Choosing a balcony/terrace door. What is important to know? on the Nedvio website

Sliding doors are very popular today due to their practicality, functionality and stylish appearance. Sliding glass doors are installed not only between rooms, but also purchased for verandas, terraces and gazebos. They create a finished look and provide shelter indoors from wind or rain.

Methods for opening aluminum sliding doors

Sliding aluminum doors help make efficient use of space by providing natural light. Depending on the method of opening, the structures are of the following types.

Parallel sliding

The shutters move parallel to each other along the guides, and their number is selected according to the width of the opening. Suitable for arranging narrow openings, since the maximum weight of one canvas cannot be more than 200 kg.

Lift-and-slide

Such models of sliding entrance doors are mounted in wide openings. Opening occurs due to the handle, pressing which gently lifts the blade and smoothly moves it sideways along the roller carriages. A design feature is the ability to alternate movable and fixed sashes.

Folding accordion doors

Folding models are used to equip openings up to 6 m wide. Structurally, they consist of a maximum of seven fragments connected to each other by hinges. When all the elements are assembled, the opening is completely freed, but sometimes for passage it is enough to fold the outer panel. One module should weigh no more than 80 kg.

Frameless glazing method

For those who love style and laconicism, it is recommended to install frameless sliding doors on the veranda, photos of which can be seen below. This design is completely transparent and nothing blocks the view from the house. With the help of such glazing, you can decorate not only one veranda or terrace, but also the entire perimeter of a private house.

In the manufacture of this design, tempered glass is used, which has increased strength and does not distort the perception of colors. Rollers are mounted on a transparent base, with the help of which the glass moves. They are installed both above and below, but at the same time remain almost invisible. Using rollers, glass sheets can move along the wall.

Types of sliding systems

Depending on the area and operating conditions, there are two types of sliding glass doors:

• cold: for their production, a non-insulated aluminum profile filled with ordinary glass or single-chamber double-glazed windows is used. The structures are installed in interior spaces, unheated vestibules, gazebos, warehouses, parking lots, cold verandas - where long-term heat retention is not required;
• warm: made from an insulated profile with good thermal insulation characteristics. Installation of warm-type sliding doors is possible on the terrace, in the winter garden, when arranging the front or entrance area of ​​a country house.

Additionally, we offer painting according to the RAL palette. Aluminum elements are treated with powder coating, which forms a protective film on the surface.

Materials used

The main element of sliding doors is glass sheets.

To make the product durable and safe, the following types of material are used::

1. Ordinary glass. It is installed infrequently, because it is quite fragile. For reliability, its thickness must be at least 6 mm, and the insert must be enclosed in a durable frame.
2. Strained glass. If the material is subjected to strong heating and then rapid cooling, then such treatment significantly increases its strength. The fabric turns out to be more resistant to mechanical stress, about 5-7 times stronger than simple varieties. Another big advantage of this treatment is that when the sheets are broken, they crumble into fragments with blunt edges. The disadvantage of tempered glass is that at the corners it turns out to be fragile at the edges; you need to fix the sheets in the frame carefully.
3. Triplex. To obtain this material, glass sheets are glued together with film. This provides good strength and makes the material absolutely safe. When it breaks, all the fragments remain recorded on the film. The disadvantage of triplex is its significant weight.
4. Polycarbonate. This is a fairly budget-friendly glazing option, but the structure is easy to install. If you design and think through the design correctly, it will also look attractive. Polycarbonate can be monolithic or cellular. Monolithic material allows you to create more durable products, so it costs more.

To decorate a terrace, transparent glass with good ability to transmit light is often used. But this is not the only option. The doors can be made with a pattern, partially matte, thanks to the use of sandblasting.

Roto Patio fittings

Double-leaf sliding doors to the balcony, bathroom or kitchen, as well as outdoor models, are equipped with Roto Patio fittings. Mechanisms are selected at the design stage after selecting a specific profile.

Guide location

Before installing a door on a veranda or terrace for a private home, many people wonder how the installation takes place and what is required for this? In order to install a sliding structure, you will need guides and rollers along which the canvas will move.

The design is available with either one or two guides. Systems with one guide are considered the lightest and in this case the threshold will not be visible at all. But a door with two guides provides excellent tightness, protecting against the penetration of cold air. The threshold in this case is minimal because it is almost completely recessed into the floor.

The sliding structure can be installed not only on terraces or verandas, but also in free-standing gazebos.

Always in trend

Since the appearance of sliding systems on our market, interest in them has only been growing, while the excellent performance qualities of such doors and windows have long been confirmed by practice. Today, even the most desperate construction skeptics will not argue that these structures do not allow comfortable living in the house in winter, that heavy doors with double-glazed windows are inconvenient, unsafe and require constant adjustment. And even the most convinced traditionalists do not deny the benefits of using sliding systems. And there are many of them. Perhaps the main thing is completely new opportunities in organizing living space

. Now it is not limited to the walls of the room, because in one second the wall can disappear and let the smells and sounds of spring into the house. And even in the closed position, the sliding structure only marks the boundary of the room, but remains transparent, giving a wonderful panoramic view, and in addition, a feeling of space and freedom, which we so lack in overpopulated cities.

The next advantage, this time purely practical, is ergonomics.

. Wide swing doors are simply inconvenient: they limit the choice of planning solutions, swing open in the wind, cling to curtains, and create an obstacle to walking. The sliding panel is free of these disadvantages, as it moves in the plane of the opening, while special mechanisms ensure reliable fixation in any position.

Finally, excellent thermal and sound insulation

. Modern sliding systems (portals) were designed with a very large mass of panels in mind. They can accommodate thicker and more efficient double glazed windows than traditional swing doors. Additional glass will significantly (by 10-25%) improve the heat and sound insulation qualities of the window, and when using special glasses (energy-saving, multifunctional, acoustic), the gain will be even greater.

The terrace door should be protected from precipitation by a canopy or cornice. In this case, you should ensure that the floor of the terrace is not covered with snow, otherwise, when the thaw changes to frost, the door leaf may freeze

Doors to the terrace and balcony. What are their differences from ordinary ones?

Perhaps every homeowner dreams of a large terrace overlooking the hills, a flowing river, or simply picturesque meadows still untouched by man. Unfortunately, realizing such a dream is not so easy, and not everyone can afford it. If the view from your home is completely different, there is no reason to despair. Even on a small plot, you can create a beautiful garden, create a small park or flower garden and admire them from the windows of your home.

You can admire the beautiful view not only from the windows, but also from the doors. Modern balcony and terrace doors can be a pleasant and elegant addition to both the design of your rooms and the façade of your home.

Any balcony or terrace starts with a door, they will also be a window into these rooms, so it’s worth thinking about what they will be like: what size, design, how to open, what materials, etc.

You can choose wide doors that will open along the entire length of the wall and create a feeling of more space in the house. Or you can choose small ones - they will cost less, will transmit less heat and will create a more comfortable and intimate atmosphere when entering your terrace or balcony.

Of course, how you arrange your balcony or terrace depends primarily on you, but designers recommend keeping them in the same style as the rest of the house.

Once you have decided on the size and design, you also need to think about choosing the right material from which the balcony door will be made. Unlike traditional doors, it must be a durable, wear-resistant and heat-insulating material.

You should not skimp on the choice of material for a terrace door, otherwise you will sooner or later be faced with the “other side of the coin” of such savings: high bills for heating the house or frequent failure of the door due to poor performance in an aggressive natural environment: strong winds , precipitation and temperature changes.

The most popular and practical materials for balcony and plastic doors are PVC plastic (polyvinyl chloride) and solid wood. Of course, not all types of wood are suitable for external doors (we’ll talk about this later).

As you can see: the differences between balcony and terrace doors are not only in appearance. Let's now take a closer look at what needs to be taken into account when choosing such a door.

Panoramic doors – a trend for transparency

Houses with panoramic glazing are gaining increasing popularity all over the world. This became possible thanks to the development of energy-saving technologies in modern windows and doors. Panoramic doors began to resemble entire glass walls that can easily slide apart or fold like an accordion. In terms of their properties (heat and noise protection, burglary protection, etc.), panoramic structures are closer to main walls. I want to look through a glass wall, admire sunsets and sunrises, the bright colors of the endless sky, feel the power of rain and the magic of snowfall. Nature is the best artist and director who gives new emotions, like after watching an exciting film.

Photo: panoramic doors make your home limitless

This is why properties with panoramic doors (glass walls) attract buyers so much. Those who are planning to build a house and are developing a project are increasingly giving preference to projects with panoramic doors that replace entire walls.

Construction cost calculation

Before you choose which door to put on the veranda or terrace from the street, you should familiarize yourself with the cost of the construction materials and how the estimate is calculated. First of all, the price of the structure will depend on the size of the glazing and the number of sashes. As practice shows, double-leaf structures are most often installed, but their cost is slightly higher.

In addition, the price is also influenced by the following factors:

1. The glass used, its thickness and finish;
2. The tightness of the structure or its absence;
3. Type of opening system;
4. The quality of the fittings, because the functionality of the product depends on it;
5. Frame material – wood, plastic or metal.

One of the most expensive materials for creating a frame is wood, so if you want to save money, it is recommended to purchase a frame made of PVC profile. The cost is also affected by who will install the sliding structure - the owner of the house or the master.

Thus, a glass sliding structure will be an excellent option for a gazebo, terrace or veranda. It creates comfort, coziness and, thanks to its complete transparency, allows you to admire the surroundings. Although the material seems light, it is highly durable and completely safe to use.

Door color

The choice of color for the balcony door is also an important criterion. It is better to choose a door leaf color that matches or is combined with other colors of your interior.

For example, for a wooden house it is best to choose doors in natural wood colors: yellow, beige, brown. For brick: brown, gray, orange. For a house made of foam blocks: white, gray or corresponding to the color of the facade.

Assembly

First, we go to the store and buy the necessary materials, among them

• The polycarbonate itself
• Set of wheels for sliding doors
• Self-tapping screws
• Metal corners for fastening wooden structures
• Wooden blocks
• Metal profile for sliding doors
• Retainer/clamp for sliding doors
• Tools

First stage

At the first stage, we do the drawing: we measure our opening for which doors are needed, we draw everything, we count.

Second phase

The second stage is devoted to working with the base of the doors. We lay out the bars in the required shape and fasten them with metal corners with self-tapping screws. Next, we apply and fasten additional bars to the middle of each of the four bars; they serve to strengthen the structure and the polycarbonate sheet itself, with which the next step is associated.

Source yandex.net

We attach a sheet of polycarbonate and cut it to the required size. Cut carefully. Then we screw the cut sheet to the base of the structure and screw it onto self-tapping screws, which we screw into the holes previously drilled with a drill, this is done so as not to break the bars. In general, the design should look something like this:

Source yandex.net

Third stage

At the third stage, we screw on the sliding mechanism and assemble the structure. We screw the wheels for sliding doors from the kit onto the top bar of the next door. Afterwards, we attach a profile for sliding doors to the upper part of the door opening using metal corners and bolts; wheels will go along it.

Source yandex.net

And at the end we insert the wheels with the doors into the profile and look at the place where the doors stop (at the beginning and end). In these places on the floor we install clamps from the kit for sliding doors.

Source yandex.net

I recommend watching the following video, where polycarbonate sliding doors are clearly assembled:

Where are such structures installed?

Panoramic sliding doors are beneficial for decorating facades or verandas of buildings, or accessing a private plot with a lawn and a swimming pool. At the same time, the completely transparent design will allow you to get a full overview of the territory at any time, protecting the house from burglars. This will also give you the opportunity to watch sunrises and sunsets or the night sky with stars. Wide passages allow sunlight to enter the room, illuminating the corridors and rooms.

Panoramic systems are installed to access balconies or loggias in multi-storey buildings. Installing the structure visually unites the balcony with the room, increasing the size of the room. Doors of this type can be installed in offices, giving the work area a distinctive style and improving lighting.

Door design

Correctly selected balcony doors can completely change your interior. Good doors can make the design of your home more sophisticated and elegant, add visual depth to rooms and optically increase its area, which is especially important for small houses and apartments in block houses (townhouses).

In addition, you need to consider that the design of balcony doors should match the style of your home. So, for example, white wooden or plastic doors with a patterned pattern will fit perfectly into the Scandinavian style of the interior and make it more expressive and complete. In addition, you can also retrofit them with white wooden blinds, which will give your interior an even more Scandinavian flair.

Perfect pressure

Sectional view of the INTELIO Slide system
New from REHAU on the sliding structures market - the INTELIO Slide system ( AS portals)

. This is a fundamentally new solution for windows and doors, in which the tightness of the rebate is combined with very easy control and smooth, jerk-free and vibration-free movement of the door leaf. Plus, the design has ideal ergonomics: the sash does not move inward from the plane of the frame (like a PSK portal), thanks to which, for example, a kitchen countertop can be mounted close to the INTELIO Slide window, and objects standing on it will not interfere with opening the window or door .

The structure has been assigned the highest class A for waterproofness and resistance to wind loads. It meets the highest requirements for thermal and sound insulation, thanks to the use of a sash profile with an installation depth of 80 mm, allowing the installation of double-glazed windows up to 51 mm thick. At the same time, it will cost significantly less than the HS portal.

The range of lamination colors is also impressive, including the WOODEC line and plain films. At the same time, REHAU laminating technology involves applying a decorative coating to all visible parts of the INTELIO Slide profile, making windows and doors look stylish and harmonious.

Comparative characteristics of
REHAU

Once every few years, it is advisable to invite a service specialist for comprehensive maintenance of the mechanism. In this case, the sashes are removed from the guides, dust is removed from all hidden cavities, protective lubricant is applied and, if necessary, the sashes are adjusted