Maintenance and Operation Guidelines for Balustrades, Screens, BalcoDecks®, Decking, and Juliet Balconies.
Balustrade structure and rails
The installed product should only be used in the correct and intended manner it was designed for and never subjected to any usage outside these parameters.
The installed product and all its materials, coatings and fixings should be subject to a visual inspection every 3 months for:
- Damage
- Loose fixings, connections and/or anchors
- Torn, missing or damaged gaskets/seals
- Reduction in performance
Each year a full check should be made of all the fixings, connections between components, attachments/fixing to the building and/or structure, to ensure that they remain fit for purpose, and that they have retained the tightness as required.
Cleaning
The product will benefit from a clean down being completed. The frequency of this will be governed by the environment in which the product is installed. In a harsh coastal / industrial environment then we would recommend 3 months between cleans, however, where the environment is considered non-coastal and normal urban then the frequency can be pushed out to 6 monthly, or as needed.
Maintenance of powder coated and anodised finishes must follow the simple maintenance procedure of washing the surface with warm soapy water. Do not try to clean the products with solutions containing bleach, acids or abrasive cleaners.
So as to prolong the life of any painted surface, then it is strongly recommended that no cleaners containing esters, ketones or chlorinated solvents are used.
Gaskets and glass movement
At least every 6 months, check each glass panel to ensure that gaskets are firmly seated and not loose. Replace any gaskets that have been damaged or are missing. Ensure that no glass panels are loose or moving in any way.
Glass Gates and other working parts
If your balustrade area includes any glass gates or other working parts, then every 6 months a full check should be made as above plus cleaning and lubricating of the hinges, locks, and all moving parts, In a coastal locations all moving parts should be cleaned and lubricated more regularly to make sure there is no salt build up.
Glass panels
Glass panels should be periodically washed down with warm soapy water. This also applies to obscured glass panels.
Glass panels treated with the BalcoNano® self-cleaning coating
Never use harsh cleaners or chemicals on your treated/coated surfaces as it may damage the coating and the underlying surface. Our coating reduces cleaning time but it does not eliminate it entirely. It is similar to the development of non-stick cooking pans. While you can cook food in uncoated pans, it is so much easier to clean if you cook with non-stick pans. While you still must maintain your glass with a coated surface, the time and effort required are significantly reduced.
Cleaning method
Wet the surface and use a nylon sponge to wipe it down, rubbing in a circular motion. You should feel any ‘sticky’ places becoming smooth again. Then rinse or spray the surface with clean water, let the water drain off and wipe dry.
BalcoDeck® Structure & Decking
The installed product and all its materials, coatings and fixings should be subject to a visual inspection every 12 months for:
- That there has been no movement, distortion, collapse or settling of the ground or the supporting structure on which the BalcoDeck® is installed.
- That no overloading of the deck is in place, no hot tub, planters or any such heavy items that were not designed for or planned when the Balcodeck® was ordered.
- No new elements that are not part of the deck that have been mechanically fixed to the BalcoDeck® structure by others.
- Damage
- Loose fixings, connections and/or anchors
- Torn, missing or damaged gaskets/seals
- Reduction in performance
- If the BalcoDeck® or Decking is in a Communal or public area, in particular, we recommend that all communal areas and high-traffic zones are periodically tested by a specialist slip-testing company in accordance with the relevant standard to ensure ongoing compliance and safety. It is the responsibility of the building owner, managing agent, or maintenance team to schedule and record these slip tests as part of a regular safety and maintenance programme.
Maintenance, inspection and cleaning records of the product must be kept by the customer. Inspection must be performed by a competent and qualified person to do so. (Builder, installer, or relevant trade person).
Cleaning
The product will benefit from a clean down being completed. The frequency of this will be governed by the environment in which the product is installed. In a harsh coastal / industrial environment then we would recommend 3 months between cleans, however, where the environment is considered non-coastal and normal urban then the frequency can be pushed out to 6 monthly, or as needed.
Maintenance of powder coated and anodised finishes must follow the simple maintenance procedure of washing the surface with warm soapy water. Do not try to clean the products with solutions containing bleach, acids or abrasive cleaners.
So as to prolong the life of any painted surface, then it is strongly recommended that no cleaners containing esters, ketones or chlorinated solvents are used.
For BalcoDecks® that use a non aluminium decking surface, such as Millboard, WPC, Fibre Cement Products, tiles, or any other surface, please refer to that suppliers’ specific operation and maintenance procedures and requirements.
Decking Winter Care
- Avoid walking on icy decks until cleared.
- Use plastic-bladed shovels or soft brooms for snow.
- Do not use rock/road salt; only aluminium-safe de-icers.
- Sweep away water after rain/snow to prevent ice.
- Use mats/non-slip runners in high-traffic icy zones.
