Balcony fencing: varieties and recommendations for selection

The balcony fencing is not just an important functional element, but also part of the facade of the building, which, if desired, can be decorated in completely different styles. Modern balcony metal railings and glass parapets for the loggia go well with minimalist architecture. Wooden fences are suitable for objects of suburban housing in the style of a loft or country. Other options - forging, plastic - allow you to harmoniously fit the balcony into the city landscape and do not look too elaborate.

Railing - a full detail of the open balcony. It allows you to ensure safety, but can also become a central element of the whole composition. The final appearance of the recreation area equipped here largely depends on which fence will be chosen. It is not surprising that special requirements are imposed on the choice of designing a balcony in private houses and modern city apartments.

The purpose of the balcony railing is beyond doubt: this element is primarily intended to ensure the safety of people on the balcony. The metal frame of the fence is capable of supporting the weight of an adult and is created according to certain standards. But besides the upper border with the handrail, The balcony guard has a frontal part as well as sidewalls.

In the design of the facade of the building, railings also play a huge role. It is enough to take as a basis the most famous architectural monuments and compare them with the variegated design of modern high-rise buildings. In suburban housing construction, the design of balcony groups is given great importance. Indeed, even the style of the parapet can emphasize the elegance of lines or become an expressive detail that adorns the classic facade. In urban housing, it is better to focus on the architecture of the building when decorating the balcony, then it will not look alien.

Basic requirements for the selection of fences for balconies and loggias regulated by the main building document - SNiP. They determine what the handrail (parapet) will be, but mainly relate to multi-storey residential buildings made of monolith, concrete slabs, brick. The structures themselves, according to the requirements, must have a metal frame. But all these requirements are only advisory in nature if a project is being created to fence the balcony in a private country house.

The height parameters of the balcony railing are determined by the established requirements of GOST. It uses the calculation formula associated with the main characteristics of the building itself. For multi-storey buildings up to 30 m high, the distance to the horizontal railing of the railing from the floor should be 1 m in residential buildings and from 1.2 m in the territory of children's institutions.

Terraces have their own standards. Raised from the ground to a level of more than 60 cm, they are surrounded by a fence 1 m high, at the level of 2 floors it is recommended to install a parapet 1.07-1.2 m high. The same requirements apply with loggias.

There are a number of mandatory requirements that you should be aware of.

1. Accurate load calculation. The maximum permissible are considered indicators of 100 kg per linear meter of fencing. If glazing is installed on the balcony, its parapet is necessarily strengthened taking into account the increased load. Ideally, it is worthwhile to initially lay in the characteristics of a balcony fence all possible loads with a margin.
2. Reliable fastening. It should be double - to the base and to the walls of the building.
3. Mandatory reinforcement of compounds at potentially dangerous or weak points.
4. Non-damaging design. The presence of spiers, peaks, and other pointed elements in the fence is excluded. At the bottom, the clearance between the base and the edge of the parapet should be less than the distance that allows the child or pet to get stuck.

These points must be taken into account when designing the structure and choosing the right and reliable fence for it.

All balconies can be divided into categories according to the following parameters:

• material type;
• design features;
• type of installation.

It is worth considering all the important points in as much detail as possible even before the final decision on the decorative design of the railing and parapet is made. Otherwise, there is a great risk that expectations do not coincide with real results.

By design features, the following types of fences for balconies are distinguished.

• Onscreen. They consist of vertical supports on which a continuous screen of plastic, metal, glass is fixed.

• Trellised. Instead of a solid screen, they use lattice elements located parallel to each other or presented in the form of a fancy decor with an arbitrary ornament.

• Combined. The most popular because they are suitable for the implementation of various design ideas. As a rule, several materials are connected at once or the lattice sections are replaced by screen ones. Different types of metals can be combined, for example, light aluminum with stainless steel. The result of the work should be the formation of a reliable and lasting barrier between the street and the house.

Balcony fences may differ in the type of materials used. They are divided into the following categories.

The metal fencing of the balcony is the best solution for the urban environment. The simplest and most concise options are made of stainless steel or from the usual with a chrome finish, polished. The advantages of the metal structure are obvious:

• strength;
• practicality;
• durability;
• compliance.

In cold glazing, an aluminum frame is also used, and other types of railings usually have a metal base.

Exquisite glass fencing is most often associated with business centers and elite class houses. In residential areas such solutions are rare, but on the upper floors of buildings they are quite appropriate. Glass railing can be combined with a metal frame and grille. The design of such balcony groups usually uses a special material of increased thickness with a protective film similar to that used in cars.

Glass fencing can be tinted or transparent, they always look expensive and respectable. But because of the large weight and general massiveness they need a solid foundation. The optimal solution would be to issue a loggia with such material.

The eternal classic of suburban housing construction is a wooden balcony fencing. This material looks solid and respectable, you can choose various design options. The wooden construction of balusters and railings can be carved or simple, have various configuration options - from round to polygonal. Often a combined solution with a metal frame is used, which allows to increase the durability of the structure.

Among the obvious advantages of the wooden parapet of the balcony are:

• ease of installation;
• environmental friendliness;
• mechanical strength;
• unlimited range of design options;
• the attractiveness of the material.

Wooden fences also have significant disadvantages.

Plastic fences of balconies visually resemble glass, but are made of polycarbonate, plexiglass or other materials with high light transmission. Among the advantages of this solution are:

• modern design;
• affordable cost;
• light weight fencing.

The disadvantages include not too high strength and a change in the characteristics of plastic when exposed to cold. In addition, these materials are combustible.

Plastic polycarbonate balcony railing provides sufficient privacy for people on the balcony. But in order for the fence to serve for a long time, you will have to choose the most massive sheets with a thickness of 10 mm or more. Thinner after a few winter seasons will simply become worthless, may crack in the cold or lose their aesthetics. You should not choose finishes in color - such a frame looks too cheap, transparent polycarbonate or plexiglass is much more reliable.

Stone parapets, railings and balusters are an element of suburban housing construction.Today they are made for terraces and balconies of buildings in the classical, Moorish, Neapolitan styles. The luxury of natural marble, the rigor of granite, the variety of colors of artificial casting - all this allows you to design a fence in a completely unique style.

The stone frame of the balcony requires impressive support. As a rule, such structures on the facade are additionally reinforced with columns. In addition, due to the considerable weight and characteristics of the material, they require a professional installation. It is worth noting that this option is the most durable. Without loss of strength and aesthetics, stone railings can stand for centuries.

Among the beautiful design options for balcony railings can be distinguished original wooden railings that make up a harmonious ensemble with country houses and cottages. With their help, the open terrace of the second floor can turn into a real work of art. Exquisite openwork carvings or a laconic geometric pattern in the lattice of the fence always look respectable and can serve as a genuine decoration of the facade of the building.

In a city apartment, wooden fences most often have the form of elements parallel to the horizontal. Such a frame requires more attention - it must be regularly protected from negative external influences: paint, varnish, and impregnate with special stains. Visually, such options fit harmoniously into the design of balconies in southern cities, overlooking the sea or a beautiful natural landscape.

Forged parapets are a real work of art. Masters today offer not only classic twisted ornaments. Floral motifs - leaves, flowers, vine - in this design look very impressive. But on the balcony of a typical high-rise building, such decisions may seem inappropriate.

Modern homes and business centers often veneer natural stone or granite. Here, the balcony railing implies minimalistic motifs in the design. Chrome stainless steel in the form of interconnected vertical racks and fences with horizontal, parallel strips of metal will do just fine. Such an ensemble looks strictly and quite respectable.

Another interesting design option is glass railing on chromed metal or solid wood frame. Glass can be transparent, opaque, tinted, in country houses the stained-glass version looks interesting. Such fences are traditionally made higher than standard. Glass is taken the thickest, toughened, able to withstand intense loads.

The criteria for choosing a railing in a country house or for framing the balcony of a city apartment are generally the same. Ready-made solutions are created mainly for typical buildings. In private housing, it is better to book a railing on an individual project, taking into account important points.

1. Reliability of a design. It should not change its characteristics under the influence of weather and temperature changes. Optimally, if ice does not form on the surface, moisture will accumulate.
2. Security. The main purpose of the railing is to protect a person from external threats. If the balcony is at a height of 10-20 meters, this factor becomes quite out of place. The parapet should be so high that an adult cannot freely bend through it. Only in this case can we talk about security.
3. Strength of materials. No matter how beautiful the decorative fences look, you must first focus on the terms of their service and the practicality of applying the selected solution.
4. Aesthetics. Balcony fencing should be in harmony with other design elements. This moment is especially important on the loggias, where the open part of the building is formed on a common basis.
5. Ability to withstand wind loads. This indicator is especially important for a handrail from glass and plastic. They have a large windage and with strong gusts they simply can not withstand the pressure.

Since almost all versions of balconies, except for wooden ones, are mounted on a solid metal frame, it is worth paying attention to the variety of installation methods available to them.

• Welded. They mean the factory manufacturing of an all-metal construction using electric arc welding. Such barriers are attached to the base of the building and the floor with anchor bolts.

• Prefabricated or composite. This type of structure involves the connection of all parts in place, after delivery of the product. Separate modules with a reliable groove joint and necessary stiffeners are manufactured at the production site. First, a frame of vertical racks is mounted, then the remaining elements are fixed to them.

During installation work it is important to follow certain rules for installing balcony fences. If they are violated, there is a high risk of receiving a fine or complaint filed with supervisory authorities. In particular, when performing work in an urban environment, it is imperative to protect the territory, put hazard warning signs or signs.

In most cases in apartment buildings such activities should be approved by the management company. And sometimes you can change the railing and only succeed after a decision is made to the general meeting of residents - this is especially true for buildings included in the list of property protected by the state.

Next, watch a video on how to make and install a wooden fence of a balcony and terrace.