There are lots of types of shelves available for sale, each with their own benefits and downsides. Two popular options are glass shelves and wood. Here’s a comparison of the two to help you decide which one is better for your home.
Wood Shelving
This term is actually a little bit of a misnomer, as most wooden shelves currently manufactured aren’t made of solid wood. Usually, there’s a core of plywood or pressed wood, which is then covered by a veneer. You’ll also see wood shelves made of a substance called MDF, or multi density fiber board. These process make these shelves a lot lighter and cheaper, but they’re a little less weather proof and durable than traditional wood shelving. The highest quality options have a veneer of actual wood on top. Cheaper models will be coated in wood grained resins. Many engineered wood materials are made from recycled or cast off wood products, causing less waste than traditional wooden shelving. However, if you prefer a natural feel to your shelves, or want them to hold up over time, engineered wood is not a good choice. You’ll have to look to other materials.
Glass Shelves
Like wood shelves, glass shelving isn’t all created equal. There are different kinds of glass, each with its own breaking points and other characteristics. When you go shopping for glass shelves, one of the most important features to look for is a glass that’s unlikely to shatter, and that won’t easily chip. Cheaper shelves may have this problem, being made from untempered glass. Tempered glass is made not to shatter when dropped, and is unlikely to develop a chip or crack. In fact, your tempered glass shelves will hold up for a lifetime if treated well. It’s about twice as strong as ordinary glass, and well worth the extra cost.
Remember that the thickness of the glass shelves is one important component of finding out how strong they are. Thick shelves made of standard glass may be quite strong. However, they’re also a lot heavier than a thinner tempered glass. When you look for your glass shelves, check to make sure they have a rating that tells you how much weight the shelves will bear. If there’s no rating on the shelves themselves, ask a salesperson. Anyone who wants to store heavy items, such as books, should know how much their glass shelves will hold.
Glass shelves are often very attractive, and make great conversation pieces. However, if all you’re looking for is a utility shelf, a different material might be better. For beautiful shelves that are easy to maintain, however, you might want to take a second look at glass.
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