The glass does not normally need to extend all the way down to the floor or the surface. A small air gap beneath the glass makes it easier to install the balustrade, keep the bottom edge of the glass clean, and allow water and dirt to pass through. The size of the opening depends on where the balustrade is located.
The opening must not be large enough for children to squeeze through or get stuck, especially on balconies and in homes. Clamps, posts, and glass panels must be planned together, and any slope or unevenness in the surface may cause the distance to vary. Base your design on the balustrade system’s dimensions and installation instructions, and check the requirements for openings at the location where the balustrade will be installed.
The right fixings depend on how the glass is supported, where the balustrade is installed and the look you want. Common options include glass clamps, point fixings, base channels and certain types of floor fixing. Glass clamps hold the glass without holes in the panels and can be used with posts or walls.
Point fixings pass through pre-drilled holes in the glass and minimise visible fittings, but require panels with correctly positioned holes. A base channel supports the glass along its bottom edge and is used for frameless glass balustrades. The glass dimensions and specification, substrate and fixings must be compatible as a complete system.
Available colours and finishes depend on the balustrade material and model. Aluminium can be powder-coated in a range of RAL colours, while stainless steel is often chosen with a brushed or polished finish. Glass options may include clear, opaque or tinted glass. You can coordinate the finish with other details on your home.
On some systems, posts, top rails and glass clamps are available in matching or contrasting finishes. This allows the balustrade to complement the façade, windows and doors – for example, black posts with a timber top rail. With Color, you can select a colour to suit your project. The available colours and combinations vary by model.
The easiest way to clean a glass balustrade is with lukewarm water, a mild detergent, and a soft microfiber cloth or window squeegee. Avoid strong or abrasive cleaners, which can damage the surface of the glass or the balustrade’s hardware. How often this is necessary depends on the location. Near the sea, roads, or areas with high pollen counts, the balustrade may need to be washed more often.
A nano-coating makes the glass more water-repellent, so dirt and limescale don’t stick as easily, but it doesn’t replace cleaning. Also wipe down the clamps and hardware – stainless steel ones with water and a mild detergent, painted ones with a soft cloth – and check at the same time that they’re securely fastened.
Glass for balustrades is ground and polished to ensure that the edge is even, smooth, and finished after cutting. This is particularly important for glass balustrades, since the edge is often visible – for example, when the glass is held in clamps or has no frame. Edge finishing affects both appearance and quality.
Grinding removes irregularities and minor edge defects left after cutting, and polishing produces a smooth, finely finished surface. The glass edge is more susceptible to damage than the flat surface, so a well-finished edge improves the glass’s durability during transport, handling, and installation. On open balustrades, such as those with glass clamps, the edge also becomes a visible part of the design.
With glass and clamps, panels can be fitted between your own or existing posts. You order the glass and clamps, while the posts are supplied separately. This makes the system useful for new projects and for replacing the infill of an existing balustrade with glass. A standard installation typically uses four clamps per panel, two on each side.
The posts must be upright and stable. The spacing between them determines the panel width, and their fixings to the supporting structure must withstand the loads on the balustrade. Existing posts may be reused if they are in good condition and suitable for the installation. The system can be used indoors or outdoors, on decking, balconies and lofts.
The suitable glass thickness depends on the panel size, balustrade system, fixings and loads. Common laminated glass thicknesses used in balustrades include 8.76 mm (two 4 mm panes) and 12.76 mm (two 6 mm panes). Thicker glass is not automatically better or safer.
The glass and fixings must be specified to work together. Consider the post spacing, glass height, type of clamps or profiles and whether the glass is laminated or toughened laminated. The finished glass panel must be slightly smaller than the opening between posts to allow for fittings and installation tolerances.
If the posts of your existing timber balustrade are straight and securely fixed, you may not need to replace the whole structure. With Core, you can replace the timber slats or cross-bracing between the posts with glass panels held in clamps. This allows in more light and provides clearer views at a lower cost than a completely new balustrade – on decking, balconies or Juliet balconies.
If you would prefer a complete system with posts and infill, explore our range of glass balustrades.
For coastal and exposed locations, we supply glass clamps made from marine-grade stainless steel. Zinc clamps are a cost-effective alternative in more sheltered environments. The clamps are designed to hold the glass securely, and suitable rubber inserts for the glass thickness are included.
Clear glass preserves the view; grey glass reduces light and complements façades with dark details; and frosted opal glass allows daylight through while offering privacy. If privacy is your main priority, explore our other privacy screens.
The distance between posts in an existing timber frame almost always varies by a few millimetres from one section to the next. That's why we make each glass panel to your measurements, rather than offering standard sizes that might leave gaps or fail to fit.
Depending on the product, we use laminated safety glass made from two panes bonded with an interlayer that helps retain glass fragments if the glass breaks. The existing frame and fixings must still be suitable for the balustrade after the infill is replaced.
The price depends on the number of sections, the glass type and the clamps you choose. As the posts are already in place, you are paying for the glass and clamps rather than a new frame and its fixings. You can see the price straight away in the 3D configurator.
Each order includes a complete kit with glass panels, clamps, screws, rubber inserts and installation instructions. The manufacturing process is certified to EN 1090-1. RISE carries out ongoing production checks focused on traceability, quality and manufacturing processes.
Your basket will be emptied if you switch to another country.
