I have a yodel balcony/alpine balcony that I now want to replace the balcony railing with a glass railing to increase light entry, improve the view, and refresh the impression of the facade.
I will most likely need to install some form of beam aligned with the balcony's floor slab and the roof truss to mount the glass railing against.
I have removed what is obviously not part of the structure. However, I am uncertain about the thick top rail (200x70) that is at the top of the railing and also connects to posts. The top rail is fastened against the inner panel with a joist hanger with internal fastening. Presumably with a lag screw through the panel, battens, masonite, roof truss.
The house has no internal tie beams and is constructed with articulated (prefab?) high legs resting on the attic floor via wedge joints. The high legs are connected to the attic floor with strap steel. The wedge also extends over the balcony, but no strap steel is found. My opinion is that the strap steel counteracts tension between the high legs and thereby replaces the tie beam.
The bearing beams in the balcony's floor rest partly on supports between the post and wall and partly on supports in the masonry wall. The support in the masonry wall also rests on posts in square steel.
There is also a catwalk inside, but it is doubtful that it is part of the supporting structure (like a framework post) given that it is framed with 45x45 cc 40, which I think seems a bit too weak for a supporting structure.
What do you think? Does the top rail serve a load-bearing function for the roof?
For tension or vertical load or both?
If the railing needs to be replaced, how do I do it most appropriately?
I could consider putting a glulam beam at the edge of the balcony resting on the posts.
I could also put a tie beam about 2.40 above the balcony floor.
I will most likely need to install some form of beam aligned with the balcony's floor slab and the roof truss to mount the glass railing against.
I have removed what is obviously not part of the structure. However, I am uncertain about the thick top rail (200x70) that is at the top of the railing and also connects to posts. The top rail is fastened against the inner panel with a joist hanger with internal fastening. Presumably with a lag screw through the panel, battens, masonite, roof truss.
The house has no internal tie beams and is constructed with articulated (prefab?) high legs resting on the attic floor via wedge joints. The high legs are connected to the attic floor with strap steel. The wedge also extends over the balcony, but no strap steel is found. My opinion is that the strap steel counteracts tension between the high legs and thereby replaces the tie beam.
The bearing beams in the balcony's floor rest partly on supports between the post and wall and partly on supports in the masonry wall. The support in the masonry wall also rests on posts in square steel.
There is also a catwalk inside, but it is doubtful that it is part of the supporting structure (like a framework post) given that it is framed with 45x45 cc 40, which I think seems a bit too weak for a supporting structure.
What do you think? Does the top rail serve a load-bearing function for the roof?
For tension or vertical load or both?
If the railing needs to be replaced, how do I do it most appropriately?
I could consider putting a glulam beam at the edge of the balcony resting on the posts.
I could also put a tie beam about 2.40 above the balcony floor.
Could you elaborate on that? What makes you so sure? What keeps the roof together?S sturnus said:
The fastening with a couple of small screws in an otherwise rather weak board serves no purpose in holding together the top frame. It would have required both stronger timber and a completely different fastening.
"Couple of small screws" are not visible in the picture. One could reasonably assume there are 2-3 French screws from the inside of the beam shoe into the upper leg.T Testarn said:
"Flimsy board" is not what I would call a 200x70 beam. What would you call a reasonable dimension to hold the upper arm together?
What holds the upper arm together in this construction? Without an answer to that question, it seems quite uncertain to remove it, in my opinion.
The
The roof does not have a top beam supporting the roof in the ridge. It is hinged in the top (attaching picture in next post). The balcony joists are three separate beams jointed down into the heavier beams with nails, so they are not connected for horizontal pulling force.S sturnus said:
S sturnus said:
Picture is taken in the other end of the house where there is s a small loft.
Hmm.. I read too poorly... I retract that statement. 200x70 is quite a hefty dimension, and when you examine the pictures more closely, the beam bracket does look more substantial than just a small angle iron attached to the panel.Jaegermeister said:
Regarding what holds the upper frame together, it's the lower frame and the top joint. The beam you have might possibly hold out/up the upper frame so that it doesn't bend down, especially when seeing how it's supported by a couple of posts.
Given that, it might be good to take a closer look at the fastening and verify that it's actually stronger than it appears at first glance.
Thank you for engaging in this! Excuse me if I sound arrogant (I'm rather unknowing), but how does this help me answering the question how the roof is holding together above the balcony?S sturnus said:
Try doing your last suggestion, i.e., a tie beam a bit higher up. Once it's in place, you can start cutting into the lower beam and feel if it binds or not. I have a friend whose balcony is similar to yours but with an attic space with an accompanying tie beam above the balcony (see picture below). However, the tie beam is hidden by the panel.
You’re absolutely right. They are well dimensioned for taking the downwards force, but the horizontal? Not so obvious to me.S sturnus said: