BalcoDeck® Case Study, Hove, Sussex

Case Study: Non-Penetrative Roof Terrace Decking & Balustrade Installation

Site Location

Hove / East Sussex
The project was located in Sussex, slightly inland rather than directly on the coastline. The building sits adjacent to a main road, which played a key role in site access and logistics planning.

Customer & Brief

Customer Type:
Property developer and landlord, owning and managing their own residential properties.

How the Customer Found Us:

The customer found BalcoDeck® searching for a non-penetrative balustrade solution online.

Project Background:
The developer had extended an existing building by adding an additional storey, creating a new apartment with direct access to a roof terrace. Planning permission was already in place for the roof terrace.

Picture Gallery: BalcoDeck Hove - Picture Gallery

 

What We Were Asked to Achieve:

• Supply and install a non-penetrative decking system and balustrade
• Avoid any penetration of the existing waterproof roof membrane or parapet
• Provide a clean, modern aesthetic suitable for a high-end residential rental
• Ensure full fire compliance due to building height
• Deliver the project quickly, as the building was close to completion

Structure Type

Connected to the building – roof terrace/balcony accessed directly from the new apartment.

Limitations & Design Constraints

• Building height exceeded 11 metres, requiring fully fire-rated materials
• Existing waterproofing was already completed and could not be compromised
• A 500mm-high parapet wall surrounded the terrace
• The parapet would be visible through the balustrade unless visually screened
• Limited time window due to overall build programme nearing completion

Access to the Space & Interaction with the BalcoDeck® Structure

The roof terrace was already finished and waterproofed, meaning the decking system had to be entirely non-penetrative.

This made the BalcoDeck® aluminium substructure the ideal solution, allowing installation without drilling into the roof surface or parapet.

The balustrade ran around the balcony area and the handrail could be fixed directly to adjacent walls, which reduced the need for posts and allowed the balustrade to run cleanly to the building edges.

Balustrade Specification

Material:

• Balconette’s Hybrid® Aerofoil glass balustrade with minimal posts, finished is Royal Chrome Anodised.

Design Choice:

• The lower 50% of the glass was acid-etched (frosted)
• This prevented the parapet wall from being visible through the glass, improving the visual finish while retaining light and openness above

Decking Material Choice

Due to fire-safety requirements, the decking material needed to be fully compliant.

Selected System:

• BalcoDeck® aluminium decking boards
• Fire-rated, durable, lightweight, and ideal for roof terrace applications
• Installed on the BalcoDeck® non-penetrative aluminium substructure

Overall Size

• Approx. 10 metres long x 2 metres deep
• Long, narrow terrace with a significant fall over the full length
• Total balustrade run: approximately 15 metres

Site Access & Lifting of Goods

• Building located directly beside a main road
• No overhead power lines or obstructions
• A HIAB crane was used to lift materials directly to the roof/loading bay
• The project was on the fourth floor, allowing use of a standard-sized HIAB rather than specialist lifting equipment

Preparatory Works & Site Setup

• Initial site survey and measurements carried out following instruction
• Detailed assessment of:
  • Parapet dimensions
  • Wall interfaces
  • Access and lifting strategy
• Decking substructure pre-manufactured in our factory
• Components assembled in sections to allow efficient lifting and rapid installation on site

Challenges

• Working on a fully finished, waterproofed roof without causing damage
• Fire-rating requirements limiting material choices
• Visual challenge of concealing the parapet behind the balustrade
• Tight programme with speed being critical to the client

Application

• Residential roof terrace for a newly created apartment
• Designed for long-term durability, safety, and visual appeal
• Suitable for rental use with minimal ongoing maintenance

Time on Site

• Day 1:
  • Delivery and lifting of materials
  • Assembly of decking substructure
• Day 2:
  • Completion of decking surface
  • Installation of balustrade posts
• Day 3:
  • Installation of glass balustrade
  • Final detailing and site clearance

Total installation time: 3 days

Result

The completed roof terrace delivered a clean, modern, and highly functional outdoor space without compromising the building’s waterproofing or structure.