No top rail, no aluminum frame, no obstruction. The view-first option for elevated decks, modern porches, stair guards, and mezzanine edges. Thicker glass than framed (12mm or 13.52mm exterior, 10–12mm interior) and 316 stainless at every load point.
Two install methods, same finished look. The choice comes down to deck construction.
Individual 316-stainless spigots bolt through the deck and clamp the glass. Easier to retrofit on existing decks. The spigots are visible — about 4" tall — but minimal compared to a full base shoe.
Continuous channel sits at deck level and clamps the full base of every glass panel. No visible hardware above deck — nothing but glass. Stronger structural connection, cleaner look.
Framed glass relies on the aluminum frame to share structural load — 6mm is enough. Frameless has no frame, so the glass alone handles the entire 200 lb point load required by OBC SB-13. That requires 12mm tempered for standard heights, or 13.52mm laminated tempered for guards over 1,800 mm drop (the OBC threshold for safety glass with PVB interlayer). Thicker glass costs more, and that's the entire reason frameless is priced where it is.
Spigots and brackets are always 316-grade stainless on the base price — no upgrade needed, no exception. Corrosion at the load points is non-negotiable. Posts and channels (for systems that have them) are aluminum by default; you can upgrade those to 316 stainless for an extra 15–20% if you're near a pool, on the lakeshore, or just want everything matched. The calculator handles this as a checkbox.
Interior installs don't use spigots (no exposed bolts inside a finished home) and the load requirements are slightly different (no rain, no ice, lower wind load). The result: thinner glass and cleaner mounting.
Two reasons. First, the glass is 2–3× thicker (12mm or 13.52mm laminated vs 6mm framed) — more material, more weight to handle, more shipping cost. Second, frameless has no margin for error during install — every panel has to be plumb, level, and gapped exactly to spec because there's no frame to hide misalignment. Both factors compound.
No. Spigot-mount panels are clamped at two points; base-shoe panels are continuously supported along the entire bottom edge. Both pass the OBC 200 lb point-load test. The glass feels solid because it is — 12mm tempered is roughly the same weight per square foot as a 2×4.
Tempered glass picks up mineral deposits the same way any window does. We recommend a yearly wipedown with vinegar + water (2:1) for exterior installs, especially if the panels are within sprinkler range. ClearShield or Diamon-Fusion coatings can be applied at install for an extra $8–12/ft to make cleaning easier — ask in the calculator notes.
Yes — the no-top-rail look is the whole point of frameless. OBC SB-13 doesn't require a top rail when the glass itself meets the 200 lb load (it does, at 12mm or thicker). For comparison, framed glass does need a top rail because the 6mm glass alone can't carry the load — that's the structural difference between the two systems.
Spigot or base shoe, exterior or interior, posts in aluminum or stainless — calculator handles all of it.
Open the calculator →Same warranty terms · same crews · same calculator.