Glass Railing Panels

HammeremmaH

I am installing glass panels in wood framing and need to know if my plans are structurally sound.

The posts are spaced 6' OC apart. The panels are ~66" wide and 1/4" thick tempered glass.

The sides of the glass will be unsupported. The bottom rail will be a grooved 2x4, lying flat (ie the grove will be on the 3 1/2" face) with blocks between it and the deck spaced 1'.

The top rail will be a grooved 2x4 (again lying flat) with a 5/4 handrail attached to it.

I have no concerns about the bottom rail as it will be supported by blocking. However, I'm wondering if the top rail will be strong enough or if there is potential to "crush" the glass, being that a groved 2x and 5/4 could bend over a 6' span.

Thanks

Tinstaafl

I've never done a job like that, but my instinct says that those unsupported side edges would be of more concern than the top rail. Even a good wind gust would put quite a bit of sideways pressure on the sheet, possibly causing it to bow and snap.

deckman22

I did a similar rail quite awhile back. I grooved the post, dropped glass down into grooved bottom rail & 2x6 cap w/no groove. Worked fine, never a call back & it's been at least 10 years.

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Deckman
www.alscustomdecks.com

parkers5150

on your top rail you should run a continuous bead of silicone in your dado. this will give you a cushioned connection that will stabilize the glass and stop it from rattling in the wind. on your bottom rail apply the silicone (only small dabs) on the ends and in the middle. make sure you have weep holes in the channels for moisture to escape. i did the same application except i used 4x4's that i rounded and champhered. the job came out like a dream

EIDOL

tempered glass can shatter if something chips the edge and you could end with a bunch really small pieces of glass you should protect the edge some how
you can hit tempered with a hammer in the middle of the glass it won't break but you take razor knife and tap the edge it's toast
you do know that once it's tempered it can't be cut
it is usually set on rubber spacers that you can get at the glass supplier
here in MD i have seen a vinyl covered aluminum extrusion and they cap it with ipe or mahogany and the ends were tuck into a small c chanel, looks pretty good seems to work well and maintenance free