Balcony views magazine

Plenty of very interesting information in the magazine of galss balconies, curved doors and self cleaning glasses.

A further 10,000 copies are due to be distributed over the next few months at trade shows and to all new enquiries recieved by Balcony Systems.

We have started work on our next edition which is scheduled for publication in February 2011.

For further details, to request a copy, to download the media pack or a copy of the magazine go to www.BalconyViews.co.uk

Balcony Views s published by Balcony Systems together with an array of partners supplying high quality products to the building industry.

A few years later, the couple added an extension to give them another bedroom and maximise the use of the small garden. The extension had a green roof with a glass balcony from Balcony Systems for the finishing touch.

Self installed

Reuben found Balcony Systems online and was encouraged by its easy to follow website. Their balustrade was simple to install too, which was a critical factor as he was doing the work himself. Reuben explains: “Balcony’s website made the ordering process very straightforward. Getting an accurate quote was simple and I installed the balustrade myself in one day. All the instructions were clear and the end result is fabulous. The house is in a conservation area, so development is strictly controlled, but the clean lines and bronze handrail add style and value to the home.”

Reuben and April will be starting a new development soon. They aren’t sure what it will be but they know they will use Balcony Systems again.

The most contemporary and streamlined system

Director of Pallot Windows Paul Bourke, explains: “Choosing Balcony’s balustrade for this project was easy. The product is superior to others as it uses fewer posts and it doesn’t rely on unsightly tabs or clips to hold the glass in place. It is simply the most contemporary and streamlined system on the market. And we know we can rely on Balcony’s staff for technical support if needed.

“The developer, Premier Contracting Ltd, is delighted with the stylish design and most of the apartments are already sold,” says Paul.

The site is part of the redevelopment of East London in preparation for the 2012 Olympics due to take place in London that summer.

Balcony Systems was involved in the supply of over 4500 meters of their unique glass railing system and a special facia solution for the balcony structure.

Over 6 different special aluminium profiles were specifically extruded for this project. Handrails were finished in Balcony’s proprietary handrail finish called “Royal Chrome” which the architects found extremely pleasing.

The fascia were finished in a metallic anodize colour that uses a special method to break the light giving it a blue-grey colour.

The glass railing were required to use laminated toughened glasses so the balconies conform to both European and British standards:

Curved glass balustrades

The requirement was for an effective and clean line glass balustrade system that could also be curved. Curved balconies of over 11m in length were achieved without a single post with a clear glass spanning the entire balcony.

Strength and aesthetics

Before installing the developer wanted to see the performance of the balustrades and two load tests of the handrail system were mocked up for them. One test on site and one in the factory. The client and contactor were delighted with the capability of the system and commented they had never seen such an innovative system that combined both strength and aesthetics in a glass railing system.

The original view was to use structural glazed balustrades on the project but with the balcony 2 system the same result was achieved for around half the cost plus half the weight which was also a key factor on the structure of the balconies.

Trent Park developments are looking at using the same system on their next development:

A beautiful apartment block with over four hundred meter of glass balustrades were supplied and installed in this project.

The developer, Hamlet Homes, had previously encountered problems with staining and corrosion on stainless steel balconies they had manufactured on a different project that was also in a marine location nearby.

They chose Balcony Systems Royal Chrome handrail system for the glass balustrades after seeing the advantages both in the look and also in the long term resistance to the salty air environment.

Many complex curves and “S” type bends on the top level terraces required some experienced surveying and precision manufacturing.

The results are delightful and parties are well pleased.

Aesthetically however tea staining is not ideal, and so the information herein is in an attempt to help identify the causes and suggest possible solutions.

Stainless Steel

The term “stainless” steel derives from the development of the speciality steels for modern cutlery industry. It has now been adopted as a generic name for steels developed for any corrosion or oxidation (rust) resistant applications.

The corrosion resistant characteristics of stainless steels are a result of chromium-rich oxide film that forms naturally on the metal surface. Although this film is extremely thin, it is chemically stable and ‘self-repairing’.

Other types of steel such as mild steel suffer from general corrosion where large areas of the surface are affected, but stainless steels, due to their oxide film, are normally resistant to this form of attack.

Common stainless steels used in the enclosure industry are 304 and 316. Both are iron alloys with additional chromium, and nickel. The nickel content in 316 grades is slightly higher than with 304 grades, and the chromium content is slightly lower. However, the most important difference is that the 316 grades have molybdenum as an additive, to improve its resistance to pitting corrosion, which is usually the result of chloride or saline attack. 316 stainless is preferred by balcony and handrail manufacturers due to this superior corrosion resistance, even though it is a higher cost material.

Tea Staining of balcony handrails

Tea staining can be defined as the “discolouration of the surface of stainless steel mainly as a result of chloride attack”

As a first step it is useful to try to understand why, and in what circumstances tea staining can occur. Tea staining of stainless steels is a phenomenon that occurs where water with significant chloride content is in regular contact with the metal surface. This is a common occurrence along the coastal areas of the United Kingdom.

How is tea staining caused?

Although research on the root cause of tea staining has been limited, there seems to be little research on the root cause of tea staining. However the mechanisms involved can be inferred by the pattern of the corrosion, and known factors that can help counter the effect. One of the most common factors linked with tea staining is the surface finish of the material. Smoother, polished surfaces often do not show any signs of staining, so from this it can be said that grooves or troughs in the material are a root cause of the problem. Surface roughness (Ra) is measured in units of micrometers (µm), and is defined as the average deviation of the height of the surface from the mean height. Higher Ra values or irregular profiles are often associated with increased tea staining.

It is reasonable to assume that the base cause of this corrosion is similar to that of many of the other common types of corrosion. The association of tea staining with proximity to salt water means that chloride attack is the most likely cause of the problem. However you would not normally expect the low level of chlorides present in sea water, for example, to have such a dramatic effect. The reasons why this occurs can be deduced by the locations and one of the solutions to tea staining problems.

Reducing the effect of tea staining on stainless steel balconies

One of the most common ways to prevent problems associated with tea staining on stainless steel balconies is to ensure that the surface is washed regularly with fresh, clean water. This would infer that the corrosion is being caused not by the initial contact with salt water, but with deposits of salt building up on the surface and pours of the handrails. Though microscopic the chloride concentration would build up in any surface troughs. As the water evaporates it leaves a deposit of salt in the trough, and the next time the surface becomes wet this deposit concentrates the chlorides naturally present, and increases the corrosive effects. Over time therefore the chloride concentration in these troughs can become high enough to cause corrosion. Note that this would be consistent with the effect that an increasing surface roughness will have on the tea staining effect, i.e. a deeper groove will trap more salty water, which will give a higher chloride concentration.

The location of particular areas prone to tea staining also implies that higher temperatures and humidity have an effect, as does intermittent exposure (for example, spray from rough seas). High temperatures increase the rate of corrosion, but elevated humidity will increase the time taken for the water on the surface to evaporate, and hence increase the time that the higher concentration chloride solution will be in contact with the metal, and it is this contact with the solution that causes corrosion rather than with the resultant solids.

When ordering stainless steel balconies and handrails, the following is a list of factors that should be considered in particular in areas close to the ocean, or where high levels of chlorides occur naturally, or are found in wash waters.

This starts with basic initial material selections, and proceeds into maintenance of the balustrades to ensure a long life, and therefore maximum value for the balcony.

Material Selection – Initial material selection for the enclosure is of critical importance to the longevity of the balustrades. Stainless steel of grade 316 or above should be used as minimum, as lower grades such as 304 are significantly less resistant to chloride attack due to the absence of molybdenum.

Surface Finish – The rule of thumb for surface finishes is that the smoother the finish, the better will be the resistance to tea staining.

Cleaning stainless steel handrails – Regular washing with clean, fresh water or even rain water has a significant effect on reducing the incidence of tea staining in the environments that can cause concern. Where tea staining still occurs despite regular washing, additional protection can be provided by a special coating procedure using a bespoke polymeric resin

Conclusion

Tea staining of stainless steel handrails, balconies and surfaces can be a problem where there are significant levels of chlorides in water that comes into contact with the metal surface. This can be around the coastal locations, or in the interior where ground water contains significant chlorides. Although it does not look very pleasant it tends to be a surface phenomenon only, and does not affect the structural integrity or longevity of the balcony. The cause of tea staining has been examined in some details to help evaluate the potential remedies for the condition. Recommendations to help prevent tea staining include correct specification of the grade of stainless steel to be used, surface finishes to help reduce the problem as well as maintenance procedures, and preventative coating treatments.

This is the traditional and frequently seen solution for balustrades, glass or not.

Resisting the loads

The glass balustrades supplied by balcony systems has broken this routine and introduced a refreshingly innovative approach to resisting the loads. Rather than cantilevering the load and thus needing to design a very rigid base the handrail is designed to take loads direct at the design height.

Fixing the handrail to the falls allow the handrail to work as a rigid element which resists the loads. When corners are introduced the special way the handrail parts are connected and the way the glass is continuously silicone sealed to the glass along the long edge of the glass uses the shearing load of the glass from the handrail right down to the base rail. Again this “out of the box” approach allows for clean glass corners and for cornered balconies to require less posts than ever.

Spreading the resistance across the curve

To top these designs some curved balconies, depending on the radii, are amazingly strong without posts! The curved glass railing is a very stable element to the greater ability of the curve to resist a load by way of spreading the resistance across the curve, similar to a brick arch. In addition the glass itself lends additional horizontal support in a fashion that each curved glass panel cannot bend along the vertical side.

Glass balustrades are also available from stock or custom made to suit the style and size of property. Available in curved, stepped or straight designs, balustrades add great character and style to homes. And with our systems there are no clamps between each pane of glass to disturb the view and the glass reaches top to bottom to give an uninterrupted, clearer view. Using the same minimal hand rail as the Juliette balcony and available in easy maintenance anodised aluminium, Balcony’s Juliettes and balustrades are easy to install and offer instant improvement to the look of any property.

Balcony is the UK’s leading supplier of curved patio doors and our stunning range is described by homeowners, builders, installers and architects as giving properties the ‘wow’ factor. Each door comes with high weather rating, thermally broken aluminium profiles, multi-point locking, 28mm double curved glazing with safety glass on both sides and a choice of RAL powder coat colours. A special low maintenance coating is available for the external surface of the glass to minimise the need for cleaning.

“Being a dealer for Balcony has added around £250,000 a year to our turnover.”

Real growth potential for window companies

We all know times have been difficult recently for the window industry. Once old, rotting  timber windows were replaced by modern, efficient PVC-U installations, there was little need for customers to upgrade. Windows and patio doors replaced 20 years ago are still doing the job, so why change? Many companies have had to paddle harder just to keep afloat, yet Balcony Systems has increased sales in the first quarter of 2010, up 26% in volume and 39% in value on the same period last year.

How? Call it the ‘Grand Designs’ effect. The customer now wants something more than a door or window to keep the heat in and the weather out. By offering products such as curved patio doors, stylish balustrades or Juliette balconies, Balcony can help transform a home from ordinary to amazing, without major structural upheaval. Real growth potential lies in products that homeowners can see will add value and style to their property.

Become part of the success

All three of our main products expand the potential for window and conservatory companies to add a magic attraction to their offer to homeowners. And it is simple to apply to become a Registered Installer or Dealer for Balcony – many installers are now looking at becoming dealers as the quality of the products, their ease of installation and the back-up from Balcony offers considerable potential to increase high value sales. With such a dazzling product offering it’s not a proposition that will suit all installers but all you have to do is visit our website and fill out the relevant form – Balcony will take it from there. Balcony can provide help and support with samples, advertising and marketing materials.

being Balcony’s agent and dealer

Pallot Windows Ltd in Jersey is already benefitting from being Balcony’s agent and dealer on the island. Established in 1954 and well known on Jersey as a reputable installer of glazing systems, curtain walling and structural glazing, the company has been an agent for Balcony for more than five years.

The relationship has been mutually beneficial. Pallot generates demand by press and TV advertising, and Balcony refers all Jersey based enquiries to Pallot. Paul Bourke, a Director of Pallot, has several reasons to be happy with the situation. “Balcony’s products have proved very suitable for us – minimal use of upright posts and glass to glass corner details make them a perfect match for customers wanting to make the most of the wonderful views here. The products are straightforward to install and the staff are always helpful. Being a dealer for Balcony has added around £250,000 a year to our turnover.”

Feel free to contact us and see how your company can benefit from Balcony’s products.