Second-Floor Balcony Pergola and Frameless Glass Enclosure in Birmingham: Surveyed, Engineered and Installed by Azure
Azure Outdoor Living surveyed, designed and installed a Lusso Technic bioclimatic pergola and a frameless sliding glass enclosure on a second-floor balcony in South Loop Square, Birmingham, turning an exposed terrace into a year-round outdoor room. The homeowners came to Azure after their previous supplier went into liquidation before installing.
The motorised louvred pergola measures roughly 3.0 by 2.1 metres, is finished in RAL 9010 white and drains through a concealed outlet, with a three-panel frameless sliding glass run enclosing the terrace. Because the existing balcony was out of square and hemmed in by masonry and a steel balustrade, the whole assembly was engineered from a measured survey rather than fitted from standard parts.
Project Snapchat
Location | South Loop Square, Birmingham |
Sector | Residential, second-floor balcony |
Pergola | Lusso Technic bioclimatic pergola, wall-mounted, single bay |
Roof Size | Approx. 3.0m projection by 2.1m width (3019mm x 2110mm) |
Louvres | Motorised aluminium, 0 to 135 degrees, with rain sensor |
Glazing | Frameless sliding glass enclosure, three panels (approx. 717mm each), 10mm clear toughened safety glass |
Glass Run | 2126mm wide by 2180mm high |
Finish | RAL 9010 white (frame, louvres and door frame) |
Drainage | Concealed, discharging to an Azure downpipe at the corner |
Bespoke Engineering | Revised roof height, custom parapet flashings and PPC aluminium pressings (1.5 to 2mm, RAL 9010) detailed around the existing balustrade |
Azure’s Role | Technical survey, bespoke CAD design, manufacture coordination and installation |
The Brief
The owners of this contemporary apartment wanted to turn an exposed second-floor balcony into a comfortable outdoor room they could use across far more of the year. They were restarting a project they had expected to be enjoying months earlier, after their original pergola supplier went into liquidation before installation.
Their requirements were clear: a motorised bioclimatic pergola for flexible shade and shelter, a frameless sliding glass enclosure for protection without losing the view, and integrated lighting, all while preserving the clean lines of the building. After the experience with the previous supplier, they also wanted a contractor with the technical depth to handle the specific problems of an elevated balcony, not just supply a product.
The Challenges
- An out-of-square balcony with 7mm to spare. The survey found the existing terrace was not square: about 2177mm across at one end and 2151mm at the other, with diagonals of 3710mm and 3732mm. With only a 7mm gap between the pergola and the brickwork for brackets, the structure had to be designed to the drawings, not adjusted on site.
- Balustrade posts through the parapet coping. The existing steel railing posts passed straight through the coping stones, exactly where a standard waterproof flashing would sit, so a single-piece flashing could not be used without relying on sealed joints around every post.
- Preserving the approved planning layout. With scaffolding up, the owners asked whether the parapet detail could be improved. Moving the glazing beyond the balustrade would have changed the approved architectural arrangement, so the answer was a revised roof height and a bespoke flashing detail that kept the glazing where it had been approved.
- Access to a second-floor terrace. There was no route through the apartment for full-length aluminium sections and large frameless glass panels, so external scaffolding provided a controlled working platform for the whole installation.
The Process
Survey
The measured survey established the balcony geometry, the fitting tolerances and the drainage constraints, and set every dimension out from a single datum, the top of the parapet coping stone. It confirmed the terrace was out of square and that the balustrade posts penetrated the coping, and those two findings shaped the whole design that followed.
Bespoke CAD design
From the survey, Azure produced bespoke CAD drawings covering the pergola layout, the revised roof height, the parapet sections, the sliding door arrangement and every fabricated aluminium pressing, so the awkward interfaces between pergola, glazing, parapet and existing steelwork were resolved on paper before anything was made.
Engineering review
When the owners asked, with the scaffold up, whether the parapet detail could be improved, the roof height was raised so the revised flashing could be incorporated while keeping the glazing in its approved position, rather than relocating the glass and altering the roof geometry.
Bespoke fabrication
Custom powder-coated aluminium pressings were made in RAL 9010 white from 1.5mm and 2mm sheet, including two-part flashings under the sliding doors, height compensation profiles for site tolerance, and closures detailed to be cut around the existing railing posts and sealed on site.
Installation
Working off the external scaffold, the wall-mounted pergola was assembled and aligned first, then the bespoke flashings, then the three-panel frameless glass run, before commissioning the motorised louvres, rain sensor and lighting. Because the engineering had already been resolved, the parts fitted as drawn rather than being adjusted in place.
The Result
The balcony is now a sheltered outdoor room the owners can use across far more of the year. The motorised louvres rotate from closed to about 135 degrees to control sun, shade and ventilation, the rain sensor closes them automatically in bad weather, and the frameless glass encloses the terrace without blocking the view. The revised roof height, concealed drainage and custom flashings are barely noticeable, which is the point: the finished room reads as part of the original building rather than something added to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bioclimatic pergola be installed on a second-floor balcony?
Yes, though balcony installations usually need a more detailed survey than ground-level ones. Existing parapet walls, railings, drainage routes, fixing positions and access all shape the design. On this Birmingham project the survey led to a revised roof height, bespoke flashings and a reworked drainage strategy before anything was manufactured, so the finished pergola integrates with the existing building.
Can frameless sliding glass be fitted behind existing balcony railings?
Yes, but every balcony differs. Existing steel railings often sit exactly where a waterproof flashing needs to go, so bespoke detailing is usually required. Here Azure designed custom aluminium pressings and two-part flashings that work around the balustrade while keeping the enclosure weatherproof.
Why were bespoke flashings needed instead of standard trims?
The balustrade posts penetrated the parapet coping, so a standard one-piece flashing would have meant many sealed joints and long-term reliance on sealant. Azure produced CAD drawings and fabricated custom powder-coated aluminium pressings in RAL 9010 white specifically for this balcony, which improved both the weather performance and the finished look.
How does drainage work on a bioclimatic pergola?
Rainwater collects in concealed channels within the pergola frame and discharges through integrated outlets. On this project the drainage was designed around the existing balcony and routed to a dedicated Azure downpipe at one corner, keeping water clear of the enclosure without visible pipework.
Why does a balcony pergola need a technical survey before manufacture?
A survey finds site conditions that photographs and architects’ drawings miss. On this project it identified the 7mm fitting tolerance, the out-of-square opening and the balustrade penetrations, all of which changed the CAD before manufacture. Resolving them early meant the bespoke parts fitted as drawn and needed little adjustment on site.
Arrange a design consultation
If you are considering a balcony pergola, a frameless glass enclosure or a roof terrace that has to work around existing construction, arrange a consultation with Azure Outdoor Living to design a solution around your property.
