Balconies are beautiful ways to bring the outdoors, in, but that doesn’t mean that any old railing will do. What many homeowners are discovering (particularly if their homes are decades or even over a hundred years old) is that the railings and other health and safety features just don’t cut it any longer.
So if you’re looking to either renovate the space, or, alternatively, add a balcony to your home, there are a few essentials you need to know. This guide covers everything from top tips to enhance the design, to the essential safety requirements you’ll need to include to get it signed off on:
Top Design Tips to Start
Balconies are increasingly becoming our windows to the outdoors, which is why you’ll want to consider these top design ideas when renovating or repairing your space:
- Glass Railings
Regardless of whether your balcony offers enough space to put out a breakfast table, or is a simple Juliette railing, one thing is for certain, and that’s the fact that a glass railing is simply a great choice. If you have a beautiful view, the last thing you want is to stare at it through solid material. Frameless glass railings are exactly that, frameless. They’re held up exclusively by the spokes that attach to the floor of your balcony, and that’s it. Everything else, from their height to the strength of the glass itself, meets, if not exceeds, building safety standards.
- Artistic Flooring
Your balcony’s floor matters. Invest in proper wood or tile, and you’ll make the space significantly more inviting than keeping the base concrete subfloor. There are a range of hard-wearing materials as well, from composites to ceramics to even stone, ensuring you can enjoy the beauty of artistic flooring without the fuss of maintenance.
- Vertical Interest
Don’t just look out, look in. Consider how you can add vertical interest by attaching shelves, plants, or even lights to the exterior of your home to really pull together your balcony space. Not only can you add pretty design details, but you could also clear up floor space. Attaching a swinging sunshade to the side of your home or to your balcony railing will mean you can avoid the heavy base, for example.
The Nitty Gritty Requirements
Before you get too excited about your new balcony design, it’s imperative that you make sure it meets a few essential health and safety design requirements.
- Tall enough railings. Railings need to be at least 36 inches high, with some properties needing a minimum of 42 inches. Always check your local building requirements.
- Railing gaps must be smaller than 4 inches.
- Balconies must be made of non-combustible materials.
- There must be adequate drainage to prevent water damage from building up.
Your balcony will also need to be rated to withstand a certain amount of weight, depending on its size and purpose. A Juliette balcony, for example, will come with a different requirement than a balcony you intend to hold an outdoor dining table. Always work with a reputable and licensed contractor and architect when it comes to designing, repairing, or renovating your home, to ensure that any new update is safe, secure, and legal.