Custom glass cutting in Hillsboro means we measure your opening or bring us your dimensions, cut the glass in-house at our Washington County shop, and finish the edges to spec. Martin Glass handles custom cuts for tabletops, shelves, replacement panes, shower panels, mirror panels, and more. Most standard cuts are ready faster than any warehouse order, with no special-order delays and no middleman markup.
You Know the Size. You Just Need Someone Who Can Cut It.
You've got a glass tabletop that cracked. Or a shelving project that calls for a specific depth and thickness. Or a window with a frame that nothing at the home improvement store comes close to fitting. You know exactly what you need. Finding a shop in Hillsboro that can actually deliver it, without a two-week wait or a round-trip to Portland, is the harder part.
That's where we come in. Brad Martin started this shop in Cornelius in 1997. The crew has built up 80 years of combined glazing experience across residential, commercial, and specialty glass. When you call, you reach the shop, not a call center. When the glass is ready, it's the right size, finished clean, and ready to install.
When Do You Actually Need Custom Glass Cutting?
Most people don't think about custom glass until something breaks or a standard size falls short. Here are the situations that send Washington County homeowners and business owners our way most often.
Replacement panes. Windows in homes built in the 1980s and 1990s often have frames that don't match modern stock sizes. We measure the opening and fabricate a replacement pane to fit the existing frame. No frame replacement required.
Tabletop protectors and replacement tops. A cracked dining table, a patio table with a broken insert, or a wood desk you want to protect with a glass overlay. We cut to your exact dimensions and finish the edges so there are no exposed cuts.
Shelves. Floating glass shelves, display case inserts, cabinet glass. We cut to size and can finish the edges with a polished or seamed profile depending on your preference and budget.
Mirror panels. Custom mirrors for bathrooms, closet doors, and accent walls. We cut, finish, and can handle the install if you need it.
Specialty applications. Sneeze guards, office partitions, greenhouse glazing, picture frame glass. If it's flat glass and you have a dimension, we can cut it.
What the Process Actually Looks Like
This is where most people have questions. Here's how a custom glass cutting job works at our shop, start to finish.
Step 1: Bring your dimensions or let us measure.
If you already know the exact size, write it down: length, width, and the thickness you need. If you're not sure about thickness, we'll help you figure it out based on the application. If measuring is part of the job (a window opening, a table frame, a shelf bracket), we can come to you in Hillsboro, Beaverton, Forest Grove, Cornelius, Aloha, or anywhere in Washington County.
Step 2: Choose your material.
Not all glass is the same, and the right choice depends on where the piece is going.
- Annealed glass is standard flat glass. It's appropriate for tabletops, shelves, picture frames, and non-hazardous applications where it won't be exposed to impact or body contact.
- Tempered glass is heat-treated to be significantly stronger than annealed glass. When it breaks, it fractures into small, less-jagged pieces rather than sharp shards. Oregon building code requires tempered glass in specific locations: shower enclosures, doors, sidelights, and areas within a certain distance of a floor. If your application is anywhere near a hazard zone, tempered is the right call. We'll tell you straight.
Glass also comes in different thicknesses. Common stock thicknesses run from 3/32" picture-frame glass through 1/8" and 3/16" for shelves and cabinet glass, 1/4" for most tabletops and window lites, and up to 3/8" and 1/2" for heavy tabletops and counters. The right thickness depends on the span, the load, and the look you're after.
Step 3: We cut and finish the edges.
Cutting glass to dimension is a precision process. We score and snap using calibrated tools, then finish the edges. Raw cut edges are sharp and structurally weaker at the break line. Edge finishing removes that risk and gives the piece a clean, intentional look. Common finishes include:
- Seamed edges: A light grind that removes the sharpness. Functional and fast. Used where the edge won't be visible.
- Flat polished edges: A smooth, satin finish. Common on tabletops and shelves where the edge is visible and will be touched.
- Beveled edges: An angled profile cut into the edge. Decorative and substantial. Common on mirrors and display glass.
Tell us where the piece is going and we'll recommend the right finish for it — and quote decorative work like beveling per piece before anything is cut.
Step 4: Pick up or delivery and install.
Most custom cuts are ready for pickup at our Hillsboro shop. For larger pieces, or jobs that include installation, Jason and Enrique can bring the glass to you. We leave the site clean.
Why In-House Fabrication Makes a Difference
Some shops take your measurement, place an order with a distributor, and call you when it shows up. We measure and fabricate in-house. That means we control the quality at every step, we can catch a problem before the glass is cut, and the turnaround is faster because nothing is sitting in a queue at a warehouse.
It also means you're talking to the people doing the work. If your dimension is off by an eighth of an inch, we catch it at the shop, not after a week-long wait. If the application changes, we adjust before anything is cut.
We've been cutting glass this way in Washington County since 1997. The process hasn't changed because it works.
What Custom Glass Cutting Costs
Pricing for custom glass cutting depends on four variables: glass type (annealed vs. tempered), thickness, dimensions (total square footage), and edge finish. Tempered glass costs more than annealed because of the additional heat-treating step. Polished or beveled edges add time and cost compared to a seamed finish.
Call with your dimensions, glass type, and the finish you want, and we'll give you an exact price — most custom cut quotes take a single phone call.
We give you a straight number before we touch anything. No surprises at pickup.
Ready to Get a Quote?
Call the shop or stop by in Hillsboro. Bring your dimensions if you have them. If you're not sure what you need, describe the application and we'll figure it out with you. Most standard custom cuts are turned around faster than any online order or big-box special request, and you'll know the price upfront.
Martin Glass — 1900 Baseline Rd, Cornelius, OR 97113. Call 503-357-2565 for a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What types of glass can be custom cut at Martin Glass in Hillsboro?
We cut annealed glass, tempered glass, and mirror panels to custom dimensions. Common applications include tabletop protectors, replacement window panes, shelf glass, shower panels, mirror panels, and specialty flat glass for commercial use. If you have a dimension and an application, call us and we'll tell you straight whether we can cut it in-house.
Q: Do I need to bring measurements, or can Martin Glass measure for me?
Both options work. If you already have exact dimensions, write them down and bring them to the shop. If the job requires measuring an opening, a frame, or an existing piece, we can come to you. We serve Hillsboro, Beaverton, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Aloha, and all of Washington County.
Q: What is the difference between annealed glass and tempered glass for a custom cut?
Annealed glass is standard flat glass, appropriate for tabletops, shelves, and picture frames. Tempered glass is heat-treated for strength and safety. When it breaks, it fractures into small pieces rather than sharp shards. Oregon building code requires tempered glass in specific locations, including shower enclosures, doors, and areas close to floors. We'll tell you which one your application calls for.
Q: How long does a custom glass cut take in Hillsboro?
Turnaround depends on the glass type and edge finish. Annealed cuts with seamed edges are typically the fastest. Tempered glass requires a heat-treating step that adds time — glass can't be cut after it's tempered, so those pieces are fabricated to final size, which means added lead time versus an annealed cut. We give you an exact timeline before we start, not after.
Q: What edge finishes are available for custom cut glass?
The three most common are seamed (a light grind that removes sharpness, used where the edge won't be visible), flat polished (smooth satin finish for tabletops and shelves), and beveled (an angled decorative profile for mirrors and display glass). The right finish depends on the application and your budget. We'll go over the options when you call or come in.