When I first went to this Nine Elms project I actually wasn’t sure if Oilcanfinish should bid for it. It was a wonderful area, and the clients gave us a realistic budget to work with, however the obstacles were significant.In total it was 60 Square Meters of decking to be replaced. The project comprised 3 balconies (2 balconies, 1 terrace actually). The flat was on the 9th floor. The parking garage has a 2mt clearance, meaning all materials would be delivered, and all waste had to be moved, not only down 9 stories but also across the rather large underground parking lot and outside the building.

The main two concerns were fire rating and project logistics of materials handling.

A1 Fire Rated Decking

In the post-Grenfell Tower era, Fire Ratings matter. They always should have, but most people ignored them primarily in an effort to reduce costs.Currently, if your project is over a certain height from the ground, it must have an A1 Fire Rating for both the decking, the framing, and the pedastals or supports. The only materials which achieve this rating are Steel, Stone, and Fibre Cement. No timber or composite decking or cladding has an A1 Fire Rating.

The client still wanted a Deck-like appearance, so Porcelain Planks is what we proposed with an Alumimium Subframe. Aluminium decking boards was also a compliant option, however we did not see anything visually appealing, and for this type of property, appearance matters.

Materials Handling and Deliveries/Removals

This was a question of labour. Scaffolding was not an option, and it is too high for cranes, so it meant manually shifting 360 porcelain planks at 15kg each up to the 9th floor in small batches. Same with the much lighter Aluminium Framing all of which was too long to fit into the elevator so each joist had to be cut to fit the elevator, then reconnected into its former length once upstairs. Also, all of the old decking waste had to be bagged and taken down the same way.

Porcelain Decking

We have been watching the market for A1 Fire Rated decking products from different manufacturers of Steel decking but have never found one which looks like it would fit into the properties of our clientele. The appearance of steel decking is industrial, walking on the boards is noisy, and it gets very hot underfoot.

Clients in upper floor flats in Nine Elms, Chelsea, and Battersea and the surrounding areas prefer something a bit more refined and have a certain style expectation, specifically that their interior flooring style is extended outside to their terrace or balcony.

Porcelain is a different story than steel decking as the appearance is consistent with what they already have in their kitchens and bathrooms, but a porcelain decking board, or plank, with a woodgrain finish is the best of both worlds.

Go back to other options for Oilcanfinish Balconies

The post Porcelain Balcony Decking Installation | Nine Elms, SW11 appeared first on Oilcanfinish Outdoor Living.

This Composite Decking project in West Hampstead NW6 included the installation of Trex Composite Decking. Oilcanfinish also built a custom balcony and staircase using Composite decking in combination with Hardwood Ballustrades and Posts. We also cladded the sides of the staircase, making the area under the stairs a storage shed to to provide usable storage space, always a premium in London gardens.

The Bespoke Hardwood Ballustrades were also manufactured and installed by Oilcanfinish Outdoor Living.

The client was looking for a low maintenance option which blended over time with its natural surroundings. All timber turns silvers over time due to UV Light from the sun. Matching this silvered timber with a low maintenance composite decking colour is easy with Trex as they have 2-3 board options from their Signature, Transcend Lineage, and Enhance Naturals ranges designed specifically to maych this colour.

Decking Products selected

The client selected Trex Transcend Lineage composite decking in the colour Biscayne for their Upper Balcony and Staircase. 

For the lower level decking, the client selected Trex Enhance Naturals composite decking in the colour Toasted Sand. 

For the Ballustrades, the client selected a tropical hardwood, we installed Sapelle Posts, Handrail and Baserails, and Spindles.

Over time, UV Light will turn the ballustrades silver making them a perfect match with the Trex Lineage Biscayne decking.

Framing & Simpsons Strong Tie

We have a set system for installing balconies based on strict building standards in North West USA which are more specific than the UK. It specifically enhanced the Post and Bearer sections of the build. Our posts do not go into the ground, they go onto a freshly poured concrete footing and are attached with Simpson Strong Tie Post Shoes which elevate the post off the concrete pad to allow water to drain off. This increases the length of service for the post. 

The second element is to rest our double bearers on top of the posts to force the weight transfer down the length of the post to the concrete pad. To do this we notch the top of our posts to slot in our double bearers. Side mounted framing timber (screwed or bolted to the side of the posts) forces the weight onto the screw itself, not down the post. If you screw fails, the whole project fails. No side mounted bearers are permitted.

So no posts installed into the ground, and all posts and bearers are connected to the frame using Simpson Strong Tie steel structural brackets and post shoes.

Oilcanfinish Outdoor Living are TrexPro Platinum level installers, the highest level within the Trex Approved Installer program.

Visit our main Balcony & Terrace Decking Page for more case studies.

Visit Trex UK for more decking ideas

The post Trex Lineage Biscayne | Composite Decking in West Hampstead NW6 appeared first on Oilcanfinish Outdoor Living.