How invisible grills are measured
Installers measure the open area that the ropes will cover — width × height of each opening — and multiply by a rate per square foot. A balcony 10 ft wide with 6 ft of open height above the railing is 60 sq ft; a 4 × 5 ft window is 20 sq ft.
Ask whether the quote measures to the outside of the channels or only the open gap. It sounds minor, but on a flat with several openings it adds up.
Steel grade: SS 316 vs SS 304
SS 316 is marine-grade stainless steel with molybdenum added for corrosion resistance. SS 304 is cheaper and fine indoors, but on an open Bangalore balcony through two monsoons it can show brown spots. Unbranded "stainless" wire can be worse still.
The grade should be written in the quote. If it only says "stainless steel", ask.
Rope thickness and gap
Rope comes in 2 mm, 2.5 mm and 3 mm; wider spans and windy high floors call for the thicker sizes. The standard gap for child safety is 2 inches. A tighter gap for pigeons needs more ropes per foot, so the rate rises.
Fixing conditions
Anchoring into an RCC slab is straightforward. Glass railings, thin parapets, false ceilings or old plaster need extra work — fixing behind the glass, side-fixing into walls or finding the concrete under thick render. A good quote names the fixing method for each opening.
What should be included
- Free measurement visit
- Rope grade and thickness in writing
- Aluminium channels and stainless anchors
- Individual tensioning of each rope
- Gap check and clean-up
- Any warranty, in writing, if offered
How to get an exact price
Photos help an installer give a rough idea, but only a measurement gives a real number. We visit anywhere in Bangalore at no charge and hand you a written quote with every item listed.
