Can a balcony hold an inflatable pool?

Having a balcony space can be quite great. You can use it for several purposes ranging from a garden to an observation spot. So, can a balcony hold an inflatable pool?

The loadbearing capacity of your balcony is based on the material and quality of construction, environment, and the age of the balcony will determine if it can hold an inflatable pool. Before buying a pool, ask the landlord, ask a structural engineer to examine, and know what is below the balcony.

Even if it can hold it, there are still risks when putting a pool on your balcony. Here, we discuss whether a balcony holds an inflatable pool and is it worth it.

Quick navigation

Factors Determining the Load Bearing Capacity of Your Balcony

It’s essential to know the load-bearing capacity of your balcony. This capacity depends on various factors such as:

1. Materials And Quality of Construction

The strength of the material used to construct the balcony is the most relevant. Concrete in any form is usually stronger than wood. In most cases, balconies are built with either of the two. Even when it’s concrete, it still comes in several qualities. So, you’ll need to determine this as well. It’s rare to find a balcony designed to hold a pool. But if the quality is quite strong, it might have the load-bearing capacity.

2. Age

The age of the balcony also matters. Building materials often have an age where strength and load-bearing capacity peak. From then on, it starts declining. The peak age differs in each construction. But the best way to see it is that the older a construction gets, the less reliable it also becomes. So, a balcony in a 30-year-old building is less likely to be capable of holding an inflatable pool even if it has the load-bearing capacity.

3. Environment

The weather conditions also matter. Balconies in areas with mild weather conditions will likely last longer and maintain their integrity. But if you live in an area where it’s common to have extreme temperatures, you may want to reconsider. The balcony may be under stress already from the environment. You don’t want to pile on more stress that could compromise it faster.

What To Do Before Placing an Inflatable Pool on Your balcony?

Even if you think your balcony is strong enough to hold the pool. You still need to consider other things. These include:

1. Ask the Landlord or Homeowners Association

Suppose you’re renting an apartment. You’ll need to make sure you don’t make any decision that goes against your rental contract. The contract might include using the balcony and what you can put there. Such terms exist for safety reasons and to prevent inconvenience to your neighbors.

If it doesn’t, you should ask the leasing company or landlord for clarifications. If the answer is yes, at least you can go ahead to consider other things. Even if you’re the homeowner, you may still have to contend with the homeowner’s association.

2. Get A Structural Engineer to Examine

Determining the load-bearing capacity of a surface isn’t rocket science, but it requires expertise. A structural engineer has this expertise. Using a structural engineer to examine the balcony will save you a lot of trouble.

The engineer will determine how sturdy the balcony is, the effect of any extra load on it and whether it could hold the pool without affecting it in the long term. Getting a structural engineer is important when adding extra load to the balcony. It’s even important to inspect the balcony every few years.

3. Know What Is Below the Balcony

If your house has a balcony, there’s a good chance there’s something beneath the balcony. In most apartments or rental houses, it’s your neighbor. In that case, having an inflatable pool on your balcony could be a nuisance to others.

Water will splash from the pool, and when it does, it’ll likely affect those below. The structural engineer and landlord may tell you to go ahead. But you should also ask your neighbors. The water alone isn’t the issue with inflatable pools. It could also cause noise that others might not be comfortable with.

Is A Pool on The Balcony Worth It?

There’s likely a good reason you want an inflatable pool on your balcony. It could be because you want a place for your kids to play without leaving the house or for your pleasure. Whatever your reasons, you need to consider the pros and cons of having a balcony on your balcony.

The major disadvantage is the risk of the balcony collapsing. Water is very heavy, and you also need to consider that the pool won’t exist alone. There’ll most likely be people inside it. When you add all these weights together, there’s a serious risk of the balcony falling. In addition, the movement of people in the pool will also shift the weight. This increases the risk of the surface cracking and eventually failing.

Thus, it’s best to consider other options. An inflatable pool on your balcony isn’t the only way to keep your kids occupied. So, you may want to check other alternatives. It’s generally not advisable to put an inflatable water bed on the balcony, even if you can. If you want to put an inflatable pool on your balcony, the small one for children is the highest size you should go for. These are less risky, but there’s still a danger.

Most balconies are built for regular use and with safety margins. This makes pools usually unsafe on the balcony. But it’s possible to design a balcony specifically to hold an inflatable pool. However, if you have a concrete balcony, you might be able to have an inflatable pool on it.

In Conclusion

An inflatable pool might not seem like much. But when filled with water, its weight can become unbearable for a balcony. Thus, it’s usually not advisable to have an inflatable pool on your balcony. But if you want to put it there, you need to do some things first.