I would like more info:
Railing dimensions?
Cause of deterioration?
Amount of ferrous reinforcing in the concrete?
Amount of concrete covering the ferrous?
Quality of the concrete?
Details, drawings, etc etc would help

Horizontal railings do make nice ladders for little ones to climb up, over,
and.......

Suggest tempered glass backing in lieu of Plexiglas - glass weathers better
Stainless steel mesh of sorts could work but would be more visible


Eric Hammarberg
Associate Director of Preservation
Senior Project Director
LZA Technology
641 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10011-2014
Telephone: 212.741.1300 extension: 1016
Mobile: 917.439.3537
Fax: 212.989.2040
email:  [log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Metz [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2001 1:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: concrete balcony rail question


Problem on another annoying volunteer job:  1949 brick apartment
building - about 8 stories tall with metal corner windows, little detail
- but it has distinctive horizontal concrete railings on balconies  --
apparently pretty deteriorated and don't meet code.  Property owner has
proposed a bad looking vertical metal railing that is totally different
from original intent.  Anyone have nay experience with concrete railings
and feasibility of repairing?  Also - to satisfy nervous owners with
larger opening than 4" on center between rails -- any thoughts on
backing with wire mesh or Plexiglas or something that would fade away-
yet calm safety concerns about baby heads wedged?  I'd like to see this
building keep the horizontally of original rails -- but have no idea how
to street them away from bad vertical design at this point.  We are
meeting with code guy and owner and would love to have some decent ideas
to counteract bad ones.  Not many concrete restoration professions
around here either.

Lurker in Michigan.