Radius (bent) windows

The need to create window models with convex and concave shapes is long overdue. In many cases, radius windows look much more organic than the corner or bay structures that were previously in their place, consisting of several sections joined to each other. Products with such complex “broken” shapes were manufactured solely because the bending technology had not been brought to the stage that allowed the mass production of products accessible to consumers to begin. Now that domestic manufacturers have established processes for bending plastic and wooden profiles, as well as double-glazed windows, buyers have the opportunity to purchase bent windows with different radii of curvature to order.

Scope of application of curved windows

These products are not subject to any special installation criteria - they must, like any other structures, match in all respects the opening in which they are planned to be installed. Most often, curved windows can be found:

on loggias and balconies of mainly modern multi-storey buildings;
in bay windows with continuous glazing of the opening;
on new objects with non-standard smooth forms, which were built according to the author’s designs.

Bent profile structures can be used for glazing verandas, terraces, as well as entrance lobbies in municipal, commercial and retail facilities. The main conditions for such a choice are the feasibility of installing these structures and the availability of production capabilities to produce products with the given dimensions and radius of curvature.

Aluminum glazing

Aluminum glazing .
Having your own balcony or loggia is quite convenient. Additional space can be useful for storing various things and objects, or for recreation and leisure. Glazing a loggia or balcony will help to implement these plans. Which glazing is better - cold or warm? Let's consider the advantages and disadvantages of both types.

Glazing of balconies and loggias is extremely popular in our area due to the climate. If the main goal is glazing without insulating a narrow space, then glazing balconies and loggias with aluminum may be a practical option. This method is unpretentious in terms of installation, and the sliding aluminum system helps to optimally use the work space.

Double-glazed windows for curved windows

For the production of radius windows, single- and double-glazed windows are used. In order for the bent glass to acquire the required shape, it is heated on a special “blank” to a temperature of 600-700°C. In the oven, the material gradually softens and takes on the shape of a matrix. Technologically it is possible not only to bend transparent, patterned and colored glass, but also to bend unbreakable triplex.

Glazing of balconies and loggias of the 137th series of houses

Houses of the 137 series are widespread in St. Petersburg, present in almost all districts of the city except the central one. As in most Soviet-era apartment buildings, the balconies have an unfinished appearance, have become dilapidated over time and often require cosmetic repairs.

Related article: Is it possible to place a freezer on the balcony

At Fenster SPb you can order turnkey , series 137, at an affordable price. Modern window systems used in glazing have a long guaranteed service life without any maintenance. The full profile line of aluminum and PVC systems offered by our company is able to satisfy the wishes of any customer not only in functionality, but also in price.

The balconies and loggias of the 137 series are very diverse; in one house you can find up to 7 balconies of different sizes or shapes. Common to all types of balconies in this series is a reinforced concrete fence up to 50 mm thick. with metal railings. Such a complex parapet design raises many questions related to the installation of windows.

Profile bending for radius windows

Like standard models, radius windows can be made using various materials. For the production of bent frames and sashes the following are used:

PVC profile;
natural wood;
aluminum profile.

At the moment, the most technologically complex process is giving the PVC profile the required shape. This requires special roll forming equipment, and there are restrictions on the radius of curvature. Things are much better with wood. The production of bent profiles is carried out by segmental gluing with subsequent finishing processing of the resulting blanks, due to which the manufacturers of such products have much more opportunities. Aluminum, although it does not require such complex equipment to give the profile the desired shape as is necessary for PVC, also has limited bending capabilities.

Obtaining the minimum permissible radii today is only possible when using natural wood in the manufacture of sashes and frames. Consider this factor when choosing material for the production of curved windows.

Characteristics of radius windows

For the manufacture of models with convex and concave shapes, the same technologies and materials are used as in the production of linear structures. As a result, radius windows have similar characteristics:

excellent tightness;
good heat and sound insulation;
possibility of long-term operation;
excellent aesthetics.

Curved windows are either fixed or hinged. At the same time, equipping with standard fittings is possible only if the bending radius exceeds 4 meters. For all other situations, the installation of a special “coin” type of fittings is required, since complex shapes of window structures require the installation of specially adapted mechanisms.

Differences between balcony glazing and loggia glazing

Aluminum glazing of a loggia will differ from glazing of a balcony. First of all, the same area of the balcony and loggia will imply a different number of glazing products, which will naturally lead to a difference in cost. In order to glaze a balcony, you will need products and installation for three sides.

In addition, the balcony parapet can be made of a metal lattice, which will need to be sheathed on the outside. The condition of the parapet will also have to be taken into account; it may need to be strengthened first. Also, balconies on the top floors often do not have a roof. In this case, glazing the balcony will additionally entail installing a roof.

With loggias it is much easier in this regard. To glaze a loggia, you will need to manufacture components only for its front part. In addition, installing sliding glazing on the parapet of a loggia made of concrete or brick is simpler; it does not require additional reinforcement or cladding.

Features of aluminum glazing

Among the different types of glazing, aluminum glazing is considered “cold”, while double glazing is considered “warm”. The aluminum sliding design is suitable for those who simply want to protect their corner from bad weather, dirt and dust. Moreover, aluminum sliding glazing will save space, which is extremely important for most balconies.

Glazing a loggia with plastic is inferior to glazing using an aluminum sliding system in organizing a small space, since the aluminum structure resembles a wardrobe. When opening a window to ventilate the room, you do not open the sashes, which can take up the lion's share of the territory, but move them along the guides from right to left.

Another feature of the aluminum sliding system is its lightness. Thanks to aluminum, which itself is a very light metal, as well as the use of one glass for the sash, you don’t have to worry about your balcony or loggia and don’t worry about excessive load. Typically, such concerns are more relevant for a balcony than for a loggia.

It should be noted that, all other things being equal, using an aluminum sliding glazing system is cheaper. In any case, we will make sure that the solution you choose is affordable for you and serves for a long time and without failure.

Related article: Dimensions of a balcony in a Khrushchev panel building

We will be glad to cooperate, we will be happy to help you make aluminum glazing for balconies and loggias . Contact us!

Bent glass production: technology

A brief description of the stages of the curved glass manufacturing process is as follows:

First, the glass sheets are heated in special ovens at a temperature of about 700 degrees Celsius. The material is brought to the softening temperature in order to be able to give it the desired shape. Please note that the minimum bending radius of glass will depend on the thickness of the blade, so this factor must be taken into account when ordering.
The second stage is the actual glass bending. It occurs on a special template under the force of the glass’s own weight or with the help of additional pressure. Only one side of the canvas is in contact with the template.
This is followed by a very important point - cooling the glass, which has been given the desired shape. To do this, cold air under pressure is supplied into the chamber: this process is carefully controlled so that all the nuances of the technology are observed. As a result, the final product will not have internal stresses (if it is cooled correctly), it will be very durable and visually aesthetic. If the technology is broken and internal stresses exist, then such glass can easily break at the first mechanical impact.

The entire glass bending process takes from two to ten hours - the exact duration depends on the thickness of the glass and the parameters that the final product should have.

After the bending process is completed, the master can send the product for revision, if this is provided for in the order:

You can drill holes in the radius glass for fasteners and fittings.
It is possible to process the edges - grind them, polish them, and so on.
A product made of curved glass can be made matte, covered with sandblasted ornaments, or covered with film.
If the client wishes to receive colored glass, it can be painted with enamel after bending.

What is radius glass?

The production of radius glass is becoming ubiquitous today.
It is also called bent or bent. This means that the glass sheet was heated and forced to deform into the desired shape, and then cooled. The result is durable and high-quality semicircular glass, which can be used in non-standard interior and exterior projects. The following are the advantages of curved glass:

Products made of curved (radius) glass do not create optical distortions - the real outlines of objects are visible through them.
Radius glass is uniform in thickness, there are no differences, irregularities or other flaws.
Bent glass can be ordered in the size required by the customer - the manufacturer will fulfill the conditions down to the millimeter. This allows you to create unique, interesting projects.
The bending radius can also be varied.
Bent glass is in no way inferior to ordinary glass in terms of quality, strength, and safety - it is made according to standards, and the product meets the highest requirements.

How to install windows on a balcony in episode 137

Method 1, and the simplest, is to install windows on a metal railing, while the distance between the windows and the concrete fence is covered with a special platband. However, this installation method has its own nuances, for example, the plane of the railing and the top plate do not coincide. The solution to this problem is to create a structure from timber or profile pipe that will ensure reliable fastening of the windows. The choice of construction material directly depends on the budget or weight used for glazing window systems. The disadvantage of this glazing method is a significant loss of light opening.

Method 2, which makes it possible to preserve the view from the window and natural light in the apartment, is to install stretchers without dismantling the railing. In other words, in addition to the main glazing, a lower row of windows is manufactured and installed in the parapet openings. The disadvantage of this solution is the labor-intensive process of installing windows and the subsequent process of finishing the balcony, hence the high cost of the estimate.

The final method of glazing a balcony in the 137 series involves dismantling the railing, while the window frame is installed on a concrete fence. By cutting off the handrail of the fence, the load-bearing capacity of the parapet is weakened, so it is necessary to carry out work to strengthen the parapet. Also, when installing windows at a low distance from the floor (less than 80 cm), one should not forget about safety; to do this, it is necessary to raise the level of the opening sash to a safe height (photo) or install a guard on the window.

What to look for before buying an arched wooden window?

In most cases, such windows are made to order. And ideally, the same people should be involved in design, production, delivery and installation. But even in Moscow this is rare. However, if you find yourself on this page, consider yourself lucky.

After all, for more than 10 years of active work in the production of wooden arched windows, the team was able to study the “behavior” of different types of wood in production gluing, accurately calibrating the permissible loads on the rounded top. And also choose high-quality, reliable fittings. Thus, our products are distinguished by their attractive appearance and amazing durability.

In addition, we have thought through the cooperation scheme, literally, down to the smallest detail. Therefore, when buying windows from us, you can count on:

Full turnkey production cycle;
Prompt delivery to the customer’s site;
Professional installation in Moscow and the region;
Multi-level quality control at all stages of production;
Strict adherence to established deadlines;
Truly adequate, affordable prices;
Discounts, bonuses for regular customers;
Possibility of payment in any convenient way;
Help with purchasing on credit or in installments.

Need more information on products or related services? Okna Gris managers will answer all your questions by phone, on the website, through instant messengers and social networks, as well as in the showroom or company office in Moscow!

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