Last Update April 16th, 2016 Our glass balustrade Sydney solutions are a popular method to ensure and boost the visual appeal of your balcony, deck, patio or veranda while offering uninterrupted views and improving the natural flow of light.
We’re seasoned and specializing in the area of carpentry, metalwork engineering, especially balustrades, handrails, swimming pool fences, bollards, fencing, gates and stairways.
Please contact us for a free measure and quote.
The clean and contemporary lines of glass and stainless steel perfect balance between exterior and interior to finish off new houses or update an existent house.
For an obligation free estimate, please contact us on: 02 8076 7495 or e-mail me on the contact page.
Glass Balustrade : Legal Requirements in Sydney NSW
A glass balustrade design for your house can be a tough job, and even more so when it’s your own house. If you are designing your own home, there’s one detail you shouldn’t miss, a balustrade. A balustrade is composed of architectural posts that hold up the railings of a staircase. While a balustrade isn’t always necessary, it provides your staircase with more support, thus decreasing the amount of risk and injuries resulting from a wobbly or loose staircase. Aside from staircases, balustrades can be found on balconies and porches .
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How To Choose A Glass Balustrade
Step 1: Choose a Model/Design
| 1 Section |
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One Section Glass Balustrade |
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| 1 Section Glass Balustrade. |
| 2 Section |
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Two Section Glass Balustrade |
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| 2 Section Glass Balustrade. |
| 3 Section |
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Three Section Glass Balustrade |
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| 3 Section Glass Balustrade. |
| Curved |
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Curved Glass Balustrade |
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| Bent and Curved Glass Balustrade. |
| Custom Made |
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Custom Made Glass Balustrading |
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| CuGlass Balcony Balustrades. |
| DIY |
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|---|---|
DIY Glass Balustrade |
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| Custom DIY Glass Balustrade. |
Step 2: Glass Balustrade System Type Options
Choose one system below from the different systems, each system gives its own advantages and options, ranging from the classic balustrade system through to the fully frameless.
| System 1 |
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|---|---|
Balcony Balustrade System 1 |
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| Balcony, Staircases & Patios Balustrade System 1 |
| System 2 |
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|---|---|
Staircases & Patios Balustrade System 2 |
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| (best seller) Balustrade System 2 | |
| System 3 |
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|---|---|
Semi Frameless System 3 |
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| Semi Frameless Glass Balustrade. |
| System 4 |
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|---|---|
Fully Frameless Glass Balustrade |
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| Frameless Glass Balustrade. |
| System 5 |
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|---|---|
Stair Balustrades |
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| Frameless Glass Balustrade for stairs Balustrades. |
Step 3: Railing and Handrails Colour Options and Colour Finish
Available in 6 normal colour finishes: White powder coating, Silver Anodised, Bronze Anodised and Royal Chrome Anodised finish.
All finishes come with 10 year Guarantee.
The selection of handrails nearly infinite, and you’ve got the liberty to mix and match however you please to reach your desired finish. Select from our fundamental handrail that is square with diamond or carton picket, or perhaps add another colour picket as well as a shaped top rail. Why not add glass to replace the picket whilst reducing wind gust in your deck and improve your perspective? It is also possible to add an acrylic carton picket for an appearance that is different.
View Colour Charts
RAL Colour Chart
The RAL variety is the German Standard for colour and is extensively used throughout Europe. In the Australia.,it’s usually found as a given colour on cladding, powder coatings and furniture.
The colours depicted in the following graph are for guidelines only. The finished colour might not be as revealed here.
PDF | RAL Colour Chart |
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|---|---|
| Published: 09 January 2013 |  PDF |.011 |
Dulux Colour Guide
The Dulux colour guide is deal for architectural residential fittings, such as aluminium windows, doors, sydney balustrades and fences in NSW.
PDF | Dulux Colour Guide |
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|---|---|
| Published: 01 March 2014 | PDF | .011 |
Listen to The Glass Podcast / mp3 in iTunes – Apple
To listen to an audio podcast,
file size: 18.70 KB | Click Download to Save mp3 Glass Balustrade Systems
More Colour Options
 White |
 Olive |
 Cream |
|---|---|---|
 Golden Oak foil wrap |
 Rose Wood foil wrap |
 Forest Green foil wrap |
 An-teak foil wrap |
 Slate Grey foil wrap |
 Stainless Steel Satin AISI 316 Marine Grade |
 Stainless Steel Mirror AISI 316 Marine Grade |
Why Choose Glass Balustrade for your Home?
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Care free
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Simple to fit
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No glass clamps
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Minimal posts needed
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No corner posts
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Super powerful and tested system
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The most proven track record
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Curved choice are easily accessible
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Quite fairly priced
Meet Us
Ends: 2015-04-30:00.000
Duration: 02:10
Glass Balustrade Fittings Cost of Shipping
Shipping Times & Costs
Most balustrades companies strive to supply transportation that’s affordable and timely, to ensure your purchase stays budget-friendly and arrives at your doorway when possible. Every delivery is custom packed by a specialist team to make sure that your goods arrive safely and soundly. The goods arrive in perfect state nearly 100% of the time, and in the uncommon case of an problem happening during transportation, you can replace any damaged products at no price to you personally.
Below, we have compiled advice on delivery times and prices to important cities across Australia. In addition to the listed locations, some companies are capable boat to any address in the country or state; so in case your hometown is not recorded just get in contact with your local glass balustrade Sydne team.
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Location |
Average Shipping Costs (Large Order) |
Average Shipping Costs (Small Order) |
Average Delivery Times |
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Melbourne |
$140-$180 |
$5-$22 |
2 days |
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Cairns |
$190-$280 |
$5-$22 |
1-2 days |
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Brisbane |
$75 |
Free-$10 |
1 day |
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Sydney |
$100-$140 |
$5-$15 |
1 day |
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Adelaide |
$170-$430 |
$5-$22 |
2-3 days |
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Perth |
$270-$430 |
Talk to us |
4-5 days |
The primary purpose of balustrades is to make the staircase sturdier and more balanced, however there are people who also prefer to combine support with an artistic design. Instead of placing regular balustrades, they go for more complex designs and materials. One example of a type of balustrade that is usually preferred by creative home owners and designers is the glass balustrade. This type of balustrade is famous for its elegant and sophisticated feel. In fact, many home owners that prefer installing glass balustrades do so in order to have a hotel or resort looking atmosphere to their homes.
If you’re thinking of adding a glass balustrade to your home, there are many factors that you should consider. It is important that you do your research first regarding the average price of glass balustrades, the building regulations regarding this type of balustrade, and even how the glass can meet the required basic load in order to prevent any accidents resulting from the glass balustrade.
Meeting The Required Basic Load
Although balustrades are added in order to make the staircase more aesthetically pleasing, safety and support are two factors that should not be forgotten. This should be emphasized when choosing a glass balustrade, as glass balustrades can be more risky when compared to a metal or cast iron balustrade. When it comes to meeting the required basic load, you will hear or read about structural glass balustrades often.
In structural glass balustrades, the glass isn’t used as a mere infill panel of the balustrade. The glass in a structural glass balustrade is the actual design of the balustrade itself. However structural glass balustrades can be risky, which is why you have to look for glass panels that have a strong base and thick panels.
A strong base is needed in order to clamp the panel of the glass, while the thick structure of the glass panels is necessary in order to prevent the glass from bending or breaking when pressure is placed on the staircase. There are some home owners or interior designers that prefer to remove hand railings from the staircase in order to emphasize the glass balustrade design, although keep in mind that a hand railing is important when it comes to providing support to the balustrades.
The hand railing is also an important part of the staircase as it helps hold all the glass panels together, making the staircase one solid structure. It also helps to remember that while some interior designers may suggest removing the hand railing from the stair case design, there are actually certain countries that have laws that prohibit the removal of the hand railings in the stair case design. Check with your local Councils requirements at www.poolfencing.gov.au before you make any decisions regarding the design of your glass fence or staircase.
Maximum Areas of Safety Glass* Table 2.1
| Grade | Type | Thickness (mm) | Maximum Area (m2) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
A
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Toughened | 3 | 1.0 |
| 4 | 2.2 | ||
| 5 | 3.0 | ||
| 6 | 4.0 | ||
| 7 | 6.0 | ||
| 8 | 8.0 | ||
| 10 | 10.0 | ||
| 12 | 12.01 | ||
| Laminate | 5 | 2.2 | |
| 6 | 3.0 | ||
| 8 | 5.0 | ||
| 10 | 7.0 | ||
| 12 | 9.0 |
* This table represents an excerpt from (GLASS IN BUILDINGS AS1288:2006 - Residential)AS1288-2006 and as a guide. Maximum places do not consider layout wind pressures. To compute minimum Glass depth at ultimate for stress Limit state and deflection serviceability limit state pressures, AS1288-2006 Supplement 1 must be used. For an entire variant including Minimal depth of annealed glass, Consult with the printed standard.
Human Impact and Safety
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CRITICAL LOCATIONS FOR DOORS AND HANDRAILS
Glazing in all doors and balustrades (including but not restricted to hinged, sliding,
Piling and bi-folding) shall be Level A safety glass in accordance
with AS1288-2006 Table 2.1 and AS1288-2006 Supplement 1.
Side panels next to doors are deemed to be subject to individual
impact where the closest perpendicular sightline is less than 300mm from
the closest border of the doorway opening and within 1200mm of the
Floor level in this case shall be of Level A and for that reason glazing
safety glass.
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GLASS THAT COULD BE MISTAKEN FOR A DOORWAY OR OPENING
Ask yourself “could anyone mistake the panel
for a doorway or opening and walk into glass”?
If YES, use Level A safety glass to TABLE 5.1
** NOTE: The panel is unable to be mistaken IF:
Opening is equal to or less than 500mm broad.
Lowest sight line is 500millimeter* above flooring.
The sight size height is less than 1000mm.
The glazing is not clear or patterned.
A chair rail is given with its top border
700’s top border and not less than it mm not more
than 1000mm over the floor level.
The panels are louvres using a blade width
not greater than 230mm.
A difference of 1000mm in floor amount
Laminated Glass Balustrades
Features and Applications
- Safety – Level A safety glass which matches with AS1288
Conditions. Determined by the intensity of impact, won’t
Splinter into jagged pieces that are dangerous and certainly will stay undamaged
in opening; - Colour variety – Variety of PVB thicknesses and colours
including 0.38, 0.76, 1.14, and 1.52mm; - More powerful – Heat toughened laminated and strengthened
glass empowering bigger panels to be glazed with greater
resistance to windloading over average annealed glass; - Thunderstorm protection (weather/disaster management attributes) –
Depending on severity of impact, glass remains intact in the
opening when broken thereby preventing harmful effects of
Weather unlike ordinary annealed glass inside building; - UV protection – Helps to shield carpets, drapes, and
furniture by screening out 99% of all ultra-violet light; - Fire protection (fire retardation) – Laminated glass
not used alone as element of a fire resistant glazing,
Still supplies evacuation time that is longer compared to
Average thin annealed glass; - Noise reduction – Noise reduction benefits;
- Distortion free – visually distortion free in annealed form;
- Programs – satisfied for overhead glazing including windows
Right above rooflites doorways, skylites and multi storey
Buildings, where upon impact glass is not likely to drop to the
Earth below. Additionally satisfied for doorways, internal partitions,
side lites, elevator wells, balustrading, laminated mirrors in walk
Through robe scenarios, other places and wet places as required
by Australian Standards.
How Much Is Glass Balustrading Per Meter?
Among the different types of balustrades, glass balustrades are one of the more expensive options, which is why its important to come up with an estimate of how much you could spend before making any decisions. How much glass balustrading is will depend on the type of material you’re going to use and the width that the balustrade will cover.
There are normal and average glass balustrades that cost $230 meter, while a frame less balustrade can cost up to $300-$320 per meter. Aside from the materials, the final price of a balustrade depends on the size of the balcony or the staircase. It definitely helps to have your balcony or staircase measured precisely in order for the supplier to give you an accurate price on the balustrades or the staircase.
Also, like most materials for your home, investing on cheap materials isn’t always the best option, especially when it comes to a staircase, as there are many risks involved. Glass balustrades can be expensive, which is why it helps to come up with a good prediction regarding the price to avoid getting a shock when the final price for the staircase arrives.
Building Regulations Regarding Glass Balustrades
Indeed the main purpose why people add balustrades to their staircases is to make the latter more solid however every interior designer or home owner should know that some types of balustrades have risks involved, which is why there are building regulations that supervise and control how homes are designed. A common issue when it comes to glass balustrades is the handrail. There are many designers that prefer to remove the handrails from the picture altogether in order to make the staircase look more elegant or luxurious. However there are some designers that say this practice is actually not allowed as it goes against the building regulations regarding staircases and glass balustrades.
So are handrails really necessary when you want to add a glass balustrade? The answer is: YES. In Australia, there are building regulations that require handrails to be installed along with glass balustrades. Aside from providing support, the handrails prevent the glass balustrade from completely breaking, or the staircase from falling apart when one of the glass panels is damaged or start to break.
According to Building Code of Australia (download PDF) regarding barriers in and about buildings, handrails should be installed and these handrails should be capable of staying in position, even when the design of the staircase fails due to an unexpected gap in the design or installation of the glass panels. Yes, any designer may tell you that handrails depreciate the aesthetic design of the glass balustrade, but if you want to prevent any injuries from occurring, it’s best to be safe and stick to the building regulations in your area.
Where To Use Glass Balustrades
When most people think of glass, they think of a material that is easy to shatter, and shouldn’t be used as a load-bearing material. In the case of glass balustrade, not only is glass used for load bearing, it is also used for glass balustrade stairs, which are arguably even more stressful.
However, thanks to advancements in material sciences and technology, glass can now be made that is resistant to compression and twisting forces, and thus can be used for balustrade design, given that it will follow balustrade height and balustrade regulations.
What Balustrades are
Balustrades are a repeating series of balusters, which help in supporting and keeping up railings for balconies, verandahs, or any area that is cordoned off for aesthetic and practical purposes. Traditionally, timber balustrades are the norm, with metal such as wrought- or cast-iron structures being used. In times that are more modern, aluminum is also used as decorative and load-bearing components. Stainless steel balustrade posts and components are also popular, particularly for outside use.
Balustrade design can vary wildly, from minimalist panel-like designs, to ornate, sculpted posts that can be used as focal points for the design aesthetic. Balustrades also serve two other primary purposes, aside from Aesthetic design. The first one is a matter of house design and practicality, as a balustrade can define the enclosed area, be it a verandah, balcony or stairs. In some cases, they can even be used to cordon off a corner of a flat area, so that it can be designated a special area for meetings and such.
The other use for a balustrade is for safety, as the height between one area and the next can be very different. It’s also used for the same reason in stairs, as it makes people follow the suggested path, rather than diagonally traveling down that stairs and ending up with nothing left to lean on for safety and balance.
Glass balustrades
Glass balustrades also serve the same purposes as other kinds of balustrades, but there are some specific conditions where glass balustrade design will be much better than other materials.
1) Effective load-bearing component – Glass balustrade design is meant to help in supporting the railing on top, while at the same time preventing people from falling off the ledge area, without looking too heavy on the eyes, or too busy. In fact, a simple, uncolored glass balustrade panel setup can give the illusion of minimal visual interference, while maximizing safety protocols, particularly if they will be designed for area where many children will be playing.
2) Glass balustrade Aesthetics – Glass balustrade design is perfect for a more modernist approach to interior design, or it works well with almost any exterior design ideas for a home or building. If used in a house, it can give a less-cluttered effe3ct, and a feeling of an expansive space, as the glass balustrade design will both make an area seem larger, while at the same time, setting definite boundaries to a particular area of the house. It’s such that if you were a famous Doctor in science fiction, you would probably hear that glass balustrade design could make things look “bigger on the inside.”
3) Selection of design and “cut” – To minimize on glass balustrade cost, you should check with a specialist or contractor first what the needed measurements are for the law, such as height and material strength. From there, you can work backwards to see if your glass balustrade stairs or other designs can be reverse engineered for maximum safety and use, at minimum cost possible for the design in your head.
When you hire specialists and tradespersons, make sure that they are experienced in drilling, cutting and aligning glass balustrade components. You should also declare the work area and the area where the glass components will be installed as construction areas, particularly because of the ground glass “dust” and then possibility of glass shards being all over the place.
4) Maintenance – You can protect the glass balustrade components by adding a layer of wax over the glass. You can also use specialized coatings for just this sort of thing. A wax coating can lessen dirt and maintenance time in the future.
As part of your maintenance routing, you should also make sure that the glass panels won’t have cracks, fracture lines and chips, as these should be replaced immediately before an unintended blowout may happen. Even if it’s safety glass, it’s still good idea to stay away if one of them shatters. You should have an extra panel or two lying around, just in case.
Safety
All safety concerns should be answered if the installation of the glass balustrade is according to the Building Code of Australia, or the BCA. They should have the proper height and material strength for the used that they are being installed for. It’s a good idea to check the foundation and installation clamps, bolts, and screws, too, so that they won’t be points of weakness where glass can start to fracture.
Suggestions
If you will use glass balustrades, you should be aware that there are three kinds: frames, semi-framed, and frameless. These types refer to how the glass is framed – some glass balustrades do not rely on anything but the glass itself, with a few support posts here and there. These are known as frameless glass balustrades. These look particularly good for balconies, to make them feel larger or wider. It can also bring in a lot of light, for a brighter area.
Semi-framed glass balustrades usually mean that the glass panels have posts framing both sides, but no horizontal frames. This lends a bit more support aside from the glass itself. Some DIY glass balustrades use this kind of design. Pool balustrades also look good with this kind of design, since there is a minimum of visual interference, so to speak, but just enough to remind people that there is a barrier there.
Full-frame glass balustrades have the glass panels fully framed with metal components. These are a good idea for use in glass balustrade stairs, as the extra components can make the load-bearing more distributed.
You can go to Bunnings Warehouse for Glass balustrades of all kinds. As mentioned before, there are DIY glass balustrade sets available, but it’s still a better idea to have a specialist help out.
