Glass shelves handle weight differently depending on various factors, which is important to know before installing glass shelving.
Shelves are a crucial part of the aesthetics and function of your home. Floating glass shelves offer many advantages and solutions to your shelving needs, but it’s essential to understand how to get the most use out of them. Keep reading to determine how much weight your glass shelves can handle.
Glass Type
The amount of weight a shelf can hold largely depends on the glass type. Usually, manufacturers use toughened glass for shelving purposes, but there are a couple of specific types to look out for. Both tempered and annealed glass are the best choices for floating glass shelves.
- Tempered glass – Tempered glass is much stronger than other options due to how quickly it’s cooled after exposure to high levels of heat. This process is called “quenching” and is what gives the glass its strength. In the tempered glass, the tension remains in the center while shifting the compression to the outer edges. This means that the center has the most load capacity and is where you should place your heaviest items when decorating. Tempered glass is also chemically treated to prevent it from breaking into dangerous shards, so it’s an excellent option for businesses or homes with pets or small children.
- Annealed glass – Annealed glass isn’t quite as strong as tempered glass, but is still a very reliable solution for interior design. This undergoes a slower cooling process that strengthens its surface by removing interior tensions. After the annealing process is complete, the glass is ready to be cut without the risk of shattering. Annealed glass is generally cheaper than tempered glass and can be customized in countless ways.
When selecting glass shelving, it’s best to stay away from decorative options, such as obscure or cathedral glass, which are not designed to support much weight.
Glass Thickness
Even if your beautiful shelves are made of a strong glass material, they still have their limits. To maximize their strength, you also want to consider their width, height, and thickness. Thankfully, you can find numerous glass weight calculators online to help you with these measurements. Consider how you’ll utilize your shelves, and then select dimensions that can withstand the load.
Bracket Distance
Glass shelves handle weight differently, but another way to extend their longevity is to consider the distance between supporting brackets. Shorter distances between support brackets will allow the glass to support the most weight possible. For example, a sheet of tempered glass with supports that are one foot apart can handle significantly more weight than a shelf with supports that are three feet apart.
Choose Murray Glass for Custom Glass Shelving
No matter what your vision is, Murray Glass’ custom glass shelves handle whatever load you need them to. Our top-of-the-line glass products are installed by the most qualified glass experts, so we guarantee your satisfaction. Reach out today to schedule a free consultation. We serve the Salt Lake City, Utah, area, including Layton, Sandy, West Jordan, Draper, and more!
