Whether you’re building or renovating your home, choosing the right balustrades for your staircases, landings and balconies is essential for their safety and appearance. After all, balustrades are integrated into the design of your home not only to meet necessary building codes but also to serve as an aesthetic feature that adds character to it. In the list below, we’ve outlined the important factors that you need to consider when buying:
- Space
The location of the staircase, landing or balcony is the most important consideration when it comes to installing balustrades. If outdoors, for example, you need to choose one that is made from resilient materials (such as high grade stainless steel or aluminium). If you’re looking to increase privacy, on the other hand, a more solid system will be the better choice (such as frosted glass panels or timber balusters).
- Aesthetics
The style of your staircase, landing or balcony also needs to be taken into account, as the balustrade needs to complement it. Are you going for more of a traditional and classical look or would you prefer something more modern and contemporary? The answer to this question will help to determine the materials that you should consider, the layout of the balusters, and the colours you should opt for.
- Materials
It should be noted that balustrades can be made from a variety of different materials, so you need to take some time to ensure that you’ve made the right choice for your home. Some of the more popular materials include: timber, glass, stainless steel, wire and wrought iron. The material that you ultimately choose will depend on the style of your staircase or home as a whole, as some are better suited to some styles than others.
- Safety
It’s nice to have the best looking balustrades, but this shouldn’t come at the sacrifice of their safety. Keep in mind that their whole purpose is to provide safety for those using your staircase, landing or balcony – no one should be able to fit through the gaps between balusters, no one should be able to climb over the top, and no one should have the risk of their limbs becoming caught. You must also comply with building codes.
- Maintenance
Another important consideration is how easy the balustrades are to maintain once they’ve been installed. Ensure that you’ve researched your preferred material thoroughly to find out how easy it will be to maintain in the long term. Does the surface need constant cleaning and/or rust protection? Can the balustrade be replaced or repaired within a reasonable amount of time? What does the warranty cover?
- Budget
It might be tempting to choose the cheapest balustrade that you can find, but sometimes being too frugal can cause more problems than it’s worth. Conversely, it might be tempting to choose the most expensive balustrade on the market, but you need to be careful that you’re not paying too much for what you eventually receive. The best way to proceed is to set a budget and ensure that you stick to it.
Although there are plenty of important factors that you need to consider when it comes to buying balustrades, those that we have outlined above tend to be the most important (and the most overlooked). At the end of the day, it’s important to keep the main purpose of the balustrade in mind to ensure that your selection is meeting these needs. If not, you need to go back to the drawing board and make a more appropriate selection.
