The question almost every DIY homeowner asks before committing to a balustrade project: how long is this actually going to take? Here's an honest breakdown.
Planning & measuring — 1 to 2 hours
Measuring your run, marking post positions and confirming your component list. Do this carefully; it's the stage that determines everything after.
Preparing the site — 1 hour
Clearing the area, marking fixing points, and checking your surface is level and sound.
Fixing the posts — 2 to 4 hours
Drilling, anchoring and levelling each post. This is the bulk of the work and where patience pays off.
Fitting the infill — 1 to 3 hours
Glass panels, cable runs or tube infill go in once the posts are set and level. Cable tensioning takes a second pass.
Total: a single afternoon for most runs
A typical balcony or deck run of a few metres is comfortably a one-day job for one or two people. Larger or multi-level projects spread across a weekend. Compare that to the days a welded, professionally-installed system can take — and the invoice that comes with it.