Most often, the balcony is used as a place to store unnecessary things. In summer, winter things are removed there, and in winter – summer things are. But here the question arises: how much weight can a balcony hold?
If you load your balcony with too much weight, it could collapse, seriously injure others and even lead to fatalities, which is why you should be knowledgeable about how much dead load your balcony can handle, making it possible for you to control the number of plants, the furniture and other items you place in it.
All balconies can safely maintain a certain weight, which depends on the size of the balcony, its structure, how it is load rated, the materials from which your balcony is made, and its load-rating capacity.
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Anyways, let’s figure it out together!
Table of Contents
How much weight can a balcony hold?
Small balconies can support the weight of ten people. And if your balcony is designed properly, it can hold at least 22-45 kg per square foot.
Anyway, all balconies are built differently, and they can withstand different weights. And if you want to know how to determine what weight can your balcony support, read our detailed article.
Factors to consider in determining the weight capacity of a balcony
All balconies can hold different weights.
A lot of people spend their time on the balconies, even if they don’t know the weight limits of these structures.
Even if your balcony looks sturdy and built with the right materials, remember: anything can happen. By that, I mean they are good materials, and strong supporting columns and an experienced structural engineer cannot ensure the safe use of your balcony.
So, here we prepared some reasons that influence the weight capacity of your balcony.
1. Balcony railings.
2. Dead and live loads.
3. Structural integrity of the balcony.
4. Support columns.
Balcony railings
There are different types of them:
- Steel.
- Glass.
- Wood.
- Aluminum.
The one that is usually used as balcony railings is steel railings. Make sure that your railings are properly secured and not rooted or loosed, if they’re like that you should immediately replace them. You also need to be sure that they can hold your weight and don’t have any visible cracks.
Dead and live loads
Live and dead loads are a specific amount of static weight for which balconies are designed and structured.
Dead loads. It includes the total weight of the materials used, such as railings, support beams, concrete slabs, and all other materials that are permanently fixed to the substrate. It also includes pavers and the tile system.
Live loads. They are made up of any temporary forces acting on the building’s structural element. They include items of furniture, people, and any other items that are not permanently fixed.
If the total weight of live and dead loads together exceed their set limits, your balcony could be a safety hazard.
Fact: Balconies are perfectly constructed to hold a live load equal to 1.5 times that of the building’s adjoining or adjacent space, for example, a living room or bedroom.
The structural integrity of the balcony
Before placing plants, items of furniture, and other things on your balcony, you should know what weight can your balcony withstand.
Usually, balconies are made from a mixture of concrete and rebar, but a weak structure can have small cracks through which water can seep through and corrode the rebar, thereby weakening the structure of the balcony and making it less durable. And this is serious water damage to your balcony and safety. You may end up with a sagging balcony.
Even if your balcony was built according to the local building code, there still remains an element of risk. Natural factors can also compromise structural integrity, especially in regions with extreme weather conditions.
The construction process of a balcony and the materials used also affect its strength. Concrete mixtures have certain proportions and ratios. So, the strength of your balcony is also affected by the structural engineer and builders.
Support columns
Balconies may have various support features to give them better structural strength. One of them is support columns.
Support columns are meant to hold the maximum expected load. The notching of columns must be properly designed to provide strong support for balconies. They work as a firm resistance for the balcony.
Conclusion
Balconies, as a rule, are quite safe, so you don’t have to worry that they may tip over or collapse.
By considering the factors depicted in this article, you’ll generally calculate how many stacks your overhang can carry, making it conceivable for you to be secure when welcoming individuals over or including live loads outside.
If you notice that your overhang may be at chance of collapsing, you’ll have to contact a basic design to be sure.
However, a few signs that your balcony may be carrying more weight than it can handle include drooping overhang split, and other harmed zones, showing it’s not as solid as it used to be.
To conclude, it is evident that you simply cannot foresee an exact numerical figure for how much weight an overhang can hold.
By considering all the components, in any case, you’ll choose how much weight you’ll be able to put on your balcony, guaranteeing you avoid it from getting to be a security risk.
Danger signs to watch
If you’re worried about your overhang not being able to hold your weight, then you should look out for our danger signs. These signs can also be a safety hazard.
Cracks
If cracks appear, this means that the overhang is stressed by something, such as overload or weakening of the support features.
Missing or damaged parts
Missing or damaged parts are a potential sign that something is wrong.
Parts, that you should look out for, include:
- loose boards
- splinters
- rotting wood
- rusted or missing nails
- loose fasteners.
FAQ’s:
How do you know how much weight a balcony can hold?
It depends on the size, structure, location, and even the building to which the balcony is attached. If you want to know what weight your balcony can hold, then read our detailed article!
Can my balcony support a hot tub?
A typical balcony does not accommodate a full-size tub. Balconies usually can carry between 60-100 pounds per foot – while full-sized bathtubs can likely be up to 100 pounds per square foot.
What is the weight limit for a concrete balcony?
The maximum living loads for the occupants of four or more floors in four or more stories are designed to be 50–100 pounds per square foot. So, you can place your plants there with no worries!
What holds balconies up?
Balconies are typically supported by a combination of structural elements such as beams, columns, and cantilevers. Beams are horizontal members that distribute the load of the balcony to supporting columns or walls.
Columns, which are vertical structural elements, provide vertical support and transfer the weight to the foundation. Cantilevers, on the other hand, are extensions of the floor slab that protrude outward without the need for additional supports, relying on the principle of balanced forces to hold the balcony up.
How safe are balconies?
Balconies are pretty safe if they are designed and built rightly, but also there were a lot of balcony collapses or even fatalities.
While extremely rare, balcony collapse can be a devastating occurrence – the first step to ensuring balcony safety is to check for cracks or loose poles & rails. Also, check for rot and corrosion, as mentioned above. It is of utmost importance to have these issues fixed if found on your balcony.
Also, a person faces serious danger if walks out onto a second-floor balcony with rotting wood floor, for example. The wood may crack, and the person can trip or even fall.
Read also: how to hang a hammock on a balcony
