Is this a correct balcony construction? (JM)

[Stefan_Olsson]

Hello!

We recently bought a house built in 2005. The inspection report looked fine.

I was outside tinkering yesterday and got stuck on how the balcony construction looks. I lack basic knowledge of building construction, but to my untrained eyes, it doesn't look right.

Shouldn't the balcony's "frame" rest on the posts? The posts stand on cast plinths with fittings. Now it looks like the frame is only hanging on a few screws? I checked the final inspection report and there's no mention of construction faults.

Can you help me understand if this is correct and if so, how?

 

[Kane]

Certainly looks strange. I would never have done it myself, but I can't comment on whether it's good enough.
It has lasted for 20 years, after all.....

 

[Stefan_Olsson]

Certainly looks strange. I would never have done it myself but can't say if it's good enough.
At least it has held up for 20 years.....

So it's not just me who thinks it looks strange.

Waiting for a call from the inspector. Maybe he can shed some light on the construction procedure.

 

[Dr Benz]

Certainly looks strange. I would never do it myself, but I can't say if it's good enough.
After all, it has held for 20 years...

I definitely wouldn't go out on that balcony until I know more.

That it has held for 20 years only means the construction supports itself. It doesn't mean it can handle a load.

No, from what can be seen in the pictures, it doesn't look good at all. Someone has been lazy in anchoring the railing post on the balcony properly. Or just thought incorrectly.

Wait for what the inspector says, but I wouldn't move around there.

 

[Stefan_Olsson]

Would definitely not go out on that balcony until more is known.

That it has held for 20 years only means that the construction supports itself. It doesn't mean it can handle a load.

No, from what you can see in the pictures, it doesn't look good at all. Someone has been lazy about getting a well-anchored railing post on the balcony. Or just thought wrong.

Wait for what the inspector says, but I wouldn't move there.

The inspector didn't think it looked particularly strange. He said he couldn't tell from the pictures if it was tightened, but even if it wasn't, "there are sturdy screws from the angle irons into the posts"??

I'm wondering how and if I can take this further? I lack professional knowledge of building construction. The inspection report said the balcony was okay (i.e., no remarks).

Could it be a hidden defect?

 

[esortho]

Could it be a hidden defect?

Since it is easily visible to the naked eye, it probably cannot be considered a hidden defect. It can certainly still be a defect.

 

[Dr Benz]

No, it might not be a problem but I would like to have an opinion from someone who knows.

I could imagine attaching a 45x70 piece (or whatever width the post has) to the existing posts, supporting under the beam and anchoring it with proper screws.

 

[Ursidae]

Since it is easily visible to the naked eye, it probably cannot be considered a hidden defect. Of course, it can still be a defect.

Yes, it’s hard to have a hidden defect when it's so obvious....

Strangely switched, however, it's simpler and cheaper to just drive a couple of solid screws through the frame into the post. Even better if you've notched the post so that the frame rests directly on it.

The outer posts are easy to fix, but it's trickier to reach the inner ones. There's probably someone here who can give tips.

I would have gone and bought a couple of pressure-treated posts and wedged them under the frame on the inside and driven a couple of wood screws into the outer posts for now.

 

[Kardan79]

Hi!

We recently bought a house built in 2005. The inspection report looked good.

I was outside tinkering yesterday and got stuck on how the balcony construction looks. I lack basic knowledge of building construction, but to my untrained eyes, it doesn't look right.

Shouldn't the balcony's "frame" rest on the posts? The posts are on cast concrete footings with fittings. Now it looks like the frame is only hanging on a few screws? Checked the final inspection report, and there's no mention of any construction errors.

Can you help me understand if this is correct and if so, how?

Nåntuna backe in Uppsala? Looks like it.
JM built the area.
Many "specials," according to what I've been told (a relative who lives there).