Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When i began building my custome enclosures i had looked into both glass and plexi for the doors and after lots of helpful advise (mostly from here) i decided glass was the way to go. The enclosures are built and just need the hardware and sliding glass doors put in.So i called some glass shops.....

Most said they'd call me back with an estimate and never did and only one gave me a quote "around $150.00 just for my 4'x4' opening, which is the biggest of the 3 enclosures. does this sound normal? for some reason i didnt think it was going to be this expensive. Its looking like im going to spend at least 300.00 on the glass alone.

Also is there some way to calculate how big the peices will need to be? is there some kind of equation. With a 4'x4' opening obviously i couldnt use two 2' peices, they have to overlap a certain amount. do you just guess?

Last thing. How long does plexiglass really last under the tepuratures for boas corns and bearded dragons?

Glass is expensive. What I usually do is try to find used glass. I dont care if it has a few scratches. Check craigslist or if you have a recycle place that sells stuff check that.
I havnt paid for glass in years. I just have to pay to have it cut.
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Jason

Plexi glass comes in a few different grades if I remember correctly as well as thicknesses. Lexan (polycarbonate) comes in different varieties as well. How long it last will depoend on a few different things including the quality of the plexi itself. You will have to try it to be sure exactly how long it will last. I have limited experience with it so someone else will probably be of more help in this area.

I've always used glass but it is the most expensive, lexan can get expensive as well. I like the look, ease of cleaning, doesn't scratch etc that glass offers. I think 150 for 1 peice is a bit high. I paid $85 for 3 peices of glass that are 2' x 3' at a local key and glass shop. I made hinged doors so I only needed 1 peice per cage.

Checking for used glass is a great idea, and I would follow up with a few different stores to compare prices. I just looked online and home depot has 36x54 windows for $168 so I would say 150 for a p[eice of glass smaller than this is high.

You definitely need to shop around. I paid $6 for a piece of galss to replace the end panel of a 55gal tank. I think it was somewhere around 11.75 inches x 22 inches. That's plain ol' 1/4in. untreated glass.

I was given a quote from someone I know that owns a glass shop for the sliding glass doors I plan on installing in a few cages I'm building. Aprox. $6 - $7 per sq. ft. of glass. That will include tempering and the use of metal door tracks with wheels for the glass to rest/slide on.

For an aproximate 2ft x 7ft opening, that's 14sq ft x $7 = $98.

Now, that's with metal track & wheels, the plastic-vinyl track without wheels is cheaper. Shop around, put on your bargaining clothes. Tell them you've got other cages you'll be needing glass for soon so what's their bottom dollar. After they tell you, tell them you'll shop around and see.

$160 is ridiculous, and you should flat tell 'em so. You'll find that most of the big glass shops are more expensive, they don't need your business. Find the lil' ma & pa shop, the lil' shop on the outskirts of town. Most of those have lower overhead and personal touch.

Oh, you do NOT want to use plexi for beardies. The only way I'd use it for boas or any other semi-large snakes/animals as sliding glass doors would be if there was a solid support to keep them from pushing/bending the panels where they meet in the middle.

Later!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

You really need to shop around for glass. Prices are all over the place.

Also is there some way to calculate how big the peices will need to be? is there some kind of equation. With a 4'x4' opening obviously i couldnt use two 2' peices, they have to overlap a certain amount. do you just guess?

Just go with your preference for the overlap. Look at display cases at stores to get an idea. There is a basic amount you subtract for the height but that depends on the track you use. Always make sure the cage is assembled and the opening accurately measured before having the glass cut. Especially if this is your first time building a door.

Last thing. How long does plexiglass really last under the tepuratures for boas corns and bearded dragons?
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Currently keeping a small collection of various Gonyosoma. Both G. janseni and G. oxycephala.