Balcony Reinstated

The Wendy House had a ramshackle and towards it demise dangerous balcony from its outset.   Then the big tree under which it nestled went - all with necessary planning consent - opening up glorious and sunny views from where it was.  So it became a 'nice-to-have' to reinstate it after the extension was completed and the steep embankment below was properly secured.

Dry stone walling, terracing and planting have tamed the slope but the Wendy House remained in rather uncomfortable hilltop isolation, lacking its balcony and external stairway access.

Tomorrow the stairway wizards from JRFabrications Ltd of Keighley are coming to take exact measurements for the stairway so it was timely for us to get the deck of the balcony located as a top datum line.

As a bonus and thanks to coronavirus two volunteer helpers became available so the three of us heaved the balcony railings into place and secured:

We may yet cut off the scaffolding corners as they look a bit like what they are!

Still quite a lot of work to do on the balcony overall but you get the general idea.  A wooden kick-board cum fascia will finish off the deck as well as sidewalks and the access stairs.  Planting will screen off the subframe supporting the deck.

Amazing what can be done with fibreglass decking panels that came with the tower, some old scaffolding tower components and a brand new set of galvanised and powder coated steel  railings bought for £50 on E-Bay (for that story see the link below)

https://settlestationwatertower.blogspot.com/2019/05/what-day-first-of-may.html

and now with a 6 inch fascia board for added rigidity and a neater edge for the deck:

That rather leaves the ends of the structure sticking out 4ft either side.  Unsightly but necessary to support the walkways around the structure.   A solution may be below - making use of then by creating lattices up which can grow climbing roses:

Yes I know, I know but it might work - and I have ordered the roses so we'll give it a try.  I might give the concrete supports a coat of neutral colour to soften them visually.