… for kids' safety on a balcony (in which there's nowhere to tie a net to at the bottom without drilling, which is not an option, since it's a rental).
What's the best place to find it? Bunnings?
I need a 4.5m x 25cm sheet of transparent plexiglass (polycarbonate)…
wisdomtooth on 08/07/2018 - 19:41
Comments
Whats your balcony look like?
Diagram using ms paint please.
I don’t think you will get that length cost effectively. Would it be possible to do in two pieces?
Ask for permission from the landlord to drill and place a net.
If you rent, you must get written permission from your landlord before you drill. Landlords cannot refuse permission unless they have a very good reason.
Source: Fair Trading NSW
So a good reason wouldn't be enough, it has to be a very good reason.
Preventing a child falling to death would be a very good reason.
As a landlord, if my tenant asked for permission to pay for something like this themselves, I can't think of a reason why I'd say no. It's reasonable.
Alternatively, depending on the style of the property, you could ask about putting in high tensile stainless steel wire (maybe 2 or 3 runs to cover the gap) which is what a lot of timber balconies use already. Probably a lot cheaper than the perspex and I suspect more durable too unless you are buying thick perspex ($$$)
Well, it's possibly a body corporate issue too
if the balcony balustrade doesn't meet current standards then you also have good reason to ask for permission to install something. Even an unclimbable fine mesh or even clear roofing sheets may do the job. Depending on the age of your children can the material be secured with wire or cable ties?
"Can't get strata approval" would be a very good reason.
Best to work out if you wish plexiglass or polycarb first, as two very different products. Plexiglass = acrylic = perspex - more rigid but cracks easier. Polycarb = Lexan - more expensive.
Give Australian Plastic Fabricators a call to get a quote. They are on Wattle Street Ultimo Sydney. I used them many years for some made to order perspex sheets. I don't think you want the whole 4.5m length in one piece. Probably 1.5m x 3 or 2.25m x 2.
Knowing this why did you rent it and put your family in danger?
Serious question, how wide are the gaps that the kids can just climb through? pics?
Do you actually need to cover the entire thing end to end?
https://www.bunnings.com.au/tunnelcore-1200-x-1000-x-4mm-all…
Polycarb fluted roofing sheet + Stanley knife. Bunnings around $70.
The obvious solution is just to not let your kids on the balcony unless they're supervised. That railing looks…. too climbable for my liking, even disregarding the gaps in it.
We're doing that too. The door to the balcony remains shut all day, especially now in the winter. But one cannot be too careful.
I'm hoping the net on the inside will make it less climbable, no?
Ah yeah definitely. And yes, the net should help with that too.
I'm pretty sure that balcony doesn't meet the building code. If you wanted to be a jerk about it, you could make the landlord fix it.
I think this net is too soft, also as in white, it will effect your view alot, you might better off get some aluminium mesh.
I think the perspex or polycarb zip tied to the poles even with multiple sheets side by side would be ideal. Main thing would be to stop them being able to climb up and the net won't stop this as they can still get their feet onto the cross members.
Does that balcony balustrade even meet modern standards? I'm not aware of the standard but it looks very 70's and very dangerous.
Where do I see the "modern standards"?
But, yeah, it's an old Sydney bldg.
It'd be grandfathered in - you don't need to update everyone as building standards change unless the law specifically says you have to (e.g. swimming pools). I'd wager that a majority of properties don't meet modern building standards 100%.
Of course. Thanks
True. They did put child-safe locks on all windows here as a result of new state policy. The locks are removable, so in effect it's more of a legal liability issue.
That's correct, but if a tenant or somebody raises it, the owners corp is liable for any damages that occur (i.e. deaths or injuries). If they're not spoken about, they're not liable. But if they're on written record, they're liable for not bringing it up to current code.
corflute and cable ties. Cable ties on the outside so they dont cut you when you tie them off.
Actually the polycarb suggestion is probably slightly better. cut, rotate 90, and overlap each one.
What do you mean by "rotate 90"?
My initial idea was just to buy 1 or 2 polycarb/plexiglass sheets and mount them from the inside (hoping they don't snap out of place and provoke an even greater disaster 😬)
so the valleys/channels of the polycarb overlap vertically
Got it. You're referring to the ribbed ones.
We used Perspex. Approx 6m x 45cm height was just over $100 about 4 years ago
Company in brookvale not far from Warringah mall.I fixed it used U brackets around posts with small bolts through Perspex
It didn’t crack and looked good after 4 years.
Do you still have it in place? Can you link a photo here? Cheers.
Nah sorry we took it down as the kids are older now. Very simple and effective installation though.
Just take care that the top of the perspex doesn't become a step.Kids grow quickly and something that they couldn't reach once becomes reachable very quickly. They are pretty good at getting their legs up and then pulling themselves up. Plus looking at that picture again: Pot plant- top of perspex- over.
I would put the perspex or polycarb from top to bottom of the fence not just the bottom. Even clear twinwall polycard from bunnings would work well and will provide some wind protection whilst still letting the sun through.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/suntuf-sunlite-8mm-x-610mm-x-2-4…
I picked up coloured Perspex from bunnings (privacy screen) for a similar reason and drilled it, cable tied it to the existing fence. It end up snapping in a big wind. Maybe go for plastic matting like the old 70s plastic floor runners. Bunning sell that kinda stuff by the meter.
It end up snapping in a big wind.
That just saved me a whole heap of trouble. It's quite windy at our place. Thanks, mate.
That would be a custom size so you will need to visit a perspex/plastics company.
It will cost a fair bit.
Google "perspex Sydney" and ring around for quotes.