Glass Wall Staircases
When you’re looking to dress up a flight of stairs, using glass wall panels in the railings can be a real plus. They let in plenty of natural light, they are highly decorative and they do not block the view people can get of an entire room. This is particularly important if you have a central staircase running up the middle of a large room. There are some things to consider when selecting glass panels for the stairs railings. Glass panels can be quite heavy, so bear that in mind when looking to place them on a flight of stairs.
Ideally, have the entire design handled by a qualified architect or engineer so that the dead load of the stairs and the live load of any people on the stairs are taken into account. Also, you have to be sure that the flooring and walls are strong enough to take the weight of the stairs and people. This is yet another matter for professionals to consider. Then there is the panel thickness. Thin panels will save you weight, but they will also be more brittle, and prone to cracks and breaks.
If you make the glass panels thicker, they’ll be stronger, but much heavier, and this will add to the overall cost of the stairs. Get it right, though, and glass wall staircases are stunning design features, especially within a modern home. They let in the light, allow people to make the grand entrance many only dream of, and they fit well even into truly minimalist homes.
