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Tempered Laminated Glass vs. Monolithic Tempered Panels There are two types of glass that are commonly used as infill panels for glass railing installations – tempered laminated glass and monolithic tempered glass. Tempered laminated glass is composed of two pieces, and a vinyl interlayer. Laminated panels allow the glass to break on either side of the laminate and cause any broken pieces to stick together. For this reason laminated glass panels offer added protection against falling pieces. Monolithic tempered glass is a single sheet of glass that has been tempered in order to increase durability. Monolithic glass panels have been used for years in safety glass applications and are often recognized by a stamp on the panel. It is important to understand the evolving code requirements as they relate to different types of glass and which is right for your project. When to Use Laminated Glass Panels for Handrails? Laminated glass may be required for railing installations in all locations where the railing overhangs or overlooks a walkway. This applies to both residential and commercial structures. Monolithic (single panel non laminated) tempered glass is allowed only in locations where there is no walkway under the glass railing. Another instance where this may apply is a permanently protected walkway that eliminates the risk of falling glass. Glass Handrail Codes for “No Toprail” Applications IBC requirements state that glass railing systems are to be designed with a top rail in order to hold glass in place during a breaking event. Top rails on glass systems can increase protection and lateral stability however very few customers desire a top rail on these systems. Exception to laminated glass- The exception to the top rail requirement for is when a glass system utilizes laminated glass panels that are designed to withstand loads outlined by the IBC. The new code states that ALL glass railings constructed without a top rail must include laminated glass panels.  Click HERE for more details on the IBC requirements. Where to Purchase Glass Railings San Diego Cable Railings is a nationwide distributor of cable and glass railing systems with installation services offered in California. Our company offers a line of post and rail glass systems as well as clip and base shoe glass railings. If you have questions about glass handrail codes,  or you would like info or pricing on our railings visit the QUOTE REQUEST page.

Bare Stainless Steel Railings for a Custom NorCal Lakefront Home A recent DIY customer in Northern California provided us with some beautiful images and a perfect opportunity to describe the purchasing process at SDCR. Potential customers looking to purchase cable railings will find the following information helpful for navigating the cable railing purchasing process: San Diego Cable Railings products can be purchased and fabricated easily by simply furnishing your images and some standard measurements. Specifications can be submitted by homeowners or contractors; we also have preferred installers who specialize in working with our products. Our featured photo was provided by a customer that contacted us by phone. He provided a general layout, as well as some angles and other details with the help of his general contractor. In order to maximize the quality and weather resistance of the railings ; they selected a bare stainless steel marine grade cable railing system. Our bare stainless steel finish is a low luster finish with a clean knock down appearance. The components of the railing system included: 2×2″ bare finished stainless steel posts (welded and bolted connections) 1×3″ bare finished stainless steel top rail (mechanically attached) T316 stainless steel cable @ 1/8″ thickness (hand crimp field hardware) Factory swaged cable assemblies and hand crimp field ends (cost effective) Stainless steel fasteners for post/rail structural attachment (ss screws, lags) Our sales associate provided an estimate within 24 hours. Our shop furnished a sample railing post  as well as a section of top rail to assist with the finish options. We offer both bare finished metal and powder coated railing posts. The customers selected our bare stainless steel finish, as well as our hand crimped cable hardware that most closely matched our factory swaged hardware. Concealing visible hardware or creating consistency throughout a railing design  is an excellent way to achieve a professional grade end product. SDCR staff communicated with the customer throughout the fabrication process; mostly via email and occasionally over the phone in order to confirm specifications. The project was completed in phases. Primarily the upper deck railings were constructed; followed by the lower deck and stairs. Our welded bare stainless posts were custom made to accommodate the exact angle of the stairs. Although fabrication can be performed from drafted plans, taking measurements and angles is often most effective when done on finished surfaces. Purchasing and installing a custom cable railing system is a streamlined process with San Diego Cable Railings products and installation services. We offer both cable railings and glass railing systems; quotes for DIY and professional installation are available. If you have questions about how to purchase cable railings, or would like an estimate; please visit the quote request page.

Transparent railings minimize the amount of vertical and horizontal obstructions that can impede your views. This is accomplished in several ways; minimizing post counts and/or sizing is one method. Another way to design more transparent railings is by removing or minimizing the top railing member. Material selection and color choices can also contribute largely to the transparency of each railing system. In this post we will review some of the available choices consumers can utilize for the most transparent railings. Transparent Railing Materials For Selected Applications Stainless steel cable railing systems and glass railings are currently the most popular options for maximizing views outside. The last few years have seen a tremendous increase for these railings inside as well. Which one is right for your application? Consider the following factors about each railing type: Glass Panel Railings Glass railing systems provide excellent wind resistance, as well as transparency Low maintenance on components,  but regular panel cleaning is needed outside to maintain transparency Extremely durable, great lifespan Cost factors can be high; glass systems without top railings may require laminated glass Harder to DIY If a windbreak is needed, glass is hard to beat. Tempered glass panels work great for outdoor dining areas, fire pit seating and poolside applications where wind is an issue. Cable Railing System Transparency Stainless cable is extremely transparent and when paired with the right framing system it is a very effective infill for maximizing views. Ultra slim spreader posts and minimal top railing profiles can combine for invisible railing frames. Here are some other important points to consider about cable railings: Cable railings are extremely low maintenance There are no panels to clean; however there is no wind resistance with these systems Cable railings offer an amazing lifespan of 30-50 years even outdoors in harsh environments Usually more cost effective than glass DIY capability is very good for many cable railing applications What are the Most Transparent Railing Colors? In our experience the most transparent railing color is not a color at all. Bare stainless steel can actually be the most transparent color of all. Arguments can always be made for black railings at night, or certain colors in certain settings; but bare stainless is the most widely used. Other good choices for transparency are grey tones and earth tones in landscape settings. Bare stainless and metallic finishes, as well as light grey work great in coastal applications. Since 2009 San Diego Cable Railings has been furnishing transparent railings to a nationwide customer base of pros and DIYers. We have an online store, and preferred contractors who specialize in railing installation.  If you would like an estimate on a railing system or if you have questions about cable or glass railing systems; give us a call at 844-277-7327 or visit our quote request form.

Many of our potential customers are doing research about different railing types and witnessing a wide variation in costs associated with these systems.  Cable and glass railing cost can vary based on a number of factors; this article provides some guidelines to help you understand some of the reasons for varying cost, and pricing guidelines for your project. The short answer to the cost comparison question “cable vs. glass” leans towards glass railings being more expensive than cable railings. Although this is not always the case, it is more common.  Both glass railing cost factors and cable railing estimates can vary based on some of the following considerations: : -Interior vs. Exterior Applications -Frameless vs. framed glass or post/clamp -Stairways and Ramps vs. Level rail scenarios -Custom fabrication vs. modular railing systems -DIY and professional installations Readers should take note that many factors contribute to cost and that the information provided is based on cost averages of a variety of different railing jobs. Interior vs. Exterior Railing Cost Comparisons Interior railings will usually present a higher price point than exterior railings. The main reason for this is that as the lineal footage grows, the material cost per foot comes down. Interior jobs are smaller in scale but usually make up for it in complexity. Larger fences or deck rails will present a lower actual cost per foot despite a higher overall cost because of the sheer amount of lineal footage. Interior railings are often tricky; and the interior of a home presents more liability than something like an exterior fence job. Turnkey cost estimates for interior glass railings can range from $250 – $600 per lineal foot for labor and materials. Interior cable railing systems will often range from $180- $300 per foot for labor and materials. Almost all interior stair projects will require custom fabrication of some type due to angles and mounting challenges associated with stairs. Custom fabrication is on average more expensive than a modular “kit” railing system. Railings for exterior decks and fences are more cost effective to construct than interiors from a lineal footage standpoint. These installations often make better candidates for DIY projects than interiors. The average cost for exterior glass fences and railings can range from $200-$450 per lineal foot for labor and materials. Exterior cable railing systems will range from $150-$250 per lineal foot for labor and materials. Base shoe glass railing systems will often require thicker or laminated glass panels thus raising the costs associated. Pre fabricated railing systems will generally fall in to the lower end of the above mentioned price points, while custom fabrication will represent the higher end of the price points. Additional factors could include the use of stainless steel vs. mild steel or galvanized; engineered products vs. off the shelf or big box products. Jobs with complex angles or curves will often result in higher price points as well as the possibility for more design or engineering work associated. DIY Cable Railing and Glass Railing Systems DIY installation can present excellent cost saving opportunities for the consumer as labor costs often represent approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of total installed railing costs. Level rail scenarios like fences or straight rails are good opportunities too DIY. From a system standpoint we believe that cable railing kits are a far more commonly encountered way to pursue DIY railing projects than installing glass. However there are many tools and tutorials to assist DIY installers with cable or glass railing projects. San Diego Cable Railings is a company dedicated to providing high quality cable and glass railing systems. We offer nationwide shipping and preferred installation of these systems in California. If you would like pricing or information about stainless cable railings or glass railing cost; visit the quote request page or give us a call at 844-277-7327.