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glass balustrades for decking

Glass Balustrades for Decking & Outdoor Use

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  • Polished edges are included as standard.
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All bespoke glass pieces are subject to a minimum charge of £30 each, which will be adjusted at checkout if necessary.
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Product Description

Wherever there is a change in elevation or an area you want to enclose without sacrificing the view, an outdoor balustrade is the perfect solution.

Combining practical safety with a sleek aesthetic, glass decking balustrades offer a modern upgrade compared to traditional deck rails made from wood, metal, or stone.

From residences to commercial spaces, completing garden patios, terraces, verandas, or decks with decking balustrades allows you to enjoy sturdy barriers that don’t block the light or scenery in outdoor spaces.

Need a frameless glass balustrade for outside stairs to keep the staircase feeling open? Or maybe an outdoor balcony glass railing to better enjoy the surrounding landscape and add a touch of aesthetic appeal?

Look no further, because we have a range of styles available at Express Toughening.

Product Additional information
Glass Type

Extra Clear (Low Iron) Toughened Glass, Clear Toughened Glass, Grey Tinted Toughened Glass, Bronze Tinted Toughened Glass, Satin Toughened Glass, Toughened Laminate Glass
Glass Thickness

6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 10.8 mm, 12 mm, 12.8 mm, 16.8 mm, 19 mm, 20.8 mm
Shapes

Rectangle, Cut Off Corner Rectangle (Left), Cut Off Corner Rectangle (Right), Parallelogram, Right Hand Rake, Left Hand Rake, Double Rake "Irregular"
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Glass decking balustrades

Made using resilient toughened glass and stainless steel or aluminium, all of our outdoor toughened glass balustrades are designed to provide a durable, timeless look.

Thanks to our custom decking balustrade builder tool on this page, it’s easy to match decorative and practical elements to the preferences and needs of your family or visitors, delivering safety and style in one straight shot.

For example, if you want to maximise the view, you might be searching for frameless glass decking balustrades. Or, if you want more privacy around an outdoor area like a terrace or deck, a frosted glass balustrade or tinted finish could be the perfect fit.

Outdoor glass balustrade systems

Whether you want decking balustrades with glass panels or glass pool surrounds, we’re confident you can create an outdoor glass balustrade kit that meets your needs from our range of glass options and our extensive collection of glass fittings.

You can select the glass thickness, size, and type that suits your specifications best, along with the installation components – such as glass clamps and stainless steel posts – from our balustrade fittings range. We stock a wide variety of fixings in a range of different finishes to help secure your decking balustrades to the ground or walls.

Fitting a glass balustrade to pressure-treated wood or composite decking, or any outdoor fixture, is easy when you order the right parts from Express Toughening.

However, if you have any queries about our external glass railing system, you can always call or email our team for expert guidance.

*Please note: It is the responsibility of the buyer to check whether the project requires planning permission before proceeding, and to make sure the installation complies with UK safety standards (BS 6399-1:1996 and BS 6180:2011).

What are the benefits of glass decking balustrades?

Using glass for your decking balustrades comes with many advantages compared to other material choices like wood spindles, concrete posts, or composite balusters.

Not only does toughened glass offer complete safety when installed correctly, but it’s also designed to deliver the following perks when used for outdoor decking:

  • More light and space – Being transparent or translucent with few gaps, glass panels can create a bright and airy feeling of spaciousness and act as a wind barrier at the same time.
  • Minimalist modern feel – Whether you go for framed deck rails with a handrail or a frameless glass decking system, they’re sure to look great and suit any outdoor space.
  • Custom colours and thicknesses – You can choose the glass finish and dimensions you need, from the width to the shape, with cut-outs or pre-drilled holes also available. At Express Toughening, we offer a range of panel widths, shapes, and finishes so you’re guaranteed to find the perfect option.
  • Low-maintenance longevity – Unlike timber posts that can rot and split if they aren’t re-treated regularly, toughened glass has a long lifespan and requires very little maintenance.

Sustainable materials – Long-lasting glass is hardwearing enough to last decades and can be recycled later with little waste, helping you to support the environment.

Are glass balustrades suitable for composite decking or pressure-treated timber decking?

Yes – it doesn’t really matter which material your decking area is made from, as you can generally choose deck rails made from whatever material you like to go with it.

Your fencing or balusters don’t have to match the flooring – using contrasting materials and colours is a great way to elevate the appearance of your deck, patio, balcony, or terrace.

Whether you have classic wood, modern concrete, pressure-treated timber, or composite decking, glass decking balustrades can complete it with a fantastic finishing touch.

As long as the decking is strong enough to support the weight of the glass balustrade system and the deck rails fit within the dimensions, installing them should be straightforward.

The only issue you might run into is that some installation methods may not be suitable for certain materials – for example, you have to think about how drilling holes to bolt down posts or creating channels will affect the concrete, composite, or pressure-treated timber.

What’s the best way to fix glass decking balustrades in place?

The right way to secure your decking balustrades – ensuring their structural integrity and longevity in line with UK building regs – depends on how the system is designed and where you’re installing it.

You need to first measure the area you’ll be enclosing very precisely, so you can then create your own kit using our custom glass panel builder and your choice of fixings.

Things you need to take into account when designing your decking balustrades include:

  • Glass thickness – Must be at least 10mm if toughened and 15mm if toughened laminated
  • Height and width – At least 1m for outdoor use on raised decks, balconies, or rooftops
  • Spaces between panels – No more than 1m each to prevent anything from falling through
  • Glass finish – Some types of glass are only up to 10mm thick, while others go up to 15mm+
  • Glass fixings – Will you be using posts with clamps or frameless channels and buttons?
  • Handrail – Are you using toughened laminated glass without a handrail, or is one required?

Please note, if you’re having difficulty calculating the right measurements and finding it hard to navigate the type and quantity of fittings needed, it may be best to consult a professional who can manage the design and installation processes for you.

Do decking balustrades need a handrail?

Not always – the need for a handrail depends on factors like the type of glass, the location of the deck rails, and your method of installing them.

It’s your responsibility as the customer placing the order to check UK building regs, as a handrail is sometimes legally required as a necessary safety feature, so it’s up to you to make sure your decking design complies with these rules.

According to BS 6180:2011, your decking balustrades must have a continuous handrail if the fencing is protecting a drop of 600mm or more between ground levels.

This refers to decking balustrades made of toughened glass at least 10mm thick, which would break into pieces under a strong impact, requiring a framed handrail system to ensure there isn’t an unprotected gap.

However, if you use more robust toughened or laminated safety glass, the barrier would remain intact if the glass cracked.

So, even if there was no handrail and both sides broke, the balustrade would still remain in place to prevent falls – meaning you won’t need a handrail if you don’t want one, as long as you use toughened laminated glass at least 15mm thick.

If you prefer framed over frameless styles, you can shop our range of posts, post caps, and tube handrail connectors to design your own balustrade post kit.

Certificates & Partners

What Our Customers Say

Andrew Cooke

Superb customer service from the Express Toughening team – when I made a mistake on my order online, they dealt with the issue quickly organising partial refund immediately. My order arrived quickly and their courier messaged me before delivery to check I was in. Quality product at the best price I found online.

Rated 5 out of 5
Kiron Kular

A massive Thankyou to Helen from Express Toughening for being so patient, co-operative and helpful with my orders. She resolved a re-make without any fuss and in an extremely timely manner. If you want glass – go to Express Toughening and ask for Helen!

Rated 5 out of 5
Andy Beviere

Extremely easy company to deal with, glass ordered weeks ago and asked for a specific delivery date due to glass testing and no one being onsite. Delivered on time and when asked for other types glass stated they couldn’t help but recommended an equally helpful company!!

Wouldn’t hesitate to use again.

Rated 5 out of 5
Brian White

I’ve used Express Toughening twice now and have been very impressed with the glass they have supplied and also the helpfulness of the staff. The first job was a couple of years ago when they supplied me with a 6mm satin frosted toughened glass door for our shower room. From my measurements they supplied a fabulous door which had the hinge and lock holes cut out and also took into account the out of square measurement of the door frame. It fitted a treat and is stunning to look at.

More recently (late last year) they supplied me with painted toughened glass splash backs (7 items altogether in 6mm glass with the biggest being 2.1 metres long), all cut to my sizes and with numerous switch and socket cut-outs. My local glass supplier said they could not cut out the close together sockets and switches, but Express did and got it spot on!

As with the glass door, the splash backs were delivered to me by Expresses’ own transport and without any problems and quality issues.

After the scary bit of fitting them all the result is faultless and stunning. Thanks go to Alex who helped me with the ordering process and technical aspects of glass splash backs.

Rated 5 out of 5
David Convery

4mm toughened glass for greenhouse. Although slightly dubious about ordering from a company I’ve never heard of and not local (300mile away) I’m so glad I took the plunge. A great customer service from Helen and the team from start to finish, clearly there was nothing for me to worry about.

Their website is easy to use and made ordering online a doddle and for those shapes, they don’t have on their website a quick email and rough diagram sorted any issues there. All glass arrived on time well packed and with no breakages.

It’s a company I wouldn’t hesitate to use again and I’d definitely recommend it to others who need quality glass cut to size.

Rated 5 out of 5
Tony Fields

Excellent product.
Exactly what it says on the tin.
Brilliant, friendly service from Helen.
Definitely recommended.
(And we’re on the Scottish border)

Rated 5 out of 5
Tony Owen

Fantastic service, fantastic prices and fantastic products – I could not recommend Express Toughening highly enough – I got an immediate response to my request for a quotation, and Helen was so helpful in answering my questions. Order placement was easy and everything arrived exactly on time and as promised. I won’t look anywhere else for my next order – great prices (way cheaper than other quotes) and great service!

Thank you!

Rated 5 out of 5
Sam Richardson

We have been using Express toughening for a number of years, mainly for glass screens and Toughened Glass for balustrade. The company are always reliable, deliveries always on time and friendly helpful service.

Rated 5 out of 5
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