Proving you are never too old for DIY in your seventies, Barry Hazard installed this beautiful 14-metre-long Balconette balustrade on the back of a new kitchen extension with a little help from his wife Ann.
“Everything fitted perfectly. It took a week to install by myself – partly due to the weather – and with a little assistance from my wife. Not bad for a first-time fitter of 70+,” he says.
With more of us spending an increasing amount of time at home, further emphasis has been placed on how we can maximise space and daylight in our living spaces. Not surprisingly, external balconies and Juliet Balconies have attracted rising levels of interest. So, how do you use a Juliet Balcony?
A glass Juliet Balcony is a wonderful and cost-effective way to enhance light, space and views in virtually any type of building. From larger commercial and communal projects, such as retail developments, restaurants and retirement homes to family homes and flats, there is a Juliet Balcony to suit any scheme.
For James Letts and his wife Jane it is the ‘freedom of the view’ that they like best about their Balconette Frameless Juliet balcony overlooking their garden at their newbuild home near Market Drayton, Shropshire.
The 1,860mm Frameless Juliet uses Royal Chrome anodised support profiles for its single 21.5mm laminated toughened clear glass panel. It protects first-floor French Doors in their bedroom that has extensive views to the Shropshire countryside and Welsh hills in the far distance.
With no posts to obscure the view, this simple, yet stylish Balconette balustrade near Whitehaven in Cumbria creates a seamless connection to sunsets and the sea.
Its ‘sheltered’ design in the west-facing newbuild house was a key factor for homeowner Keith Ross so that he and his family could make the most of far-reaching views, whatever the weather.
We’re often asked about the options available for the width of the glass panels on our balustrading. While it’s physically possible to manufacture, transport and install glass at almost any width, we recommend sticking to more conventional panel widths.
The maximum width we supply for glass panels is 1.2 metres. However, we’d normally recommend glass panel widths of around 1.0m.
Fitting one large glass panel or a series of wider panels can feel like a good move. After all, a run of crystal-clear glass, unobscured by posts would give you a clear view of the world beyond and add that elusive wow factor to your build. But is using wider glass panels the only option?
By installing an SG12 Frameless balustrade system or a Hybrid® system with minimal posts, you will get a set-up that’s as seamless as if you’d used a series of wider panels. Unlike systems which are interrupted by regular posts, Balconette’s balustrading options can gives you the option of installing a boundary that consists only of glass panels. There will be small gaps between the panels, that allow for expansion and contraction tolerances but these are barely noticeable with well-maintained, well-installed glass.
No matter how careful you are, accidents can happen. And if they do, a narrower glass panel is your friend. Not only will you have a narrower width to secure while you wait for the replacement panel, but the replacement will be more affordable. There’s another advantage too, because it’s a conventional size, it will be faster to source and deliver replacement panels.
A single pane of glass at 1.0 metres squared weighs in at 25kg – around the weight of an 8-year-old child. It’s easy enough to lift and manoeuvre into place without difficulty or the need for help. Double that width and you double the weight. Few people can safely lift 50kg alone. Because larger panels weigh more, you’ll need more people to handle, position and install the glass balustrading; increasing the installation costs.
An interior Juliet balcony makes a stylish, practical and affordable addition to any home. The minimalist design of a glass Juliet balcony makes it a great choice for bringing in more natural light and enhancing views without taking up much space.
When paired with sliding or French Doors on upper floor rooms, a modern Juliet balcony provides the necessary safety barrier when the doors are open to increase ventilation. If you are considering an interior Juliet balcony, here are some ideas to inspire you.
Keeping beautiful views over three counties from the patio decking at their Herefordshire home was of paramount importance to Gill and Ronald Webb – and their smart Balconette balustrade fits the bill perfectly.
With the advent of better weather and easing of restrictions, this Balconette Aerofoil Glass Balustrade System helps to create a social space on patios where guests can lean on the sturdy wing-shaped handrail, chat and admire the view.
Now framed with a beautiful Balconette glass balustrade, it was the impressive panoramic view of the Kent coastline that sold this bungalow to a couple from Hythe.
“We didn’t even look at the house, it was the gorgeous view that sold it,” says Susan Treadwell. “That is why when we undertook renovation work, we wanted to create a big outdoor seating and barbecue area to make the most of it. We’ve gained lots of space!”
Assistance from Balconette’s technical team on the design and installation of this distinctive T-shaped Glass Juliet balcony enabled Shawn Reed to fit it himself and maximise enjoyment of countryside views from his home near Brampton, Cumbria.
From dilapidated office block to modern luxury apartments, Farringdon House in the centre of East Grinstead, Sussex has been totally transformed with Balconette’s products adding that all-important ‘Wow’ factor.
