Our Installation Process
From first enquiry to final sign-off — how we survey, design, manufacture, and install glass balustrades, staircases, partitions, and more across Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands.
What Happens From Enquiry to Completion
Every project we take on goes through the same structured process — survey, specification, manufacture, installation, sign-off. The steps are the same whether it's a 2-metre garden balustrade or a full commercial staircase renovation. What changes is the detail at each stage.
We carry out all work with our own team — no subcontractors. That means the person who does the survey is typically the same team that installs. Every quotation is fixed-price and itemised. We don't add extras after the job starts.
The Standard Process — Every Project
Initial Enquiry
Contact us by phone, email, or using the form on our contact page. Give us a rough description of the project — what you need, where it is, and your approximate dimensions. A photo is helpful but not essential at this stage. We will respond promptly with initial thoughts and confirm whether we need a site visit or can quote from dimensions and photos.
Site Survey
For most installations we carry out a free site survey. We take precise measurements, assess the substrate you are fixing into, check for any access constraints, and confirm the most appropriate fixing method for your situation. For straightforward supply-only orders, accurate dimensions supplied by the customer are sufficient — no visit required.
Survey typically takes 30–60 minutes on site. No charge.
Fixed-Price Quotation
We provide a clear, itemised, fixed-price quotation following the survey. This covers glass specification, fixing components, installation labour, and any specialist work such as diamond drilling. There are no provisional sums, no day-rate elements, and no surprises on the invoice. We back this with a price match guarantee — if you have a genuine like-for-like quote from a competitor, we will match or beat it.
Manufacture & Lead Time
Once the order is confirmed, your glass is cut and toughened (or laminated) to the exact sizes specified. All glass is manufactured off-site by our glass suppliers to our precise tolerances, then delivered directly to us before installation day. Typical lead time from order confirmation to installation is 2–4 weeks depending on glass specification and order volume. We confirm the installation date at time of order.
Installation
Our installation team arrives with all materials, fixings, and equipment. For most domestic projects, installation takes one to two days on site. Larger or more complex projects — commercial staircases, multi-run balustrades, partitions — may take longer, and we agree the programme with you in advance. We clean up fully on completion and leave the area tidy.
Final Check & Sign-Off
Before we leave, we check all fixings, loading compliance, guarding heights, and finish quality. We will walk you through the installation and explain maintenance requirements. Compliance documentation — fixing details, test reports, and BS6180 reference data — is provided as standard for any project that requires it for Building Control or planning purposes.
Service-Specific Installation Notes
While the core process is the same for every project, each service type has specific installation considerations worth knowing about.
Glass Balustrades
Frameless Channel & Spigot
The channel or spigot fixings are installed first and checked for alignment. Glass panels are lifted in individually — typically two people per panel for anything over 1.2m. Channel systems require the glass to be set accurately in the channel bed with the correct setting blocks and rubber gasket. Final panel alignment is adjusted before the channel fill is applied. Spigot systems are aligned panel by panel and torqued to specification.
Framed Post & Handrail
Posts are set out, drilled, and chemically anchored first. Core filling of hollow blockwork with structural resin is carried out where required. Once the resin has cured to specification, base plates are fixed and posts set plumb. Glass infill panels are glazed in next, followed by the handrail, which is cut, bent (where required), and polished on-site to the required curve or angle.
Substrate Considerations
Fixing into concrete, blockwork, or timber is straightforward. Porcelain and hard stone surfaces require diamond drilling — we carry this out on-site using specialist core drill bits that leave a clean hole with no surface damage. Composite decking is always fixed through to the structural joist below — composite boards alone are not a structural fixing substrate.
Typical Duration
A straight run of 5–8 metres typically takes one day on site. L-shape or U-shape configurations, or runs with multiple changes in level, typically take two days. Larger residential or commercial projects are programmed individually. We aim to cause as little disruption as possible — you do not need to be present throughout the day, but access to the installation area is required.
Glass Staircases & Staircase Renovations
New Staircase Builds
For a full staircase build — new treads, new structure, and glass panels — we typically programme two to three days depending on the staircase height and the amount of joinery involved. The stringer and tread structure is installed first. Glass panels are then cut to fit the exact rise-and-going of your specific staircase — panels are not standard sizes, they are manufactured to the measured geometry of the individual staircase.
Spindle Replacement
The most cost-effective renovation option. Existing spindles are removed, the existing handrail and base rail are retained, and glass panels are cut to drop in between the existing rails. Clamped or grooved fixing to the rail allows panels to be set without structural alteration to the staircase. A typical 13-step staircase with spindle replacement takes one day on site. See our dedicated spindle replacement page for more detail.
Glass Fixing to Stairs
Two main methods: clamped systems use stainless steel or timber clamps that grip the glass panel along the bottom and side edges — no drilling of the glass. Grooved systems cut a routed channel into the existing handrail and base rail into which the glass panel slots — a very clean finish but requires the rail to be structurally sound enough to accept the routing. We advise on the appropriate method for your existing staircase at survey stage.
Handrail & Balustrade Height
Internal residential staircase balustrading must be at least 900mm above the pitch line of the stair and 1000mm on landings. These are the minimum requirements under UK Building Regulations (Approved Document K). We check and confirm compliance as part of the specification process before manufacture.
Glass Juliet Balconies
Face-Mounted Installation
Juliet balconies fix to the wall or window reveal on either side of the door opening — not to the floor. The most common system uses standoff buttons drilled into the masonry that pass through pre-drilled holes in the glass panel, holding the glass at a set distance from the face behind. This gives a completely frameless appearance. Alternatively, stainless steel angle brackets or aluminium channel systems are used where a more substantial frame is required or where wall fixings need to span a wider load.
Structural Considerations
The wall fixings on a Juliet balcony carry the full imposed load from the glass — typically 0.74kN/m² horizontally. We always fix into the structural masonry on either side of the opening, never into plasterboard or render alone. Where the wall finish is render over blockwork, we drill through to solid masonry and use resin-anchored fixings. Brick and stone walls are straightforward. EIFS/EWI systems (external wall insulation) require careful detailing — we assess this at survey stage.
Building Regulations
Glass Juliet balconies are classified as guarding under Approved Document K. External guarding to a door must be at least 1100mm from finished floor level. The glass must be toughened or laminated safety glass. All our Juliet balcony specifications are aligned with these requirements and documentation is available for Building Control where required.
Typical Duration
A single Juliet balcony installation typically takes half a day to a full day on site. Multiple openings on the same visit are more efficient. We remove the old safety barrier (if present) and make good any fixing holes on removal, then install the new system. No specialist access equipment is typically needed for first and second floor openings.
Glass Partitions
Frameless Structural Partitions
Structural frameless glass partitions fix using a continuous floor channel and head channel, with glass panels spanning between floor and ceiling. Panels are typically 12mm or 15mm toughened glass. The channel is fixed to the structural floor and ceiling slab — not to suspended tiles or a false floor. We confirm the structural substrate at survey stage. Door openings use patch fittings or pivot hinges fixed directly to the glass.
Aluminium-Framed Systems
Aluminium-framed partition systems are demountable — the frame is bolted together in sections, glass panels drop in, and the whole system can be reconfigured or relocated. This makes them the preferred choice for offices and commercial fit-outs. Top, bottom, and side aluminium extrusions are cut to size on-site and joined with corner connectors. Door frames, hinges, and handles are all part of the same system. Available in silver, black, or any RAL powder coat.
Acoustic Performance
Standard toughened glass partitions provide moderate sound attenuation — suitable for visual separation and partial privacy but not for high-confidentiality meeting rooms. Where acoustic performance is a priority, we specify acoustic laminated glass with an acoustic PVB interlayer. The gap between the glass and the frame seal also plays a significant role — acoustic systems use compression seals throughout the perimeter rather than standard brush seals.
Typical Duration
A straight partition run of 4–6 metres with a single door typically takes one to two days to install. More complex configurations — L-shapes, U-shapes, multiple rooms, or structural frameless systems requiring ceiling fixing — take longer and are programmed individually. We work with a floor plan or sketch from you to agree the layout before ordering materials.
Commercial Balustrades
3.0 kN/m Loading
Commercial balustrades are specified to 3.0kN/m horizontal line load — the requirement for public spaces, offices, commercial buildings, and areas where crowds may gather (BS EN 1991-1-1). This is significantly higher than the 0.74kN/m² residential standard and requires a different fixing specification, base plate design, and glass thickness. We provide full test reports and fixing details for Building Control submission as standard.
Compliance Documentation
For commercial projects, we supply a full compliance pack: glass specification certificates, fixing design details, load test data, and a product declaration where required. This is submitted to Building Control as part of the project's structural performance record. We liaise directly with architects and project managers to provide documentation in whatever format is required for the scheme.
Glass Splashbacks
Installation Method
Glass splashbacks are fixed to the wall using a specialist neutral-cure silicone adhesive — no mechanical fixings through the glass. The wall surface must be flat, clean, and load-bearing (not plasterboard over a cavity where movement would cause the panel to flex). For kitchen splashbacks behind a hob, all glass must be at least 150mm from any exposed flame and the specification must account for radiated heat levels. We advise on this at quotation stage.
Glass Preparation
Each panel is cut to the exact dimensions of your wall space, including any socket cutouts, switch cutouts, or curved details. All edges are polished. Back-painted glass panels are factory-coated and cured before delivery. Printed glass panels use ceramic frit or UV-cured digital printing depending on the specification. The glass is delivered wrapped and installed the same day — no curing time is needed on-site beyond a short period for the adhesive to grab before you use the surface.
Glass Canopies
Structure & Fixing
Glass canopies use a powder-coated steel or aluminium bracket structure fixed to the wall above the door or opening, with laminated glass panels sitting in the bracket framework. The wall fixings carry the dead load of the glass plus imposed snow and wind loading — we size the fixings and bracket structure to the span and the wall construction. The glass is always laminated for overhead glazing applications, so that in the event of breakage the panel remains in place held by the interlayer.
Waterproofing & Drainage
The junction between the back of the canopy and the wall is sealed with neutral-cure silicone to prevent water ingress. Glass panels are pitched slightly forward (typically 3–5°) to promote drainage off the front edge. For larger canopy areas with a fascia front, a drip edge is incorporated to direct water clear of the door opening below. All hardware is marine-grade or powder-coated stainless to resist the outdoor environment.
Technical Guides & Related Information
Get a Free Quote for Your Project
Send us photos and rough measurements for a detailed, no-obligation quotation. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, and the wider East Midlands.