Starphire is undoubtedly one of the most expensive glass types on the market. Given its price tag, you’d be well within your rights to wonder whether you’re getting a bang for your buck.
Starphire glass is worth it for any home and commercial application where clarity and light transmittance are essential. It has better clarity and light transmission than conventional glass, two traits that come in handy in many home and commercial applications.
Read on to learn what distinguishes Starphire glass from conventional glass in various applications.
Starphire Vs. Conventional Glass: What’s the Difference?
Part of determining whether Starphire glass is worth the extra money is understanding what it delivers that conventional glass doesn’t.
With this information, it’s easier to decide whether the additional benefits are worth paying extra for.
So, what sets Starphire glass apart from traditional glass?
The iron content is the most important distinction between Starphire and regular glass.
Starphire glass is essentially low-iron glass with 0.01% ferric oxide, whereas conventional clear glass contains ten times that amount.
The lower iron content makes all the difference between Starphire and regular glass.
You can see it, too, if you hold the edges of both glass types side by side.
Having more iron gives the conventional glass a greenish hue or tint (whatever term you prefer).
That’s why if you look at the edge of regular clear furniture glass, you’ll see a green cast that becomes darker as the glass thickness or length increases.
On the other hand, Starphire glass’s lower iron content gives it a bluish hue/tint that gets darker as the length and thickness of the glass increase.
However, the hue in this type of glass never gets nearly as dark as that of traditional glass.
That’s why Starphire glass has better clarity than conventional glass.
In summary, the main selling point of Starphire glass is better clarity, a feat achieved by keeping the iron content low.
There isn’t much difference between the two glass types in terms of strength.
How Much Does Starphire Glass Cost?
Having established what sets Starphire glass from regular glass, the next item on the list is finding out how much more it costs.
Starphire glass costs 10% to 20% more than traditional clear glass.
Some sellers price it higher by margins as high as 30%, but that’s a bit steep, in my opinion.
A good deal would be paying about 15% on top of the price of regular clear glass in your area.
Is It Worth Paying Extra For Starphire Glass?
For most people, yes. The clarity provided by Starphire glass is worth paying more for, whether you’re looking to use it for home or commercial applications.
To clarify the above statement, here’s a brief look at how much of a difference this type of glass makes in most common home and commercial applications.
Benefits of Using Starphire Glass At Home
One of the most common uses of Starphire glass in homes is in bathrooms, specifically shower enclosures.
Using this type of glass allows you to create the crystal-clear shower enclosure that’s becoming increasingly popular in many modern homes.
You get to avoid the altered hues and color distortion of standard class and instead enjoy high-fidelity color transmission that renders your shower walls translucent so you can enjoy your bathroom decor.
When you spend a substantial amount of money fitting your bathroom with great decor, the last thing you want is to have it bathed in greenish light, and using Starphire glass helps avoid that.
Starphire glass’s clarity also means you can use thicker panes in your shower enclosure. This allows you to create a sturdy enclosure without sacrificing aesthetics.
Beyond the bathroom, Starphire glass can also be a great way to brighten up interiors.
It’s a great option for safety windows, skylights, spandrels, decorative curtain walls, and pretty much any other structural element you can use to add more light to interior spaces.
Another common residential use of Starphire glass is to create aquariums. Again, it all comes down to clarity and light transmittance.
An aquarium made of this glass is more transparent, allowing for true-to-life views of your aquatic pets.
Benefits of Using Starphire Glass in Commercial Applications
Unlike in residential applications (where it’s all about aesthetics), using Starphire glass in commercial applications can have a real monetary impact.
This is particularly true in brick-and-mortar stores, where compelling product displays can make quite a difference in sales.
Retail displays play an integral role in increasing sales and enhancing the customer experience.
They allow potential customers to view important product information, help grab customers’ attention, and improve the overall shopping experience (no one wants to shop in a dull store).
Getting product displays right also increases your chances of benefitting from impulse buys, most of which happen in brick and mortar stores.
Using Starphire glass enhances product displays by allowing consumers to view and interact with your products without the interference of the green tint found in regular glass.
Customers want to see what they’re about to buy clearly, and facilitating that is worth paying extra for.
Retail stores aren’t the only businesses that stand to benefit from Starphire glass.
This type of glass can also be useful in offices, waiting rooms, hotel lobbies, and other corporate spaces.
Businesses spend a lot of money on office design, and the last thing they need is the greenish hue of regular glass undoing otherwise great decor.
Great office design plays an integral part in corporate success.
Here are a few examples of how it does that:
- It helps set the right tone for employee creativity and productivity.
- It makes a good first impression on potential clients and business partners, increasing the likelihood of closing business deals.
- It makes for a warm corporate environment, helping prevent stress and burnout.
Final Thoughts
Indeed, Starphire glass is worth it for any application that requires clear glass. Just be sure to avoid overpaying.
While this type of glass is typically more expensive than conventional glass, some sellers have been known to go overboard with their prices.
As a general rule, Starphire glass should only cost 15% more than regular glass.
If the seller you’re looking to buy from quotes more than that, you aren’t getting the best deal, and it might be time to look elsewhere.
