What is a Juliet Balcony?
Juliet balconies give the appearance of a balcony, but are often decorative and feature railings on the outer plane of a window opening.
Juliet balconies are false balconies or railings on the outer plane of a window opening. Juliet balconies give the appearance of a balcony while not protruding off the building. When designing a building, there are benefits to choosing a Juliet balcony versus a traditional balcony: aesthetics, waterproofing & cost, and building longevity.
Rules for a Juliet Balcony
Inspired by Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet," Juliet balconies are also known as a "balconet" or "false balcony," and provide safety while allowing large doors or windows to open without risking a fall. Here are some general rules and guidelines for Juliet balconies:
- Building Regulations: Specific requirements vary by region, but in general, Juliet balconies must meet building code regulations for safety. This often includes specific height requirements for the railing or guard, which is typically at least 36 inches (about 91 cm) above the floor level.
- Material and Construction: The materials and construction must ensure that the balcony is strong and durable. Common materials include metal (like wrought iron or steel) or glass panels. The choice of material may also need to comply with fire safety regulations.
- Fixing and Mounting: The Juliet balcony must be securely fixed to the building, with proper anchoring to ensure it can withstand pressure or weight. Structural support and anchoring methods will vary based on the type of building and construction material.
- Design: The design must align with the aesthetic of the building. This might mean coordinating with historical preservation rules in certain districts or blending with modern architectural styles. Some regulations may require particular designs to maintain the architectural consistency of a building or neighborhood.
- Glazing and Openings: If the Juliet balcony has glass components, they should meet safety standards for impact resistance. Additionally, the doors or windows opening onto the balcony should not compromise the safety or integrity of the structure.
- Permitting: In some areas, you might need a permit to install a Juliet balcony, especially if it impacts the external appearance of the building or if you're in a protected area.
Juliet Balcony Aesthetics
The aesthetic of a building worsens when occupants start cluttering their balconies with grills, signs, etc. One way to mitigate the cluttered nature of traditional balconies is to eliminate them, but that impacts the end-user by diminishing the ability to get fresh air and open up their space to the outdoors. Pairing a Juliet balcony with french doors gives the end-user a unique look and the most benefits. Juliet balconies can come in a few different looks. For a more classic look, we have the Juliet balcony railing. For a modern look, we have a glass Juliet balcony.
Waterproofing & Cost
Traditional balconies are typically installed by an outside trade paired with a waterproofer to finish the installation. Adding additional trades takes more time, coordination, and cost than a Juilet Balcony. Juliet Balconies can be co-extruded onto the door receptor, including it in the door package, and managed by the glazier. Due to the receptor's connection point, there is no need for extra waterproofing or trade for installation. The installation process is efficient and adds little time to a typical receptor installation time.
Building Longevity
A building's overall longevity is based not only on performance but also on whether the building can continue to make enough revenue. Every building owner wants their building to rent at the highest cost possible for years; that is only possible if the building continues to present as new. Designers can utilize Juliet Balconies' aesthetic benefits to keep the building pleasing to the eye with a door and railing finish warranty of up to 30 years. Our glass railing uses laminated glass, the warranty information can be found on Cardinal's website. www.cardinalcorp.com
Overall, the Peerless Juliet Balconies give occupants fresh air while keeping the building's look sleek and aesthetically pleasing. The Juliet Balconies come co-extruded onto your Peerless receptor for easy, efficient installation saving you the time and money of bringing in another trade like a traditional balcony. Water management is a non-issue with the Juliet Balconies integration into the window system, be assured the balcony will last the test of time.
To see more about our Juliet balcony & French Door system, check out our product pages, including a video with previous projects. To download details and tech sheets visit our Design Studio
For help on your next project, contact your area Representative.
