In various articles, this term refers to frameless glazing, French windows, and metal-plastic glazing. This variety of names is explained by two reasons: misunderstanding of the term and an advertising ploy. What designs can be called panoramic windows in the correct understanding of the word?
Panoramic windows
Panoramic balcony
Panorama is a Greek word that means “I see everything.” And you can see everything from the room only when the wall does not interfere with the view. This means that all of the above terms, no matter how pleasant and mysterious they may sound, are ordinary panoramic windows. Whether they have a frame or not, what materials the structures are made of, swing or sliding, warm or cold, it doesn’t matter. Of course, structures that have doors, even though they are transparent, cannot be called panoramic windows.
House with panoramic windows
If the wall is large, then the windows are large. And for small gazebos or verandas, windows are required of ordinary height and length, the main thing is that they are from ceiling to floor and do not interfere with viewing the panorama outside the room. This means that panoramic windows can have different sizes; this indicator is not the main factor for them. Another nuance is that a partial panoramic view can be achieved when the length of the window is much greater than the width. But such options are rare in residential construction. The house looks strange, the windows resemble loopholes of pillboxes or other military structures, it’s difficult to talk about any kind of design appeal. Although these options also have a right to life.
Panoramic windows - photo
Mansion near Santa Barbara - interior of a house with glass walls
Panoramic windows
An opening of this type occupies almost the entire wall.
Typically, frames are installed from floor to ceiling. This solution increases visibility and lets in more light. The panorama is made from different materials:
- Aluminum alloys.
- Tree.
- PVC profiles.
- Steel.
The birthplace of wide openings is France. Previously, they were installed on the side of a flowering garden or courtyard to enjoy nature.
The main feature is the unity of the home atmosphere with nature or the street. This solution will look great in a private house or in a skyscraper apartment.
Wide glazing is classified according to the type of construction:
- Regular is the simplest option; glass occupies most of the wall or is stretched vertically or horizontally (kitchen, workshop).
- Corner - more often used for private cottages, where the windows should overlook a flowering garden or courtyard (bedroom, dining room, corridor with a flight of stairs).
- French - occupy the entire area from floor to ceiling, and can replace doors to the courtyard.
Installation instructions for panoramic windows
Important! Never convert ordinary windows into panoramic windows in existing buildings. The fact is that facade walls are always load-bearing; slabs or other structures of the upper floor lie on them.
Installation of a panoramic window in a new building
The possibility of installing panoramic windows should be provided for at the design stage. Architects are thinking about other ways to construct ceilings. This remark does not apply to the glazing of verandas; panoramic windows can be installed here at any time.
Step 1. Select an option for panoramic windows, measure their width and height. Classic panoramic designs should open the entire space from the top to the bottom of the wall.
Measuring the opening for a panoramic window
An example of a measurement error
Step 2: Assemble window profiles. Follow the manufacturer's instructions during assembly. Do not simplify some steps - the load on the frame is large, you need to take all measures to ensure its strength. If you have no experience in assembling profiles, then it is better to turn to professionals for help. Moreover, double-glazed windows cannot be installed without special vacuum suction cups, and only specialized companies have them. And another problem is the large weight of double-glazed windows. If it is two- or three-chamber and made of impact-resistant glass with a thickness of within 6 millimeters, then it is impossible to manually install it in place; lifting mechanisms are needed.
Now you can start assembling
Step 3. Along the perimeter of the window opening, clean the surfaces from dust and construction debris, and level them if necessary. It is highly desirable that the lower profile of the panoramic window lie on the floor slab with its entire surface. It is prohibited to install windows on the floor. The exception is the flooring made of ceramic tiles and laid on a durable cement screed. If there are coolants underneath, then they cannot be located under the frame of the panoramic window.
Preparing the window opening
Step 4. Measure the places where the frame is fixed in the opening, and use these marks to drill holes in the profile. It’s better to drill the profile and the opening separately - it’s much easier to work this way.
Attach the window and mark the location for the mounting holes
Step 5. Insert the frame into the opening, level it and secure it firmly with wedges. Please ensure that the structure does not wobble. It must be stable throughout the installation.
Step 6. Using a drill and hammer drill, drill holes in the wall for the anchor bolts. If the panoramic window is relatively small and light, then you can use durable dowels; in all other cases, fixation is done only with anchors. The distance between the holes is selected taking into account the material of the walls and the size of the panoramic window. In most cases it is within 40 centimeters.
Step 7. Fix the frames, check the stability of their position. If in doubt, increase the number of anchors.
Anchor plates
Installation of panoramic windows
Prices for popular hammer drill models
Hammers
Step 8. Replace the glass or double-glazed windows. Do not forget to use plastic linings that compensate for the linear thermal expansion of the glass.
To install the bead into the frame, it is better to use a rubber mallet
Step 9. Blow foam into the gaps between the frame and the opening, and thoroughly moisten the surfaces before foaming. In this case, water performs two functions: it increases the coefficient of adhesion of the foam to surfaces and accelerates the time of its (foam) hardening. Unscrupulous craftsmen rarely wet surfaces; for them, the main thing is not the quality of work, but time. If you use the services of a company, be sure to control the quality of installation and force workers to carry out all stages of installing panoramic windows.
The cracks are filled with foam
Step 10. After the foam has hardened, use a sharp knife to carefully cut off the material protruding beyond the plane of the wall. The foam can then be covered with wallpaper, plastered or leveled with putty. The specific method is selected taking into account the existing decoration of the walls of the room.
Removing excess polyurethane foam
Prices for polyurethane sealant
Polyurethane sealant
Window care
Since the size of the window system is measured in many square meters, it should be cared for in a timely and efficient manner. Each area should be washed at least twice a year. There is a certain difficulty in cleaning glass at high altitudes. It is difficult to do this from the outside, so it is better to seek professional help from cleaning companies. Cleaning on your own is difficult if a white coating forms on the surface from condensation and rainwater. It’s easier with the inside - it is washed with ordinary detergents. The foam must be removed with water, after which the glass is treated with a glass cleaner. You should purchase a window squeegee to avoid using chairs when cleaning. In winter, heating devices are installed at the level of the lower part of the windows. In-floor radiators are also used, which are often connected to the heating system. Since the windows will fog up, additional care will be required.
