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Advice please on Balastrade Removal on a porch.

Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 3:40pm
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Lee 03189

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Hi ALL. 

               I would like to remove a small section of balustrade on the side of my porch which is 

half the width of that displayed in the photograph I would like to know if it is cemented in place

which means I can just tap it out with a heavy hammer or whether it is actually fixed in place

by means of metal rods in the balustrade into the wall and or floor,  if that's the case, I would 

need a disc cutter and where could I hire one ? 

Thanks in Advance for your help. Regards Lee.

( N.B. if you click on the photo you can see the balustrade clearer )

Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 4:38pm

jimtaylor

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Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 4:38pm

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

Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 4:45pm

Lee 03189

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Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 4:45pm

jimtaylor wrote on Sat Feb 29, 2020 4:38pm:

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....

 

Read more...

...

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 

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Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:58pm

killjoy

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Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:58pm

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

Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 10:22pm

Lee 03189

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Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 10:22pm

killjoy wrote on Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:58pm:

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 !!!

Posted: Sun Mar 1, 2020 9:07pm

Lee 03189

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Posted: Sun Mar 1, 2020 9:07pm

Thankfully it's Not part of a Condominium 

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