Can glass be cut to fit a round or oval table?

Yes. Round and oval tops are cut from a diameter or, better, a paper template, since many round tables aren't perfectly round. The edge is then polished all the way around. Tell the pro whether the glass should match the table edge exactly or sit slightly inside it.

Is ordinary glass OK for an outdoor table, or does it need tempering?

Use tempered. An outdoor top goes through heat, cold and sudden rain, and gets leaned on. Tempered glass handles that far better and breaks into small, blunt pieces if it does go. Patio tops were almost certainly tempered to begin with, so the replacement should match.

How thick should glass shelves be?

It depends on the shelf's length, its supports and what it holds. Short cabinet shelves supported at both ends can be thin. Long spans, heavy books or small brackets need heavier glass. Tell the pro the span and the load, and they'll size it rather than guess.

How do I measure glass for a replacement tabletop?

Measure the table, or the frame's ledge on a patio table, not the broken glass. Take two measurements each way on a rectangle and several across a round top. For anything odd, trace a paper template and photograph it on the table with a tape measure across it. The pro checks before cutting.

Can a single small piece of glass be cut?

Yes, one shelf or one small top is an ordinary request. Share the size and a picture in a tabletop or shelf request, and a local pro who cuts to order takes it from there. If a mirror cut to size or shower glass needs sorting too, mention it; the pro may handle both on one visit.

Tabletops & shelves

Tabletops and shelves in cut glass

A protective top for a good wood table. A new top for the patio set after the old one shattered. Shelves for a bathroom, a curio cabinet or a shop's display case. Small jobs, and welcome ones, like every glass service we pass on. We connect you with a local glass professional who sizes the piece, finishes the edges and has it tempered when that's called for. The work is mostly measuring right and choosing tempered or ordinary glass.

Protective tops, patio tops and shelves
Tempered where it matters, explained plainly
One piece is enough to ask about

Get a free quote 905-470-3454

A thin protective top over an oak table, with polished edges and rounded corners.

Protective tops

A glass top to protect a wood table or desk

A thin sheet of glass over a dining table, desk or dresser takes the scratches and ring marks instead of the wood. Clear rubber pads stop it sliding and let the wood breathe. The edge should be polished, since it's at hand height, with corners eased or rounded to match. For heavy daily use, the pro may suggest tempered glass so a dropped pot doesn't crack it.

Measuring up

Measuring a top or shelf, and when to trace it instead

Rectangles
Measure edge to edge in two places each way, and decide whether the glass sits flush or a little in.
Rounds and ovals
Measure across in several directions. If the numbers differ, it isn't a true circle, so trace it instead.
Odd shapes
Lay kraft paper over the top, trace the edge and trim it. Mark the top side and any notch for a post, then photograph it on the table.
Shelves
Measure front and back, since cabinets are rarely square.

Patio tables

When the patio table top breaks

Patio tops are tempered, which is why a broken one ends up as a heap of small pieces on the deck. The replacement should be tempered too. Measure the frame's inside ledge, not the old glass, and note where the umbrella hole sits. Frosted or textured tops can be matched. If the frame is rusted where the glass rests, fix that first, or the new top can chip.

Glass shelves

Shelves for cabinets, bathrooms and shop displays

Inside a closed cabinet, ordinary glass with polished edges is often fine. In a bathroom, or anywhere a shelf could get knocked, tempered is safer. Shopkeepers order the same pieces for display cases. Bracket shelves need holes or notches cut before tempering, so bring the brackets. Cabinet door inserts and other odd pieces are on custom-cut glass.

What affects the quote

What changes the quote for a tabletop or shelf

Size and thickness
Tempered or ordinary annealed glass
Shape: rectangle, round, oval or templated
Edge finish and corner radius
Holes for an umbrella or brackets
Pickup or delivery

Send the numbers with a photo. Ontario quotes add HST; ask whether it's included.

Get a tabletop or shelf quote

Free quotes from independent local pros.

Choosing the specs

Thickness, edge finish and corner shape: three choices

Thickness

Set by span and load. The pro sizes it for what it will carry.

Edges

Flat polish, pencil or bevel. Anything you touch should be polished.

Corners

Square, eased, or rounded to match the furniture.

Common questions

Questions about tops and shelves

Explore your options

Pros cut tabletops and shelves for homes and shops around Durham, including Whitby, North Oshawa, Courtice and Ajax.

Trace the top or measure it, then send a photo

Send the measurements or a template photo, and a picture of the table or cabinet. We pass it to a local glass pro who does tabletop and shelf work, and they get back to you with a quote. One piece is fine.