‘The Frameless balcony enables us to make the most of the view’

Despite a few initial design issues, Balconette’s technical expertise and ability to supply a curved frameless glass balustrade has helped a homeowner near Bristol to realise his vision with this impressive ‘barely there’ balcony.

Nearly 12 metres of Balconette’s SG12 Fully Frameless System fitted below floor level permit uninterrupted views from a new patio across open countryside towards the Bristol Channel and Wales in the far distance. The patio was created as part of a new kitchen extension.

“It’s a wonderful view as the land just drops away from us at the end of the patio behind the house. That’s why we wanted a glass balustrade with no handrail because we didn’t want to break up the view,” explains Justin Bazalgette.

Internet research led him to Balconette’s website where the product’s design persuaded him to go ahead with the company. “We were particularly looking for something which would match our concept with a curved glass; we didn’t want a standard balcony. We wanted it to be frameless.

“When we looked into costs, it looked like the best option was to buy it from Balconette and then get it fitted locally by our builder, which is what we did. Because it was a slight hybrid, it then involved this additional design aspect, from Balconette but also by me and the builder to get the balcony properly installed.”

The hybrid nature of the design, due to one side fitted below floor level and the curved section requiring a base rail, presented some initial problems in getting it right. However, Justin acknowledges Balconette’s help in resolving the issues ‘very quickly’, saying: “The technical expert was very helpful, and I would recommend Balconette. They put things right very quickly and without any issues, so I can’t complain about the service I got.

“I gave them the measurements and Balconette designed the arc to best fit the curved wall. Although I was nervous, when it arrived it fitted the wall perfectly. It’s lovely and it matches; it’s exactly what we wanted!”

For the exposed base rail, Justin specified it in a mill finish and arranged to get it painted to match the metal cladding sheets he had sourced. “To conceal a visible gap between the glass and the supporting channel, I found a shark fin-shaped rubber seal, which fitted very nicely on top of the channel and finishes it off really well.”

On what the balustrade brings to the project, Justin concludes: “It almost isn’t there because it’s glass, which also acts as a windbreak on breezy days. Then clearly there’s the safety element in providing a barrier to the one metre drop to the garden.

“Throughout the process, getting the quotes, clarity about the information that was needed and the rectification of issues when they arose, was all very good and Balconette was very helpful. We’re very happy with the balcony; it enables us to make the most of the view.”