Replacing cold glazing with warm glazing without changing the façade

Balconies and loggias in most houses developers are glazing. This way they create a unified concept for the facades and organically fit them into the urban environment.

Three types of glazing for balconies
We answer the question: Why replace cold balcony glazing with warm one?
Types of warm glazing (secondary circuit insulation, installation of warm windows)
Prices for various types of window/structure replacement work
Responsibility for unauthorized changes to the facades of a building (the appearance changes when windows are replaced)
The insulation work is divided into several stages. Let's look at the main ones
What is the result? Let's look at all the advantages of warm glazing of a loggia

But when the new owner of the apartment has already purchased the living space, he realizes that the glazing is very flimsy, does not retain heat on the balcony and allows the glass to freeze. All this is due to the fact that, in pursuit of savings, developers use cold glazing of facades - packages with a single layer of glass on aluminum profiles. They cannot be a good protection against frost and cold wind.

To fix this, apartment owners decide to redo the glazing and replace it with warm glass.

Why change cold glazing?

Cold glazing has a lot of disadvantages that are visible to the naked eye. Most often, a window system of this type has an aluminum profile. Our experts believe that the main disadvantage of this profile is the installation of one glass. This leads to heat loss in the apartment.

A simple replacement of the overall system, with the help of our installers, will get rid of this problem. After all, then you can choose the required thickness of the glass unit. This ensures better heat conservation, regardless of the season.

It’s hard to disagree that glazing balconies and replacing cold glazing with warm glazing is simply necessary in our time. In addition, you can add a balcony to the total area of the apartment and complement the room. Our experts advise carrying out this operation with extreme caution. The fact is that you cannot change the facade of the house. You may be fined for this.

When to replace

There are a number of signs that it is worth replacing your windows with new ones:

The room adjacent to the balcony is cold, damp, and drafty.
It is uncomfortable to be on the loggia.
It is planned to combine a balcony and a room.
The old window system is in poor condition, the sashes or profile are damaged.

It’s good if you can combine work with finishing. This will help make the space comfortable and warm.

What is worth knowing about installing warm glazing?

How insulation will be performed depends on the original glazing design.

The cold system is often used for external and internal architectural type buildings; they do not have a thermal break. The glass is fixed from inside the room using a bead. To fully use such a camera system, it will have to be modified a lot. There are three options for doing this:

Vanguard

The structure will be thermally separated; special thermal insulating inserts will be used. They are created from extruded polystyrene foam and mounted in a stained glass window. For work, rubber seals, aluminum clamps of different sizes, and heat insulators are used. Fixation is carried out using self-tapping screws.

Afterwards the clamp is hidden with a decorative cover. From the inside, you can create any design option - both wood-like and in the form of any other lamination. The advantage is that the light opening will not decrease. Additionally, upgraded fittings can be installed on new racks.

Installation of filling is carried out through the use of internal rubber seals. Fastening is carried out using aluminum clamps; they have external seals. The glass unit will rest on special polymer linings, about 8 cm long and 0.5 cm thick.

These pads are fixed to the load-bearing pads, which are located on the crossbar. With this option of replacing cold glazing with warm glazing, the size of the light opening of a blind window will not change, and accordingly, the façade of the building will not change visually. If the sash is opening, then its light opening will change slightly.

Avangard premium

The structure is thermally separated when special heat-insulating rates are installed. They are made from polystyrene foam and mounted in stained glass. If necessary, individual structural elements are dismantled. Fixation is carried out on support brackets, fastening is carried out in the floor slab, or in the vertical post of the stained glass window.

Each product receives an external RAL color that is completely similar to the original glazing. The nuance is that with this option, the light opening will decrease by about 3 cm on each side. Translucent or opaque filling will be carried out in the PVC structure itself; it is attached around the perimeter using clamping beads. In this case, in the future, if necessary, you will be able to change any element - dismantling the glazing beads will suffice for this.

The distance between the PVC elements in the stained glass window can be decorated as desired. Both false linings and decorative covers are used. Everything depends only on the wishes of the client.

Tatprof

It must be taken into account that when insulating, the façade of the balcony should not be modified. The new model of profiles is created from PVC, using a modern thermally insulated profile. If work of this kind is carried out, then it is necessary to immediately provide for all important indicators, and the color of the glazing will be determined only by the client’s desire.

If we are talking about a cold-warm system, then the installation of window blocks is carried out using rubber insulation, and aluminum clamps are also used. They will be held in place using screws. Decorative covers are used on the outside. In this case, the division of the facade will be carried out by installing a thermal break insert.

This work is performed only by industrial climbers; its implementation involves several steps:

The filling is dismantled, after which the existing aluminum profile on the street side is insulated. Polymer materials are used that will reduce the ingress of cold;
Old sashes are replaced with new ones, which are created to the required dimensions using warm PVC or aluminum. Modernized premium fittings are used;
Installation of double-glazed windows of the required sizes is carried out, waterproofing is carried out;
Existing connections are subject to sealing, the stained glass window is assembled, the fittings and sliding system are adjusted, and existing debris is removed.

Additionally, work will be carried out to seal the existing stained-glass window joints. False racks and false crossbars are often used. It all depends on the existing project.

What is balcony insulation

An open balcony is essentially part of the street with the appropriate temperature. If you need to create the same temperature conditions as in an apartment, you need to isolate it from the outside space and reduce heat transfer as much as possible.

Now let’s learn more about how to insulate a balcony with your own hands. This is achieved by performing several stages. The first, naturally, will be glazing, which allows you to create an enclosed space.

Surface materials in contact with the external environment have different thermal conductivity coefficients. To reduce heat loss, special heat insulators are used. Foil coatings also have the property of heat reflection.

The parapet, walls and ceiling can be sheathed with such material (for example, polystyrene foam and penofol). Using properly selected insulation materials can reduce heat transfer in all three ways - heat exchange, convection and thermal radiation.

If the parapet is made in the form of a lattice or has an unreliable design, it is better to replace it with brick or aerated concrete. If the concrete base of the balcony is not strong enough, metal-plastic structures can be used.

It is better to cover the outside with vinyl siding. With quality work, the balcony will be protected from the penetration of cold from the street. To achieve a comfortable temperature, you should take care of heating.

Advice! Sometimes there is no ceiling above the balcony. In this case, it is necessary to install a full roof that can protect from precipitation, sun and wind.

We create a hybrid version from a cold-warm or cold system

The combination of several system options when glazing a balcony is quite common. A universal cold-warm system is used, and the second part can be tubeless glazing, for example Gealan.

To deal with this problem, a warm subsystem is initially created, and then the stained glass window itself is insulated. There are several options for the customer to choose from. PVC or warm aluminum can be used. The latter will fit in more organically, but PVC is more affordable from a financial point of view.

What should you consider while working?

What is the thickness of the glass, is there tinting on it, what are its dimensions, what wind load is on it;
Are there nodes that could become conductors of cold in the future?
What is the height of the upper and lower crossbars, will there be further problems during insulation of the floor or ceiling.

Based on which profile you have chosen and what dimensions the double-glazed window has, the approximate classification is carried out into the following categories - budget, standard, comfortable option.

In each case, the following type of glass unit is used:

Tempered glass;
Triplex;
Tinted glass.

Replacing cold glass with double glazed windows

To obtain good thermal insulation, a double-glazed window is used that has an energy-saving function and is filled with argon inside. Due to this, the heat-saving performance of the double-glazed window will increase, as a result, being in the room will be more pleasant, and part of the solar energy will be reflected back.

If we are talking about the glass of the bottom row that comes from the floor, and you want to make them transparent, then you can install an impact-resistant “triplex” model. It has at least two glasses that are laminated with a special film. When they are damaged, the glass will not fly apart and will remain on an adhesive base. This is especially true if there are children in the house.

A very important point is that the replaced element fully matches the original façade tinting. It happens that clients choose film tinting if they want to hide prying eyes from the street. It will be applied from the inside of the glass unit during its creation. If a plastic thermal insulation frame is used, the possibility of cold bridges is eliminated.

Possible problems and errors

Improperly replacing windows can not only ruin the appearance of your home, but also lead to more serious consequences, including its destruction. Thus, cutting off rack elements in aluminum structures and removing other load-bearing parts is prohibited. There are other nuances that need to be taken into account.

Different sizes of glazing spoil the appearance of the building.

Key problems to avoid:

Error	Possible negative consequence
“Foaming” of voids inside aluminum rack elements.	Internal gap
Removing parts from the outside of a stained glass window.	Changing the appearance of the facade, the likelihood of moisture leaking to the neighbors.
Install the double-glazed window only at the top of the sash and cover the bottom with dense materials, if it was previously transparent.	Unsightly appearance from the outside, condensation, overload of the supporting slab.

Table No. 1 - Installation errors and their consequences.

In most of these cases, the glazing and insulation work will have to be carried out again, which is fraught with serious costs.

It is also not recommended to choose a different color for frames or glass or use tinted films. Protection from indiscreet glances and the sun is provided by blinds and curtains.

Options for replacing cold glazing with warm glazing

Insulation of facade glazing is carried out in three ways, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Installation of double-glazed windows in a structure

A manufactured double-glazed window is installed into the pre-installed structure. Insulation and sealing are carried out using clamping strips. In this case, approvals from the management company are not required, the appearance of the facade is repeated as accurately as possible, and the services of industrial climbers are not required. However, this option is not warm enough.

Installation of metal-plastic windows

Metal-plastic windows are installed in the façade structure. In this case, the double-glazed window is not simply replaced, but a whole window is inserted. This design is the warmest, but is characterized by high cost and changes in appearance due to the thickness of the profile.

Secondary circuit installation

The second circuit is installed close to the cold glazing, completely duplicating its configuration. The option does not require large expenditures, is suitable for all types of glazing, and does not require approval. However, when installing a second circuit, the area of the loggia or balcony is reduced.

Adding a second row of glazing

Often, developers build not individual objects, but entire microdistricts, where each house is an important part of the architectural scheme.

For example, the appearance of panoramic glazing in one loggia will not only attract attention, but may also be classified as an administrative violation and entail a fine.

In such cases, the best option would be to install a second row.

Most often, 2-3-chamber double-glazed windows and PVC profiles are chosen. Installation is carried out from the inside at a distance of 1-1.5 cm from the first row.

The price for adding a second row of glazing is from 1100 rubles per sq.m - the exact cost depends on the complexity of the project.

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Replacing glazing with warm glass: stages of the process

Departure of the surveyor to the work site

Measurement of a balcony or loggia is carried out at a time convenient for the customer. Having received data on the size of the room, the specialist announces the preliminary cost of the upcoming work.

System selection

The final decision is made at the stage of drawing up the contract. In accordance with the wishes and budget of the client, the equipment, materials, and types of design are agreed upon. The final price, deadlines and guarantees are stipulated in the signed contract.

Production of warm glazing

The production process takes place in our own factory. The fully completed package will be ready for installation in five working days.

Delivery of products

The manufactured system and components are delivered to the customer at a time convenient for him using special transport that preserves the products during transportation.

Installing warm glazing instead of cold glazing

Installation work can be performed directly from the wheels, on the day of delivery or at any time convenient for the client. Installation is quick and neat.

Warm glazing instead of cold

The company's consultants will help you choose the best option for replacing glazing with warm glass, taking into account the wishes and financial capabilities of the customer. Completing the application will not take much time - just dial the phone number and leave your contact information to the employee.

Replacing façade glazing with warm glass guarantees:

use of quality materials from trusted suppliers;
delivery of the finished product to the site;
prompt execution of work on the manufacture and installation of glazing;
quality control at all stages of replacing glazing with warm glass;
rapid elimination of identified deficiencies within three years after installation.

Price

The cost of replacing cold systems depends on the original design and customer preferences for warm glazing. The most affordable option is metal-plastic products mounted indoors. But even in this case, the price depends on the profile (number of chambers, color, texture), the fittings used, the formula of the glass unit and the type of glass used in it. The cost of such systems at the moment is about 5,000 rubles per 1 sq. m. m .

The production and installation of warm aluminum structures will cost much more - from 15,000 rubles per sq. m. m. and above. The main factors influencing the price: the profile used, double-glazed windows (formula, etc.), features of the original design and installation.

Replacing cold glazing with warm glazing without changing the appearance of the facade

In short, yes, we can replace cold facade glazing with warm one in any residential complex. Without changing the appearance of the facade. Fast. Qualitatively. Guarantee.

What do you get when replacing cold glazing with warm glazing:

Possibility of adding additional loggia area to the living area of the apartment;
Warm panoramic glazing with a beautiful view;
Safe panoramic glazing with maximum sound insulation;
No blowing or drafts;
New warm swing-out doors with micro-ventilation;

Insulation of profile elements

It is planned not only to replace thin glass, but also to modify the profile. Required: Remove the glass sheet. Clean the profile surface, removing silicone inserts, remaining sealant and seals. Install a new double-glazed window onto the old frame using clamping strips with thermal inserts.

The frame elements are covered from the outside with decorative covers, painted to match the color of the facade. Swing and sliding systems must be replaced. Insulation occurs due to thermal inserts. The method will not provide ideal heat conservation - it should not be chosen for northern regions, although the indoor microclimate will improve.

The advantage here is increased sound insulation, as well as maintaining the size of the window, which is important for appearance and light transmission.

Changing glazing yourself

If your apartment is located on the upper floors of a high-rise building, you can improve the microclimate in the apartment with your own hands only from the inside of the loggia or balcony. All other options are possible only with the involvement of industrial climbers. It’s easier for residents of the first floors and low-rise private houses: you can try to cope on your own. The easiest option would be to replace the double-glazed window with one that is most suitable in size and color, but has increased heat-insulating properties.

Preparatory stages

It’s better not to buy standard models, but to make original ones according to individual sizes

First of all, you need to draw up a project for future work. Even if you don’t plan to report them to the management company, since the changes will be minimal. If you lack funds for a professional project, try to at least schematically reflect the future windows graphically. To ensure everything is clear, take careful measurements.

Experts do not recommend purchasing frames of standard sizes. When taking measurements, keep in mind that you will need a gap for construction foam of about 3 cm on each side.

The next step will be the selection of the necessary materials. The work will require, first of all, new double-glazed windows. The number of cameras in them depends on the region: two-chamber models are suitable for the south, five-chamber models are suitable for the far north. In addition to this you will need:

sealing compound;
seal;
fittings;
heat insulator for walls, floor and ceiling (if it is a loggia or balcony).

First, make a list with approximate prices, and then, according to the scheme, calculate the quantity and cost of the necessary materials, including the cost of delivery and other additional services. When purchasing building materials, make a reserve of approximately 10 percent of the total required quantity.

It is better to cover the floor on the loggia with plywood

If the insulation and finishing of the floor is completed at the time of glazing, it will be necessary to ensure the safety of the coating. You can cover it with a thick plywood sheet or fiberboard.

Operating procedure

Carrying out independent glazing is possible only if you have experience in construction and installation work.

How to do this - step by step instructions:

Step 1. Remove the sashes by removing the pins from the hinges at the top and removing the structure from the bottom pins. Then remove the old frames completely if necessary. Clean the opening from plaster, dirt and treat it with a special sealant.

Step 2. Try on new frames using a building level to avoid distortions. You can use wooden pegs for leveling.

Step 3. Attach the new frames using anchors and screws with plastic dowels or special steel plates.

Step 4. Install new double-glazed windows, check their tightness. There will be no spontaneous opening and closing if the window is installed level.

Step 5. Fill the gaps, leaving the sashes open during the process. Then close them and wait for the foam to harden. When it “stands up,” remove the wooden pegs and foam the holes again.

Prices for polyurethane sealant

Polyurethane sealant

Step 6. After this, you can insulate the walls of the loggia or balcony.

Sometimes, to save money, aluminum frames are not replaced. They are insulated with polyamide thermostats to eliminate cold bridges. With the original frameless glazing, this will not work: you will have to replace the window structure completely.

Video - DIY technology for changing balcony glazing

Extension of profile parts

This technique is almost as good as completely replacing the window glazing. To do this, you need to remove the glass and clean the profile elements to perfect smoothness. The frame base is further strengthened.

A new thickened and insulated frame with thermal inserts is placed on top of it. If there is a discrepancy between the internal profile strips, the old ones are removed. Double-glazed windows with 3–5 chambers are placed inside the frame. The height of the frame is adjusted using aluminum profile extensions.

When adding profile elements, gaps usually form, which are covered with decorative overlays, flashings with clips for fastening, and clamping strips. The advantages of this method are high thermal insulation, noise protection and ease of repair: glazing elements can be easily removed.

At the same time, the work will cost less than completely replacing cold windows. The disadvantages include a decrease in the transparent part, and, accordingly, light transmittance. But with the correct selection of the frame width, the disadvantage can be minimized.

Complete replacement of glazing

The method is the best, but also the most expensive. It will be necessary to dismantle the old glazing completely, down to the concrete or brick base. In its place, a new, fully insulated, mullion-transom façade is being installed. Such technology is not feasible on its own. We will have to hire professionals and involve industrial climbers.

But the replacement will happen faster than in all other cases. Only this method can be chosen if frameless glazing is installed in a new building: the glass is not fixed to the frame, but fitted to each other. This is a beautiful option, but it is not airtight enough and allows cold and moisture to pass through well. If you want warmth and comfort, you will have to change.

Balcony insulation sequence

After installing the windows, the balcony must be completely emptied, the remaining foam must be removed and the floor, ceiling and walls must be carefully inspected. If cracks, gaps or cracks are found, they must be repaired.

To do this, use foam or cement mortar. If there is any old coating left on the surfaces, it must be removed. During construction, the floor of the balcony is made with a slope to allow water to drain. It needs to be leveled using a screed.

All surfaces must be completely dry. On a warm balcony there will definitely be a need to turn on electrical appliances and lights, so you need to provide for the placement of sockets, switches and lamps.

Recesses are prepared in the surfaces where the wiring, hidden in a corrugated pipe, is laid. Read below about how to insulate a balcony with your own hands.

Technology of laying the insulating layer

To protect against dampness, a waterproofing film or liquid product is placed on the floor, which can easily be applied independently. Thermal insulation, protected from getting wet, will not become moldy and will not lose its qualities.
A layer of insulation is laid on the ceiling and parapet. The easiest way is to cover the surfaces with polystyrene foam. It is glued with polyurethane glue and secured with Mushroom dowels. The sheets are laid tightly to each other, leaving no gaps. The gaps between the material and the wall are filled with foam. There is no need to insulate the inner wall, since it is heated by a radiator from the apartment.
Floor insulation can be done in two ways, depending on the finishing material. A polyethylene film is placed under the tile on a layer of insulation, on top of which a screed is made. Logs are laid under a wooden floor or laminate, with insulation placed closely between them.
To enhance the insulating effect of the surface, it is better to cover it with penofol. This material, based on foamed polyethylene, acts as a vapor barrier and also has the ability to reflect thermal radiation. The foil layer should face the inside of the apartment. The joints are sealed with construction tape.
The prepared surfaces are finished with a finishing coating. The ceiling can be covered with waterproof plasterboard, the walls can be covered with decorative plaster or wallpaper.

Balcony heating

To raise the air temperature on the balcony, you can use various electrical appliances. It is better not to use water heating. One popular option is a heated floor system that you can install yourself.

It comes in three types:

the heating cable, which is laid in the floor screed, is equipped with a temperature sensor, with which the desired temperature is maintained;
heating mats, which are the same cable attached to a special mesh;
infrared film floor, which is placed under any covering (even carpet); it can also be used to cover walls and ceilings.

Advice! To heat a balcony, you can use various portable devices: fan heaters, oil radiators, infrared heaters.

Insulating a balcony allows you to turn it into another room or expand the space of an existing one if you demolish a wall. In order to properly sheathe surfaces with thermal insulation, you need to follow the technology for laying materials. You can handle most stages of this work yourself.

Project content

The document must include drawings and explanations for them. Graphically express: glazing of a balcony or loggia at the moment; view after replacing structural elements; filling each section of glazing separately; main components and connections that have been changed.

The documentation must indicate the brand and formula of the glass unit, the type of profile parts, and the colors of all elements (according to the RAL system). The document also includes a description of the work procedure, calculation of the load - wind in all cases, snow - if the window is located on the roof. The title page of the document indicates the address and contact information of the customer and the contractor.

Approval Rules

The project is coordinated with the management company or other organization supervising the apartment building. If, during internal installation of additional insulation, communication with the management company can be avoided, then the involvement of industrial climbers will definitely require permission. Although in the first case it is worth obtaining consent, since serious insulation increases the load on the load-bearing slab.

Coordination is required, even if industrial climbers are not involved, if:

The thickness of the filling of the façade structure changes.
The size of the light openings is reduced (the metal-plastic profile is approximately 2 cm wider than the aluminum profile).
The elements of the facade are structurally changed.

If all the residents of an apartment building at a general meeting decided to completely change the appearance of the building, they will not only have to coordinate the project with the owner of the building or the management company, but also contact the municipal construction and architecture authorities.

The feasibility and possibility of such reglazing is assessed by a commission of experts. If you replace the glazing without permission, fines will be imposed on the owner of the premises. In addition, in most cases he will be forced to restore the appearance of the facade at his own expense.

Which windows to use for replacement

There are several basic design options that can be used in this case, but our company installs metal-plastic ones. The profile in them is created from durable reinforced PVC. It is possible to install a multi-chamber structure with different glass unit characteristics. It is practiced to pump a special inert gas into the air chambers.

The designs differ in the level of heat conservation, durability, and cost. A suitable system is selected after consultation with a specialist. To call a surveyor from our company, leave a request on the website or call. We will agree on a convenient time for your visit and provide consultation.

Documents for applying to the Criminal Code

Having prepared the project, the owner of the premises must write an application to the Criminal Code to carry out the work. In addition to the project documents, the following must be attached to the application:

an extract from Rosreestr on ownership or a copy of the certificate;
a certificate stating that there are no debts for utilities;
copies of certificates for materials to be used in glazing;
guarantee of the contractor who will perform the work.

If you plan to perform high-altitude work, you will need confirmation that the company’s personnel have permission to carry out such work.