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?

Glass can be weird. It’s great until it isn’t. My sliding door spontaneously imploded one day. The protective film sort of held it together but has no structural stability (which would be a concern on the stairs if someone had fallen against it as it shattered) and it was a mess to clear up. The glass guy said it was fairly common for it to happen with no warning.

The extra light must be nice though.

That would freak me out tbh op I wouldn't want to use them!

Not sure why. Got mobility issues so heavily lean on banister, maybe makes me feel not somehow solid?

Just my opinion.

If you like it, go for it.

I couldn't tell you what any of my friends' staircases looked like, so I definitely wouldn't be put off by comments on here related to aesthetics. No one else cares; just please yourself.

The shattered staircase posted by a PP would give me pause, though.

Had our oak and glass panels with carpeted stairs for approx. 10 years. The glass only needs cleaning properly every few months and just takes 10 mins. Makes a huge difference with the light and makes the hallway and landing feel fresh. Love it.

Got one. They are VERY reinforced and shatterproof. They also stay fairly clean. That said, nobody plays football/jostles/ etc in my house.

It would be easy to clean will nilglass, does stink though. Best glass cleaner I have found.

A patient s randomly exploded over the stairs. Nightmare to clean up the glass. Luckily they were in the kitchen at the time with their grandchild.

@EekThreek
I opened this expecting to see actual glass steps, [...]

Me too!

And I was already imagining myself gracefully decending them,
wearing Cinderella glass slippers, too.

@OP, I like! I think it would be great, especially to lighten up,the area.
Sure, you'll need to clean them, but I can't see it being a major project.

Ours has been in place for 30 years, didn’t realise they’re trendy now!

It’s toughened shatterproof safety glass so if it did smash it would shatter into tiny blunt fragments, not sharp shards. They usually only shatter if incorrectly fitted or exposed to extreme temperature changes.

Ours is tinted so nobody has bumped onto into it yet and it doesn’t look dirty for ages. It’s simple to clean, just a weekly wipe down with glass polish and a nano cloth. Doesn’t get dusty like a wooden one and lets in lots of light, really opens up our hallway and landing.

A fancy glass coffee table exploded in our house, we were living in a hot country and it was 44c so that was why.

It frightened the life out of us and took a long time to forget (middle of the night)

But how on earth do they exploded in a country with temperate climate?

I asking because I’d love one but these Tara are frightening!

*descending

@londonrach

A patient s randomly exploded over the stairs. Nightmare to clean up the glass. Luckily they were in the kitchen at the time with their grandchild.

A patient randomly exploded?!

Fuck.

We removed our solid white painted bannister in favour of wood spindles. Don’t think glass would have looked right in a 2930s semi and don’t think it would have let in much more light than spindles.

*1930s semi.

And we used Neville Johnson, same company as the OP’s picture.

It'll be dirty again 30 seconds after your cleaner has cleaned it. Don't do it.

Had one years ago, always covered in handprints.

[quote Minfilia]@Offmyfence

Yes, quite clearly it shatters. Into both large, heavy chunks, and smaller sharp ones that cut me despite wearing leather gloves to clean it all up.

And, you know - there’s that thing called gravity… but if you seriously think it being reinforced means it can’t possibly fall on anyone then crack on I guess [/quote]
It should be toughed AND laminated. Toughed for strength and laminated to hold it together if it should ever shatter.

We have glass on the stairs and it doesn't get as dirty as windows do, but then we don't have small children.

Yes please, may I have one. I have seen one with side panels in an old house that suited it well. Believe it or not.
I have also seen one with frosted/ground glass effect treads in an office, no up-skirting! looked good and let in light and would adapt to domestic situation.
I hate dusting round spindles with twee profiles, we had some in a house we bought.

This is weirdly devisive!

Looks cracking in my 220 year old cottage, not a hint of office block about it!

We had this in our house growing up

It's nice because it opens the space up - a staircase can be quite visually obstructive and the glass offsets that

I think this look will date very quickly, everyone seems to be having them at the moment.

@PinchOfVom

A fancy glass coffee table exploded in our house, we were living in a hot country and it was 44c so that was why.

It frightened the life out of us and took a long time to forget (middle of the night)

But how on earth do they exploded in a country with temperate climate?

it is the change in temperature rather than the level.

There can be tiny flaws during manufacturing which over time changes in temperature put more and more pressure on, until one day it just goes and the whole thing shatters.

Ours went first thing in the morning, so was probably cold overnight and started warming up as the heating came on and the room warmed up.