Is a glass staircase a bad idea? Does anyone have one?

[100daysandBeyond]

I have three boys, we need to replace our 40 year old cheap stair case because it's grim. Because of the structure, vertical spindles is difficult.

We are considering glass panels.

Is that a really bad idea?

How much do you like cleaning glass?

That’s the only downside - it would be safe as the glass would be toughened

It’s a really good idea if you really really love cleaning

Will age very quickly

How old are your kids? If they're little, I think the cleaning of fingerprints etc., would annoy me I think.

Not sure why they would be as presumably the glass has to meet a safety spec? You can check that aspect out.

They will only bash their faces into it a few times before they learn

They will be forever covered in smears though.

We have cleaners weekly, so it will be their job - lucky them 😁

That area of the house is the only dark spot so it would let a lot of light in.

It’s the cleaning of sticky greasy fingers that would drive me crazy

The cleaning will drive you mad. Unless, of course, you love polishing glass.

You can get different computer glass. Might be an alternative - or maybe some funky sticker to go on the top?

@100daysandBeyond

We have cleaners weekly, so it will be their job - lucky them 😁

That area of the house is the only dark spot so it would let a lot of light in.

Yes but it will look dirty very quickly, I would think it would need doing much more often.

Ditto on the cleaning, I highly do not recommend. My own son is an expert on breaking toughened glass, but yours may not be (yes it is apparently possible, no it isn’t even remotely easy).

My friend has that exact staircase & she's forever cleaning it so as PP's have said if you like cleaning go for it

@rrhuth

Not sure why they would be as presumably the glass has to meet a safety spec? You can check that aspect out.

They will only bash their faces into it a few times before they learn

They will be forever covered in smears though.

I'm worried about about the odd thrown toy, or a skateboard being pushed into it

If a skateboard inside your house is something that could happen, don't get a glass staircase.

Either it won’t get cleaned, or something else won’t get cleaned, or you’ll have to pay your cleaners for longer. They won’t be able to just fit it in with existing jobs.

Weekly won't be enough for the cleaning so definitely count on doing it yourself as well. Safety wise it is fine though.

I opened this expecting to see actual glass steps, so I think what you're looking at is sensible in comparison

Yeah, with 3 kids the panels will constantly be smeared with fingerprints and fuck knows what else, but they'll grow up and stop it eventually I suppose. Wouldn't be for me but it's your house

Do it!

When I was younger I would thought this a great idea. However, I am older, had a fall and broken wrist last year, and have been diagnosed with osteopenia. We went to visit some friends at their glam new London flat recently. It had a glass and steel staircase. Looked great. But I had to get DH to accompany up and down the stairs when I went to the loo, I was terrified of falling. The hard surfaces, no carpet, feeling of insecurity etc was so scary. Unless you plan to move before you age (or never get old) I really would not do it

I've got glass with four kids and it's great. Gets cleaned once a week unless it desperately needs it in between. Cleans really easily so isn't too much faff.

Also have it in a dark spot and it lets in lots of light which is great.

@EekThreek

I opened this expecting to see actual glass steps, so I think what you're looking at is sensible in comparison

Yeah, with 3 kids the panels will constantly be smeared with fingerprints and fuck knows what else, but they'll grow up and stop it eventually I suppose. Wouldn't be for me but it's your house

Same re. glass steps 🤯 I was thinking how strange it would be if you could look through the steps directly down into the cupboard under the stairs or something!

We have this over 3 floors.

I personally haven't cleaned it in a year.

It's great.

Makes the whole hall stairs and landing area really bright and airy, with clean lines.

We inherited it, but I would definitely do it again.

And for those saying it will age, it was installed in the late 80s and still looks great.

Hi we have glass panels and it's amazing how quick the kids get over it or use the banister, our panels don't get that dirty and it doesn't take long to clean. We love ours let's so much light through, we have an 8 and a 4 years old

Apart from being tacky AF, it'd be a massive pita to keep clean.