Open the printable measurement worksheet ↗ — use one sheet for up to six openings, then attach photographs with matching bay letters.
Give every opening a name
Draw the verandah as a simple line plan, including the house wall, posts, corners and stairs. Label the openings A, B, C and so on, moving in one direction. Put the same letters on your photographs. This avoids a common ambiguity: a total length can describe either several separate panels or one continuous space.
Keep the units consistent. Millimetres make it easier to record individual measurements without mixing metres and centimetres. For example, write an opening as 2,700 mm on your sketch. The shop accepts metres, so the same opening is entered as 2.7 m. Check the unit requested by the actual order form separately.
Record clear dimensions without making allowances
Measure between the faces the panel will sit between. For a preliminary survey, record the opening near the proposed rail positions and note any difference. Existing posts may not be parallel, and the deck may not be level. Report the observations rather than averaging them into a number that hides the site condition.
Do not deduct an installation clearance or add material for a joint unless the supplier or installer has instructed you to do so. A measured opening and a manufactured panel dimension are different pieces of information. Label yours “clear site opening” so the workshop can apply the agreed construction detail.
| Record | Example entry | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Bay reference | A — front left | Connects sketch and photograph |
| Clear opening | 2,700 mm; check at top and bottom | Describes the actual site space |
| Run type | Level / stair / unusual shape | Identifies a different panel arrangement |
| Height information | Proposed finished height, awaiting builder confirmation | Separates a design preference from an approved requirement |
Photograph the things a tape cannot explain
Take an overall view and close views of both ends of each run. Include the post faces, floor surface, existing rail connections and anything obstructing the opening. If matching an old balustrade, add a square-on photograph of the complete panel and close views of the baluster and handrail profiles.
A tape in a photograph can provide context, but perspective makes it unsuitable as the sole measurement record. Keep the written dimensions with the image. If a post is damaged or will be replaced, say so: measurements taken before replacement may not describe the finished opening.
Treat stairs as a separate survey
A horizontal opening alone does not define a stair balustrade. Show the stair flight, landings and proposed connection points, and ask the supplier what raking dimensions and angle information are required. Do not use a level panel preview as a stair manufacturing drawing. Arrange final site measurement with the person responsible for installation where needed.
Send a complete planning enquiry
Attach the labelled sketch, opening list, photographs and preferred pattern from the timber range or Hampton range. State whether you are considering assembled panels or components. Use the studio preview to explain appearance, and the brochures for product references. Confirm heights, spacing, supports, panel splits and fixings with your builder, supplier and relevant project professional before manufacture.
Sources & editorial scope
Browse balustrade photographs from the brochures, websites and workshop. Confirm the selected pattern and dimensions with our team.
Reference record: 24 October 2026. Confirm the current product and written quote before ordering.