Alcuf Balcony Systems
The ALCUF line of quality exterior building
products
presents a new alternative to balconies.
|
Integrated Balcony and Fencing Systems
|
Balconies
have always been a premium building feature. They provide additional
living space without reducing useable property. A Balcony is effectively
an outdoor extension of your indoor living space - an outdoor room.
Typically balconies are found
on buildings fabricated of steel and/or concrete frames. Buildings that
have concrete floors typically extend a floor/slab to provide a balcony deck.
To install a balcony on a wood framed building, is an entirely different
effort.
On a wood frame building, a balcony
must rely on its own structure to support the weight and other stresses
that will be imposed on it during the normal course of its life.
In the past, when the only typical
alternatives have been wood or steel balconies, it was difficult to
maintain the structural strength and aesthetic appearance without extensive
maintenance programs and associated costs.
Wood and steel construction require
expensive on-site labor and may require considerable maintenance particularly
|
painting to prevent rot in the case of wood structures and to prevent
rust in the case of the steel structures.
Steel structural elements
while being more durable are heavy and require lifting machinery and
more elaborate safety precautions. Wood structures of this type decrease
in strength during its useful life due to weathering and decay.
Today, the ALCUF BALCONY SYSTEM provides superior strength, beauty, life,
and value for your balcony needs. It will normally adapt to any type
of building structure, whether it is new construction, or an existing
building. For typical residential wood framed structures, there are
normally very minor design alterations required to accommodate the system.
The design of the ALCUF BALCONY SYSTEM provides for minimum labor cost
during installation. Because it is substantially all aluminum, it
requires no heavy equipment, and minimal scaffolding during construction.
This is how the overall cost of the system remains competitive even though
the actual materials are more expensive than some alternatives. Because
of its innovative design and engineering, your ALCUF BALCONY requires
minimal labor costs providing you with a very competitive balcony solution.
|
There are several alternative
materials that can be used in your ALCUF BALCONY SYSTEM. Typically the
railings are installed using our standard ALCUF FENCING picket infill.
Of course this could be various types of glass, or even cedar. The partitions
between other dwellings are typically cedar, but again, these infills are
unlimited (see background information and the story about the barn - this
is information about using wood for infills as compared to frames). Typically
the floor is a fiberglass coated plywood for maximum life and durability.
This is similar in construction as that used in the manufacture of modern
boats.
|
Adding outdoor living space...
|
Our systems are also designed
for adjustability in the event that buildings shrink or settle (typical
for wood framed construction).
There are many benefits to an
ALCUF BALCONY. To start with, there is the fact that because of its
inherent durability and virtually maintenance free design, there is
an additional level of safety that should not be taken lightly. Using
wood for a balcony structure is very unpredictable because of the way
wood is sold today.
For more information
on wood, and why it is different today than 10 years ago, ask for our
Alcuf Product Memo #004. This explains many of the changes in the quality
of wood today, and the changes in what was known as pressure treating,
and what is now known as pressure treating.
The final result is a high quality balcony
that will last as long as the rest of your building. It will outlast many
of the other major components of your building or home, for example
your roof. On the other hand, a wood balcony will require serious maintenance
or total replacement before your roof needs replacement.
ALCUF BALCONY SYSTEMS add dimension
to the exterior appearance and design of single homes, or multiple
housing units, see our brochure or site photographs and decide for yourself.
Since we have been installing these systems, our installers continually
receive complements on its design and appearance from the home-owners
or end users.
We hope this product sheet has helped
you to understand more about the ALCUF BALCONY SYSTEM. If you need
any additional information, please contact your ALCUF authorized dealer.
Alcuf Balcony with Brick Cover
Documents Menu | Next Document
|
