When it comes to designing a shower, one of the most important decisions to make is the type of glass to use. Regardless of the style of glass you choose for your shower, building codes require that the glass be tempered.
Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is created by heating regular glass to a high temperature and then rapidly cooling it. This process makes the glass stronger and more durable than regular glass. In fact, tempered glass is about four times stronger than regular glass of the same thickness.
Another major advantage of tempered glass is that it is much safer than regular glass. If tempered glass breaks, it shatters into small, rounded pieces rather than sharp shards. This greatly reduces the risk of injury if the glass is broken.
In addition to its strength and safety benefits, tempered glass is also easy to clean and maintain. It is resistant to stains and scratches, and can be cleaned with simple soap and water or a mild glass cleaner. Clearlight enhances this characteristic with Diamon Fusion, a chemical sealant for glass, similar to Teflon for metal, whose nano-technology bonds to the surface of the glass at the molecular level.
The two most popular styles of tempered glass selected by Clearlight customers are regular clear glass and low-iron glass, often referred to as Starphire or Opti-White. The clear glass has a slight green hue to it, especially on the edges. Low-iron glass is ultra-clear and has a light blue hue to its edges. These differences are noticeable in ⅜” thick glass typically used for showers and become more pronounced as greater thicknesses, such as ½” glass, are used for the shower.
Some customers prefer Clearlight’s array of ⅜” patterned glass, including Rain or Pattern 62, while others opt for tinted glass, such as grey or bronze. We can also etch a privacy strip on any glass for our more modest customers. For the most customized options for your needs, it is best to consult with a Clearlight professional to determine the best style and type of glass for your specific shower project. Don’t forget to ask about hardware to mount your shower and to operate your shower door.