What is on each sheet
The three plans and their furniture schedules are below, as the drawings print them.
| Sheet | Overall size | What is drawn on it | Key dimension |
|---|---|---|---|
| BL-1 — 8 ft x 3 ft 6 in narrow balcony | 8 ft x 3 ft 6 in | Bench, rail planters, folding table | Clear walkway 1 ft 8 in |
| BL-2 — 10 ft x 5 ft sit-out | 10 ft x 5 ft | Two chairs, table, green wall and deck | Deck raised 2 in |
| BL-3 — 12 ft x 5 ft dining balcony | 12 ft x 5 ft | Four-seat dining, grill counter, storage | Table 3 ft 6 in x 2 ft 6 in |
Schedule — BL-1 — 8 ft x 3 ft 6 in narrow balcony
- Bench with storage under, 5 ft — 5 ft × 1.3 ft
- Rail planter box, 2 ft 6 in — 2.6 ft × 1.1 ft
- Folding wall table, 2 ft 4 in — 2.4 ft × 1.2 ft
- Corner plant stand, three tiers — 1.4 ft × 1.4 ft
Schedule — BL-2 — 10 ft x 5 ft sit-out
- Green wall, 10 ft, with a drip tray — 10 ft × 1.6 ft
- Lounge chair A — 2.2 ft × 2.2 ft
- Lounge chair B — 2.2 ft × 2.2 ft
- Low table, 2 ft 6 in — 2.6 ft × 1.6 ft
- Planter run along the rail, 10 ft — 10 ft × 0.8 ft
- Outdoor light and hose point — 0.8 ft × 2 ft
Schedule — BL-3 — 12 ft x 5 ft dining balcony
- Counter with a sink and storage, 4 ft — 4 ft × 1.8 ft
- Grill or tandoor bay, 3 ft — 3 ft × 1.6 ft
- Planter and screening, 4 ft — 4 ft × 1.6 ft
- Dining table, 3 ft 6 in x 2 ft 6 in — 3.6 ft × 2.2 ft
- Two chairs, stacked footprint — 2.4 ft × 2.2 ft
- Two chairs, stacked footprint — 2.4 ft × 2.2 ft
- Vertical storage for cushions — 1.6 ft × 2.6 ft
How to use them
- Check the society rules before anything is fixed, particularly for planters, screens and any cooking appliance.
- Raise the deck on pedestals. A deck laid flat traps water and the flat below finds out first.
- Specify marine-grade metal near the sea. Mild steel on a Bandra or Juhu balcony rusts within one monsoon.
- Give a green wall a drip tray and a drain path, or the neighbour below will find it before you do.
Three things that go wrong on balconies
- Enclosing without permission. It changes the approved elevation and becomes a problem at redevelopment or resale.
- Interior materials outdoors. Laminate and MDF do not survive a Mumbai monsoon, whatever the vendor says.
- Blocked chhajja drips. Planters placed over a drip outlet cause seepage into the wall below.
Download the templates (PDF) →
Read monsoon-proofing your interiors and see the residential design service.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enclose my balcony?+
Not without society and municipal permission, because it alters the approved external elevation. It is extremely common in Mumbai and it is frequently unauthorised, which surfaces at resale, at redevelopment or when the society decides to regularise. Ask before you build.
What flooring works on a balcony?+
Anti-skid full-body tile at R11 or above, or a raised timber-composite deck on pedestals. Both need to sit above the existing waterproofing without blocking the drain. Natural timber decking looks best for about two Mumbai monsoons and then needs annual work.
How do I stop water reaching the flat below?+
Keep the existing fall to the drain, never block the chhajja drip, and raise anything you add on pedestals so water runs under it. If you are adding a sink or a planter wall, it needs a proper drain connection, not a hose aimed at the floor drain.
What metal should I use near the sea?+
SS 316 or powder-coated marine-grade aluminium within about two kilometres of the coast. SS 304 pits within a few years and mild steel rusts in one monsoon. This applies to railings, planter brackets, furniture frames and light fittings alike.
Can I cook on a balcony?+
Check the society rules first; many prohibit it outright and most prohibit anything with an open flame or a gas cylinder. Where it is permitted, an electric grill with a proper 16A point and a non-combustible counter is the workable option.