Architectural Technologist - Glass Balustrades
Ready made products are everywhere and we often take them for granted and rely on them to give us a fast trend or quick makeover. But true design is not something you can buy off the shelf and turning innovative and contemporary ideas into a reality can involve a high measure of expertise and experience.
When revamping and specifying for something as complex as a staircase or balustrade there are so many options and emerging designs that you really have to do your research or source an industry expert. Whether it's a renovation or a new build, staircases are seeing a shift from being a bare essential with standard designs to an eye-catching design feature for residential entrance halls and commercial atriums.
We will have all seen various glass balustrades dating from the early 70's on Council properties, in libraries and other public places. Most of us will recall large steel bolts with airy gaps and dirty smudge marks - a world away from the new futuristic, almost invisible style balustrading available on the market today. This is mainly due to the accelerated technical progression in the area and increased design expectations from Architects, Interior Designers and the Client.
Frameless glass balustrades are any Designer's dream: they are versatile enough to suit a wide variety properties whether commercial or residential to modern or vintage, glass is an age old material that is timeless with a certain elegance; minimalist or otherwise. With space and light at a premium in many properties, glass gives Designers and Architects the elusive option to create space and light from glass itself, a frameless glass balustrade creates the wonderful illusion of unlimited space and a seemingly floating staircase.
Architectural glass specialists ensure that glass balustrades are designed, surveyed and installed in full compliance with health and safety regulations. Without such advice a project can quickly turn from dream to disaster as the complexities surrounding the fixing of the glass need to be sound.
Frames are out of the loop, not only have the ugly steel fixings gone but the entire frame and banister have disappeared! With the most stunning glass balustrades containing no more than a sheet or several panels of toughened glass and concealed steel channels it is vital to get the right advice. Taking into account the surrounding interior you are working with and the effect you wish to create, the following fixing methods are most commonly used:
Glass is resin set into a mild steel channel to the sub-floor, a totally concealed system;
Glass is set into a clamping system using mild steel plates, this system can be set between walls or covered with a wood or metal finish to conceal the fixings;
Glass is set into an upper and lower channel usually from ceiling to floor, the fixings are completely concealed;
Glass is directly bolted to a steel stringer or sub-strate, using bespoke metal bolts, these can be powder coated or plated in any type of metal finish, these are unconcealed fixings.
The correct fixings are critical for success, an all encompassing bespoke glass service ensures that you also match the type of glass used to the function and design criteria you wish to fulfil. Most made to measure companies insist on templating and surveying the staircase before glass is manufactured to a minimum of 15mm toughened in domestic cases and 19mm in special cases. As well as classic glossy balustrades, designers now have the choice of more decorative finishes:
Tinted Glass, typically in green, blue, black and bronze;
Colour Coated Glass, in a wide range of vibrant colours and matched to Dulux or RAL references;
Sandblasted Glass, sometimes referred to as frosted glass for an opaque finish or applied pattern;
Laminated Glass, increasingly used in large design projects to insert metal, fabric, artwork and coloured interlayers;
Toughened Heat Soaked Glass, toughened glass is tested for nickel inclusions to ensure the glass cannot explode.
A recent refurbishment in the heart of Mayfair London has transformed a tired Art Deco building to its former glory with a futuristic come 1930's spiral glass staircase. It actually stopped traffic on The Strand whilst being hoisted into the property for installation! An adventurous project with truly stunning results, the curved glass balustrade was designed in accordance with the bespoke made staircase. It was surveyed and templated to ensure the glass would fit perfectly and meet Health and Safety requirements. The Interior Designer specified visible steel bolts to actually make a design feature of the fixing accessories. The result is a gliding spiral staircase with glossy curves in all the right places and a stitched leather banister to compliment. The use of lighting effects increases the wow factor of this beautiful and functional staircase.
Ion Glass specialise in architectural glass products with a made to measure glass service from design to installation.
