Balustrades for Stairs

Yes. Our post and handrail, spigot and frameless channel glass systems can all be ordered for a staircase through the calculator. The difference from a level run is that the glass has to be raked to the pitch of your stairs, so it is made to a plywood template you cut once the framework is installed, rather than supplied in a standard size.

Aluminium. It uses a stair bracket kit that lets the rails follow the pitch, there is no template and no custom glass, and it ships on normal lead times. Glass gives you the view; aluminium gives you the speed.

Install your framework first, then cut a plywood template for each opening to the actual size and angle of the gap. Dry fit each one in place to check it, then send them to us. We make the glass to your templates and deliver in 3 to 4 weeks. You buy the plywood and cover the postage; the glass is already paid for on your original order.

Toughened glass cannot be altered once made, so a pane cut to an inaccurate template will not fit and a replacement is chargeable. This is exactly why we ask for templates rather than measurements — a template can be offered up to the opening and checked before it is sent. Dry fit every one.

Guarding is needed wherever the drop is more than 600mm. For domestic stairs and landings, at least 900mm measured vertically from the pitch line. External balconies and roof edges need 1100mm. No gap may allow a 100mm sphere to pass through.

A flight generally needs a continuous handrail at 900mm to 1000mm above the pitch line. Our post and handrail and aluminium systems include one, and on stairs our spigot system always includes a top rail. On a frameless channel system the top rail is optional with 17.5mm glass; without it, you would need a wall-mounted or post-mounted handrail (not supplied).

Glass stair runs are priced per linear metre of the full flight, measured along the slope and including the post positions. That averaging is why the calculator can price your job before the glass is templated. Aluminium is priced the same way as any other run. Put your measurements into the Build Your Own page for the system you want and you will see the full parts list before you commit.

3 to 4 weeks from when your templates reach us, as every pane is made to your own shapes. The framework ships on normal lead times, so you can have it installed and templated while the glass is in production. Aluminium has no such wait.

Most of our customers do. Aluminium is the simpler of the two — fit a post at the top and bottom of the flight, measure along the slope, and the stair brackets take care of the angle. Glass is the more demanding job and the least forgiving of a mistake, because every pane is made to your template. Take your time cutting each template and dry fit every one before it is sent. If you would rather not cut them yourself, a joiner can do it for you, and the rest of the installation is within reach of a competent DIY fitter.