Composite Deck with Glass Railing
This upper-level deck has brown composite-look boards and a railing of clear glass panels in black aluminum frames. From the deck the view runs over the neighboring roofs and yards to the water and the hills beyond, and the glass keeps that view open from a chair as well as standing at the rail.
- Service
- Deck building
- Deck
- Upper-level deck off the house, beside a large window
- Decking
- Brown grooved composite-look boards
- Railing
- Clear glass panels in black aluminum posts and frames on the open sides
- Contractor
- Volcano Builders, WA license VOLCABI792C6
- Approximate investment
- About $25,000
Every project is priced in writing, line by line, for your home.
The finished deck
How this glass railing deck came together
The goal
The deck sits a full story up on the side of the house, next to a large window, with a wide view over the neighborhood to the water. A railing of solid pickets or balusters would have cut across that view at eye level for anyone sitting down. The aim was a deck that is safe at that height and still lets the view through.
The challenge
On a raised deck the railing does the safety work, and on this one it also had to stay out of the way visually. The railing had to wrap the open sides, meet the house cleanly at the corners and leave the walking surface clear.
The solution
The photos show brown composite-look boards laid in long, straight runs with tight, even gaps, and a railing of black aluminum posts and top and bottom frames holding clear glass panels on the open sides. At the corner by the window the frame turns and ties into the house wall. Each glass panel sits inside the frame between two posts, so the top line of the railing stays straight from one end of the deck to the other, and the boards run right out to the base of the frame.
The result
From inside the window and from the deck itself, the view now reads straight through the glass to the yards, the water and the hills. The dark frames give the edge of the deck a clean outline against the sky, and the warm brown boards contrast with the light siding of the house.
Related pages
- Deck Builder in SeattleOur deck service: new decks, railings, repairs and refinishing.
- Remodeling Pricing Guide for Seattle and Bellevue, WAWhat drives the price of a remodel, decks included.
- Gray Composite Backyard DeckA low gray composite deck set up for outdoor dining.
- Commercial Deck Refinishing in Kirkland, WAA long hardwood deck refinished beside a preserved rail line.
- Rotted Deck Rebuild in Mercer Island, WAA deck rebuilt from the framing up on Mercer Island.
Questions about this project
Why choose a glass railing for a deck?
Glass keeps the view open. On a raised deck like this one, with water and hills in the distance, clear panels in slim black frames let you see out while seated, where pickets would break up the view. The trade off is that glass shows dirt and needs cleaning now and then, more often on the side facing the weather.
How tall does a deck railing need to be?
In Seattle, any deck surface more than 30 inches above the ground needs a guard at least 36 inches tall, with no opening that a 4 inch ball can pass through. Glass railings follow their own rules and may need a structural engineer, so we confirm the system and the local code before the deck is priced.
Composite or wood boards for a raised deck?
Composite boards like the ones here hold their color and do not need sanding or staining the way wood does, which matters on a deck that is hard to reach from below. Wood costs less up front and can be refinished. We price both when you are deciding.
How much did this project cost?
About $25,000. Every project is priced in writing, line by line, for your home.
How do I get a price for a deck with glass railing?
Book a consultation. We measure the deck or the space for one, check the height, the framing and how it meets the house, then send a written, itemized price before work starts. For background, read the Remodeling Pricing Guide for Seattle and Bellevue, WA.
Before you book
- Remodeling Reviews in Seattle and Bellevue, WAWhat homeowners say about working with us, in their own words.
- Home Renovation Financing in SeattleHow remodeling financing works, and the application.
- Home Remodeling Warranty in WashingtonHow our warranty protects the work once it is finished.
- Referral Program for Volcano Builders in Seattle and Bellevue, WARefer a friend who is planning a remodel and choose your reward.
- Deck Remodeling Tips to Upgrade Your Outdoor SpaceFrom our blog.
- Five tips before installing a new outdoor deckFrom our blog.
Book your deck consultation
Four quick steps. Tell us about your project and we’ll reach out to discuss it and see if we’re the right fit.