How to Choose the Perfect Glass Railings for Your Home
Glass railings offer a beautiful modern aesthetic that accentuates the natural light and design features of your home. In this article, we will share helpful tips for choosing the perfect glass railings for any application, indoors or out.
What are glass railings?
Glass railings are decorative glass panels connected with a series of small spigots used for a number of purposes. From staircases to balconies and room separators to decks, the high-quality tempered glass offers a modern aesthetic that can easily be adapted to suit any style of architectural or interior design.
Where can you install glass railings?
It all starts with where you plan to install the glass railings. Some common applications include:
A safety railing for sunken rooms in the home such as a living room or family room.
An overlook such as an open atrium above the foyer or great room.
A stair railings.
A boathouse, balcony, deck, or patio railing.
NorthVue Stainless Steel Spigots
Choices include a matte black or satin stainless steel spigot for the small 6” tall base that holds your railing in place. Although the spigots are quite subtle, they do make a difference in the appearance of your railing.
Black spigots are more defined, adding an accent that can pair well with both contemporary and rustic farmhouse aesthetics, while the satin is more understated and modern.
The Cost of Glass Railings
Glass railings can be very expensive if you order from a supplier that only offers customized options. Although all systems will be customized to an extent, choosing a supplier like NorthVue Glass that offers a stock of pre-sized glass panels allows you to order tailor-made solutions at highly competitive prices.
This is because when panels are made to order, they are created in very small quantities, taking more time, increasing lead times and adding to the cost. On the other hand, panels that are stocked as inventory in our NorthVue warehouse offer a series of sizes that are handpicked based on your glass railing configuration from a selection of mass-produced high-quality panels.
Safety Issues
Not all glass railing systems are created equally. A potential client will want to ensure the system is designed for safety and durability for years to come. NorthVue Frameless Glass Railing system meets and exceeds all requirements as prescribed by the Canadian National Building Code and the Ontario Building Code.
Configuration
Glass railing systems come in two configurations:
Framed glass rail systems: As the name implies, framed systems have glass panels held in place with posts and handrails. They do not provide a completely seamless view. The style of this glass railing is somewhat outdated in today’s world and only offers a view from spaces where the bulky framing doesn't obstruct the view.
Unfortunately, the framing covers a significant portion, and does not offer any additional safety or security compared to the NorthVue Frameless Glass Railing.Frameless systems: NorthVue’s frameless systems are secured with stainless steel “spigots” along the bottom of each glass panel that are 6” tall and 4” x 4” at the base. They provide completely unobstructed views and are perfect for boathouses, decks, balconies and patios.
NorthVue Glass Railing also meets municipal safety codes for swimming pool enclosures, interior applications (such as safety panels for interior balconies or lofts), or to separate sunken living or great rooms.
DIY or Professional Installation
NorthVue Frameless Glass Railing systems are surprisingly easy to install, which can save you money on your glass railing projects. For more complex designs, you might want to discuss the process with a professional to understand what’s involved and whether you feel comfortable taking the job on yourself.
Another issue to take into consideration is that NorthVue Frameless Glass Railing uses 12mm tempered glass panels. Our panels are thicker than most of our competitors, so the weight of our larger panels could be an issue.
NorthVue Frameless Glass Railing as mentioned, has a large stock of prefabricated panels, which allows us to streamline the delivery process, ensuring minimal lead time for all our clients.
When it comes to custom glass orders, we want to ensure you get exactly what you need, whether it's angled pieces, stair glass, or glass with specific mounting requirements.
Because these items aren't stocked in our inventory, they will take a bit longer to produce. However, we're more than happy to discuss your needs and work with you to create the perfect solution. Just reach out to NorthVue Glass, and we'll make it happen!
Maintenance
Glass railings are easy to maintain, especially when installed outdoors. Rain, frost, dew and condensation help keep glass panels clean, while the stainless steel spigots and screws are rust-free.
Interior applications may require a little more cleaning. Small peanut butter and jam hands and dog nose prints can add smudges and smear marks. However, it just takes a quick swipe with a clean, soft cloth to make short work of the mess and restore an obstruction-free view.
Design
Most people associate glass and steel with a modern aesthetic. While this is true, the beauty of frameless glass is that it offers a practically invisible material that allows you to blend it seamlessly with any design scheme.
Historic and country homes often have more walls and older and heavier design features like large stair newel posts and spindles, which can make a home feel smaller. Glass railings create a light, airy, and spacious feel, which will make your home feel more expansive.
Leveraging Natural Light
When using frameless glass railings as an interior feature, it will leverage the natural light that is already available to you.
Using glass railings as a less obtrusive way to define space, or installing a skylight in hand with glass railings on stairs, can allow more natural light to stream through your home, creating a feeling of spaciousness.
Contact the Glass Railings Experts
Glass railings are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners and designers alike discover their appealing design, versatility, safety and affordability. These tips will help you choose the perfect glass railings for your home to give you a unique look you’ll love.
For more information about NorthVue Glass frameless glass railings, click here. You can also email us at Info@northvueglass.com or contact us online.