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Metal & glass

Glass railings, frameless and channel-set.

Glass railings replace solid balustrades with tempered laminated glass. The view stays open, the safety code is satisfied. Crateworks supplies deck, stair, and juliet-balcony glass railings, frameless top-rail and channel-set systems, code-compliant per IRC and IBC.

System: top-rail, channel, point-fixed

Top-rail system: glass panels mount in vertical posts with a horizontal top rail tying them together. Most common residential deck and balcony system. Channel system: continuous aluminum or stainless channel along the floor, no posts, frameless contemporary look, most code-stringent. Point-fixed: glass mounted to stainless standoffs, no channel, the cleanest look, most expensive.

Glass spec, code compliance, install

Glass: tempered laminated (two tempered panes bonded with PVB interlayer) is the code-required spec for railings. If the glass breaks, the laminate holds the broken pieces in place. Thickness 1/2" to 3/4" depending on system and panel height.

Code: IRC for residential, IBC for commercial. Top-rail requirement at 42" off finished surface for any drop of 30"+. Glass-only frameless systems require structural engineering per AHJ; documentation supplied per project.

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Common questions

Frameless (channel-set or point-fixed) gives the cleanest contemporary look, no vertical posts breaking the view. Top-rail is cheaper, easier to install, and meets code with less engineering. Frameless is the premium spec; top-rail is the standard.
Tempered laminated glass: two tempered panes bonded with a PVB or SGP interlayer. The interlayer holds the broken pieces together if the glass breaks, satisfying code safety. Thickness 1/2 to 3/4 inch depending on system and panel height.
Yes. IRC for residential (single-family, multi-family up to 3 stories), IBC for commercial. 42 inches top-rail height for any drop over 30 inches. Spacing requirements (4-inch sphere rule) met by the glass itself or by infill in top-rail systems.
A small balcony off a window or french door, usually 8-12 inches of standing depth, just enough to lean out from a tall door opening. Glass panel + handrail attached to the building face, no platform below. Common in European residential and in NYC brownstones.
10 to 14 weeks for fabricated systems from approved shop drawings. Lead time depends on glass spec, hardware finish, and engineering documentation requirements for the AHJ.

Send your brief

Specify the railing run.

Linear footage, drop height, system preference, AHJ for engineering. Returns with code-compliant options and a quote.
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