Glass balustrade systems
Discussion
I'm looking to install some glass balustrade on a couple of projects I have on the go.
One is on a first floor balcony where I will be looking for a rail system with no uprights between the glass panels and the other is for a quadrant shaped raised deck area which will have the glass panels hung between the posts. I'll be needing 10 metres for the balcony and around 14metres for the decking.
Google throws up lots of manufacturers and suppliers, but I wondered if anyone on here had installed any of this suff and could recommend any suppliers, or had any other tips.
One is on a first floor balcony where I will be looking for a rail system with no uprights between the glass panels and the other is for a quadrant shaped raised deck area which will have the glass panels hung between the posts. I'll be needing 10 metres for the balcony and around 14metres for the decking.
Google throws up lots of manufacturers and suppliers, but I wondered if anyone on here had installed any of this suff and could recommend any suppliers, or had any other tips.
I've used F H Brundle for the 'upright-less' system - it's an ally channel with a dry wedge system to hold the glass in place. Less messy than the resin based wet systems, plus it can alledgedly be dismantled with the right tool. Simply whack the wedges in with a cold chisel, millmetres from expensive toughened glass. Nerve-racking but satisfying.
Also been BSI (or similar!) tested using (£££) 15mm glass, so building inspector will be happy with it.
Big structural problem isn't the glazing system, it's what you bolt it to - take a run up at the glazed balustrade with it simply attached to the top of the building with plenty of rawlbolts and it'll probably just fall off, taking the top course of blockwork with it. Ended up with the glazing channel bolted on top of some 150x50 galvanised steel PFC, itself bolted to the building with PFC returns around the corners of the building. Won't be going anywhere now.
I've had to add a 20mmx20mm ally top cap to ours to tie the bits of glass together neatly - the toughening process warps the glass, each pane by a slightly different amount.
They also do a proper stainless handrail capping with a groove in it, if you mean you just need to hold the top of the glass between the sides of a juliet balcony, and they do the standard post and glass clamp stuff as well, not that I've used it. HTH
ETA 10m is a similar length to ours - not a juliet balcony then. Noted you're in Lancs somewhere - I'm near Stockport and know a very good (cheap!) glass supplier if it helps.
Also been BSI (or similar!) tested using (£££) 15mm glass, so building inspector will be happy with it.
Big structural problem isn't the glazing system, it's what you bolt it to - take a run up at the glazed balustrade with it simply attached to the top of the building with plenty of rawlbolts and it'll probably just fall off, taking the top course of blockwork with it. Ended up with the glazing channel bolted on top of some 150x50 galvanised steel PFC, itself bolted to the building with PFC returns around the corners of the building. Won't be going anywhere now.
I've had to add a 20mmx20mm ally top cap to ours to tie the bits of glass together neatly - the toughening process warps the glass, each pane by a slightly different amount.
They also do a proper stainless handrail capping with a groove in it, if you mean you just need to hold the top of the glass between the sides of a juliet balcony, and they do the standard post and glass clamp stuff as well, not that I've used it. HTH
ETA 10m is a similar length to ours - not a juliet balcony then. Noted you're in Lancs somewhere - I'm near Stockport and know a very good (cheap!) glass supplier if it helps.
Edited by andy43 on Tuesday 26th April 21:23
If you need any further detail drawings for your plans (i.e if a fabricator will just work to some drawings) let me know as thats what I do for a living!
I use 3d software so you can get a really good idea of what it's going to look like and iron out any changes before they start making it.
P.M. me if you need any help.
I use 3d software so you can get a really good idea of what it's going to look like and iron out any changes before they start making it.
P.M. me if you need any help.
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