How to install vertical timber slats on concrete handrails?

Beginner20

Hello,

I want to replace the concrete balustrades with aluminium balustrades but I am unable to do so because the concrete balustrades are bolted into asbestos columns 🙁

The only thing I could do is "dress" the concrete balustrades up a bit to make them less dated by installing vertical timber slats on top of the concrete handrails and hanging some faux plants and flowers to improve their aesthetics in a Hampton style.

Are there anything I could use to fix/glue the vertical timber slats on top of the concrete handrails without touching the asbestos columns?

I've attached an inspo pic (vertical timber slats were installed below the balustrades which is opposite of what I want to achieve) and current balustrades.

Current balustrades are only 900mm which arent compliant so installing some vertical timber slats on top of the handrails will make it compliant 🙂

MitchellMc

Hi @Beginner20,

Installing vertical timber slats directly to the side of the concrete handrail would be tricky, as there's not a great deal of surface area to fix them securely, especially if they’re intended to add height for compliance. For a more stable solution, you could consider boxing in the existing concrete handrail with timber. This involves attaching vertical timber boards to both the inside and outside faces of the concrete, using a strong construction adhesive like Sikaflex 11FC or Liquid Nails Landscape and fixings, and then placing a horizontal timber cap across the top to form a solid timber sleeve. This new structure provides a secure surface to screw additional vertical slats into, allowing you to extend their height above the original balustrade while staying clear of the asbestos columns. It also gives you much more flexibility in terms of design, making it easier to create that vertical slat look and space them close enough to meet the standard 100mm gap requirement.

If you wanted to take the design further, you could even run the slats downward from the timber cap to the balcony floor to cover the existing columns entirely, giving it a completely fresh appearance and potentially assisting further with compliance. I'd just point out that the current gap between the columns appears like it far exceeds requirements, but you might be intending to bring the vertical slatting down to the surface beneath.

I've created the below rendering to illustrate.

Given that you're working around asbestos and the great importance of not disturbing it, I highly recommend you enlist the services of a professional for this job.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell