What are glass railings and how to install them?

Glass railings are very often used for home improvement. For example, they can be installed on balconies, loggias or stairs. Glass structures are relevant both inside and outside the room. At the same time, it is necessary to understand the rules and principles of installing glass fences, as well as the existing features of such structures.

Glass railings, despite their versatility, are most often used for arranging staircases. It should be borne in mind that the structures have a number of unique features and characteristics.

First of all, glass fences can be made of materials of different types.

Another important property of fences is that they are initially neutral in appearance. In connection with this characteristic, the installation of structures is possible within the framework of any interior style. The individuality and uniqueness of glass structures is given by a variety of additional elements and details that each designer chooses depending on the preferences of his client, as well as taking into account the general orientation of the interior of a particular room.

The use of transparent interior elements is especially relevant in premises that are small in size. Thus, you can visually expand the room or zone it.

Like any other element of the interior, glass structures are characterized by a set of unique qualities, which, in turn, are both positive and negative. In this regard, it is quite important to evaluate in advance all the pros and cons, so as not to regret the decision made in the future.

The advantages of glass fences include such positive qualities as:

• aesthetically pleasing appearance;
• environmental Safety;
• ease of care;
• resistance to temperature fluctuations and high humidity indicators;
• transparency;
• long service life;
• simple and quick installation process.

However, it is also worth remembering that there is a certain set of disadvantages, among them:

• high cost and low availability;
• in the event of a breakdown of a part of the fence, the entire structure will need to be replaced.

We can say that the advantages of glass fences significantly outweigh their disadvantages. At the same time, for some users, the disadvantages may be so significant that they completely refuse to install such structures. One way or another, the final decision depends on the wishes, needs and capabilities of the consumer.

A number of requirements are put forward for glass structures by users and manufacturers. Moreover, most of them relate specifically to security.

So, first of all, it should be borne in mind that the minimum height of structures (especially if they are installed on a staircase) should be 90 cm.

It is not recommended to install glass rails in homes where small children and pets live. This is due to the fact that in this case, the likelihood of breakage of the fences increases. If you still want to use glass structures, then you need to make sure that it is strong and reliable enough.

The edges of glass structures should be rounded. By following this requirement, you will be able to avoid injury and injury.

Today, glass structures are quite often installed in a house or apartment; they are also popular among users. In this regard, a wide variety of types of such structures can be found on the market: for example, there are all-glass, with railings, with wood, with stainless steel, on sliders and other options. Today we will look at several popular classifications of glass fences.

Depending on the method of fastening, there are several types of fences.

Fastening glass with a clamping profile is the most popular and widespread method. This is due to the fact that the process of installing the structure is greatly simplified. For example, usually an aluminum profile is attached to the surface, and then glass is inserted directly into it.

Thanks to the point fastening, it is possible to fix the glass railing as securely as possible. Moreover, this mounting option requires a fairly large amount of time. For to fix the glass in this way, special holes are made in it, after which any fastener is inserted into it.

Stands are attached to the surface, on the sides of which specially designed connectors are placed, in which a glass fence is fixed.

Besides described above, there is another classification of glass structures, which divides them into several groups depending on the type of frame.

Structures of this type include two main parts: a metal body and glass. In this case, the metal body imitates the railings, and the glass is installed inside the structure. Not only metal, but also, for example, wood can be used as a material for the manufacture of the case. And also there can be a combination of these two materials.

It is also important that frame railings can be of several types.

Structures that do not include a frame are made of thick material, which is also attached to specially designed brackets or clamps. These barriers do not have support posts. As for the handrails, they are either completely absent, or they are a separate element located on top of the main structure or to the side of it.

Slider designs are very popular today. With the help of such a transparent fence, you can both divide the space of the room into two parts, and remove the partition. Wherein glass can be not only transparent, but also matte, with a pattern or other coating.

Modern glass fences can be translucent, transparent, reinforced. The decisive role is played by the material from which the structures are made.

Obviously, the use of such fences is relevant in those regions for which low air temperatures are characteristic (for example, the North of our country). Very often frost-resistant materials are used for the arrangement of penthouses and shopping centers, that is, where the installation of glass fences is relevant on the street.

The most important distinguishing characteristic of tempered glass is the method of its production. Thanks to this, tempered glass acquires a number of unique qualities, namely: high level of strength, resistance to temperature extremes, increased safety indicators. It is important to note that tempered glass can be tinted, frosted or clear. In addition, decorative elements can be applied to it to match the style of the interior.

At its core, plexiglass is a material that consists of polycarbonate or acrylic glass. The distinctive characteristics of the material include its strength, durability and fire safety. It is because of this that plexiglass is especially popular and in demand among users.

Such a material has several layers in its composition, which are combined with each other through processes such as heating and high pressure. The triplex system is stable and safe during operation. There is a wide variety of similar materials on the market today: matte, colorless, tinted and mirror.

Frosted glass is commonly used to create structures of various shapes. It has a high level of resistance to low air temperatures.

Armor-piercing material is usually not used in domestic conditions, it is used only in institutions that require an increased level of security. Armor-piercing glass consists of several layers of transparent glass. These layers are joined together by means of a polymer that has the ability to harden when exposed to sunlight. The level of protection of the glass directly depends on how thick it is. At the same time, the thickness indicator often varies from 15 to 30 mm.

In order to install any type of glass railing, fittings must be used. For example, you may need the following parts and components:

• clamping profile;
• mini racks;
• wooden handrail;
• point mount;
• fasteners;
• brackets;
• node.

You should use the most durable and high quality fittings. In addition, it should be attractive in its appearance and harmoniously fit into the overall aesthetics.

In order for the glass structure to be as functional as possible and to serve for a long period, it is necessary to follow the rules for its installation, as well as carefully calculate the required amount of material.

Installation of glass structures is carried out sequentially in several stages.

• First of all, it is necessary to choose the optimal type of glass fencing. It depends on what type of installation further installation will be carried out.
• Next, you need to carry out preparatory work: for example, make measurements, make plans and drawings.

There are several possible mounting options.

• Installing glass structures between balusters is the most popular and widespread installation method. For its implementation, it is necessary to fix the handrails on the rack. At the same time, such handrails are often made of such a strong and reliable material as stainless steel (wood or glass can be used as an analogue).
• Another option is to install handrails on the edge of the glass. Mini racks can be used as handrails.

The installation process itself is carried out according to the following scheme:

• installation of racks;
• installation of handrails;
• installation of a crossbar and glass.

In general, it is very important to follow all the rules and principles of installation.Only in this case, the fence will turn out to be strong and strong, and will also last a long time.

Glass structures do not require any special maintenance. However, there are a few simple rules.

• To maintain an attractive appearance of the structure, it must be wiped periodically. In this case, cleaning can be wet or dry. In the first case, you can use special glass detergents that remove dust, dirt, fingerprints and other unwanted contaminants.
• If you notice a crack or chipped glass, then you need to immediately replace part (or even all) of the structure.

Following these maintenance guidelines will increase the life of your glass fence.

For information on how to install a glass fence, see the next video.