What are Juliet balconies?
Named after the iconic character from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Juliet balconies do more than add a romantic touch to your property. Fixed across a window or door opening on an upper storey, they don't extend outwards, so you can't stand or sit on them - but you can still enjoy access to the outdoors and brighten your interior space with natural light and fresh air.
Imagine sipping your morning coffee with an uninterrupted view of the sunrise, spending a peaceful afternoon people-watching over the rail, or enjoying a gentle evening breeze while you relax in your room. These daydreams can quickly become your everyday life with our top-quality, clear glass Juliet balconies.
Using slim steel or aluminium profiles in combination with toughened glass panels, you can achieve the practically invisible look of a frameless glass balcony – letting the light in through the clear balustrade rather than blocking it with traditional railings. Smaller offset wall fixings can also create a seamless modern appearance.
The Juliet balustrade can be mounted directly onto the window frame (e.g. wood, PVC, or aluminium) or span the full width of the opening and attach to the masonry of the building façade on either side (e.g. brick or concrete), as the standard sizes and fixings we stock are compatible with most Juliet balcony profiles.
While customisation will increase the lead time, your Juliet balcony kit with your chosen fixings will be supplied as quickly as possible and arrive ready to install, helping you meet all relevant building regulations. So, when you order from EGW, you can enjoy your brand-new Juliet balcony system in no time.
Improving lighting and ventilation while bringing a sense of sophistication to any property, what’s not to love about a Juliet balcony from a trusted manufacturer like EGW?
Diagram Illustrating a Typical Juliet Balcony:
The Benefits of Glass Juliet Balconies at Express Glass Warehouse
As a trusted UK manufacturer of glass Juliet balconies, EGW is here to help you revamp your property's exterior aesthetics while ensuring maximum protection against the drop from a higher level. The many benefits and design possibilities that our Juliet balconies can offer include:
Exceptional Quality and Design Diversity
When it comes to quality and design variety, our Juliet balconies are unmatched. We provide a range of styles – including options for top-mounted, side-mounted, or steel button fixing systems – ensuring that every customer finds an affordable balcony style to suit their home's architecture.
While beauty is important, your safety remains our priority, which is why we combine robust construction with refined style. Our Juliet balconies are not just aesthetically pleasing – with a selection of finishes and reliable fixings, these systems are also sturdy, durable, and constructed to meet the highest standards.
Superior Materials for Maximum Safety
We use only the best materials, such as toughened glass, for our modern Juliet balconies. These materials ensure both durability and an unobstructed view through the glass when you stand at the window or door opening of your Juliet balcony system. If you choose a system with a top rail, you can also feel reassured that the rail is safe to lean on (with appropriate caution).
Designed to comply with current safety regulations for Juliet guardings, each Juliet balcony we supply has been meticulously tested to ensure they can withstand substantial pressure, giving you peace of mind and security when you choose to install a Juliet balcony system from EGW.
Easy Installation Process
Don't let the thought of installation deter you from enhancing your home's appeal. All of our Juliet balconies are designed for easy installation without significant structural changes, meaning you can fit a glass Juliet balcony over a pre-existing opening with less effort, all without compromising on safety or quality.
Whether you choose a horizontal semi-framed Juliet balcony, vertical Juliet balcony profiles, or stand-off Juliet balcony fittings, each system has been created with safety and ease of installation in mind. Afterwards, you can simply stand back and enjoy the completed look with your preferred glass fittings, from chrome or matt finishes to white, black, or anthracite grey colour options.
Simple Maintenance
Maintaining a glass Juliet balcony is straightforward. Our glass and metal balconies are designed to withstand most weather conditions and require minimal upkeep to stay in good condition. Regular cleaning and polishing, using a soft cloth and non-abrasive cleaning solution, should keep your beautiful Juliet balcony looking as good as new for years to come.
That said, if your property is located in a coastal area, you should ensure that your Juliet balcony features stainless steel or anodised aluminium fixings to withstand moisture, salt spray, and wind-driven sand particles that can speed up corrosion and lead to rust. In these cases, it’s recommended to clean the balcony more often and add a protective coating.
Order a Frameless Glass Juliet Balcony System Today
At EGW, we manufacture and supply bespoke toughened laminated glass Juliet balconies for both trade professionals and the general public. Our Juliet balconies are available in a range of glass thicknesses, from 10.8mm to 21mm, and are toughened and laminated together with an EVA waterproof interlayer for ultimate durability and safety.
Our glass Juliet balcony range also comes with polished edges, giving frameless balustrades a sleek and modern look. Plus, with custom sizes available upon request, you can contact us with your project details to get a bespoke fit that meets your specific requirements and height, width, or colour preferences.
Our dedicated team is always ready to assist you if you’re looking for advice or you need a different width, size, finish, or railing option. Simply give us a call, and we'll be happy to help you find the perfect solution for your property, with a bespoke Juliet balcony manufactured and supplied to order.
Browse our range of glass Juliet balconies today, or get in touch with our experts by calling 020 8500 1188. You can also email queries to info@egw.co.uk, and we'll get back to you soon!
Juliet Balcony FAQs
What are the safety standards for Juliet balconies in the UK?
In the UK, all balcony structures are required to meet or exceed BS 6180 and BS EN 12150 safety standards. While they are commonly known as Juliet balconies, or sometimes even a ‘Juliette balcony’, the type of structure formally known as a Juliet guarding is not covered under BS 8579, as it does not have a projecting platform.
This means that Juliet balconies don’t necessarily need to meet the same wind load and drainage requirements as an externally projecting balcony – but they still need to comply with building standards when determining the dimensions, materials, and fixing methods. For example, under Part K of UK building regulations, a Juliet balcony must:
- Use toughened safety glass or toughened laminated glass for the barrier
- Feature a balustrade at least 1100mm high (from the standing floor level)
- Have no gaps wider than 100mm (which could create fall or entrapment risks)
- Be anchored by appropriate fixings and use the appropriate glass thickness
- Include a handrail if the glass thickness is not suitable without a top rail
A Juliet guarding is a great way to provide a secure barrier to protect adults, children, and pets, but before you choose a Juliet balcony for sale, it’s crucial to get the specifications right.
For information about the necessary thickness and line load capacity of your Juliet balcony installation, you should consult the UK building standards documents, check the online Planning Portal, or consult a local building control office. To help with this, you may want to hire a professional to design, order, and install your Juliet balcony from EGW for you.
Disclaimer: It is the responsibility of the customer to investigate if planning permission is required and ensure that projects are completed to British Standards, including BS 6399-1:1996 and BS 6180:2011. EGW is not responsible for any building regulation requirements, as it is the customer’s responsibility to ensure safety precautions are met accordingly.
What is the difference between a balcony and a Juliet balcony?
A traditional balcony is an external platform that projects from a building, on which you can walk around and sit with the placement of balcony furniture. On the other hand, a Juliet balcony is simply a balustrade fixed across the opening of a window or glass door on an upper floor.
This is why the technical term is a ‘Juliet guarding’, because it is basically a guard rail secured across an opening, with no outdoor floor space. While a Juliet balcony system may project a few inches, there is little to no external projection, so you cannot sit outside or stand on a Juliet balcony.
However, you can still set up a seating area inside where the Juliet railing is installed, allowing you to look outside and feel the breeze and sunlight coming in without actually sitting outdoors. This is a very appealing option for people with pets, young children, or a fear of heights, which could make a balcony with an overhanging platform feel unsafe.
A Juliet balcony is also a more cost-effective option than a regular balcony, because you don’t have to carry out extensive structural work. Even if you need to install a new window or French doors first, fitting a Juliet balcony system is much more efficient and affordable than extending the building.
Practical and easy to install and maintain, with an unobtrusive design and elegant lines, a Juliet balcony from EGW could be the ideal solution for your budget and aesthetic goals!
Do you need planning permission for a Juliet balcony in the UK?
Juliet balconies are typically permitted developments, because they don’t extend outwards from a building the way a traditional balcony does. If the balcony has no platform, doesn’t project further than 300mm from the building, and doesn’t cause privacy concerns with a location at the front of the property, then it should be fine.
However, a Juliet balcony may still require planning permission if it will be located on the street-facing side of the building or looks into a neighbouring property, or if the building or area is subject to historical conservation conditions. This is why it’s important to seek advice from your local building authority before installing a Juliet balcony.
Additionally, you’re likely to need prior approval for any structural changes, such as enlarging a window opening or converting a window to a door for the Juliet balcony.
If you complete a balcony installation without approval and it turns out that you needed planning permission, you could receive a fine, and if the structure is found to be non-compliant, you may even be told to remove the balcony. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry – always check in advance before you order one of our Skyforce Juliet balcony systems!