How to Measure for a Glass Railing Before You Order (Video)

Most problems with a glass railing order start before the order is placed: a run measured in the wrong place, a corner missing from the sketch, a section nobody numbered. Our short video shows the four things to do before you order, and this post sums them up so you can follow along on your deck, balcony, stairs or pool fence.

 

 

What you need

• A tape measure, long enough for your longest run
• Paper and a pencil, or a notes app
• Your phone's camera

1. Sketch the layout

Draw the area as if you were looking down on it: every straight run, every corner, the stairs and the place for a gate. It does not have to be to scale. What matters is that every place the glass will go is on the drawing, including short returns against a wall or the house.

2. Number each section

Give every straight run its own number on the sketch, for example 1 to 6 around a deck. Each number becomes a line on your order, so the glass panels and the hardware for each run are matched to it and nothing gets mixed up when the order arrives.

3. Measure where the spigots go

Measure each numbered section along the line where the spigots will be fixed, which is the line the glass will follow, and write the length on the sketch next to its number. Note what each section is fixed to (a wood deck, concrete or tile) and what is at each end: a wall, a post, a corner or the top of the stairs.

4. Photograph the details

Take a photo of each section, each corner and each end, and of the stairs and the spot for the gate. Photos show what a sketch cannot: the surface, the slope of the stairs, a downspout or a post in the way.

Before you send it

• Measure every section twice.
• Check your local building code for the railing height your project needs. Our guides to the Canadian and American building codes for glass railings explain what to look for.
• If there is a gate, mark where it goes and which way it should open.

Then send your sketch, your measurements and your photos with your quote request, and our team will use them to put together the panels and hardware for each numbered section.

More videos and guides

• Putting in a gate? Watch how to install a glass gate panel: hinges, latch and closing speed.
• Glass railing installation guide
• Glass railing tools and measurement checklist
• Spigot layout guide for frameless glass railings
• Staircase glass panel fitting guide

Behind our videos

Our how-to and installation videos are planned, filmed and edited by our marketing director, Bugrahan Unsal, who has more than ten years of experience behind the camera. You can see more of his installation and project films on his site.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need exact measurements before I ask for a quote?

The more accurate your measurements, the more accurate your quote. A sketch with numbered sections, their lengths and a few photos gives our team what it needs to start.

What if my deck has corners or stairs?

Give every straight run its own number, including each flight of stairs, and photograph the corners and the stairs. Our staircase fitting guide explains what stairs need.

Can I watch the video on my phone while I measure?

Yes. It plays on YouTube on any phone, so you can pause it at each step while you work.