Skyline Frameless Glass Railing

Product Information

Thank You For Letting Us Expand Your View!
Congratulations on your new Skyline Glass Railing – incredible deck views are right around the corner! We’re so glad you chose to work with us. If you have any questions or need further help with installation, please contact your retailer.

Please Note:
Important: These instructions are for level railing sections only. For help with angled stair sections, contact your retailer, as glass will have to be specially-designed to match the slope of your stairs.

We recommend 2 people for assembly
It is the installer’s responsibility to understand and adhere to local building codes and safety requirements, and to obtain all required building permits before installing. Skyline and your retailer are not liable for improper or unsafe installations of this product.

Specifications:

• Product: Frameless Glass Railing Level Railing
• Model: SFLG.V1.05.20.2024
• Recommended Assembly: 2 people

Product Usage Instructions

Required Tools for Assembly:
Spacers for glass installation

• Skyline Glass Railing Drill Guide
• Safety glasses
• Ear protection
• Gloves
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Miter saw with carbide-tipped blade (minimum tooth count: 60)
• Level
• Power drill
• 4mm Allen wrench (included in clamp installation kit)
• Phillips Driver bits
• Drill Bits:
  • 13/64” (included in clamp installation kit)
  • Either 1/4” if using 3/8” lag screws to mount posts or 13/32” if using 3/8” lag bolts to mount posts
• Impact Driver (recommended)
• Center punch
• Rubber Mallet
• Painter’s tape
• Screwdriver
• Touch up paint
• Two 2×8 boards to use as temporary spacers for glass installation

Note: When cutting any powder-coated aluminum parts, make sure to coat the cut ends in Skyline Touch-Up paint to protect the metal from corrosion.

Using The Drill Guide:
Your drill guide is designed to be used with multiple Skyline Glass Railing systems. Ensure to use the correct drill guide markings for your railing system.

Key:

• Surface mount guide steps are shown in Blue
• Fascia mount guide steps are shown in Red

Note: the numbered notches are not listed in numerical order.

Drill guides are designed for level railing sections only. For angled stair railing sections, contact your retailer.

Step 1: Mount Your Posts
For Surface Mount Posts, follow Step 1A. For Fascia Mount Posts, follow Step 1B.

• Install Surface Mount Posts
• Surface Mount Post Parts & Pieces:
  • Post Cap
  • Post
  • Decorative Screw Covers
  • Surface Post Shim Kit
  • Base Plate Base-to-Post Screws (6 per post)
  • Neoprene Rubber Base Pad

Determine Where Your Posts Go
Measure the perimeter of your deck and mark where each post will mount. Post spacing will depend on the size of your glass panels. Measure the perimeter of your deck and mark where each post will mount. Post spacing will depend on the size of your glass panels. Take the exact length of your glass panel and add 3-7/8”. Place your posts this far apart from the center of one post to the center of the next. Measure each individual glass panel and space the two posts on either side of it accordingly.

OPTIONAL: Your setup may or may not need these specialized post parts for 135-degree angles:
135° Base Plate 135° Neoprene Rubber Base Pad 135° Post Cap 135° Post Make sure your first and last posts are less than 4” from the wall and there will be no gaps of more than 4” in your setup when glass panels are installed.

Prepare Your Deck Frame With Enough Blocking Under Each Post
If you’re mounting posts onto a deck surface, ensure you have enough framing or blocking underneath the surface to securely hold your post. Each 5” post mounting lag screw should drive into at least 4” of solid wood – so you may need to add wood blocking to your deck frame underneath each spot you’ve marked to mount a post.

Measure & Cut Posts
Tape the drill guide to your post using painter’s tape, with the bottom of the drill guide flush with the bottom of the post. Use the drill guide instructions to mark the required height of your post with a light pencil mark.

• Always use painter’s tape – other tapes can leave a sticky residue
• Tape the guide as shown here, so your markings are on the scribe side, or the side with the scribe line on it.

Use the drill guide instructions to mark the required height of your post with a light pencil mark. For Skyline Framed Glass Railing with surface-mount posts, use notch #3. Cut the post using a miter saw with a carbide-tipped blade that has a high tooth count – 60 teeth or more. Coat the cut ends in touch-up paint to protect it from corrosion

Note:
When cutting any powder-coated aluminum parts, make sure to coat the cut ends in Skyline Touch-Up paint to protect the metal from corrosion.

Attach Base Plate To Post
Turn the post upside down and attach the cut end to the base plate using 6 base-to-post installation screws. We recommend using an impact driver.

Mount Post To Deck
Note: Only install enough posts to install one glass panel at a time. This will ensure that the spacing is correct for each pane of glass.

Position your post on the deck, making sure that:

• The post is square to the deck edge
• There’s enough blocking under all four holes in the base plate
• Whenever possible, the scribe line of the post is facing inside the rail section, where the glass will go

Mark all four holes, then pre-drill pilot holes:

• If you’re using 3/8” lag screws, drill 1/4” pilot holes
• If you’re using 3/8” bolts, drill 13/32” pilot holes

Remove the backing from your neoprene rubber base pad and attach the pad to your base plate.

Start attaching your post to the deck surface, running your post mounting fasteners through the screw cover parts as shown here.

• Post mounting fasteners are sold separately and will vary based on your mounting surface
• If your post isn’t plumb, use shims from the shim kit to level it
• Make sure the slotted base of your screw cover faces outwards so you can remove the caps later if needed
• Tighten post mounting fasteners until the fastener head is firmly seated against the base plate. Do not overtighten.
• Don’t install the screw cap covers until you’ve installed your entire railing.

Install Fascia Mount Posts
Fascia Mount Post Parts & Pieces

Determine Where Your Posts Go
Measure the perimeter of your deck and mark where each post will mount. Post spacing will depend on the size of your glass panels.

Take the exact length of your glass panel and add 3-7/8”. Place your posts this far apart from the center of one post to the center of the next. Measure each individual glass panel and space the two posts on either side of it accordingly. Make sure your first and last posts are less than 4” from the wall and there will be no gaps of more than 4” in your setup when glass panels are installed.

Attach Neoprene Gaskets
Note: Only install enough posts to install one glass panel at a time. This will ensure that the spacing is correct for each pane of glass.

How to know if you need to use shim stacks:
If your deck boards hang over the edge of your deck frame, you will need to use Shim Stacks to offset your fascia brackets. If your deck boards are flush with the edge of your framing, you can discard the Shim Stacks.

If you’re not using shim stacks, attach the neoprene gaskets to your fascia brackets. If you are using shim stacks, attach the neoprene gaskets to your shim stacks. Later, you’ll fit the shim stacks between your fascia bracket and fascia board – make sure the neoprene gasket is facing the board.

1B.3: Mount Fascia Brackets

First, pre-drill holes:
Start with your corner brackets. Place them on the corners of your deck at your desired height. Mark the hole locations and pre-drill.

• If you’re using 3/8” lag screws, drill 1/4” pilot holes
• If you’re using 3/8” bolts, drill 13/32” pilot holes

Then move to your line brackets. Pre-install a post inside the line bracket using two fascia bracket screws. Place the bracket according to your post spacing marks and align it to your desired height. Mark one hole location, remove the bracket, and pre-drill a hole. Then use your post mounting fasteners (sold separately; these will vary based on your framing setup) to attach the bracket through the one hole. Then use a level and rotate the bracket until the post is plumb. Mark the three remaining holes, remove the bracket, and pre-drill the remaining holes.

Next, mount brackets:
With the bracket holes pre-drilled, start attaching your brackets from the end of the railing.

• If you’re using shim stacks, make sure the neoprene gasket is between the fascia board and the metal parts
• The shim stacks for corner posts and line posts are slightly different. Make sure you’re using the right ones for each bracket.
• Tighten your post mounting fasteners until the heads are fully seated against the bracket surface. Don’t overtighten.
• Don’t install the screw cap covers until you’ve installed your entire railing.

Line Fascia Bracket Mounting Detail Inside Corner Fascia Bracket Mounting Detail Outside Corner Fascia Bracket Mounting Detail Measure & Cut Posts
Insert a post into your fascia bracket and line up the bottom of the post with the bottom of the bracket. Use fascia bracket screws to attach the post to the bracket.

Place the drill guide against the post and line up the bottom of the drill guide with the deck surface. Use the drill guide instructions to mark the required height of your post. For Skyline Frameless Glass Railing with fascia- mount posts, use notch #1. Remove the post from the bracket and cut it to size. Cut the post using a miter saw with a carbide-tipped blade that has a high tooth count – 60 teeth or more. Coat the cut end in touch-up paint to protect it from corrosion. Then use this first post to mark and cut the remaining posts to the same height.

Attach Posts To Deck Frame
Install all of the posts into their brackets and secure them using the fascia bracket screws. Whenever possible, make sure the scribe line on the post is facing the inside of the railing section, where the glass will go. Install bottom plates onto your posts and/or fascia brackets. The bottom plates for line brackets, inside corner brackets, and outside corner brackets are slightly different, so make sure you are using the correct bottom cap for each post. Use a level to make sure your posts are plumb. You can vary the torque on the fasteners connecting your fascia brackets to your fascia boards in order to plumb the posts.

Step 2: Install Clamps
Clamps & Glass Parts & Pieces

Pre-Drill Clamp Locations
Place the drill guide on the post, lining up the bottom of the guide with the top of the post base plate (for surface mount posts) or the deck surface (for fascia mount posts). Tape the drill guide in place with painter’s tape. Find the holes marked for Skyline Frameless Glass Railing. Holes for surface mount posts are labeled in blue. Holes for fascia mount posts are labeled in red. Use a center punch to mark the top and bottom clamp holes on each post. Make large enough holes that the drill bit will stay centered. Then pre-drill the holes using the 13/64” drill bit included in the Clamp Installation Kit. Use touch-up paint to coat the exposed aluminum in the drilled holes to protect against corrosion.

Attach Clamps to Posts
Disassemble the clamps by unscrewing the two hex head clamp fasteners.

They’ll come apart in four pieces:

• 1: The male part (which has a screw hole on the short end)

• 2: The female part (which doesn’t have a screw hole on the short end)

• 3 & #4: Rubber gaskets to fit on each side of the glass panel.

Place the male part of the clamp over a pre-drilled hole and fasten it to the post using a clamp-to-post screw. Do not over tighten. Repeat for all four clamp locations. Keep the other clamp pieces ready for the next step.

Step 3: Install Glass Panel
Place Glass & Fasten Clamps
Insert rubber gaskets into both sides of the clamp. Lift the glass panel into place against the male part of the clamps – use the suction cups in the clamp installation kit or lift the glass panel from the sides. Have one person hold the panel in place while the other attaches the female parts of the clamps using two hex head clamp fasteners. The glass should be roughly level with the top of the post, leaving a gap of less than 4 inches between the bottom of the glass and the deck surface.

Tip: you may want to rest the glass on wood boards or blocks for support as you fasten the clamps. Fastening two pieces of two-by lumber together will create a support that also ensures a consistent 3-inch gap between the glass and the deck surface. Use a level to make sure the glass panel is level, and make sure the glass is supported firmly by the clamps. Do not overtighten.

Step 4: Finishing Details

Drill Weep Holes In Surface Mount Posts
For any surface-mount posts, mark for a weep hole at the bottom of the post facing in towards the deck. Drill the weep hole, then coat it with touch-up paint to protect from corrosion. Fascia mount posts do not need weep holes drilled.

Install Post Caps
Line up the post cap and press it down onto the top of your post. If the cap doesn’t fully seat, cover it with a clean cloth and tap it with a rubber mallet.

Snap On Bolt Caps
Snap bolt caps into place at the base of all posts. If the cap doesn’t fully seat, lay a clean cloth over the cap and tap it into place with a hammer.

Maintenance & Care
We recommend cleaning your Skyline Glass Railing 2-3 times a year using a mixture of water and mild detergent (like dish soap) and a lint-free microfiber cloth. Wet down your railing with a garden hose, then hand wash all surfaces with the soapy water and rinse thoroughly with fresh water. Use a squeegee to wipe down the glass. For railings near saltwater, we recommend more frequent cleaning.

• Avoid contact with:
  • Nail polish remover
  • Paint
  • Lacquer thinner
  • Motor oils
  • Transmission and brake fluids
  • Other solvent-based cleaning fluids

If your railing comes in contact with any of these, immediately wipe it away and wash using the instructions above.

Warranty Information
Your Skyline Frameless Glass Railing is covered by a 10-year Limited Warranty for residential installations. Please reach out to your retailer with any warranty claims or questions.

Share Photos So We Can Celebrate With You!
We would love to see pictures of your finished project and celebrate your incredible new deck view with you! Tag #SkylineRailing on social media to share your best photos. We especially love to see before & after photos so we can celebrate the transformation!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I install this product on angled stair sections?
A: These instructions are for level railing sections only. For help with angled stair sections, contact your retailer as glass will need to be specially-designed to match the slope of your stairs.

Q: Who is responsible for understanding and adhering to local building codes and safety requirements?
A: It is the installer’s responsibility to understand and adhere to local building codes and safety requirements, and to obtain all required building permits before installing. Skyline and your retailer are not liable for improper or unsafe installations of this product.

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