Calling all who have a balcony

joaninhac · Mar 05, 2008 1:58 pm

Need help...

We're currently building a double storey house which has a balcony. The problem is the balcony has what you could call a box gutter - it has a step down which then drains the water into the downpipes. Therefore there is a gap of around 10cm from the balcony wall to the end of the tiles on the balcony - There is no grate or anything above this, it's just going to be left like a step down on the edge of the balcony. So imagine standing on a balcony with your feet 10cm away from the balcony edge/wall. I even consider this a trip hazard.
Has anyone ever seen anything like this?
Sorry i have no photos of the actual balcony, but see photo below and just imagine a step down where the sun is shinning....

thanks
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Cabinfever · Mar 05, 2008 2:04 pm

I haven't seen this on a balcony, but I lived in a house with box gutters. Could you simply put a reasonably fine mesh metal grate over the gutter ?

Casa2 · Mar 05, 2008 2:35 pm

This is very odd. Our balcony is all at one level with a round drain at one end (just like you have in a bathroom). Any water that needs to drain from the balcony goes down the drain. If it banks up then the overflow goes over a lip on one side.

One solution, if the tiling has not been done, its to put a round ~100 mm diameter drain at one end and cement the rest. You will need an overflow area in case the drain blocks, which would only be a concern if you have an enclosed balcony.

Michelle · Mar 05, 2008 3:10 pm

I’ve seen it done.
Although it is an old look, I thought they might have improved on it over the years.

How about some nice sized pebbles……fill up the gutter so it’s safer and looks nice, but the water can still flow.

joaninhac · Mar 05, 2008 3:23 pm

thanks for your comments so far.

Yes the tilling has been done. There is no overflow incase of any blockages.

This is really frustrating. The display was as is on the photo like a normal balcony and we get this! Frustrating!!

Michelle · Mar 05, 2008 3:31 pm

This is the only one I could find on the net....bit of an eye strain.

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Rachelle · Mar 05, 2008 4:04 pm

If it wasn't on the display home then surely they have to fix it?

I do like the pebble idea though.

joaninhac · Mar 05, 2008 4:30 pm

yeh pebble idea is great... but still...

nah they won't fix it as that's how it's drawn on the plans...

(

Casa2 · Mar 05, 2008 5:01 pm

Rachelle

If it wasn't on the display home then surely they have to fix it?

I do like the pebble idea though.

I agree. If what you specified (either explicitly or implicitly (read display home) then that is what you should get.

joaninhac · Mar 05, 2008 5:05 pm

Casa2

Rachelle

If it wasn't on the display home then surely they have to fix it?

I do like the pebble idea though.

I agree. If what you specified (either explicitly or implicitly (read display home) then that is what you should get.

Unfortunately that's not the way it works... we assumed we'd get as displayed but we didn't and they won't fix it... but somehow i'm trying to get some arguments together...

mudtrilogy · Mar 05, 2008 6:11 pm

Friends recently had this and got a cast iron grate/grill made up to cover the drain.

Hope this helps

Yak_Chat · Mar 05, 2008 11:00 pm

Why not a stainless grille over the top.
Useable area, and still safe.
Steve

Paula · Mar 06, 2008 9:17 am

This balcony is in a PD display house in Mernda with this gutter.

Michelle's idea of pebbles would make a nice feature.

joaninhac · Mar 06, 2008 9:44 am

Paula, thanks for letting me know... i'll be driving up to mernda this weekend to have a look! ;-)

Paula · Mar 06, 2008 10:16 am

Its the brookvale

Rodda · Mar 06, 2008 12:44 pm

My balcony outside the master bedroom has this same gutter.

I guess it hasn't bothered me enough to think about really, but I did like the idea of the pebbles (or river stones, I guess)...

Casa2 · Mar 06, 2008 12:57 pm

My question is why would they put in a edge gutter when a samll ciruclar drain is also used?

joaninhac · Mar 06, 2008 4:59 pm

Paula
How do you know this same balcony is on display at mernda? You must be very good at paying attention to detail :lol:

joaninhac · Mar 06, 2008 5:01 pm

Casa2
they aren't using the small circular drain... in fact therer not putting anything above the downpipe hole at all... they will leave it all open with no grates or anything

Rob, can you post a photo of your balcony? pls?

Vlad76 · Mar 06, 2008 5:25 pm

Strange. We have a hole in the bottom corner that is hardly visible, and the tiles have been laid so that there is a slight slope towards that corner. In the hole we have a short plastic pipe which connects to a box and a down pipe on the side of the balcony.