Options for replacing glass on top of dresser

April 23, 2015 5:11 AM

This morning I dropped something hard on top of a dresser and cracked the glass on top. How do I get this fixed / replaced?

The glass sheet is 17 5/16" W x 60 12/16" L x 1/4" H.

Most of the glass is fine, just that end is broken. Are there any options for fixing besides replacing the entire thing?

If we are are replacing, are there any materials besides glass that we should consider? Glass is heavy and prone to shattering, it doesn't strike me as the best material to protect furniture.

Thanks!

posted by Tehhund to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

Best answer: Just go to a glazier and get them to cut you a sheet of the right size and polish the sharp edges away. It’s not as if glass is particularly expensive.
posted by pharm at 5:17 AM on April 23, 2015 [4 favorites]

Pharm is right, glass shops do this all the time. You can't repair it, just buy another piece with the correct dimensions. You probably want tempered glass.
posted by Grumpy old geek at 5:24 AM on April 23, 2015

The glass is there to protect the wood. You could just take off the glass and replace it with nothing, but the top of the dresser will get marked up. You could also put down a dresser scarf or doily or table runner. You could put down anything you like the looks of.
posted by mskyle at 5:51 AM on April 23, 2015 [2 favorites]

Toughened glass is the usual thing, and it's easy to get hold of custom sized sheets. For example, there's a big market in glass splashbacks for kitchens, which have to be toughened because of the heat from the stove.

Just make sure you get the measurements right first time. Once the glass has been tempered it's not possible to cut it, so you're stuck with the size you get.
posted by emilyw at 6:21 AM on April 23, 2015

Tempered glass can be quite expensive, so I will second getting the measurements right. Non-tempered glass is not generally recommended for that use because it can break so easily and makes sharp shards. However, from the way your piece broke I would say it was regular glass. I always use tempered glass because we have young kids and it is a lot tougher than regular glass.
posted by fimbulvetr at 6:30 AM on April 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

You could also get fiberglass, plexiglass, Lexan, or another plastic if you prefer. My mom restores furniture and usually goes that route for kids' rooms, work surfaces, that sort of thing. I think she usually gets hers cut for her at the hardware store, but it can be ordered online too and is light to ship. Just make sure you measure at least twice.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:47 AM on April 23, 2015 [1 favorite]