Almost every apartment located in a multi-storey building has a balcony. For some, he acts as a pantry, and someone equips a greenhouse there or just relaxes, reading his favorite book. And no matter how this space is used, it should have a reliable and strong fence. Modern protective structures can be made of a wide variety of materials, however, to ensure the highest degree of safety, it is recommended to install a fence of balconies made of metal.
What they are, what are their features and whether it is possible to install such a railing yourself, we will consider in this article.
Features of metal railing
The fence of metal balconies, in addition to high strength, is characterized by a number of other positive characteristics. Namely:
• Durability. If we compare wood, plastic and metal, then, of course, the latter material wins in terms of operation. It is resistant to temperature extremes, does not deform under the influence of the sun, is not afraid of mechanical damage, and retains its original appearance for a long time.
• Reliability. Such protective fences can withstand very large loads, therefore, relying on them, you can not worry about their own safety.
• Beautiful appearance. Metal balcony railings are made in absolutely any style. They can harmoniously fit into the interior of the entire building or become the most spectacular decoration of the facade.
What requirements should a balcony railing meet?
Installation of any structures that are designed to ensure human safety is carried out in strict accordance with the standards. The protective fencing of balconies is no exception, therefore, during their manufacture and installation, the requirements of GOST should be taken into account. Namely:
1. According to these rules, the railing is installed along the edges of the base of the balcony using a welding machine.
2. The most important indicator of reliability is the height of protection. The upper edge of the structure should be approximately in the middle of the abdomen of an adult. According to GOST, the height of the balcony enclosure should vary between 1-1.2 meters. Also here you should take into account the dimensions of the building itself. The higher the balcony is, the greater the height of the railing should be.
3. The distance between the vertical rails is also regulated by the state standard and should not exceed 12 cm. Compliance with this rule will help to avoid accidents with small children. The child will not be able to climb through a narrow gap of rods, respectively, will not fall out and will not get stuck.
4. The railing, acting as a balcony railing, must withstand a transverse load of 100 kilograms. Neglect of this requirement will certainly reduce the level of security while a person is on the balcony.
5. When assembling aluminum and stainless steel products, one should take into account the fact that GOSTs categorically prohibit the use of horizontal jumpers.
Materials
If the installation method and the height of the balcony fencing are dictated by standards, then its design is not limited by anything. Today, there are many ready-made options, based on which, the masters create real works of art and luxury. Fans of new-fangled solutions prefer to combine several materials at once, getting more unusual products. Most commonly used are aluminum, iron and steel. Next, we consider the characteristics of each of them.
Aluminum
The main advantage of aluminum structures is their resistance to atmospheric agents, acids and other aggressive substances. Such decorative fences do not require special care, are very durable, do not corrode and are much cheaper than steel counterparts. The plasticity of the material allows you to produce railings of a wide variety of geometries. Among other things, aluminum is lightweight, and this facilitates the transportation and installation of such products.
However, it also has drawbacks.
Beautiful new balconies with aluminum railings are gradually losing their attractiveness, as the material loses its original luster under the influence of sunlight.
During the installation of such fences, welding cannot be used, therefore, installation is carried out only with the help of special pins.
Iron
Most often, the fencing of balconies and terraces is made of iron. This is due to the simplicity of operation and the relative ease of installation. An important role in the selection is played by the strength of the material. The larger the diameter of the pipe, the stiffer the support. In addition, iron products do an excellent job of decorating the balcony. They can be of absolutely any shape: straight, rounded, twisted and decorated with various figures, flowers and petals.
If we talk about the negative sides of iron, then it is worth mentioning the susceptibility to corrosion, so such railings require periodic coating with protective compounds.
Steel
Steel fences of balconies are characterized by the longest service life. The material has a very attractive appearance, which lasts a long time, since the metal is completely not susceptible to corrosion. In case of darkening, the product can quickly restore its original shine by grinding. Steel railings can be flat and curved, as well as solid, inflated or hollow. It is also important that the steel elements of the fence are perfectly combined with a variety of materials, which allows you to complement the interior with glass, modular blocks and other decor.
Welded constructions
The fencing of balconies made of metal (welded type) is the classic and most versatile option. The appearance of such products is very similar to forged railing, but the process of their manufacture is much simpler. They are made in the form of gratings that are welded from pieces of steel or cast iron rods. This option may consist of one or several sections at once, which are arranged in a rectangular or trapezoidal manner. Thus, a no less aesthetic and attractive fencing of the balcony is obtained, the price of which is half the cost of the forged railing. The disadvantages of this type include the fact that the structure must be periodically painted, and in places of the welds to be primed.
Such products are ideally suited to owners for whom the aesthetic side of the issue is important, but financial opportunities do not allow you to choose expensive varieties of fences.
Forged Type Designs
The fencing of balconies made of metal (forged type) is considered to be a real piece of art. Complex and painstaking work is carried out in the forge, in accordance with previously taken measurements. The design of the railing can be anything, it all depends on the preferences of the owner of the room. Often they are decorated with trefoils, lancet arches, wrought iron baskets, lush garlands and flowers. Due to the elegance of the finished product has a very light weight, but it is durable and reliable.
Such a fence is considered copyright work, for which you have to pay a fairly substantial amount. The cost of some options can reach about two thousand dollars.
A ready-made construction is delivered to the customer’s house, the installation of which is carried out using spot welding. After installation, the products must be coated with compounds that protect them from corrosion.
Separately, I want to note the French balconies, where the forged railings act as decorative fences, which are not supposed to be exposed to the load.
The main purpose of such structures is to decorate the facade of the building. They are made in the form of a small ledge from a window or door that are not intended for people to visit. It was on such balconies that forged products first found their application, and to this day they give them a certain sophistication and sophistication.
Self-assembly of a welded balcony railing
Installing a metal structure is very simple. To carry out the work you will need the following tools and materials:
• corners (made of metal);
• iron rods with a diameter of 10 to 16 mm;
• channels;
• round or shaped metal pipes;
• angle grinder;
• building level;
• disks for metal work;
• punch;
• dowels;
• welding machine.
Installation of guard rails is carried out in several stages:
1. Measurements are taken, a diagram of the future fence is drawn up.
2. Manufactured sections of the protective structure. In the case of self-assembly, they must be prepared in advance or ordered from qualified craftsmen.
3. Plots on which the fence will be attached are marked on the slab.
4. Next, the frame is constructed. For this, a metal corner is welded around the entire perimeter of the balcony plate, after which a frame of profiled pipes is installed. They are placed against the walls of the building and fixed with dowels.
5. Starting from the corner, sections of the balcony railing are installed. It is attached to the bottom of the finished frame. In the process of work using the level periodically control the evenness of the assembled structure.
6. At the final stage, the resulting fence is cleaned of dust and covered with protective compounds.
Installation of forged fences
As mentioned earlier, it’s impossible to make forged elements of the fence with your own hands, but it is quite possible to perform an independent installation. For balconies with a small area, a solid fence is installed, and for long platforms, sectional protective structures are mounted.
Installation technology is as follows:
1. The finished product is installed on the balcony slab and mark the junction with the base.
2. Then, in the concrete, with the help of a punch, holes are drilled into which the anchors are installed.
3. Between the fence and the base, a rubber seal is laid.
4. The fixing bolts are tightened tightly and masked with special decorative pads.
5. All joints are treated with a primer.
Some craftsmen prefer a different way of mounting forged products. It lies in the fact that strong steel plates are embedded in the wall, to which the balcony railings are subsequently welded.
Repair of the balcony
In some cases, in order to perform high-quality installation of a new fence, it is necessary to tidy up the old base and repair the mortgages.
First of all, you should take care of the safety of people who may be under the balcony during the repair. To do this, enclose the territory with a bright ribbon or install a fence.
To assess the condition of the mortgages, a part of the plate should be broken next to them. If they are in poor condition, you will have to repair the entire base of the railing.
If the mortgages are partially worn, you need to break the top layer of the screed, remove the guard grid and connect them along the entire perimeter of the plate with a metal corner. It will serve as a new basis for securing the fence.
In conclusion, I would like to note that in order for beautiful balconies made of metal to please you with their appearance for a long time, they should be correctly installed, repaired and covered with protective compounds in a timely manner. In this case, a safe stay in this area will be provided to you for many years.