The era of removable balconies has begun: Balconies can now be added without the need to move.

A retrofit company based in São Paulo is implementing a new construction method that expands apartments by installing steel construction on the exterior of old buildings without balconies. Thanks to this method, property owners can add new open spaces of 35 to 90 square meters to their flats without leaving their existing buildings.

IT RISES UPWARDS WITHOUT THE NEED TO MOVE

The entire metal structure is mounted externally on the exterior of the building, and construction proceeds from bottom to top without interrupting the daily life of the residents. While the main steel assembly of the structure can rise 15 to 20 floors in about a month; The total process, including groundbreaking, civil approvals and finishing works, takes up to a year.

The most striking technical detail of the project is the demolition of the wall separating the living room and the new balcony at the very end of the construction. Since the original windows and external walls were left intact while the work was ongoing, flat owners can safely watch the expansion process from behind the glass.

DUE TO COSTS, IT IS ONLY APPLIED IN LUXURY PROPERTIES

This technique, which attracted attention after the construction videos spread on social media, is currently only economically useful in large and high-standard housing projects due to its high budget structure. It is stated that the expansion cost varies between 2 thousand and 4 thousand dollars per square meter.

In order to move balconies with a depth of more than 2.5 meters, new foundations and huge columns need to be built extending to the basement of the building. This technical necessity increases the cost of the project, making the application unsuitable for small and compact apartments.

LEGAL APPROVAL IS REQUIRED

In order for the balcony renovation to be implemented, apartment managements and property owners are required to complete a long legal approval process. In these projects that completely change the exterior of the building, the process of coming together and giving joint approval by the flat owners can sometimes take up to four years.

In addition, the application must fully comply with the minimum land and withdrawal distances specified in the municipality’s zoning laws. Since the official square meter value of the flats increases after the expansion process, the real estate tax of the property is recalculated according to the new ownership boundaries.