Frequently Asked Questions

While you can certainly re-paint powder-coated railings by properly preparing them to accept the new paint, we do not recommend it as it will void the warranty.

Aluminum is an extremely durable and corrosion resistant material. The 6005-T5 aluminum alloy that we use in our products is especially suited to marine environments and our AAMA 2605 powder coating adds another layer of protection. This powder coating exceeds performance standards for humidity and salt-spray, making our eGlass Railing™ systems ideal for use on beach properties.

Glass thickness largely depends on building code, with the minimum thickness being 1/4”. Our eGlass Railing™ systems are designed to work with either 1/4″ (6mm) or 3/8” (10mm) tempered glass panels. We offer 18 pre-designed sizes in both thicknesses that are in-stock and ready-to-ship.

These thicknesses will also work with the Q-Railing Square Line and Q-Line systems, however, the Q-Railing Easy Glass Slim base shoe system requires 1/2″ (12mm) glass panels, which we can special order.

Depending on your project and the building code in your area of jurisdiction, you may be required to use laminated glass. This generally occurs when the railing is placed over an area where people may be walking below or where the edges are exposed to potential breakage by having no top rail or cap rail.

You can install the posts on wood surfaces, composite, vinyl, concrete, stone, brick, or just about any other surface you may have. For certain applications, special mounting hardware may be required.

Fascia mount is generally considered to be stronger because the sides and ends of beams are generally stronger than deck surfaces. The IBC and IRC do not specify a mounting method. It is best to check with the building codes in your area to make sure there is not a specific requirement in terms of mounting style.

The current model building codes require that the top rail of a guard be able to resist a 200 pound point load for residential applications as well as a 50 plf uniform load for commercial applications. Our railing systems are designed to meet these and all other code requirements.

A general code requirement is that a handrail is required on at least one side of a continuous run of 4 or more steps. The building code in your area may have different or additional requirements. It is recommended that you check with the local building code office to determine what codes apply to your project.

Our powder-coated finish is warranted for 5 years to not crack, peel, or blister. Aluminum components are warranted to be free from defects in the structure and welds for 10 years. For more in-depth information, see our full warranty.

Our systems are not designed for wood top rail, however, it may be possible to add a wood top rail to our systems by modifying our posts and/or top rails. We do not directly provide wood top rail. It would have to be purchased from another supplier. We do not recommend adding a wood top rail as it will void the warranty.

The type of shipping depends on the system that is ordered. Whenever possible, we ship via UPS. However, due to package size and weight restrictions, some orders will need to be shipped via Worldwide Express, particularly any top rails that are 20 feet long.

Yes, we ship eGlass Railing™ systems directly from our warehouse in Washougal, WA. By selling directly, we are able to eliminate the costs associated with a distributor/dealer and pass that savings on to our customers.

Q-Railing systems are shipped directly from their warehouse in Tustin, CA.

Yes. In fact, we will ship worldwide.

If you are located in or near the Washougal, Washington area, we would be happy to arrange for order pickup at our Washougal warehouse. Just let your estimator know that you would like to place a Will Call order and arrangements can be made for you to do so.

Standard lead time is about one week, but seasonality and custom orders may increase lead time.

The quickest and easiest way to get an estimate is to click on the green “Request Free Estimate” button, which is located at the top of every page on the website. Fill out the form as completely as possible. If you have questions about the different choices, scroll over “Help Me Choose” to get more information or contact us for additional assistance. Please make sure to give us the dimensions of your project as it is impossible to provide an estimate without these numbers. A simple sketch with the dimensions listed is all that is needed, but you may also upload any drawings or photos that you think would be helpful in producing an estimate. Use the comments section to detail anything we may need to consider when putting together an estimate (type of surface you will be attaching the railing to, if you would like an estimate in more than one railing style, if you plan to use more than one mounting style — for example, fascia on deck and top mount on stairs, etc.). Once we have the necessary information, we will produce an estimate and a CAD of your project, typically within 48 hours. You may also call 1.855.578.7017 and an estimator will assist you.

Cash, check, and major credit cards.

Glass railings are very safe when installed correctly, using tempered or laminated glass that meets building code requirements and can withstand significant pressure. Regular maintenance and professional installation further ensure their safety and durability.

No, we do not have in-house installers because we ship worldwide. However our sales team is happy to assist you in finding a capable installer in your area.

Yes, we do. We can custom order glass to meet customer specifications but this will increase the lead time.

In-house materials can ship out in as little as a week. If custom glass is involved, 4-6 weeks is the average time it takes for a product to ship out. These times are subject to change. Keep in mind, this doesn’t include freight or shipping time incurred by shipping companies.

Tempered glass has a minimum surface compression of 10,000 pounds-per-square-inch (psi) and minimum edge compression of 9,700 psi, according to ASTM C1048. That makes it about four times stronger than annealed glass.

Our eGlass Railing™ systems have been engineered to eliminate noisy wind vibrations, resulting in increased structural integrity for durable, long-lasting systems. All of our glass panels feature Carefree Clean™ coating which protects against grime, etching, and staining while repelling both oil and water. In addition, our eGlass Railing™ systems save both money and time. They save you money because you buy directly from the company, with no distributor/dealer markup. They save time by having everything you need for your project shipped at the same time, instead of waiting for glass* to be shipped separately.

*Applies to straight glass panels only. Custom cut angled glass panels will need to be ordered and shipped separately.

Our least expensive eGlass Railing™ system is our eGlass Picket™ system which has a base price of $155 per linear foot. Our most expensive eGlass Railing™ system is our eGlass Solid™ system which has a base price of $175 per linear foot. For more information about railing costs, check out our Glass Railing Cost Comparison page.

Our eGlass Railing™ systems were designed for the average Do-It-Yourselfer to be able to assemble and install. A basic understanding of construction techniques and the tools to be used for the project is recommended. You can check out our installation instructions to get a better idea if this is a project you feel you can tackle yourself or if you will need to hire a professional to do the project.

No, our systems are designed to be customizable with components that do not require welding.

We do not have a formal showroom, but our office in Washougal, WA does have some sample railings that you may view if you happen to be in the area. We recommend calling ahead to make sure someone is available to assist you during your visit.

If you would like to have a sample of our aluminum in order to see the finish in a certain color, we can provide you with a cut sample.