Tempered vs. Ceramic Glass for Fireplace Usage

Interested in customizing your fireplace with ornate materials and décor? Two of the most common material options you’ll have available to you are tempered and ceramic glass. But which is the best option for use in a fireplace?

Here’s an overview of everything you should know about choosing tempered or ceramic glass for your fireplace in Minneapolis, MN. Ask your custom glass contractor for more information or recommendations specific to your home.

Ceramic or tempered glass for fireplaces

Most fireplaces and wood-burning stoves have glass doors on their front that can be beautiful decorative elements. In most circumstances, those doors will be made out of either ceramic or tempered glass. The best kind of glass to use for your fireplace or stove door will depend on several factors.

Tempered glass is designed to hold up better to higher amounts of heat and pressure than standard glass. It is formed in the same way as regular glass, but with some extra heating or chemical processes. You’ll often find fireplace doors made with tempered glass, because the fireplaces will most frequently be used with the doors open.

Indoor stoves that burn wood, pellets or coal will generally have ceramic glass rather than tempered glass, because the stove is supposed to burn with the doors closed. This means there is a higher constant level of heat, which will often exceed the amount of heat that tempered glass is able to withstand. Ceramic glass also is designed to have lower resistance, meaning the amount of heat that escapes through the glass is significantly higher (which, again, makes sense given the purpose of these interior stoves).

A comparison of the two reveals there really is no comparison when it comes to the amount of heat each kind of glass is able to withstand. While tempered glass can hold up to temperatures of about 260 degrees Celsius (500 degrees Fahrenheit), ceramic glass can withstand temperatures of 648 degrees Celsius (1,200 degrees Fahrenheit).

Which should you choose?

If you’re in need of a new door for a fireplace, tempered glass is probably going to be your best bet. The level of heat protection it provides is more than sufficient, given the fact that you’ll have the doors open during fireplace usage. In addition, using tempered glass for your fireplace in Minneapolis, MN will be less expensive than ceramic glass, because it doesn’t need to provide the same level of durability. You can have standard tempered glass doors installed, or customize them to whatever shape or design you need for your fireplace.

Interested in learning more about the best ways to fully outfit your fireplace for long-term usage in your home? We encourage you to contact Custom Glass & Screen today with any questions, and we’d be happy to be of further assistance. We look forward to working with you and giving you the glass solutions you need to enjoy crackling, roaring fires for many years to come. Reach out via phone or through the contact form on our website!

Categorised in: Fireplace Glass

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