Deck Glass Railings in Greater Seattle

A deck railing has one job that matters most: keeping people from falling off the edge. Glass does that and keeps the view open, which is the reason to choose it over pickets. We install glass deck railings on homes and multifamily buildings around Greater Seattle, and Tim measures every deck on site.

Two ways to mount deck glass

Deck glass goes on one of two ways, the same choice as on a staircase: standoffs or a metal railing.

Standoffs on the deck edge

The glass mounts to the outside face of the deck on standoffs, round fittings that pass through holes in the glass. Nothing sits on the deck surface, so you keep the full width of the deck, and from the yard the railing reads as one band of glass. We used this mount on the balconies of a Clyde Hill estate.

Standoff holes have to be made before the glass is tempered, so Tim’s measurements set every hole position. Standoffs also need a solid edge on the deck to fix into.

Metal railing with glass panels

A metal railing holds the glass between metal posts or inside a metal frame. The rooftop deck on a Greenbuild apartment building in Seattle uses this kind of railing in matte black.

Hardware that won’t rust

Every exterior rail and fitting we use is stainless steel or powder-coated stainless, so nothing rusts in Pacific Northwest rain or in salt air near the Sound. The powder coat is also how outdoor hardware gets a finish like matte black.

Height, load and permits

Once the glass is clamped in, a glass deck railing is built to take a person leaning on it. Code requires every guard to resist a 200-pound load at the top in any direction, and codes push toward laminated glass for most guards because it holds together if it breaks. Height follows the building type: 36 inches for one- and two-family homes and 42 inches for multifamily and commercial decks. A guard is generally required where a deck sits about 30 inches or more above the ground, and raised decks typically need a permit. Tim confirms the numbers with your building department before any glass is ordered, and the full code breakdown is on our glass railings page.

Clear or low-iron glass on a deck

Deck glass usually faces the view, and standard clear glass shows a green tint along its exposed top edge. Starphire, Vitro’s brand of low-iron glass, removes it and runs about 60% more for the glass. Our Starphire vs. standard clear glass guide shows the difference on real installs.

Where we work

We install deck railings across our service area, including Burien, Bellevue and Seattle. For railings that hang off the side of the house, see balcony glass railings. Planning a deck or rooftop railing? Request a free measure and Tim will look at the deck in person.