The History of the Balcony

The balcony is as old as the multi-storey house. If you want to build a two-storey house and you design it so the second storey has a smaller footprint than the first storey, there will be a rudimentary balcony. Enclose the upper terrace with a balustrade and you have the ‘modern’ balcony – which dates at least as far back as Ancient Greece!

The Etymology of ‘Balcony’

The word ‘balcony’ comes from the Italian balcone. Until the 19th Century, the English word ‘balcony’ was stressed on the second syllable, betraying its heritage. Related words crop up all over the Indo-European language family. Similar-sounding terms with related meanings can be heard in the Old English balco and the Persian balkaneh.

The Appeal of the Balcony

The appeal of the balcony today is the same as its appeal in times historical. To be outside, but also away from the noises and smells of the busy streets. To enjoy the privacy of your own premises and the better view of the city provided by an elevated position. To sit on a balcony (albeit one constructed from Glass Reinforced Plastic) is to share a pleasure that may have been enjoyed by the likes of Socrates, Augustus Caesar, and of course a certain 16th Century girl being wooed by her lover in Verona.

The Juliet Balcony

This brings us neatly to the Juliet balcony. The Juliet balcony is not, strictly speaking, a balcony – it is either a fenced-off hole in the side of a building, or a little jutting-out balcony supported by struts underneath rather than a roof. It is a romantic idea, though.

The Modern Balcony

The modern balcony or roof terrace shares with its ancestor the features of open space and balustrade. It offers some improvement on the classic design, with anti-slip floor tiles that aid stability when walking on your balcony after rainfall, and modern durable materials. Balconies can be built over any flat roof that has sufficient strength to hold the extra weight. We recommend Glass Reinforced Plastic or three-layered felt systems.

If you would like us to construct or maintain a balcony, roof terrace or roof walkway, call us on 01603 418818 for a free no-obligation roof survey.

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