glass "balustrade"

[Jim K]

Mate of mine building a deck - I suggested he might conisder having a glass panelled "balustrade" around the edge with the view...

anyone got experiences of this sort of thing? ISTR someone on here did some stairs??

Seems straightforward and glass is (usually) cheap ?

It's got to be toughened (or laminated?) & how thick? panel would be abt 5ft X 3ft say - mounted between two meaty posts left and right and between a base rail and handrail below and above respec.

I recall seeing stainless clamp fittings to mount/hold the glass in situ - any other options?

Can "any" glass supplier do the glass supply bit ? or is that the bit where "profit" rears it's head?

Cheers Jim K

[Dave Liquorice]

I'd lean towards laminated, toughened doesn't like getting scratched, as it creates stress point(s) that can then cause the whole panel to almost explosively fail. Toughend is used in doors and windows so if someone does fall through, it shatters into lot's of relatively harmless tiny bits. Laminated will crack and hold together but might break the head impacting it...

There maybe regulations that govern what such a panel should be.

Any kids about playing football or cricket?

[The Medway Handyman]

Have a look here for all the bits;

glass supplier can do the panels & advise on type.

[Nick Odell]

"Edge with a view" suggests a drop down the other side - and there are plenty of properties around here where a 5-6m drop the other side of the garden wall isn't unusual. If that's the case, my vote would be for the sort of glass that doesn't break into 10,000 pieces when the dog tries to chase after a low-flying bird.

Nick

[The Natural Philosopher]

I certainly got 4 or 5 or 6mm glass done for a custom shower

Its no big deal has to be done specially because of annealing/toughening process.

Firtings all available - get glass predrilled obviously

Ask at local glass merchants.

[Jim K]

I believe the kind I've seen for this application don't need holes in the glass, they just clamp onto the edge of the glass.

Jim K

[Jim K]

no but seems laminated is the way - thanks.

Jim K

[Jim K]

makes sense ;>) ta

Jim K

[John Williamson]

If the edge is above a slope, then some of the hawk profile stickers they use on tall buildings may be a way to help stop birds flying into it. They may also warn any domestic animals that it isn't a good idea to run that way. I've heard of a Staffie running straight through some laminated glass French Doors without stopping, and if there's a steep slope on the other side...

[fred]

In article , The Medway Handyman writes

[The Natural Philosopher]

glass, they just clamp onto the edge of the glass.

fair enough. I used brackets and bolts on mine. The holes ere not hugely expensive.

[The Natural Philosopher]

The border wouldn't be able to run through my shower even at full tilt. The glass is massive.

[pcb1962]

glass, they just clamp onto the edge of the glass.

Why not just use a router to make a channel in the uprights then slot the glass in from above, no brackets required.

[Dave Liquorice]

The timber will move with humidty, the glass won't... If you left a big enough gap to cope with the timber movement the panels would rattle with out some form of compressable packing.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Silicone works well for that

[The Medway Handyman]

Not used them yet, they have sent me several priced catalogues and the prices are much better than Pipe Center.

[Andy Dingley]

Yes. Cheap.

[Andy Dingley]

glass, they just clamp onto the edge of the glass.

Drilling laminated (in the factory) is no big deal, if you include it in the order.

You can also cut and drill toughened glass afterwards (waterjet), but it's not cheap

[Brian Gaff]

There is one in a shopping centre near here and it apparently sees nore attempted suicides than anywhare else bar the local railway platform.

Brian

[fred]

Thanks Dave, I'll fire off a catalogue request.