Balcony value elements
There are a number of elements that may alter the value of your balcony addition. Whereas some elements, like sq. footage, may appear apparent, there are many others to think about, like the way you’ll get onto your balcony — sliding door? French doorways? — and constructing supplies. Listed below are a couple of elements to bear in mind earlier than beginning a balcony building mission.
Use of exterior beams
The largest impression on the value of your balcony is the design. For those who don’t thoughts the balcony wanting extra like a second-story deck and being supported by beams, you’ll pay a lot lower than if you’d like the balcony to drift.
“If you don’t do the posts, and you want to have it just floating out there, you have to run new supports under the floor,” Lonsdale explains. “So usually that means taking off the sheetrock or plaster underneath to allow you to attach them.”
These helps are normally pretty lengthy. Lonsdale estimates {that a} six-foot broad balcony must be supported by 16-foot lengthy wood joists. Not solely does this value much more when it comes to supplies, it’ll additionally require a considerable amount of labor. Elements of your house might also be uninhabitable throughout the mission.
“It’s usually more than you expect,” he says.
So if you’d like an excellent stylish balcony such as you’d discover off of a Parisian home, be able to face the value tag.
Venture dimension
The scale of your balcony will even tremendously have an effect on its value. A balcony that’s 6 ft by 10 ft will value greater than a balcony that’s 5 by 5 ft. Moreover, the longer a balcony, the longer the assist joists going into the ground.
“If you come out the door and it’s just a place to get some air and stand out there for a few minutes and that’s all they want it for, that’s smaller,” Lonsdale explains. “But others want a balcony that’s a little wider, a little longer, they can put a barbecue on one end and a couple chairs.”
A second-story deck that’s 10 by 14 ft on common prices between $2,800 and $12,600, based on HomeAdvisor. Nonetheless, should you wished one thing bigger, like a 10-by-24-foot deck, you’d be taking a look at a mean value between $4,800 and $21,600. And keep in mind, a real balcony with out exterior assist beams will value greater than the common second-story deck.
Labor value in your market
As a result of setting up a balcony takes quite a lot of time, labor can be a big think about your value. Contractors all set their very own charges, however additionally, you will see a variation in labor prices primarily based on the place you reside. For instance, the imply hourly wage of a building laborer is $32.59 in Massachusetts, however is $19.47 in Texas, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Supplies
The supplies you employ in your balcony will even tremendously have an effect on your value. Nonetheless, you might be restricted to sure supplies that may climate the weather. For instance, should you use wooden, you’ll want to ensure it’s pressure-treated so it gained’t warp and decay from publicity to the climate.
“The huge concern with balconies is keeping them watertight and building them with a pressure-treated material,” Lonsdale feedback, referring to materials like wooden that has been infused with preservatives to guard from rot and bugs. “Everything outside has to be pressure-treated.”
Supplies like iron and stone will usually value extra to work with, though you could discover them extra aesthetically pleasing. Including different elaborations like ceramic tile may add to your prices.
Balustrade design
Just like the supplies, the kind of balustrade — or assist columns — you select will have an effect on the value of your mission. The columns sometimes maintain up an awning or veranda. However even should you don’t have one thing on high of your balcony, you’ll want a railing. Railings might be very cheap if you’d like a easy design, however can turn out to be very expensive.
However once more, all of it will depend on how ornate you need your balcony to be.
“Whenever I hear ‘balcony,’ I think of something a little more architecturally integral to the building,” Lonsdale says. “Something that looks like it’s not just planted on there, it’s intentional, it has some sort of shape to it and some nice features.”
Entry (door, retractable wall and many others)
For those who’re constructing a balcony the place there beforehand was nothing, you’ll most probably want to put in some form of door on the wall bordering the balcony. There are many choices right here; you possibly can set up a typical door, a glass sliding door, French doorways, or perhaps a retractable wall. Some selections are extra expensive than others. For instance, prices for a sliding door begin round $250 whereas French doorways begin round $211.
“That’s a big factor, and there’s different types of doors, and depending on what type of siding they have, and finishes on the inside and trimwork, the cost will change,” Lonsdale feedback.
