The design of a modern apartment provides not only for expanding the area of the balcony or rooms, but also for large window and door openings. Double doors work well for such openings. When planning the arrangement of balcony doors in this way, you can apply any design solution both in shape and appearance. You should also pay special attention to the quality of the fittings. To close tightly, it must provide reliable pressure.
Functional features of double-leaf balcony doors
A double door that is installed on a balcony usually has a larger glass area, so more light enters the room. High light transmittance is the main advantage of double-leaf products.
For your information. The most popular type of double blocks is French doors, in which glass occupies at least 80% of the total area of the door.
In addition to transmitting light, double-leaf balcony doors allow you to move large items. Therefore, on the balcony you can safely set up a relaxation area with upholstered furniture. True, a large free opening is not available in all types of double blocks, which will be discussed in more detail below.
Double-leaf balcony design with full glazing makes the room brighter and visually spacious
Advantages of plastic PVC doors with 2 leaves
- Aesthetics and beauty. The profile is decorated with lamination, frames, frosted, stained, and tinted glass. It can be standard rectangular or figured, for example, arched.
- High strength. Plastic products, compared to wooden ones, are less vulnerable to mechanical stress. They are resistant to temperature changes and high humidity, and can be used in a bathroom or swimming pool.
- Silent closing is ensured by a seal around the perimeter of the sash.
- Easy opening even for children due to the low weight of the plastic.
- Durability. Double-leaf PVC doors last 40 years or more, maintaining their original properties.
- Easy installation. Installation of plastic structures does not require screws, latches, or other fasteners required for wooden analogues.
- Safety and environmental friendliness. PVC systems are harmless and can even be installed in operating rooms.
Double door with blind leaf
The presence of one working and one blind section allows you to glaze a large balcony opening and save a little on fittings. Although such savings also have the opposite effect - only half of the opening can be opened, which means that moving large-sized furniture becomes difficult to achieve. In terms of design, such a balcony system has two options - hinged and sliding.
Swing option
This solution is not much different from the classic single-leaf design. The active part can operate in a tilt-and-turn mode, for which a standard set of fittings is used: two hinges, a band locking mechanism and a door handle. The fixed part fills the rest of the opening space, and its inner side simultaneously serves as a frame for the movable sash.
Note! Typically, the working and blind sections are approximately equal in width, but to increase the opening space, the active part can be made a little larger.
The main load when operating a double swing-type balcony door falls on the hinges, which are designed to hold the entire mass of the door open. As the glazing area increases, the load also increases, since the double-glazed window has a fairly impressive mass. Therefore, select hinges taking into account their technical characteristics. In particular, pay attention to the permissible weight of the door leaf.
Double door with working and fixed sections
Sliding option
Moving the sash parallel to the axis of the balcony block saves space and looks quite original, which is why it is often used in modern interiors. There are several types of double sliding doors:
- Parallel sliding system (sliding). The doors move along independent guides. Formally, none of the sections is blind, but only half of the opening can be opened.
- Tilt-and-slide system. In a double-leaf balcony door of this type, opening occurs due to special scissors, with the help of which the leaf moves forward slightly and moves to the side. The system can operate in inclined mode, allowing the room to be ventilated.
- Lift-and-slide system. When closed, the sash fits tightly against the guide, creating the necessary tightness. When you turn the handle, the door leaf rises slightly, and then it moves without visible effort.
Read more about sliding balcony doors here.
Tilt-and-slide and lift-and-slide structures are “warm” systems, so they can be used on open balconies
Sliding system
Panoramic doors to the balcony have become a new trend in the design of modern interiors. If the area of a room or loggia is limited, this model will fit perfectly into the design, and in functional terms it will even outperform many other options.
The external design of PVC sliding balcony doors is very bright and stylish. In addition, they reliably protect the room from cold, wind, dust, and noise. But natural light is allowed in in incredible quantities, giving the room more space and freedom.
The main difference between the sliding system is the absence of hinges. The blade slides along a guide profile installed horizontally in combination with the structure. The portal doors to the loggia are light and silent. They do not open from the outside. They can be completely glazed or have a blank panel.
The advantages of sliding doors are numerous, but the main ones are:
- Aesthetic and unusual design;
- Durability and reliability;
- Saving free space.
Panoramic models are classified according to the type of opening and degree of insulation.
Insulation options can be as follows:
- Insulated structures with a massive profile. The internal space of this profile is divided into several heat-insulating chambers. Double-glazed windows consist of three or more glasses. At low temperatures this option is preferable;
- “Cold” designs - have a light and thin profile made of one, rarely two glasses. Suitable for homes built in warm climates or on verandas.
By type of opening, panoramic doors differ in the following mechanisms:
- Sliding - with this method, the canvas moves along rollers, the movement of which is organized along guides. With this mechanism, the balcony door opens and closes easily and silently. And this option is the most popular;
- Tilt-and-slide - this type of mechanism is based on the following principle: the doors open when the door is pulled forward and to the side;
- Lift-and-slide - suitable for wide openings, the sashes slide one after another. To open the door you need to lift it.
- “Accordion” - this mechanism requires a very large opening (3-6 meters). Thermal insulation is somewhat reduced, so the balcony must be well insulated.
Balcony door
An interesting idea for organizing a balcony space is a panel door. Its peculiarity is the ability to simultaneously open two sections and completely clear the opening.
What is shtulp
A frame is a system of profiles, fittings and locking mechanisms, the task of which is to tightly connect two sections to each other. In this case, one half is working (active), and the second is dependent (passive).
Note! The active part of the sliding balcony door is equipped with a standard handle and can operate in two modes – rotary and tilting. The second sash opens only after the working half is opened and does not have an inclined functionality.
The presence of a so-called false impost on the passive sash, to which the working half is adjacent during locking, makes it possible to achieve a high level of tightness of the balcony block. Therefore, this design belongs to the class of warm balcony systems.
Operating principle of a double-leaf frame system
Pros and cons of the design
The advantages of a double hinged door are an excellent view and the ability to fully open the opening. This is an optimal system for large balconies and terraces: you can not only effectively ventilate the room, but also remove fairly large items.
The design also has several disadvantages:
- insufficient frame rigidity when arranging very wide openings;
- difficulty in installing and operating mosquito nets;
- increased load on the hinges.
The problem of high load is due to the fact that in a sliding balcony door one leaf clings to another, and their total mass affects the hinges. To avoid sagging of the panels, a roller microlift is additionally installed at the bottom of each sash. In the closed position, it takes part of the load upon itself, unloading the rest of the fittings.
The stud system on the balcony allows you to completely free the opening
Features of Rehau balcony blocks
You can buy any model from a German profile from us:
- Standard. Structures made from Euro or Blitz New profiles have high levels of noise and heat insulation, designed for the Russian climate, and a glossy surface. They are inexpensive compared to other systems.
- For loggias that face the shaded side. It is recommended to use Delight models with a narrow frame, which transmit 15% more sunlight.
- For unglazed balconies. It is best to install Intelio or Geneo-Design, which have improved thermal insulation properties.
Impost balcony door
In order for the double balcony door to have sections of equal functionality, an impost is additionally mounted inside the frame. The design has greater rigidity and better functionality compared to a frame block, but it is used less often on balconies. The reasons for this choice of builders will be discussed below.
What is an impost
An impost is an additional vertical profile that divides the door block into two independent parts. Structurally, the impost is a load-bearing element, therefore it is reinforced with metal in the same way as the frame profile.
Note! On open balconies, the impost lintel is subject to higher wind loads than the frame. This is due to the fact that the frame is anchored to the wall along its entire perimeter and thus transfers part of the load to it. Whereas the impost is connected to the frame profile at only two points.
The presence of a vertical lintel in a double door block makes it possible to use a standard set of fittings. Therefore, a double-leaf balcony door of this type is, in fact, a structure of two separate single-leaf doors.
Operating principle of a double-leaf impost block
Why the impost system is rarely used on the balcony
Using an impost as a door space divider has a number of significant advantages. As noted above, the impost structure is superior in rigidity to the frame system. In addition, each leaf can be opened separately in both tilt and tilt modes. Installing a mosquito net also does not cause any particular problems, especially since mosquito protection can only be used on one half.
However, there is one disadvantage that outweighs all the advantages in its significance - the presence of a lintel in the center of the opening. That is, even when fully open, there is no panoramic view, and it is also impossible to move large-sized furniture.
Since the open half is enough to access the balcony, functionally such a system is not much different from a double balcony door with one blind leaf. The only difference is greater possibilities for ventilation of the room. However, using an additional door only as ventilation is impractical. Therefore, in wide doorways, frame blocks are mainly installed.
The use of impost is more typical for window openings
Advantages and disadvantages of hinged doors.
The main advantages are that you have a wide passage to the balcony.
If both leaves of a double door are fully glazed, this creates the effect of an expanded space combining the room with a balcony. The illumination in the room increases significantly.
The vast majority of these doors are equipped with handles on both sides, both on the room side and on the balcony side. This allows you to close the balcony door without outside help and also exit the balcony independently.
Less than twenty years had passed before, finally, balcony doors ceased to be the “ugly ducklings” of window structures, equipped with the same fittings and representing a window increased in vertical dimensions.
The disadvantages of hinged doors include the possibility of installing them in doorways at least 90 cm wide.
If the idea of installing swing doors in your house is too tempting for you, but the width of the doorway does not allow it, then to expand it you must obtain permission to redevelop the living space and subsequently legalize this redevelopment in the BTI.
Specifics of glazing double doors
The type and light transmittance of the door structure largely depend on the glazing area. The larger the glass unit, the better the door looks and the more light enters the room. At the same time, double-glazed windows are the most expensive elements of balcony blocks, so an increase in the area and thickness of the glazing significantly affects the cost of the product.
Another important point is the weight of the glass. For example, the weight of a standard single-chamber double-glazed window reaches 20 kg/m², and a double-chamber one – 30 kg/m². Therefore, in the case of French glazing, where almost the entire panel is made translucent, the load on the frame and hinges increases significantly.
Note! Many sashes additionally use a horizontal impost, which is mistakenly considered by many to be a decorative lintel. In fact, such an element distributes the load between the entire profile frame in the case of using heavy multi-chamber double-glazed windows.
The price of glazing depends not only on its area and number of chambers, but also on the characteristics of the glass itself. Standard cameras with completely transparent elements are an economical option. To maximize heat retention in the house, a double-leaf balcony door should be equipped with energy-saving double-glazed windows with a coating that provides a higher level of thermal insulation.
The operating principle of energy-saving glass
Regardless of the type of double door you like for its aesthetics and functionality, first consult with specialists. Only a master will objectively assess the possibility of installing a specific model, taking into account the characteristics of the balcony block.
Balcony doors by filling method
- entirely made of sandwich panels,
- 1/2 filled with double-glazed windows,
- completely filled with double-glazed windows with an impost,
The use of completely transparent structures can significantly improve the insolation of the adjacent room. Such doors are relevant for balconies located on the north side.
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Why is it worth ordering the installation of a REHAU balcony block from us?
Our company officially represents the products of the German brand and offers its customers:
- Large selection of profile systems with different characteristics;
- Free opening measurement;
- Production of balcony entrance groups of any shape and size;
- Prices at the level of the manufacturing company;
- Delivery of the structure in Moscow and its installation.
We use high-quality fittings - ergonomic and durable, and provide a guarantee on the installed structure.
