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Types of Glass Guide for Baltimore Homes and Businesses

Tempered, laminated, insulated, low-iron, frosted: the names get thrown around, and the differences matter. This plain-language guide explains what each type of glass does and where Baltimore Glass Company uses it in showers, storefronts, windows, and mirrors.

01

Tempered Glass

Best known for Strength and safety
Good to know Breaks into small, dull pieces
At home Shower doors and enclosures, glass beside doors
In business Storefront entry doors and sidelites

Tempered glass is standard glass that has been heat-treated so it is several times stronger. If it does break, it crumbles into small, dull pieces instead of long, sharp shards.

It cannot be cut, notched, or drilled after tempering, so every cut and hardware hole is made first. That is why we measure carefully before we order, and why we measure shower openings after the tile is finished.

Building codes call for safety glazing such as tempered glass in hazardous locations, including shower enclosures and glass in or beside doors.

See it in our shower enclosures and storefront glass.

Frameless hinged corner shower enclosure with clear tempered glass and chrome hardware in Baltimore, MD
Example: clear tempered glass on a frameless shower enclosure
02

Laminated Glass

Best known for Holding together, sound control
Good to know Cracks but stays in one piece
At home Windows on busy streets, skylights
In business Storefronts that want added security

Laminated glass bonds two layers of glass around a clear plastic interlayer. If it cracks, the pieces stay stuck to the interlayer, so the pane stays in one piece.

That same interlayer cuts outside noise and blocks most ultraviolet light. It is a smart pick where sound control, added security, or protection for furnishings and flooring matters.

Dark bronze aluminum storefront door and sidelites with glass in Baltimore, MD
Example: storefront door and sidelites, where added security matters
03

Insulated Glass Units

Best known for Energy efficiency
Good to know Fog between the panes means the seal has failed
At home Windows and patio doors
In business Storefront windows

An insulated glass unit, or IGU, is two panes of glass separated by a sealed air space, often filled with argon. That space slows heat moving through the window.

Over time the seal can fail and moisture gets between the panes. You will see fog or haze you cannot wipe away. When that happens, the sealed unit can be replaced without replacing the whole window frame.

That is exactly what we do. See insulated glass replacement for how it works.

Commercial storefront window glass in a black aluminum frame in Baltimore, MD
Example: large storefront window glass set in a black aluminum frame
04

Low-Iron Glass

Best known for Clarity and true color
Good to know Costs more than standard clear glass
At home Frameless showers, especially with white tile or marble
In business Display and showroom glass where color matters

Standard clear glass has a faint green tint, most visible along the edges. Low-iron glass has less iron in it, so it looks clearer and shows colors the way they really are.

The difference is easiest to see against white tile, marble, and light finishes. On darker tile it is subtler. We are glad to show you both side by side before you decide. For the cost impact, see our Shower Door Cost Guide.

Frameless sliding shower door with fixed panel and chrome hardware against light marble-look tile in Baltimore, MD
Example: clear glass against light marble-look tile, where clarity shows most
05

Frosted and Decorative Glass

Best known for Privacy that still lets light through
Good to know Priced differently from clear glass
At home Shower doors, bathroom windows, vanity areas
In business Restrooms and interior glass that needs privacy

Frosted, rain, textured, and patterned glass all scatter the view while letting daylight through. Each has its own look, from soft and even to rippled and pebbled.

Frosted glass is a popular upgrade on sliding and frameless shower doors, and a clean fix for a bathroom window that faces a neighbor. Ask about options when you request a quote.

Frosted glass sliding shower enclosure with matte black hardware in Baltimore, MD
Example: frosted glass on a sliding shower enclosure
06

Annealed Glass

Best known for The everyday standard, and the base of every mirror
Good to know Breaks into sharp shards, so it is not used where code calls for safety glass
At home Mirrors, picture frames, windows away from doors
In business Mirrors, display cases, interior glass out of hazard zones

Annealed glass is standard float glass that has been cooled slowly, so it can be cut to size. Most other glass types start here.

Mirror glass is annealed glass with a reflective coating. It is cut to your exact size and edge finish. See our custom mirrors.

Full-wall dance studio mirror installed above a ballet barre in Baltimore, MD
Example: a full-wall studio mirror, cut from annealed glass
The Glass Finder

Which Glass Goes Where

Find your project in the left column and read across.

Project Tempered Laminated Insulated Low-Iron Frosted
Shower door or enclosure ● ○ ○
Storefront entry door and sidelites ● ○ ○ ○
Storefront windows ○ ○ ● ○
Home windows and patio doors ○ ○ ● ○
Bathroom privacy glass ○ ●

● Typical choice ○ Available option. Your project may call for something different, and we confirm the right glass when we measure.

In the Field

Glass on Real Baltimore Jobs

Illuminated glass display wall panels in a commercial lobby in Baltimore, MD
Illuminated glass display wall in a commercial lobby
Frameless hinged shower door with chrome hardware and travertine tile in Baltimore, MD
Clear frameless shower door
Custom-cut shaped mirror wall art made in Baltimore, MD
Custom-cut shaped mirrors
Large frameless shower enclosure with bench and matte black hardware in Baltimore, MD
Large frameless enclosure with a built-in bench
Not Sure Which Glass You Need?

Let Us Measure and Recommend

Tell us what you are planning. We will check the opening, recommend the right glass for the job, and quote it in writing.

Request a Free Quote

Or call (443) 443-5585.

Glass Type Questions

  • What is the difference between tempered and laminated glass?

    Tempered glass is heat-treated for strength and crumbles into small, dull pieces if it breaks. Laminated glass bonds two layers around a plastic interlayer, so a cracked pane stays in one piece. Tempered is the usual choice for shower doors and storefront doors. Laminated is chosen for sound control and added security.

  • What kind of glass is used in a shower door?

    Tempered safety glass. Frameless doors commonly use 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch tempered glass, and framed and semi-frameless doors often use 1/4 inch or 3/8 inch. See our Shower Door Cost Guide for how thickness affects price.

  • What is low-iron glass, and is it worth it?

    Low-iron glass has less iron in it, so it looks clearer and shows less of the green tint standard glass has along its edges. It costs more than standard clear glass. It tends to be worth it with white tile, marble, or light finishes, where the tint is easiest to see.

  • Can I get privacy glass in a shower?

    Yes. Frosted, rain, textured, and patterned glass all give privacy while letting light through. They are priced differently from clear glass, so ask about options when you request a quote.

  • Why is there fog between the panes of my window?

    Fog or haze between the panes usually means the seal on an insulated glass unit has failed and moisture has gotten in. You cannot wipe it away. We replace the sealed glass unit without replacing the whole window frame. See insulated glass replacement.

  • Can tempered glass be cut after it is made?

    No. Tempered glass has to be cut, notched, and drilled before it is heat-treated. That is why we measure your opening carefully before we order, and why we measure shower openings after the tile is finished.

  • What glass do you use for storefronts?

    Storefront entry doors and sidelites use tempered safety glass. Storefront windows often use insulated glass for energy efficiency, and laminated glass is an option where added security or sound control matters. See our storefront glass page.

  • Do you work with the glass in my area?

    Yes. We serve Baltimore, Towson, Owings Mills, Cockeysville, Dundalk, and Annapolis, and nearby areas. Call (443) 443-5585 to check your address.

  • How do I get a quote?

    Call (443) 443-5585 or send the quote form. We schedule a time to measure and quote from the actual measurements.