When choosing a railing system for your beachfront property, you need to consider the wear and tear on the railing from salt spray and humidity because of the material demands of the ocean. But you also have to think about appearance. The ocean view is a beautiful thing, and sometimes you want to focus on the railing of the deck. If this is the case, consider using materials that won’t block your view, such as glass railings.

A big benefit of glass railings is that glass is more resistant to corrosion than stainless steel, the material used in cable railings. Glass does not react with salt water, while stainless steel pits and corrodes when repeatedly exposed to seawater. However, much depends on the grade of stainless steel.

Some consumers worry about the maintenance involved in keeping glass railings clean, but in reality, it’s very similar to cleaning Windows. You will want to use a cleaner that will not degrade the coating of the track and post, and some manufacturers recommend using a ph neutral cleaner solution on their products to maintain their warranty.

A good manufacturer will offer a pair of different styles of glass railings, such as full plate glass railings and glass railings. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. Full-panel glass railings tend to keep out the wind well. This is perfect for a beach house if you want to reduce the amount of sand that blows onto the deck or prevent the wind from knocking over furniture. However, if you choose this style, you should know that full sheet glazing has a significant greenhouse effect, heating up the deck, so if your house has a warm climate and you tend to visit when it’s hot, full sheet glazing may not be appropriate.

Glass railings, on the other hand, have the same inconspicuous appearance as full plate glass, but are spaced between them to allow wind to pass through and to reduce the warm effect.