Glass Rail Systems For Outdoor Arears

John Hyatt

Have any of you Carpenter Guys used glass in the rail systems of your Decks? I have a Wallet that is really wanting the clear view thing but I have no idea about any problems down the road.

Thanks! John

Mr. D

No problems with this one.
http://www.contractortalk.com/images/attach/jpg.gif

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Mr. D

Make sure its tempered. Make sure the building dept. doesn't have any issues with glass.

Stone Mountain

Hi John. You gave me advice about IPe, now I'll give you some about glass.
I have used glass quite a bit this past season. I go to a local glass retailer, and oorder it tempered, to avoid the possiblilty of it breaking into shards.
You have to have it cut to size first before tempering, otherwise it cannot be cut on site.
I often use a 2x4 top and bottom, with 1x1 or 1x2 strips to "picture frame" it into place. Then use a silicone sealer to keep it from rattling.
The first time I did this was in 1985, and I was able to see that deck 19 years later, when the homeow,eners got divorced and needed to "tune up" the house to sell it. The glass was perfect, and the framing, etc had stood up just fine.
The best thing is that is costs me almost exactly what "Deckorator" pickets cost, but since the customer thinks it's an upgrade, you can charge way more. I tell them it costs me about $10/sq ft, (it's actually $2.50), plus the extra labour, etc. In my case, our supplier needs two weeks to make the panels, so if you want to use it you have to get the railing up very early in the process so that you can get the measurements.
Steve

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Residential Deck Specialist: Vist our Website
www.fenceanddeck.ca

DecksEtc

Here's one I did last year. It's tempered glass and the custom framing is all cedar. The customers couldn't have been happier.

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Blackbird

There are several styles of glass rail to choose from. I prefer to use the powder coated aluminum systems that are made to accept glass. You say you customer wants the "clear view thing". Do you mean the brand Clear View? Of the three metal rails systems I have used this brand is the least installer friendly with no real advantages. The aluma rail brand is the nicest, they make a flat top cap to put your beer on while you work. The regal rail is by far the easiest to install, especially on stairs. If they want a wood system with glass panels that's fine to. Just remember the glass is fairly heavy, the wind won't pass through it and it NEEDS to be tempered. If by "clear view thing" you mean they want to see through their rail I would also look at the cable systems. Unobstructed view and no cleaning.

John Hyatt

The Wallet just wants a clear view not really that brand, its the glass they want belive it or not there are some nice things to look at over here in Cow Town. I have priced out the decokorators pannels but after giving a read from youall I will defentley drift on over to my local glass guy and see what he can do with tempered pannels.

One thing,I am an ipe kinda guy so using ipe for the frame between the posts is not a problem far as rot goes buttttt...all the leaves,dust,mildew,rain, its going to get in those slots and build up even with high a grade caulk, and of course ipe dont take caulk all that great. So I am thinking put a rabbit cut in the bottom/top rali,use the silicone to glue them in and then put a 1x4 across the top and the bottom to hold the detail in place. ????

Thanks again!! thats some real nice work Gentelman. John

Oregon_Rob

Have you thought of the stainless steel cable rails. We have some customers who didn't want to clean the glass, so they went with the cables.

Mr. D

HeyJohn,

The thing I like about the dekorators is that they come pre-drilled with rubber gaskets in them and the corners are nipped for doing stairways. Screws are included too.

Woodcrafter74

I met a guy last year at the deck expo from CR Laurence, they do some really cool glass railing systems (inside and out), but I don't think they would work with wood; all glass or glass/aluminum.

www.crlaurence.com

Ted W

How thick is the glass, generally?

__________________
Carpentry and Woodworking - Chicago / North Shore - Ted's Carpentry

"I don't know everything but at least I think I do, and that's what really matters."

John Hyatt

I bid that job with deckorators smoke tint,like Mr D I did like the way they installed and I figured out a way to relive the thing so build up woudent happen a whole lot.

Lost that job by $1200 or so to a new kid on the block that got hooked up to my former lead man. Buy em books send em to school what do they do.....gerrrrrrrrrrrrrr J

DecksEtc

I use 1/4" tempered.

Quinn

I went back and pulled this THREAD out of the bone pile. Has anyone installed glass using vinyl railing? Any tips? And pics would be nice also.

parkers5150

on my last glass installation i used 4x4 top and bottom rails inbetween 6x6 posts. i set the glass in a 5/16"w x1/4" dado with weep holes every 6" on the bottom rail. before installing the glass i placed 1/8" plastic spacers in the bottom rail for breathing/ cleaning space. for vibration i used silicone dabs every 12" on the bot. rail and a continuious bead on the top rail. finally, (i hope my description makes sense) but, when i was doinig the dados i also gave the inside portion of the rails a 15 degree bevel and i have to say that was definately the money shot.