Glass staircases are used at various facilities: in private houses, shopping malls and office buildings. Such designs allow you to visually enlarge the room and make the interior more attractive. The main thing when installing such fences is to choose the right fasteners and carry out the installation.
Features, pros and cons
Glass canvases for stairs give the march a special elegance. Such designs are suitable for interiors in the Art Nouveau style and futurism. They are often equipped with sources of additional lighting, allowing you to highlight certain areas or create multi-colored glare.
A grab bar made of metal or wood is installed on the translucent fencing. Externally, such designs look more representative.
There are certain requirements for glass sheets for stairs. The main one is to maintain the safety of the residents of the house, so even with a large impact, glass fragments do not form. The canvas is only covered with cracks.
Pros:
- the opportunity to install a stylish design in your home that emphasizes the features of the interior;
- lack of need to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the canvas. Glass does not need special care, cleaning is carried out as often as washing windows;
- resistance to ultraviolet, water, temperature extremes;
- visual expansion of the room space;
- long term of operation;
- high safety - in the manufacture of such fences use special glass, which is not able to cause injury in case of splitting.
When installing glass railings on a staircase, many design solutions open up. Engraving or a self-selected image can be placed on the glass.
Railings for glass stairs are made transparent or matte. Glass easily bends when using special equipment.
The minuses of glass structures include the high cost of the material. Some point to the fragility of glass compared to wooden or metal fencing, but this drawback is relative.
Varieties of designs
Railings for stairs made of glass are produced in various configurations. Partitions can be mounted on racks or be self-supporting. Glass railing is distinguished depending on the method of fastening, material and manufacturing method.
By methods of fastening glass
There are the following methods of fixing glass:
- Coin (also called point). This method of fastening was named due to the appearance of the fixing elements - they resemble large coins. Glass is attached to the end of the stairs.
- Mounting by clamping profile. With this installation option, glass staircases are installed in special profiles placed below.
- With the help of connections. These are clamping fasteners that connect the frame of the fence with glass screens.
These are the main types of fastenings of glass railings. However, individually designed fixation elements are often used. The main thing is to choose what will correspond to the style of the interior.
According to glass material
Glass for stair railings is produced using technologies that achieve high strength, resistance to temperature and other useful properties. There are several main types of glass for railings.
Tempered
Such glass is heat treated. As a result, it acquires positive properties:
- high heat resistance;
- resistance to mechanical stress;
- high toughness.
Heat treatment is performed at high temperatures, then the glass is cooled with air. When destroyed, it is not dangerous, since the fragments have blunt edges, and also have a trapezoid shape.
Tempered glass is made opaque, transparent or tinted. Such designs are often decorated with a sandblasting machine.
Molded
Bending allows you to get curved glass elements. Such structures are made by bending glass at high temperature on an all-metal form. The bending radius is set arbitrarily.
Frost resistant
Frost-resistant glass railings are used for external stairs. Such glass is not exposed to low temperatures. It retains strength and decorative properties even during severe frosts.
Triplex System
A frequently used version of glass fencing is multi-layer triplex systems. The design consists of several elements glued together with a polymer film or adhesive. All components are connected into a single system. In the process of joining the paintings, they are pressed at high temperature.
Among the advantages of the triplex system are:
- high strength;
- operational safety;
- good heat resistance.
Since the material is decorated from the inside, the treated surface is completely protected from deformation during operation. With serious mechanical impact, the structure does not break up into fragments, but is held by a polymer film.
Plexiglass (polymethyl methacrylate)
Glass fencing often uses acrylic glass. It is made from whole sheets that do not have voids. Externally, such products resemble plexiglass. However, in technical terms, monolithic polycarbonate is inferior to it. Plexiglass (plexiglass) has the following properties:
- high strength;
- fire resistance;
- durability.
In terms of strength, polymethylmethacrylate exceeds acrylic glass by 11 times. Plexiglas is made by extrusion or injection molding. Also, in this way, individual balusters and handrails are made.
By type of frame
Each fence has a frame and interframe filling. Usually, metal racks act as a supporting structure. Balusters are made of glass or wood. Glass fences are installed with or without a frame. In the latter embodiment, the structure is self-supporting.
Frameless (self-supporting) systems
Such structures are installed without a frame base. Typically, glass for them has a thickness of 13 to 19 mm. Glass is attached to the stairs at the base of the steps. To do this, use brackets, coin holders or a clamping profile.
Such designs do not have support legs. Handrails can:
- completely absent;
- carried out over the plane of the fence;
- fixed on the upper edge of the canvas.
To install frameless structures using special mounts. All-glass guards are fixed in metal or wooden profiles. In this case, the design acquires airiness.
Wireframe systems
Glasses in such structures are located between the supporting posts. The latter are attached to the steps. Usually, when installing the system, combinations of glass and other materials are chosen: wood, aluminum, stainless steel.
Common frame options:
- full metal frame;
- a frame of small racks to which continuous canvases are attached;
- metal racks with wooden handrails on top.
Advice! It is better to install ready-made elements on your own, from which modular structures are assembled.
Frame systems are easy to install, strong and durable, so they are often chosen for stair railings.
Decorative lighting
Glass railing for stairs is attractive in itself. However, they are often equipped with decorative lighting. In this case, they become masterpieces of design art, able to harmoniously complement the interior.
Thanks to the lighting, the stair railings acquire a spectacular appearance. Soft light sources ensure the safety of movement on stairs with glass fencing at night. The backlight is installed on both indoor and outdoor structures.
Glass fences are often decorated with LED, or LED, backlight. In this case, tapes are usually used, which are fixed on the handrail or at the edge of the fence. A popular option is with point light sources that can effectively illuminate the steps.
Of particular importance is the color of the backlight. Usually use the classic white version. Often a blue or yellow tint is added to it. But it is better to select the lighting of the stairs in accordance with the interior of the room in which the staircase is installed.