See how others have designed their stair balustrades, glass balustrades for terraces and frameless balustrades for balconies. Find inspiration in modern, classic and discreet solutions, each with its own character.
Our online design tool helps you plan the appearance and cost.
Our balustrades are designed for self-installation and are supplied with installation instructions. Our team can offer advice to help you plan your project.
A suitable pool balustrade should provide a clear boundary, good visibility and components appropriate for a damp environment. Glass balustrades are popular because they preserve views across the pool area while offering some wind shelter, making the space more comfortable to use.
Posts, fittings and fixings around pools should be selected to suit moisture and exposure to pool chemicals. Appropriate grades of stainless steel or powder-coated aluminium may be suitable depending on the environment. Consider child safety, climbing risks, openings and gates when planning the layout. A balustrade never replaces supervision of children; check the relevant local pool safety requirements.
For outdoor stainless steel balustrades, marine-grade stainless steel, AISI 316L, is often a better choice, particularly near the coast and in other exposed environments. Its molybdenum content improves resistance to salt and chlorides. AISI 304 can be suitable indoors and in sheltered outdoor settings.
Stainless steel is not completely maintenance-free. Even a balustrade made from 316L can develop deposits or surface staining if salt, dirt and metal particles are left on it for long periods, so clean it as needed. Surface finish also matters: a smooth, well-finished surface is easier to keep clean. Choose the steel grade for the location and environment, not just its appearance.
Opal glass, also known as frosted glass, is usually a good choice when you want privacy without losing daylight. It allows light through while obscuring details on the other side, making it suitable for balconies, decking and closely spaced properties. Tinted glass reduces light and offers some privacy, but you can still see through it.
Clear glass offers the most light and an unobstructed view, but very little privacy. You can use opal glass facing neighbouring properties or the street and clear glass where the view matters most. Remember that tinted glass is not one-way privacy glazing: when it is brighter inside than outside, people may be able to see in more easily.
A balustrade designed with children in mind should help reduce the risk of climbing, falling through openings or becoming trapped. The overall construction matters, not just the material used. Requirements for openings and features intended to discourage climbing depend on the applicable local regulations. Glass and vertical infill can be suitable options.
Avoid horizontal elements that could be used as footholds, and ensure gaps between bars, below the balustrade and near stair treads are designed to prevent children passing through or becoming trapped. Furniture and planters placed beside a balustrade may also make climbing easier. Glass balustrades and vertical infill can be suitable options, but no design is automatically child-safe.
The easiest way to clean a glass balustrade is with lukewarm water, a mild cleaning product and a soft microfibre cloth or window squeegee. Avoid harsh or abrasive cleaners that may damage the glass surface or fittings. Cleaning frequency depends on the location: balustrades near the sea, roads or areas with high pollen levels may need more frequent cleaning.
A suitable water-repellent glass treatment can help reduce the build-up of dirt and limescale, but it does not replace cleaning. Wipe down glass clamps and stainless steel fittings with water and a mild detergent, following the product’s maintenance guidance.
A pool area is often a place to gather in summer. Where young children may be present, barriers should be designed to discourage climbing or squeezing through, and gates should close and lock as required. A balustrade or fence never replaces adult supervision around water.
Near water, materials may be exposed to moisture, pool chemicals and, in some locations, salt.
For a ground-level pool, a purpose-designed fence and gate may be more appropriate – see fences and gates.
Glass can help shelter a pool area from wind while allowing daylight through. Frosted or tinted glass may also reduce overlooking. Depending on the product, we use toughened and laminated safety glass; suitable specifications must be selected for the installation.
Each system is made to the specified measurements, and the fixings must suit the substrate – whether timber decking, stone paving or concrete – and the actual supporting structure. Clean glass and aluminium as recommended and maintain stainless steel components according to exposure.
Your basket will be emptied if you change country.
