Next: Stainless Steel rope balustrade

Rachelle · Mar 04, 2008 5:16 pm

Me again

Thought I'd start a new one!

So now that we've decided to have the open balcony, I was thinking about a timber handrail with that stainless steel rope, nautical style. I think it would look great with the gable roof.

Here is the facade that you helped me choose:

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Have found this: http://www.handrailbalustrade.com.au/pge10_diy.html

Anyone know if it's affordable? Anyone done it?

On my facade would you put two posts on the inside of the brick columns with the rope inbetween (might need one in the middle aswell).

Should the side walls of the balcony be brick or also rope?

Or would you do away with the brick colums and just have steel corner posts?

Thanks!

Dukekamaya · Mar 04, 2008 8:30 pm

Ballpark $30 per run plus about $3/metre for everything

Yak_Chat · Mar 04, 2008 8:51 pm

Great Idea and definiatly my style for balcony rails.

I think the bricks at either end.

I'm unsure of costs - I have a sailing friend who has a swadge and he makes them at home

But 1 golden rule is to not go around corners with them as the strain is too much for most corner posts.
Steve

Rachelle · Mar 05, 2008 8:34 am

Thanks Luke, that should certainly be a lot more affordable than the $4k the builder quoted us to do it!

Thanks Steve, yeah so I think I'll do the bricks on the side, that should look ok and save some money, and have three posts, one on either inside of the bricks and one in the middle.

d@n · Mar 05, 2008 9:14 am

The glass look is really nice but must be a pain to keep it clean.

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Raz · Mar 05, 2008 10:04 am

Welcome to the forum... i am building with Westminster too.. Yay!!!

if you go to my house plans..... i have a pic of the facade. my house is modified Riverview... To have the tile balcony with front porch and aluminium framed glass costs $3560.... Seems a lot doesnt it??

You can only enter the balcony via bed 2 as the void will be an ensuite. I have asked Westminster to quote to glass bricks - for that window. I think a mix of materials looks good on the facade....

I like the rope effect it looks good.

Wishing you the best and easiest build...

Raz

Cabinfever · Mar 05, 2008 10:06 am

I would never have horizontal cable if small children lived in the house.

Rachelle · Mar 05, 2008 4:13 pm

Hi Raz! Have been meanign to reply to your PM, we have lots to talk about!! I will have a close look at your thread. The glass bricks is a good idea! That middle window on ours is also a WIR.

Yeah the balcony is costing about $4k, and comes off Bed1. Seems like so much money but I couldn't get hte facade looking how I wanted it without a balcony.

Cabinfever that's a realy worry actually, we do have small children, and I've been thinking about that. I did figure that we'd hardly ever use the balcony, more for show, could lock the door etc. Also with that steel rope it's hard to get a foot on because it's slightly flexible?

D@n thanks for the pic, I quite like the glass. Safer too.

Cabinfever · Mar 05, 2008 6:28 pm

When I was in Brisbane the neighbors had no backyard to speak of, but a large back balcony with these cables. Their two kids used to love holding the rail, putting both feet on the cables and doing a sort of bouncing-swing. It gave me the horrors.

Anything ladder-like or with footholds just invites climbing.

But if you don't intend to let them play unattended on the balcony, or leave it open as a sort of "wander-in" space, then there's probably no problem.

Jet79 · Mar 06, 2008 8:10 am

Stratco sell everything for the wire and glass rails and fences. A lot more reasonably priced than what the builders want to charge. As long as you or someone you know is handy, then I would do it yourself.

I have two kids and I would never use a wire rail on a balcony, they can get through any door if they want to and I personally wouldn't want to risk it. My opinion.

ausdesign · Mar 07, 2008 3:45 pm

The stainless wire looks great in the right situation & we've incorporated it into several designs where minimising obstructions to the view was a priority with the owners. My big reservation is that although the tension of the wires is generally now checked by inspectors [ certifiers ] to ensure that the 125mm gap is maintained within limits under load, that if down the track that the wires slacken then there could be serious consequences.
I'm sure that over time, with the popularity of this type of balustade increasing, that we will hear negative publicity.
My preference would lean towards glass or perspex panels in preference to wire.

Yak_Chat · Mar 07, 2008 4:19 pm

Peter,

I agree, some places are doing them at what looks like 50mm spacing, maybe to get over this issue?

I can also see that retro fitting them to existing balcony will be an issue in the future too.

I have a great view at my place that is spoiled by a standard 70's style with 25 to 30mm square vertical timbers every 100mm.

I've looked at using wire but my main concern is the corner posts will not be strong enough to take the load should I change it, so it might be glass instead when I get to that bit.

But then I have the issue being in a coastal zone - the cleaning will be a nightmare.

A mate of mine lives on a cliff over the water and his glass stops the wind great - but you can see the salt deposits and rain / dust smear all the time.

Steve

Rachelle · Mar 07, 2008 4:53 pm

Thanks Peter, we don't have a view or anything, we were just going for that coastal look. Building at Terrey Hills, so not even close to the beach! Close to Pittwater though so lots of boats!!

I'm just not sure if I like the look of glass, undecided. The safety issue has got me worried now, even though we'd hardly use it and would never let the kids out there unattended.

I just haven't seen many facades with glass balconies (actually nor with the stainless wire) so I'm having trouble deciding if I'd like it on my facade.

******* drawing but what do you guys think?

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donuts · Mar 07, 2008 4:56 pm

I like the glass. I liked the ropes better, but taking into account the safety aspect of glass over ropes with kids, I think glass would win out for me.

Not ******* drawing by the way - I think all the ones you've put up are great and wish I could do the same for my house.

donuts

Rachelle · Mar 07, 2008 6:09 pm

Thanks donuts, I just put it together using PowerPoint, nothing fancy. Just using shapes and 3D settings.

I don't hate the glass, but having trouble letting go of the stainless steel, will have to discuss with hubby.

I'm thinking that we could just lock the balcony up and never use it, but that just wouldn't happen in reality. We have a balcony where we are and the kids never go out there, it's always locked unless I go out there, but it only takes once...

VJ · Mar 07, 2008 9:08 pm

The glass looks nicer, but a nightmare to clean.
So we decided to have wire to our balcony.
We have kids too... will make sure they won't reach that area.