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Glass
Request a Free Estimate on Glass
With us, your glass is always half full.
Window glass, door glass, cabinet glass, tabletops, and more, we do it all. Whether you need glass that’s decorative, insulated, soundproof, bullet-resistant or anything in between – we’re here to help.
Our local experts will perform a complimentary evaluation and estimate at your home or business to determine the quickest, most cost-effective solutions to your problems. When it comes to repairs, we’ll always give you the option that saves you the most time, money, and hassle.
For new and replacement glass products, we love educating our customers and providing you with options so you can make an educated decision on what will best suit your needs and taste. You can also come into our convenient showroom to see samples of many of our glass products.
No other glass shop or glass company offers as many options for your glass needs as The Glass Guru. Glass is in our name; it’s who we are, and you’ve come to the right place.
*All products/services/options shown may not be available in all areas. Please contact us for availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, no, unless we're building out a unique glass-intensive interior structure like glass walls & partitions. An example might be where we use a commercial storefront to divide up raw space into individual glass offices with doors.
Yes, solid wood-core doors often can be retrofitted with beautiful glass inserts that enhance the look of your entry door immediately.
We offer entry doors in a variety of types and styles. We offer sliding glass doors, front doors, back doors, storm doors, and more...
The appropriate application of sound-proofing technologies can be applied to many modern windows. It typically involves adding an additional spacer and laminated glass to the window opening to help mitigate external noise.
Our customers use custom glass for a variety of purposes, such as interior design, DIY projects, and construction. Some places you can use custom glass:
• Patio tabletops
• Antique furniture protectors
• Cabinet glass
• Replacement glass for accidents
• Glass shelves
• DIY, crafts, and design projects
Sometimes you might want to replace your broken glass with specialty glass. Here are some additional types of glass and glass alternatives you can order from us:
Plexiglass Sheets - Lightweight and shatter-resistant, acrylic can be custom-cut and used as a safe glass substitute in home improvement or DIY projects.
Polycarbonate Glass - Similar to acrylic, polycarbonate is a lightweight and break-resistant thermoplastic.
Laminated Glass (Safety Glass) - Laminated glass is two pieces of annealed glass with a piece of vinyl between them. Typically used as a safety glass.
For all shapes with edges (i.e. – square, rectangle), corners are usually nice and sharp to create a clean line. However, if you have small children or pets, you may want to finish the corners for safety. Corner finishes offered are listed below:
Eased corner: glass corners are sanded down slightly to relieve sharp edges
Radius and polished corner: corners are cut down to a round radius and then polished
Clip and polished corner: corners are cut down to a 45 degree angle and then polished
After your order is received, our manufacturing process usually takes 5 to 7 business days. Once your order is fulfilled, we will ship it immediately and send you a confirmation email with tracking information.
There are many good brands on the market. At The Glass Guru, we strongly recommend our own brand glass cleaner to keep your glass tabletops and glass table covers looking their best. A do-it-yourself, economical glass cleaner consists of a mixture of 1/3 white vinegar and 2/3 water. When cleaning glass tabletops and table covers, use lint-free paper towels to avoid leaving streaks behind. Newspaper also works, and will not leave lint on the glass.
You can order glass desk bumpers to put between the glass and the surface of your table for an added level of protection.
The answer to this really depends on the size of the pedestal you are using for your glass. The pedestal has to be big enough to support the weight of the table and supportive enough that a too-large piece of glass won't tip.
Glass table covers are a wonderful way to protecting valuable or antique furniture without hiding its beauty. With a protective glass table cover, your wood, marble, or metal table's surface is safe from spills, stains, dings, and scratches. No need for placemats or tablecloths – you can put hot casserole dishes or cups of coffee on the table without worrying they'll harm your table's finish.
No waxing or polishing – glass table covers wipe clean so much easier than wood or marble finishes. With their transparent surface and custom fit, glass table covers won't detract from the impact of your table while they keep it clean and hygienic.
We look at our schedule and see when we can squeeze them in. If it's an IG, probably will take 3 weeks but can do a temporary board-up for a fee. If it's flat glass, we will try to do it on the spot (if we know it's single pane and send the tech out) or within a few days.
Could have been a manufacturing defect, the panes of glass may have contracted, etc
It is cheaper and more efficient to replace the entire IGU unit. Also, you are given a factory warranty with a new double pane replacement unit which you would not get by repairing the single pane.
No, we can repair your broken or failed window by simply replacing the glass. We do not have to replace the window frame.
It varies by manufacturer, but the majority have a 5 year warranty on insulated glass units. We stand behind our installs for a period of 1 year.
The price will depend on size, thickness, and type of glass. Also any edge work require.
No
Every situation is different; our technician will need to come out to give you a free estimate.
Yes, you have to replace the whole glass unit (both panes). We are not able to replace only one side because it will not seal properly allowing moisture to accumulate.
Replacing the window glass, otherwise known as an insulated glass unit (IGU) is typically at least twice the cost of foggy window repair, depending on the type of glass used.
There are two types of IG units commonly manufactured, Single Seal Units and Double Seal Units. The difference between the two, as their names suggest, is the presence of a single or double seal between the spacer and the glass. Single-sealed units can use several types of sealants: hot melt butyl, polysulfide, silicone, or urethane. Double-sealed units can use PIB tape for the primary seal and hot melt butyl (one-part silicone, or two-part polysulfide) for the secondary seal.
IG units need not use the same type of glass. Tempered and annealed glass can be used in the same unit. Patterned glass can be used but the pattern should face the outside. If one of the lites is reflective or tinted glass, it must face the exterior. If reflective glass is to face the interior, it may be necessary to temper one or both lites to guard against thermal breaking. A sandblasted finish is not recommended for an insulated glass unit because sandblasting reduces the strength of the glass.
No matter the type of glass, the material is installed or, when damaged, repaired by a glazier. People have known about glass for thousands of years, but few dare to handle it every day. Those who do are glaziers [gley-zher]; members of a select, little-known professional trade specializing in glass installation and restoration. As science and research continue to develop new glass products, the glazing profession becomes more complex. People with mechanical ability, detailed thinking, and hands-on work skill, who love a new challenge every day, are in high demand nationwide to join the glazing profession. The Glass Guru franchise owners recruit the best glaziers to be glass specialists, especially those who are certified by the National Glass Association (NGA). Our specialists are qualified to cut and handle all sizes and types of glass. Our skilled technicians will provide you with a positive service experience, delivering a quality service and installation on every job!
One of the biggest differences in glass types is their energy efficiency. Low-E, reflective and insulated glass contribute to energy efficiency by increasing the effectiveness of the insulating system. Energy efficiency is measured in two ways, the U-value and the R-value. The U-value is a measure of the heat gain or loss through glass due to the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures. The lower the U-value, the less heat is transmitted through the glass. The R-value measures the overall resistance to heat transfer. The R-value is the reciprocal of the U-value. The higher the R-Value, the less heat is transmitted through the glass. For example, a material with an R-value of 19 is a much better insulator than one with an R-value of 6.
Basically, glass is sand; a high-quality silica sand, to which other materials are added. The resulting mixture is called a batch. Other materials in the batch are salt cake, limestone, dolomite, feldspar, soda ash, and powdered cullet. Cullet is broken glass. It remains from a previous batch or from the edges that remain after a batch of glass has been formed and cut to size. Adding cullet helps the batch melt easily. Glass making is done by melting and cooling the batch. As the batch cools, it becomes solid without forming crystals. Crystals are three-dimensional building blocks that make a substance internally rigid. The lack of crystals makes glass technically a liquid, not a solid. It also makes glass transparent.
Low-emissivity glass, commonly called Low-E glass, is a type of reflective glass that is gaining in popularity, especially in residential and office applications. Low-E coatings are very thin metallic coatings that reduce visible light transmission by about 10 percent compared to uncoated glass. They are applied using either the vacuum (sputter) or the pyrolytic process.
Reflective glass is clear or tinted glass that has a very thin layer of metal or metallic oxide on the surface. The reflective coating is applied during the float process. The thicker the glass is, the less light will pass through the window. The reflective coating reduces heat gain and glare from the outside while allowing visible light to enter. Characteristics of reflective glass include:
Appearance: Reflective glass gives a building a mirror-like appearance. The coatings are available in silver, copper, gold, and earth tone. They can be combined with tinted glass to give a building a beautiful exterior. Visibility: Reflective glass permits you to see through the glass on one side, but not the other.
Energy savings: Because it reflects and absorbs the sun's rays, reflective glass reduces the amount of solar radiation that enters the building. This can save money in heating and air-conditioning costs.
Comfort: Reflective glass reduces variations in the interior temperature of a building.
Bullet-resistant glass is made of several layers of laminate and glass. In between the glass is a polycarbonate material that absorbs the energy of a bullet. The thicker the glass, the higher impact it can withstand. There is even a one-way bulletproof glass that enables the victim to shoot back, but not to be struck.
Laminated glass, sometimes called “lami,” is made by placing a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) between two or more glass lites. The PVB can be clear or tinted and commonly varies in thickness from .015" to .090", but it can be as thick as .120" for special applications. The entire unit is then fused under heat and pressure in a special oven called an autoclave. The laminating process can be performed on clear, tinted, reflective, heat-strengthened, or tempered glass.
Laminated glass is used in safety glazing applications. However, it has many other applications, such as burglar resistance, sound reduction, sloped glazing, and space enclosures. Laminated glass is used as the inboard lite in skylights. By varying the thickness and color of the PVB, laminated glass can be used to reduce the transmission of solar energy, control glare, and screen out ultraviolet radiation, similar to reflective glass.
Wire glass is made by feeding a welded wire net of a particular design into the molten glass just before it enters the rollers. The wire does not add to the strength of the glass but it does hold the lite (a cut piece of glass) in the window sash if it shatters. Wire glass is used in fire-rated windows and doors because it meets most fire codes. For these applications, all the wires must be embedded in the glass. However, even though it meets fire codes, wired glass is not strengthened glass. In fact, it has only one-half the strength of annealed glass of the same thickness. In addition, wired glass cannot be tempered.
Tempered glass, (also known as toughened glass) is made by heating annealed glass uniformly. The annealed glass is then cooled rapidly by blowing air uniformly onto both surfaces at the same time. This is known as air quenching. Rapid cooling increases the compression forces on the surface and the tension forces inside the glass. Tempered glass can be from 1/8" to 3/4" thick. Tempered glass is about four times stronger than a lite of annealed glass of the same size and thickness. The only characteristic of the annealed glass affected by tempering is its bending or tensile strength. Tempering increases the tensile strength of glass. This makes tempered glass better able to resist the forces caused by heat, wind, and impact. Tempering does not change:
- The color, chemical composition, or light transmission characteristics of the annealed glass
- Its compression strength (the ability of the glass to resist crushing forces)
- The rate at which the glass conducts and transmits heat
- The rate at which the glass expands when heated
- The stiffness of the glass
Safety glass is glass that is specifically designed to be less likely to break, and less prone to inflicting injury when it breaks. It also includes glass that is manufactured for strength or fire resistance.
Patterned glass is made by passing it through rollers that have patterns on them. The pattern is transferred to one or both sides of the glass. Each manufacturer of patterned glass has several unique patterns. Patterned glass can be used for either decoration or privacy. The glass is typically whiter in color than clear glass. Depending on its use, it can be laminated to use for safety glass as well.
Rolled glass is manufactured by pouring glass from the furnace into a series of rollers. It is then shaped to the desired thickness, annealed, and cut to size. The two basic types of rolled glass are patterned and wired. Patterned glass is also called figured glass, obscure glass, and decorative glass. It is available in thicknesses from 1/8" to 3/8".
Float glass is extremely smooth, distortion-free glass used in many window applications. It also provides the material for many other forms of glass, including tinted glass (heat absorbing) and laminated glass.
Float glass is made by pouring the molten glass from a furnace into a chamber that contains a bed of molten tin. The process is sometimes called the Pilkington Process. The atmosphere inside the chamber is carefully controlled. The glass floats on the tin and forms itself in the shape of the container. It spreads 90 to 140 inches wide at a thickness determined at the time of manufacture.
The upper surface of the glass is called the airside or score side. It is polished with fire. The lower surface is called the tin side. It is not fire-polished. From the chamber, the glass enters an oven, called a lehr. There it is slowly cooled at a specific rate. This process, called annealing, relieves the glass of internal stresses. The rate of cooling is crucial to the success of the final product. The glass emerges from the lehr at room temperature as a continuous ribbon. It is flat, fire-finished on the top, and has smooth, parallel surfaces. Automatic cutters trim the edges and cut the glass to length.
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People and Products Our Customers Rely On
We build our customer’s trust in The Glass Guru by serving with integrity, bringing knowledge, quality, and professionalism to the glass industry, one community at a time.Glass services available at these locations
Locations in United States
- Albany, NY
- Atascocita, TX
- Austin North, TX
- Austin South, TX
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Bellingham, WA
- Blaine, MN
- Boca Raton, FL
- Brentwood, CA
- Carlsbad, CA
- Charleston, SC
- Chattanooga, TN
- College Station, TX
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Columbia, SC
- Columbus, GA
- Corvallis-Albany, OR
- Daytona, FL
- Denver South, CO
- Denver West, CO
- Duluth, MN
- East Birmingham, AL
- East Columbus, OH
- Edmond, OK
- Elk Grove, CA
- Everett, WA
- Fairfield-Vacaville, CA
- Folsom, CA
- Fort Collins, CO
- Frisco, TX
- Glenwood Springs, CO
- Grand Junction, CO
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Greeley, CO
- Gurnee, IL
- Hendersonville, TN
- Honolulu, HI
- Indianapolis North, IN
- Indianapolis South, IN
- Johns Creek, GA
- Katy, TX
- Knoxville, TN
- Levittown, PA
- Longview, TX
- Lubbock, TX
- Macedonia, OH
- Mason, OH
- Meadowlands, NJ
- Melbourne, FL
- Memphis, TN
- Mobile, AL
- Newark, OH
- O'Fallon, MO
- Olathe, KS
- Plano, TX
- Port St. Lucie, FL
- Redlands, CA
- Redmond, WA
- Roseville, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- Sarasota, FL
- SE Orlando, FL
- Sheboygan, WI
- Sherman, TX
- South Cincinnati, OH
- Southlake, TX
- Spring, TX
- Springfield, MO
- Stockton, CA
- Temecula, CA
- Torrance, CA
- Traverse City, MI
- Tyler, TX
- Warner Robins, GA
- West Columbus, OH
- West Fort Worth, TX
- West Minneapolis, MN
- Wichita, KS
- Yuba City, CA