One of the most common and dangerous glass breakages in the home is from children breaking low light window glass. This is really dangerous for young children if the glass happens to be float glass, because it is the most common and cheapest of all glass and was used widely. Float glass is more common in older homes, especially old internal sliding doors. When float glass breaks or smashes, it does so into a myriad of jagged and sharp edged sizes and shapes. Children can easily hurt themselves more severely around broken float glass for these obvious reasons.

The solution here is to swap float glass out for either laminated safety glass or tempered/toughened safety glass. Sometimes it depends on your budget or type of window as to what is suitable, but replacing float glass with either of these is much safer for your children and home. Here are the basic differences:

Laminated safety glass has layers of laminated sheets that the glass is bonded to. Think of it like a cake with a layer of glass on top and bottom with a layer of plastic between (there are multiple ways of laminating glass though). So when laminated safety glass breaks it is usually held together by the bonded laminated sheets. Check out our photo below of broken laminated safety glass.

Tempered/toughened safety glass has been heated and/or treated with chemicals which hardens the glass, making it stronger. Tempered/toughened safety glass can be up to four times stronger than standard glass (float glass). It also can bend more than standard glass so it is less likely to break when subjected to high winds. When tempered/toughened safety glass is broken it breaks into smaller chunks which are much less jagged and not as dangerous as broken float glass.

We inspect, identify, quote and rectify with professional and friendly service. All quotes and inspections are obligation and pressure free. All work 100% satisfaction guaranteed by professional glazier with over 25 years industry experience.