You’ve ordered your glass. It has been measured, cut and toughened.
Then someone says:
“Actually… can we just add a hole here?”
That’s where things can get complicated.
With toughened glass, important measurements, holes, cut-outs and other details need to be planned before the glass goes through the toughening process.
Here’s why.
First, What Is Toughened Glass?
Toughened glass, also called tempered glass, is made by heating prepared glass to a high temperature and then rapidly cooling it.
This process creates internal stresses that make the glass stronger than ordinary annealed glass. It also changes the way the glass breaks, making it a popular choice for many applications.
But there’s an important catch:
Once the glass has been toughened, it cannot simply be cut or drilled like ordinary glass.
Cutting Comes First
Before glass is toughened, it can be cut to the required size.
Any necessary edge work and other permitted processing are also normally completed at this stage.
Once the glass has gone through the toughening process, you can’t simply decide to:
- Trim a few centimetres off
- Cut a new corner
- Drill a new hole
- Move an existing hole
Attempting to cut or drill fully toughened glass can cause the entire panel to break.
What About Holes for Fittings?
This is especially important when the glass needs holes for hardware or fittings.
For example, a glass door may require holes for hinges, handles or other fittings.
Those requirements need to be identified before toughening.
The glass is first measured, cut and prepared according to the final design. The necessary holes, notches and other permitted processing are then completed before the panel goes through the toughening process.
So when someone asks:
“Can we just move that hole slightly?”
…it may not be as simple as it sounds.
Why Accurate Planning Matters
This is why accurate measurements and clear specifications are so important in glass fabrication.
Before production begins, the fabricator needs to understand what the finished glass is supposed to do.
Questions such as these matter:
- Where will the glass be installed?
- What size should it be?
- Does it need holes or cut-outs?
- What fittings or hardware will be attached to it?
- What type of glass is suitable for the application?
Getting these details right early can help avoid costly mistakes, delays and unnecessary replacement of glass.
The Work You Don’t See
When you see a finished glass installation, you see the final product.
What you don’t see are all the decisions and preparation that happened before the glass arrived at the site.
Measurements.
Specifications.
Cutting.
Edge preparation.
Hole positioning.
Fabrication.
Toughening.
Installation.
Every stage matters.
That’s why good glasswork isn’t just about making something look good. It’s also about getting the process right from the beginning.
So, Can You Change Your Mind?
Yes—but preferably before the glass is toughened.
Once toughened glass has completed the manufacturing process, certain changes such as cutting or drilling are no longer practical and can cause the panel to break.
The best time to decide where that hole, cut-out or fitting should go is before production begins.
At All Things Aluminium & Glass, we focus on careful measurements, clear specifications and quality fabrication to make sure your glass is prepared for its intended purpose.
You dream it, we build it!
📞 Call/WhatsApp: 0714 262 252
