Jun. 30, 2025
You’ve decided on installing glass railings for your deck renovation, indoor staircases, or upper balcony. Most likely, you have discussed what you want to accomplish aesthetically and functionally with your contractor. You expect to receive a blueprint or detailed plans on the design and installation timeline, but your contractor says you need to decide on several details before they can do that.
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Choosing deck railing components for a glass base shoe railing system can be complicated for first-timers. This article will break down the factors you must consider and offer tips on making the best balcony glass railing selection for your home.
The base shoe railing system is the most popular choice when it comes to frameless glass railing systems, which generally remove the need for posts and/or rails by using clamps and other glass anchoring methods.
Base shoe systems, in particular, hold glass panels in place by anchoring them inside a strong, continuous channel (called a “base shoe”) that runs on or along the edge of a deck or balcony. The earliest design of the base shoe was made to accommodate half-inch-thick tempered glass panels. Today, base shoes are often customized to suit whatever choice of glass the customer wants (tempered, frosted, tinted, etc., in various thicknesses).
A base shoe can be exposed for aesthetic purposes, but for designers who want to create a completely frameless glass railing effect, the base shoe is embedded flush in the floor or deck with grout or silicone. This is one of the aesthetic matters you’ll need to consider when choosing deck railing styles for your home.
To ensure the glass is firmly attached to the base shoe railing system, installers must opt for a wet glaze or dry glaze.
The glass panel sits on top of a setting block in the base shoe molding, which ensures the glass is right in the middle of the base shoe with a bit of space on either side. Installers then pour cement, grout or silicone in these spaces and allow them to cure (harden) so that the glass is held in place.
This method is faster and easier because it doesn’t include any wetwork. It uses extruded rubber or plastic components instead of cement, grout or liquid silicone to hold glass panels inside the base shoe. Aluminum or steel fasteners are also added at the base and along the sides of the glass for added stability and strength against strong winds and other external factors.
Wet glaze has been the primary installation method for glass railings for decades, so contractors often recommend it for balconies or deck glass railings. However, dry glaze systems have undergone a lot of evolution over the years and now offer many advantages over wet glaze, especially for residential and DIY applications.
Now that you know more about base shoe railing systems, let’s discuss other important factors for your balcony glass railing selection.
Choosing a base shoe railing system is all about finding what works best for your property, design preferences, lifestyle and budget. Your situation may be unique from others, but you could still get insights by looking at what’s been done on other properties. Get inspired, then work with people whom you can trust to give sound advice about base shoe railing systems.
eGlass Railing can help you enjoy the full benefits of a base shoe railing system. We offer custom glass railing systems that address common industry issues like wind rattle resistance, durability, aesthetics and more. We have many products in stock, including tempered glass panels, and can ship upon order in most cases.
Form and function are the foundation of any architectural project. But it’s the details that will bring your client’s dreams to reality. A beautifully designed railing system is like a piece of fine jewelry that will adorn the masterfully sculpted building structure.
However necessary to the safety and structure of a building project — have the potential to make an aesthetic statement to all who enter any built environment. Yes" ,there are many building codes that must be followed when planning, designing and manufacturing a railing system, but here are a few considerations in selecting an ideal railing system for your project.
The type of occupancy should be the foremost consideration in the selection of a building’s railing system. Although there is really no set rule or a code restriction, in our years of experience, we have learned that there are certain types that work best for specific applications.
This is a widely accepted and popular selection in the design of open concept space. Glass railing systems are available in post-supported or structural glass. On exterior applications, glass is preferred to create an unobstructed view. Although glass is perceived as a fragile material, it becomes stronger when it is fully tempered and laminated. At VIVA Railings we have experienced that people tend to respect the “perceived” fragile nature of glass and do not abuse or tamper with glass as much as they might a metal system.
Metal panel railings should be considered when the goal is to incorporate the aesthetics of patterns available with woven wire mesh, perforated metal or a wide array of laser-cut patterns. Metal panel railings are also a great option when the client wants to avoid the maintenance of glass or the potential for people to climb the railing, as may be an issue with a cable or multiline system.
An ideal choice for landscape or deck applications as these systems require minimal maintenance. When using cable systems for school applications, consider a rigid toe rail to prevent kids from stepping on the bottom runs. VIVA Railing offers CUBE, CIRCA, TEE, and BEACON for cable and multiline.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of triple glazed glass. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
We are often asked to provide budgets and to rate the economy of scale (cost advantages for more efficient production)","as should be a top consideration for every item on a project. Establishing a budget helps you to estimate the job upfront and prevent value engineering for key high visibility areas that are prone to get axed out. The VIVA Railings team is equipped to provide pre-design and pre-construction consultancy to assist during this phase of your project.
The following chart provides a general indication of the price point for railing systems. Note that there are many other factors that would impact pricing, such as quantity, layout, mounting detail, etc.
VIVA Railings has a patented SHOE structural glass system that results in a simple, fast, and clean installation. In addition to easy maintenance, our structural glass system requires approximately 50 percent less installation time than most similar systems on the market. Creative-minded architects are ecstatic with the endless options of our glass systems available on tempered laminated glass.
Cable, multiline, and VIVA Railings’ new CableNet systems are great choices when trying to achieve an unobstructed view without the hassle of glass maintenance. These systems work well for industrial-type interiors, decks, ramps, bridges, and landscapeapplications.
$: Cable Railings, Multiline Railings & Aluminum Glass Railings
$$: Glass Railings, Wire Mesh Railings, Perforated Metal Railings, Laser cut Panel Railings
$$$: Structural Glass Railings, Fascia Mount, Heavy Glass (meet wind loads, etc.)
Other factors that impact cost include but are not limited to:
Although listed third, the appearance of the railing system can create a powerful first impression. So it is understandable that the first question most of our customers ask is, "Which is the coolest looking railing system that I can get for this project?”
Choosing the right look begins with the overall look and feel of the project. Most projects today have a modern design, and structural glass railings are the most popular (by far) railing system for a modern look. Why? Glass is an attractive material due to its ability to allow light through and create a feeling of open spaces.
VIVA Railings has a patented SHOE structural glass system that results in a simple, fast, and clean installation. In addition to easy maintenance, our structural glass system requires approximately 50 percent less installation time than most similar systems on the market. Creative-minded architects are ecstatic with the endless options of our glass systems available on tempered laminated glass.
Cable, multiline, and VIVA Railings’ new CableNet systems are great choices when trying to achieve an unobstructed view without the hassle of glass maintenance. These systems work well for industrial-type interiors, decks, ramps, bridges, and landscape applications.
The above options lean toward a minimalistic design but if you want to create a statement — a true work of art — VIVA Railings offers laser-cut FOLDand STRUCmetal panel systems. Customers who select one of these systems are able to choose from a wide range of patterns or provide a custom design, such as a flowing design that repeats every few panels, creating an image or a logo.
Finally, thefinish of the railing system brings the entire look together. We recommend a stainless-steel satin finish for longevity and maintenance, especially for wearing components like the handrail. Our customers have the option to select powder coating from a standard range of available colors or a custom color of their choice.
Due to the demand for a blackened finish on stainless steel, VIVA Railings offers a special finish called ECM (an electron process that imparts color to stainless steel).
Architectural railing systems are generally a project-specific fabrication and not an “off the shelf” item. For this reason, consideration of lead times should be an important factor in the railing selection. Depending on the system, some are more dependent on field measurement than others.
Railing systems with faster lead times:
Best practices conducive to hold-to dimensions (independent of structure available for field measurements):
In addition to code requirements, there are various other factors that should be considered when selecting the right railings for your project. The VIVA Railings sales and pre-construction team is available to answer your questions. Contact us or call 972-353- Ext 10.
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