DIY Tempered Glass Coffee Table

Making a coffee table with tempered glass requires a base of some sort to fit your decor and the tempered glass, which can be ordered to size. The base can be made simply with objects from around the house such as large planter urns, or with more work and the right tools it can be crafted out of wood. Tempered glass needs to be cut to your specifications, then heated for the tempering process. Does this Spark an idea?

Base Construction

It is important that the base be level and the right proportions to accommodate glass of the size that you require for the coffee table. You will also need something to provide padding between the base and the glass such as adhesive rubber bumpers or silicone. The material for the base can consist of anything you want, from cement blocks, bricks, stumps, or planter urns, to handcrafted wood. Make sure the objects you use are securely fastened together and level to ensure the glass does not slide off and break.

Glass Selection

There are many options for the size, shape, thickness and and color of tempered glass you can order. The shape can be anything you desire, but there are standard shapes that are less expensive than custom-designed and cut shapes. Some options for shape include oval, rectangle or square. The edge is another consideration, especially if you have children. Rounded corners and edges would be safer than squared corners and straight edges. You can also have the edge beveled for a classy look. The colors offered for tempered glass usually include shades of bronze or gray, and the thickness varies from about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch, though a standard thickness for tables is 3/8 inch.

Installation

Once the base has been put together and the glass obtained, it can be installed on the base. Some sort of buffer between the glass and the base should be used so that the glass is not damaged by contact with the base, especially if the base is made of hard materials. Tempered glass that has been damaged with even small scratches is more likely to break. The tempered glass should be handled with care as it is placed on the rubber bumpers or silicon buffer. Once the glass is in place, silicon can also be used to secure it to the base if required for safety purposes.