Here in Muskoka, we’re lucky enough to be sitting courtside on some of the most breathtaking and sought-after shoreline vistas in the world. To obstruct such views with rails and spindles is a visual tragedy; yet safety on decks and balconies demands a safety barrier. This is where CLEARRAIL comes in, delivering on the promise of its name and assuring a clear, uninterrupted view of nature’s endless beauty.
Traditional railing options obstruct a considerable amount of your waterfront views. CLEARRAIL’s frameless glass railings give it all back to you. Designed with a minimalist aesthetic, CLEARRAIL can be top- or front-mounted, with hardware that is available in brushed stainless steel, matte black, or custom colours, to complement the full spectrum of building design, from traditional to contemporary styles. CLEARRAIL may also provide wind protection, which can be perfect for the cottage’s early spring and late fall days. The inherent reflective qualities of the glass also make smaller decks appear more spacious.
CLEARRAIL owners, Michael Laurin and Terri Newman, started in glass railing systems over a decade ago when they were looking to use glass as a pool enclosure at their home. “It worked out so well that we decided to advertise ‘glass pool enclosures’ locally,” says Michael. “We received many replies, but most people wanted to know if we could put the glass around their decks, not their pools.” Unlike fences, guards and railings on decks require load testing to meet building code. “There were lots of generic spigots out there, but nothing that would meet testing requirements,” recalls Michael. Thus, he and Terri employed the services of multiple structural engineers in developing their own custom-designed spigot mounting hardware to meet and exceed all local building code requirements. “We are the pioneers of this type of railing system. It really didn’t exist until we had it tested, and it passed Ontario and Canadian Building Code. We are very proud of the fact that CLEARRAIL has been installed right across Canada, from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans, and also in a few Caribbean countries.” Since the early days of working from Michael and Terri’s garage, CLEARRAIL has grown exponentially and Michael and Terri now operate CLEARRAIL from a warehouse facility in Orillia.
“Real estate experts regularly tell us that properties with glass railings generate more interest and sell quicker than those with traditional decking rails.”
- Terri Newman, CLEARRAIL
Today, technology is being applied to develop low-maintenance, high-longevity products for homes and cottages, including decks, docks, and railings. The benefits are obvious. Homeowners are free to spend their time and money on other things without worrying about maintenance, upkeep, or replacements.
The tempered glass used for CLEARRAIL systems is also “heat soaked.” Heat-soaked tempered glass (a requirement for high-rise residential buildings) is an added process to tempering, which adds greater stability and safety to the glass panels.
Investments made upfront in these enduring materials help to minimize future costs and safeguard property values. “Real estate experts regularly tell us that properties with glass railings generate more interest and sell quicker than those with traditional decking rails,” says Terri. In a market where buyers look to maximize their enjoyment and view, CLEARRAIL makes sense.
And for many homeowners and cottagers thinking about succession, knowing a property is outfitted with features that will last several decades provides peace of mind.
CLEARRAIL glass and hardware will not decay, instead maintaining their integrity and safety, backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Of course, safety trumps everything else. But here, too, the choice is (forgive us) clear. CLEARRAIL’s 12-millimetre thick heat-soaked, tempered glass is four times stronger than regular glass and four times stronger than a traditional wood railing. Further, the custom-engineered CLEARRAIL-developed solid-core hardware used in each railing is made of the highest quality stainless steel, making it not only incredibly strong but also highly resistant to corrosion.
CLEARRAIL only employs premium quality 1/2” clear tempered glass which meets both Canadian and American safety standards.
Safe and secure,this installation at a local family cottage now provides a clear and unobstructed view of the family’s swim-dock from the boathouse deck.
Unlike wood railings, the glass and stainless steel in CLEARRAIL panels and fittings will not decay, instead maintaining their integrity and safety, backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
CLEARRAIL’s glass railing system is not generic; it’s backed by custom engineering and exceeds Ontario Building Code minimum load testing. If you are considering opening up your view with a glass railing system, a call from you or your contractor to CLEARRAIL is the best place to start. “As people get more used to seeing glass railings when they travel the lakes of Muskoka,” says Michael, “they start to wonder about installing them at their own properties. And we really love to have those conversations with people.”
