You should consider the type of balcony you want in your home, whether you’re planning for a new one or even upgrading an old one.
A balcony may make your home’s exterior design look more opulent overall.
They are perfect for hosting barbecues with friends and family and are also gratifying when you want to unwind, take in the scenery, and people-watch.
Do you already have a plan in place if you’re thinking of building a balcony structure at your house? Or have you decided which style of balcony decking will work best for your home?
Here’s a list of balcony styles to pick the ideal balcony design for your house.
How do Distinguish Between Balcony, Patio, Terrace, and Veranda?
Most homeowners confuse balconies with patios, terraces, and verandas. To choose the best match for your house, you must understand how these architectural words differ from one another.
Terraces may be built inside or separated from the structure, and balconies are built adjacent to certain rooms; that’s where you can access them.
In contrast to balconies, which are often placed at higher heights, terraces are built at ground level. The terrace is somewhat more extensive and even offers room for small gatherings of individuals to enjoy themselves.
A patio is also typically located on the ground floor; however, it need not necessarily be attached to the building’s framework.
They have more room than balconies as well. In contrast to balconies, which are often composed of concrete, patios are built using materials including bricks, stones, and concrete.
A veranda, on the other hand, is parallel to the ground floor and can even encompass the structure of the building. So, unlike a balcony, it has many access points.
Types of Balconies
A balcony is a safety railing-enclosed extension of an upper level to the outside.
The home’s overall size determines the balcony’s area, but it can vary depending on the structure of the building.
Small balconies out of windowpanes are affixed to the building, whereas arches often support large balconies on lower levels.
Balcony With Cantilevers
Structures that extend from the building’s façade are called cantilevered balconies.
These constructions lack any obvious supports; instead, they are held up by concealed beams or rods of steel or iron.
The weight of the wall is cantilevered to sustain these balconies.
These balconies can only be installed when the house is in its initial stages of construction because of how complicated their design is.
These balconies are surprisingly small because, as the balcony’s width expands, it becomes less capable of holding heavier weights, necessitating more complex constructing methods.
Cantilever balconies are often composed of concrete or steel, but technological advancements in construction materials have led to both physically stronger and more visually pleasing solutions.
When employing iron or steel, it is advised to use the thermodynamic bridging technique, which provides the structure with a thermal break.
Thermal break joints can break the heat flow, making it stronger.
Stacked Balcony
Stacked balconies are straightforward: a stack of balconies is created by connecting them with vertical supports.
In addition to providing each balcony with a great deal of support, the pillar technique also places little weight on the structure.
It is often constructed as a distinct structure and isn’t even a building component.
Vertical pillars support stacked balconies.
Aluminum materials are used to construct individual balconies stacked or attached to pillars, giving buildings or flats a seamless, uniform look.
Due to their uniform look, uncomplicated construction, and simplicity, stacked balconies are frequently preferred for apartments and smaller residential buildings.
A stacked balcony demands a tradeoff of the building’s aesthetics, but because of its simplicity, these balconies are popular.
Hung Balcony
A hung balcony physically hangs from the structure, as the name implies. Rest assured that steel wires and screws stabilize it completely.
Like cantilevered balconies, hanging balconies are supported by a big floor or plate, fastened to the structure at a 45-degree angle with the help of steel cables.
Faux Balcony
Like Faux furs, faux balconies are only for the looks!
Faux balconies go by various names, but the most common is the Juliet balcony.
This balcony, unlike others, is not a real balcony where you may set some chairs or step in.
It only appears to be a balcony from the exterior of the building, but given the available area, there is typically just enough room for a few plant pots.
Because they feature a railing, they are designed similarly to any other balcony.
These are often found in apartment complexes but also function like bigger houses.
Mezzanine Balcony
A mezzanine balcony is constructed inside the home as opposed to the other types of balconies, offering you an additional area to sit while fully aware of your surroundings.
This mezzanine balcony may be built with either a huge or small deck, depending entirely on the usefulness you desire, but it will also include rails for safety.
They often sit midway between levels and have twice as high ceilings as the norm.
Mezzanine interiors differ from normal levels since they are smaller and frequently serve a unique function.
Mezzanines may significantly alter a building’s functionality since they are integral to that function.
They can be found in various projects, from ancient buildings to contemporary manufacturing plants. Since mezzanines are rarely considered when calculating a building’s overall floor space, they can sometimes be built-in buildings in which there were no plans of adding one.
Loggia Balcony
Different from conventional balconies, a loggia balcony has a roof. It can also be built in certain buildings as a wedge-shaped structure noticeable from the sides.
From a technical standpoint, this makes it especially simple to construct.
The loggia essentially consists of a standard outdoor room in which the exterior wall and pane are removed and replaced with a rail.
It has enough space to furnish chairs and a coffee table, or you can place some pots and enjoy the views.
What Are the Common Components of a Balcony?
Walls of the Balcony
Whichever the type, all balconies have a wall. They are typically a perfect area for you to hang pots, wall hangings, and any other embellishments you might like.
Balcony Railings
The top rail of your balcony is supported by balcony rails. It looks like a fence-like barrier. A column, post, or other supporting structure is frequently used to tie them to the walls of your house.
Flooring
There are several basic flooring designs for balconies. You can have the same flooring for your balcony as your house or use wood, marble, concrete, natural stones, or decking tiles as you like.
Balustrades
The structures supporting a balcony are called balustrades. They could be short and aesthetic.
They may be surrounded by walls, touching the floor, have a tilting shape, or be more spacious and expansive in structure.
When you wish to split a balcony into smaller sections so you can make better use of the space, balustrades can occasionally also serve as room dividers.
What Are the Material Options for Balconies?
With so many options, choosing the ideal material for your balcony might be challenging. Here is a list of popular materials widely used for constructing or remodeling a balcony.
Granite
Granite is a sturdy, naturally occurring material resistant to deterioration and strain.
It is the perfect material for counters and is even better than other composite surfaces because of its poor water porosity and thermal properties. Granite endures forever.
It may be tarnished or left unpolished for a textured appearance. It is resistant to stains and most commercial or home cleaning agents.
Marble
Soft stone marble, also a natural material, has been utilized for ages by artists and is still used today, especially in laminates with a marble finish.
Marble is renowned for having a white pearl-like sheen. It comes with a range of naturally occurring veins or patterns.
There is an enormous variety of marble available.
Several options are available, from the renowned Italian Carrara marble to the more widely accessible Rajasthan marble.
Quartz
Quartz is a hard material that can be isolated in crystalline form or mixed with other stones like granite.
Artificial quartz is created using a solid binder and quartz chips to meet the demands of a specific industry and is utilized in interior design and architecture.
They come in a range of patterns and designs. As quartz finishes, quartz is also quite popular.
Plywood
It is strong and long-lasting since it is made of multiple sheets of wood wedged together.
Using this grade of wood to achieve maximum strength is also good for the environment since it reduces waste.
Plywood furniture is stronger and more durable than MDF and HDF-made goods.