It’s very easy to overlook balustrades despite the fact they appear on stairs everywhere. They are also a common feature on elevated deckings, platforms and many other man-made structures.
Of course, the main purpose of these balustrades is as a safety feature, they should prevent you, or anyone else, from falling off the stairs or other platform and injuring yourself.
But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a few minutes to choose the best looking rails, just check out the balustrades Sydney to get an idea of how many different styles are currently on the market.
You can choose from glass, metal, wood, or a combination of these materials. All can look stunning, which is why you need to spend a few minutes considering what balcony handrails you really want and need:
The Material
The first thing to consider is the material. Glass allows you to maintain a view while protecting you from the wind. However, it can easily be walked into as you’ll forget it’s there. You can complement glass with metal supports to make it more noticeable.
Of course, you can choose any type of material for your balustrade, the key is to consider which style goes best with your home, your yard, and the surrounding neighborhood. Don’t forget that if your neighbors can see the balcony handrails you’ll want them to be as invisible as possible.
It is important to ensure that the handrails are easy to grip, people are going to hold onto them, especially f they don’t like being near the edge of a balcony.
Fixing
It is essential that you verify how the handrails fix to your home. The fittings need to be strong enough to ensure the railings are properly supported and will prevent others from falling over them. But, your fittings also need to go into your house without damaging the damp proof membrane.
If it breaks the membrane you’ll get water ingression into your home.
Building Regs
Don’t forget that there will be building and planning regs in your neighborhood. While these probably won’t influence the type of balcony handrail you choose, it is a good idea to check the regulations first.
You don’t want to fall in love with your new handrails only to have to remove them when they don’t comply.
Installation
The best idea is to let the professionals install your balcony handrails for you. Choose a company that has knowledge and experience doing this type of job. This will ensure that the material is correct, planning regs are observed, and the installation is solid, giving you the stunning looking safety feature that you wanted.
Maintenance
Don’t forget to consider how much maintenance your chosen balcony handrails will need. Depending on the time you have available you may find that this drastically affects your choice of balcony handrail. After all, you want to be enjoying the balcony, not cleaning the rails.
Don’t forget that part of the installation and maintenance process is making sure that the drainage system is in place and is effective, you don’t want the water flooding your new balcony and causing damage to your new balcony handrails.