An appealing storefront goes a long way when presenting a business to the public. When your commercial glass is stained, scratched, or simply aged, it can turn away potential customers and even risk their health. If your storefront has seen better days, consider upgrading your windows and entry doors to improve that all-important first impression, and be sure to use one of the following types for the best and safest results. 

The Most Common Commercial Glass Installed by Stores

1. Tempered 

Also known as safety glass, tempered glass crumbles instead of shatters when broken. This results in rounded, smooth edges that won’t cut guests. Just as importantly, tempered glass doesn’t break easily because of how it’s strengthened. This makes it more resilient against strong winds, hard blows, and scratches. It’s also available in numerous styles—including frosted, clear, tinted, and engraved—to meet your design goals. Aside from its premier safety rating, tempered glass holds its clean elegance for years.

2. Laminated

Another type of safety glass you could install is laminated. It consists of two or more layers of glass that are held together by a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), which prevents the glass from being broken into sharp pieces. Instead, when it’s hit hard enough to break, the interlayer holds the shards together. The interlayer also provides a natural way to block 99% of UV radiation from entering the building and reduces sound travel.

3. Annealed

Commercial glass that has been annealed has undergone a cooling process to reduce internal stresses that could result in breakage. It’s not as strong as tempered glass, but it can be cut, drilled, and fabricated to suit your design needs. However, it should be used in windows that aren’t adjacent to walkways since it can shatter into sharp pieces if broken.

If the doors and windows in your store’s entryway are due for an upgrade, stop by Furniture City Glass & Mirror. This locally owned and operated business has provided custom glass and mirror solutions to the Piedmont Triad, NC, region for over 50 years. They also install and replace commercial glass products for any setting. To learn more about this glass company’s custom work, call them today at (336) 841-5333 or visit their website.