Private Clients, Self Builders and Renovators
While we are happy to do big-scale new developments, we are also very pleased to handle individual enquiries from home owners and improvers or self-builders.
Whether working through an architect or other professional, or improving your home yourself, we are delighted to help.
To help understand our service we list the main topics :
Geographic Coverage
Balcony Systems offer services to the private sector
throughout the British Isles.
Our Balustrade systems & Juliette Balconettes provide a
ready to install
package on a
supply only basis.
We can service customers nationwide.
We supply in
Northern Ireland &
Jersey
through agents, whose details are on our
contact us page.
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Technical Information
Our proprietary balustrade systems 1 or 2 are available in
powder coated white
or
anodized in
silver,
bronze
or
“Royal Chrome”, our stainless steel look-alike. Our systems are clean in design, and very
straight-forward to install.
We
supply all balustrade or balconette components including handrails, bottom rails, any posts needed, brackets, gaskets and glass.
We
do not supply the fixings (bolts/screws used to fix to the wall, structure or floor). These depend on what the balustrade is being fixed to, and need to be specified by your engineer or installer.
Posts – Our balustrade systems can span certain lengths without vertical support posts. Over this length,
steel posts are needed to provide extra lateral strength. Posts are two part : a steel insert post fixed to the structure or balcony, and an aluminium sleeve in the system colour connected to the handrail. If insert posts are required for
early fitment
as part of building works, or for installation prior to water-proofing, they can be supplied after the deposit is paid.
Once posts are installed, you can lay paving, decking, etc to hide the base plate, and the system sleeve, matching your handrail finish hides the steel post within.
Bottom Rails – These can be fixed to the decking etc, between posts in the Balcony 1 system, or inside the posts in a continuous run with Balcony 2 system. If required these can be supplied with 5mm packing shims that will allow water passage underneath the bottom rail once installed.
You can download technical details, sections, elevations, etc from our website, or talk to us, we are happy to send you further information, and answer technical questions.
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Building regulations
Balcony’s balustrade systems have undergone
rigorous safety testing,
both in laboratories and on completed sites. Our systems have been tested to comply with
BS6180 and
BS6399 in the UK, and with
NF P 01-013 and
NF P 08-301 in France.
In the UK we usually supply 10mm clear toughened glass, class A to
BS6206 (BS EN 12600).
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Quotations
It is very easy and simple to get a price for your system. We need only the lengths of handrails, or for Juliette Balconettes, the width of the structural opening. Our
Customer Contact team is trained to provide you with a quotation aimed at your specific requirements. We can send
quotations by email, fax, and post. We are also happy to provide you with an
instant quote by phone.
If your measurements are approximate, our quotation will be adjusted when final dimensions are available.
In some cases we ask for drawings by e-mail or post. Our aim is to reply with a quotation within 2 working days of drawings being received.
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Ordering procedure and payment terms
Standard “off the shelf” Juliette Balconettes
These may be
purchased online, or ordered by telephone. Full payment is required prior to dispatch. If goods are in stock, we send an
order
confirmation and
technical drawings for signature.
(Online this is automatic). Once these are returned, we organize delivery of your Balconette/s, usually within 3 working days.
Balustrades and custom-made Juliette Balconette orders
The procedure for ordering our Balcony system balustrades, or custom-sized Juliette Balconettes, is simple and straight-forward.
1. When you are happy with a quotation or a price given, we send you an
Order Confirmation including all data about size, colour, etc, and any inclusions or exclusions to our contractual arrangement.
2. We will ask for a
30% deposit on price + vat. Once we have your signed order confirmation and deposit, your order is passed to the
technical
department, who liaise with you to get all relevant data and measurements. They produce the
manufacturing drawing. At this stage we can deliver any required insert posts.
3. We send the drawings to you for
final checking and confirmation
before we make anything. This process may go through
revision and correction stages until you are happy with what we are to make. Once all measurements have been agreed and signed for, we send your order for manufacture.
4. Our standard
lead time is 60 - 90 days from receipt of signed drawings. If you require a shorter period please discuss with our staff, who will explain your options.
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Site visits
We have worked on
many complex projects with no need for site visits by us. Our ordering procedures are designed to give you confidence before we cut a single piece of rail. If you do require a site survey, this can be arranged, and will typically cost £400 + vat. If more than 80 miles away you will also incur travelling expenses. As stated, it is rare such a visit is warranted, but they can be made.
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Delivery
When ready,
your balustrades can be collected from our premises near Gatwick. We can arrange
carriers and
pass on the costs.
An estimate will be given on request.
Once ready to ship, we advise you of the delivery cost, which you can pay with the 70% remnant of your order. We also arrange the delivery day, so someone is there to meet it. We do require a signature for each delivery. Sorry, we are not able to specify what
time of day it will arrive.
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Installation
Having supplied hundreds or thousands of private orders, we have very positive feedback on how
straightforward to install our systems are.
We have customers that have installed by themselves; some have used builders, joiners or other tradesmen.
Our
installation video
guide can be downloaded from the
download centre, or we can send you a DVD. We can also put you in touch with highly experienced professionals, who make their arrangements directly with you.
Please note that we do not supply the fixings and do not give advice on fixings. Our systems are designed to withstand the required loads as specified in BS6399-1:1996 for domestic and residential areas and for areas not susceptible to overcrowding (A, B & C3 in table 4 on page 9) under the assumption that the correct fixings are used and that the structure itself can support and withstand these applied loads. The fixings together with the suitability should be determined by the structural engineer on the project.
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