The storefront of retail or commercial structures serves several roles. Choosing the right type of glass for your storefront comes with considerations of safety, aesthetics, quality, and energy efficiency. You can choose glass with one purpose in mind, or several. Here are some of the more popular types of glass commercial businesses tend to use for their storefronts.
Clear or Transparent Glass
Clear glass is a traditional choice for storefronts and for good reason. Since people can see what’s behind the glass, it gives business owners a good opportunity to highlight their wares. Also, people who provide a service can show the confidence they have in their skills by allowing passersby to look in to see what they’re doing and how they’re doing it.
Tinted or Coated Glass
When a business uses tinted glass, they give their patrons a modicum of privacy but just enough transparency that people can still peek inside. In addition, tinted glass can work well for storefronts that take on the brunt of the sun during the day. The tints can help block harsh UV light and help to keep the inside of the store cooler during hot weather
Tinted glass also adds a little security to a storefront, especially after dark when the tint keeps people from easily seeing inside after the business closes. Tints can range in shade, and you can add coatings to give the glass a tint as well as extra protection.
Frosted Glass
Frosted glass accomplishes many of the same things as tinted glass, but has a different aesthetic. This type of glass adds brightness to the storefront while also serving to grant some privacy. Still, this glass helps to filter out the harshness of the sun while still allowing natural light in. Businesses that want more interior privacy while maintaining an open feeling should consider frosted glass.
Safety Glass
Safety glass is an umbrella term for all types of glass designed to promote security and protection. You can have clear, tinted, or frosted safety glass. The difference is your glass will have a better chance of withstanding blunt force, attack, or accidents that would normally break the glass. Some types of safety glass can include tempered glass, security glass, laminated glass, and wired glass.
Many of these glass types also offer other benefits. For example, laminated glass helps prevent damage, but it also helps to insulate the interior from sound and UV light. If your business has a higher risk of a specific type of damage occurring, speak with a commercial glass professional about choosing the safety glass best suited for that risk.
Some types of safety glass serve to keep people safe in case the glass breaks. For example, tempered glass has strength, but if it breaks, the pieces will crumble into smaller glass balls that have less of a chance of hurting someone.
