The beauty of a frameless glass balustrade is the visual appeal of more space and light by creating a feeling of openness.

Another great feature of frameless glass balustrade is you can create different looks by adjusting the stainless steel railings height or staircases without having to completely redo the balcony staircase. Just add or remove individual handrails or standard size glass panels depending on your needs. Frameless glass balustrades can be fragile and difficult to maintain if you are not careful, hence frameless glass fencing is not recommended for balcony stairs with a lot of traffic. This does not mean that you can't have frameless glass balustrade panels or frameless glass pool fencing, but you should know about the advantages and disadvantages to make an informed decision. If you want to make the most out of this architectural feature, there are ways to do so without compromising its safety and integrity. Here are some tips on how to use frameless glass balustrade or glass pool fencing properly: If the glass handrails or capping rail must be cut (for example if you're installing shorter ones), it's best to ask a professional diy glass contractor to do this for you as improper glass clamp cutting may cause big problems down the road. The cost of this sort of glass handrail is about $500-$600 per lineal metre. They're generally not available per metre. When installing frameless glass handrail on your staircase, keep safety in mind. Don't forget that glass clamps are fragile and should always be handled with care.

Which glass is best for stairs?

There are different supply of glass balustrade materials used for staircase handrail and some have better qualities than others do. A good quality includes glass to be tempered and come with a warranty. The glass balustrade will have no air bubbles or spots, be made by a trusted manufacturer and have the clarity that you are looking for. If your staircase is exposed to sunlight most of the day, you should opt for reinforced glass balustrade with UV protection. This type of glass balustrade is designed to withstand heat. New glass balustrade on staircases exposed to plenty of sunlight may require special cleaning techniques but typically this glass balustrade is not very fragile.

What is a balustrade?

A balustrade, also known as a stair handrail, is an architectural feature that gives protection to the people using stairs. Balustrades are commonly made of wood or metal but can be created out of other high quality materials which include a frameless glass balustrade or an aluminium balustrade.

Semi frameless glass balustrade stairs with glazing rubber are popular for interior design because glass balustrade supply protection while still allowing light to filter in through them. However, because these handrail are made from glass, the glass balustrade stair material is fragile and needs special care when cleaning or handling.

How much does glass railing cost?

Installation of pin fixed glass balustrade along with stainless steel fittings and covering cap is a fairly complicated process and it involves different skillsets. This makes the frameless custom balustrade installation price vary from one company to another. Usually, the cost of glass balustrade is around $5-$800 per lineal meter (different from per metre). The price varies with the fixing type of balustrades. Core drilling is done in concrete channel to give more strength to the glass balustrade.

What factors affect the cost?

The cost of an architectural feature such as a glass balustrade will depend on several factors.

Materials used

Heat soaked tempered glass balustrade or toughened or laminated glass balustrades? If you want your new railings made with materials that are not common then expect they will be more expensive than the price of other materials.

Design

Do you just need simple pin fixed handrails or would you like to install glass balustrade in your home's existing posts? What kind of look are you going for? You must do proper project planning

Manufacturer

some companies have more advanced machinery and tools which means they can produce a higher volume of glass balustrade products in a shorter period of time so their prices (per linear metre) tend to be lower than those who don't have such tools.

Quantity

Installing pin fixed glass balustrades on your entire staircase will be more expensive. If you only need railings for part of the stairs, then that's less material that needs to be purchased and installed.

Additional items

If the contractor needs to cut something, install new screws or includes hinges then this will affect the total cost as well. Application such as channel fixed application (start at $89), smarter spigot application, face fixed applications (start ay $350) and other fixed applications.

How safe are glass balustrades?

Glass is fragile material, hence the pin fixed glass balustrade can break easily but here are some tips for making the frameless glass balustrades or glass pool fencing safer.

Be sure to have the frameless glass balustrade made by a trusted manufacturer that can guarantee its safety and make it suitable for commercial applications.

Make sure that your balustrade is strong enough to not just keep you safe but also withstand pressure from other people using it so there are no accidents. If you need frameless glass balustrade installed on stairs for kids, elderly people or pets then have an expert check the whole structure before you proceed with installation costs. This will even help you save money.

Keep objects away from the frameless glass. Don't put flower pots next to the frameless glass balustrade staircase or leave items laying around because they might fall accidentally and damage the glass balustrade.

Avoid drilling into the glass. If you are thinking about making modifications to your glass flooring then consult an expert first as drilling into laminated, toughened or tempered glass panels will put you at risk of breaking the glass balustrade.

How to clean a glass balustrade

Every balustrade material needs regular cleaning to maintain its shine and beauty. Here are some tips for cleaning tempered, laminated or clear float toughened glass balustrades.

For stains on the glass panels surface

Polish the glass with a soap water solution, ammonia water solution or ammonium bicarbonate solution. Remove these quickly because any kind of dirt will scratch your custom glass panels in the long run. Use a lint-free cloth that won't leave fibres behind when the glass balustrade is wiped off.

For algae or mould growth

Wipe the glass with a mixture containing 10% household bleach and 90% water. Be sure to rinse everything once you're done so there's no residue left behind which might affect the glass structure.

For rust

Mix equal parts water and white vinegar to make a cleaning solution. If your railing is made from iron or stainless steel then it may corrode because of the moisture but this will be resolved once you clean it.

Is there an Australian Standard for a glass balustrade?

The minimum thickness of 10mm toughened safety glass is required by Australian Standards and Regulations for glass balustrade installation and project's ultimate completion.

As required in the building codes and Australian Standards, minimum and maximum glass balustrade panels width must comply with 1000mm (to 1200mm with pool fence).

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission have strict requirements regarding balustrades. Check to see if similar conditions apply to your area.

How much does it cost to install a glass balustrade?

There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to glass cost as mentioned above. Here's how much cost you should expect for the glass installation and fully customised service.

  • A basic iron balustrade will cost around $1,000 to install.

  • Laminated glass balustrade will start at $5.00 per square metre to install.

  • Toughened or heat soaked tempered custom glass systems is more expensive to install which means the price can range from $10 up to $15 per square metre.

  • To install custom stainless steel balustrade designs by an expert with advanced equipment and machinery can make the glass balustrade cost anywhere between $12 and $25 per square meter.

The lineal meter is another standard, which is made up of a glass and spigot. The lineal meter may cost $250, while the prices of lineal meter vary widely. Consider getting an obligation free quote of lineal meter and fence cost per metre. Since glass balustrade isn't available per metre, avoid sellers who claim to sell them at a price per metre since per metre isn't the standard.