{"id":8002,"date":"2023-06-07T02:10:35","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T02:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/perfectoutdoorspaces.com\/?p=8002"},"modified":"2023-06-10T03:29:15","modified_gmt":"2023-06-10T03:29:15","slug":"types-of-balcony-support-brackets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/types-of-balcony-support-brackets\/","title":{"rendered":"Types Of Balcony Support Brackets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some people don\u2019t like balconies, especially if they are very high up. It just feels like there\u2019s a complete lack of support; if you jump too high, the entire thing will collapse. Thankfully, the brilliant engineers who came up with balcony designs developed brackets<\/strong> that are ideally suited to holding up any weight a balcony could hold. Let\u2019s look at the types of balcony support brackets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are four types of balcony support brackets: cantilevered support, supporting posts or pillars, gallows brackets with tie-rods, and hung brackets. They can all be constructed from different materials. Each type has its own uses and purposes, with some disadvantages as well.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each type of balcony requires its own kind of support bracket, and it\u2019s essential to know which is which so you can use the right one in every unique situation. They all work well if you use them in the right circumstances. Let\u2019s look at each of the balcony support brackets, and compare their construction, pros, and cons, so you can know which to use.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"How<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Cantilevered Balcony Support Brackets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A cantilever is a way of using leverage to create a support bracket or support beam for a balcony. The word means \u201ca projected beam or member supported at only one end.\u201d There are numerous examples of cantilevers in use all around us, including overhanging road signs, bridges, and, of course, balconies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cantilever Uses In Balcony Construction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cantilevers are commonly used in the construction of wooden balconies. Several wooden beams will be placed underneath the balcony floor, parallel to one another, a few inches or feet apart. These beams are fixed to the building itself in some way, then extend outward to support the balcony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wooden balconies aren\u2019t the only ones that use cantilevers. Many apartment buildings and houses have balconies that use cantilevers. These cantilevers are usually not made of wood, though<\/strong>. Especially if the balcony is made of concrete, the cantilevers will be made of some metal alloy that can provide additional strength to carry the heavier load.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Types<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

How Do Cantilevers Work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A cantilever works as a class one lever. These levers have the fulcrum somewhere in the middle between the effort and the load. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of a cantilever balcony support bracket, the load would be the weight supported by the balcony (and the cantilever), while the effort is the weight of the building\u2019s structure that keeps the lever from tipping over<\/strong>. The fulcrum is the wall the lever rests on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This form of leverage means that the weight of the load the balcony handles will be counter-balanced by whatever force the building exerts on the other side of the cantilever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Much Weight Can Cantilevers Support?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is no precise indication of how much weight a cantilevered balcony can support since it depends on the construction and the materials used. The general rule is that a well-built balcony can support 50 to 100 pounds per square foot.<\/strong> By this rule, a small balcony should be able to support ten people or 15 heavy planters with plants or small trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that this rule is only a guideline; factors like build quality, the age of the building, the materials used, and other factors like snow on the balcony can all affect the weight you can safely add to your balcony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some Guidelines For Using Cantilevers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re using a cantilever system to support your balcony, pay attention to the following tips and guidelines to use them effectively:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Use the correct ratio. The rule is 1:2. For every foot of the cantilever that sticks out under the balcony, there should be two feet inside the building to get support from the weight of the building itself. You can read more about this <\/strong>here. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n