Planning a Room with a View? Why You Need to Be Careful to Choose the Right Product During Construction
Posted on: 30 May 2017
If you're fortunate enough to own a property that has an elevated location and some fantastic views of the Australian countryside, you'll really want to take advantage of that. You may only have a single-storey, ranch-style house at the moment, but are considering adding another level so that you can really see those sweeping views. Part of your expansion project may include a large outdoor space, but if you really want to take advantage of the view, you'll want to be careful to choose the right type of panelling. What do you have to bear in mind if you're going to achieve your major objective?
Planning Your Extension
When you build the extra floor onto your house, a large part of it is going to be an open-air deck. You are likely to spend a lot of time on this patio, especially during the longer evenings. As you relax in those comfortable chairs and enjoy an evening aperitif, you don't want your view to be blocked by obtrusive railings. While you might have see-through glass panels around the periphery, the railings can really get in the way.
What's the Alternative?
You may think that there is no alternative, as a certain amount of safety is mandated by the government, after all, so surely you can't do much about this. These regulations are meant to ensure that people don't fall, and the handrails are specifically attached or placed next to the glass panelling for this purpose. You may not be aware of the latest innovation, however, which allows you to construct a perimeter using frameless glass balustrades. These comply with all safety regulations and will safeguard somebody should the glass break, but, more importantly, they will also give you an unobstructed view of all that's around you.
How It's Done
To achieve this, manufacturers laminate a couple of plates of glass together, within which is a special, heavy-duty layer. It's much stronger than the traditional glass. When you get these installed, you will need each one to be certified by a qualified structural engineer. In this way, the right specification and size will be chosen and they will be fixed together a certain way. They will be analysed to make sure that they are both suitable and strong, and part of this process may include an analysis of the expected wind speed, especially if your location is very exposed or at a greater-than-average height.
How to Proceed
Make sure that you get the most out of your investment and get in touch with experts who specialise in this type of balustrade installation, as you plan.
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