railings Archives - New Town Glass Ltd

Both exterior and interior railings can add significant value to your home with their visual appeal and functionality. While exterior railings are commonly used in decks, balconies, porches, and outdoor patios, interior railings are especially useful in staircases and to allow transition from one area of a home to another.

Types of Interior Railings

There are many types of railings that you can choose from when designing your interior railings for your home space. The most popular types of railings include wood railings, metal railings, wire railings, stainless steel railings, and glass railings.

Wood Railings

Wood railings are a popular choice among DIY homeowners and new builders because of the inexpensive wood material they use. Custom wood railings can also be fabricated by professional railing suppliers to complement an elegant staircase design. They require adequate care and maintenance. They can last at least 10 years.

Metal Railings

An inexpensive way to add some style, metal interior railings usually consists of iron, steel, or powder-coated aluminum. They are strong and stylish, easier to maintain, and won’t break the bank as a homeowner.

Wire Railings

Also called cable railings, wire railings provide for an open design. The cables’ horizontal arrangement makes wire railings unique. The cables can be combined with either a wood or metal frame to compliment both a traditional and modern style. The cost of a wire railing can be comparable to that of a metal or glass railing, but with the potential to last longer.

Stainless Steel Railings

Stainless steel railings use stainless steel for their rails. They have flexible designs, use stainless steel posts and rods that can be both vertical and horizontal. Stainless steel railings may also use wire infill.

Glass Railings

They use glass panels instead of balusters for infill. Glass railings using clear glass provide a clear view but the glass panels can also have the option for decorative etchings or a color tint.

What to Consider in Choosing Interior Railings

Understanding the features, benefits, and disadvantages of the different types of railings can make you well informed before deciding to purchase.

1. Safety: You should be most concerned with safety. Consider the safety of use and local building code requirements in your area including factors such as the type of safety glass allowed when you choose railings.

2. Maintenance: Consider the maintenance needs so the railings can always look clean and new and be highly functional.

3. Budget and Cost: The money you will spend should meet your budget expectations and at the same time provide your home interior the improvement in style and function you desire.

4. Installation: The installation of railings can make or break your home improvement. Improperly installed, your railings can be an eyesore and dangerous. Get the services of an experienced railings service company.

Pros and Cons of Glass Railings

Glass is becoming one of the most popular materials for decorative construction applications. There is no doubt glass can bring the visual appeal you want from your structure such as stairs railings but is it safe and practical to use?

Here are the advantages of using glass railings for the interior of your home:

1. More Lighting: Glass panels allow natural light to flow through and reach your steps without any shadow, which can reduce the need for artificial lighting.

2. Safety: They are safe even when used in staircases. The thick tempered glass used in them is not likely to shatter or break. They also keep small children and pets from falling off the edge of the staircases. Clear steps from enhanced lighting also reduce the chances of tumbling downstairs.

3. Unrestricted View: The glass panels do not block off any view in your home interior that you want to be seen.

4. Enhanced Style: Glass railings create a modern luxurious vibe that enhances the style of your staircase and home.

5. Easy Maintenance: You only need to keep them clean to maintain their great condition at all times.

6. Environmentally Friendly: Coming from sand, glass takes nothing from the earth’s natural resources and leaves nothing during processing.

For the disadvantages, you should also consider the following:

1. Lots of Cleaning Required: If you want to keep glass railings always looking clean, transparent, and beautiful, you will need to clean them regularly. They’re not the easiest thing to clean.

2. Price: Standard balustrades such as timber, steel, and others are more affordable. With pricing on the higher end, the cost of glass railings is a tradeoff against the many benefits they provide.

3. Lack of Privacy: When compared with other opaque railings, you are fully exposed when you climb or go down the staircase.

You have many reasons to install glass railings in your home’s interior. With their sleek appearance, they offer a modern aesthetic to any style of home. The open concept feel they bring brightens up space and encourage a fresh, airy atmosphere. They also provide a visual appeal that can increase the value of your home.

Most importantly, they address the concerns on durability and safety. The tempered safety glass with polished wedges normally used in glass railings is four times stronger than regular glass. They do not warp, rot, or deteriorate; they can support your staircases for many years to come.

Are you building a new house or you’re renovating your house? Are you currently thinking if glass railings are right for you? It’s not an easy decision, especially for those who know very little about installing and maintaining glass railings. It’s best to read up and learn more about the types of glass railings to find out if it’s the right choice for your house.

Types of Glass Railings

You can opt to have interior glass railings if you are particularly concerned about privacy. Try stairway, mezzanine, or loft glass railings that all look elegant and sophisticated and goes well in any interior design theme.

If you want to increase the curb appeal of your house, opt for exterior ones for your outdoor steps, deck, rooftop, balcony, porch, or patio. Exterior glass railings can instantly make your house look modern.

They can be attached or mounted in several ways, each one has their appeal and all of them are equally durable when installed properly:

Base Rails

Glass can be attached using a base rail and a top railing which allows you to use unimpeded glass panels, which provides a clear visual view and appeal. You can also opt for topless glass railings, wherein a base rail supports the frameless panels.

Pins or Talons

Glass panels can be attached using pins on the sides or talons at the base to support them vertically. For some styles, frames are needed to supplement the system for better durability, but they offer a clean and uninterrupted look. Talons are perfect for exterior glass railings as they allow better water runoff.

Posts and Clamp

Some glass railings need posts and use clamps to attach to the posts. It is not as visually clean as the other styles, but they offer higher durability and you can choose from different materials for your posts so you can complement your design.

Things to Consider Before Getting Glass Railings

To know for sure that glass railings will work for your house, keep in mind some of these considerations before you decide.

1. Safety

Exterior railings are sturdy and safe, and they provide your kids with an unobstructed view without needing to climb over it, which makes them safer for kids to enjoy. Another thing to consider is how they are attached; those with large enough gaps at the base may pose some risks for children and pets, so keep that in mind.

2. Budget

Glass railings are relatively more expensive than other railing materials like steel, aluminum, iron, and wood, so if you’re on a budget, the glass may not be the best choice for you. If you want to invest in your house to increase its resale value, you can splurge on topless railings that will make your house more elegant and valuable.

3. Visual Appeal

Glass railings can go with any interior design and they work especially well with modern minimalistic styles. It makes space feel more open which creates the illusion of a bigger space. It also allows for more natural lighting that helps in making the colors of your designs pop with vibrancy. It can offer uninterrupted stunning views from the inside while also making your house look sleek and modern from the outside.

4. Maintenance and Cleaning

If you’re looking for materials that do not need too much effort for maintenance and upkeep, glass railing is the perfect choice for you. They are easy to clean with the use of water, soap, and sponge occasionally, and they do not collect any mildew and mold, unlike other railing materials. Although If you have pets and children, you may need to clean them more often.

5. Privacy

Consider how private you want your balcony, deck, porch, or patio to be, as glass railings offer uninterrupted views from both sides. Keep in mind that people from the street can easily view what’s going on inside, so if you want to keep your interiors private, clear type may not be the best choice for you. If you want the light that glass railings can bring to your house, there are a variety of textures and finishes to choose from, which have the same elegance but blur the light so you can still enjoy your privacy.

6. Installation

Unlike other railing materials, glass railings require professional installation to ensure safety and durability. It is not something that amateur and skilled home renovators can simply do. If you are doing a DIY renovation for your home, it will be better to work with materials that are less delicate to handle. If you want the elegance and sophistication that they bring, call expert service providers like New Town Glass.

For an interior or exterior that never fails to wow, you’ll never go wrong with glass railings. They offer clean lines that look elegant and sophisticated. With its unparalleled beauty, most homeowners dream of having them for their homes. Always note that installation and quality of materials are the most important aspects of having durable, safe, and beautiful glass railings that will last for decades.

Should You Use Glass for Stairs and Interior Railings?