Fences perform not only the function of ensuring the safety of people on the balcony, but also an aesthetic one, which is why architects and designers pay special attention to them. Classic metal balcony railings made in different styles are very popular. They become a real decoration of terraces, loggias and the entire facade as a whole.
There are a number of requirements for balconies that are specified in GOST. At the same time, the standards regulate exclusively safety issues, and the owners of private houses choose constructive and design solutions according to their taste, including the shape of balcony railings, material for manufacturing and decorative design. Designers will be happy to offer you a wide range of different solutions to create an original style. This can be fencing for balconies made of metal, photo of a classic example below, or from exquisite materials such as glass and wood.
Metal balcony railings Source lux-door.biz
Requirements for balcony railings
The most important requirement for fencing on external façade structures is the protection of people. In this regard, GOST standards were developed:
- the height of the balcony railing must be no less than the midline of the abdomen of an adult;
- balusters or rods, i.e. vertical partitions must be placed at a distance of at least 10-12 cm from each other;
- the bearing capacity of 1 linear meter of the structure must be at least 100 kg of directed load.
Since the finished fencing of a loggia or balcony must be durable, it must be designed in accordance with safety requirements. For this reason, development is carried out by specialists with subsequent approval of the project by the relevant authorities.
It is illegal to erect unapproved structures. Only high-quality construction materials are used, without cracks, chips or other defects.
An important parameter of balcony railings is the total weight of the structure. The higher it is, the more load falls on the slab.
Regardless of what design idea the balcony railings display, you should adhere to the combination of materials. A wrought-iron fence against a brick wall or carved wooden balusters on a log house will look beautiful. A stone or plastic fence combined with wood will look ridiculous.
Beautiful design of balconies
If in winter few people want to go out onto an uninsulated balcony, then with the arrival of spring the number of people wanting to breathe fresh air increases. It's time to take care of the beautiful design of the balcony space.
- Small-sized furniture. It is unlikely that it will be possible to place massive garden furniture on a small balcony. However, you can choose an alternative in the form of small garden chairs, tables and folding loungers. A hanging table and even a small barbecue can also be installed on the balcony. Don't turn it into a storage room. Of course, you can store unnecessary things there, but they will significantly reduce the free space, and you will have to forget about the cozy atmosphere.
- Plants. Flowers and decor can be placed both on the floor and on shelves and special hooks, thus saving space. It is better to store gardening tools in chests that are also used as seating.
Balconies facing south can be decorated as follows:
- Plants. South-facing balconies should be decorated with light-loving plants, for example, Mediterranean herbs such as thyme, sage, rosemary and lavender. They love sunlight, take up little space, and have a pleasant smell. For geraniums, petunias and hibiscus, in addition to the sun, proper watering is important. You can also plant vegetables on the balcony, such as tomatoes, paprika and basil. Plants such as lemon and olive trees love the sun.
- Furniture. When choosing fully or partially metal furniture, it is important to remember that it will heat up in the sun, so it will have to be supplemented with pillows or throws. The best choice for a balcony is furniture made of wood or rattan. An excellent addition to a south-facing balcony is an awning or awning.
When decorating balconies facing north, you should listen to the following tips:
- Plants. The best for dark balconies are fuchsia, bluebells, aconite and begonia. Most native grasses do not need direct sunlight either.
- Furniture. You can make your balcony lighter by furnishing it with light-colored furniture. Wooden tables and chairs can become covered with moss, so you should give preference to plastic or metal interior items.
When choosing material for balcony railings, you should focus on both the style of the house and your own financial capabilities. If, having settled on a certain material and design of the balcony, you come to the conclusion that the final cost is higher than planned, you should not immediately abandon the chosen solution. Perhaps by contacting specialists (architects and designers), you can find an affordable solution or choose an alternative option.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel has excellent performance characteristics and low cost, which makes it an indispensable material for the manufacture of balcony railings. This metal is strong and durable. It is not affected by external factors. Stainless steel products look stylish.
The chrome surface reflects light rays, so metal fences are visually almost weightless. With the right design, they can look light and unobtrusive.
Various fences are made from steel - simple lattice, solid, blown, twisted. They are decorated with geometric shapes and exquisite ornaments and designs. Steel metal railings go well with transparent plastic and glass.
Materials for production
What can railings for balconies be made from? Most often used:
- metal - steel or cast iron (forged or cast products);
- concrete slabs or columns;
- stone – including artificial material;
- durable types of plastic;
- special types of glass.
Please note: Repair of balcony slab
Metal
Fences made of metal can be simple and functional, decorative and elegant. Possible railing options:
- rectangular shape;
- inflated, that is, having protrusions;
- with ornament.
The main advantage of the metal version is its high strength and long service life. It is worth noting such a plus as unpretentiousness during operation. The disadvantages of this option include the relatively high complexity of installation. If the fence is made of stainless steel, then its installation requires argon arc welding, that is, it is unlikely to be possible to make and install such products with your own hands.
Advice! Metal railings can be left uncoated, or additionally painted. With this method you can quickly update the appearance of your balcony with your own hands.
Forged metal railings look exquisite; they can have a variety of shapes, including fancy ones. Forged metal railings are usually made to order, and they can be installed on the balcony quite quickly and easily.
Concrete and stone
Fences made of concrete, brick or stone are strong and reliable. If you plan to manufacture such structures, special calculations are required, since you need to correctly determine the load that will be exerted on the balcony slab.
Of course, it’s not easy to make and install such railings yourself, but if this option ideally suits the appearance of the house, then you shouldn’t refuse it.
Wood
Wooden fences are considered not the best option in terms of reliability and safety. But wooden balcony railings fit perfectly into the appearance of log houses and houses made of timber. In high-rise buildings, wooden structures are not used, but in a private house they can be made, including with your own hands.
The biggest disadvantage of this option is that wooden products are not resistant to moisture and quickly collapse, so the owners of the building will have to constantly monitor the condition of the fences.
Advice! To extend the life of wooden fences, they need to be coated with varnish or paint intended for outdoor use.
Combined options
Fences can be made from a combination of materials. For example, metal can be combined with wood, plastic, glass, etc. Such railings look impressive and stylish.
Cast iron railings
Railings made of cast iron, made by casting or forging, are widespread. They go well with any architectural style. Heavy metal in skillful hands can be transformed into light structures in the form of plants, ornaments, and folk motifs.
This fencing option is durable, reliable and has high aesthetic characteristics. With the help of cast iron, you can equip both a country house and a city apartment. There are many design options: massive cast structures, delicate forged products, a combination of rough stands with exquisite floral or geometric motifs.
Cast iron railings have one significant drawback - susceptibility to corrosion. Therefore, when making a fence, street balusters are pre-coated with special means to protect cast iron from rust.
How to choose the right option?
In the process of arranging or reconstructing a balcony, you will need to find a compromise between considerations of practicality and external beauty. First of all, you need to think about how the room will be used.
If you want to install openwork forged railings, then the balcony cannot be used as a storage room, since elegant fences allow you to see the entire furnishings of the room. Therefore, if you plan to use the balcony to solve various household problems, it is better to choose an option with a solid fence, which allows you to create an atmosphere of privacy.
It is imperative to take into account such an important aspect as the architectural style of the building. Fences made of metal and plastic will complement a modern building well. And for a mansion in the Empire style, you should choose wrought iron grilles or elegant concrete or stone balustrades.
When equipping balconies in apartment buildings, you need to pay attention to what style of fencing is adopted in other apartments. In this case, uniformity looks much better than individual style.
Forged balcony railings
Experts consider forged products to be a separate category of fencing for loggias and balconies due to the specifics of production and installation technology. Such railings have always been very popular.
The main solution using wrought iron fencing is the creation of a French balcony. Finished parts of this design are presented in a wide range on the construction market. Anyone can order the production of an individual original railing project.
An important factor when choosing forged balusters is the metal from which they are made. Its resistance to external factors and the presence of a special coating to protect it from destruction are taken into account.
Glass and plastic fencing
Nowadays, most of all when arranging a balcony space, plastic and glass are used for railings and fences with complete closure of the walls and ceiling. The choice of design depends on the individual preferences of the owners and the general style of the building facade.
Open balconies are equipped with plastic and glass railings, which are installed on a metal frame. Such designs are modern, stylish and neat.
Another reason why plastic is chosen more often than other materials is its low cost. But if used incorrectly, it quickly fails, cracks and breaks.
Tempered glass is used for fencing. It is resistant to mechanical stress and durable, looks luxurious for many years, but its price is appropriate.
Metal constructions
The most popular material due to the fact that it is the least susceptible to various influences. There are also many options with which metal can be processed - making the surface of the balcony fence matte, glossy, or combining it with other building materials.
Tempered glass is inserted into stainless steel railings
The simplest design, affordable and reliable, is made of stainless steel. Stainless steel railings come in a wide variety of designs. Having decided to install such fences, you can choose something from ready-made structures offered by the manufacturer, or have one made to order. When making such railings, they use pipes (round or square), rods, and corners.
An undoubted advantage of stainless steel is its resistance to moisture; accordingly, railings last for several decades without any special preventative repairs. As for the surface of such products, the choice is also wide. You can order matte, glossy or colored (polymer-coated) perillas. Perillas that combine metal and wood look good. The products are fastened with anchor bolts to the load-bearing wall.
A forged balcony railing will become a real decoration, because it can be decorated with a wide variety of decorative elements, both simple (flower petals) and complex. Naturally, such fences are an order of magnitude higher than conventional metal ones. Therefore, they are used in luxury construction or in the arrangement of private country houses. They are mounted, as in the first case, with anchor bolts on a load-bearing slab or wall.
Wooden railings
Another popular and classic material from which railings and balusters for balconies are made is wood. This is due to the fact that houses have been built from solid wood for hundreds of years, and wooden fences for balconies and terraces logically complement the architectural style. It is also important that the wood is easy to process. It looks beautiful. The variety of color and structure options allows you to perfectly complement any decoration.
Craftsmen are able to create simple and quite sophisticated wooden railings, designing them in the form of geometric intersections of timber and slats, with carved elements. To strengthen the structure, metal inserts are used. Decorate wooden products with glass sheets.
The only disadvantage of wood is its susceptibility to rotting under the influence of moisture. It is important to treat the fence with special impregnations and cover it with paints and varnishes. Treatment must be regular, at least once a year. Otherwise, the structure will darken and collapse over time.
How to repair and install new fences
When fencing balconies, do not forget: no matter how well it is done, there comes a time when the structure needs repair or replacement.
Note. As a rule, it is not the structure itself that becomes unusable, but its foundation. Or the lower part of the fence is rotting.
As a rule, repairs involve strengthening the foundation. To do this, the slabs are broken at the places where the mortgages are attached. This is done along the very edge. If the mortgages are not completely deteriorated, the top screed along the edge is completely broken, and the protective grille is removed. After this, you should connect the embeds using a metal corner 50x50 mm or reinforcement pieces from 10 mm. They will serve as the basis for the fence.
The installation of railings should only be trusted to a specialist
After this, it is important to ensure that the reinforcement or square profiles are in good condition. If this is not the case, you should weld the same pieces to them. First, repair and install fences on the sides, then on the outside. Installation of the fence begins from the corner, then gradually weld the necessary pieces under the grating risers.
Please note: Advantages, types and features of panoramic glazing of balconies and loggias
Important. Such repairs change the height of the fence. You can adjust it yourself as you like. But remember that on average the height should be within a meter.
Most often, fences become unusable due to poor quality installation work during the installation of concrete slabs. During repairs, you will certainly notice that the slab is filled with cement screed. So, destruction of the screed leads to damage to the fence.
In especially severe cases, the mortgages under the balcony railings cannot be repaired due to their final destruction. In this case, you will have to install new mortgages. To do this, you need to knock down the entire screed from the slab and lay strips across it (2 mm thick). Attach them with dowels to the slab. Fill in a new screed.
Balcony railings: important parameters
The main function of balcony railings is protective, so they must meet the following parameters:
- For the safety of people, the height should not be lower than the midline of an adult’s body. GOST sets the standard at 1 m. According to SNiP requirements, this figure should be equal to 1.2 m.
- If the fence provides through holes, then their width should not exceed 12 cm. This parameter is especially important if access to the balcony is open to children.
- Regulatory documents establish standard load limits for buildings of various types (private housing, government institutions, entertainment and sports places).
Compliance with technical specifications is carefully monitored by special engineering structures, which, after inspection, may prohibit the use of the balcony in order to avoid injuries and accidents.
