Glass railings, Metro Vancouver
Frameless and semi-frameless glass railing systems for custom homes, strata balconies, and commercial projects across Metro Vancouver. Engineered, code-compliant, and fabricated at our C.W.B. certified Burnaby shop.
What we build
Every glass railing we install is designed around three things: the view it has to preserve, the loads it has to resist, and the climate it has to survive.
Glass railings solve a specific problem. On any Metro Vancouver property where the view matters, waterfront, ridge lots, high-rise balconies, ocean-facing decks, the choice comes down to glass or cable. Glass gives the cleanest visual. And when it is designed and installed correctly, it holds up to Vancouver rain, salt air, and the loads BC Building Code requires.
We fabricate custom glass railing systems from our Burnaby shop for residential custom homes, strata buildings, commercial interiors, and premium waterfront projects. Every system is engineered, the posts, the glass spec, the connection hardware, and every installation meets the guard height, sphere test, and load requirements from BC Building Code. We handle the full project scope from site measure through final install.
Our glass railing work includes both frameless systems with point-fixed standoffs and semi-frameless systems with base channels and top rails. The right choice depends on the project, on budget, on climate exposure, on the visual priority, and on whether the railing is a residential guard, a strata balcony replacement, or a commercial interior feature.
Systems we fabricate
Where glass wins
Glass is not always the best answer. Here is where it delivers results that justify the cost and the cleaning commitment.
View preservation
On a West Vancouver waterfront home, a Deep Cove ridge lot, or a North Vancouver view property, frameless glass delivers a railing that is nearly invisible from 10 feet back. The alternative, cable or picket, always leaves some visible structure between the owner and the view. For primary-view rooms, glass is worth the premium.
Wind protection
Glass panels block wind, making an exposed deck more usable in Metro Vancouver's wet and windy conditions. A windswept corner deck on a North Shore ridge becomes comfortable with glass and unusable with cable infill. For waterfront and elevated properties, glass doubles as wind protection.
Strata balcony replacements
Strata buildings in Burnaby, Coquitlam, and downtown Vancouver almost universally spec glass for balcony guard replacements. The strata approval process is set up for glass systems, tempered-laminated spec is standardized, and appearance stays consistent across all units during building-wide replacement projects.
Specification tiers
Scope tiers for the systems we fabricate, every run is priced per project. [Request a quote](/request-a-quote/) for your scope.
Semi-frameless glass with aluminum base channel: the entry-level glass option. Aluminum base channel runs along the deck edge, glass panels sit in the channel, painted or anodized finish. Fine for inland applications and sheltered exposures.
Steel post with glass infill and top rail: our most common residential spec. Powder-coated steel posts at standard spacing with tempered-laminated glass panels between them, topped with a steel or wood top rail. Strong cost-to-appearance ratio for most custom home projects.
Frameless point-fixed glass with steel standoffs: premium residential and commercial spec. Stainless steel standoffs through each glass panel, no visible base channel, minimum top rail. Cleanest visual available.
Structural glass with no top rail (21.5 mm laminated): architectural-grade spec. Thick laminated glass that carries the guard loads without a top rail. Common on high-end commercial interiors and premium waterfront residential.
Waterfront premium (316 stainless hardware): a modest increment over any of the above spec levels. Essential for West Vancouver waterfront, Deep Cove, and any property within a few hundred metres of salt water.
BC Building Code compliance
Every glass railing we fabricate meets BC Building Code guard requirements, minimum guard height (900 mm residential, 1,070 mm above 1,800 mm drop or in common areas), 0.75 kN/m lateral load resistance plus 1.5 kN concentrated load, and no opening passing a 100 mm sphere (solid glass panels meet this automatically).
Glass spec for guardrails follows BC Code requirements for safety glazing: tempered-laminated construction with PVB or SGP interlayer, typically 12 mm (two 6 mm layers) for standard applications up to 21.5 mm for structural guardrails without a top rail. We work with our glass suppliers to spec the correct laminate for your application.
For commercial projects and multi-family applications, glass railing systems require engineered stamped drawings for permit submission. We can coordinate the engineering as part of the project scope, or work from drawings your structural engineer has already produced.
The process
Glass railing projects have a specific sequence. Here is what to expect from our Burnaby shop on a typical residential project.
1. Site visit and measure. We visit the site to measure exact dimensions, confirm the mounting conditions, and discuss design options. This is typically free for residential projects in Metro Vancouver.
2. Quote and design specification. Within 2 to 3 business days, we provide a written quote with the recommended glass system, post type, and total installed cost. For complex projects, the quote may include an initial sketch or elevation for your review.
3. Engineering (if required). For permit projects, commercial applications, or anything outside standard residential scope, engineered drawings are produced either by our engineer or by your project's structural engineer.
4. Shop drawings and approval. Once the design is confirmed, we produce shop drawings for your approval before fabrication starts. This is the last chance to change dimensions or colours without cost impact.
5. Fabrication. Glass panels are fabricated at our glass supplier (typically 3 to 5 weeks for tempered-laminated glass), and metal posts, base channels, and hardware are fabricated at our Burnaby shop in parallel.
6. Installation. On-site installation typically takes 1 to 3 days for a residential project, longer for stair-mounted systems or projects with difficult access. We coordinate installation timing with your schedule.
7. Final inspection. Once installed, we verify all connections, test the guard loads per the engineer's spec, and walk through the finished system with you to confirm everything meets expectations.
FAQs
Answers to the questions we hear most from homeowners, strata councils, and GCs planning glass railing projects in Metro Vancouver.
Glass railings in Metro Vancouver are quoted per project based on system type, glass specification, and length. Semi-frameless systems with an aluminum base channel sit at the entry point; true frameless systems with point-fixed standoffs and structural glass sit at the premium end. [Request a quote](/request-a-quote/) for pricing on your specific run.
Tempered-laminated glass is the standard for residential and commercial guardrails in BC. The glass is heat-treated (tempered) for strength and includes a PVB or SGP interlayer (laminated) so that if the glass does break, the pieces stay bonded to the interlayer rather than falling out. Typical thickness is 12 mm (two layers of 6 mm with interlayer) for standard residential applications, up to 21.5 mm for structural glass guardrails with no top rail.
Yes, when designed to code. BC Building Code specifies guard height (900 mm or 1,070 mm depending on application), load requirements (0.75 kN/m lateral plus 1.5 kN concentrated), and glass type requirements (heat-strengthened or tempered with laminated interlayer for guardrails). Properly specified glass railings from our Burnaby shop include engineering documentation for permit compliance on any project that requires it.
Frameless glass has no top rail and no visible frame at the base, just glass panels held in place by point-fixed standoffs or a concealed base channel. Semi-frameless has an aluminum or steel base channel visible at the deck line. Frameless is more expensive and gives the cleanest visual; semi-frameless is more practical and more common on mid-range projects. For most Metro Vancouver homes, semi-frameless with a steel top rail delivers 90% of the visual impact for 70% of the cost.
In Metro Vancouver`s wet climate, exterior glass railings typically need cleaning every 2 to 4 weeks to avoid water spotting and mineral buildup. Waterfront and North Shore properties with salt air exposure often require weekly cleaning during the wet season. Interior glass railings stay clean much longer, typically only need cleaning every 2 to 3 months. Professional cleaning visits are billed by the cleaner; DIY with a squeegee and deionized water is a practical alternative.
Yes, and stair-mounted glass balustrades are one of the most striking applications in modern custom homes. Each panel is cut to match the stringer angle, and the mounting hardware has to account for the rake. Stair glass railings carry a meaningful premium over straight deck runs because every panel is custom-templated, we quote each stair against the specific stringer geometry.
Custom glass railing projects in Metro Vancouver typically take 6 to 10 weeks from approved drawings to finished install. Engineering and templating is 1 to 2 weeks. Glass fabrication at the specialized glass shop is 3 to 5 weeks (tempered-laminated glass has a specific production sequence that cannot be rushed). Metal posts and base channel fabrication at our shop runs in parallel. Installation is typically 1 to 3 days on site depending on the scope.
Yes, and we do this regularly. The key is specifying 316 stainless hardware throughout, standoffs, clips, base channel, and fasteners, to handle the salt air corrosion. Aluminum base channels are not appropriate for direct salt exposure. Tempered-laminated glass itself is not affected by salt air, but the metal components will corrode if not properly specified. Budget a 15 to 20% premium over inland pricing for the stainless hardware upgrade.
Get in touch
Send us the linear footage, mounting conditions, and site exposure. We will quote a custom glass railing system fabricated and installed from our Burnaby shop.
