Balconies are considered a luxurious addition to your home or apartment, and they often add value to your property. Unfortunately, improperly built balconies may present more of a danger than a luxury, especially since balconies are usually above the first floor of your home.
There may be a number of things that an individual glosses over when building a balcony, but it just takes one negligent action during construction to have a structurally unsound balcony. When you build a balcony onto your home, you should consider a number of things.
First and foremost, hiring an experienced contractor to build your balcony is essential. It is in your best interest to refrain from using a first-time balcony builder, as an experienced builder will know how to make your addition safe and will likely do a better job to avoid liability claims.
Second, consider how big of a balcony you want and how many people you want it to support. Your home will have a limit to the size balcony it can support, so be realistic. If you find that you cannot build the size balcony that you want on a certain part of your home, consider moving it to another part.
Third, thoroughly inspect the balcony after it is built. Ideally, you want to watch the construction of the project, as you may be able to point out potential points of concern. When inspecting your new addition, pay attention to the floor: does it feel like it can support you and does it move or make noises when you walk around?
If the floor is in good order, make sure the guardrails are adequately attached. If you can move them with your hands, you may have cause for concern. Contact your contractor to fix the problem so that it does not turn into a potential hazard.
When on a balcony, you can exercise some caution to ensure your safety. Know the limits of your balcony, and do not try to overcrowd it. It is built to support only so much weight, so overloading it may cause it to collapse.
Additionally, do not lean on guardrails. Even if they are well attached, accidents happen, and you may slip over the edge, crashing to the ground.
Unfortunately, some balconies are just poorly built and may cause you serious injury. If this is your case, learn more about holding your contractor liable by contacting the Pennsylvania balcony injury attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.
James Witherspoon
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