To paraphrase the classic of great Russian literature, we can say that every unsuccessful balcony door in the homes of FORUMHOUSE participants is unsuccessful in its own way. One sags, clinging to the bottom latch, the other allows street noise into the house without hindrance, and this despite the double-glazed windows, the third suddenly began to hum and whistle, the fourth is simply infuriating.
Land UserForumHouse Member
Metal-plastic doors are annoying! (specifically mine).
We will tell you what the participants of our portal do in these cases and how they prevent such situations from arising.
Types of balcony doors
Before analyzing specific cases, let’s refresh our memory of the theory. We know that all balcony doors in the world can be divided according to the material of manufacture, as well as into:
- standard, in the lower part of which there is a sandwich panel, and in the upper part there is a double-glazed window;
- standard with glazed bottom;
- doors with continuous glazing, without partitions;
- French doors – balcony block all the way to the floor
There is also a classification of balcony doors according to the opening method . There are pivoting doors that can open both into the room and onto the balcony, pivoting doors with a folding mechanism, and sliding or accordion-folding doors.
In a large opening, doors with two doors are installed, and either one or both doors can open. In the first case, the sash rests on a vertical impost separating them (a plastic lintel with metal reinforcement inside); in the second, the fixed sash essentially serves as another additional window.
The leaves of double balcony doors, in which there is no impost, rest on each other, and are closed thanks to a frame that firmly fixes the doors in the center of the connection of the leaves. Panel doors are often installed in houses with a wide opening for a balcony door. Many people like that they can be opened wide, and the view will not be spoiled by the impost, and also that they can easily bring in and take out bulky furniture.
Each of these doors has its own pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses. For example, life in a room with a solid glass door may suddenly not be so rosy.
Sinitsinpetr FORUMHOUSE Member
The balcony door was replaced with a completely glass one. It’s beautiful, but you can see me standing in front of the glass door in my shorts. I'm thinking of sticking or applying something to the glass from below.
A few additional tips
It is better to buy a double-glazed window to replace the old one from the same manufacturer. You can purchase a block in construction supermarkets, choosing the best option, knowing the dimensions of the canvas and the brand of the structure. Replacing glass in a balcony door encourages design changes. The glass unit is installed tinted, matte ─ upon request.
The purpose of glass blocks is to keep rooms warm in winter and limit the penetration of street noise. You can install an energy-saving, heat-preserving package. The working method is similar.
By replacing the glass door block, you can install limiters to prevent recurrence of draft damage. At the same time, check the balcony mechanisms. Preventive inspection and lubrication of door hardware will be timely during major repairs.
Source: tvoy-balkon.ru/glazing/zamena-steklopaketa-v-balkonnoj-dveri.html
Shulp or vertical impost, how to decide
In the house of a member of our portal with the nickname summer resident123, access to the heated loggia was through a large opening from the floor almost to the ceiling, 2420 mm high and 1640 mm wide. Despite the thick walls of the loggia and the double-glazed windows in its window, every rustle could be heard from the street, so it was decided to block this opening. Summer resident123 considered two options: a hinged door with window hinges for the entire height of the opening, opening into a room with a 4-16-4 single-chamber double-glazed window, or two balcony doors with an impost in the middle. In addition, it was difficult to decide on the choice of profile.
The air permeability (and, accordingly, noise permeability) of a hinged door is higher than that of a conventional window.
However, Summer Resident 123 was advised to install it.
Gagsuv FORUMHOUSE Member
You will get two threads of glazing, and there is a large distance between them, and this will greatly reduce the noise.
But what he was categorically warned against was sashes with a height of 2420 mm. Despite the fact that this is a door in a room with a fairly light double-glazed window, it is the wrong size for a PVC balcony door and even for the entrance area, “even though it’s all covered in hinges.” Doors up to the ceiling would be possible if we were talking about an aluminum profile, but this is too expensive. For a PVC panel door, a blind transom on top would be a good solution.
Also, balcony doors do not require thick multi-chamber profiles.
The presence of more than three chambers does not have a significant effect on the rigidity of the structure; the thickness of the reinforcement metal is important.
But it is impossible to check how thick the metal is installed during assembly. Theoretically, it can be anything, so the right thing to do would be to look for collectors who value their reputation and for whom it would be unprofitable to “put everything in the door.”
Replacement of double-glazed windows in a plastic frame
In terms of labor intensity, this is not a complicated operation at all, taking 25-30 minutes even for a person who is not knowledgeable in these matters. The most difficult thing is to remove the correct dimensions of the damaged glass unit.
Typically, manufacturing companies of metal-plastic structures do not take into account measurement data made by the customer independently. Nobody wants to waste material and time to translate, only to hear later: “Oh, I was wrong!” Therefore, if you manage to convince the customer that the dimensions are accurate and there should be no errors, you will still be required to pay in advance. So, it’s better not to complicate your life and call a measurer.
Thus, you will relieve yourself of the burden of responsibility for an incorrectly manufactured double-glazed window, and installing it in a door or window frame with your own hands is not difficult at all.
To begin with, the damaged (broken) glass unit is dismantled. To do this, use a rubber mallet (preferably white) and a plastic spatula to carefully separate the glazing beads, first along the long side of the frame (starting from the center to the edges), and then along the short side, first at the top, then at the bottom. When the glazing beads are separated, mark them with a pencil or water marker so that they are not mixed up during installation. The most crucial moment has come - to remove the broken glass unit from the frame.
It’s ideal if you have an assistant, but if you don’t, then use either rubber suction cups to remove the glass, or if you don’t have them, use newspaper folded in many layers to pick up the edge of the glass unit. A broken glass surface may begin to crumble under its own weight and injure you.
After removing the glass unit, thoroughly rinse the frame - it may contain residual sealant, glass fragments, or simply accumulate dirt. Then put in place the plastic spacers (bridges) removed along with the glass unit and install a new glass unit - first place the lower edge, and then support it with one hand so that it does not slip, insert the upper edge of the glass unit.
Before inserting the glass into the door, you will definitely need help, since your hands will be busy holding the glass unit in the frame, and the second pair of hands (an assistant) should be engaged in installing the bead in the sequence: bottom-top-left-right. This completes the work of replacing the glass unit.
French window with a door - is a horizontal impost needed?
Here is the story of BASic37: in an opening 2180 mm wide and 2100 mm high, he planned to make a French window with access to the terrace (a door with a tilt-and-turn mechanism). The width of the opening will be divided into three equal parts, approximately 727 mm each, with a door in the center and blind windows on the sides. The manufacturer turned out to be an insurmountable obstacle to the dream.
BASic37 Member FORUMHOUSE
He offers to separate all parts (or at least the door) with a horizontal impost, otherwise he refuses the warranty.
It is clear that with the option with an impost you will have to sacrifice the appearance, and the meaning of the French window is partly lost. Will the door really sag without the impost, and is it possible to find other reinforcement options?
The design of a balcony door depends on its characteristics, so the balcony complex must be well thought out. A two-chamber door without a lintel, and even, like the BASic37, equipped with a tilt-and-turn mechanism, is a heavy structure, and if it is not additionally reinforced with an impost, then during operation it will most likely sag under its own weight. There will be problems with the fittings, the door will “scratch” the threshold, jam, etc. – you will have to constantly correct all this. How quickly these problems appear depends on the reinforcement of the profile; the weaker the reinforcement, the sooner.
id15884902 Member of FORUMHOUSE
The window manufacturer told us exactly the same thing, we agreed, and all the other windows were made in the same way, with an impost, because they are quite high.
We can see how it turned out in the photo below.
At the same time, many members of our portal refuse to sacrifice the appearance of the French window. Here, for example, is a five-meter wide span in the house of a member of FORUMHOUSE Gippen (the doorway on the far left opens).
A single-chamber balcony door is at least 30% lighter than a two-chamber one.
FORUMHOUSE member Victor_Lennon believes that you can strengthen a French door if you use a door rather than a window profile with a reinforcing insert of a rectangular section 2 mm thick, with welding of the joint along the length.
Victor_Lennon FORUMHOUSE Member
It’s more difficult with door hinges, but... install 4 pieces, for example.
Here's how Victor himself made a French window with a door:
Victor_Lennon
I have a total nightmare, width 2000, height 2300, window profile, window fittings, the door wedged itself, live, intensive use in summer.
Most popular models
These are not just words. If you look at it, a balcony door is practically not installed separately; most often it comes with a window, fixed or hinged. Of course, this is due to the fact that one door does not provide enough light for the room, which is why the combination is installed.
Most often, when paired with a door, windows are completely blind, with one hinged sash and one blind, completely hinged and blind to the size of the door. All the most popular variations are shown in photo 2.
Photo 2. The most common variations
Their prices increase in the same order in which they are shown in photo 2. Their popularity decreases in the same order. That is, product No. 1 is the most in demand, and design No. 4 is the least in demand. Almost always the balcony door is divided into two parts. You decide what size this or that part will be at the measurement stage. The lower half, at your request, can be made of glass or a sandwich panel.
Sources
- https://www.oknastar.ru/stati/iz-chego-sostoit-balkonnaya-plastikovaya-dver/
- https://ekonombalkon.ru/plastikovye-dveri-na-balkon-vidy-razmery-podbor/
- https://o-dveryah.ru/balkonnye/s-oknom/
- https://ekonombalkon.ru/kakie-byvayut-balkonnye-dveri-vidy-material-sposoby-otkryvaniya/
- https://o-dveryah.ru/balkonnye/plastikovaya/
- https://pobalkonu.ru/remontiruem/dveri/razmery-balkonnyx-dverej.html
[collapse]
Cheap fittings on a good profile
Probably, each of us in our lives has encountered amazing examples of installing cheap fittings on a very good profile. This is often the sin of many assemblers, and as a result the homeowner is literally reduced to zugunder.
Such a story happened, for example, with a member of our portal, Zemlyuzer, who at one unfortunate moment discovered that metal-plastic balcony doors really infuriated him, because they constantly sagged and caught the bottom latch. After tightening the gap becomes normal, but the very next day everything repeats again.
Earth user
I've already tightened it four times, I'm afraid the twisting will end soon.
In search of the reason for this behavior, Zemelyuzer went through all the options: either the doors are so heavy that they cannot be left open, or the heat has such an effect, or the house is leaking... But, as his colleagues at FORUMHOUSE, competent in the matter, explained to him, the reason for the sagging of the doors of the balcony blocks most often it is not the climate or improper operation, but the low quality of the fittings. In this case, you should contact the company where you bought the doors and demand replacement of the fittings or doors - the issue will be resolved one hundred percent in your favor.
The example of Zemlyuzer confirms that the reliability of the balcony block directly depends on the quality of the fittings. People who cannot be called new to this life, when ordering a block, always require certificates for handles, locking and other mechanisms.
It is appropriate to think carefully about the need for a tilt and turn mechanism for the balcony door. On the one hand, a correctly adjusted microlift in a swing-out sash partially relieves the load on the hinges and prevents sagging. On the other hand, it is still inconvenient to use the door for ventilation. A balcony door that is folded down for ventilation always blows mercilessly on your feet, the heat loss when the high door is folded back is simply gigantic, so experts often recommend making a tilt-and-turn sash with an opening limiter in the window block, and let the door be a swing-out one.
Replacing glass in a double glazing unit
This is perhaps the most thankless undertaking that can come your way. In general, double-glazed windows cannot be repaired at home. This is due to the technological features of their manufacture.
During the industrial manufacturing process, a special gas environment is created between the layers of glass - argon or krypton gas is pumped in. This helps to reduce thermal conductivity and reduce the coefficient of expansion when heated.
Those craftsmen who are trying to give advice on repairing double-glazed windows and at the same time mention some kind of “vacuum” that exists between the glasses - in principle, they do not understand what they are writing about! Just like the advice to heat sheet glass with a hairdryer can only be given by a person very far from physics, who simply does not understand that it is impossible to evenly heat the glass at home, and if the heating is uneven, the glass surface will simply burst.
The sealants used in the production of double-glazed windows are far from being plumbing silicone. It is unlikely that you will be lucky enough to obtain butyl tape or mastic and manage to apply it absolutely evenly onto the spacer frame with your own hands in a layer of a few tenths of a millimeter.
The same difficulties await you when filling the spacer frame with a moisture-absorbing agent (silica gel). You can buy it in bags weighing 25-30 grams. intended for hanging in wardrobes, kitchens, toilets, bathrooms to combat excess humidity. Granules come in different diameters, and it is very difficult to guess the size suitable for filling the spacer frame.
But, if you are not afraid of these difficulties, and you decide to replace the glass in a double-glazed unit with your own hands, then you need to:
- Cut it yourself or order glass from a workshop with a tolerance of 0.5-1.0 mm to the dimensions of the glass unit.
- Remove the broken glass unit from the plastic frame.
- Place it on a flat surface with the broken glass facing up.
- Using a sharp knife, cut off the broken glass along with the spacer frame.
- Thoroughly clean the remaining glass from any remaining old mastic and sealant. Degrease it by wiping it with Galosh gasoline or acetone. Apply silicone sealant for aquariums to the edge of the glass, as thinly as possible and always in a continuous layer, or, at worst, colorless plumbing sealant.
- Place spacers along the edge of the glass, lightly pressing them against the glass lubricated with sealant.
- Apply a thin layer of sealant (like glass) to the frames.
- Carefully and be sure to use two people to evenly lay a new sheet of glass on top of the frame.
- After the sealant has hardened, use a utility knife to cut off any excess sealant that appears.
- Apply masking tape to the glass, leaving 2-3 mm from the edge.
- Carefully coat the edges of the joint between the spacer frame and the glass (old and new) with the same silicone sealant, using a plastic spatula soaked in a thick soap solution, or with your finger, also thickly lubricated with a soap suspension. If you don’t do this, you will have to wait a long time for the sealant to come off your fingers.
- After complete polymerization of the sealant, install the repaired double-glazed window into the door frame and secure with glazing beads.
There is no guarantee that a double-glazed window repaired by yourself will not fog up, freeze in winter, or provide proper sound insulation.
In this article, we outlined the algorithm of actions associated with repairing window glass with your own hands at home, in particular, double-glazed windows installed in plastic doors.
How to troubleshoot a balcony door
You can watch our master class on the correct installation of window units. If you do not install the balcony block yourself, then a short list of criteria for a high-quality installed door will be useful to you.
- A well-installed door is pressed equally tightly to the frame around the entire perimeter.
- The doors are not displaced.
- The doors do not open or close randomly.
What should immediately alert you is drafts; this is the most obvious sign that the door leaves are not pressed tightly. You can check it using a notebook sheet, hold it in the door and pull. In a place where the flaps are pressed poorly, the sheet will be pulled out very easily.
Distortions are detected using the method described above by a member of our IRONMAN portal: mark the sash with a pencil, if the line is not parallel to the frame, then there is a distortion.
If, when opening, the door touches the threshold, this is a sign of sagging and low-quality fittings; if the middle part of the profile, then we are dealing with lateral displacement.
A member of our portal vertyxai complains that when opened, the balcony door does not lock in the top hinge and swings back. The key on the plate that connects the hinge and the door no longer clings to the guides on the door.
Vertyxai
I'm not alone - a friend has an identical case, only the windows are simpler.
You can adjust the door yourself - there are adjusting screws (star or hexagon) on the fittings. Mark the door with a pencil along the frame - the gap should be the same everywhere, and the pencil mark will make it clear which way to pull it.
IRONMAN Member FORUMHOUSE
Although the result is already known: raise the bottom, pull the top towards the loop.
Installing a new unit
When replacing an old double-glazed window with a new one, the manipulations are performed in the reverse order. When dismantling, it is important to remember the location of the plastic spacers that create a deformation gap for a tight fit between the glass and the frame.
Having installed and adjusted the gaskets, you can immediately begin installing the glazing beads. The tool that helps the process is a rubber hammer with a rounded head. The rubber glides gently over the glass, maintaining its integrity. Hammer blows should be of medium strength.
Uniform advancement around the perimeter ensures the correct positioning of the glass block in the door frame slot. Having finished installing the double-glazed window into the balcony door, you need to check how well the block “fits” into the seat, ensuring sufficient tightness. The inspection will help prevent moisture penetration and condensation collection.
Video master classes on the topic
Detailed videos that will help even a beginner install a balcony block with a window sill and slopes on their own:
Tuning the opening and installing the BB:
Independent installation of a window and door unit on a balcony is a labor-intensive process that requires a lot of time and financial costs. Directly installation is preceded by a large amount of preparatory work. Both are based on certain theoretical knowledge and practical experience. If you are not willing to risk a PVC structure by installing it yourself, consider hiring a professional.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED
No. 4. Glazing type
Depending on the requirements for the door structure and your own aesthetic preferences, glazing of the balcony door leaf can be done in one of the following ways:
- full glazingwhen the entire door is filled with glass. Most companies do not provide a guarantee for such structures, since the weight of the glass unit exceeds all standards, and deformation of the structure may occur;
- full glazing with spandrel (impost) in the middle of the door is an option that, with a high level of transparency, maintains proper security. When installing a door block, the impost is placed at the level of the window sill to achieve the best visual effect;
- partial glazing , when the lower half or third remains blank;
- Completely blind balcony doors are used extremely rarely, but if necessary they can be made class=”aligncenter” width=”340″ height=”439″[/img]
