Reconsidering Construction of New Condo Developments With Lumon’s Balcony Glazing | UrbanToronto
Balcony glazing as a concept was initiated in the year 1978, when Lumon first started its international path towards better homes. Beginning as a small company in a remote town in Finland, the past 40 years of Lumon have taken the company on a journey of changing the modern city landscape. The value of balcony glazing has especially been realized in condominium apartments throughout the years and can also aesthetically be viewed as a unifying element when considering the façade of buildings.
Celebrating 10 years this year in Canada, Lumon’s future in the country looks bright. Architects, developers and restaurant owners are realizing and beginning to harness the value of the concept increasingly over the past years, with collaboration with major developers such as that of Mattamy Homes and others. But how exactly can the benefits of Lumon’s balcony glazing be presented?
image courtesy of Lumon
When thinking of the lifecycle of buildings, a glazed balcony façade protects the building and concrete structures, reducing the need for façade repairs. The non-glazed balcony requires a more extensive refurbishment every 10 years, while a regularly maintained glazed balcony moves the repair time to 25 years, as long as the balcony glazing is regularly serviced. The protection provided by the glazing from elements such as extreme temperatures, rain, snow, humidity and other elements, are factors that result in a more than doubling of the repair interval.
Glazed balconies also support energy-efficient thinking. A glazed balcony reduces heat loss as well as acts as a ventilating structure when some panels are left open, bringing in energy savings. The average energy savings amount to 15%. In city apartments, another considerable benefit is noise reduction by up to 50%. These elements, as well as added space, improve the overall livability in city homes. As the structure is retractable, this also means that it is not considered as part of the gross floor area, meaning that the outside space is still kept as an outside space. If considering permit processes, this is a significant benefit for builders, developers and architects alike.
The installation of Lumon’s balcony glazing and the associated planning requires the consideration of various technical elements. Whether it is the current condition of the balcony, the easiness of fastening the system to the building or the material of the flooring on the balcony, many factors play into retrofitting Lumon’s product onto finished buildings. Although the implementation of Lumon’s systems after completion of projects is of course possible and the value that is provided is still significant, the benefit of including Lumon in the planning process of new developments has certainly been seen.
Considering the implementation of Lumon’s systems in the planning phase enables for the easiness of installation later in the process, and a smoother collaboration between technical elements of the building as well as the balcony glazing. This also streamlines the look of the exterior of the building, with the glass creating a timeless and classy look. The seamlessness of the design also ensures that the design of the building itself is not lost in the overall appearance.
image courtesy of Lumon
We consider ourselves to be in the business of building better homes, better lives and a better world, not necessarily plainly in the business of glass enclosures. Improved usability, space and comfort are major elements in providing value to our customers, especially considering city dwellings. As Lumon becomes more recognized in the North American market, we hope to work together with many more architects, developers and contractors in modernizing the urban landscape.
For questions and inquiries, contact Project Development Manager Henry Nieuwenhuis at:
Henry.nieuwenhuis@lumon.com or call +1 905-407-4476
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