Galvanised & Powder-Coated Black Walkout Balcony — Crummock, Cumbria
Dio-Met was contracted on a full-service basis to survey, design, manufacture and install a steel walkout balcony at a home in Crummock, Cumbria (CA13). The balcony makes the most of a first-floor room and the open countryside views, with metal railings to two sides and a custom louvred steel privacy screen designed specially for this project.
Project overview
- Client type: Residential
- Location: Crummock, Cumbria, CA13
- System: Walkout balcony, ornate-style metal balustrade (based on our Walk-Out Balcony + Ornate Balustrade)
- Finish: Hot-dip galvanised then powder-coated matt black RAL 9005
- Railings: Vertical-bar metal balustrade to two sides
- Privacy screen: Custom louvred steel panel behind a structural balustrade panel
- Deck: Steel joists with black composite decking
- Fixings: Wall-fixed steel frame with customised support post positions
- Scope: Full turnkey: site survey, design, manufacture, delivery and installation
The brief
The client wanted to turn an under-used first-floor opening into a proper outdoor space, taking in the countryside views to the rear. The balcony needed railings to two open sides, and a degree of privacy on the side facing the neighbour. The client did not want glass. The other complication was the ground below: an existing external staircase and the garden layout meant the support posts could not simply drop straight down on a standard grid.
Design and fabrication
Dio-Met designed the balcony around a galvanised steel frame, finished in matt black RAL 9005 powder coat. Galvanising first and powder-coating over the top gives two layers of protection, which matters on an exposed Cumbrian elevation. The deck is built on steel joists with black composite decking, a low-maintenance surface that suits the finish and shrugs off the weather. The railings are an ornate-style vertical-bar metal balustrade to the two open sides, in keeping with the house.
To work around the existing staircase and the garden below, the support post positions were customised rather than dropped on a standard grid, so the structure lands cleanly and keeps the access route to the steps clear.
A custom louvred privacy screen
The client wanted privacy on the neighbour side but did not want glass. So Dio-Met designed a one-off solution: a louvred steel panel set behind a structural balustrade panel. The angled steel louvres break the direct sightline and give a real sense of privacy, while the gaps let the wind pass straight through rather than catching it like a solid or glass screen would. On an exposed site, that matters. It also keeps the whole balcony in one material and one finish, so the screen reads as part of the design rather than a bolt-on.
Survey, manufacture and installation
Dio-Met surveyed the elevation, the existing staircase and the ground conditions before design, so the post positions and fixings could be set out exactly. The frame, balustrades, louvred screen and joists were fabricated at our Sheffield factory, galvanised and powder-coated, then delivered to Cumbria for installation. On site the frame was fixed back to the building and onto its posts, the composite deck laid, and the railings and privacy screen fitted to finish.
Expert insight
"Glass is not always the right answer for privacy. On an exposed site a louvred steel screen does the same job, lets the wind through instead of fighting it, and keeps the whole balcony in one material. It is the kind of thing we can do because we design and make everything ourselves."
Frequently asked questions
Why choose a louvred steel screen instead of glass for privacy? A louvred screen breaks the line of sight like glass does, but the gaps between the louvres let wind pass through rather than catching it. On an exposed or elevated site that reduces the load on the structure, and some clients simply prefer steel to glass. Because we design and fabricate in-house, the screen can be made to match the balcony exactly.
What is a walkout balcony? A walkout balcony is a full structural platform you can walk out onto and stand on, supported by a steel frame fixed to the building and, where needed, posts to the ground. It is different from a Juliet balcony, which is a railing across a door or window with no standing platform.
Why is the steel both galvanised and powder-coated? Hot-dip galvanising protects the steel from corrosion from the inside out, and the powder coat adds a tough, colour-matched finish on top. Together they give the longest maintenance-free life, which is worth having on an exposed Cumbrian elevation.
Do walkout balconies need building regulations or structural calculations? Yes. A structural walkout balcony must be designed to carry the relevant loads and meet guarding requirements. Our balcony and Juliet balcony building regulations guide explains what is involved, and Dio-Met designs to these standards as part of every balcony project.
Do you install balconies in Cumbria and the Lake District? Yes. This project is in Crummock, Cumbria, and we survey, design, manufacture and install walkout balconies, balustrades and privacy screens across the UK from our Sheffield factory.
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Planning a walkout balcony or privacy screen?
Thinking about a walkout balcony, a custom privacy screen or balustrade for your own home? We'd be happy to help, wherever you are in the UK. Call us on 0114 243 9009 or email sales@diometonline.co.uk, or request a quote online.
Tags: walkout balcony, walk out balcony, steel balcony, galvanised balcony, louvred privacy screen, steel privacy screen, balcony privacy screen, composite decking balcony, metal balustrade, Cumbria balcony
