Choosing a Balustrade for your project can be a difficult decision with so many aspects to consider when making the choice. Things to consider prior to making your decision are Safety, Specification, Construction, Fixing, Weight, Aesthetics, Timing, Cost, Waterproofing and installation.
Planning in key in any project, if a balustrade has been specified on your project it is essential that the correct structure is installed to support the balustrade. All balustrades should be tested and certified to withstand certain loads to meet building regulations for residential, office or commercial applications but they are only as strong as the structure they are fixed to. It is essential that the substructure is designed to meet the requirements of the system that you are specifying.
A Balustrade is generally one of the last elements to be installed on a build. It may be wise to plan ahead and install fixing plates or brackets prior to completing the build this ensures the building can be made watertight earlier than anticipated and not be compromised during the Balustrade installation.
Speak to your Balustrade supplier and ask their advice and recommendations on the correct substructure to support the system you have chosen and at what stage they recommend the balustrade is installed. Refer this information to your architect, builder, structural engineer or client.
Once you have decided on what type of Balustrade you would like, talk to the experts to find out which system will be more suited to your project. Things to consider are Ease of Installation, Drainage, Waterproofing, Weight, Use, Privacy and Height.
Get numerous quotes and compare the systems before making your choice, although the systems may all look similar they will be technical differences such as Glass thickness, strength and fixing methods all of which have implications on the system you choose.
From experience don’t be guided by cost, some of the cheaper systems on the market could end up costing more in the long run if the planning and preparation are not in place to suit the project.
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Published: 18th November 2022