Good morning folks,
Re the last couple of takes on glass to cabinets posted by Jim and Bruce, here's another few cents worth:
I agree that safety glass should be used lower, (below 36" AFF. There are 3 types that qualify as safety glass: 1. tempered, (or heat strengthened 2. Laminated, and 3. Wired, (which is mainly used in fire-reated walls and doors and not aesthetically suitable for cabinets).
For cabinets, I would suggest that tempered is by far the best choice than laminated for a number of reasons.
1. Tempered is much stronger and better able to resist impacts. It is 4 to 6 times stronger than regular float glass of the same thickness, whereas laminated is only about .8 the strength of regular glass.
2. The minimum thickness of laminated available is 6mm or 1'4", (2 layers of 3mm either side of a .015" vinyl interlayer), which I assume is thicker than can normally be accommodated in cabiet doors. Tempered, or heat strenthened can be ordered as thin as 1/8" thick.
3. While laminated can be cut and have holes drilled, it is labour intensive and subject to a likelihood of breakage. One side must be cut first, then the interlayed burned through usually by pouring and lighting alcohol, then turned over to cut the other side. Drilling it, usually results in breaking at least one out of three pieces.
4. Often desireable in cabinets, tempered glass, (although this has to be done before the tempering process), can easily have fancy edgework done.; E.g. various dimensions of bevels, flat or round polished, bull-nosed, etc.
5. Relative costs: I'm surprised that Jim and Bruce were quoted considerably more for tempered over laminated because I know for a fact the local glass or millwork shops' costs are close to the same for either.........in the $4 per sq.ft. range. Like with most things, very small orders or sizes would cost more. Assuming they mark up their cost about 50%, you should be charged these approx. prices:
6mm tempered or laminated......$6/sq.ft.
Holes drilled..............................$15 ea.
Polished edges..........................$.015 to .025 cents per lin. inch.
Pattern cutting,other than square or rectangular).......$20 ea.
Notches.......................$20 ea.
Bevelled edges.............$.015 to $.030 cent per inch
These days, rather than cut and fabricate the glass themselves, most local glass shops order these types of glasses from big city manufacturers who have high-tech tempering, aminating, edging, cutting and fabrication equipment. Turn around time should be no more than one to two weeks. To order the glass, provide your supplier with sizes, (or cardboard templates if odd shapes), hole diameters and distances from edges to center of holes, edgework details, (round or flat or pencil polished an size of bevel; e.g. 1/4" to 1"), etc.
Now what was the original question? Oh ya; laminated or tempered glass in lower portions of cabinet. Go tempered for sure. Just make sure you get sizes and fabrication details right the first time.
Cheers,
Brian