Love for Glass Stairs
It’s not difficult to see why glass staircases have become so popular in recent times, especially glazed side panels. Despite new buildings increasingly becoming smaller and smaller and rising prices pushing other consumers to purchase small buildings, homeowners are seeking innovative ways to make the best of the space they have.
Glass in your staircase will have different advantages in lieu of wood or metal:
Light
The corridor is also the darkest area of the building, and is not suitable for visitors. A conventional stair balustrade consisting of a handrail and base rail joined with wooden or metal spindles is often used to obstruct precious natural light to support the dim. Using glass panels as the banister infill brightens the space automatically and enables further free flow of light.
Space
The fact glass will render a space look that much bigger is fantastic. A transparent balustrade offers little to no eye obstacle, through the sense of space. For staircases in a living room or dining room this is of particular importance, since clear panels make the structure less obstructive.
Style
Glass is actually mostly preferred by interior designers and can fit practically every era of house. It will boost the look and feel of a new building, strengthen its contemporary image and get it up to date. At the other end of the age scale, glass may bring an intriguing twist to the home time. For eg, a dark cottage with beamed ceilings and narrow windows can be brightened and made more appealing by replacing solid wood balustrades with light-enhancing glass panels.
Which type of glass should you choose?
Strong quality glazed panels should be made of hardened protective glass with a thickness of at least 8 mm and, preferably, 10 mm. Large single panels will produce the most impact and allow maximum light flow. They typically have to be designed to fit, so be prepared to stay a bit longer and cost a little extra than the normal measurements. Installation may be difficult and better left to experts. Small panels are less showy, but more flexible and always the perfect option for rough layouts. These may also be paired with wood or metal spindles, if needed.
How is the glass fitted?
Based on the design of the stairs and your own interests, you will normally choose how to mount the metal clamps to the balustrade (either on the top and bottom or on either side) or to insert them into pre-cut grooves on the rail and the base rail. Often it is also necessary to connect the panels to the handrail only, without utilizing the base rail, such that the glass is suspended only above the stairs.
From an aesthetic point of view, installing the panels directly onto wooden banisters results in a smoother design, although some people prefer the modern look with polished metal clamps or brackets. These are most often covered with chrome or polished nickel coating. You may also use stainless steel disks if you have an especially striking style.