Balcony renovation: stylishly enhance your view

Renovating your balcony will enhance your outlook over your garden or neighbourhood. It adds a new exterior living space and better connects you with nature.

In cities, every square metre matters. Many homeowners are looking upward, transforming unused roof areas or adding balconies to create that elusive patch of outdoor space.

In the countryside, the appeal is different but equally powerful. A balcony, or roof balcony, can open a home to sweeping views of fields or woodland, changing how you experience your surroundings every day.

Assess your balcony's structure to ensure that your project is viable and that it will comply with building regulations. If your home is listed or in a conservation area, there may be further restrictions on what you can do to your balcony.

Here are five key things to consider when assessing your balcony before renovation:

1. Weight capacity: determine if your home's structure can support the additional weight of a renovated balcony. This includes the weight of the construction materials, furniture, and the number of people it could hold. An architect or structural engineer will be able to advise you on this.
2. Condition of the foundations and supporting walls: your property’s foundations and supporting walls must be inspected for any signs of weakness or damage that could affect the safety of your balcony and your home in general. Cracking, sinking or other signs of damage must be dealt with before the renovation. A building surveyor or structural engineer will be able to advise you on this.
3. Draining and sealing: your balcony needs adequate drainage to stop it accumulating water, which can damage your balcony's structure and infiltrate your indoor space. Your balcony must be sealed to protect it from bad weather and to extend the lifespan of its structure.
4. Complying with regulations:: ensure that the dimensions of your balcony, materials used, and the height of the balcony guard, comply with building regulations. An architect will be able to advise you on this.
5. Inspect balcony guards and barriers: existing balcony guards must be assessed for compliance with current building standards. Any structure that is unstable or does not meet safety criteria must be replaced.

Final tip: employ a structural engineer or architect to carry out a full assessment of the condition of your existing balcony or the proposed position of a new one. Professionals can identify hidden problems and provide technical solutions.

Your balcony design should complement your home's architectural style. If regulations allow, you can consider adding modern elements, such as glass, which will make your balcony feel more spacious.

The VELUX roof balcony is an attractive option for those seeking to enhance their home’s connection with the outdoors. Because a VELUX roof balcony sits within the slope of your roof rather than projecting outwards as a fixed structure, it usually requires less invasive construction work and fewer structural reinforcements than a traditional balcony.

In many cases, it can be installed within a few days, making it one of the most accessible ways to create an outdoor experience in the home.

VELUX roof balconies offer many benefits:

• Increase your living space: without having to construct an additional floor, a roof balcony opens up on to your exterior space, so you can go outside and get fresh air directly from your loft.
• Panoramic views: when open, a roof balcony offers a 180° panoramic view and visually expands your living space.
• More light: a roof balcony can be opened to a 45° angle, optimising the flow of natural light and fresh air coming into your home.
• Flexibility in design: you can combine several roof balconies to increase the effect of light and open space in your home.

It's important to establish a realistic budget for your balcony renovation. This will allow you to plan without compromising on quality or design.

For a balcony renovation, the costs to consider include:

• The installation of new and reinforced balcony barriers and guards
• Insulation, sealing and finishing
• Indirect costs, such as building control costs and professional fees

Leave a margin of at least 20% for unexpected costs.

Follow these steps to create a safe and effective balcony renovation:

1. Identify regulations: start by learning about building regulations and whether you need planning permission for your project. Building regulations can impact many aspects of your project, including the dimensions of your balcony, materials used, and safety measures. If you live in a conservation area or in a listed building, check if there are further restrictions on what you can do.
2. Enlist the help of experts: employ professionals, such as architects or structural engineers, to help navigate the complexities of building regulations and planning permission.
3. If necessary, apply for planning permission: if you need planning permission, you’ll need to submit detailed architectural drawings, which must be approved by your local council before any work can begin.
4. Building control inspections: once your plans have been approved, you may need to appoint building control to carry out regular inspections during the work to ensure that it complies with regulations.
5. Documentation: keep copies of all documents, permits and inspection reports concerning your project. You will need these to confirm that the renovation is compliant, and they may be useful for future projects or when selling your home.

The final phase of your balcony renovation will transform this space into a place for entertaining and relaxation.

With a roof balcony, because you’re still inside, you can enjoy placing soft furnishings that wouldn’t survive outdoors. A window seat cushion, woven throws, or a textured rug can turn the area into a perfect reading nook or morning coffee spot.

Natural materials - linen, cotton, jute - complement the sunlight beautifully and reinforce that seamless connection between home and nature.

Opt for minimal window dressings such as roller blinds or light-filtering shades that can tuck away neatly. Mirrors opposite the window can reflect extra daylight deeper into the room, making it feel larger and brighter all year round.