Balcony in a private house: pros, cons, examples

According to experts, architects and builders, the balcony is the part of the house that you can do without. If the construction budget is limited, the designer will first of all offer to abandon the balcony. And standard projects of “economy class” usually do not imply a balcony. In fact, going outside in a private house surrounded by your own plot – what could be easier. A balcony will perfectly replace a terrace or a free-standing gazebo, just a corner for relaxing in the garden.

The cost of construction is, perhaps, not only the main, but also the only drawback of a balcony in a private house. Some owners also note that the balcony brings not only additional costs, but also hassle. Here you need to clean, tint the railings, in general, take care of the balcony so that it remains attractive. And in a private house there are enough worries.

Well, you say, dissuaded from building a balcony! Let’s get by. But in some cases, the presence of such a design is more than justified and brings noticeable advantages:

1. Facade decoration. The exterior of any house will definitely benefit if it is complemented by an elegant balcony or a spacious open area with an openwork lattice of the fence, railings and balusters;

2. The presence of a balcony is quite justified and will cost less if the construction of the house itself suggests it. Often the balcony is located above the terrace, on the roof of the garage, becomes a porch or vestibule canopy, acts as a slab between the ceiling blocks. In this case, the construction of the balcony itself will already be cheaper and becomes a logical continuation of the house project;

3. A balcony is necessary if it performs certain functions, it is designed to provide the comfort of the home owners. For example, the owner has an office on the second floor and smokes. It is inconvenient to go down every time, where it is better to go to the balcony of the office. Or an elderly person lives in the attic, a family member with a disability. It is easier for such people to go to the balcony to get some fresh air than to go down the stairs. So the presence of a balcony may be due to the habits and needs of the residents of the house..

Having decided that you cannot do without a balcony in a private house, do not forget about the safety requirements. For example, the wall thickness in front of the balcony should not be less than 120 mm, and the fence should withstand a load of 100 kg / m² in the vertical direction. To accommodate a chair on the balcony, its width must be at least 80 centimeters, and for a set of furniture, a width of at least 1.5 m is required.And do not forget about the beautiful design of this zone, we have already given ideas.