Are you intrigued and want to learn more about how floating glass shelves can enhance the look of just about any space? We thought so.
Let’s explore some glass textures, benefits and what you may need to consider before beginning your floating glass shelf installation.
Are floating glass shelves strong enough?
You may be wondering whether floating glass shelves are strong enough. And to answer your question, yes, they are.
Before beginning the installation process, you must first choose the right kind of glass for your corner glass shelf. We highly recommend either tempered glass or plexiglass as the best options for your floating glass shelves installations.
Why tempered glass? Tempered glass is strong and more durable than other glass materials. In fact, tempered glass is four-times stronger than regular glass materials. They are even stronger than wood. Surprising, right?
And unlike wood and metal, tempered glass isn’t at high to risk to deteriorate over time.
As for plexiglass, while it offers similar features, such as durability, it can also be cut and reshaped for a better fit and placement during the installation process. In fact, some would suggest that for these reasons, plexiglass is better for tight and small spaces.
You must be mindful, however, that plexiglass floating shelves are more unlikely to hold tons of weight, more so than tempered glass. Therefore, these materials are better suited for lightweight placements.
Some essential benefits of glass shelves?
Some essential benefits of glass shelves include, but are not limited to:
- They are visually appealing to the eye
- Inexpensive to install
- Resistant to breaking and shattering
- Their transparency allows for lots of natural light into a space
- Which leads to illuminating a room and lighting effects
- They can create the illusion of having more space
- There’s versatility in styling and placement
- Ease of maintenance and cleaning
Why do floating shelves sag?
Unfortunately, one challenge in floating glass shelves installation is their ability to sag. Time, wear and tear, or over usage may all be contributing factors to why these kinds of shelves may sag. Sagging may also be due to weak shelf clamps, brackets or mounting screws. Other contributing factors for why your floating glass shelves may sag over time could be in part to placing heavy items on your fixtures. Those that exceed its weight limit. However, don’t worry it is totally normal.
When your floating glass shelves start to sag, they can become less attractive and even dangerous. Should they lose their grip and fall, someone can be injured or the flooring or material below it may suffer damages. You’ll then have to reinstall and reset your floating glass shelf fixture to its previous state.
The reinstallation process, thankfully, is a pretty easy one and doesn’t require the assistance of a handyman. With simple step-by-step instructions you’ll be able to do it yourself.
How do you make your floating shelves stronger?
If you’re replacing previous floating glass shelves then you’ll want to replace shelf clamps, brackets and screws. You’ll also want to get ones that are much more durable and stronger to ensure security and hold.
Consider how much weight you want to support with the shelf. If your previous installation did not support the amount of weight you needed, then consider getting thicker glass, stronger brackets or clamps to enhance its strength, support and durability.
During your installation process, you’ll need tools like the ones listed below to complete your project:
- Glass shelves, of course
- Goggles
- Pencil
- Screwdriver
- Drill
- Hammer
- Measuring tape
- Mounting brackets or clamps, toggle bolts, molly type wall anchors
- Adhesive Caulking
- Level
It’s also important to test the security and weight of the shelf before completing the project and adding items on top of your newly installed or updated floating glass shelf.
Need assistance in choosing and buying the right kind of glass for your floating glass shelf?
Simply click on Glass Genius, a marketplace for local glass companies, contractors, interior designers, and consumers for buying and selling glass and mirror products. It has experts and professionals who are ready and available to assist you in finding the best glass and materials for your budget.
