Railing News

Are Glass Railing Systems Safe?

Glass Railings | May 24, 2022

When it comes to frameless and framed glass railing systems, many homeowners worry about their durability and overall safety. As a leading provider of high-quality aluminum, cable, and glass railing systems, the team at Vista Railing Systems knows that glass railings are safe for most decks and patios. That is why we have compiled some information on the qualities of glass railing systems to dispel any misconceptions regarding their durability and demonstrate how safe they are.

Learn how to keep your glass railing system clean throughout the year.

4 Reasons Why Glass Railing Systems Are Safe

When installed correctly, glass railings systems are an extremely safe addition to any home. A quality glass railing system will offer the following benefits to ensure lasting safety for your deck:

1. High-Quality Tempered Glass

While glass is often regarded as a fragile material, this is not the case with engineered glass railing systems. To ensure that glass railings are as safe as possible, they are made from thick tempered safety glass which has been heat treated to increase its surface strength. Tempered glass is roughly four times stronger than normal glass and is designed so that it will not shatter into sharp shards in the rare event that it does break. This makes it highly resistant to impacts and weather-based wear, making it a safe choice for nearly any outdoor environment.

2. Free of Small Spaces and Difficult to Climb

Other types of railing systems typically feature multiple openings, posing a hazard for animals and young children. Glass railings do not have any openings that are large enough for children or pets to squeeze through. Children will also be unable to climb glass railings as there are no potential footholds for them to use, further increasing safety.

3. Immune to Rot and Decay

One of the biggest benefits of glass railings is that they will not rot or decay over time because they are made entirely of glass and metal components. This durability is further enhanced if the metal components are aluminum with a powder-coated finish as this will minimize weather wear and maintenance requirements. With proper maintenance and cleaning, glass railings will maintain the same level of strength and integrity that they had when they were first installed.

4. Constructed with High-Quality Metal Components

A high-quality glass railing system will have factory-attached sleeved brackets to reduce installation time and include durable metal fasteners to enhance the stability and security of the system. Low-quality systems will feature a blank post and post bracket that needs to be attached before you secure the railings, increasing installation time and potentially reducing stability. Glass railings, like all guardrails, are securely mounted to the substructure of a deck allowing for a variety of different surfaces including hardwood, composite, concrete, and other materials. This provides a safe and stable space for years of enjoyment.

To learn more about glass railing maintenance or for assistance choosing the perfect product for your needs, get in touch with the experts at Vista Railing Systems. We can be reached by call or text at 1-800-667-8247 and will be happy to answer any questions you may have about our products.


Top Rated Customer Service
Code Compliant
25 Year Warranty
Eco Smart
Best New Product
Supply Build Canada Nominee

We are Washago Timber Mart and we've been a stocking dealer for nearly 15 years. Vista Railings are the absolute #1 best choice when it comes to Aluminum & Glass Railing Systems.

Chris Denne
Washago Timber Mart

James is wonderful! He continuously supports us and our Customers by ensuring that we receive our stock promptly and efficiently. He helps in rectifying issues that arise and at times he is known to personally drop off product either to our store or job sites to make sure we over deliver to our Customers! We appreciate you James and your team for all of your support!!

Rona Filsinger

The BEST railing in Canada… Customer Service is amazing. Thanks Team Vista the look of Vista railing is a beautiful sleek design it compliments any home and definitely increases the value of your home.

Brad Vermolen
Castle Niagara Building Centre

Top notch, sturdy and easy to install railing. Always a great experience dealing with James, Dwayne and Jim. From product knowledge, to solving any issues, they are always eager to help and on stand-by… Great working with them.

Mr Duncan

Vista has been a dream to work with, the program makes life so much easier and efficient to do quotes. Dwayne, Jim and the rest of the team I have dealt with are always willing to answer questions and go the extra mile to help fix any issues or getting pieces and parts to us promptly.

Matt Walker

We love working with the Vista Team! HF Smith Lumber in Cookstown, Ontario has been a proud stocking dealer since day one, carrying their four top colours. Vista’s quoting program is super easy to use and saves us a ton of time. The sales team is fantastic – always friendly, quick to help, and great to work with! We also love seeing the new products they continue to add. It’s exciting to expand our offerings and keep things fresh for our customers! Keep up the great work

Kim Ytsma
HF Smith Lumber

I purchase many different types of items in the building industry and have been at all levels from putting away lumber, customer service management and purchasing at wholesale level. The Vista railing company by far has been the best company to deal with in my entire 41 years in the industry. It’s just unbelievable the support and quality they produce from all levels — from manufacturing, pulling the product, design team and of course the sales support. Railing is a very difficult item for some yards to sell due to the complexity, but Vista makes it real easy with the least complicated quoting system, the Vista planner.
Thank you Team Vista for all you do for me and the industry!!

Randy Muentener