While glass desks are undeniably stylish, some people worry about their durability. After all, glass is a pretty fragile material. So, can a glass desk break?
The answer is yes, a glass desk can break. However, it’s actually not as fragile as you might think. The most common reason for a glass desk to break is if it’s hit with a heavy object. So, if you have a glass desk, it’s important to be careful not to bang into it or drop anything heavy on it.
Another common reason for glass desks to break is if they’re placed in an area where there are drastic changes in temperature. For example, if you put a glass desk near a window where the sun shines in directly, the heat can cause the part of the glass to expand and this can cause an explosion-like break.
So, while a glass desk can break, it’s actually not as fragile as you might have thought. Just be careful with it. Acknowledge the fact it probably has a lower weight capacity than many other desks (check the exact weight capacity with the supplier), but probably more than enough for everything you need. With a little extra care, you shouldn’t have much to worry about.
Can A Glass Table Top Break On its own?
Yes, a glass table top can break on its own, but usually only if it’s damaged or flawed in some way. For example, if there’s a big chip or crack in the glass, it’s more likely to break.
While a glass table top can break on its own, it is much less likely than if it were hit with a heavy object. If your desk has broken on its own, it’s very likely that:
- The glass already had a crack or weakness
- The sun broke it
- An object hit the desk while you were out of the room
The most common reason for a glass table top seeming to break by itself is that it already had a weakness to it. This weakness could be caused by you, for example, you could accidentally drop a coffee cup on your desk and leave a small crack or scratch on the desk. Weaknesses could also have been created during the manufacturing, due to a slight abnormality while the glass was being produced. Or a weakness can just be created over time from your table having to bear a heavy weight over a long period of time. If glass already has a fault, the chance of it appearing to break on its own is much higher.
Another way a table top can break by itself is due to the sun heating the desk, causing some it to expand. When the sun hits a glass surface, the side of the glass being hit first will heat up faster than the other side. This can cause the glass to warp, making it very weak or it could even explode spontaneously!
A glass table top can break on its own is if an object hits it while you’re not in the room. This is probably the least likely reason for your table top breaking by itself but there is a chance it could cause the glass to break. Let’s say, above your desk, you have some shelves with a vase on them. It’s possible your pet could have knocked this vase onto your desk, causing it to seemingly break on its own. You can hear some glass makers talking about why, how & when glass can break on its own.
If your glass table top has started to break on its own, it’s best to get it replaced as soon as possible. A cracked or broken table top can be dangerous, so it’s not worth the risk of this causing your table top to break. There are a few other ways a glass desk could break but these are rarer occurrences. If you want to avoid your glass desk breaking then we have some preventative measures you can take below.
Can A Tempered Glass Desk Shatter?
Yes, a tempered glass desk can shatter. Tempered glass is five times stronger than regular laminate glass because it’s treated with a heat process that makes it more durable. But that doesn’t mean tempered glass can’t shatter.
When a tempered glass piece breaks, it shatters into small chunks rather than sharp shards. This is why tempered glass is used regularly for desks. It is much less likely to break, and much less dangerous when it does.
If tempered glass is hit by a heavy object, it’s more likely to break into smaller pieces rather than shatter. So, if you have a tempered glass desk, you don’t need to worry about it shattering into dangerous shards.
How Can I Avoid My Glass Desk Breaking?
When glass already had a fault, such as a small crack, it is very possible that at some point in the future, simply leaning on the desk could cause breakage to occur. If you have a glass desk, it’s important to check it regularly for any cracks or chips.
If you think that your desk could be susceptible to sun damage, then it’s important to move it to a different location. Or, if relocating your desk is not possible, put a sunshade over it to protect it from the direct sunlight.
If you think that your desk has been hit by an object, then it’s important to check for any damage. If there are any chips or cracks, then it’s likely that the desk will need to be replaced.
A common way to injure yourself is actually falling through a faulty glass table. So as a precaution you could avoid putting too much of your body weight on the desk if you suspect your desk is faulty in order to avoid injury.
You should know the weight capacity of your desk. The weight load a glass desk can carry is significantly lower than what a standard office desk can hold. Make sure that the weight of the items on your desk it lower than this, otherwise you are massively increasing the chance of running into problems with your glass desk.
There is always the possibility of you dropping something on your desk, but this shouldn’t scare you away from glass desks. In my opinion, glass furniture looks too good to be avoided out of fear. With a bit of care, you can massively reduce the risk of your glass desk breaking.
