Product category:
Balconies and Canopies
News Release from: Neaco | Subject: Balconies
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 August 2006
Neaco balconies for residential
developments
All-in-one 'packages', complete with handrails, balustrade, infill and flooring, can be delivered on site and assembled and installed by a developer's construction team.
Increasing use of balconies in residential development has led to demand for ready-made, environmentally friendly solutions which take the headache out of design, specification and build scheduling, explains Alan Green, Sales Director at Neaco Planning regulations now require house-builders and social housing providers to optimise the number of dwellings per hectare, causing a UK-wide increase in the number of new homes developments featuring apartment complexes and three storey town houses
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 26 Oct 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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One of the most obvious design implications of this shift towards multi-floor housing, particularly with regard to higher specification properties, is the need for developers to source cost-effective balconies which can be easily installed with minimal fuss towards the end of their busy build programmes.
Solutions fabricated on site are a recipe for waste and mess which, as well as being environmentally unfriendly, can be an eyesore for house-builders mindful of their development's kerb appeal.
An alternative option has emerged in recent years which has given specifiers a practical solution with a high architectural aesthetic: modular balconies constructed from pre-fabricated components.
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Providing an easy specification as all-in-one 'packages', complete with handrails, balustrade, infill and flooring, these systems can be delivered on site and assembled and installed by a developer's construction team or, in the case of some companies, the manufacturer's own technical support.
Mounted to the developer's supports, they are very straightforward to install without welding or waste, mimimising construction time and mess.
Aesthetically speaking, balconies are an important consideration.
Often one of the most distinctive external features of a building, they can form a significant part of a homebuyer's first impressions when seeing a development.
Too many railings can create an unsightly cage-like appearance, so the preference is for a toughened glass infill requiring minimal structural support.
This also maximizes visibility and light penetration to give interiors a spacious and airy feel.
A smooth, clean finish can further enhance the aesthetic: those with attention to detail select a modular balcony which uses an internal connection system, eliminating the need for unsightly external fixtures.
A popular choice of material for balustrade and handrails is aluminum powder coated in a selection of colours to fit the design scheme of the development, but many specifiers are increasingly opting for satin polished stainless steel.
Using suitable manufacturing and treatment processes, both options can provide a rust-free, maintenance-free installation which is corrosion resistant, even in exposed locations.
The balcony flooring should also be maintenance-free and consequently many designers prefer aluminium alloy decking with its high residual value and durability; ideally it should provide an open grille surface which allows rainwater to pass through, thereby preventing pooling.
However, the surface should not be so open as to induce vertigo by making the drop below the balcony visible through the floor.
At Neaco we achieve this balance with a T-bar profile which provides a 74% contact area on the surface yet drains water quickly and efficiently; a swage-locked construction between the bars enables high structural efficiency.
With all of these elements in place, modular balconies can combine high performance with a stylish finish which enhances the value and appeal of a property.
By applying similar design principles, the same combination can be achieved with modular Juliet balconies: again, minimizing the use of rails and maximising the use of toughened glass can create a visually appealing external feature which allows plenty of sunlight to pass through into the interior.
Such designs are even easier to install and neither expensive structural glass nor stanchions are necessary - instead, the glass panels can be held securely between a top rail and circular stem brackets with rose covers installed below.
With so many practical and aesthetic benefits to offer, it's easy to see why so many developers are concluding that modular solutions are the best way to give each storey the perfect finish.
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