While the aesthetic appeal of glass Juliette balconies are undeniable, installing them is not without its issues in terms of efficiency and safety. CRL’s Simon Boocock takes a look at the safety challenges and how to combat them.
Juliette balconies and glass balustrades are increasingly being specified for new buildings and added to existing dwellings, for both practical and decorative purposes. Since the pandemic first began 18 months or so ago, property websites have been reporting a doubling of searches for homes in small towns and villages, a move that has served to exacerbate this growing trend even further.
With less requirement for employees to live within close proximity to their workplace, working from home now much more of a norm and even travelling into urban areas on a downwards trend, UK homeowners have been taking the opportunity to migrate from city living to the country or coast. And with many Brits staying at home a lot more as a result of the pandemic, more attention is being focused on renovation projects than ever too.
Small garden improvement jobs and bigger tasks such as adding a balustrade or balcony are particularly popular changes, with homeowners keen to make the most of their outside spaces and make the most of those seaside and country views. Glass is the ideal material for such situations, enhancing and protecting the period detail so often seen on rural properties, while affording uninterrupted views of rolling countryside and coast. And all while allowing ample natural light to flood the interior, which can be particularly beneficial when the property is compact rather than an urban sprawl.
Luckily for installers and homeowners alike, fitting these adaptations to existing buildings can be done safely, regardless of the location and even when working at height, so long as a suitable solution is chosen.
As one option, Juliette balconies have a modern, minimal appearance that enhances any style of property, so the character of the property can be retained without upsetting the neighbours. One of the big advantages of a Juliette balcony is that it enables a French window or patio door to be chosen instead of a conventional window, filling the room with light, increasing ventilation and creating a greater sense of space in smaller rooms. This makes them a more widely used solution for refurbishment and renovation construction projects.
Traditionally, Juliette balconies were made from steel and usually painted black, with vertical bars. Clamped to a building’s external facade, they could often be ugly or solid looking structures that did little to complement the look of the building while disturbing the view from the inside with obtrusive ironworks and railings.
Minimal and versatile, glass is the material of the moment for Juliette balconies, particularly for buildings where an uninterrupted view is desired. Glass Juliette balconies create an outdoor feel in an indoor space and create an unobtrusive, clean and contemporary finish.
Once installed, they are effectively maintenance free and are suitable for even the most corrosive seaside or coastal properties. Although glass infill panels are often perceived as a more expensive option than metal, glass isn’t necessarily beyond the reach of projects with a limited budget. Working with an experienced balustrade manufacturer with the relevant expertise in glass can make this both a cost-effective and low maintenance solution that simply needs cleaning rather than repainting at regular intervals like some metal balustrades.
While the end result undoubtedly has visual appeal, initial installation of the glass panelling can be challenging. By their nature, Juliette balconies will be installed above ground level, often where access for scaffolding is tricky.
Wet fit balcony systems need to be held securely in place, most often with cement, to ensure a tight fit, which can be messy, particularly on retro-fit projects. Often the architectural hardware used for installation will be heavy and cumbersome to fit, particularly when working at awkward angles and from height and can even compromise the minimal aesthetic, if it is poorly designed.
This is where working with an experienced manufacturer is well worth the investment, to ensure the system used is not only the most suitable solution, but that it makes light work of installation and maintenance too. The ideal solution is a system that simplifies the installation process, while offering peace of mind in terms of safety for the end user and longevity in terms of weather resilience, with high grade stainless steel or aluminium being the ideal materials for making the appropriate connections. Installers need to be aware of safety regulations and look for a system that conforms to BS6180:2011, the general Code of Practice for barriers in and around buildings, and use a system that can be fixed back to the stone or brickwork of the building for a completely secure solution.
Installers should also look for a system that makes maintenance easier, with any necessary replacement of glass panels able to be carried out from the safe side, internally and with no need for scaffolding.
With the right systems specified the end achievement will be a graceful Juliette balcony that takes full advantage of the strength and aesthetic qualities of glass, while being virtually maintenance free and very straightforward to install.