Project Portfolio: Internal Glass Balustrade Upgrade (Derbyshire)

Project Overview

Client: Stephen

Location: Derbyshire (S44 5SR)

System: Stainless Steel and Glass Balustrade (System 1)

Scope: Removal of a non-compliant "on-site" fabrication and replacement with a bespoke AutoCAD-designed system.

The Dio-Met Recovery: Precision over "On-Site" Fabrication

Located in the S44 area of Derbyshire, this project began with a disappointing experience for the client. Stephen had previously hired a contractor who fabricated a balustrade on-site without drawings or formal literature. The result was a bulky, poorly finished system that compromised the home's interior. Having previously commissioned a walkout balcony from Dio-Met, Stephen returned to our Sheffield workshop to rectify the situation and bring his internal staircase up to the same elite standard as his external steelwork.

• Design Transparency: Unlike his previous experience, we provided Stephen with full AutoCAD drawings for approval prior to any metal being cut. This ensured the entire deisgn could be seen, checked and agreed upon prior to manufacture- no nasty surprises. 

• Slimline Aesthetics: We replaced the bulky, "clunky" existing posts with our refined System 1 Stainless Steel profile. This maximizes the visual "transparency" of the glass, making the hallway and landing feel significantly larger and more light-filled with our slimmer post system. 

• Flawless Integration: The new system was designed to interface perfectly with the existing timber staircase, utilizing hidden fixings where possible to maintain the clean, modern aesthetic Stephen originally desired.

Technical Expert Insight: The Danger of "On-Site" Balustrade Fabrication

Many clients in the Derbyshire and South Yorkshire area are unaware that on-site fabrication—where a contractor cuts and welds metal in your hallway—is often a red flag for a lack of quality control. Structural balustrades are safety-critical items. When a system is fabricated "on the fly," it bypasses the factory-controlled tolerances required for UKCA certification. At Dio-Met, every post and rail is precision-machined in our Sheffield facility. This allows us to ensure that the glass clamps are perfectly aligned to the millimeter. On-site fabrication often leads to "glass rattle" or uneven gaps because the human eye cannot match the accuracy of a  AutoCAD designed system produced on a workshop jig. By choosing a pre-engineered system, you are ensuring the structural integrity is "designed-in," not guessed.