When choosing your residential balustrade system, often it is the aesthetics that you are looking at and not the more important safety factors. At Steel Studio, we are able to provide an elegant design that will suit your requirements and at the same time we will guarantee the system’s safety.
Balustrades are no longer just a barrier that protects those that are utilising the space from falling off of balconies, staircases or double volumes. Balustrades have become essential aesthetic features of homes and can complement numerous architectural designs.
Follow these tips to get started on selecting the balustrade design that will complement your home:
- Do online research on SANS compliant balustrade companies that are trading in your area. Establish what balustrade designs they have on offer and decide which design you think would best suit your home.
- Get inspiration from décor magazines and online sites that provide images and ideas on interior and exterior balustrade designs.
- Once you have selected your preferred supplier, you may want to visit their showroom to see their balustrades and to inspect their workmanship and quality. Ask to speak to one of their qualified sales consultants. They will have the necessary product and technical knowledge to assist you in making the right decision. If you are choosing to go with stainless steel as the material for your balustrade then they must be able to advise you on the correct grade of stainless steel for your application. They must also advise on the correct thickness of glass should you be looking at frameless glass balustrades. Safety is of utmost importance when choosing a balustrade system and you should be satisfied that the company that you have selected for your project is able to provide you with enough information to set your heart at ease.
- It helps to know what your available budget is for the balustrades project as this will enable the sales consultant to narrow down your design choices to suit your budget. There is no point in selecting the top of the range frameless glass balustrade system when the budget only allows for a steel balustrade.
- It is recommended to take your house plans along to your meeting with the balustrade contractor. This enables them to see the dimensions and areas where you will require balustrades. You may require balustrades for internal and external areas and this may cause material differences to accommodate the various elements the balustrades may be exposed to.
- Maintenance is important to consider when selecting your balustrades. If you are not planning on washing your balustrades too often then possibly a stainless steel option is better than a glass option.
- South African Law dictates that any balustrade or staircase installation must comply with the South African National Standards, and that in order for a building inspector to issue an occupation certificate, the building inspector needs a certificate stating that a professional structural engineer has tested and approved the balustrade and/or staircase system in accordance with SANS deemed to satisfy requirements. This certificate would be in the form of the Form 3: Declaration by a competent person appointed to design a component or an element of a system, from the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act No. 103 of 1977). It is crucial to ensure that your balustrade contractor will provide you with this necessary proof and documentation in order to prevent the risk of having to replace the balustrades due to non-compliance.
Types of Balustrade Systems on offer at Steel Studio:
View our services pages for more information on our balustrades designs.