Terri Ramsey Beavers If you have more than one level in your home then you will need a balustrade. It’s not just a legal requirement, it’s a sensible safety precaution. A well-built balustrade will prevent you, or anyone else, from falling over the edge of the stairs and down to the floor below.
Of course, there are a huge array of balustrades on the market. If you need to install one or have to replace one, you may need a little help choosing the best balustrade for your home.
Fortunately, that’s what we’re here for.
Before you start, it’s worth visiting a specialist in balustrade installations. This will give you the opportunity to see the various different options on offer and chat to a specialist about which suits your needs best.
The Material
When choosing a balustrade you’ll need to decide between wood, steel, and glass. These are the main balustrades on offer. When deciding remember that metal and salt don’t generally get on well together. If you’re near the sea metal probably isn’t a good idea, even inside your home. The salt in the sea air will get to it and can cause corrosion surprisingly quickly.
It won’t just ruin the look of your balustrade, it will also weaken it.
Lighting
Your choice of material for the balustrade is largely governed by what you like. However, spare a little time to consider the light levels. Wood balustrades tend to be dark and feel heavier. They will let very little light in compared to glass.
A glass balustrade can appear almost invisible but still offer the protection you need. At the same time it will allow light to flood the lower levels, effectively making the space feel larger and brighter.
Style
There are hundreds of different styles of balustrade. You need to choose one that fits with your personal style and the style of your home. In other words, you can’t pick a modern glass balustrade if your house has a traditional feel, the two elements won’t sit nicely with each other.
Of course, if you’re planning to modernize the entire house then glass or metal railings can be a nice detail.
Maintenance
It’s worth spending a little time thinking about maintenance. The amount of time you are prepared to spend maintaining your balustrade will help you to choose the best one for your home.
It’s worth noting that wooden balustrades need to be treated and tidied every year while glass balustrades need virtually no maintenance, a quick clean is enough.
The Look
While choosing the most practical balustrade that fits with the style of your house is important, the bottom line is you are going to see it every day.
That means you need to choose a balustrade that you like. The easiest way to do this is to look at lots of different ones and see which ones jump out at you. That will help you to decide which balustrade is right for you and your home.