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Thick glass (meaning any custom glass over 1" in thickness) is most often used horizontally for countertops, bars, islands, tables, and so on, but sometimes in upright positions such as backsplashes, decorative walls or wall dividers, signage, and artworks. It is available in multiple textures, in either Aqua Clear, Ultra Clear, or our Colorfuse™ thick glass.
The striking looks of the thick glass produced by Gomolka Design Studio are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. But beyond that, each and every piece of custom art glass also delivers in durability (compared for example to granite, with all of the natural structural flaws that create its unique patterns) and practicality (its smooth surface is quite easy to keep clean).
It’s a common misconception is that glass is fragile and breaks easy. This impression goes back to when glass was first used primarily in windows, mirrors, etc. However, with advancements in manufacturing the truth is that granite and glass have very similar properties.
Nowadays it is indisputable that in cases where thickness and application are similar, thick glass is actually stronger than granite or stone, as it is a much more dense and stucturally consistent material. Imagine a slab of granite at one quarter inch thick (¼”). It would break with significantly less force than ¼” glass, due to the pores, veins, and imperfections in the stone. Now if you imagine thicker glass at 1″ – 3″ thick, you’re talking about quite a substantial piece of material. Countertops with 3/4″ or less thickness can be tempered to harden the surface, creating an even safer, stronger piece.
So believe it or not, thick glass is much more durable than granites and synthetic compounds. It is a harder, denser material that scratches and chips less. When textures and colors are included in the glass, small scratches are nearly invisible, should they occur at all. When properly cared for there is virtually no change in appearance or durability over time!
Glass is an eco friendly natural silica product, and all of our thick glass products may be partially or completely recycled. Coatings applied to the surface however are not recyclable. When possible we use a percentage of recycled glass for every job. If protecting the environment is a concern, 100% solid glass is an excellent choice. This is particularly true when compared to manmade composite materials, many of which contain bits of reclaimed glass suspened in a composite base and are then marketed as "recycled glass".
Unlike many companies who import much or all of their products, often from China, all of our thick glass products are manufactured by us in our facility, which gives us control during the delicate process of manufacturing your custom glass project.
Our Aqua Clear and Ultra Clear thick glass countertops are available in 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″, 1-1/4″, 1-1/2″, 2″, 2-1/2″ and 3″. Thicker countertops are available upon special request. Colorfuse™ countertops are available in standard sizes1-1/4″, 1-1/2″, 2″, 2-1/2″, and 3″. Thicker Colorfuse™ countertops are available upon special request.
Besides Aqua Clear and Ultra Clear, other transparent colors are also available. Please call our office for more information.
For exclusive GDS Colorfuse™ products, see our color palette on our Colorfuse™ page.
PermaCoat™ is a permanent coating applied to the bottom surface of the glass. Although we have standard colors, any custom color can be matched. See our PermaCoat™ page.
All of our custom thick glass shapes are cut by either CNC or waterjet, making nearly any shape possible. Create a custom design and we will make it a reality!
Sizes up 80" x 120" are available, and as we continue to expand our capabilities we expect larger sizes to be available in the near future.
Almost any pattern or shape of cutouts for cook tops, lighting fixtures, power outlets, or sinks are available, limited only by the maximum dimensions mentioned above.
The impressive appearance of our thick glass can be further enhanced by shaping the edge of the glass in a variety of contours, from smooth and sleek to brash and energetic. Have a look through some of our galleries and you will see ample evidence of this, from ultramodern pieces to others that could be mistaken for glacial ice.
