Hello!
We have long missed having a balcony on our 1 1/2 story house, as we have a stunning view of a few meadows with the sunset to the west. The only downside is that on this side there is a bathroom and a small guest room that is rarely used. The house is from 2005 and relatively new in other words.
My questions pertain to the construction of a balcony on this side. For example, are there typical construction drawings that can be downloaded somewhere? I'm mostly curious about how to anchor the two posts in the ground and how the attachment should be made to the façade. I have seen that many do not use solid wood posts but instead screw together 3 different pieces of wood into one. Then I assume it is like building a deck with joists and decking. You also have to complement it with an attractive railing. And of course, a building permit should be applied for
How would you building experts do it? Has anyone built something like this and can share techniques and dimensions?
Thanks in advance
S
We have long missed having a balcony on our 1 1/2 story house, as we have a stunning view of a few meadows with the sunset to the west. The only downside is that on this side there is a bathroom and a small guest room that is rarely used. The house is from 2005 and relatively new in other words.
My questions pertain to the construction of a balcony on this side. For example, are there typical construction drawings that can be downloaded somewhere? I'm mostly curious about how to anchor the two posts in the ground and how the attachment should be made to the façade. I have seen that many do not use solid wood posts but instead screw together 3 different pieces of wood into one. Then I assume it is like building a deck with joists and decking. You also have to complement it with an attractive railing. And of course, a building permit should be applied for
How would you building experts do it? Has anyone built something like this and can share techniques and dimensions?
Thanks in advance
S
Cast footings with a proper base approximately 60x60 cm, and on that a footing that is properly reinforced in the base. Naturally, the foundation should be frost-free, or with insulation. Should the balcony have a roof? How large will it be?
Examples of suitable dimensions for 2.5 x 2 meters.
Posts made of two 45x120 with a 45x70 in between nailed together into an H-profile.
Beam at the front and on the wall 45x220 c24.
In between, joists of 45x170 and 28mm decking.
The posts are constructed so that the intermediate 45x70 ends 220mm earlier and provides a good support for the beam between the two 45x120.
Possibly, the posts can continue up and also be the corners of the railing.
Attachment to the wall with two screws/nails every 60cm of the type 150-180x6 mm which are fastened to the house's frame.
Posts made of two 45x120 with a 45x70 in between nailed together into an H-profile.
Beam at the front and on the wall 45x220 c24.
In between, joists of 45x170 and 28mm decking.
The posts are constructed so that the intermediate 45x70 ends 220mm earlier and provides a good support for the beam between the two 45x120.
Possibly, the posts can continue up and also be the corners of the railing.
Attachment to the wall with two screws/nails every 60cm of the type 150-180x6 mm which are fastened to the house's frame.
Four follow-up questions: What's the best way to hide the end grain of the decking? Should I just screw a deck board around it like a "rim"?larsbj said:
And how should the connection to the house be done, should the siding be removed? Should there be some metal sheet covering somewhere? A carpentry company has already installed a glass door on the upper floor, with threshold flashing and all. My relative and I plan to build the balcony ourselves.
With the dimensions you've mentioned, what's the maximum m2 we can build without needing to upgrade to thicker timber or add an extra post? My wife is talking about wanting around 7-8 m2 now
And we have the space.In the future, it's not impossible that we might enclose the space underneath, anything we should consider now regarding, for example, water drainage?
/S
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I think it's best to leave the lids on, so the water can pass by/through. There's a significantly greater risk of leakage when cutting into existing wood cladding.
The posts can support a larger balcony.
The floor joist 170mm max 2.2 m, 195mm max 3m, and 220mm max 3.6 meters, when exposed outdoors.
The hardest part will be the front beam, double 45x220, which can perhaps handle just over 3 meters without bending over time.
If it needs to be longer, it's either laminated timber or an additional foundation/post.
The posts can support a larger balcony.
The floor joist 170mm max 2.2 m, 195mm max 3m, and 220mm max 3.6 meters, when exposed outdoors.
The hardest part will be the front beam, double 45x220, which can perhaps handle just over 3 meters without bending over time.
If it needs to be longer, it's either laminated timber or an additional foundation/post.
Can I borrow the thread a bit while it has larsbjs' attention?
I'm considering building a balcony that is 3.8m wide and extends 2.2 meters out. I would prefer to have only two posts and want to put roofing felt under the decking to create a roof below.
What would be the suitable timber dimensions for it?
Edit: Based on your previous post, the posts should be sufficient, but the front beam needs to be a glued laminated timber, and the floor joists might need to be 195 given the tongue and groove boards and roofing felt... what could be an appropriate dimension for the glued laminated timber? Does 315x66 work? Or perhaps even 270x47?
As for calculations, according to the Eurocode, you are supposed to account for a distributed load of 4 kN/m2, but do you need to add any snow load to that? Or is it assumed that you cannot load the balcony with 400 kg/m2 when there's a bunch of snow, and therefore the live load is considered the most unfavorable scenario?
I'm considering building a balcony that is 3.8m wide and extends 2.2 meters out. I would prefer to have only two posts and want to put roofing felt under the decking to create a roof below.
What would be the suitable timber dimensions for it?
Edit: Based on your previous post, the posts should be sufficient, but the front beam needs to be a glued laminated timber, and the floor joists might need to be 195 given the tongue and groove boards and roofing felt... what could be an appropriate dimension for the glued laminated timber? Does 315x66 work? Or perhaps even 270x47?
As for calculations, according to the Eurocode, you are supposed to account for a distributed load of 4 kN/m2, but do you need to add any snow load to that? Or is it assumed that you cannot load the balcony with 400 kg/m2 when there's a bunch of snow, and therefore the live load is considered the most unfavorable scenario?
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Hi!larsbj said:
Thank you so much for the answer!
Just one question that I don't see we've mentioned. The dimensions you write about, are they regular planed timber or treated timber? For example, I can't find 45x220 in treated dimensions at www.byggmax.se where I always shop.
Then maybe it's not a bad idea, as you mentioned, to use laminated wood at the front edge; that way I reduce the risk of load, especially if we plan to enclose the room under the balcony in the future.
/S
Since you plan to have decking, I assumed you are not going to make a tight roof, and you mean pressure-treated wood.
If you are going to have glulam, it needs to be protected from direct rain.
If you are going to have glulam, it needs to be protected from direct rain.
It's probably appropriate to use 315x66 as there are also small price differences.Kallebo said:
I would say that you can assess that the loads do not occur simultaneously. The risk of 40 people and 1 meter of wet snow on the balcony at the same time is small.