A glass Juliet balcony is one pane of laminated safety glass fixed across a door or window opening, held at each side, either on the outside face of the wall or inside the opening. You design it in our Juliet balcony designer, which draws it to size and prices it online where we can. Anything outside the limits goes to a person for a quote.
What is a Juliet balcony?
A Juliet balcony is a glass barrier across a door or window opening. It does not stick out from the wall, so there is no floor to stand on. The design is one pane the width of the opening, held at its two sides by our Juliet balcony systems, using either vertical profiles or glass clamps.
How does the Juliet balcony designer work?
In the Juliet balcony designer you:
- Enter your door or window opening.
- Choose the fixing system and whether it is face fixed or reveal fixed.
- Choose the glass and the finish.
- See the balcony drawn to size in 2D and 3D.
Where we have a price for every part of your design, you see it online. Where we do not, or where a size is outside the limits, the design goes to a quote and the designer tells you why.
Should I choose face fixed or reveal fixed?
- Face fixed: the fixings go on the outside face of the wall, either side of the opening.
- Reveal fixed: the fixings go into the sides of the opening itself.
Which suits you depends on your wall and opening. The designer offers both. If you are not sure, ask us or book a measure visit.
What glass is used?
Every Juliet balcony we make uses toughened laminated safety glass. The designer offers three build-ups, shown as 13.5, 17.5 and 21.5 mm toughened laminated. These are the options available in the designer, not a rule for choosing one. Which build-up a system takes, and how wide each can be, depends on the fixing system.
Laminated glass cracks but stays in one piece on its interlayer when it breaks, so the pane stays in place. Our guide to toughened, laminated and annealed glass explains more.
How high does a Juliet balcony have to be?
The minimum guarding height is 1,100 mm, from Approved Document K, which lists Juliet balconies with external balconies and roof edges. Measure from the finished floor level. If your design is lower than 1,100 mm, it goes to a quote rather than being priced online, so a person can look at it.
Our balustrade checker also compares a height against Approved Document K.
Is there a maximum width?
Yes. Each glass thickness in each system has a maximum width. These limits are hard limits: a design wider than the maximum for its glass is not priced online and goes to a quote.
What finishes can I choose?
The fixing hardware comes in these finishes, depending on the system:
- White
- Grey
- Matte black
- Aluminium
- Black
- Silver
The designer shows the finishes available for the system you choose.
Do I need building control or an engineer?
A Juliet balcony is a barrier, so it has to hold people back. Have the supporting structure and its fixings checked by an engineer. Our general balustrades guide covers barrier loads and the checks a barrier needs.
This is general guidance. For your project, follow the regulations and manufacturer instructions that apply, and ask your building control body, engineer or Gas Safe engineer where needed.
Where to go next
Design your balcony in the Juliet balcony designer.
Questions we get asked
Can I buy a Juliet balcony online?
Yes, where we can price every part of your design. If a size or part is outside what we price online, the design goes to a quote and we tell you why.
Why has my design gone to a quote?
Usually because it is lower than the 1,100 mm minimum guarding height, wider than the maximum for its glass, or uses a part we do not price online. The designer names the reason.
Is the glass toughened?
Yes. Every build-up we offer for Juliet balconies is toughened laminated safety glass.
Can you measure the opening for me?
Yes. Book a measure visit and we measure on site.