Three Places To Install Glass Balustrades Within The Home

Delivering multiple benefits, glass balustrades are great for various areas of the home, both indoors and outdoors. Read on to find out where to install these barriers and how they can enhance your design and provide safety.

Staircases

Stairways can sometimes feel narrow and cramped, particularly when hemmed in with dark, heavy, timber railings. To open up the area and give the impression of space, install a glass balustrade—while they provide a physical barrier, they don't create a visual block. Being see-through, glass creates the illusion of broader steps. It also reflects light, further evoking a sense of spaciousness. In contrast, dim lighting tends to shrink an area. Additionally, if you have children or pets, you can relax in the knowledge that the barrier is without gaps that they can squeeze through.

Decks or Patios

If you have a deck or patio that you love to relax on, a glass balustrade won't obstruct the view so you can enjoy your lush garden or scenic vista. Various framing options let you adjust how much metal trim lines the edges of each panel. With frameless models, the main supporting brackets or channels follow the bottom of the barrier, forming clean expanses of glass. Semi and fully framed models have more prominent posts interspersed between the glass. 

Because this type of fencing doesn't have railings,  they prevent winds gusting across your deck. You don't have to worry about your books, magazines or other items blowing away. To create privacy, you can also install frosted glass, which is available with different levels of transparency, letting you adjust how much separation you want to create.

Balconies and Mezzanines

Balconies and mezzanines often provoke a sense of splendour due to their height. A glass balustrade can further engender this—by providing an open and airy feeling. But they also enhance safety. If a structure is higher than a meter from ground level, typically more stringent restrictions come into play regarding allowable types of glazing. Balustrades use toughened or laminated glass or a combination of the two, depending on the degree of framing as well as the structure height. 

Toughened glass has five times the strength of ordinary glass, while a plastic interlayer within laminated glass holds the panel together should it crack. Glazing that is both toughened and laminated provides the benefits of both. An engineer typically engages in the design process when safety glass and heights come together in a design, which is something to keep in mind.