Balcony Etiquette

momtochloe · ‎11-03-2013

Please don't laugh at my question but I have always lived in a single family home. Recently I moved into a condo on the second floor and my balcony is full of leaves, seeds and other nature related things. My question is, is it poor form to just sweep everything over the edge of the balcony or should I be gathering it up and disposing of it myself?

I know this sounds beyond silly but I literally have no experience with this and I don't want to do anything wrong . . . any advice you can lend will be most appreciated! . . .

grandma2pkmh · ‎08-04-2013

I would sweep it up and bag it. Sweeping over the edge would just make a mess below. Hopefully, if anyone is above you they would also sweep and bag it.

momtochloe · ‎11-03-2013

@grandma2pkmh wrote:
I would sweep it up and bag it. Sweeping over the edge would just make a mess below. Hopefully, if anyone is above you they would also sweep and bag it.

Thanks so much for this @grandma2pkmh looks like I am off to the dollar store for a dust pan tomorrow! . . .

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

Definitely sweep it up. I had a situation once where the people above me had their pets poo on their balcony and they would just push it off. Some of it would land on MY balcony. A couple of times of that nonsense put me over the edge and I finally had to say something...and it wasn't nice.

on the bay · ‎03-09-2010

Hi @momtochloe-

I live on the bottom and as long as it is swept over the side its ok with me.

However the above decks are slats of wood so there have been several times I've had to walk upstairs and let them know the dirt or watering their plants was raining down on my chair while I was in it! womansurprised:

Another time a different neighbor had her little one throw all kinds of pencils, crayons barretts over the top and for a long while I would pick them all up and give them back or leave them at their door but after almost a year I just started throwing it away. She had always said she was sorry but never stopped it and I got tired of walking up that flight of stairs or picking up all those things-I already did that with my own!

I think if I lived on the top, I would sweep little stuff over the side but if its a lot of dirt or leaves that blow all over I'd try to get a dustpan and put in a bag.

I think its very considerate of you to ask.

Would you be my neighbor?

Advantages and disadvantages of living on 2nd levels and on the first

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"

Azcowgirl · ‎04-10-2012

@momtochloe

I lived in a condo for a few years, and the guy who rented the one above me, installed planters on his balcony and he would fill buckets of water and empty into planters. The water came splashing down onto me and my patio furniture. Also, he would dump his ashtrays over his railing, and ashes and icky cigar butts would rain down on my patio.

I think it's best to sweep up and dispose of debris, especially if there is someone below you.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

I agree with everyone else, sweep and bag it up, trying hard not to let anything go over the edge or between openings if you have any.

If I were the recipient of some of the 'downfall' some of you have described, I'd be headed straight to the manager/condo association etc. That is just beyond rude.

momtochloe · ‎11-03-2013

@on the bay wrote:
Hi @momtochloe-
I live on the bottom and as long as it is swept over the side its ok with me.
However the above decks are slats of wood so there have been several times I've had to walk upstairs and let them know the dirt or watering their plants was raining down on my chair while I was in it! womansurprised:
Another time a different neighbor had her little one throw all kinds of pencils, crayons barretts over the top and for a long while I would pick them all up and give them back or leave them at their door but after almost a year I just started throwing it away. She had always said she was sorry but never stopped it and I got tired of walking up that flight of stairs or picking up all those things-I already did that with my own!
I think if I lived on the top, I would sweep little stuff over the side but if its a lot of dirt or leaves that blow all over I'd try to get a dustpan and put in a bag.
I think its very considerate of you to ask.
Would you be my neighbor?
Advantages and disadvantages of living on 2nd levels and on the first

@on the bay I think we already may be neighbors as the fencing around the balcony are wooden slats so I will most definitely bag my balcony garbage!

And my downstairs neighbors will love me as there isn't a chance of a live plant on my balcony so no worries about me spilling water on them!

Citrine1 · ‎03-09-2010

Not a silly question at all @momtochloe. You're such a considerate, caring person. I think it's so sweet and thoughtful of you to want to do the right thing!

I've never been in that position, but I'm guessing I'd sweep and gather the leaves, etc. myself for disposing.

Best of luck to you in your new home. I'm sure your neighbors will come to adore you!

momtochloe · ‎11-03-2013

@Citrine1 wrote:
Not a silly question at all @momtochloe. You're such a considerate, caring person. I think it's so sweet and thoughtful of you to want to do the right thing!

I've never been in that position, but I'm guessing I'd sweep and gather the leaves, etc. myself for disposing.

Best of luck to you in your new home. I'm sure your neighbors will come to adore you!

Oh bless you @Citrine1 for your kind words! . . . I am so lucky to have found this place as it is so quiet and peaceful . . . I've only met a couple of neighbors but everyone seems quite lovely and again I am just so fortunate to have landed here . . . thank you again my friend!