Looking for replacement glass for outdoor table

bobdauilda

Woke up this a.m feeling fine.... looked out onto the deck to see that the glass top of our outdoor table has shattered into a million and one pieces! Nothing has landed on it from what I can see, but I am glad that the kids weren't out there when it happened. Has anyone else had this kind of problem with glass outdoor tables shattering spontaneously? Any ideas where I can get a replacement piece of glass and how much it would be? Its the grey glass topped table that B&Q were selling up until last year.:beer:

travel_freak

Wow, that does sound dangerous! Did you buy it recently as I thought glass in tables like that should be the toughened variety which certainly shouldn't shatter as you describe - and certainly not spontaneously!

If it's from B&Q I'd report it to them and see if they can help get you a replacement, as you say it could have been really dangerous for children/pets or if you were eating off it at the time!!

If B&Q can't help then I'd say perhaps look in your local Yellow Pages for a glazier and see if they can cut you a replacement piece using toughened glass. I've no idea as to price I'm afraid.

Good luck and be careful to collect up all the shards!!

Regards

bobdauilda

Thanks travel_freak
The glass has shattered into tiny squares like the type you find on automobiles after a crash. (which i think is toughened as opposed to safety glass which is laminated onto plastic film)Thankfully its slightly less dangerous to clean up but I am amazed that its happened. I shall give B&Q a call but suspect that they wont be interested.

I think I am cursed as far as glass is concerned as I recently went to pick up a wine glass from the draining board and it exploded as my hand got within millimetres of it!

myrnahaz

Toughened glas IS a form of safety glass. The idea is that the little square bits are less lethal than long shards (which will cause little cuts if it's not handled carefully, but are too small to do any serios damage). Toughened glass is actually much stronger than laminated glass, which is just ordinary glass bonded together with a sheet of plastic-ish material which holds it all together if it breaks. Therefore, toughened glass is still the best option for a table top. Your local glass supplier or glazing firm will be able to order a new sheet in around 3-5 days. They'll also give you a quote over the phone.

myrnahaz

bobdauilda wrote: »

...Nothing has landed on it from what I can see, ..

Toughened glass is most weak on its edge. You can drop quite heavy weights on it's surface and it'll be fine, but just tap it sharply on the edge and it can shatter. It's possible that it was actually damaged some time ago, maybe something caused a small chip in the glass (a weak spot) that could cause it to shatter if there was a sudden drop in temperature, for example.

bobdauilda

myrnahaz wrote: »

Toughened glas IS a form of safety glass. The idea is that the little square bits are less lethal than long shards (which will cause little cuts if it's not handled carefully, but are too small to do any serios damage). .

Thanks, I apologise if you thought I was saying it wasn't an appropriate glass for the table, which I wasn't! You sound like an expert on the topic so can you explain why it should have just exploded like this? :beer:

bobdauilda

myrnahaz wrote: »

Toughened glass is most weak on its edge. You can drop quite heavy weights on it's surface and it'll be fine, but just tap it sharply on the edge and it can shatter. It's possible that it was actually damaged some time ago, maybe something caused a small chip in the glass (a weak spot) that could cause it to shatter if there was a sudden drop in temperature, for example.

Thanks again-You posted as I was typing the other one! The glass sits within a recessed aluminium frame so the edges are protected by the metal. It was a very warm day here yesterday but there was no huge drop in overnight temps from what I can tell. Just bad luck me thinks.

bobdauilda

Had several quotes for replacement of the black toughened glass top 62"x36"(8mm thickness mixing metric and imperial!!)--- cheapest is £149!!!! Table didn't cost me that as it was in the sales when I got it. Moral of the story- never buy a glass topped outdoor table!