It doesn’t matter if you are building a brand-new home, or if you are adding a new area to your home, or simply thinking of redesigning an area, balustrades are a design that can be factored in. Apart from meeting any set building regulations, balustrades styles can add character to your home, but, before you rush out and purchase balustrading for your home, there are some things you should take into consideration, to ensure you will be happy with the end result.
The Space
Are you adding your balustrade inside your home? Or outside? If outside you need to consider using environmentally resilient materials such as aluminium or stainless steel – both are durable and can withstand changing weather conditions. If you want privacy and you don’t mind blocking out any breeze, then you should opt for a more solid structure style balustrade.
Is it going to be near or in a narrow space such as a balcony or staircase? When you are dealing with small spaces, every centimetre is critical. Glass and wire balustrades are perfect space savers. These small areas are also where people tend to lean or place their hands frequently, for this reason using a timber top balustrade is nicer to touch than metal, it doesn’t get as hot during the summer months, and isn’t cold in winter.
Combining vertical wire balustrades and a timber handrail is great for any high traffic areas around your home, and you also stop all those dirty hand prints you often see on glass balustrades.
Look
What is it want to achieve with your balustrade? Is it purely to address building requirements? Or, are you worried about the safety of children, pets or visitors? Once you know why and the look you want to achieve, it’s time to consider how balustrades will work with the rest of your home.
Glass balustrades look good – they let a lot of light into an area and are a great contemporary design. On the down side – glass can be hard to keep clean (especially if you have children) and it can let a lot of heat into an area.
Stainless steel wire balustrades are customisable. If you have a set colour scheme often the handrails can be powder coated to meet your colour or design requirements. Wire balustrades let more light and breeze into an area and they allow rooms to flow together, because they don’t block the view they are great for balconies or upstairs areas of your home.
Timber handrails are a great addition to any balustrade design and can be the perfect addition to a country style home, or as a feature to a brand-new home.
Maintenance
One thing that does seem to get forgotten in the excitement of ordering a new balustrade is how easy – or hard – the materials you have chosen will be to maintain. Does the surface you have chosen need constant cleaning or rust protection? Are the wires self-tensioning? If something goes wrong, you need to know that you are covered for a repair or replacement within a set amount of time following your purchase. Check with your supplier what warranty they offer and if it covers the entire structure or just certain parts.
A balustrade is a row of repeating balusters – which are the small posts that support the upper rail of a railing. They are usually found around the pool, veranda, balconies and staircases. They are there to hold things up and to keep people and pets safe. In the last 10 years balustrades have become both a feature and a fixture in and around the home.
Using an entire glass wall will create a feeling that your space is larger than it is – it will allow light to flow through the room without blocking it. This style is great for a contemporary setting.
Vertical banners are also another great use for a balustrade, in different materials and finishes it can be quite innovative. By positioning timber slats closely together it creates an effective design.
The best thing about planning a balustrade is – the sky is the limit.
When choosing the right balustrade for you – remember
- Safety – the width, height, depth and materials of your balustrade must be up to code to ensure everything is structurally sound and secure.
- Blending – How is your balustrade going to fit in with the rest of your interior?
- Costs – construction can be expensive and while you can take shortcuts with materials – never take short cuts on safety.
Read More:
