Creating a Metal Balcony
I was interested in creating a metal terrace for the 2nd floor in this cutout corner of my building, about 4 wide by 12 long. As you can see the building juts in and I thought I could make a long, thin terrace in that space for the 2nd floor apartment after turning the window…
I was interested in creating a metal terrace for the 2nd floor in this cutout corner of my building, about 4 wide by 12 long. As you can see the building juts in and I thought I could make a long, thin terrace in that space for the 2nd floor apartment after turning the window (pictured top left) into a door.
Where to start- I know permits are needed- structural engineer? architect? iron workers?
To be clear, I am not looking to put stairs going down, just to create some outdoor space for the 2nd floor apt in that cut-out corner. Would support columns be necessary or could it just be joined directly to the building?
Any advice or suggestions are welcome- thanks!
Interesting- thanks for all the comments and advice.
BKexpediter: I’ll send you a survey. I was originally going to do the same sized terrace/deck with stairs down to the yard- could a deck with stairs be allowed, but not a deck with no stairs (i.e. terrace)?
DIBS: Thanks, I’ll give S&H a call. Lucky for me, and as far as I know, I have nice neighbors so hopefully no worries there, though I plan to do things by the book anyway.
Before you go ahead check your zoning limitations for the balcony. In a lot of onstances a balcony can only be from the third floor and up. It is regulated by ZR 23-131 and ZR 23-132 so take a look there before you go ahead. you can e-mail me a survey @ brooklynexpediter@gmail.com and i will take a look if it is feasible
As a rule of thumb, you can’t have any combustible material as part of the structure within 3′ of the property line ao it looks like this thing needs to be all steel.
Sketch and Hammer did mine too. Fast & efficient. Do you neeed permits where you are given any circumstances like adjacent work or asshole neighbors?? S&H will do the work to code either way.
Sketch & Hammer will do it without engineer, seat of pants style. I don’t doubt their ability and they are on time and not too expensive. Principal is, yes ‘interesting’ as noted above, to deal with.
For a deck this size I would not worry about serious calculations, it’s little bigger than a fire escape. However, needs a post with footing (again, easily done), cantilevering like fire escape would be way expensive.
There was an ironworker called Joe who’s name I got from this site. Built a deck for . . . . um a friend of mine that a carpenter buddy then trimmed with wood. Beautiful. Solid as all get out and reasonable.
Sketch and Hammer . . . interesting folks.
Italian chap. Sorry, was a few years ago and I’ve forgotten last name.
You will be required to have support columns with cement footings, specs to be determined by architect.
You seem to be inquiring regarding cantilever, supporting a narrow deck from the building structure alone. Rule of thumb, you would have to have two thirds of a support inside the structure to support one third outside. I cannot imagine doing that as a retrofit so you would be required to support from below with steel.
Hire an architect or engineer. Bid the drawings and get it built.
Call Sketch and Hammer. They’ll give you a fair price, and they’ll do it right.