Replies

1. 
   MarkH | May 03, 2008 09:58pm | #1

   I would use something like Ipe instead of PT. Pt warps so bad it may break the glass.

2. 
   dovetail97128 | May 03, 2008 11:36pm | #2

   Might check into patio door glass if your work will accommodate it.. 34" x 76 IIRC for what would be a 36 x 6' 8" slider.

   Produced in several other standard sizes. Mass production drops the cost of these sizes compared to one off unit sizing of other sizes.

   I used to buy used or rejected thermo pane units and cut the seals and clean the glass. Two pieces of glass for maybe $10.00

   They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
1. 
   Hudson Valley Carpenter | May 04, 2008 07:05pm | #9

   As is often the case, I found some valuable information in your post.  Thanks.

3. 
   USAnigel | May 04, 2008 12:44am | #3

   I agree with mark, PT will move all over the place. use something more stable.

4. 
   Pelipeth | May 04, 2008 03:02am | #4

   Depending on the budget, I've seen units with just the posts with the glass in between. The posts were either aluminum or stainless. Beautiful!!!!

5. 
   GregT | May 04, 2008 06:39am | #5

   Keep in mind the person responsible for cleaning it and how it will look after being rained on.  I sell a fair amount of glass railing each year and remember a conversation with a homeowner while designing the project.  I asked if she really wanted to be washing the glass all the time and she sheepishly replied "well, I won't be the one washing it".  I later found out the extent of their wealth and that they had a professional window washing company wash every window inside and out and every glass rail panel once a month whether it needed it or not.  For me and mine, with three kids that touch everything, it would always look dirty at my house.

   You could consider a cable railing as well if it will pass your local inspector.

   Greg T

6. 
   danski0224 | May 04, 2008 01:53pm | #6

   I doubt the PT lumber will work. Not stable.

   Commercial glass railing panel installations I have seen use aluminum tops and bottoms with a channel machined in them to accept the glass. Those sections are cut with a miterbox saw. These installations have no retainig clips between the adjoining glass panels.

   Some installations omit the top railing, leaving only the glass. Smallish metal clips can be used to hold the glass panels to each other. 

   The glass is typically about 1/2 inch thick from what I have seen in these installations.

   The glass panels are sometimes measured after the bottom track is in place. The groove in the bottom track is deep enough to allow for some alignment.

   I bet it isn't cheap.

1. 
   fingersandtoes | May 04, 2008 06:51pm | #8

   I've installed at least a dozen railings using used patio glass with pt posts, rails and stops. The only time I've broken one was by driving a nail into the edge when building. I get them painted quickly to avoid twisting and admittedly we just don't get much sun here, but never had a problem. HD even sells the posts and rails with routed edges if you are lazy.

   Depending where the OP is though, he should check his codes. Some have a load resistance requirement that patio glass doesn't meet.

1. 
   KenHill3 | May 04, 2008 07:08pm | #10

   I worked on a house last fall that, instead of glass, the builder used acrylic plastic panels. What a dumb move. Looked like cr*p- scratched, cloudy, yellowed, and warped. What are your experiences with glass rail as far as tempered versus laminated is concerned- code requirements?

7. 
   jimblodgett | May 04, 2008 06:47pm | #7

   We used glass panels on a deck railing for a customer a couple years ago. I had some thoughts at the time and am surprised by how reality differed from my expectations.

   First off, this customer and I communicated exceptionally well, maybe my best customer ever in that regard.  She valued my opinion, but didn't hesitate to make choices other than what I suggested - of course, that gave me the freedom to be perfectly honest in all discussions, liberating, to say the least.

   This house is right on Puget Sound, so the lots are narrow, I think 30' on the water side.  The house was only 20'wide because of setbacks, so that's how wide the railing paralell to the water is. 

   So my first thought was "...corner posts, two posts in between dividing 20' into 3 panels about 6'6" each..."

   We discussed alternatives - glass, cable rail, pickets, hogwire, a mecahnized railing that slid up and down, a folding railing, bech seats...

   Cable proved to be costly and we were worried about how much cleaning would be an issue with glass because this wasn't a primary residence for anyone, more of a family weekend getaway place.  She liked the idea of glass but was open to the idea of hogwire.

   So I mocked it up for her.  I will dig around in my hard drive but I think I remember two photos of the mock up, both with the glass in the center, the hogwire on the left and nothing on the right.

   Point is, she decided on glass. 

   I too thought of sliding glass door panels but they are not legal here in that application.  The local building department requires 1/4" tempered glass for railing and door glass is generally 3/16".  So we had to order three glass panels.  But, they were surprisingly affordable, less than 500 bucks for all three, I think.

   I expected glass to be a maintanence headache.  But I find myself at that house about once a month and have noticed it doesn't get too bad.  I think the fact it gets rained on regularly helps.

    

    

    

    

    

    

8. 
   CAGIV | May 04, 2008 08:42pm | #11

   http://www.deckorators.com/scenic-Baluster.htm

   Look at these.  Last time I priced a glass railing system they were cheaper, including install labor, then a tempered glass panel.

   

1. 
   Rackman | May 05, 2008 01:17pm | #12

   Thanks for the info, will review and let you know results. Local glass supplier told me of house wilh glass railings will stop by. Big issue is to capture the view. Don't know about codes yet but will check it out. Also will check out tempered vs laminate. Budget from glass supplier was $8.00 sq ft. glass only clear or tinted.

9. 
   toolman65 | May 06, 2008 05:59am | #13

   Before you do anything, talk to your local inspector. He/she may veto any site made railing system. As for the P.T. framework, I agree with others, it will warp and look terrible.

10. 
    alwaysoverbudget | May 06, 2008 06:35am | #14

    i have a deck at my cabin with a glass rail about 16' long with 2 pcs of glass 3' high.i used 1/4" laminated glass instead of tempered.made the frame work out of  pt on post and bottom and top rail. when i first built it one of the top pcs started bowing,i just took it off and put another on.never another problem. as far as keeping cleaned i am amazed at how clean it stays,this is a weekender and during the summer may get washed twice.

     

    oh i might mention  when you pressure wash your deck some day,make sure the exhuast off the motor doesn't hit the glass,don't ask how i know... larry

    if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?

1. 
   arnemckinley | May 06, 2008 01:44pm | #15

   every deck i have seen with glass has been stuffy and hot. the glass deads the breeze and the sun heats up the deck. i like cable railings for waterfront. 

   Every day is a gift, that's why it's called the present.

1. 
   caseyr | May 09, 2008 07:00am | #16

   I also prefer the cable to the glass. I have seen some pretty good looking installations with wooden posts an others equally attractive using angle iron. You can buy the cable and other bits and do it yourself. For outside, I would probably want stainless steel rather than galvanized.Unfortunately, they are on the other coast from you, but in the long ago past, I had really good luck dealing with these folks:http://www.feeneyarchitectural.com/cablerail.php

1. 
   fingersandtoes | May 09, 2008 07:39am | #17

   Don't your codes have restrictions on climbable railings?

1. 
   arnemckinley | May 09, 2008 01:28pm | #18

   codes?? depending on which town you're in you might not see a building inspector at all. usually only in the village. 

   Every day is a gift, that's why it's called the present.

2. 
   fingersandtoes | May 10, 2008 06:59am | #19

   No inspectors? The world is your oyster then.

3. 
   Pelipeth | May 10, 2008 01:16pm | #20

   Somewhere down the road that home will be sold and someone will need a CO or have to redo something to bring it to code. Work within the peramiters of the existing bldg. codes and rest easy.

4. 
   arnemckinley | May 10, 2008 03:31pm | #21

   i wouldn't exactly say that. it varies from town to town though. when i worked on the west coast i was blown away by how many times the inspector was there. we have never stopped working to have an inspector sign off anything. granted we are obligated to make any changes that the inspector sees fit, but we are careful to build to code and in most cases there is a detailed engineered plan so there is no room for interpretation.

     

   Every day is a gift, that's why it's called the present.