Advice please on Balastrade Removal on a porch.

It's impossible to tell, but if the job was done properly there will be two thin but strong metal rods in the underside channel of the capping to the balustrade, back filled with mortar or cola etc, so you won't be able to see them.

What I'd do is use an angle grinder to cut through the capping where you want to end it - make sure the balcony door is closed first, or you'll get some earache form the missus.

Depending on the balusters themselves, the most likely situation is that they'll have a wire loop protruding from the top, through which the metal rods are threaded. A few gentle taps upward with a lump hammer should free things enough that you can get at the wire loops with a pair of wire cutters.

Having then removed the waste capping, if you just rock the balusters you should find that the metal spike at the bottom of them should come free from the cola, so you can lift them off.

You then just need careful use of a brick bolster to free the bottom pieces from the floor tiles.

If these were fixed down with cola, then you'll just have to carefully scrape away at it, as nothing shifts cola. If however the job was done using a cement based compound, then agua fuerte will remove any residue.

You then have a nice gap through which to push the missus if she did give you any earache.

If you were nearer you could borrow my angle grinder, but hopefully someone else will volunteer one. If not:

http://www.thehirecentre.net/search_en_mobile.pl?group_code=Building

Ha ha, Many Thx Jim, I had a good laugh too 

If your property is part of a condominium ownership you cannot remove any of the so called common elements, and the balustrade is one.

Oh Jeez - Thx I will have to check this out first then !!!

Thankfully it's Not part of a Condominium