It is incredible that the glass we see in our homes, buildings, skyscrapers started out as a simple heap of sand. As to how it transformed to a perfectly clear window, we go back with the massive silos that hold its key ingredients. Tons of sand are transported into their respective factories where soda ash ( sodium carbonate ) and lime ( calcium carbonate ) are mixed together. These 2 elements lower the melting point of silica sand and thus alter its molecular structure which turns to what we see as glass.

1. Annealed

Previously, we have what we call antique glass which is glassware produced from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. An upgrade to that is the stronger version called annealed glass.

Dillmeier Glass quotes “ The term anneal is mainly used to describe the glass cooling process that is performed at a fabricator’s float plant. It is NOT treated with heat compared to tempered glass.

this type of glass can be edged and polished, custom-cut and drilled to create an array of products, including windows and cabinet doors

2. Tempered

The inner layer cools slower than the outer layer, which causes the tension that makes tempered glass four to five times stronger than annealed glass

3. Laminated
4. Frosted
5. Luningning
6. Beveled
7. Tinted ( bronze, blue, green, crystal grey )

The term, “anneal,” is mainly used to describe the glass-cooling process that is performed at a fabricator’s float plant. It is not treated with heat, unlike tempered glass.

Performed by highly skilled technicians with the help of precise, efficient equipment, the annealing process improves the glass’ durability and helps to reduce internal stresses that could result in breakage. Keep in mind that annealed glass may also be referred to as non-tempered and/or float glass.

While this type of glass can be edged and polished, custom-cut and drilled to create an array of products, including windows and cabinet doors, it does have its disadvantages, however, and glass that is improperly annealed has an increased possibility of cracking or shattering.

Annealed glass is not as strong as tempered glass, which is why fabricators more often opt to temper the material.

Here’s why: Annealing glass actually rids it of internal stresses, while tempering glass does the opposite. The final stage of the latter is to quickly cool the hot glass by blasting it with cold air—called quenching—after it has been treated in a tempering oven.