disposed of later. Toughened glass is made of a very hard, shatter-resistant type of glass, such as fusible alloys. Laminated glass is better than toughened glass when it comes to blocking UV rays and external sound but at the same time, it is also more expensive than toughened glass.

Which one should I choose?

When it comes to strength and resistance to breakage, toughened glass is often is your best choice while laminated glass is better for UV resistance and privacy (due to it’s better ability to block out sound). Both are considered safety glazing materials and can be obtained in a variety of thicknesses and colors or tints. Both are easy to clean and will last a long time as long as they are installed properly.

About the Author
Marc Gombi

Marc Gombi

Marc is an experienced glazier providing high quality glass replacement and repair in Sydney Lower North Shore.

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