Frameless channel systems
Glass set into a base channel with no posts or handrail. The most minimal look and the most demanding to install.
Overview
What you need to know
A balustrade is a structural component that happens to be transparent. It has to resist a horizontal line load without visibly deflecting, and it has to fail safely if it ever breaks — which is why every panel we supply is laminated, never simply toughened.
The design question is what holds the glass. A channel set into the floor gives the cleanest frameless look but needs a solid substrate and a deep enough build-up. Stainless spigots need less depth and cost less. A slotted post system is the most forgiving where the structure is uncertain.
We template on site rather than working from drawings alone, because a landing that is 8mm out over three metres will show badly in a frameless run. Panels are then cut, polished and toughened to the templated sizes.
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Options
Styles and specifications
Spigot-mounted balustrades
Stainless steel spigots at intervals along the panel. Popular on decking, terraces and roof gardens.
Juliet balconies
A structural glass panel across a set of French doors, giving the opening and the light without the balcony.
Staircase balustrades
Raked panels templated to the pitch of the flight, with or without a top handrail.
Indoor balustrades
Landings, mezzanines and stairwells, usually with a slimmer build-up than external work.
Outdoor balustrades
Terraces, balconies and pool surrounds, specified for wind loading and marine-grade fixings where needed.
Benefits
Why customers choose this
- Uninterrupted sightlines — the view is the point
- Laminated safety glass that holds together if damaged
- Engineered to Part K line loads for the relevant occupancy
- Toughened and heat-soaked options to reduce spontaneous breakage risk
- 316 stainless fixings for external and coastal locations
- Site-templated so panels fit the structure as built, not as drawn
Applications
Where it works
- Staircases and landings in domestic and commercial buildings
- Balconies, terraces and roof gardens
- Juliet balconies on loft conversions and dormers
- Mezzanine edges in offices and warehouses
- Pool surrounds and garden level changes
Gallery
Glass Balustrades we have installed
Glass Balustrades 1
Glass Balustrades 2
Glass Balustrades 3
Glass Balustrades 4
FAQ
Glass Balustrades questions
Yes, when specified correctly. The glass is laminated so the interlayer holds fragments in place, and the system is calculated against the loading for its location.
Domestic stairs and landings are usually 0.36 kN/m, while public and commercial areas can require 1.5 kN/m or more. We confirm at survey based on the building's use.
Not always. Frameless runs without a handrail are permitted where the glass is designed to carry the load itself, but stairs often require a graspable rail regardless.
The channel is packed and levelled during installation, and panels are cut to the templated dimensions. It is why we template rather than work from plans.
A typical domestic landing or staircase run is one day. Larger external terraces can take two or three, plus curing time for resin-fixed channels.
Related services
Often specified together
Shower Glass
Walk-in, frameless and sliding shower enclosures cut to your exact opening.
View shower glassMirrors
Bespoke bathroom, decorative and full-height gym mirrors, cut and finished in-house.
View mirrorsCommercial Glazing
Shopfronts, curtain walling, office partitions and entrance screens.
View commercial glazingGet a price for your glass balustrades
Free survey, itemised written quote, and a 10-year installation guarantee.