Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jan 13, 2010 1:32 pm Hi all, This is my first post here... Apologies if a similar question has already been asked; I tried searching before posting I promise I have just bought my first home in Adelaide and I am trying to rescue it from the 90's. One of the main issues that came up in the building inspection was the timber balustrade on my balcony as the wood has rotted through in some areas and is a bit of a hazard. This gives me a chance to look at other options. Below is a picture of the house and busted up balustrade in question: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The property is on torrens title so that isn't an issue, although I may need to talk to my neighbour if anything is going to be done to that wall. The main restriction I have is that the current balustrade doesn't actually touch the floor as it is suspended from end to end by the walls. What I really need help with is determining what type of balustrade would look best here. I can't figure out if it would look strange if I had horizontal steel wires (due to the vertical wooden things above and below the balcony) or if glass and steel would be completely out of character. My ultimate goal with this is to modernise the house and improve looks both inside and out. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated! Re: Balustrade suggestions? 2Jan 13, 2010 2:44 pm Hiya, I could be wrong but I think you can't have horizontal bars for safety reasons - you could look into it though. To be totally honest I think glass and those steel ones are ultra modern, and unless you were going to change the whole facade of the place (perhaps by rendering), it might look a bit out of place, as it appears to be kind of federation style.. Thats just my thoughts though, it is your house and if thats what you like then go for it! Re: Balustrade suggestions? 3Jan 13, 2010 3:42 pm Thanks for your input! I am considering all styles really... Maybe it would be best to go for something that isn't too flashy such as black horizontal steel bars (I don't believe the horizontal orientation is an issue). Rendering the entire front would make it look fairly out of place in that street. Hopefully horizontal bars would also make the balcony look a bit bigger. I would probably paint the two vertical slat wood things a darker colour or remove them completely too. Back to the drawing board I guess... Re: Balustrade suggestions? 4Jan 13, 2010 4:00 pm A change of style for the balustrade would be fine - as long as you remove the decorative fretwork as well, of course. Maybe a change of colour to the rendered sections too, to differentiate your house even more from the neighbour's? It's not really a Federation style home; the fretwork and gable detail are the only tributes to any sort of period style, so I can't see a problem. If you have any skills with Photoshop or something similar, you could get a feel for how different balustrades and colours would look? Or employ D@n's services maybe? http://www.newhomevisuals.com/ Re: Balustrade suggestions? 5Jan 14, 2010 11:57 am There is a house at the back of us with a similar balustrade and bit at the top like yours. I was thinking black wrought iron with vertical posts. Anything else will be too modern for the house and the black will disappear, as black does. I would get rid of the bit below and paint the top part. Re: Balustrade suggestions? 6Jan 14, 2010 12:19 pm You can have horizontal wires for a balustrade but they need to be compliant with the building code, which requires; You must not be able to pass a 125mm sphere through the gap, If the floor surface is more than 4m above the surface beneath then the balustrade must not facilitate climbing, And wire balustrades must meet certain tension and deflection values, the tables are in the building code. Andy Re: Balustrade suggestions? 7Jan 17, 2010 7:59 pm Correct Andy, having just been through this issue myself. Ours have been certified as ok. Here's ours as an example. Maybe something similar would be suitable? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Hi, Looking to add an ensuite to one of the bedrooms and make it a Master BR. Please see the attached current floorplan. Need suggestions on what's the best way to do… 0 7325 Suggestions please for acrylic rendering Color to match austral brick urban one pepper. Pic for reference. Thanks 0 5058 ideal house depends on the site and location as much as internal floor plan....what is the distance from the house to all four boundaries, where is north, describe your… 3 15085 |