A Newbie’s Guide to Glass Balustrade

What is a Glass Balustrade?
A glass balustrade is a column used to support the handrails in staircases and balconies. Balustrades are usually found in wide range of materials such as glass, wood, metal and stone. Glass balustrades are often used for the elegant look that they bring along and also the ability to allow light to pass through them. They are commonly seen in hotels, offices and also in houses where interior decoration is given much focus. Glass panels, cap rails, shoe moldings and panel clips are what go into fitting a glass balustrade. The glass panels are attached to the shoe moldings with the help of the panel clips. Moldings can be either fastened to or embedded on to the floor. The covering handle of glass balustrades are the cap rails which are attached to the glass by means of a sealant or adhesive. The weight of the cap rails need to be in accordance to the handling capacity of the glass below to avoid accidents. All of these are usually mentioned in the safety regulations of the balustrades.

Positives and Negatives of Glass Balustrades
When considering the option of installing glass balustrades in your home, you need to be aware about the pros and cons of the product, weigh them and then decide whether to get them or not. Here is a list of points regarding the materials that you need to find out:

• Undoubtedly, glass balustrades add beauty and class to your home. They give that much wanted upscale, luxurious, elegant and resort-like feel to houses and they are a great option to be included during renovations and home improvement.
• Glass balustrades allow light to pass through them making the rooms and staircases appear brighter and cleaner. This makes the house energy efficient.
• They are not very difficult to clean. All that you need is some water and a piece of soft cloth to wipe off marks from the glass surface; dirt can be removed with a dry cloth too. Stronger marks will call for a liquid soap or glass cleansers.
• They go with almost any kind of interior decoration, and so not calling for changes or the worry of suitability with the décor of the rest of the house.
• If you own a resort or a hotel or are planning to start one, you can install these to improve the look without spending on innumerable other things.
• They can also be used for pool fencing, shower screen, outdoor balustrade and in many other places in and around the house.
• Durability is an important thing with it comes to glass balustrades. They are usually built to provide great safety and guarantee of security.

However, just like every other thing in our lives, glass balustrades also have a few disadvantages which you need to consider before installing them.

• Since they are see through, they can prevent privacy. This problem is faced particularly when glass balustrades are used as a partition, shower screens, pool fencing or other outdoor fencings.
• Though they are easy to clean, one must remember how easily the dust accumulates on the glass. One drop of liquid can create a mark if it is not wiped off immediately. You will need to maintain and clean it on a regular basis.
• Let’s face it – they are not cheap. Though there are many varieties, yet glass balustrades are more expensive than steel or aluminum or wooden ones.
• If not maintained properly, the glass can chip off and lead to accidents. This is commonly seen in houses where guests visit often or have a bunch of active kids.