Every industry involves certain decisions. In construction and several others, you might have to choose between acrylic and glass in many applications. Acrylic sheets are a kind of plastic that offer many advantages over glass.
They are often lighter in weight and cheaper in cost than glass. Commercial construction has used them for some time, and now they’re growing in popularity for use within residential builds. Knowing why acrylic is better than glass is important, but determining when acrylic is the better choice is equally as crucial.
A Quick Glance at Both
Both acrylic and glass can be good choices for certain applications in construction, consumer goods, and many other industries. Many of their benefits overlap, but there are notable distinctions. To start with, the benefits of acrylic include the following:
- Affordability
- Available in many different colors
- Easy material to work with
- Resistance to UV rays and sunlight
- Stronger than normal glass
- Light in weight
- Totally transparent
Glass has its own set of benefits, such as:
- Stability in bigger constructions
- Transparency
- Beautiful appearance
- Harder to scratch
- Resistance to changes in temperature
- Resistance to heat
When Acrylic Is Better
It’s Cheaper than Glass
Acrylic is cheaper to produce than glass. It’s also easier to make. Additionally, acrylics are lighter and easier to move from their manufacturing sources to the sites that need them. They offer the kind of flexibility you can’t have with glass– so you can shape or mold them into many different structural designs.
Moreover, you can cut down acrylics to the specific sizes you need, so they’re useful in construction and DIY renovations. Match or elevate any home decor with a wide variety of coloured shades.
Clear acrylic is almost as translucent as glass
Clear acrylic is almost as translucent as glass, meaning visible light easily passes through it. The lightweight nature and easy processing without risking breakage makes this material ideal for window applications.
Examples include boat and vehicle windows, roof lights, and aquarium installations. It’s also a common choice for DIY projects, including nameplates, side tables, secondary glazing, and accessories. Acrylic window panes can protect your home or office building from projectile objects if your structure is adjacent to a golf course, tennis court, baseball diamond, or places where kids are known to play sports.
A great choice for interior windows and cabinet doors
Acrylic can also be an excellent choice for interior windows and cabinet doors. Accent hardware brings more class to your interior aesthetic but might also involve high maintenance levels and constant cleaning to keep them looking exquisite.
Frosted or clear acrylic cabinet windows and doors look just like glass, but they have less need for cleaning and maintenance. In many cases, acrylic lasts longer than glass, so you won’t have to replace it as frequently. The lighter weight should also help your fixtures and cabinets stand the test of time.
Acrylic backsplashes are the perfect kitchen upgrade
Backsplashes get outdated over time and need to be replaced at some point, as they might accumulate oil and sauce stains or suffer from grout build up. An acrylic backsplash is a timeless, affordable answer whenever you need it.
They come in a big sheet you can cut down to the sizes you need, and they’re easier to install than tile. Acrylic proves impervious to food and oil stains, so the maintenance is a breeze. When you see smudges or food splatter, dampen a microfiber cloth and gently wipe the acrylic backsplash.
Warm water and dish soap are crucial to any kitchen, and they’re all you need to clean acrylic backsplashes. Harsh chemical cleaners can damage this material, but you don’t need them to keep things pristine.
Ideal for decorative objects and furniture
Acrylic can also work for decorative objects and even furniture. Coffee and end tables are one potential application. Acrylic has a modern design, and the sleek, timeless style fits most home decor aesthetics.
As with kitchen components, the maintenance is easy to keep up with. You can even use acrylic plastic as a decorative furniture covering that protects your best chairs, dining tables, and high-end living room pieces.
Use acrylic to retrofit older windows
Consider retrofitting older windows with acrylic for secondary glazing. In terms of benefits, this not only improves your home’s thermal comfort but also preserves the architectural character of your space.
This is particularly important for older homes with timber frames. It helps maintains the integrity of your home at a third of the cost of a complete window replacement.
When is Glass Better?
While acrylic usually proves to be a better choice than glass, it might not always be the best bet. Glass has a heavier composition than acrylic, and that might be useful in certain situations. Glass doesn’t scratch as easily, has more resistance to heat, isn’t flammable, and provides more stability to constructions featuring it.
A window is a common application for glass, and this material provides more security and safety than acrylics. Aesthetics are a big benefit of glass over acrylics, but glass only lets in marginally more light. Some acrylic sheets might fade after extended exposure to sunlight, but glass wouldn’t.
Cost Considerations
To determine whether acrylic or glass is cheaper for the application you have in mind, you need to get quotes for both and compare them. However, you must also factor in multiple variables to calculate each true cost.
Acrylic is sometimes more expensive in terms of upfront cost than glass, but it can be cheaper in the long run. Glass is heavier, so its shipping costs might be higher. Most importantly, acrylic usually lasts longer than glass, so it might be a cheaper initial investment.
Do You Need Acrylic Solutions?
Plasticut are veterans of manufacturing plastic solutions, and they offer premium acrylics sized and fabricated to your specific needs for numerous applications.
Turn to them for accurately sized prototypes in advance of high-volume orders. Thanks to industry-leading techniques and equipment, their acrylics can make your products rise above your competitors.
Based in Melbourne, Plasticut serves clients across Australia and around the world. Contact them at (03) 9357 6688 or by sending an enquiry.