Balcony Safety: What You Can Do to Keep Your Balcony Safe and Beautiful

A balcony is a great addition to homes and businesses alike; the wealth of space they provide allows everyone to take in the scenery as they enjoy some downtime. Yet a surface without waterproof balcony flooring, the wrong railings, and unrepaired structural elements can place guests in danger. Let’s take a closer look at how to keep your balcony attractive and safe for everyone to use.

Ensure Railings Are the Right Height

How can you know that your balcony rail is the right height? The California Building Code. Home and business standards differ, but both require minimum railing heights and maximum spacing between posts and balusters, as well as between the balcony floor and bottom rail.

These heights and spacings are in place to prevent falling from the balcony, from going over the railing, or from crawling underneath.

Heed Occupancy Limits

The California Building Code also has requirements for weight, stating that a balcony must be able to withstand a specific amount of pressure at any given location to remain safe. The more people who are on a balcony together, the more weight and pressure that the balcony must withstand at one time.

While this may not be an issue for new and well-built balconies, one that has gone into disrepair poses a far greater risk of safety, which leads us to our next tip.

Monitor Your Balcony Frequently

By regularly monitoring your balcony, you can avoid safety issues. Make regular inspections of the balcony to look for the following signs that could become bigger problems:

• Chipping
• Cracking
• Wearing
• Splitting
• Uneven surface
• Leaks

There are also cosmetic signs of wear such as water stains, discoloration, and dirt that can make your balcony look older than it is. In terms of monitoring, you should also look at the debris that may be collecting on your balcony; not only does clutter look unattractive, but it can cause tripping and falling and also make your balcony more difficult to enjoy.

Make It Safer for All Weather

Weather can definitely affect your balcony’s surface, making it slippery and harder to walk on. This can easily cause occupants to fall and become injured. A great way to prevent falls and slips is to coat your balcony with a non-slip surface. Guests and employees will feel much safer when they know they can walk on the surface confidently, and it will completely restore your balcony’s look.

Waterproofing Systems That Work

If your balcony needs attention due to cracks, erosion, water penetration, or age, there is a solution that will increase its durability, beauty, life, and value: waterproofing from Capital Deck & Stair, a balcony waterproofing contractor. With over 30 years of industry experience, our waterproofing systems are installed by trained experts.

We provide a warranty and an 8-year guarantee on every service we offer. Learn more about how easy it is to make your balcony safer and more beautiful with Capital Deck & Stair; get a free online estimate today.