How do I calculate the cost of installation of my Glass Balustrade or Juliet Balcony?
To price your balustrade requirement first choose the shape most similar to yours
The process of evaluating options and style elements can be easily achieved virtually through our website, utilizing the integrated 3D Design and measurement tools. Alternatively, you have the option of arranging a consultation with one of our Registered Partner Outlets or visiting our main showroom in Surrey, conveniently located near Gatwick Airport.
By physically interacting with our aluminium handrails, glass selections, and systems showcased in our showroom, you can genuinely gauge the quality, practicality, and aesthetics of our materials and designs.
Once you've thoroughly examined the tangible aspects of the product, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of the logistical considerations required to deliver the systems to your doorstep. These substantial components consist of robust and enduring aluminium and glass, complete with all necessary accessories securely packaged to ensure swift assembly of your system.
Rest assured, comprehensive instructions accompany the delivery, ready to facilitate a seamless setup. However, arranging the installation marks the final step in your balcony journey, acting as the ultimate hurdle before relishing the outdoors and embracing a newfound al fresco lifestyle.
Your installation options
After making your purchase, you might be wondering about the options available for installing your balustrade system or Juliet Balcony. Who can you reach out to for installation, and most importantly, what will be the associated cost?
- One route is to obtain a quote from a local tradesperson you have confidence in. Alternatively, you could explore vetted professionals through platforms like Checkatrade or My Builder. Our installation process, whether it's for Juliet balconies, is made smoother by comprehensive instructions and instructional videos available for reference online or playback on-site. Often, professionals experienced in windows, glazing, conservatories, or outdoor improvements are adept at working with glass. Local builders and joiners familiar with patio and balcony areas are well-equipped to install balustrades and glass doors, sometimes even detailing their rates on popular vetting websites.
- Another option is self-installation, which may initially appear as the most budget-friendly choice. This approach involves a DIY approach where you manage the schedule and also source additional items like fixings and cleaning materials. If you possess the time and can enlist the assistance of a friend or helper, the cost benefits can be notably advantageous.
- For a comprehensive installation and finishing service, consider our nationwide network of Registered Partner Outlets. Opting for a Balconette Registered Partner provides an all-inclusive solution, likely resulting in exceptional value. With years of experience in fitting our products, these partners are skilled in crafting tailor-made solutions, fine-tuning adjustments, and sourcing optimal fixings for our range.
Your choice of installation method will hinge on factors like convenience, budget, and expertise, but rest assured that Balconette offers versatile solutions to suit your preferences.
How tradesmen charge
Whomever you opt for as your installer, they may employ different charging approaches. Below are some common methods used by partners and tradespeople to determine the installation cost of a balcony system:
Balustrade installations might be charged on a per-meter basis. This fee could cover the installation of the balustrade itself, along with extras like site cleaning and adjustments to measurements and plans. Using this calculation method, estimated costs for our systems may fall within the range of £85 to £100 per meter. This applies to our Hybrid Glass Balustrade systems, Aerofoil, and Orbit designs.
Our Frameless SG12 system, being a more intricate and heavier balustrade featuring thicker laminated glass, usually requires two or more individuals for installation. Consequently, prices for this system could typically start at around £100 per meter and extend beyond.
When deciding on an installation partner, it's essential to consider these costing methods to ensure that the arrangement aligns with your budget and expectations.
Minimum Charges Apply
Every installation, regardless of its size, will be subject to minimum daily rates or installation charges. To illustrate, even a brief two-meter balustrade installation wouldn't be billed solely based on the per-meter rate. This is because at least half a day's worth of labour and transportation is needed to execute the job, much like a call-out fee.
Consequently, minimum charges are applicable, implying that seemingly minor tasks might carry a comparable price tag to larger-scale projects.
Flat Day Rate
Another prevalent method employed by tradespeople to determine installation costs is by charging a straightforward flat day rate that encompasses most materials and includes a cleanup fee.
A standard day rate for a two-person installation team, who not only arrive at your property but also carry out an initial site survey (sometimes billed separately), identify the optimal fixings for your balustrade system, complete the installation, and potentially remove and tidy existing fixtures, might range from around £550 to £800 + VAT for an 8-hour workday on-site.
Additionally, there's the potential for minor supplementary charges, contingent on factors such as site clearance at the outset, along with possible additional costs for mileage and miscellaneous fixing products.
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More complex installations
More intricate systems, like curved balustrades, entail a longer construction time, leading to potential cost increases due to the extended time required for tasks such as marking out the precise glass layout, assembling, and placing components like base rails and handrails.
One of the most prevalent methods for evaluating the complete expense of a balcony system installation involves estimating costs as a percentage of the total product purchase price. When our 3D Designer tool is employed online and the product quotation is generated, it becomes straightforward to comprehend the collective cost of all design and manufacturing components. Using the general guideline that installation costs typically fall within the range of 30-40% of the material system cost, you can employ the rule of thirds to roughly calculate the expense. Simply calculate a third of the price of the Balconette products you've ordered, and this can serve as a convenient estimator for assembling the system at your property.
Juliet Fitting
Our Orbit and Aerofoil Juliet glass balconies, which serve as guardrails covering doors and openings with a height drop, are perhaps the easiest of our products to install. They are affordably fitted, typically ranging from £300 to £400 for the first unit and often at a reduced rate for additional similarly sized balconies. For balconies larger than two meters, there might be an additional cost applied, usually around £50 to £75 or more.
Setting up these balconies often requires a two-person team and a workmate for assistance, so these extra costs are typically factored into the overall installation fee, which also covers the required fixings. Installing the Juliet balcony from the interior of the property is not feasible; therefore, external scaffolding, a tower, genie lift, or cherry picker platform will be necessary, leading to an increased price. The cost of renting basic scaffolding, a tower, or platform can be determined by comparing quotes, with the price varying based on the size needed and the time required to complete the installation.
Frameless Juliets
Our Frameless Juliets, constructed with a single panel of 21.5mm laminated and toughened glass, can extend up to 3 meters in width for a single panel. The installation cost for these is higher due to their increased difficulty in handling and the need for more manpower (3 workers or more). An experienced builder would typically charge around £400 to £500, depending on the dimensions. Please note that this estimate does not include the expenses for scaffolding and on-site setups.
Initial Site Survey
An initial site survey may incur an additional cost, potentially increasing fees by £200 to £400. During the survey, our team of surveyors will visit your property to take measurements and create working plans tailored to your desired balcony design. This step is crucial to accurately capture your concept and to enable our tradesmen to assess materials, dimensions, and feasibility effectively.
Overnight Costs - Site Stays
Projects carried out by installers who are far from their home base may necessitate overnight stays to complete the construction over multiple days.
For instance, consider a Balconette Registered Partner located on the East coast of Scotland. This installer was tasked with installing a system at a customer's property on the Isle of Skye. The provided estimate was based on a three-day installation schedule, factoring in the need for two nights of local accommodation and an early morning return to the site. Without opting for luxurious accommodations, the installer arranged to stay in local lodgings and successfully finished the project on time, all within a budget that accounted for the stay away from home.
Similarly, travel mileage to and from the site will contribute to the overall installation costs. If the site is located in an area with challenging parking or necessitates parking permits, or if it falls within a congestion charge zone, these additional expenses will be incorporated into the mileage and transportation estimates.
Clean Up and Recycling
Once the balcony system has been efficiently and seamlessly installed, the last on-site tasks involve tidying up packaging, work materials, and construction debris. Properly disposing of such waste items in an environmentally responsible manner—such as recycling the cardboard and wooden pallets used for product protection—might involve additional expenses. Onsite waste disposal might necessitate the presence of a skip, which could require scheduling a slot at a local industrial or civic waste and recycling center. Supplementary costs might arise if return visits to the site are needed for collection purposes, or if off-site storage is arranged for thorough and eco-friendly waste disposal.
Choosing the Right Route
So, it's quite likely that you'll encounter various post-purchase costs even before the product is delivered to your door. These costs may continue to accumulate during the installation process until completion. The total will depend entirely on your choice of whom to contract for the job. You have the option of selecting a tradesperson you trust, perhaps a builder or joiner you've previously worked with. There's a certain assurance in working with a known professional who you have an established relationship with. They might even offer you a preferential rate due to your repeat business.
The DIY route of self-installation can be convenient for simple runs of balustrade and Juliet balconies, but it may be a false economy for more complex projects. The initial outlay for professional expertise may offer dividends in the longer term.
Opting for a Balconette Registered Partner Outlet provides a 'one-stop-shop' solution. They will survey the site, provide guaranteed measurements, and coordinate with our technical team to expedite alterations and amendments for an outstanding job in good time. They often keep spares and components for Balconette products at their warehouse or deliver parts directly to the installation site, saving time and costs and eliminating the need to reorder elements from Balconette HQ and await delivery.
Another factor influencing the installation cost of our products and systems is the level of service package we offer (Basic, Standard, or Premium) for the development and construction of our systems. Please refer to the article on the Premium level service package here.
Shine a light on Installation
Installation costs should not be the ‘great unknown’ when planning and purchasing balcony products. There are regional and geographic variances but a consistent basis, even in times when logistics may be a problem can be arrived at. Costs are transparent if you choose the right team to undertake the project and none more so than if you complete the work yourself via the DIY approach (you can pay yourself however you see fit!).
Perhaps one last expense it really pays to meet is the cost of refreshing the construction team with teas, coffees, or even cold lemonade during the height of summer. The hospitality is well worth it in keeping a jolly and happy team who will want to come back and complete extra work for you in the future as you continue to expand the outdoor lifestyle of your choice.
