Glass door to the balcony - density of sliding double-glazed windows

A good renovation on the balcony and in the room adjacent to it will undoubtedly please the eyes of the apartment owners. But finding stylish and practical solutions can be difficult - many familiar elements can significantly spoil the appearance of the room. For example, a balcony block. Often it does not fit into the updated interior of the apartment at all, especially if the structure is made of wood and painted independently.

In this case, replacing an ordinary balcony door with a glass one will help correct the situation. This design will look modern, stylish, and most importantly, the maximum amount of sunlight will enter the room, it will become visually larger.

Design advantages

Glass doors really have a lot of advantages, which makes them a popular product when renovating apartments:

When installed on a balcony, this design will allow more natural light into the room. This ensures a comfortable stay for people indoors, increases the possibilities of landscaping, and you can save on electricity.
The larger the glazing area, the lighter and airier the partition will be. This technique visually enlarges the room, expands it, and erases the clear boundary between it and the balcony.
A wide range of products allows you to create interesting accents in the interior. A glass structure is not just a transparent sheet. The door can be painted, with a pattern, partially tinted, with patterns and paintings, even in the form of a stained glass window. Similar glass doors are suitable for a loggia or kitchen.
The design is quite durable, so there is no need to worry about broken glass.
All materials used are durable, so they will please their owners for a long time.
Environmental Safety. Glass is an inert material, no formaldehyde resins are used to make the structure, and there are no heavy metals.

Since sliding structures are often used to separate an apartment from a balcony, there is another big plus: saving space.

Glass balcony doors are universal. They are suitable for any room in style and size, even the smallest room. It is important to choose only the optimal design and fittings.

As for the cost of a balcony door with double-glazed windows, such products are not much more expensive than conventional swing doors.

SELECTION OF FRAME FILLING

Having selected reliable fittings, you should begin choosing the glass to fill the canvas. The quality of the double-glazed window directly determines how the temperature balance will be maintained in the room. Consultants usually suggest a double-glazed window with a gas cushion between the layers, which delays the difference in degrees, but sometimes, especially

cold areas - a triple package is offered, containing two gas cushions to correct temperature differences. In the case of budget repairs, you can order a single double-glazed window, but its cheapness is directly proportional to thermal conductivity.

It is worth noting that framing with plastic or wood also depends on the thickness of the glass unit, because the number of glass layers adjusts the width of the frame.

For those who have a wide balcony, or even expand the square footage of the living space by combining a balcony with a room, you can order sliding glass doors to the balcony. It looks very nice, but is much more problematic to install. It is necessary to cut out a concrete slab under the window in standard apartments, level the floor and install a glass-filled sheet over the entire area of the partition. Such a highlight of your apartment will make it stand out favorably in relation to other apartments and balconies. On the balcony, if desired, you can make a back room for relaxation or, for example, an office. However, a very large number of photos of options for such glass doors to the balcony can be viewed on our website.

A few disadvantages

The floor-length glass balcony door is exceptionally attractive. Designers love to use it when decorating small spaces. But despite this, a glass balcony door has its pros and cons.

They must be taken into account before installing it in your apartment:

The product has lower thermal insulation and waterproofing properties than a conventional metal-plastic door.
Due to complete transparency, what is happening on the balcony, everything that is placed there immediately catches the eye. This encourages you to maintain perfect order on the loggia. It’s good to install a transparent structure if you have a pleasant view from the balcony, but if it doesn’t please you, then you’ll have to do some serious landscaping.
Finger stains easily remain on the glass surface, and dust is noticeable. Therefore, balcony doors made entirely of glass need regular cleaning. True, with modern detergents this will not be difficult.
If the balcony itself is not glazed, then installing a completely transparent door is not profitable. Condensation will collect on it, and you will have to heat the room more.

Also, before installing glass sliding doors on the loggia, you should consider how sunny the side with the balcony is. If direct light falls on it for a significant part of the day, then in the summer months the room will become very hot because of this. In this case, you need to think about tinting the glass. To install the structure, it may be necessary to dismantle the window sill, as well as the battery. These factors must be taken into account when making a decision.

Glass balcony block

A glass balcony block is usually mounted without the use of lintels - this is important to know, since such a structure will need to be maintained regularly, washing it with a soapy solution 2-3 times a week. Another important nuance is the threshold.

In this case it should be completely demolished. On the one hand, experts categorically do not recommend doing this, on the other hand, matte balcony blocks with a threshold will look simply ridiculous from an aesthetic point of view.

Balcony handle adjustment diagram

And what is most important: in any case, you will have to choose whether to leave the threshold or not, taking into account all the consequences of such a decision. There are simply no other options here.

Well, in general, sliding glass structures and compartments consisting of glass do not have such significant disadvantages:

a high risk of breaking (glass is glass in any case, no matter what anyone says);
glass sliding doors will need to be washed frequently;
the structure can be quite heavy;
high price.

Main types of tempered glass used in construction

You can completely replace the entire block with glass - it will really look very beautiful. But in any case, you will need to think about the feasibility of such actions if children live in the apartment, there are animals, and the living space itself is located on the second or higher floors. What can be done in this case?

It is necessary to use either tempered glass or a special strengthening film. Tempered glass today is sometimes inserted into both plastic and wooden balcony blocks, but rarely. It's just plain expensive. But buying a reflective or simply reinforcing film, without the effect of light reflection, is the most profitable option.

It is better to choose a reflective film, but with the effect of additional glass strengthening.

As for care, there is no need to worry too much: any windows need to be looked after by washing them in a timely manner. The only unpleasant nuance is that the area that will require maintenance will increase significantly.

An example of an ideal balcony from the inside

In addition, plastic sliding structures and compartments have a rather complex mechanism in their design, the replacement of which can cost a pretty penny. The design, it must be repeated, can be a simple tilt-and-turn one, although there are glass ones without a frame. A balcony block, in general, can have the same modifications as a regular window. But replacing it is even easier.

Types of structures

Glass doors to the balcony are available in two categories:

Solid glass unit. This design is made in the form of a system with rails; the doors move along them. For sliding glass doors to the balcony, guides are located at the top and bottom, which ensures smooth movement. The doors themselves can be in the form of a compartment, folding like an accordion, or radius.
Split glass unit. In this case, the inserts are located in the lower and upper parts, with a jumper in the middle between them. It is necessary to increase the rigidity and strength of the product. Such a balcony block with a glass door is cheaper, especially if you use inexpensive types of glass.

Depending on the size of the opening, the working design may have one or two doors. An option is available when one leaf can be opened as needed, and the second is working all the time.

In addition to the usual solution, when the insert is located in the upper part of the canvas, it can be made only at the bottom.

Frame profiles

These auxiliary details play an important role in the entire ensemble, but they are the ones who can give the structure a complete look. Frame profiles can be made from wood, plastic, aluminum or PVC. Any of these options has its pros and cons. If we talk about wood, it gives the door a noble appearance, but the cost of the product increases significantly. The most budget option is plastic, and even it has the standard necessary qualities:

Strength;
Moisture resistance;
Resistance to household chemicals;
Resistance to temperature changes;
Do not deform due to exposure to aggressive environments.

Such frames are impregnated with anti-flammable substances, which provide additional safety to the structure in case of fire. Consumers note increased resistance to mechanical damage. If we consider aluminum, then the design with a similar frame is more discreet. Such structures have high strength and low weight. Manufacturers love to use this material because it is very flexible and allows you to implement any non-standard idea.

The all-glass design with aluminum frames has both advantages and disadvantages. This balcony door does not have thermal insulation inserts. If you choose products with wooden frames, you will have to pay twice as much for them as for standard plastic doors. You always have to pay extra for appearance and presentability. The most universal solution is PVC profiles. They are distinguished not only by their budget price, but also by their strength and durability.

Rigidity and strength indicators make it possible to produce large-sized balcony blocks.t

Opening method

Sliding systems are preferable for installation on a balcony.

Among them there are three varieties, depending on the opening method:

Sliding type structures. A classic version of a sliding system, when the design includes guides (rails), as well as a sliding mechanism. Such plastic glass doors to the balcony are easy to handle and comfortable to use. Due to the use of various accessories, you can choose a model to suit any interior.
Tilt and slide doors. Their difference from the previous option is that the sashes can be installed like windows in an inclined position for ventilation. The position is selected using the handle.
Folding structures. They are also called "accordion". The system consists of connected panels that are assembled into a folding mechanism. This type is suitable for rooms decorated in a modern style.

All these types of glass doors to the loggia are useful for furnishing an apartment or a private country house. Sliding systems have an advantage over swing systems in that they do not warp or sag over time, since they do not have hinges as such. In order for the system to work longer and not fail, it must be periodically cleaned of dust and lubricated.

Security issue

Glass has significant fragility compared to other materials used for the production of doors (plastic, wood). But for the manufacture of balcony structures, only special, most durable varieties are used.

So, a glass balcony door can be made of the following materials:

Strained glass. To obtain this material, glass is first heated, practically melted, and then quickly cooled by air currents. Due to this, it hardens gradually, starting from the upper layers. Heat treatment increases the strength of the material by approximately 5 times. Not only does it not break as easily as a regular one, but in case of accidental damage it forms non-sharp fragments. It is impossible to cut yourself when breaking tempered glass.
Triplex. This is a multilayer material in which a film is located between the sheets. Triplex also refers to glass of increased strength and safety. If you break such an insert, the fragments will remain glued to the film and will not crumble.

The use of these types of material allows you to create a balcony with a glass door even in an apartment where there are children. Their safety will not be threatened. The structures use sheets with a thickness of 6-8 mm. This option is optimal because it combines sufficient strength and low weight.

The inserts are mounted in a frame made of PVC or metal. The main advantages of PVC are its affordable cost and good durability of the material. The metal profile is characterized by high strength and fire resistance. Less commonly, wood is used to make the frame. Although this is a natural, environmentally friendly material, it quickly dries out and cracks at high humidity.

Depending on the design decision, whether the side is sunny or not and other factors, the canvas itself may have additional finishing. For example, be completely or partially matte. This texture is achieved by polishing the glass with sand under high pressure.

Tinted and mirrored glass will provide protection from prying eyes and too bright sun. The degree of light transmission of such glasses varies: from 30 to 80%

To hit or not to hit?

Naturally, under certain conditions, for example, a strong directed impact, glass beauty can break. This is especially true when there are children in the house. What security measures are there?

The glass surface is covered with a special polymer protective film. If damaged, it will prevent fragments from flying away.
Using the so-called “triplex”. This type of glass consists of two halves connected by a transparent film, if the holding fragments are damaged.
The use of tempered glass is one of the “favorites” for glass balcony railings of this kind (it is also called stalinite due to the heat treatment technology, similar to the hardening of steel). It is heated by more than 600 °C, and then cooled sharply. The strength characteristics in relation to impacts and bending of this glass are 5-6 times greater than that of ordinary glass. If there is trouble with the doors, it will break up into small fragments with blunt edges.

Please note: Lubricating plastic window fittings - from A to Z!

Thermal insulation and dimensions

Like any product, glass sliding balcony doors are produced in warm and cold versions. To maintain maximum positive temperature in the room and a comfortable stay in the room, it is better to install warm doors. For their high thermal insulation, a double-glazed window consisting of 1 or 2 chambers is used. Additionally, it is equipped with thermal inserts that prevent the penetration of heat waves.

Energy-saving designs are also good because they protect the room and its inhabitants from UV radiation, which is excessively intense in the summer.

A cold glass door to a balcony has low thermal insulation properties. It makes sense to install it in an apartment if the loggia is glazed and sufficiently insulated. Otherwise, you will have to increase the heating level in the room.

The standard height of a balcony door is from 1.9 to 2.2 m. The width can vary from 60 to 90 cm. For a wider opening, designs with two leaves or accordion doors are used.

If you install a completely glass balcony door, especially a sliding one, you can save a lot of space and improve the illumination of the room. Reliable and durable designs fully justify their cost, as they make living in an apartment more comfortable.

Installation of glass doors on the balcony

Once the choice of glass door has been made, you can begin its installation. For accuracy and reliability, installation of a full glass door is carried out in stages:

In the first step, you must first prepare the anchors. Their length must be at least 2 millimeters. When installing, you need to take into account that all-glass doors weigh more than standard PVC doors that can be found in most apartments. It is advisable to carry out transportation and installation together with an assistant. Self-installation is quite complicated and time-consuming if done alone.
The door frame is attached to the wall with self-tapping screws. The holes are made approximately 6 centimeters deep. If there were no factory holes in the frame itself initially, then they also need to be made (this needs to be done first). Dowels are inserted into the holes drilled in the wall. We retreat 20 centimeters from all corners. Two additional holes are drilled in the gap on the long side of the doorway.
At this stage, you should prepare special wedges for leveling. It is advisable to purchase plastic products that provide the best glide. You only need two wedges.
The frame is mounted on anchors. Using the wedges discussed in the previous paragraph, it is necessary to align it along the three main sides. First, the alignment occurs along the lower base, only after that along the side walls. The wedges are driven in using a screwdriver and hammer, which simplifies the process.
The door frame should only be secured after the resulting structure has been thoroughly checked for distortion. It is necessary to check using a building level, which is applied horizontally and vertically along all lines. At the same stage, you need to prepare the screws on which the door frame is attached.
The sixth step is the installation of all mechanisms and necessary fittings. The operation of each element must be checked immediately after its installation. This will help to avoid breakdowns and malfunctions during subsequent operation.
The last stage is the installation of double-glazed windows, which is carried out using a special soft rubber hammer and glazing beads. This type of hammer is necessary to avoid damaging the glass.

Installing hardware on a balcony door

Some experts advise installing the fittings last, that is, after installing the double-glazed window. However, this makes it significantly more difficult to check the fittings for functionality.