They also allow you to develop expressive façade solutions.
These translucent elements belong to structures of increased complexity, are manufactured according to an individual project, and are installed taking into account the features of installing panoramic windows.
Advantages and disadvantages of panoramic glazing
The advantages of panoramic structures are:
- Long service life, resistance to various atmospheric conditions.
- Manifold. This implies the possibility of installing multi- and single-chamber double-glazed windows. The profile can be warm or cold. The double-glazed windows themselves can have quite large dimensions, but at the same time be not reinforced.
- Possibility of manufacturing curved parts of the structure.
- The type of window opening can be any - fixed, hinged, sliding.
- Safety and good sound insulation of structures.
- Decorative variety - the profile can be painted in any color, as well as imitate wood or stone.
However, panoramic glazing has several disadvantages:
- Low thermal insulation performance due to the large glazing surface.
- High price. It is due to design features and labor intensity during installation.
- The need to provide additional heating to prevent the formation of condensation.
- Keep in mind that in a ready-made frame house such glazing cannot be performed without an approved project.
It is advisable to provide panoramic glazing at the stage of designing a house, and not during the construction process.
Advantages of panoramic glazing
- Abundance of transmitted light. This will help visually expand the room and make it much lighter.
- Reduced electricity costs due to increased solar light flow.
- The use of reflective, energy-efficient glass will help keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.
- Unlimited number of design options, finishes and structures.
- Style and presentability of the room.
Disadvantages of panoramic glazing
- High cost of quality materials, proper installation, maintenance and repair of panoramic windows.
- The need for proper planning, as well as the design of a room with panoramic glazing.
- Difficulty in washing and cleaning panoramic windows.
- Additional costs for the installation of thermal convectors for heating, as well as air conditioners for cooling.
Panoramic glazing methods
- Frame glazing is the most convenient and reliable. With this option, a double-glazed window is used, which is built into a frame made of plastic, fiberglass or aluminum, which allows for thermal and sound insulation.
- Frameless glazing involves a “cold” glazing method without the use of frames. With this option, tempered glass is attached to the lower and upper beams using roller bearings, which ensure good sliding of the glass along the wall. The optimal width of such a window is 650 mm, but the length can reach up to 3 m.
How to reduce heat loss?
The most common problem associated with panoramic glazing of a frame house is heat retention. The stumbling block here is the budget. If you are not ready to install warm windows, you will be forced to pay more for heating and vice versa.
Glazing can be done in two ways:
- Cold. It is suitable for installation in unheated rooms. These include gazebos, summer houses, verandas. Its thermal insulation values are extremely low. This glazing is made without frames or in an aluminum profile with 1 pane.
- Warm. It uses a profile made of plastic or wood and three-chamber double-glazed windows. Thermal insulation indicators are high, but this also determines their high cost.
Today, the difference between these types is increasingly blurred. For example, there are already energy-saving double-glazed windows, in which inert gas is pumped between the panes; profiles with sectional thermal breaks, etc. The thickness of such structures does not increase, and heat loss is reduced.
However, no double-glazed window guarantees the same reliable protection from the cold in winter as a wall. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to install an additional heating system - an electric convector or additional radiators next to the window.
We arrange the interior
When the installation is completed, you can safely move on to organizing the interior space of the gazebo or veranda. Install cozy sofas and armchairs, buy soft pillows and a bright blanket - then this place on the site will become your favorite. An example of a cozy veranda interior is shown in the photo below. Notice how harmoniously the interior furnishings combine with the panoramic view.
Photo: from the veranda there is a beautiful view of the site
Thus, if you have always dreamed of a stylish and modern gazebo or veranda, frameless glazing is what you need. We hope that the photos and videos presented in our material helped you decide whether you can do this type of glazing yourself or whether you will have to turn to professionals for help.
Panoramic windows: what sizes?
Many structures in this case have a length of up to 2.5 meters. If the length is at this level, but does not exceed it, you can install a system with heated floors. Otherwise, it is recommended to use special convectors.
PVC structures are suitable for installation in openings up to three meters in size. If the dimensions are larger, it is recommended to give preference to aluminum products. This alloy is practically devoid of the ability to linearly expand.
You can calculate the cost of the structure in advance by calling a specialized company.
The larger the glazing area in this case, the more the room can heat up if it is not protected from sunlight in any way. In addition, such designs open up an overview of what is happening inside. Not all owners of a private home like this situation.
Windows in a frame house - what to look for
To begin installing windows, you need to make sure that all work on the construction of the frame, its insulation, waterproofing and windproofing is completed.
Note! In the area of the openings, the waterproofing material is left with a margin to overlap the window and prevent it from blowing through.
As for the installation itself, it is important to pay attention to the following nuances:
- depth of installation of the frame - the more the structure is shifted towards the room, the more the outer wall will freeze; the closer the window is to the facade, the higher the risk of freezing and condensation;
- placement and number of fasteners for frames - it is different for fixed and opening sashes;
- insulation of the joint between the wall and the window - it should be both inside and outside;
- correct placement of double-glazed windows in the opening.
Regardless of whether you install windows in a frame house yourself or with the help of invited craftsmen, you cannot do without knowledge of technology. In the first case, this is necessary to obtain a high-quality result, in the second, to control the work of specialists. There are often situations when they make mistakes.
Principles of price formation in the Russian Federation
Most well-known companies involved in the production and installation of window structures have a separate line of translucent elements for filling openings in external walls with increased glazing area.
Given the high level of competition, the prices for the services of these enterprises are approximately the same. The final cost of installing a panoramic window, as well as the production of the product itself, depends on a number of criteria :
Total glazing area.- The number of windows that need to be installed at this address.
- The number of cameras in a double-glazed window.
- Type of translucent element – regular, tempered glass or triplex.
- Profile material, thickness and number of internal chambers in the frame.
- Fittings class.
- Number of opening doors.
- The presence of a protective fence on the front or interior side.
- Type of profile finishing – decorative lamination, powder painting, paint coating.
- The complete set of the window block includes the presence of ebb and flow framing elements.
- Urgency of order production.
- Availability of a project or special design solutions.
The installation price also depends on the need to modify the window opening, installation method, elevation of the installation horizon and other factors. The final amount is determined by the estimate , taking into account the internal prices of the installation organization and correction factors.
If a client repeatedly contacts a specific company, it is possible to provide discounts ranging from 5% to 15%. It should be taken into account that many installation organizations offer potential clients a minimum threshold for the cost of services, usually from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles, which determines the profitability of the team’s visit.
Window installation - step-by-step instructions
In general, the sequence of actions for glazing window openings in a frame house is as follows: preparing windows, aligning and fixing them in the opening, forming an assembly seam. Each stage of work has its own characteristics and secrets.
Preparation of glazing structures
Before installation in the opening, the windows are unglazed - the opening sashes are removed from their hinges, and double-glazed windows are installed from blind frames. To do this, remove the fixing beads along the perimeter of the frame. At the preparatory stage, anchor plates are attached to the window blocks. In this case, construction screws with a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 40 mm are used. They are fixed at the corners of the frame (at a distance of 15 cm from the edge) and in the center so that the structure does not dangle in the opening.
Note! If the block provides for a vertical impost, then the distance from it to the fasteners must be at least 120 mm.
Installing a window block in an opening
When installing a frame block in an opening, it is important to correctly determine the installation depth, align the structure along its axes and fix it.
Traditionally, 1/3 or 1/4 of the thickness of the outer wall is taken as the installation depth. This allows you to effectively close the thermal circuit and avoid problems with condensation and window freezing.
Alignment of the structure in the opening is carried out using mounting wedges - special plastic or made from small bars. The position of the frame is checked using a building level. Most often, alignment begins along the horizontal axis and continues along the vertical axis.
After being positioned in the opening, the window block is fixed with galvanized self-tapping screws with a diameter of at least 6 mm.
Formation of the assembly seam
The installation seam along the perimeter of the window performs the function of heat and waterproofing and additionally secures the structure in the opening. It consists of three layers:
- external - waterproofing from the street side;
- middle – polyurethane foam;
- internal - vapor barrier film.
The outer layer can be: PSUL (sealing tape), plastic strips, special sealant. Their function is to protect the polyurethane foam from the effects of precipitation, temperature changes, and UV rays.
Polyurethane foam as a middle layer additionally fixes the window in the opening and retains heat in the frame house. For foaming, a gap of at least 20 mm is left between the frame and the wall, taking into account that the foam increases in volume up to 70%. Before work, protect the window frame from contamination with masking tape, which is removed after the seam has hardened.
It is important! Before applying the foam, the double-glazed windows and sashes are installed in place. Otherwise, the frame will move and assembly of the structure will become impossible.
The inner layer is designed to protect the seam from moisture from the room. Usually it is a vapor barrier film, which is overlapped on the frame and secured with a special tape. As an alternative, vapor barrier mastic is used. The more reliable the installation seam is and the more protected it is from aggressive external influences, the more stable the window is in the opening, the longer it will last.
Double-glazed window
- How to reduce heat loss through large windows?
Losses are determined by two factors:
- Convection of the air gap between the glasses. Heat transfer due to convection decreases with an increase in the number of glass unit chambers: in this case, the temperature difference on adjacent glasses decreases, which, in fact, sets convection currents in motion;
Reducing convection losses is facilitated by replacing the air in the double-glazed window with argon. It is more viscous, which helps slow down the movement of convection currents, and has lower thermal conductivity compared to air.
Inert gases reduce heat loss due to convection.
- Infrared radiation. The size of this part of the heat loss is determined by the temperature delta between the street and the room, as well as the permeability of glass in the infrared part of the spectrum. Energy-saving glasses with limited transparency in the infrared spectrum have been developed specifically to reduce losses due to radiant heat.
The operating principle of energy-saving glass.
As I wrote above, the highest degree of thermal protection is provided by a double-glazed window with two energy-saving glasses and argon filling.
Double-glazed window with two energy-saving glasses.
Here is an approximate dependence of the thermal efficiency of a double-glazed window on changes in configuration:
| Configuration | Drop in heat transfer resistance relative to a triple-glazed unit with two energy-saving glasses and argon filling |
| Two chambers, one energy-saving glass, argon | -3% |
| Two chambers, one energy-saving glass, air | -10% |
| One chamber, one energy-saving glass, air | -20% |
| Two chambers, ordinary glass, air | -30% |
| One chamber, ordinary glass, air | -50% |
When choosing the glazing structure for the attic, I preferred the budget option, typical for the Crimea - a single-chamber double-glazed window with one energy-saving glass and air filling. It showed its high efficiency in winter frosts, which were rare for Sevastopol: at -20 outside, +20 in an attic with an area of 60 square meters was supported by one inverter air conditioner with a capacity of 12,000 BTU (4.1 kilowatts in heating mode).
Cheap and cheerful: a single-chamber package with one i-glass.
- Is it possible to reduce noise from the street??
Yes. For this purpose, sound-insulating double-glazed windows with glass and spacer frames (gaskets that define the distances between the glasses) of variable thickness are used. The difference in thickness makes it possible to effectively dampen acoustic vibrations in different areas of the sound spectrum.
The structure of a noise-insulating double-glazed window.
- How to protect yourself from excessively bright sun?
A double-glazed window may include solar control glass with limited permeability in the visible spectrum. By combining solar control and energy-saving glass in one package, you can reduce not only insolation, but also the heating of the room in sunny weather.
Panoramic window with solar control glass.
Another solution is to stick solar control film on the glass of panoramic windows.
Window before and after applying film.
I strongly recommend removing the double-glazed windows to apply it: in this case, there will be no gaps along the edges of the film that are constantly clogged with dirt. In addition, this way we will eliminate the risk of damaging the rubber seal around the perimeter of the sash when cutting the film to size.
How to do this work yourself?
- Use a knife or sharp spatula to pry one of the vertical beads out of the frame;
Removing the bead holding the glass unit.
- Repeat the operation with the remaining glazing beads. Take out the top one last: it will hold the glass unit in the frame until the last moment;
- Place the glass unit on a table or other horizontal surface on top of a piece of fabric;
- Thoroughly wash its inner surface from dirt and dust;
- Cut the film to the size of the glass;
- Remove the liner (backing) from the film;
- Wet the glass and adhesive surface of the film with soapy water;
- Lay the film over the glass;
- Use a dry cloth or plastic card to blot out the soapy water, starting from the center and working outward. The water will completely displace the air bubbles. Don’t be afraid to leave a small amount of water under the film: it will evaporate quickly;
- Install the glass unit into the frame;
- Center it relative to the sash with plastic inserts;
- Press the top bead and hammer it into the frame with a rubber mallet or hammer through a block;
To install the bead into the frame, it is better to use a rubber mallet.
- Repeat the operation with the remaining glazing beads.
If desired, you can also find energy-saving film on sale, which is only slightly inferior to energy-saving glass in terms of thermal insulation properties.
Panoramic windows in a frame house
A beautiful frame house with panoramic windows is not a dream, but quite a reality. In famous half-timbered buildings, glass replaces most of the exterior walls. Installing such translucent structures is not much different from working with standard options. However, there are still a few fundamental points.
- Heat loss increases through panoramic windows. You will have to worry about high-quality heating at home in advance.
- The frame of the building must have increased rigidity in order to withstand the weight of the translucent structure.
- When fixing the frame in the opening, there will be more support points than usual.
- If there are children in the house, it is important to make large windows safe, for example, install a rigid fence along them.
- You need to think through the ventilation system in the house in advance.
For all their beauty and a certain frivolity, panoramic windows require a serious approach to installation in a frame house.
You can install standard windows yourself, but in this case the manufacturers do not provide a guarantee on the glazing design. Therefore, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of such a decision. If experience and skills are not enough, it is better to entrust the work to specialists.
Impair sound insulation
It is believed that large-format glazing causes excessive noise in the house.
But if you remember how a double-glazed window works, then your fears will disappear by themselves: glass walls absorb sounds no worse than concrete ones. Manufacturers use many additions that save from excess noise: special plugs, seals, rebates. The thickness of the glass and structural elements also affects. High-quality floor-to-ceiling windows and installation by professionals guarantee good sound insulation.
Finishing and arrangement of window openings in a frame house
Despite the fact that the theory of building frame houses seems extremely simple, when it comes to practice, everything becomes significantly more complicated. This is especially true when you need to make doorways and install windows yourself.
The main problem is that the frame walls are multi-layered. The external walls of prefabricated houses are distinguished by large layers (as standard - 9 layers, including thermal insulation, OSB boards, waterproofing, and so on).
With partitions (internal walls of the building) everything is somewhat simpler, since there are only 4 layers. It is for this reason that it is easier to install doorways with your own hands than to install a window opening. Finishing the openings is an optional, but desirable procedure.
Diagram of a standard window opening in a frame house
Sometimes it happens that the owner of a building, who carries out construction with his own hands, makes the openings uneven, which is why they have to be leveled with cement mortar.
The external walls of prefabricated houses are multi-layered, usually consisting of 9 layers.
It is also worth adding that the installation and finishing of the door and the opening under it, in its technology, is no different from the same work on creating window openings. So, it’s worth considering only the issue of installing windows and openings under them, and only then this practice can be used to install a door.
Frame features
The frame of a prefabricated house almost always consists of wooden elements (extremely rarely of a metal profile). For these reasons, it is imperative to calculate the maximum permissible load on such elements, especially on the corner parts of the structure.
In order to ensure an even load on the foundation, it is customary to make both the upper and lower framing of the frame, and the pitch of the racks will be about 1 meter.
An example of arranging openings in a Canadian frame house using a header
This is very important, since this parameter determines, for example, whether it is possible to install a plastic window with a “warm double-glazed window” or not (the main problem of such windows is that they greatly increase the load on the house, especially if the latter is a panel , lightweight, as small country houses often are).
And if a person is going to make a frame house with panoramic windows, then the main thing here is that the frames are level, which is quite difficult to do with your own hands. This applies not only to window recesses, but also to those where the doors will stand.
So, as noted above, the step of the racks should be about 1 meter, but where there will be various openings for windows, this step must necessarily be wider. An important point: if a person wants to install windows whose length exceeds 120 centimeters, he should know that such windows in a frame house will complicate the design too much.
Installation of side supports in the window opening of a frame house
Firstly, this will require significant additional costs, and secondly, you definitely cannot install such structures with your own hands. Yes, and it will take quite a lot of time.
Finishing of holes can be done in 2 ways:
- using a device such as a crossbar (we are talking about the Finnish technology for constructing frame houses);
- using a device such as a header (we are talking about Canadian technology for constructing frame houses).
Both of these methods have proven themselves to be excellent, however, in Russia builders still prefer to use the Finnish method with crossbars, but both will be discussed in the article.
In Russia, frame houses are practically not built using Canadian technology, preferring Finnish technology using crossbars.
Crossbar and its structure
As already noted, the Finnish way of organizing openings for windows is based on the use of a crossbar. Crossbars are large supporting beams, and all other structural elements of the house rest on these beams, including windows and doors.
Thermal curtain
- What heating radiators can be used to create a thermal curtain in front of a panoramic window?
Here are some of the most popular solutions:
- Low heating radiators for panoramic windows have a height of 200 - 350 millimeters and are mounted on floor brackets;
Floor heating radiators can be installed anywhere in the room.
- A warm baseboard is a type of convector (tubes for coolant with developed fins to increase heat transfer) with a height of no more than 20 centimeters. It is equipped with a decorative screen (steel, brass or aluminum) and its appearance really differs little from a high baseboard;
- Heating of the glazing can also be achieved by installing in-floor convectors or fan coil units. They are mounted under a wooden floor or in a screed. The heating devices are covered from above with decorative grilles;
In-floor fan coil unit in a flat floor.
- Finally, a thermal curtain in front of the window is created by all types of heated floors - water, film and cable.
Tips and recommendations for arranging openings in a frame house
What you should pay attention to when arranging holes:
- The distance between the posts must correspond to the width of the slabs of heat-insulating material;
- There is no need to get carried away with a large number of racks. The minimum step between them should be 60 cm. If there are too many of them, this will a priori lead to the appearance of a large number of so-called cold bridges;
- To fix various corners and posts in a frame house, you can use the most ordinary self-tapping screws (usually mounted with a screwdriver). The optimal length of self-tapping screws is 75 mm; you should not take large ones, as they can damage the wall pie. For simple rack structures, 4 to 6 ordinary self-tapping screws will be enough; if you take corner rack structures, then 10 pieces will be enough. For greater reliability of fixation, it is best to fasten the screws “obliquely”. Why use this fixation method? It’s just that in this case it will be possible to do without a metal profile and plates, which, firstly, will simplify the task of fastening, and secondly, will save money (a metal profile is expensive today).
Installation of corners in a frame house
Available to thieves
Panoramic structures that blur the boundaries of home and street seem like bait for a criminal. Owners are worried that it is not difficult to break into the house by simply throwing a brick at a glass wall. But breaking such glass is not easy, and besides, manufacturers of floor-to-ceiling windows protect them with special embedded parts and additional locking hardware.
You can enhance protection using locking mechanisms, triplex, alarms and roller shutters.
