Wood-Framed Cantilever Balcony

[North2South]

I am doing some design development on a 4- story multi family residential development. The architect is wanting balconies that cantilever from the wood framed structure.

Does anyone have any experience with Parallam Plus products from Trus Joist. It is a pressure treated engineered parallam. We are wanting a product that will have a long life span with limited maintenance.

We have also discussed going with a good grade of cedar just for the balcony.

We have experience using steel to cantilever out from the wood framing to frame the balcony. This tends to cause conflicts between the steel erector and framer. The architect also wants to go with trex decking as opposed to concrete.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[oldrunner]

Check Weyerhauser's web site for information on Parallams. We've used it for a 46 unit town homes. Check with your local fire department concerning the Trex usage. The key to decks is avoidance of water intrusion. This means very good envelope detailing as well as proper installation and most important, really good inspection by the right kind of inspectors. Make sure that the wall opening at the deck is also sealed. The Berkeley tragedy investigation photos showed (to me) that water was possibly coming in at the door jambs and traveling down somehow to the deck. The original structural design appeared to be adequate.On the town house project, the Parallams were used to replace rotted glulams that somehow gotten wet before the units were put on the market. Had an architect design the waterproofing, another architect review the design. Then used a special inspection service for the final waterproofing construction approval. This was over 35 years ago. You might put on your drawings that periodic inspection be done. This could monitor tenant changes.