One of the reasons for my visit to Italy this time (not that I really need a reason) was that our little balcony needed renovating. The concrete has been looking very sad and water had begun to seep through into the apartment…not a good look.
With the help of our good friend Paola we engaged a geometra, who decided what work needed to be done and arranged the permits with the authorities, no easy task.
Work was set to begin on 15th September, and it did. The scaffolding took 2 days to put up.
The old concrete was chipped away.
New concrete was moulded into place and waterproofing layers were put down.
New tiles were laid.
The renovated railing was installed.
The scaffolding was removed.
…we have a lovely new balcony.
The builders did a great job and were a pleasure to work with. It is great to have my balcony back, I have missed my view.
Now the whole building needs painting to match the balcony…it never ends.
Lovely!
By: Mirella McCracken on October 18, 2014
at 7:31 pm
Nice to hear from you Mirella, it has been a while.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2014
at 7:34 pm
Love it Debra! So glad I get to see the final look complete with flower boxes!
Looks gorgeous!
By: margieinitaly on October 18, 2014
at 7:35 pm
I love it too. It looks so much better than it used to.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2014
at 7:42 pm
You have such a prime spot in Bagni di Lucca Ponte and are doing a fabulous job of keeping it looking gorgeous!
By: dianepk on October 18, 2014
at 7:48 pm
We love our apartment in Ponte a Serraglio. I think it is the best spot in town.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:01 pm
And doesn’t it look fabulous. A credit to you and an asset to Ponte a Serraglio. Well done Debra.
By: Jim & Kerry on October 18, 2014
at 9:02 pm
I can’t believe how much better it looks than before. i had become used to the scruffy look.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:02 pm
Nice balcony and cool view!!
By: Дигитален Звук on October 18, 2014
at 9:03 pm
It is a great view, the best in town.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:02 pm
Fantastic Deb. Congratulations and it looks fabulous. The tiles are lovely. Thanks for the great photos. I have been looking forward to seeing the finished project
By: Lyn on October 18, 2014
at 9:06 pm
It will look even better in pring next year when i plant my geraniums.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:03 pm
Wow Deb it looks wonderful – I love that you have put the old tiles in – Garry was fascinated by the scaffolding – enjoy
By: Helen Close on October 18, 2014
at 9:43 pm
The tiles are new, they just look a bit old. I did enjoy watching the process.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:04 pm
Looks great Deb
By: Liz Litzow on October 18, 2014
at 9:44 pm
Thanks, I like it.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:04 pm
It really looks great, Deb! Well worth all the effort, the inconvenience and the money spent…
By: mulino dominillo on October 18, 2014
at 10:14 pm
The builders did a great job. I would recommend them to anyone.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:05 pm
Balcony looks great and like the choice of tiles. Well done Deb.
By: Jan Fabretti on October 18, 2014
at 11:12 pm
It looks so neat and clean after the old balcony.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:06 pm
Looks wonderful. Gives a new excuse to revist for a inspections!
By: Anonymous on October 18, 2014
at 11:50 pm
I can’t wait to put my spring flowers there.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:11 pm
A really charming balcony, Debra. They did a great job, and I love your view. Enjoy! 🙂
By: anotherday2paradise on October 19, 2014
at 12:12 am
Our view is very special, we need our balcony.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:15 pm
So beautiful Debra, my favourite balcony!
By: Gypsy richardson on October 19, 2014
at 12:13 am
Mine too.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:16 pm
Bravo!!! It looks fantastic Deb…well done!
By: leticiakondos on October 19, 2014
at 12:16 am
The builders did a great job.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:16 pm
Just love that little balcony… Great uplift Debra ..
By: lorrainewagner02 on October 19, 2014
at 1:02 am
It is a very cute balcony, it deserved a little attention.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:12 pm
And order was restored – that was quite a project. I especially like the feature tiles.
By: Jan on October 19, 2014
at 2:42 am
Once the work started it went smoothly. We lost a day or 2 to wet weather, but apart from that it was great.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:13 pm
Lovely & great view😀
By: simplysands on October 19, 2014
at 3:33 am
I can see just about everything that goes on in the village.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:13 pm
Small but perfectly (re) formed! Brava Debra!
By: janinevasta on October 19, 2014
at 5:35 am
It is quite small, but we are very pleased to have it.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:14 pm
I can see many cups of coffee or tea drank on that balcony! 😀
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on October 19, 2014
at 6:07 am
…and glasses of wine, and aperitivi.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:14 pm
Oh my goodness! It looks beautiful. You know I see balconies in need of repair all the time, here in Milan, but I never see anyone fixing them! What a story and what fantastic results.
By: The Daily Cure on October 19, 2014
at 6:36 am
We could have put up with it looking a bit scruffy, but it was letting in water, and that we didn’t need.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:09 pm
Lovely, and the duck is back in place.
Cheers Judy
By: Judy on October 19, 2014
at 7:27 am
His base was painted and he was carefully put back in his place.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:08 pm
Love your new balcony, Debra.
By: corneliaweberphotography on October 19, 2014
at 7:36 am
Me too.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:08 pm
The inset pattern tiles look lovely Deb, hope to sit out there some day
By: Anonymous on October 19, 2014
at 8:05 am
Anonymous that’s me Roz
By: Roz on October 19, 2014
at 8:07 am
You are welcme any time.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:06 pm
It looks great and I hope you really enjoy using it, but two days to put up the scaffolding? Extraordinary! That’s a couple of hours work here to meet health and safety standards that would be at least as stringent.
By: Michael Perry on October 19, 2014
at 8:15 am
My apartment is directly over a river and the scaffolding had to be suspended out of a window. I could see why it took so long. I was there most of the time they put it up and they worked constantly.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 9:48 am
Gorgeous! They did a beautiful job!
By: Eagle-Eyed Editor on October 19, 2014
at 11:49 am
It is great to have the balcony back and looking so good. I really missed my view when it was covered.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:10 pm
It looks so nice-love the tile work. And yes, what a great excuse to come back to your other home.
By: paninigirl on October 19, 2014
at 2:26 pm
It is really the first work we have had to do in 11 years. These buildings were built to last.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:17 pm
I was a lot of hard work, but definitely worth it. Your new balcony looks wonderful and what a view!
By: Renata on October 19, 2014
at 4:56 pm
Fortunately I didn’t have to do the work. I love the result.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2014
at 6:18 pm
What a lovely spot to sit with tea or prosecco!
By: Jennifer Avventura on October 19, 2014
at 6:24 pm
…or just to admire the view.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 21, 2014
at 5:28 am
Lovely balcony…indeed the most beautifull place of Ponte! It will be even better in spring when you are going to plant lots of flowers as I know you will!
By: Anonymous on October 19, 2014
at 8:44 pm
My post was anonymous! I love your balcony! Had many drinks there!
By: Annelies Monnereau on October 19, 2014
at 8:46 pm
I can’t wait to plant my spring things. I am not putting the big pots back, but the pots on the railing will be overflowing with flowers.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 21, 2014
at 5:29 am
I’m pretty sure it’s mysteriously “grown” by about 25% in area :):)
By: Richard the terrible on October 19, 2014
at 9:52 pm
It just looks bigger because I took the big pots away. They now live at Casa Debbio. The balcony exactly the same size. What a pity we couldn’t get permission to make it bigger.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 21, 2014
at 5:31 am
What a cracking balcony. We’ve often passed your place on the way in or out of BDL, and the balcony is very visible. The builders have’nt done themselves any harm either (by doing such a good job). I hope it leads to further work for them, they are clearly masters of their craft. In the meantime, as the saying goes, enjoy.
By: chris oconnor on October 19, 2014
at 10:08 pm
Everyone can see our balcony and I can see everyone from it. I love it.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 21, 2014
at 5:31 am
Nice balcony! With a great view….job well done. I know what you mean about work never ending. So true
By: timelessitaly on October 20, 2014
at 4:05 am
We would like to paint the whole building soon…a major task.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 21, 2014
at 5:32 am
It looks really good Debra, labour of love 😊
By: Andrea Waterhouse on October 20, 2014
at 10:53 am
It is great to have it done. It was beginning to look a bit sad.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 26, 2014
at 6:07 am
Cheers to the work … and hopefully in two years, my wife and I can clink glasses with you on that balcony looking at one of my favorites settings.
By: aFrankAngle on October 20, 2014
at 12:55 pm
I look forward from it.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 21, 2014
at 5:32 am
We really enjoyed that balcony on our trip to BdL, Debra. Glad the weather bird is back in his place too, making an excellent photo op.
By: Richard Tulloch on October 21, 2014
at 7:29 am
You will have to come back to try the new edition of the balcony.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 21, 2014
at 8:14 am
It turned out beautiful!
By: susanvanallen on October 21, 2014
at 5:40 pm
We are very happy with it.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 26, 2014
at 6:12 am
it looks great Deb. Looking forward to a few vino’s on that new balcony
By: Anonymous on October 22, 2014
at 1:08 pm
Sounds good.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 26, 2014
at 6:10 am
Lovely work of balony art. But it looked complicated for small space work!
By: Jean on October 25, 2014
at 6:50 pm
Our balcony is directly above a river and a very narrow footpath, so scaffolding needed to be erected to allow the workers access to the under side of the balcony. There was nowhere for them to stand.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 26, 2014
at 6:10 am
It really does look like your builders were true professional…nice job.
By: Karen on October 29, 2014
at 12:57 pm
Brilliant job! I was wondering how that scaffolding was set up, but couldn’t get a good idea. Hanging from a window, challenging!
By: Nicolet on November 2, 2014
at 2:45 pm
Looks lovely with the tiles and flower baskets back in place. Love the view!
By: Susan And Wade on November 2, 2014
at 6:50 pm
I am very happy with our new balcony.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 2, 2014
at 8:20 pm
Hi Debra could you let me have the name of the Geometra as I am considering putting an offer for a house near Bagni Di Lucca
By: Robin on April 18, 2015
at 2:46 am
His name is Palmieri and his office is at Diecimo. Good luck with the purchase.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 18, 2015
at 5:10 am
Thank you Debra will look him up
By: Robin on April 20, 2015
at 6:33 am
Balcony looks lovely think I saw it last time I was in Bagni Di Lucca
By: Robin on April 18, 2015
at 2:47 am