Service
Glass balustrades, fixed properly.
Stair, balcony and pool balustrades in spigot, standoff, channel and frameless top-rail systems — specified to AS 1288:2021 and the imposed-load requirements of NCC 2025.
What it is
A glass balustrade does the structural work of a railing while disappearing as architecture. Done well, it makes a stair sculptural, lets a balcony breathe into the view, and finishes a pool surround without competing for attention. Done poorly, it cracks at the fixings, sways in load, or fails the inspection.
Maison Glass installs balustrades across residential Melbourne — stairs, balconies, mezzanines, pool surrounds and Juliet balconies — at frameless, spigot, standoff and channel fixings. Every project is engineered to the fall height, load requirements and architectural intent.
The trade-off most clients miss: glass thickness, lamination, fixing method and handrail requirement are all interlinked by AS 1288:2021 and the imposed-load tables. The right balustrade is a specification problem, not a style choice.
When clients choose it
Where it fits.
- Spigot-fixed — panels on floor-fixed spigots; robust and cost-effective, most outdoor balustrades and pool surrounds
- Standoff — glass on wall- or fascia-fixed buttons, often cantilevered without a top rail; a cleaner look
- Channel — glass set in a continuous floor channel, no visible fixings; the most architectural read, specified on most of our stairs
- Top-rail or frameless — a top rail is required in many fall-height applications; frameless is allowed where the glass alone meets AS 1288 loading
Materials & finishes
Specified by name.
- Glass
- 12mm toughened is the residential default, suitable to 1m fall height with the right fixing. 15mm toughened for higher fall heights or heavier loading. Toughened-laminated where AS 1288:2021 requires post-failure retention — our default for any stair or upper-floor balcony. Low-iron upgrade on premium projects.
- Fixings & hardware
- 316 marine-grade stainless or powder-coated spigots and standoffs; continuous channel systems; handrails where required, in matched finishes.
Compliance
- AS 1288:2021 Section 7 — barriers and balustrades, with updated imposed-load tables and post-failure performance.
- NCC 2025 Part 3.9.2 — residential barrier requirements.
- AS 1926.1-2012 — where the balustrade intersects a pool barrier.
We specify the glass type, fixing method and handrail per AS 1288:2021. A compliance certificate is issued at handover.
Indicative investment
What it costs.
- Spigot-fixed, 12mm
- A$450 – A$650 per lineal metre
- Standoff-fixed, 12mm
- A$500 – A$700 per lineal metre
- Channel, 12mm
- A$525 – A$725 per lineal metre
- Frameless stair, 12mm or laminated 15mm
- A$550 – A$1,000 per lineal metre
- Handrail, where required
- +A$80 – A$200 per metre
Lead times
Typically 3–4 weeks from measure to install for standard scope. Custom hardware finishes, low-iron glass or large-radius curves extend to 6–8 weeks.
Indicative ranges only. Every quote is fixed, itemised, and names the glass, the standard and the hardware by line.
Questions
Frequently asked.
What glass thickness do I need for my balustrade?
It depends on fall height, panel size, fixing method and the loading category under AS 1288:2021. We work it out at consultation — most residential applications resolve to 12mm toughened on spigots, or toughened-laminated 15mm on a stair.
Do I need a top rail?
Sometimes — AS 1288:2021 mandates a top rail or other restraint where post-failure performance matters. We tell you up-front whether your scope permits frameless or requires a top rail.
Can you do a curved balustrade?
Yes — curved toughened or toughened-laminated glass, typically 6–10 weeks lead time, at a premium price tier.
How do I clean it?
Soft microfibre, warm water and mild detergent. Avoid solvents on the hardware. Spigot stainless finishes need a quarterly wipe-down to prevent surface haze.
Selected work
Recent projects.
Start the conversation
Specify your glass balustrades.
Book a consultation and we'll walk the scope, look at samples, and follow up with a written, itemised brief within five business days.