Clear Polycarbonate – Balustrade Protective Barrier – How to measure
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Knowledge is Key
HOW AND WHERE TO MEASURE
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- CLICK HERE – To view product with photos and prices: Clear Polycarbonate – Balustrade Protective Barrier.
- Grab your Partner, a measuring tape, and a notebook.
- Measure in mm (millimeters).
BEFORE MEASURING THERE ARE A FEW IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER:
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- Your measurements need to be accurate.
- If there are skirtings at the bottom of the walls, measure on the floor and exclude the width of the skirting.
- You cannot cut Polycarbonate by yourself, panels are delivered and cut to size.
- The standard size of a SHEET of Polycarbonate is 2050 x 3050mm.
- The blade used to cut the panels is 4mm thick.
- Factor this in when placing/fitting your panels onto the sheet.
Refer to image below – the pink lines in between panels are 4mm. - Your panels need to fit like a puzzle onto this sheet that is 2050 x 3050mm in size.
Reference images below:
↓ OR LIKE THIS:
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- When writing down you measurements, draw a rough sketch of the Balcony/balustrade.
- This will help you place the panels later on.
- The length of a panel should be max 3050mm or narrower (The maximum width of the sheet).
- Try work out the joins of the panels to meet at the center of each pole.
Reference image below: - Do not take for granted that the spaces between poles are the same.
HEADS UP!
WHEN THERE IS FURNITURE THAT KIDS CAN CLIMB ONTO
When toddlers grow, they start climbing and pushing furniture against balustrades. They will do anything to achieve their goal to reach new heights.
When this happens, it is important to install panels that extend at least 250mm above the top of the balustrade, and no more than 300mm.
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- Don’t measure too high above the balustrade, the panels need backing support and will not stay sufficiently upright in mid-air.
- RULE OF THUMB: As long as the top horizontal pole is covered and the toddler doesn’t have a steady, “toddler-foot wide” surface to climb onto.
- You will need a MINIMUM thickness of 3mm Polycarbonate to achieve a solid, sturdy protective barrier.
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ON A BUDGET?
SAFEGUARDING YOUR BALUSTRADES ON A BUDGET
When baby is only learning to crawl and you don’t have a massive budget with all the other expenses you are still getting used to…Instead of not safeguarding the balustrades at all, consider these budget friendly alternatives:
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
Below alternatives should only be considered TEMPORARY solutions for when baby is still little. In other words, these options will only buy you some time, whilst you save up for a FULL PROOF Solution.
Who knows you might even move house before baby gets older, so it is not a bad idea to go the budget option.
When baby starts walking and climbing go FULL PROOF and follow all the guidelines provided at the beginning of this article.
OPTION 1:
MAKE THE STANDARD HEIGHT FOR ALL PANELS 680mm
- Follow the guidelines on ‘HOW TO MEASURE.’
- But make the height of the panels: 680mm.
- This will result in your set up looking like this photo here.
- The 680mm height is to fit 3 rows of panels horizontally onto one sheet, this will give you ALOT more “Bang for your buck!”
HOW THIS IS CALCULATED:
- The height of the standard sheet is 2050mm.
- Height of panel: 680mm x 3 = 2040mm
- PLUS 8mm for the Blade: 2 x 4mm (as there will be 2 horizontal cuts to give you 3 panels across
- Total = 2048mm (2mm short of 2050mm, but this doesn’t mean anything, so don’t worry).
OPTION 2:
CONSIDER USING PVC CLEAR SHEETING
Visit the product page for detailed information pertaining to this product.
QUICK INFO:
- The PVC clear sheeting is 600 mm (60cm) in height and comes in any specified length per running meter.
- For example, if you need 3 meters, we will supply 3 running meters.
- PVC is 500 micron = 0.5mm thick
- Easy to cut at home with sharp heavy duty kitchen scissors and cutting board.
- Disclaimer: Not ideal for outdoor use (direct sunlight.) Lifespan in the sun and wind: 6-8 months.
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