Deck & Balcony Balustrades

DECKS
Balustrades
Deck & Balcony

The view stays, the drop gets safe

A raised deck or balcony is usually the one place on the property where you least want something in the way — and the one place a barrier is required. We supply and install glass and aluminium balustrades across Auckland and Waikato, specified to what we're actually bolting to, with the documentation handed over at the end.

Four ways to do it

All four meet the same requirement. The difference is what you see through it, what you maintain, and whether it gives you privacy or takes it away.

Frameless Glass

Toughened glass panels held by base fixings, no posts and no top rail. Best where the outlook is the whole reason the deck exists. It needs a substrate that can carry the load on its own, which is why the first thing we look at is what's underneath.

Semi-Frameless Glass

Slim posts at intervals with glass between and no frame around the glass. You keep most of the openness, and it's far more forgiving on a deck that has moved or was never quite level.

Framed Glass

Powder-coated frame all the way around with a full-length top rail. The easiest to comply on an exposed site, the most comfortable to lean on, and the most tolerant of a long uneven run.

Aluminium Slat

Horizontal or vertical slats instead of glass. On a tight section this is often the better call — it screens you from the neighbour's window and cuts the wind across the deck, and it never needs washing. Matches our slat gates and fences.

It all comes down to what we're bolting to

This is the part that decides your options and your price, and it's why we measure before quoting rather than after. Four substrates, four different jobs.

Timber decks

The most common, and the one with the most variables. Joist size, spacing, span and condition all matter, and a deck built for a timber rail isn't automatically ready for glass. Sometimes the fix is blocking between joists; sometimes it's a different system.

Concrete

Usually the easiest to fix to, provided the slab edge is sound and thick enough. Edge distance matters more than people expect — a fixing too close to the edge can spall the concrete under load.

Steel

Common on newer balconies and apartment decks. Straightforward once we know what's there, but it changes the fixing method and sometimes the system.

Waterproof membranes

The one that causes trouble later. Anything bolted through a membrane is a potential leak, so it has to be detailed properly at the time. If your balcony is over living space, tell us early.

It isn't only decks. The top of a retaining wall, a sunken patio, a split-level lawn — if the ground falls away far enough it needs a barrier too. It's the one people tend to find out about at inspection rather than at design stage.

How it works

Free measure and quote

We come to site, measure the run and check what's underneath it. Written quote within 24 hours.

Specification

We confirm the system, the fixing method and your exposure, and tell you whether the job needs consent — before you commit to anything.

Made to your measurements

Manufactured to the dimensions taken on site and finished in your chosen colour.

Installation

Installed to the system manufacturer's specification. We'll confirm timing when the job is booked in.

Handover

You get the product documentation, the warranty that applies to your system, and care instructions.

Common questions

Does my deck need a balustrade?
Generally, if you can fall more than a metre from the edge, the Building Code requires a barrier. Decks, balconies, landings and the tops of retaining walls all commonly qualify. Send us a photo and rough measurements and we'll tell you.
Can my existing deck take a glass balustrade?
Sometimes, and sometimes it needs work first. Frameless glass in particular puts real load into the structure, and a deck built for a timber rail often isn't ready for it. That's the first thing we check when we measure — and we'd rather tell you at quote stage than halfway through.
Do I need building consent?
It depends on the job. Replacing an existing compliant barrier like-for-like often doesn't, but adding a new one or altering the structure usually does. We'll flag it at quote stage.
My balcony is over a living area. Does that change things?
Yes, and it's worth saying upfront. Anything fixed through a waterproof membrane has to be detailed properly or it becomes a leak, so the fixing method and sometimes the whole system will be chosen around that.
Will glass stay clean?
It needs washing like your windows, more often near the coast. Frameless and semi-frameless are easier than framed because there's no bottom channel to trap grit. If cleaning is the concern, aluminium slat is the low-maintenance option.
Can it match my existing pergola or fence?
Usually. Powder coat colours are broadly shared across aluminium systems, so most existing finishes can be matched or come very close. If we supplied the original, we'll have the colour on file.
How long does it take?
It depends on the system, the colour and current coating lead times. We'll give you a firm timeframe with your quote rather than a guess now.
Do you install outside Auckland?
We cover Auckland and Waikato, with free site visits across both. If you're further out, get in touch and we'll tell you honestly whether we can help.

Get a free measure and quote

Ready to talk about your deck? All balustrade enquiries go through one place. Tell us what you're dealing with and we'll come out and look at it. No obligation.