GLASS BALUSTRADES

Frameless glass balustrades

Toughened glass panels held by 316 marine grade stainless steel spigots or side fixed clamps, with no posts between panels and no top rail. It is the cleanest look available and the outlook stays completely uninterrupted, which on a Gold Coast balcony is usually the whole reason the balcony is there.

Frameless suits balconies with a water or hinterland outlook, elevated decks, and pool surrounds where the balustrade continues the line of the glass pool fence.

Semi-frameless glass balustrades

The same toughened glass, supported by powder coated posts at the panel joins. You keep most of the transparency, the posts are colour matched to the building, and the structure is more forgiving on long runs and exposed elevated positions.

Where glass balustrades work

Balconies, decks and verandahs

Under the National Construction Code a barrier is required wherever it is possible to fall a metre or more, and that barrier must be at least 1 metre high above the floor. Glass meets the requirement without blocking the outlook, which is why it has become the default on Gold Coast balconies.

Staircases

Barriers to stairs must be at least 865mm above the stair nosings. Frameless glass on a staircase keeps light moving through the stairwell, which makes a noticeable difference in narrow entries and split level homes.

Pool surrounds and entertaining areas

Where a balustrade also forms part of a pool barrier it has to satisfy the Queensland pool safety standard as well as the building code. That usually means 1200mm rather than 1 metre, a maximum 100mm gap at the bottom, and a clear 900mm non-climbable zone outside it. We work that out on site. Our pool compliance checklist covers the pool side of it.

Internal balustrades

Void edges, mezzanines, internal stairs and landings. The same glass and the same standards, with different fixings, and usually a cleaner finish because there is no salt exposure to design around.

Glass, hardware and standards

We use toughened safety glass, selected and installed to AS 1288, the Australian standard for glass in buildings. Toughened glass is several times stronger than ordinary glass and, if it is ever broken, it breaks into blunt granules rather than sharp pieces.

Hardware is 316 marine grade stainless steel. On the Gold Coast that matters more than it sounds. Lower grade stainless will tea stain and pit within a few seasons anywhere near salt air, and on a balustrade the hardware is at eye level.

All workmanship is to Australian safety standards and every installation carries a lifetime structural warranty.

Cleaning and maintenance

Glass in a coastal environment collects salt, and near a pool it collects chlorine as well. Untreated glass is porous, so those contaminants sit in the surface and eventually etch it.

Hot soapy water with a car wash detergent containing a wax additive, a soft bristled broom and a hose will keep the panels clear. For exposed or waterfront positions we can apply ClearShield, which seals the glass against corrosion and etching.

Why Absolute Fencing

• Trading on the Gold Coast since 1989.
• More than 45,000 installations completed.
• Made at our own Gold Coast plant at Molendinar, with our own powder coating facility.
• Lifetime structural warranty.
• Free onsite measure and quote within 24 hours, anywhere from Kingscliff in northern New South Wales to Beenleigh.
• ABN 50 635 416 214.

Get a free measure and quote

Call 07 5563 2100 or send us your details and we will arrange a free onsite measure and quote within 24 hours.