Tempered and Standard Glass: What Is the Difference?

Standard glass, also called annealed glass, is cooled slowly after it is made. Tempered glass starts as standard glass, is heated again and then cooled quickly at its surfaces. That process makes it considerably stronger than standard glass of the same thickness, and it changes how the glass breaks.

Aluminium storefront double doors with pull handles

How each one breaks

standard glass breaks into large, sharp pieces
tempered glass breaks into many small pieces

What this means for a replacement

tempered glass cannot be cut or drilled after it is tempered, so each pane is made to the exact size and shape needed
because it is made to measure, a tempered replacement usually takes longer than cutting a piece of standard glass
glass in and around doors often has specific requirements; we confirm what applies to your opening before any work

If a pane is broken

If glass in a door or storefront is cracked or broken, keep people away from it and do not try to remove loose pieces yourself.

Requesting a replacement

Send photos of the opening and the damaged pane, the approximate size if you know it, and whether the glass is in a door, a frame or a storefront. Our Glass page describes the glass work we do.

Please do not send passwords, door or gate access codes, alarm codes, key numbers or key cutting (bitting) codes, or photos that show them.

We work in the Sacramento region, generally within about 80 miles. Sending a request does not book an appointment.

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