Glass Table Top

What are the benefits of glass table tops?

There are many advantages to ordering your own custom glass table top, whether it’s for a coffee table, an office desk, or anything else. Here are just some of the benefits of glass table tops:

• Durability – the long-lasting nature of strong toughened glass table tops will extend the lifespan of your furniture and stay functional for many years.
• Scratch-resistant – if you use glass to cover an existing wooden tabletop, for example, it can protect the surface below from damage over time.
• Low-maintenance – it’s easy to keep glass surfaces in great condition by just wiping them down with a soft cloth and mild cleaning solution.
• Versatility – the options are practically limitless for styling glass table tops with your home décor, whether they’re clear or you opt for something tinted or coloured.

Additionally, glass surfaces help to make any space feel more open, as they reflect light and create the illusion of a bigger and brighter room. Glass table tops fit perfectly into minimalist aesthetics.

How thick should a glass table top be?

We provide several thicknesses of glass table tops here at Express Toughening, allowing you to choose the thickness that’s just right for your project. As tabletops are expected to take some weight, the glass needs to be thick and strong enough to withstand a certain amount of pressure.

This is why the thinnest glass table top available is 6mm, which is the minimum that should be used for smaller tables like coffee tables and sideboards, or for covering existing tabletops.

The next size up is 8mm thick, which is more suitable for table designs where the glass top isn’t set into a frame – such as standalone desks or tables with unique legs, like tressels.

For larger standalone tables, or furniture where the glass table top has an overhang around the edges, the thickness should be at least 10mm or 12mm for increased strength.

With even larger and more heavy-duty furniture, the glass should be even thicker, though the weight of 15mm or 19mm panels will of course affect the overall cost of your order.

Where’s the best place to use a glass table top?

You can install a glass table top in pretty much any living or working space, whether it’s a coffee table in the lounge or reception area, a dining table on the patio, or a sleek desk in an office.

Living room, kitchen, dining room, entryway, workstation… a quick visit to Pinterest will show you a million and one ways to create and style glass table tops in all kinds of situations.

One of the best ways to use them is to upcycle and modernise existing furniture, or to go all-out and build your own custom glass table. From tree stumps to concrete blocks, wooden barrels to cast-iron umbrella stands, repurposing unique glass tables is a never-ending interior design trend.

Despite the name, glass table tops aren’t just limited to tables – for example, you can also use these sheets of toughened glass as sideboards or to cover the tops of dressers and cabinets.

In fact, you don’t have to use the glass as the tabletop itself. Another handy use for this type of product is to provide a protective surface for an existing tabletop, which can be invaluable if you’re trying to preserve a family heirloom like a wooden table.

What kind of glass are table tops made from?

As tables are frequently utilised pieces of furniture in most homes or workplaces, any glass part of a table must be made from toughened glass, also known as safety glass or tempered glass.

This type of glass is several times stronger than regular annealed glass, because it is toughened through a rapid process of heating and cooling that strengthens its structure.

This toughening process makes the glass much more resistant to scratches, cracks, and minor impacts. As it can withstand high or low temperatures or humidity levels, most toughened glass is suitable for use in most indoor rooms, including kitchens and bathrooms – and outdoors, as well.

Using a toughened glass table top ensures that the table is robust enough to be used as intended, whether it’s for displaying or storing a selection of items or for dining or working.

As long as you don’t overload the glass table top and protect it from impacts, it should hold up safely for many years. If it does break from an accidental heavy impact, you’ll have peace of mind that the pieces are more like small pebbles than jagged shards, reducing the risk of injuries or damage.

Can I choose a custom colour for my glass table top?

Yes – we don’t just offer clear or tinted glass table tops here at Express Toughening. As you’ll see when you work your way through the order design system above, you can choose from more colourful and unique options like glitter glass, painted glass, or even glass with a printed image.

Our painted glass table tops feature back-painted glass in a colour of your choice, while our glitter glass table tops add the extra element of sparkly glitter. We offer a selection of popular shades, including neutrals and bright colours, but you’re also free to request any paint colour code you like.

Widely used paint colour codes include Dulux, Pantone, RAL, and Crown, but you can also submit other codes like Farrow & Ball or Laura Ashley to request a specific shade.

For the ultimate level of customisation, you can add personality to your furniture with a digitally printed glass table top. While we offer marble, copper, stone brick, or nature photography options, you can upload your own digital image to make your table completely unique.

However, please follow the submission rules to make sure your image is clear and high-quality enough to print – the digital file must be 1.5MB–12MB with 300 DPI minimum. You can also choose an image from a stock photo site like Shutterstock and the price will be added to your final bill.

How to look after a glass table top?

To keep your glass table top in the best possible condition, consider its placement in a room or outdoor space carefully to minimise the risk of any person or object falling onto it. Make sure pets and little children steer clear.

Whether you use the table for work or leisure, avoid placing drinks or food directly on the surface – especially if they’re hot. Use coasters and mats to limit the risk of staining or warping the glass finish.

Similarly, avoid placing laptops that can heat up directly on the glass table, or writing on paper without something underneath it – this can end up scratching the glass and marking the surface.

It’s also important to keep your glass table top clean by dusting and wiping it down regularly. First, remove any debris with a dry lint-free cloth, then use a damp microfibre cloth or sponge and a soapy water solution to clean the glass.

Glass cleaning products with harsh chemicals are more likely to damage the surface or leave streaks, so you should avoid these. Once the table is clean, you can use another dry cloth or kitchen towel to polish away any remaining smudges.