If you're on the hunt for a sleek and modern look in your home, glass balustrades are the mutt's nuts. These beauties can transform any staircase or balcony into a right sight for sore eyes. We will get into, why glass balustrades have become the height of interior fashion.
Balustrades and handrails have been used for many years to provide support and prevent people taking a tumble. Traditionally made from wood, stone or wrought iron, modern materials like toughened glass and stainless steel have become quite the rage. Glass balustrade installations started gaining popularity in the 1960s when glazing technology improved. Their minimalist aesthetic and ability to make spaces appear larger quickly caught on.
By the 1990s, advancements in glass production allowed large sheets to be tempered for safety and structural purposes. This led to the proliferation of frameless glass balustrades which have an even lighter look. As time’s gone by, designs and installation methods have become more sophisticated. Now you’d be hard pressed to find a newly constructed home or office without glass balustrades making an appearance.
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There’s several reasons glass balustrades have become the current must-have feature:
Today you’ll find glass balustrades smartening up all sorts from staircases, mezzanines and atriums to patios, pools and roof terraces. When it comes to making a design statement, these see-through stunners certainly fit the bill. No wonder they’ve become the interior trend everyone’s nattering about!
If you’ve decided that glass balustrades are just the ticket for your home or business, there’s a few options at Glazing Works London in the market:
As the name suggests, these don’t have any visible frames, clamps or supporting structures. The glass panels are fixed with specialist hardware and silicon to create a minimalist look. They come in various thicknesses from 10mm to 20mm depending on if laminated or toughened glass is used. While frameless balustrades appear ultra-sleek, the installation precision required bumps up the cost.
Here the glass panels or infill panels sit inside a metal frame which provides the main structural support. The frames are made of aluminium, stainless steel or wood and affixed to the floor and ceiling. This style can be cheaper than frameless, but has a slightly more “industrial” vibe. Frame colour and thickness impacts overall look.
A hybrid between the above options, these have minimal frames at the base and sides so the glass appears to be floating. The glass panels are slimmer at just 6mm-10mm as they don’t bear as much weight. Tiny “u” channels secured through the floor and ceiling hold the panels in place. This delivers a streamlined finish for less dosh.
When deciding which route to take, think about factors like safety, space, desired aesthetics and budget. Your installer can guide you on what fits best for your needs.
Balustrade glass needs to be specially fabricated to handle people leaning over it and the odd knock or two. There’s two main types used:
Also known as tempered glass, this is treated with extreme heat so it can flex and withstand high pressure without shattering. It’s 4-5 times stronger than regular glass. Required by building codes for balustrades over 800mm off the ground.
Two or more glass sheets bonded together with an interlayer material. Should it crack or break, the interlayer prevents pieces from going everywhere and holds it in place. Used for larger expanses like wide stairways over one floor.
Both are safety tested to confirm they won’t crack under human weight. Necessary paperwork is provided after manufacture.
Along with style, there’s some functional elements worth considering on your glass balustrade journey:
Building standards require balustrades to be a minimum of 900mm from stair nosing and floors to prevent accidents. A good company will design yours specifically to comply.
For extra stability, glass balustrades often incorporate a handrail at regulation height above the stairs. Stainless steel and wood are popular choices that complement the glass.
These removable glass panels allow for cleaning access and maintenance jobs behind the balustrade. Well worth installing!
Required at the start and end of a run, corner posts visually define the parameters and ensure structural soundness.
Tiny holes drilled into outdoor glass balustrades to allow water drainage without leakage.
There’s no shortage of design permutations out there from curved glass to decorative posts - discuss options with your balcony builder to find your perfect match!
Call 020 8050 7046 today or request a quote online
to get started with Glazing Works London!
While glass itself is incredibly durable, its structural integrity depends entirely on how well it’s installed. Shoddy construction puts the whole balustrade at risk of failure down the line.
That’s why it’s dead important your chosen installer knows their onions and follows protocol to the letter. Here’s what that entails:
It is not a five minute job, but doing things by the book ensures that glass balustrades balcony stays put!
Let’s talk brass tacks - how many quid are we talking for a quality glass balustrade installation? Prices are driven by:
As a ballpark guide for materials, labour and everything required end-to-end, costs typically range between:
£300 - £500 per linear metre
So for a standard 1 floor straight staircase of say 10 metres with a 1 metre tall glass, expect to pay £3,000 - £5,000. Complex multi-level jobs are upwards of £20k.
Now that may sound bobbins expensive but remember glass balconies are built to last decades with minimal upkeep. Pay the premium and it’ll be an investment that stands the test of time in style!
With their ability to flood rooms with light, create an illusion of more space and provide show stopping focal points, it’s no wonder glass balustrades have become the height of modern interior fashion. From ultra-sleek frameless to more cost-conscious options, there’s guaranteed to be a system that makes your home shine. Just ensure whoever does the installation knows their stuff and abides by regulations. Do it right and you’ll be admiring your transparent staircase or balcony for years in comfort and safety. So if you’re planning a home spruce up anytime soon, be sure to take a dekko at glass balustrades! Are you as chuffed as I am at how marvy these look? Then call our Glazing Works London glass specialist today and make your abode the snazziest gaff in town!