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?

[quote TippledPink]@TheHoptimist Whereas for me I hate spindle gloss painted staircases, they look so cheap and tacky and put me off buying a house. I just sold my house with its glass staircase and it definitely did not devalue my house. Each to their own.[/quote]
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I am very wary of glass. Many years ago we were visiting my parents when my younger son had a freak accident and fell into their glass video cabinet. This is a supposed to be made of toughened glass but shattered and he still bears a scar.

@Minfilia

Don’t do it.

Last week ours spontaneously combusted at 4am. Nobody anywhere near it thank god because if they’d have been under it they could have been killed.

Apparently the glass should have been laminated so this can’t happen so I’m playing merry hell with our home builder.

And replacing the whole lot with wood spindles!

Funnily enough, ours also did this at 3am over the summer! Currently still in the process of trying to get the staircase builder to accept responsibility, we've even paid for an independent survey showing it happened due to a fault with the glass. I'd be really interested to know what outcome you get with your builder if you don't mind sending me a private message!

Surely you just get the shower squeegee out and give it a quick go?

esloquehay
Apart from being tacky AF, it'd be a massive pita to keep clean
Why is it as tacky AF? I don't get it.

I have seen them in a few of my friends houses and it has made a huge difference to the place. It makes the place look a lot lighter and brighter.
In one of the cottages my friend lives in and has made an incredible difference that changed her mind from wanting to move due it it initally feeling drab.

Just me that thinks it looks like an escalator then?

Just me that thinks it looks like an escalator then?
It doesnt look like an escalator in any if my friends houses who have them installed.
I'm thinking of having it installed.

@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.

Weekly? More like umpteen times a day.

I really like glass staircases. as number of friends have them and they look amazing.

It's really really tacky and doesn't look good. I honestly can't understand why anyone would want this.

I think they are a bit dated looking OP, sorry! And think like another PP will go out of fashion pretty soon!

I think, unless your home is ultra modern, they look out of place and a bit like an old office block in most homes. Realistically they agent going to let in much more light than a standard spindle staircase.

I also wouldnt get them with kids unless I was sure it was laminated and safe, I've had tempered glass shatter before in our bedroom one morning (we were in the room but no one was near it when it happened), it made a huge bang and the glass was everywhere, we were finding little nuggets and slithers of it for months after in drawers, under the bed etc.

Might be a bit marmite to people from posts so far. I think it has a very "workplace" vibe about it so wouldn't want that in my home and like some others have said i think it will probably date quite quickly. Also can't imagine they're a great idea for very small children from a safety point of view without spindles to hold onto as they go downstairs. Guess not a problem when your kids are tall enough to reach the banister though.

Snap blanketpost. Definitely agree office block

I think it’s fine

I’m a bit disappointed as I was expecting to see actual glass stairs!

We had it in one of the houses I lived in as a child. More 50s version and the glass was patterned. We were a big sibling group and it was never broken. So I’d go for it if you like it, as long as the glass is toughened and just look for a subtle modern pattern or at least frosting to minimise the visibility of marks.

It is expensive to have done, get someone who really knows what they are doing and skilled in this, it might cost more, but will be worth it.

My parents had something very similar in their home of 40-odd years, but using an acrylic material rather than actual glass. No regrets whatsoever, and zero issues with cleaning once toddler gc were past the stage of half climbing, half crawling up the stairs - and even that was manageable and not all that conspicuous.

Safety is fine as it is tested. It looks awful though, that would be my main issue (personal option obviously)!

Tacky and ugly. Dated. I would never buy a house with a glass staircase. Hard pass.

It goes in those kinds of houses that have beige vertical blinds. 80s/90s office chic! You could get some posters with waves and an inspirational quotes on to go with it… “reach for the skies”.

@Phrenologistsfinger

Tacky and ugly. Dated. I would never buy a house with a glass staircase. Hard pass.

yep. cheap looking.

Not sure if it’s a bad idea or not but I’d be dubious buying anything from a bloke called Neville

We have one - quite similar to your photo - and I love it!

It looks great and lets in loads of extra light. Also doesn’t need cleaning that often - kids are tall enough (5 and 8) not to constantly be smearing their fingerprints all over it!

Also, another vote for Stairfurb! We used them and the product was great.