An Unusual Octagonal ‘Lookout’ Glass Balustrade
Glass Balustrades | Juliet Balconies | Galleries | Case Studies | Articles
Tony & Anne
"Our lovely views are no longer obstructed thanks to Balconette"
After replacing an old wooden balcony with a combination of Balconette glass balustrades overlooking unspoilt countryside, the West Sussex homeowners discovered an unexpected and welcome bonus – pigeons do not land on the balustrades which keeps their terraces cleaner.
The couple, whose detached home boasts far-reaching views over the Arun flood plain, chose Balconette's systems to replace a 15-year-old deteriorating timber balustrade, which features an unusual octagonal 'lookout' viewing point.
Before Images
Having viewed Balconette's extensive range online, the couple particularly liked the low-maintenance and easy-to-clean features of a glass and aluminium balcony, which was installed on their new decking.
Their larger terrace is enclosed with 16 metres of Balconette's Frameless SG12 System fitted below finished floor level for a neater, virtually invisible appearance. A second smaller terrace, linked via a few steps, features 10 metres of Orbit balustrade with a Royal Chrome finished handrail. All the glass panels are treated with Balconette's BalcoNano® self-cleaning glass coating that protects the glass and keeps it cleaner by repelling mineral deposits and rainwater.
"It's quite a transformation; we are really pleased with the balustrades," they say. "A hidden plus point is that the birds don't land on either the rounded handrail or the frameless balustrade. Before they used to perch on the wooden handrail and their droppings left a lot of mess.
"The glass balustrades have made such a huge difference and exceeded our expectations. The vast improvement was especially relevant to us in producing greatly enhanced views".
Due to the complexity of the design – particularly the uniquely-shaped octagon – Balconette installed the balustrades after completing detailed surveys. Most customers get a local builder to install or contact one of Balconette's registered partners to fit their balustrades.
"We were planning to use the frameless system throughout but the Balconette installers rightly advised us that it was not advisable to use this on our steel framework which was underneath the top terrace where the octagon sits. We took Balconette's guidance and opted for the Orbit System with posts and handrail."
In retrospect, they are pleased with the handrail option because "it blends in with the connecting steps, which would have required a handrail anyway. It flows much better, and we get the continuity."
What do they like best? "It's lovely sitting out on a sunny day admiring the beautiful view, and the glass provides more shelter from the wind. The Balconette balustrades are a great improvement and we've had a lot of positive comments."
