Toughened Glass Tables cut to size

What is the difference between a Glass Table Top and a Glass Table Cover?

We distinguish our core products with the following simple explanation: Table top – when the entire surface is glass, supported with a frame/or legs only. Table cover – when the glass is placed upon an existing surface, such as a wooden table or counter top.

How can I get a price for my glass?

If the online calculator isn’t working for you, please email  sales@tableglassonline.co.uk

It’s helpful for us to know the following points in order to price accurately; we use ‘mm’ for accuracy of measuring.

What width and length do you require the glass to be?

What thickness would you like the glass?

What is the glass being used for?

Do you want clear, low iron, frosted or tinted (grey or bronze) glass?

For solid/fully opaque coloured glass check out our handy DIY painting tips, we don’t currently offer black, brown or coloured painting services.

Do you want flat polished or unpolished edges?

Do you need a radius (rounded) corner, or would a dubbed or standard corner be sufficient?

Where is the glass delivery required (certain sizes and regions cost more for shipping) or would you prefer to collect from us in Chippenham, Wiltshire when the order is ready?

What toughened glass thickness should I choose? 

Thickness is determined by application, so for a glass table top 8mm and above is suitable. 4mm and 6mm are more suited to a table cover. 4mm is widely used for smaller table covers, less than 1000mm square, above this dimension 6mm is often advised. If unsure please feel free to contact us. 

Can I place hot plates and items directly on the glass?

The glass is toughened to the relevant British standards, however we would always advocate putting hot items on a mat or heat proof surface, as opoosed to staright on the glass table top.

Is the glass you supply Toughened? 

All of our glass is toughened (tempered) to the relevant UK standards. Glass does break and it is not a product that is guaranteed.

What glass type should I choose? 

Clear toughened is essentially standard glass whilst Optiwhite has a low iron content, which means less of a green tinge. If you are looking to paint your table top or cover, we advise Optiwhite as any colour applied is far truer in appearance. All our glass is toughened unless you ask for float glass specifically. Optiwhite low iron glass is NOT opaque white glass.

I need a hole in my glass for a parasol, what size do you I need?

The most common hole diamter is 50mm, however some tables may require a wider diamter such as 55mm, 60mm or 70mm. The cost above 50mm is more expensive, so please contact us if this is the case. It is important you measure the hole diameter accurately to accommodate your parasol and table insert. If ‘one’ hole is seclected when ordering online via the glass calculator it will be 50mm diameter by default and positioned centrally in the glass table.

Do you do coloured (opaque) glass? 

We do supply a grey and bronze tinted glass, however by purchasing Optiwhite low iron glass and then painting yourself gives far greater creative freedom, and it’s easy to do. Please see here for further info and a methodology on how to paint.

What is the turn-around time? 

Our average turn-around time for glass manufacture is between 7-10 working days from the order being processed, however unexpected things can happen with glass resulting in occasional delays. We suggest allowing up to 10 days if you require delivery, however 14 days can sometimes be required. There are rare occasions when longer may be needed, all glass is created from scratch in the UK. Shaped, circular and bevelled edge glass can take closer to three or four weeks for production.

What are my payment options?

You can pay via PayPal through our online glass calculator, via card over the phone or by BACS. If you require us to raise an invoice we can do so, we just need the full address and a contact number. Full payment is required prior to production commencing, it is crucial customers double check their invoices for any issues/mistakes. Glass can’t be refunded due to customer error.

Do you deliver to my area? 

We deliver broadly across the south of England. The following counties are what we consider the south of England on our calculator drop down;

Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, Bristol area, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, West Sussex, Kent, East Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Buckinghamshire.   London and central London have a different tariff as per the drop down menu.

We can deliver to other areas, however please contact us for a definitive price, time scales vary also as a partner company may be required to deliver.

How is my glass delivered?

We transport glass via a combination of our own drivers or trusted drivers that have worked with us and proven their efficiency. 

We deliver throughout the week from early in the morning to late in the evening. We try where possible to accommodate your needs when it comes to deliveries, regarding times and days, we will always aim to give you advance warning regarding your delivery. The glass is delivered to the curb side, so it is essential if you are carrying the glass far to ensure there are enough people to assist. Please note if ordering online via the calculator, you must select the correct option, either delivery to the various areas, or to indicate your prefernce to collect from us in Chippenham (this is the default option on the glass calculator).

The glass arrives NAKED (no packaging or protection) this is typical in the glass industry. This enables us to keep costs down, and avoid contributing to environmental waste. Equally it enables you to check the glass thoroughly before signing that you are happy to accept the glass in the state of arrival.

Can you tell me exactly when my glass will arrive?

Once the glass is ready from production, and once it has all been checked for defects etc, the glass is then scheduled for delivery. When a delivery date has been identified we will send an email to confirm our intent. On the day of delivery the driver will call in advance, normally a minimum of an hour, however there are numerous variables with driving and it could be less, depending on how close the proceeding drop is. The driver will need you to sign for and ensure you’re happy with the condition of the glass, this is why the glass isn’t wrapped or covered (unless back painted, for protection).

Can I collect my glass?

You can collect your glass free of charge from Chippenham, Wiltshire (SN14 6BB), this is weekdays only, between 9:30 and 16:00.

The glass will be NAKED (no packaging or protection) this is common in the glass industry. This firstly enables us to keep costs down, avoid contributing to environmental waste. Most importantly it ensures all orders can be thoroughly checked before signing/verbally accepted, before being taken away.

How should I care for my glass? 

We’ve found CRL professional glass cleaner to work wonders with glass. This can be purchased online here.

What options can I choose for the edges of my glass? 

Glass edges are either polished or unpolished as two standard selections, essentially if you are going to see the edges have them polished, if the glass is to be recessed in any way have them unpolished. Please be aware that on occasion the legally required toughening stamp may appear on the face of the glass if unpolished. The rule of thumb is if you see the edges have them polished, unpolished edges commonly have defects and shelling along the perimeter.

What options can I choose for the corners of my glass? 

Glass corners are typically 90 degrees as you’d expect. Some customers have commented that they were not expecting such a precise angle, so the options we offer are standard 90 degree corners, dubbed corners which is when the angle is blunted slightly by 2/3mm, and radius corners (see below). If you are following the line of your existing table exactly, it is a good idea to examine the corners to assess what corner finish is best for you. Please see here for more information.

Can I have radius corners (rounded corners) on my glass? 

Absolutely, we can do radius (curved) corners as standard between 3mm and 25mm in radius. If you require more than a 25mm radius please contact us. Not sure what radius amount you need, please view our measuring guide here.

What effects can I have on my glass? (sandblasting, acid etched, etc) 

A vast selection of effects can be added to your glass, sandblasted for a frosted look is a firm customer favourite. If you have something bespoke in mind get in touch and we’ll happily discuss your requirements.

Can I add a design or company logo to my glass? 

In the past we’ve added company logos etc to glass, this is normally done with a vinyl template and then the glass is sandblasted. Get in contact with any requirements you may have.

I have young children, what do you recommend? 

Toughened glass is 5 times stronger than annealed glass, so is child proof in most cases, there are options to have table tops and table covers made in either clear laminate glass or toughened laminate glass, get in touch if you think you want more than toughened glass.

I have an Oval shaped table how to I measure it?

There are broadly two types of oval tables, an ellipse and a racetrack oval. Our online calculator has an ‘Oval’ shape drop down, this allows for ellipse based Ovals to be priced on an overall length and overall width. The other common oval table is a ‘race track’ oval, this requires a few additional dimensions to be calculated, and can’t be purchased through the online glass calculator. Please see here for more information.

I have an odd shaped table, can I provide a template?

Production can produce glass from a hardboard/mdf template; they will not accept paper templates. The template provided is what they will cut and manufacture from, so accuracy is key. The minimum thickness of glass for this procedure is 6mm. Templates can be delivered to us in Chippenham, or depending on the customer location we can collect, there is a charge for this, which equates to approx £50 ex VAT.

How Accurate Do I Need to Be When Measuring For My Glass Furniture Cover or Protector?

When you’re measuring for your table glass be aware that in some cases a tolerance for accuracy is required. Glass production facilities state that cut glass tolerance can be within + or – 1/2mm. Although from experience 99.9% of the time there are no issues, be aware that mm discrepancies can be present. Be mindful if your made to measure glass is intended to sit within a tight frame or surround, take this into account and allow for some flexibility and ‘wiggle room’. Some tables have a lip, or a chamfer or bevel that runs around the perimeter of the table, this is common with wood tables. In order to determine the size of the glass required (for a glass protector or cover), you will need to decide whether you want the glass to overhang (generally by a few mm or so), or to sit within the ‘inner’ perimeter of the table. Take your time when measuring and measure again, the onus is on you to determine what width and length dimension is required. Toughened Glass can’t be altered/resized once it has been toughened, and refunds/exchanges are not provided on the grounds of customer measuring errors or on mm variables within the production tolerances stated above.

Principle #1: Glass tables are not reports

A glass table is something someone will look at often and it will allow for quick action. ITSI is not Excel (and I love Excel).

  REPORTS GLASS TABLES TYPE OF DATA As much as you can Most important data REAL-TIME No Yes PRESENTATION Detailed Consolidated FORMAT Static Dynamic ALLOWS QUICK ACTION No Yes EASE OF USE Complex Simple and easy

Principle #2: Start with paper

We all do this. We start using a new tool (PowerPoint, Photoshop or Gimp, Excel, Google docs etc…) and want to use all these fancy features without asking ourselves “What am I really doing here?"). So step away from your keyboard and mouse, grab a pen and paper, pick your brain and start defining your objectives. 

Ask yourself these questions:

• Who is going to use the glass table?
• What kind of KPIs do they really need?
• Do they understand the KPIs?
• What format do you need to make the KPIs really understandable?
• Etc…

Keep it relevant (less is more), avoid overdesigning and use iconography (content isn’t limited to text and charts). The good news is that some iconography can really be understood by everybody the same way (think “road signs”).

Principle #3: Colors and fonts matters!

Fonts add another dimension… for example:

Pretty clear right? ☺

Here are some guidelines:

• Stick to 1 font
• No more than 3 sizes
• Need to create a visual hierarchy? Bold it or use colors
• Use sans-serif fonts (Serif fonts are designed for longer texts)

With regards to colors:

• Choose a few and stick to them (Have doubts? Ask your marketing team for  help.)
• Leverage on contrast
• Use color sparingly (each color can represent  one particular communication goal)
• Pay attention to the meaning (think red=danger, green=all good etc)
• Adapt colors to your audience culture (e.g. black = death in Western countries while it’s white in Japan for example)
• If you plan to use colors, make sure the background color is consistent (that way color changes are more obvious)

Principle #4: Choose the right viz for the right data

Yes, not all charts have been created equal! They don’t have the same Data-to-ink ratio.

Here are some examples:

A few tips:

• Want to do a static comparison? Use column or bar charts
• Want to do a comparison over time? Use line charts
• Want to show a static composition? Use pie charts
• Want to show a composition changing over time? Use stacked column charts or stacked areas

Principle #5: Follow the eyes

There is a natural hierarchy when you’re reading… You start reading from left to right and from top to bottom. But also, depending on the media or the level of attention some people “scan documents” from top left to bottom right.

So, make sure that your most important KPIs are located in the top left corner… but wait…. remember principle #2 (again)? Know your audience! 

Left to right is true…for Occidental cultures, but some languages use right to left scripts (Arabic, Hebrew, Kurdish…) and some are even more complex/flexible like ideographic languages (Chinese, Japanese, Korean…) as they can be written left to right or vertically top to bottom. Sometimes even both directions can be combined on one page.

Principle #6: Organize content in blocks

This is one of the most subtle yet essential dashboard guidelines, as this principle comes down to balance. See the “proximity” example below. Just by grouping KPIs and playing with white space (– also referred to as negative space – the blank area between elements featured on a dashboard design), your audience will automatically understand which KPIs are part of the same group.

Principle #7: The power of flows

Do not underestimate the power of a glass table! Imagine you want to monitor the health of a service (an app, a business process…you name it) in ITSI. You start displaying all the KPIs in the service analyzer, but one piece is missing… Someone (no names please ☺) in another team refuses to give you access to their dataset (unfortunately, working in silos is still common). Create a background image (we will see how to do it later) that displays all the components, import it on ITSI as a background, add the KPIs you have and show it to your manager, CIO, C-suite, etc. They will quickly understand the value that you’re providing but they will also quickly spot that a piece of information (KPI) is missing… now you have an ally to make sure that this “someone” will give you access to his/her dataset… but don’t tell anyone this trick (we learned it from a customer!).

Principle #8: Use the dramatic approach

Sometimes clean is not enough and a more dramatic approach is needed. By pulling out the important exceptions you can make it easier for your audience to digest what matters and take action. We are talking about incident management here after all. So use colors, contrast, scary icons ☺ and shapes to shift the focus from the full data to changes in the most critical KPIs

Principle #9: PowerPoint, Google, and ITSI

Ok, so you may be grateful for the previous principles, but you wonder: How can I apply them to Splunk ITSI?

Easy! If you followed the principles, you now should have a prototype on paper. All you need now is to talk to your marketing team and ask for the color guidelines, company icons, etc.

But you could also do this:

• Use a search engine like Qwant or Google and search for PNG images or icons with transparent background (make sure you filter the ones labeled for reuse)
• Import them to Powerpoint (previously filled with a background and maybe some “boxes” to structure your glass table)
• Place fake KPIs to make it look good
• Delete the KPIs and export your slide using PNG format
• Go to Splunk ITSI and import the PNG file
• Add your KPIs and voila!

 

Principle #10: Be trendy

According to Splunk CTO Tim Tully, we are entering the indulgent user experience era, which means that enterprise software (in our case, glass tables) doesn’t have to be a boring experience. “Elegant design pulls you forward”, he says. “It gives you an edge to tackle whatever action is in front of you. Using a well-designed product feels more like a motivation than a chore.”

So keep an eye on design trends to make sure your glass tables look modern and appealing. 

Here are some trends you might want to look at:

• Flat design
• Color-blocking
• Overlapping

If you really enjoyed  this post and want to see it in more detail, we recorded a session about design during the 2019 Splunk .conf event, available on-demand here: 

Thanks for reading!

Stéphane

P.s. Don't forget to check out Part 1: Glass Table Design: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, and The Champion!