As cable railing professionals we have encountered many glass vs. cable railing discussions as well as cost comparisons, and pros vs. cons. We believe that each system has pros and cons just like wood vs. composite decking. Many times we are submitting quotes to clients who are studying both types of railing system. There are issues of aesthetics, price, feel, functionality, etc. SS cable will not provide a wind break; this is a no brainer; however we have yet to encounter a glass railing system that did not require constant cleaning. We work on the California coast where salt air is common. By the beach the air is wet almost every morning despite the season. High end hotels and affluent clientele have maintenance people that diligently clean the glass and it looks and functions top notch. For outdoor dining a glass wind break with a view is unbeatable. Glass systems that feature clips or freestanding panels by using a "shoe" or "boot" are beautiful railing systems and on occasion we even recommend these systems over our own cable railings. Other applications like raised balconies pose a major problem with access and safety for cleaning glass railings. The average homeowner will not be able to afford to pay for someone to maintain the glass. The average homeowner is not comfortable on an extension ladder or leaning over a 2 story drop to clean the glass. Cost Factors- cable railing systems are usually less expensive than glass systems but there are exceptions. 100% stainless steel post and framing systems will be similar in cost to free standing glass systems. Wood framed cable railings will be much less expensive than glass. Stainless steel cable can require periodic maintenance via wiping the cables with stainless steel cleaner and protectant. The transparency factor for both systems is awesome and with frameless options and low profile post systems we have more options than ever for low profile installations. It really boils down to several factors when choosing a railing system and weighing wants vs. needs, resources, and aesthetics. We love our cable railings and the trend seems to be leaning more towards cable railings; however our neighbors at Sorrento Glass produce amazing glass railings and when the situation calls for glass we never hesitate to recommend them.

It's done! I thought I'd circle back and post some "after" pictures so you all could see how things ended up. A few notes on the work: * We ended up doing the railing with a tight enough spacing on the bottom 2/3 that it isn't a climbing hazard. * We decided not to do the globe light for now - might happen later, but for now it feels like it doesn't quite fit. * The upstairs solid door moved downstairs (we couldn't find a simple plain solid exterior door for sale anywhere) and we got a new door upstairs. * We ended up making the privacy screen T shaped with one side being a large gate, creating a space to keep our trashcans. * I took these pictures before we had the yard cleaned up. * We also had the roof repaired and recoated so pretty much the entire exterior is redone. * While we were at it, we replaced the 1965 furnace with a modern efficient one (and instantly cut our gas bill in half). I'm happy to break down the costs for anybody that cares, though I think it is so specific to the region and house, I'm not sure if it would be beneficial.

You can either take it to a mill shop and have them cut make a custom knife to make new trim out of oak. This can be expensive if you are only replacing one or two boards. Or if you are trying to match the design of the first picture you could make that out of two or three pieces of wood. A trim carpenter should be able to make that for you no problem.

We have fabricated these aluminum and glass railings for decks. We are the best manufacturer in the entire Ontario region who provide high-quality railing and deck products that are durable, weather-resistant, and of course, cost-effective. You can check the wide range of our designs like this one here at http://www.cplrailings.ca/projects/.