Glass Deck Railing: Designs, Installation And Contractors
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Published: May 18, 2007
Glass deck railing is one of the most popular and beautiful ways to make decks safe and complete. Glass railing is an almost necessary deck element from the beaches of Southern California to the fishing villages of Maine. The variety of styles and types of glass railing are almost as numerous as the places it is used.
Glass railing is constructed of a piece of safety glass between two posts.
Glass railing comes in dozens of colors, from white to black and everything in between. There are metal tones available including silver and brass. One of the more popular styles is powdered aluminum. This type of glass railing frame is maintenance free, does not corrode, and will last for years.
Glass railing can be used around a swimming pool, a balcony, or the backyard deck. With the advantage of not interrupting visibility, the glass allows users to be able to see the world on the other side even if they can't see over it. One of the great pleasures of a deck or balcony is laying out in the sun. Glass railing allows a home owner to see out into the yard or out to the ocean right from their chaise lounge.
One of the choices in railing design is the top rail design. From a basic round to elaborate designs, the top rail can help to define the tone of the glass railing. Another great advantage of the glass is the fact that it can be etched. For decks at restaurants of golf courses, the name of the establishment can be etched right in the glass.
Installation of glass railing is fairly simple. Because the railing rests on top the deck it can be installed quickly and with a minimal interruption. Glass railing also has the advantage that only a few pieces can cover a large area, so experienced professionals can put up the railing quickly and with minimal impact on the business. Traditional picket railing that is assembled on site is time consuming and pre-assemble picket railing can be quite expensive. Glass railing is affordable and beautiful.
Contractors can take the pressure off of the construction process, but a do-it-yourself could easily make this a weekend project. As with most projects, the beginning is critical. All of the vertical posts must be trimmed to a very precise height in order for the top rail to grab the glass properly and for the railing to have a uniform height. Because this piece is so critical this is a definite occasion for the old adage of “measure twice, cut once.” From there the process is not much more difficult than simply putting the pieces tighter properly.
Glass railing is quick and relatively inexpensive way to add beauty and value to any deck or pool. The ease of construction of glass deck railing and the minimal impact that it can have on the home owners life can make it a great way to improve the home.
Sources:
Glass Railing Systems. Deck Images. 2004. 17 May 2007.
http://www.deckimages.com/glass-deck-railings.ht m
Glass Railings. Railing Works. 2005. FSI Home Products Division. 17 May 2007.
http://www.railingworks.com/glass-railing-detail s.html?OVRAW=glass%20railing&OVKEY=glass%20rai />California Glass and Railing. 17 May 2007.
http://calglass-railings.com/GlassRailframepage. htm
