Low Iron Glass  (Ultra Clear) Tinted/Smoked Glass Etched Glass Reeded/Fluted Glass Pattern Glass GPW (Georgian Polish Wire) (Wired Glass) Bird Friendly Glass Tempered Glass (Saftey Glass) Laminated Glass (High Performance Safety Glass) Back Painted Glass Printed Glass Fire Resistant Glass (Fire Rated Glass) Smart Glass (Switchable Glass) Antique Glass

Float glass is the standard flat glass used for most windows, doors, mirrors, tabletops, storefronts, and glass panels. ​ Float glass is usually clear or tinted, and it can later be processed into: Tempered glass Laminated glass Insulated glass units Low-E coated glass Mirrors Patterned or acid-etched glass ​ Plain float glass itself is not safety glass. If it breaks, it can form sharp shards, so for doors, showers, railings, storefronts, and many code-regulated uses, it usually needs to be tempered or laminated.

Low iron glass, also known as Starphire Ultra Clear™, has a reduced iron content compared to standard clear glass (Float Glass), resulting in higher light transmission and improved clarity. It is ideal for applications where aesthetics are a priority. Standard clear glass Slight green cast Greenish edges Can slightly distort whites, pale colours, tile, stone, or painted surfaces Usually less expensive Low iron glass Much clearer appearance Edges look lighter, sometimes almost aqua-clear instead of green Better colour accuracy Often used for showers, railings, display cases, glass walls, tabletops, backsplashes, and luxury interiors Costs more, but looks cleaner and more premium

Tempered glass is regular glass that has been heat-treated to make it much stronger and safer. It is heated to a very high temperature and then cooled quickly. That process puts the outer surface under compression, making it about 4 to 5 times stronger than standard annealed glass. ​ The big safety benefit: when tempered glass breaks, it usually crumbles into small, dull, pebble-like pieces rather than long, sharp shards. That is why it is often called safety glass. ​ Common uses include: Shower doors Patio doors Storefronts Glass railings Car side and rear windows Table tops Oven doors Phone screen protectors ​ One important catch: tempered glass cannot be cut or drilled after tempering. Any holes, notches, polishing, or edge work must be done first. Try to cut it afterward and it will usually shatter. Old-school rule: measure twice, temper once.

No, tempered glass cannot be cut after the tempering process. It must be cut to the desired size and shape before undergoing tempering.

Laminated glass is glass made by bonding two or more sheets of glass together with a tough plastic interlayer, usually PVB or SGP. Think of it like a glass sandwich: glass on the outside, flexible safety layer in the middle. When laminated glass breaks, the interlayer helps hold the broken pieces together instead of letting sharp shards fall everywhere. That is the big advantage. Common uses include: Car windshields Storefronts Glass railings Skylights Security glass Doors and windows Hurricane or impact-resistant glazing Main benefits: Safety: broken glass tends to stay stuck to the interlayer. Security: harder to penetrate than regular glass. Sound reduction: helps dampen noise. UV protection: blocks much of the sun’s UV rays. Impact resistance: especially when made with stronger interlayers. It is different from tempered glass. Tempered glass is heat-treated so it breaks into small pebble-like pieces. Laminated glass is built to stay together after breaking. In many projects, both are combined: tempered laminated glass for strength plus safety.

Tinted glass or smoked glass is glass that has been darkened or coloured to reduce light transmission, improve privacy, and change the appearance of a space. It is commonly made by adding metal oxides or colourants during manufacturing, or by applying a tinted film/coating afterward. Typical colours include grey, bronze, blue, green, and black. Smoked glass usually refers to a darker grey or black-tinted glass with a sleek, moody look. It is often used for: Shower enclosures Interior partitions Cabinet doors Railings Table tops Storefront or office glass Decorative panels The main benefits are reduced glare, added privacy, UV reduction, and a more refined appearance. The trade-off is that darker glass can make spaces feel less bright, so it has to be used thoughtfully. Stylish, yes — but too much smoked glass and suddenly the room is auditioning for a 1980s nightclub.

Etched glass is glass that has been given a frosted, matte, or decorative surface by roughening part of the glass. Traditionally, this was done with acid etching, where acid chemically eats into the surface. Today, it is also often done by sandblasting or by applying frosted vinyl film that mimics etched glass. Etched glass is commonly used for: Privacy glass in doors, bathrooms, offices, and partitions Decorative designs like patterns, logos, borders, or lettering Shower enclosures Entry doors and sidelites Cabinet glass Commercial storefront or office branding The key thing: etched glass still lets light through, but it blurs visibility, so you get privacy without making the space feel boxed in. Old-school function, clean modern look.

Reeded glass or fluted glass is decorative textured glass with a repeating pattern of long, narrow vertical ridges or grooves. Think of clear glass with a ribbed surface: it still lets light through, but it softens visibility and adds texture. In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably. Some suppliers use reeded for finer, tighter vertical lines and fluted for deeper or more pronounced grooves, but in everyday design and glazing conversations they usually mean the same family of glass. It is popular because it gives you: Privacy without blocking light — shapes and movement are visible, but details are blurred. A decorative architectural look — classic, clean, and a little Art Deco without trying too hard. Light diffusion — it softens harsh light and reflections. Texture and depth — especially useful on doors, partitions, cabinets, sidelites, and shower panels. Common uses include: Interior glass doors Room dividers and office partitions Bathroom windows and shower screens Kitchen cabinet inserts Entry sidelites Decorative wall panels Retail, restaurant, and hospitality interiors

GPW usually means Georgian Polished Wire glass. It is a clear wired glass with a square/diamond steel wire mesh embedded inside the pane. The wire helps hold the glass together when it cracks from heat, so the opening stays blocked longer during a fire. It is commonly used in fire-rated doors, stairwells, corridors, schools, commercial partitions, and older institutional buildings. Listed at around 6 mm / 1⁄4 inch thick, with fire ratings commonly in the 20–45 minute range depending on the tested door/frame/opening system. GPW glass = Georgian Polished Wire glass; clear wired fire-rated glass with embedded mesh, used where fire resistance is needed, but not a substitute for tempered or laminated safety glass unless it has an approved safety film/listing.

Bird Friendly Glass is glass designed so birds can recognize it as a solid barrier instead of mistaking it for open sky, trees, or habitat. Regular glass can be deadly because birds often see either reflection or transparency, not the surface itself. Bird friendly glass solves that by adding visible cues such as: Frit patterns: ceramic dots, lines, or designs baked onto the glass. Etched or acid-etched patterns. UV coatings or patterns that may be more visible to birds than to people. Laminated glass with bird-safe interlayers or printed patterns. Exterior films or markers for retrofits. Bird friendly glass helps reduce bird collisions by making glass visible to birds through subtle patterns, coatings, or surface treatments, while still allowing natural light, views, and modern architectural design.

Fire-rated glass is glazing designed to slow or stop the spread of fire, smoke, and heat through windows, doors, walls, or partitions for a tested period of time. In plain terms: it is glass that has been tested to hold up during a fire instead of failing quickly like regular glass. Fire-rated glass is usually rated by time, such as: 20 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, or 180 minutes The rating means the glass assembly has been tested to perform for that duration under fire conditions. There are two main types: Fire-protective glass This helps block flames and smoke, but it does not fully block radiant heat. It is often used in fire-rated doors, sidelites, and limited-area openings. Fire-resistive glass This blocks flames, smoke, and significant heat transfer. It can often be used in larger glazed walls, corridors, stairwells, and places where a true fire barrier is required. The important catch: the glass alone is not enough. The entire system has to be rated, including the glass, frame, seals, hardware, door, and installation method. A fancy piece of rated glass in the wrong frame is like putting a vault door on a garden shed — impressive, but not compliant. Common uses include: Fire-rated doors and borrowed lites Stairwell and corridor glazing Interior office partitions Schools, hospitals, condos, and commercial buildings Exterior walls near property lines where code requires protection Questions we will ask you or help you get an answer to: What rating is required? What assembly is it going into? Does it need to stop radiant heat too?

Smart Glass, also called Switchable Smart Film, is glass that can change from clear to frosted/opaque on demand, usually with the press of a switch, remote, app, or automation system. In plain terms: it gives you privacy when you want it and transparency when you do not. How it works Most switchable glass uses a technology called PDLC, which stands for Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal. Inside the glass or film are tiny liquid crystal particles. When the power is off, the particles are scattered randomly, so the glass looks frosted. When the power is on, the particles align, allowing light to pass through, so the glass becomes clear. Think of it like blinds built into the glass, except cleaner, faster, and far more modern. Best for: Retrofitting existing windows Offices that already have glass walls Budget-conscious projects Faster installation It is more flexible and affordable, but the finish is not always as seamless as true laminated smart glass.