Shattered Glass Patio Tabletop

Well a storm blew in quite quickly this evening and before we could get everything safe the wind blew over the glass topped patio table and umbrella. (umbrella sticks up in the middle of the glass top)

Lucky us though it didnt shatter the glass.

Until we tried to move everything at which point POP and the whole glass top shattered into a billion razor blades.

So now we are looking at fixing this mess.

Replacment parts seem to not be a cost effective answer.

I have seen some people add tiles to the top but thats not an option.

Can we buy some clear plastic?

how about some plastic sheet topped in wooden vinyl planks?

Any thoughts or solutions?

Home Depot stocks clear plastic sheet in most locations but it ain't cheap. Why not drop in a sheet of plywood that's been thoroughly painted and sealed? Got kids? Let them paint it and then seal the crap out of it. It will last a few years and be cheap.

Patio furniture is starting to go on clearance around us, it might be cheaper to just grab another table

Depending on how big the table is wouldn't the cost of plexiglass be damn near the same as glass?

Yes, plexi would be expensive... especially in the thickness he would need.

And if he ever sets a hot pot on it or even a plate with really hot food on it, it could deform.

You can find a glass shop and have them cut new tempered glass for it, but it will likely cost more than a new table.

I'm in the plywood camp.  If you want to save this particular table, do something cheap.  Rip 2x lumber down to 1/4" less than the thickness of the frame.  Make enough runs of it that they are about 1' apart running the length of the table.  Skin both sides with Luan, glue, and narrow crown staples.  Mix up some epoxy or poly resin and paint it on to seal it.  That will add a decade to its life.  Then find something fun to cover it; free tile from CL, a linoleum remnant, or even embed some fun fabric into the epoxy while it's still wet.

In theater we call them stressed skin platforms.  You can do them with 1x4 and 3/8" ply and they'll support actors.  I just built three 4x8' tables with 1x3 on 2' centers and luan top/bottom and I can stand on them.... gingerly, but I can stand on them.  They also weigh about 30 lbs each.  I built them for a friend doing a model train layout.

How big is the table? Rectangular? Round?

I vote plywood or buy a new table.

Tempered glass would be crazy expensive. 4 x 8’ sheet of 1/8” acrylic would be around $100 but will not be very sturdy, scratch easily, likely discolor over time, and deform w/heat.

Last time that happened to me I just bought a new table. 

We've had that happen twice over the years. The table's in a screen room, so it's not like anything could have touched it. I looked at the options and, like everyone else noted, none made financial sense. The first table came from Sears, and I was able to purchase a replacement table top, complete with the metal frame. The second time, we just bought a different table that was close enough. 

OK, this example is ugly, but I would use cedar planks and just cut them to width. Two stringers underneath to lock it all together. Sanded and stained and protected, or leave it sanded and natural. 

I have even seen people use wood from pallets. The different colors make a neat effect. 

Tile looks cool, but most patio tables are pretty flimsy and the weight of HardiBacker and then tile would worry me long term. 

is/was the glass top not tempered? 

I move our glass top patio table whenever we have outdoor get togethers by carrying it over my head. considering how terrible of an idea that is.