GLASS RAILINGS – WHAT ARE THEY?
Glass railings are made mostly from tempered glass. Homebuilders now turn to glass railings for elegant designs, low maintenance and ability to customize to your preference.
Irrespective of the prevalent décor style in the home, glass railings provide a unique factor in your home decoration.
Why Should You Use Glass Stair Railings Where Other Materials Are Common?
Besides the fact that glass panel railing is trending and that they fit into any interior décor style, other benefits come with using one over other stair materials. Some of them are:
1. Low Maintenance cost
Wood railings used to be the go-to material when it comes to stair railings. Wood railings require continuous maintenance. The wood has to be polished and stained occasionally to preserve its shine and color. Glass stair railings, on the other hand, do not require consistent maintenance. A simple cleaning procedure can keep it looking new always.
Besides the above, when wood railings are placed in an external environment, the cost to maintain them doubles because they are exposed to the elements. Glass stair railings do not require any particular maintenance whether indoors or outdoors.
2. Openness and Increased Visibility
Visibility and lighting are factors that are treated with importance when decorating a home. Glass railings provide an easy solution to these design factors.
Wood and metal railings decrease visibility, are heavy and can be an obstruction to sunlight getting in the home. Glass railings allow natural light and sunshine to be distributed around the house. This brings a feeling of openness to the home.
Glass railings also make the deck visible when used in the home. It means you can keep an eye out for your children and also enjoy a better view.
3. Durability and Improved Security
Glass stair railings are made from tempered glass. Tempered glass is structured to repel all likely environmental factors compared to wood and metal railings. Glass stair railings will not crack due to temperature changes, corrode when exposed to water and will not change color as a result of being exposed to the elements. This makes them the best choice when it comes to durability.
As a result of the durable features of glass railings, they are the best when it comes to safety because you know long term use won’t make them weak.
4. Design Versatility
A significant concern for a lot of people when it comes to glass stair railings is if it will fit into the existing décor present in the home. Glass stair railings come with flexibility, versatility, and ease of installation. There are lots of styles, sizes, and options to choose from irrespective of the prevalent form in the home, be it traditional or modern.
5. Increased Market Value of Home
Glass stairs and railings are a unique addition to the home that not only improves the visual appeal of the home but also makes your house worth more than it used to. They optimize the market value of your property because glass stair railings are seen as unique enhancements to buildings.
DIFFERENT IDEAS ON HOW TO INSTALL GLASS STAIR RAILINGS
Glass stair railings fall primarily into two major categories.
- Frameless Glass Stair Railings
- Framed Glass Stair Railings
Let’s take a look at each of them.
1. Frameless Glass Stair Railings:
Frameless glass stair railings are your best option for openness and visibility. They are made up of glass panels that do not have frames on the borders. This creates room for the unobstructed view that cannot be achieved with other types of stair railing. Apart from being a stair railing, Frameless glass railings are also preferred for decks, balconies, and rooftop terraces.
2. Framed Glass Stair Railings:
Framed glass stair railings are the most popular among glass railing systems. Not only are they fashionable, but they also offer a combination of safety and luxury. Framed glass stair railings are made with clear glass panels held together by a frame. The material of the frame can be wood, metal or aluminum.
Framed glass stair railings are the best choice when it comes to glass railings for stairs because they feature a frame and top rail which allows guests to put hands on them for a sense of security and support.
FRAMED GLASS STAIR RAILINGS IDEAS
Wood-Framed Glass Stair Railing
A wood-framed glass stair railing is made up of clear glass panels held together by a wooden frame. The wooden frame is polished and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor.
Aluminum-Framed Glass stair railing
Just like wood-framed glass stair railings, this is also made up of clear glass panels held together by an aluminum frame. When it comes to framed glass railings, aluminum framed glass stair railing is the best option as it is a maintenance-free option.
It combines the strength of aluminum and tempered glass with creative design details. This makes it long-lasting, resistant to the weather and with low maintenance.
Steel-Framed Glass Stair Railing
These are framed glass stair railings that use steel to hold glass panels together. Just like aluminum framed glass stair railings, they are effortless to maintain as they do not incur maintenance costs, they are also visually appealing and very durable too.
Curved Glass Stair Railings
Curved stairs are considered the peak of the stair craft profession. They are beautiful, sophisticated and are the focal points of wherever they are placed. Curved glass stair and railings can come as framed and unframed, they can also be wood, aluminum or steel framed.
Different Types of Glass Railing Systems
Glass behaves differently than metal or wood. However, its more advantageous features made it a popular railing for modern houses and structures. Glass railings create a striking visual impact, enhance openness, enlarge areas, and allow light to flow freely. They are incredibly safe and practical when constructed and installed correctly, adding luxury and value to your beautiful home. To know more about glass railings for stairs, here are some glass railing systems that will help you decide which design suits your personal space better.
1. Standoff Railing System
A standoff glass railing is a system in which glass panels are fixed with standoffs (stainless steel round cylinders). The glass is pre-drilled and leveled, and spacers secure the panels to the vertical surfaces of the stairs and floor system. It is possible to have a frameless railing system with little apparent hardware. Due to the mounting mechanism, the decision to use this system must be made during the framing stage, as it requires a suitable base to support the glass. Along with the design, some types of standoff come with a standoff bracket pin system that should be small and unobtrusive. The great thing about standoff pins is that they work seamlessly and consistently on both flat and sloping surfaces. Plus, no bulky metal parts are blocking your stairs view.
2. Dadoed Glass Railing
This type of glass railing system is mounted within the top railing down to the bottom shoe. Glass is inherently contained in a wooden structure. With no clips or hardware required, this railing has the cleanest look. This residential glass railing requires no visible screws, clamps, or clips to hold the glass. Instead, the glass railing system is fixed to the wooden frame.
3. Clamped Glass Railing System
Residential clamp-on glass railing systems are another attractive railing style. In this railing construction, the glass panels are held together by wooden or steel clamps on rods. These brackets act as a holding force to support the two glass panes of the staircase. They are commonly used for round staircases. This type of glass stair railing is widely used partly due to different wood or steel rod installation methods. Due to the number of posts required, this system can be used with either wooden or steel poles and highlight hardware (steel or black) if desired. The style is appealing to some.
Reminder:
Considering the area stairs before installing your glass railing system is vital in creating your homey vibe. Glass railings are in greater demand than other railing systems. More popular than aluminum and wooden handrails. Glass has its advantages. Give your home or workplace a modern look. Therefore, most architects choose glass railings for indoor residential stairs. It is important to know that many types of glass structures are available on the market, but not all are suitable for other spaces. It all depends on your needs and the requirements of your home. Be careful in choosing your system design and materials, as these will greatly affect the entire look of your space and may slice a huge amount of budget if you do not ask for professional help.