Many homes and commercial buildings have balustrades, but it often goes unnoticed as it flawlessly blends to the surrounding. Some balustrades take on bold designs to add a striking appearance to the property, while others embrace a more subtle appeal and promote understated elegance. 

Beyond elevating the beauty of your balcony, staircase, decking, or elevated living area, balustrades are a fundamental feature that enhances the safety of your property. They add a unique purpose in buildings, such as boosting the strength of your stairs to keeping people from falling off ledges. 

The Importance Of Choosing The Right Balustrades

Balustrades should be functional as much as it is fashionable, especially since it provides security in homes and commercial areas alike. It’s an important component in architecture that remains strong and necessary from the Italian Renaissance period to this day, primarily since it fulfills a special yet simple purpose. 

Seeing its importance, choosing the right materials for your balustrades is not a decision you can make overnight. There are several factors to consider, but in this article, we’ll be focusing on the two perennial favorites in the market: glass and wire balustrades. 

Glass vs. Wire Balustrades: Factors To Consider 

1. Appearance 

When deciding on what your balustrade can contribute to the property’s appearance, one of the first deciding factors in whether or not it will complement the overall style of the property. Glass balustrades are a perfect choice for those who prefer a clean look, one that can easily blend into the surrounding yet add a subtle, sophisticated touch. 

It promotes a fresh look and promotes an expansive atmosphere, making it the most versatile choice in terms of design. Wire balustrades, on the other hand, can add a striking, industrial appeal when paired against wooden or metallic finishes. It’s a contemporary approach that offers an equally clean look, though it’s better suited for decks or mezzanines.

2. Views 

When it comes to showcasing the view of the great outdoors, glass balustrade takes the cake. It provides a perfectly unobtrusive view, allowing natural light to bask the interior, though you can take it a step further by adding a clear film tint so it can block the harmful rays, bounce off the heat, and reduce glare all while allowing the light to illuminate your space. 

It’s the perfect set-up for offices as natural light can promote productivity and boost morale, making it a great choice for those that want to benefit from relishing the outdoor views. 

Meanwhile, wire balustrades can offer just as much panoramic view, though it won’t be as unobtrusive thanks to its ropes. Depending on the thickness of the wires, it can also make the area feel smaller. 

3. Safety And Durability 

Glass and wire balustrades offer reliable security in terms of keeping people from falling off the building or adding security to your stairs, but glass offers significant advantages. For one, many glass panels are made with a film that keeps it from exploding if there is a high impact from flying objects, which can come in handy during inclement weather like storms. 

Wire balustrades can fall behind in terms of its safety features as small objects can easily pass in between the wires. Not to mention, children and animals can also get stuck in between the rope, which can quickly turn it into a hazard. Toys and items can also fall off the side, which makes it inferior when considering the potential of glass balustrade in enhancing the property’s safety. 

4. Maintenance 

When it comes to cleaning glass or wire balustrades, both have its equal fair share of advantages and disadvantages. Glass is easier to clean in one fell swipe on the inside as you only need a rag and a mild detergent to remove any gunk, marks, and dust build-up throughout the surface. 

Cleaning the exterior glass surface, unfortunately, will not be a straightforward process and may require professional cleaning, especially if the panels are at a high height. Keeping wire balustrades spick-and-span will be more time-consuming, but it’s overall an easier process since you can get the job done in one sitting without worrying about the external surface. 

There may be some extra steps in maintaining the cable railing’s upkeep, such as tightening the wires every now and then to keep it taught and secure. 

5. Personalization 

Glass and wire balustrades offer unique charm to the property’s decor, and the best part is that both can be customizable so the finish is tailored to complement your style. Glass panels, for instance, don’t need to look clear and boring. It could add a dynamic look to your design by going for rounded edges, or you can also add tints that give the surface a more visually interesting texture. 

Cable railings can have more versatility in terms of custom design since there are various ropes and fittings you can do – from simple stainless steel, galvanized, PVC coated, or nylon coated. Either way, you will have plenty of options in terms of adjusting the design according to your distinct and specific style preferences. 

The Bottom Line: Choosing The Ideal Balustrades That Suit Your Needs And Style 

Choosing the right balustrades for your establishment is crucial in more ways than one. It impacts both the visual appeal of the space and plays a major role in enhancing its safety features, which is why you need to install balustrades that will suit both your needs and taste if you want to maximize its potential for the long haul. 

Speaking of which, finding reliable glass balustrade manufacturers is just as important. Here at Aussie Balustrading and Stairs, we offer a premium selection of glass and wire balustrades for your staircase in Perth, Western Australia. From stainless steel, glass, to wire balustrade, get in touch with us to view our handrails and see what else we can do to help!