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Understanding the Durability of Glass Countertops

You don’t mind paying extra for something that holds its value, especially when it comes to household additions like new countertops. You’re strongly considering glass counters for your kitchen or bathroom but have concerns about their strength and longevity.

Well, worry no more, as this guide will tell you everything you need to know about glass counter durability.

First, let’s clear up a common misconception. The glass we use at our CBD Glass studios to construct accent pieces like countertops or kitchen islands is not the same as window or mirror glass. It’s not shatterproof, but it would take a lot of intentional effort to break it.

That’s unlike window glass, which breaks far easier.

Glass is a more durable material than most people think, and it only takes looking at the Mohs scale to realize it. This scale dictates the hardness of materials from talc to diamond.

The lowest rating on the Mohs scale is a 1, and the highest is a 10. So where does glass rank? It’s a 5.5 to a 7 on the Mohs scale.

It’s harder than apatite, talc, calcite, fluorite, and gypsum but not as hard as quartz or diamond. A copper penny has a 3.5 on the Mohs scale and a fingernail 2.5 or comparison.

There are yet more ways glass makes a durable countertop material choice besides hardness. It’s also heat-resistant, capable of withstanding temperatures between 250 and 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can place a hot pan, pot, or tray on your glass counter or kitchen island directly after cooking, and the glass won’t be any worse for wear.

A glass counter has no crevices, nooks, and crannies for dirt and grime to hide, as it’s a nonporous surface. You won’t have to worry about your counter looking its age as time goes by. The nonporousness of glass also means bacteria and viruses can’t hide, so you’ll stay healthier too.

Glass is stain-resistant. You can spill the harshest kitchen products, like citrus juice, wine, cooking grease, vegetable oil, or tomato juice, and your counters will be fine. They will not stain no matter what you pour on them.

If you scratch glass, you can buff it out. This will restore the quality and appearance of your counters so you can enjoy them once more.

You only need toothpaste and a damp microfiber cloth. You can buff out minor scratches by rubbing circularly, but this won’t work for deeper scratches and gouges.

Glass countertops are durable in every way imaginable, as we hope we’ve illustrated. They can withstand the hands of time, minor scratches, hot kitchen items, spills, and everyday impacts and still look beautiful and timeless.

Plan your custom glass countertops today by calling CBD Glass. We offer free quotes with your project specs.