Nowadays, glass balustrades are common installations on various places on residential and commercial buildings. They are often installed to enhance a property’s aesthetics and for safety reasons. They offer endless possibilities to improve the outlook of your property. If you have ever entertained the thought installing glass balustrades, it pays to first understand the different types of fittings that go into various designs and what it takes to install and care for the fittings. Here are some of the basic technical, installation and maintenance details about glass balustrade fittings you should be armed with when you go shopping.
1. Fitting Information
Most glass balustrades are usually framed and comprise of reinforced glass panels, handrails, and baluster posts. In many cases, they are supplied as “ready to fit” units that can be easily installed by any competent technician or “DIY” person. All balustrade kits are supplied with a full installation guide along with 3D drawings.
2. Common Fittings
Baluster posts normally come pre-fabricated with loose cover plates, welded base plates, and glass clamps. They need to be firmly secured to the mounting surface as they offer the basic support framework for the glass balustrade. Posts can combine with a variety of handrail brackets that bolt into the handrails. On the other hand, handrail brackets connect onto baluster posts using structural adhesive, but in many cases the handrails are pre-drilled to reduce on-site installation time. There are numerous types of handrail elbows and brackets for supporting handrails to suit various design concepts. Similarly, glass clamps come in a variety of designs to suit different design concepts as well as the mounting surface they are being installed on.
3. Maintenance Tips
The most suitable grade of stainless steel for most indoor applications and some outdoor applications is grade 304 stainless steel. However, grade 316 is more suited to harsh outdoor environments like swimming pool and coastal locations as it has higher nickel composition. It is worth noting that stainless steel requires regular maintenance, although it is fairly easy to maintain. It is important to clean the glass balustrade fittings on a regular basis using appropriate cleaning agents to prevent tarnishing and maintain its original looks.
In summary, glass balustrades are easy to select and install. In case you don’t feel competent enough to install the various components that make up the unit, you can always have the supplier do the installation. Above all, it is always advisable to first learn about the different types of fittings that go into various types of glass balustrades as well as what it takes to care for them before choosing any model that you find.
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