How frameless, post-mounted and Juliet balustrades differ and what makes an installation safe.
Short answer: choose frameless glass if you want an uninterrupted view from a balcony, terrace or staircase; choose a post system with glass infill where the fixing surface is awkward or you want a more traditional look; and choose a Juliet balcony when you have first-floor French doors or bifolds but no platform to step out onto.
Whichever style you pick, the glass, the fixings and the height of the guarding all have to meet Approved Document K, the part of the Building Regulations that covers protection from falling.
Toughened-laminated glass panels sit in a slim aluminium channel fixed to the floor or the face of the slab. There are no posts, so the only thing between you and the view is the glass itself. This is the cleanest look and the one most people picture when they think of a modern balcony.
For external balustrades we use 10mm or 12mm toughened-laminated glass as standard. Laminated glass matters because if a panel is damaged the interlayer holds the pieces in place rather than letting them fall.
Posts are fixed at intervals and glass panels are clamped between them. 316-grade stainless steel is the usual choice near the coast, where lower grades can tea-stain. Post systems are more forgiving on uneven or older surfaces and are often easier to fit to an existing stair.
A Juliet balcony is a guarding panel fixed across the outside of a full-height opening upstairs. It lets you open French doors or bifolds wide for air and light without any risk of stepping out. Our Juliet balconies are bolt-on, so they fix to the reveals or the face of the wall rather than needing a structural platform.
Hardware comes in stainless steel, brushed nickel, polished chrome and powder-coated aluminium, which means the balustrade can match window frames, door furniture or a staircase. Handrails can be added on top of frameless glass for extra grip on stairs.
Every system is measured, fabricated and installed to the millimetre. The fixing substrate is checked first, because the strength of a balustrade depends as much on what it is bolted into as on the glass. Height and load requirements differ between homes, stairs and communal areas, and a competent installer designs to the right figure for your situation.
Tell us about your opening, stair or terrace and we will measure up and send a fixed quote. We beat any like-for-like quote.
We use 10mm or 12mm toughened-laminated glass as standard for external balustrades, chosen to suit the height and load of the installation.
No. A Juliet balcony is a guarding panel across the opening, so it bolts to the wall or reveals without any platform to stand on.
Approved Document K of the Building Regulations sets the requirements for guarding and protection from falling. Every balustrade we install is engineered to meet it.
Yes. Staircases, landings and mezzanines are common internal uses, often with a handrail fitted on top of the glass.