Lexan vs. Tempered Glass

trepka2001 · Post by **trepka2001** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:33 am

Looking for everyone's input, pro's vs. cons on replacing my cracked salon windows with Lexan vs. Tempered glass. Thanks

Mac32 · Post by **Mac32** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:53 am

Just replaced mine with tempered glass. Its personal opinion but if you go with Lexan it will haze and scratch starting with the first washing just like the hatch covers.

FYI, I was quoted $550 from a few shops, but the one shop I picked screwed me in the end with a template charge that made the cost jump to $700.

But I now have DARK smoke tint that gives it a pretty updated look.

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:08 am

Tempered glass all the way. I had 3 windows made (I removed and installed) for 163.00

From what I'm told by glass folks, the tinted glass is not as strong as the clear tempered glass, FWIW. I want to tint mine later...

gjrylands · Post by **gjrylands** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:29 am

Dito!
Tempered is the way to go. Lexan may be strong but it is soft and scratches very easily. Just washing will scratch it and will appear fogged over in no time.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:43 pm

Tempered for windows - Lexan for hatches!

trepka2001 · Post by **trepka2001** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:44 am

i think i may try 1/4" plexiglass, seems to be more scratch resistant than lexan.

jav · Post by **jav** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:02 am

Also keep in mind acrylics aren't as rigid as glass. Lot's more noised with all types of running vibrations.

gjrylands · Post by **gjrylands** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:03 am

trepka2001 wrote:i think i may try 1/4" plexiglass, seems to be more scratch resistant than lexan.

No doubt. Lexan scraches much eazier, but is more difficult to break.

trepka2001 · Post by **trepka2001** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:14 pm

jav wrote:Also keep in mind acrylics aren't as rigid as glass. Lot's more noised with all types of running vibrations.

jav, do you feel that plexiglass isn't as good as tempered glass?

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:38 pm

Plexiglass isn't strong enough - 1/4" Lexan minimum.

Lexan Margard is glazed and much more scratch resistant, but not as good as glass.

jav · Post by **jav** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:17 pm

trepka2001 wrote:
jav wrote:Also keep in mind acrylics aren't as rigid as glass. Lot's more noised with all types of running vibrations.
jav, do you feel that plexiglass isn't as good as tempered glass?

Yes-

tempered glass's is IMHO the best product for the job.

Acrylic (plexi-glass ) is harder and more scratch resistant than polycarbonate (lexan) put it is less crack reistant. Polycarbonate is too soft and flexible for my liking. There are some new coatings which help the plastic sheets resist scratching but they are still no match for glass.

trepka2001 · Post by **trepka2001** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:55 pm

plexiglass is surely more flexible and crack resistant than tempered glass, but less SCRATCH resistant than tempered glass.....correct??

other than scratching i really don't see the benefits of glass including it being much heavier than plexiglass.

jav · Post by **jav** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:11 pm

trepka2001 wrote:plexiglass is surely more flexible and crack resistant than tempered glass, but less SCRATCH resistant than tempered glass.....correct??

other than scratching i really don't see the benefits of glass including it being much heavier than plexiglass.

Somewhat correct. Acrlic sheet when fresh is less crack prone than tempered glass. After several years of UV exposure- you might be surprised. It will always be lighter than glass.

But- each year, even just cleaning will start to degrade the surface of plexi. Not so with glass. 5-7 years later, glass will look as new- plexi will be due for replacement. My rear doors are very likey original glass from 1974. My side windows - Plexi from 2004. In person, the doors look twice as good despite being almost 30 years older. With my deisels, at certain RPM's, the side windows rattle- the glass ones do not.

Plexi will discolor too. If you get drop of paint or stubburn droppings on glass- a razor will clean it off and you'd never know. Try that on plexi.

I've done both and I will only use glass from now on.

gjrylands · Post by **gjrylands** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:17 pm

trepka2001 wrote:plexiglass is surely more flexible and crack resistant than tempered glass, but less SCRATCH resistant than tempered glass.....correct??

other than scratching i really don't see the benefits of glass including it being much heavier than plexiglass.

I don't agree that plexi is more resistant to cracking then tempered glass. Tempered glass is some strong stuff. It's not going to crack, it's going to break into thousands of small pieces. You may decide to go with the plexi, but it isn't as good as glass.

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:08 am

"plexiglass is surely more flexible and crack resistant than tempered glass, but less SCRATCH resistant than tempered glass.....correct??"

other than scratching i really don't see the benefits of glass including it being much heavier than plexiglass.

Manufacturers would have installed Plexi in millions of boats...if it had more benefits than glass.

You've gotten some good advise from all above. Whatever you decide to use, it's your choice. Good luck and keep us posted on your project.