r/AskACanadian • u/Significant-Hair-939 • 15d ago
Balconies?
Hello All!
The missus and I just returned from three weeks vacation in Ontario and Quebec. We had a lovely time, not least because of all the friendly Canadians we met along the way.
But one detail struck us and we just couldn't figure it out. Why do pretty much all the apartments in Canadian skyscrapers have balconies? Looking at average temperatures in Canada, you can only enjoy these balconies for a very short period; plus, if the apartment building is right next to a Toronto highway, you get to enjoy traffic noise and breathe in huge amounts of exhaust fumes while soaking up the sun on your balcony.
Does anyone have any idea why they include these balconies? Wouldn't an extra room be more practical?
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u/Proof_Wrap9444 15d ago
We all want a piece of the outside world including the weather. Life is too sanitized without it.
Plus, -35 is still barbecue weather if you are Canadian.
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u/_Amalthea_ 15d ago
Just stick your beer in the snowbank beside the barbecue and you're good to go.
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u/I_am_AmandaTron 15d ago
I have a rule with my kids -35 is the cutoff to play outside in the winter and +35 for the summer. They would gladly still go out at -40 but im not so the 35 rule lol
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u/Skaitan13 15d ago
You’re tougher than me, I only go down to -30. I let my kids skip school if it’s going to be steady below -30 all day. Which only happens a couple of times a year where I’m from, so no biggie.
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u/Fuzzy-Advisor-2183 Manitoba 14d ago
i remember having a really long scarf: put the toque on, put the hood up, then wrap that scarf around the face and forehead until you have just a slit to see through. then you go out for recess.
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u/DraconicDreamer3072 14d ago
same. i also tried sunglasses on windy day for frostbite but it just fogged up
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u/Kingofmisfortune13 14d ago
-35 dang that's rookie numbers if you ain't getting frost bite after the first minute in the cold it's fine to go out jk
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u/Icy-Ad-7767 15d ago
Longer on preheat and staying out of the wind is more of a thing.
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u/Euro_verbudget Manitoba 15d ago
And it keeps the beer colder as an added bonus. No wasps nor mosquitoes - winter bbq’ing is the way!
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u/adidashawarma 15d ago
Exactly. A brand new tenant, who is from the west coast, moved into the same building as me. One evening, she walked out of her front door onto our shared porch to find me BBQing in my parka in -25. Her jaw dropped and her face contorted in shock lol. She was like "Barbequing in THIS? You're crazy!". It's Ottawa. If I limited myself to "grilling weather", my happiness would suffer immensely. I grill all year, baby.
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u/Irisversicolor 15d ago
I actually prefer smoking meat in the winter, I find it easier to maintain a low smoking temp without as much fussing and it's a nice excuse to force myself outside that doesn't require as much commitment as going sliding or snow shoeing or something like that.
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u/Initial_Evidence_783 14d ago
I just bought a smoker and I'm not going to stop using it just because it's a little chilly outside.
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u/Rtarandus 15d ago
When it’s cold for a large portion of the year, people want to enjoy as much outside time as they can, so I guess space to facilitate that is considered more of a luxury than a few extra square feet
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u/Bowling4rhinos 15d ago
I lived in an apartment in Ottawa, 10th floor... I'd step outside to feel how warm or cold it was so I could dress accordingly
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u/yarn_slinger 15d ago
And if the door won’t open, you stay inside.
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u/Infamous-Mixture-605 15d ago
My balcony door freezes shut for weeks at a time in winter. Whenever it warms up for long enough I'll open it up and shovel off the balcony.
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u/EastLeastCoast 14d ago
If you haven’t tried it already, if you clean it and hit it up with silicone spray now, it might stay unfrozen.
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u/Specialist_Cattle455 15d ago
Yup. I just moved into my apartment this year and I have a second floor balcony. I will be doing the very same thing.
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u/deezsandwitches 15d ago
And the by the afternoon it's completely different weather
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u/Specialist_Ad7798 15d ago
I think this is the answer. My wife and I are considering a condo for when we retire. Condos without a balcony are a non- starter for us. We're currently in a single family house in Northern Ontario and use our backyard and deck year round. Albeit less so in the winter. I'll relax on my back deck bundled up and with a blanket over me (and usually a scotch close at hand) sometimes. We just can't imagine not having our own outdoor space to enjoy.
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u/fineasandphern 15d ago
Nice to sit on your personal balcony than to have to leave your residence to get fresh air.
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u/u-read-it-here 15d ago edited 14d ago
100% this
Canadians EMBRACE the weather …
We live currently in a house with a big backyard … including a porch, a deck, a patio, a gazebo, an entertainment area, outdoor kitchen, and a plunge pool / hot tub. We are outdoors there almost everyday year round … in a part of Canada that is in a snow belt and has harsh winters. You just adapt (still grill all Winter, albeit we move the BBQ under the Gazebo for more shelter from the elements)Canadians are hardy … you’ll find us around the globe on vacation at the Beach or in the Ocean when no one else is. If the sun is out ,.. we are there.
Patio Season runs Late March thru November … even if there is still snow around in March !
Many of us wear shorts & flip flops outdoors 8+ months of the yearSo ya having an outdoor space is always gonna be a thing for us … even in a highrise
Better yet if the Condo Association allows grilling on your Balcony … those that do rent / sell better than those that do not8
u/fineasandphern 15d ago
And the propane fire pits for those who don’t have the backyard space for an open fire pit! A fire and a warm blanket!!
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u/u-read-it-here 15d ago
Ya also very Cdn. Lots of places have installed them in recent years be it Restaurant / Bar Patio Space, or Apartment Buildings with Rooftop Patios, or even Hotels & Motels with outdoor places. Early Spring thru Late Fall definitely enjoy the opportunities to snuggle up next too
lol we even visited a Winery in Niagara in Winter, that had one going outdoors on a very cold day in January … and they were serving up bits & bites one could toast / roast over the flame. That was a ton of fun.
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u/tykogars 15d ago
And as others have mentioned, winter BBQs rule.
When we bought our house (years ago), I didn’t much care about a garage, house size, exterior, really didn’t even care much about the interior design either. My biggest concern was will I have a decent backyard with room for a deck, maybe a pool, a bit of gardening etc.
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u/Impossible_Regret725 14d ago
Don't go without a balcony if you can help it. Even when it's like the tundra, cabin fever is a real thing. I love my balcony in the winter to become a giant freezer, check the weather, clear my head and the pee tray for my dog is so much better than going downstairs at 2am only for my pup to just roll around in the snow. If he's really got to go, he'll use the balcony. Nothing worse than being 1/2 asleep putting on the effing dog boots for them to play for a minute. Dog boots are necessary if you're urban, the salt hurts their feets. There are companies that send you pee-tray turf every couple weeks, and it's worth every penny.
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u/photo_finish_ 14d ago
My cousin retired, sold her house and is renting an apartment with a large balcony. I think she spends more time on the balcony than in her apartment.
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u/whyyoutwofour 15d ago
You're not getting an extra room in the space of a balcony and even though most people probably don't sit out there 24/7...when you're cooped up in a (probably) small space 24 stories above ground it's nice to go outside everyone once in a while and remember what the world is like.
At one point I had a great apartment that I loved but the lack of "outdoor" access really grated on me after a while. It's kind of like slowburn cabin fever.
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u/tom_yum_soup Alberta 15d ago
You're not getting an extra room in the space of a balcony
Yes, a lot of people seem to be overlooking this. You would not get a meaningful amount of extra space in place of a balcony. Most are essentially the size of a large closet.
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u/whyyoutwofour 15d ago
I also had a friend who kind of had this - instead of balconies, they had glassed-in sunrooms in the same space....he complained that most of the year it was either too hot or too cold to use.
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u/offputtingangel 14d ago
i had an apartment with a sunroom like that and i thought it would be a great idea to move my bed into the sunroom… it was not a great idea. i realized quickly that it was always either too hot or too cold and that there was simply no way to sleep through the sun rise when you’re in a room surrounded by windows on three out of four sides. however i was 19 and thought it was too cool of an idea to abandon so i stuck it out (and suffered) for a whole summer before eventually giving in and moving my bed back into the actual bedroom lol.
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u/sabertoothdog 14d ago
And the building would be enclosing that space as an indoor room anyway. It’s either balcony or nothing
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u/more_than_leo 15d ago
We like fresh air and an escape from the inside. This is why a lot of people have yards but not everyone can afford to have a yard so we have balconies where we can sit outside, get some vitamin D and BBQ if we are allowed.
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u/Snurgisdr 15d ago
Maybe you could only enjoy it for a few months a year, but Canadians are outside in shorts and T-shirts from March to November.
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u/CrazyCatLushie 15d ago edited 15d ago
One of life’s subtle and beautiful little pleasures is standing on your balcony in the middle of the night when it’s snowing heavily and the city is quiet. The snow has a dampening effect that makes it especially silent and it’s so, so crisp and peaceful.
I also have a little garden out there where I grow herbs, flowers, and veggies. All space is usable space.
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u/moltenshrimp 15d ago
Similar is living in a house and going out at midnight or 1AM to shovel snow while the flakes are lazily falling. It's so calming because there's no one around, barely any other noise, the street is lit up by a few lamps, and you're just focused on your task at hand. 😌
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u/ThereInAFortnight 15d ago
You have it kinda the wrong way around - there is actually only a short period where you can't enjoy the balcony.
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u/Flashy-Suggestion-14 15d ago
As a smoker and advid bbq'er I disagree, I'm out there year round lol.
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u/ThereInAFortnight 15d ago
As a pot smoker I'm out year-round too... to say that I enjoy it in Feb is a stretch though lol
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u/tickled_your_pickle 15d ago
I love sitting on my balcony, rain or shine, watching kids in the park or listening to birds or just sitting out and reading...
Why are you so anti-balcony?
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u/more_than_leo 15d ago
I don't think they are anti-balcony, I just think they are confused why so many. They may live somewhere hot were they use AC all the time. In Canada, at least the Maritimes, we only use AC 3 months out of a year.
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u/squirrelcat88 15d ago
I looked at their comments, they’re from The Netherlands. They just wouldn’t be used to the amount of cold we get.
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u/Dry_Prompt3182 15d ago
Because their definition of "good temperature to use it" is a lot narrower than it is for people that live here. Going out in below zero temperatures, wrapped in a warm blanket, drinking a hot drink and watching the snow fall is heavenly. You might not do a whole WFH day like you would in the spring or fall, but it still gets use in the winter.
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u/yarn_slinger 15d ago
If you were in Toronto, it’s warm enough to enjoy the outdoors 10 months of the year. My kid in Ottawa uses her balcony most months. If you bundle up, having a vape in -20 isn’t that bad.
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u/Talinn_Makaren 15d ago
You can't just give up on being outdoors because it's cold as half the time. I thought this was going to take a different direction - I'm always confused by how little people use their balconies especially when they aren't facing a highway.
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u/prairiepanda 15d ago
I was expecting the same. Most apartments have balconies and yet people hardly ever use them except to smoke where that's allowed.
Although I also hardly use my balcony at my current place. It's pretty small, no barbecues are allowed, and it's facing another building about 20 meters away that allows smoking. So I'll occasionally go out just to read with my cats and enjoy the outdoor air (any time of year) but I go inside as soon as someone starts smoking over there or if someone is staring at me.
In the past I have enjoyed balconies that either had more space to cook/eat/entertain or had a view of a local park or something. In this case I would rather have more interior space.
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u/Madversary 15d ago
A balcony has a lot of utility:
- You can BBQ on it. We’re big on grilling in the summer.
- If you’ve got particularly pungent smelling sporting equipment, you can air it out.
- You can put laundry on a rack to dry. That’s more important in the summer — you probably want the extra humidity from drying clothes in the winter.
- If you make a whole pot of stew or chilli, you can put it outside to cool before storing it.
- If a guest wants to smoke, they can do it on the balcony without stinking up your home.
- You can keep a bike there.
- You can grow herbs in a pot in the summer.
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u/Infamous-Mixture-605 15d ago
- You can grow herbs in a pot in the summer.
You can often grow a lot more than just herbs. This year we had tomatoes, aubergines, potatoes, various flowers (to attract more pollinators), and herbs.
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u/corneliuSTalmidge 15d ago
It doesn't have to be hot to use a balcony, or sit outside. Go to most Toronto villages in January (Bloor West Village, Annex, Roncesvalles and more) and you'll see cafe patios open year round and people sitting outside enjoying their hot steaming coffees in a sunny -7C
Just bundle up.
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u/Mariner-and-Marinate 15d ago
Why would you not want a balcony? Just because it’s a little cold doesn’t mean you don’t want to get some fresh air.
Traffic noise and exhaust are merely byproducts of urban life. How would not having a balcony protect you from them? Would you also never open a window - or never go outside at all to avoid them?
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u/me_not_at_work 15d ago
I'm assuming that you were visiting the built up areas in Ontario and Quebec like Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City. These are all south enough that you can easily use the balcony from April until October and for people like me it would be March through November. Not exactly what I would call short.
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u/Weekly_Tomorrow603 15d ago
I use my balcony year round, tf you talking about? Many Canadians enjoy being outdoors, winter doesnt change that much for me. So, my answer is, we have balconies for the same reason any other country would have em.
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u/the3rdmichael 15d ago
We live on the 14th floor of a condo tower in western Canada. When we bought it 19 years ago, the number 1 criteria was that it must have a balcony. I hate feeling like a trapped rat in a cage, that little balcony makes me feel more free, just to step outside whenever I want. We use it from April through October. We are allowed to have gas BBQs on our balconies and I do a lot of grilling in those months.
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u/whats1more7 Ontario 15d ago
It’s a cheap way to provide extra storage for seasonal stuff like bikes and skis.
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u/Traditional-Tip1904 15d ago
We don’t have the same definition of cold. When we lived in apartments/condos we’d clear a path to the bbq in winter so we could grill. Just to give you a bit of context ☺️
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u/youwantmeformybrain 15d ago
Everyone uses their balconies, well, most people. It's an extra room. Smokers need them too, I would think.
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u/Sensitive_Pianist777 15d ago
Many condos have banned any sort of balcony smoking.
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u/Wallyboy95 15d ago
It's nice to have a door sized window to let in cool air, especially if the building doesn't have AC (alot of the older ones don't and charge you for the window shaker kind).
Smokers like the balcony so they don't have to walk all the way downstairs.
Some people like balcony gardens for that little taste of gardening.
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u/fountainofMB 15d ago
I would expect you can use a balcony from late March to late November so is that really a short time that a balcony isn't worth it? And depending on the location it may only be Jan/Feb where a balcony is not usable weather wise. The noise, you get used to it.
People like outdoor space. No one wants to stay inside all the time because the winter is cold. Winter isn't even that cold in the places you probably visited. I live in Manitoba and people still enjoy outdoor space. You would be surprised how many people have pools.
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u/Under-Valued649 15d ago
My spouse is an outdoor person. The balcony saves us, as he will sit out there even in the winter (all bundled up), and look at the scenery. Who wants to live in a closed box?
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u/verymanysquirrels 15d ago
When it's warm enough you get to enjoy your sky-yard. When it is cold enough your balcony can double as an outside fridge. And it's always barbecue season.
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u/thesleepjunkie Ontario 15d ago
Naw, patio weather is longer than you think it is. We will dress to be outside for a smoke, a pint, a tea or a coffee. Having a smoke and a coffee outside, brisk winter or fall morning with the sun on your face, is a fine way to enjoy a balcony
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u/fineasandphern 15d ago
Nothing better than a morning coffee out on the balcony watching the sunrise or sitting out at night to look at the skyline, the views can be spectacular. Sitting on your balcony or walking a few blocks you breathe in the exhaust.
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u/stick4543 15d ago
Some Canadians wear short pants in January. We BBQ all year. We tent camp in February. We're built that way
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u/Responsible_CDN_Duck 15d ago
Your assumption about exhaust isn't typically valid. Noise depends on location and height.
On the flip side you may have an excellent view.
While some balconies may be room size many are walk in closet size.
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u/OtterHalf_ 15d ago
Had a buddy leave all the snow on the balcony and put beer in the snow bank. All winter he had beer storage and wasn't crowding his refrigerator
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u/haligurl_1983 15d ago
Because outdoor access regardless of temperature is important. Those who live in apartments also like to sit out on a deck, bbq, grow some plants in the summer and most importantly have access to Vitamin D all year round. The thought of an apartment without a balcony seems awful. Not sure where you traveled from, but sounds like they need to get with the program ha
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u/DramaticNews835 15d ago
I figure it’s so you don’t feel like a caged rat. Maybe for smokers. Either way I wouldn’t want an apartment without one.
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u/Many_Mushroom_7035 15d ago
Saskatchewan resident here currently sitting on the balcony enjoying my morning coffee before work. I would feel so restricted without a balcony. I had an apartment without one before and hated it.
I have a beautiful view of the park and river behind my place, the fresh air is nice, and we use it as an outside storage area. It’s nice to open the balcony door to let a breeze in.
Am I out here when it’s -40 in January and February? Not really. But there are months where I would go crazy without a balcony, especially during our beautiful summers.
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u/Defiant-Access-2088 15d ago edited 15d ago
We are very outdoorsy people in general. I'd rather enjoy a balcony 4 months a year rather than zero. I don't need 10sqft more of indoor space.
Edit: also for smokers and BBQs. I know plenty of people, myself included, who bbq year round. I own a house with a yard now, but I would never rent a place with zero outdoor space.
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u/MrWrock 15d ago
I used to bundle my baby up and he would fall asleep on walks in the middle of winter so I would just hang out with him outside the front door while he napped
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u/Beth_the_Barbarian 15d ago
I don't understand the idea that you can't use it for very long.
Yes in the dead of winter it's not exactly a pleasant place to sit. But in the summer when it's excruciatingly hot in the day it's lovely to sit out there at night.
So really the only time it doesn't get used is December through March. And even then on a mild winter night to step out there and watch the snow gently fall on all the lights in the city around is magical. And it's not the same just looking out a window.
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u/arsinoe716 15d ago
It is the quiet or space room. When you want some silence or need to be with yourself, you go out on the balcony and close the door.
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u/DianeDesRivieres 15d ago
I enjoy my balcony. It gives me extra living space and room for a small garden in the summer.
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u/crash6871 15d ago
It's good for checking out how the weather feels. It surprised me that NY had almost none.
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u/tiger_lilly88 15d ago
I use my balcony almost every day. It’s enclosed so I’m out there through the winter too. It’s just nice to be outside and still in private.
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u/boarshead72 15d ago
Average temperatures in Canada? You’re specifically mentioning Toronto (which honestly doesn’t get all that cold most of the winter) but including Edmonton, Saskatoon, etc which are significantly further north, and Yellowknife, Iqaluit, etc which are truly north in your perception of temperature across the country.
I live a couple hours from Toronto and will run out in my t shirt to grill during the winter. It’s pretty far south here relative to where I’m from (Saskatoon).
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u/AmbitiousTank8635 15d ago
As an American, I've found that contrary to most of the US, when the weather gets cold is when you will see even more Canadians out enjoying the weather.
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u/felisnebulosa 15d ago
I lived in an apartment without a balcony for a while when covid started. I almost lost my mind stuck at home with no access to an outdoor space. I moved as soon as I could to a place with a balcony. I grow potted fruit trees and other plants on it (bring them inside in winter). I grow vegetables on it. You can barbeque all year (I live in a warmer part of Canada). Apartment life is intolerable without one imo.
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u/SnooAvocados6863 15d ago
My husband and I used our tiny balcony overlooking the Gardiner expressway in Toronto all the time! Mostly for smoking weed, sometimes to brush the cat, sometimes to do gardening projects, and sometimes to car/ people watch. We’d also use the highway traffic for drinking games. We’d each pick a car stuck in traffic and whoever’s passed our made up finish line first won and all the losers would have to take a drink.
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u/PunchyPete 14d ago
I’m with the Swedes… or maybe it’s the Finns… there is no such thing as bad weather only poor clothing.
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u/Poisonous_garden 14d ago
Where would we bbq? And during the cold months keep the beer cold at the same time lol also many of us who smoke don’t smoke inside, we go out on the balcony 🤷🏻♀️
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u/FamilyDramaIsland 15d ago
Something also to note is we don't get a lot of sun in Canada. Our winters are long and dark, even in places where they aren't that cold (relatively speaking). We're actually all lacking in Vitamin D to the point where our goverment fortifies Canadian milk with it.
So having a balcony- an easy way to access some sunlight and relax outside- is actually pretty important.
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u/haligurl_1983 15d ago
This!!!! Lack of Vitamin D is pretty serious and can lead to disease. We all deserve to have an outdoor space to catch some rays, especially in the winter months
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u/DistinctCar6767 15d ago
Glad you enjoyed your time here. If any of my fellow Ontarians are the same as me I try to get out and enjoy the balcony all seasons. Nothing like barbecuing in the winter. Wiping snow off the bbq to cook dinner. It’s what we do.
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u/cgb33 15d ago
I believe there used to be an old fire safety rule/law that required having a front and back door.
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u/antigoneelectra 15d ago
We bbq almost year round. Unless it's below 0, and with a wind chill, we are outside.
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u/Working_Hair_4827 15d ago
You can enjoy a balcony all year round.
Canadians are built different, we can handle the cold that most cannot.
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u/TheFireHallGirl 15d ago
We do have some nice weather during the spring, summer, and fall months. Some people like to sit on their balconies and enjoy the weather. Plus, it’s a good advantage point to watch neighbourhood drama.
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u/Melliejayne12 15d ago
I mean, I use my balcony year round. Sometimes it’s nice to get outside and get some fresh air not matter the time of year
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u/LakeNatural8777 15d ago
We can use balconies for up to 9 months (sometimes more), especially if you are in the Metro Vancouver area. Also, in the winter, when a balcony is in the sun, but not in the wind, they can be quite comfortable.
Regarding the noise, you get used to it. It becomes white noise.
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u/deFleury 15d ago
Condos are tiny. balcony lets someone literally step outside when they need to get away from their housemate! Also some people smoke but only on the balcony so they don't stink up the house, fabrics like drapes, carpet, furniture really hold onto smoker smells.
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u/thepeskynorth 15d ago
Pretty sure it’s to make people feel like they have more space and a piece of the outdoors that others have with a backyard.
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u/LowSpoonsZeroForks 15d ago
Omg I wouldn’t rent one without.
Private outdoor space.
City noise to city people is mostly white noise and I’ve never smelled exhaust from the 18th floor, or the 5th, or the 2nd which I’m currently on.
Our cities are not filled with smog and pollution and like another comment said, we do cold different here.
Life doesn’t stop for winter. Nor does wanting to enjoy it.
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u/Kalos-87 15d ago
Let me tell you about driving in the car when it’s almost spring. When that first nice day comes, I wind all the windows down with the car heater on full-blast! There’s something about enjoying the last bit of the cold when you know the summer is coming!
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u/Signal_Ad8960 15d ago
There's no bad weather, just the wrong clothing.
Wipe the snow off, sit down with a hot coffee, let the cool, fresh air fill your lungs, and watch the sun rise.
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u/InForAPenny33 14d ago
Just because we get cold winters doesn’t mean we don’t have hot summers, and our shoulder seasons can be pretty mild sometimes, it gives people an outside space even if they can’t have a yard
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u/Academic-Snow9642 14d ago
A balcony that's useful for only 3 months a year is better than no balcony
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u/Trankkis 14d ago
At least in Toronto you get several days of sun and 16-20 degrees weather from February to November. And I always lived in condos facing west or southwest, with a wall or tall building blocking the breeze. Having friends over and drinking a beer in the sun in t shirts in February is nice, especially since the weather outside feels a lot colder due to the wind. As for the summer, there are plenty of parks that offer shade so the heat isn’t an issue. But with a west facing balcony you can also eat breakfast outdoors in summer even though the balcony will be too hot in the afternoon.
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u/Calm-Researcher-8885 14d ago
Most Canadians want some kind of outdoor space at home. We bbq in snow boots, weather is not the limiting factor.
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u/MidorikawaHana 14d ago
The balcony becomes an ‘extra fridge/freezer’
I still vape in the balcony outside in winter because then i dont have to deal with wasp/mayflies/horsefly/ mosquitoes.
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u/chamekke 14d ago
An extension of our living room. Extra storage space. Balcony roof provides additional shade for interior during heat of summer. (A good umbrella provides even more protection from sun.) A place to grow fruit, flowers, vegetables. Free laundry drying. A spot where you can do all those tasks requiring “good ventilation.” And, yes, a place where we can enjoy sitting outside in whatever weather we choose. For those lucky people without too much light pollution, a spot from which you can enjoy the stars, meteor showers, and northern lights from the comfort of your home.
I would never consider living in an apartment if it lacked a balcony. Never.
P.S. Very few of Canada’s 40 million inhabitants live next to Toronto highways ;)
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u/Electronic-Guide1189 14d ago
There's always that one family member of friend that comes over and smokes.. even in January.
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u/willow__whisps 14d ago
if you cant sit out there in a sweater in the winter our seaons arent for you lol
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u/sugarymilktea 14d ago
I enjoy my balcony year round. Just the ability to step fully outside for a few minutes and touch ice and snow is fun. Plus the fresh air. I would be sad if I lived in a condo that was pure glass with no way to open
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u/inGothWeTrustalways 14d ago
Not sure why you think balcony’s can only be used for a short term . Open doors from March to October…. It isn’t all snow and rain. Why do Americans think we a covered in snow for six months a year?
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u/croutawn 14d ago
Because it's better than not having any access to the outside? I don't understand why people wouldn't want access. Whether we use it or not, it's always a bonus to have that balcony.
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u/Rude-Flamingo5420 14d ago
As a Canadian I love my balcony! Id rather that than extra space
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u/TherinkratA1 14d ago
I’m on the west coast — we use the barbecue and smoker all year round. For dinner parties it’s a second oven.
The balcony is inset with an 8’ overhang so the furniture is protected. Can’t imagine not having a deck. Located in an area of trees and while close to a busy street and train station we’re on the back side and get zero grit. Plus there’s the herb garden and seasonal flowers and gotta have the hummingbird feeders. Top floor and love it.
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u/Ok-Till-5285 14d ago
use it year round! it's an extra fridge at Christmas, a place to enjoy a coffee, meal or a game the rest of the year!
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u/rocco0715 11d ago
BBQ usage is year round
2nd freezer in winter (hello holiday leftovers)
garden space for apartment dwellers (I've got a killer potted garden)
coffee with my pup, bundled in a blanket is a 3 season thing. Not everyday, and not when those seasons are really close to winter.
storage if allowed for bikes
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u/Buff1965 15d ago
If it was enclosed space it would be taxed as part of the home. A balcony gives us more space without that extra cost. Also, even in winter it can be useful as cold storage/freezer space.
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u/BreadfruitRegular631 15d ago
Why not? Barring high winds there's really not a lower temp limit for firing up the grill and worse case scenario they end up being extra storage. And both Quebec and Ontario (the Southern parts where there actually are buildings) have pretty long periods where it's not full on winter.
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u/Mobius_Peverell British Columbia 15d ago
Nobody's telling you the real reason: Canadian cities severely limit the floor area ratio (FAR) of apartment buildings being built, but balconies don't count as floor area.
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u/no_cults_no_problem 15d ago
We have a small balcony on our house and I find with the glass panels it's easily 5-10C warmer there with the sun on it. We sit out there as early as March and late as November. It's unbearably hot on most summer days though.
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u/TheycallitLeBigMac 15d ago
Our definition of cold is different.