Sliding windows to the balcony for an office or storage room

The pandemic year 2022 has clearly demonstrated the need for comfortable arrangement of balconies and loggias. Locked in apartments, citizens en masse converted balconies into work rooms or recreation areas. Which glazing is most suitable for cozy balconies?

Photo: © fotolia.com

Sliding windows to the balcony - what are they?

In sliding windows, the sashes move parallel to the plane of the window; they do not require space when opening. For limited balcony space, sliding windows are the best option:

The balcony area is fully used, there are no “blind” spots;
Balcony furniture does not interfere with the opening of the doors;
A variety of materials allows you to choose sliding windows depending on its use

The choice of sliding windows for a balcony primarily depends on its purpose - warm for a balcony-office or cold for a balcony-storage.

Aluminum sliding windows to the balcony

This type of sliding windows takes up the lion's share in the glazing of balconies. The doors in it move along guides.

Advantages of sliding aluminum windows:

The most economical type of sliding windows;
Varied appearance due to coloring;
They weigh little and are suitable for balconies of any degree of wear.
There are mosquito nets

Photo: sliding cold aluminum - the leader in glazing balconies, © ru.depositphotos.com Disadvantages of sliding aluminum windows:

Cold single-pane glazing is not suitable for insulated balconies;
Possible blowing, precipitation and freezing of the sashes;
The doors may jam and warp when opening;
There are cases when the doors on high floors are blown away by strong winds

Installation

Before you begin installing the sliding window structure, you should carefully check the profile for possible defects. Cracks and scratches are not acceptable.

Installation steps:

preparing a window opening;
frame structure installation:

The frame is placed in the window opening, fixed with temporary pegs and leveled along the planes if there are gaps between the frame and the wall of more than 0.5 cm using special plates.
Make holes for fasteners.
Fastening the frame with anchor bolts. To protect the profile, anchor plates are used, which should be screwed both to the frame and to the wall.
Fixation with polyurethane foam around the entire perimeter.
After 2 hours, the wedges are removed and all empty cavities are finally treated with polyurethane foam.
After the foam has dried, the residue is removed.

fastening ebb tides;
installation of sashes:

The length guides are mounted at a distance of no more than 5 cm from the frame.
Fastening with screws every 30 cm.
Installation of a moving sash, which is supported on rollers, first along the upper vertical plane, and then into a guide located below.
A brush seal is inserted into the grooves of the guide.
The height of the rollers is adjusted for smooth sliding using a special screw located at the bottom of the sash.

installation of mosquito net:

A separate guide is mounted along the outer plane.
The mesh structure is installed.

For all types of window sliding systems, the installation of the frame is the same, but the installation of the sashes may have its own peculiarities.

Important! When installing a frame structure, it is important that it is installed without distortion. Otherwise, this will affect the operation of the sliding fittings.

Plastic sliding windows to the balcony

Sliding windows to the balcony made of plastic profiles are divided into two categories according to the principle of operation:

Cold plastic sliding doors are analogous to cold aluminum sliding doors.
Warm plastic sliding doors made from a regular window profile with special sliding fittings, they are called portals.

Cold plastic sliding windows

These sliders are a little warmer than aluminum ones. With them, a comfortable temperature on the balcony will be longer than with aluminum ones by about two months.

Photo: For their manufacture, a multi-chamber plastic profile with double-glazed windows is used, © fotolia.com Advantages of cold plastic sliding windows:

Heat-saving or solar control glass can be installed in the double-glazed window, which increases comfort on the balcony.
The doors are heavier and do not warp when opening; they can withstand strong winds.
Dyeing and lamination for decoration are possible.
Can be used on balconies with a high degree of wear and tear due to its light weight.

Disadvantages of cold plastic sliding windows:

Not suitable for insulated balconies
The large size of the structures creates problems when lifting.
The cost is 30-35% higher than that of aluminum windows

Warm plastic sliding windows

For insulated and heated balconies, you need to choose warm, sealed glazing that will not let the cold in and will not let the heat out.

Conventional swing doors are not the best solution for a small balcony space - an open door will block it completely.

To be able to ventilate the balcony without dancing around the open sash, you should choose a sliding (portal) opening.

The price for such windows is rather high - 4 times more expensive than aluminum sliding doors, but the convenience and comfort of actually an additional room more than pays for the costs.

Recipe for a warm plastic sliding window for a balcony:

Multi-chamber profile system with a width of 70mm;
Energy-saving double-glazed window;
Reliable sliding fittings from a well-known brand, such as MACO.

Photo: warm plastic sliding windows on the balcony retain warmth and space, © ru.depositphotos.com Advantages of warm plastic sliding windows:

Fashionable and most modern glazing;
Ergonomic glazing;
Year-round comfortable use of the balcony;
No blowing or freezing;
The doors open easily;

Disadvantages of warm plastic sliding windows:

The highest price among all balcony glazing options. Increased comfort comes at a price;
Problems with cleaning windows - when ordering, you need to take this into account and provide sashes with simple hinged opening instead of blind openings;
Large windows are difficult to lift to the floor.

In order for the window sashes of sliding windows on the balcony to work without interruption, it is important to choose the appropriate fittings.

MACO fittings for warm sliding windows on the balcony

Let's consider the possibilities of fittings for sliding windows on a balcony using the example of Austrian MASO fittings. The company has a well-deserved reputation as an innovator all over the world - the hottest new hardware products come out of its engineering laboratory.

Photo: MACO's assortment has highlighted and is actively developing a whole line of sliding fittings - MACO RAIL-SYSTEMS, © maco Among all its diversity, the MACO SKB line is most suitable for sliding windows. Three modifications with different opening principles at an affordable price make it possible to choose the appropriate option for your balcony.

MASO system SKB-S category “Basic” (manual control)

System capabilities:

Folding the sash for ventilation
Easy shift towards the sash weighing up to 160 kg and dimensions 1650x2350 mm (width x height)

Features of the MASO SKB-S system include fully manual control, when when opening the sash you need to pull it towards you, and when closing it push it into the opening. This may be inconvenient for doors with a maximum weight sash, but sash of this size are not found in windows. Therefore, MASO SKB-S can be considered the most affordable option for warm plastic sliding windows to the balcony.

Photo: an updated version of the MACO SKB-S system is MACO SKB-S Upgrade, © maco MACO System SKB-SE category “Standard”

An improved version of the tilt-and-slide system.

With the same maximum dimensions and weight of the sash, it differs from the previous version in three functions:

Tilt-and-slide fittings with automatic locking of the sash in the tilted position (SKB-SE)
When closing, the sash automatically moves into the tilt position and can then be closed like a regular tilt-and-turn window, making the closing process easier.
There is no risk of unintentional closure of the sash. Thanks to the protection against fixation and, as a result, locking in the reclined position, which is activated when the handle is installed at an angle of 90 degrees, a person who goes out onto the balcony will not remain on the street.

Photo: MACO system SKB-SE is the golden mean with the best combination of “price and functionality” for sliding windows on the balcony, © maco MACO system SKB-Z category “Premium” (automatic)

The premium MACO SKB-Z system is the most user-friendly version for controlling large sashes with dimensions up to 2000x2700mm (width x height) and weight up to 200kg.

The main difference is the mechanism for automatically pushing out the sash when opening and retracting when closing. A simple turn of the handle puts it into action and you don’t have to put any effort into operating the sash.

MASO SKB-Z is always available in a burglary-proof version. This is a big plus when glazing balconies on the first and last floors, in private houses.

MASO SKB-Z – opening sliding windows onto the balcony for those who love and appreciate comfort and convenience.

All MACO SKB systems are not only reliable and functional. The manufacturer also took care of the elegant appearance of the visible parts of the fittings - handles and linings.

Design by MASO SKB

For easy opening of sliding windows, MACO offers special stylish handles with an extended neck.

Photo: assortment of 4 popular colors (white, silver, bronze-SKB, brown) MACO Harmony pens, © maco

Buy plastic windows with MACO fittings

DIY glass cleaners

If you are not a supporter of chemistry, then prepare the solution yourself at home. Then you will no longer have any unnecessary concerns about harm to your health.

In 1 liter of water you can dilute:

2 tsp. vinegar;
100 ml alcohol;
4 tsp corn starch;
dishwashing liquid.

All these methods are safe and time-tested.

Homemade glass cleaners can not only cope with their main task, but also leave a pleasant aroma in the room.

Peel the lemon and place it in a jar. Pour in vinegar and close the lid tightly. The solution is left for a week. After the expiration date, filter, getting rid of the zest, and begin washing. The liquid is stored for a long time, and when used it is diluted in a small amount of water.

Windows that are too dusty will be transformed by a starch solution. A tablespoon of powder is diluted in 1 liter of water and stirred. Using a spray bottle, treat the glass, and then remove the excess with a dry cloth.

Another reliable remedy is black tea. 3 tablespoons of vinegar are diluted in 1 glass of tea. A rag is soaked in the solution and the windows are washed.

Sliding or casement windows to the balcony – which is better?

When choosing between swing and sliding doors on a balcony, you need to take into account the advantages and disadvantages of both methods and choose the one that has more advantages for you.

The convenience and features of sliding doors are described above. What are the pros and cons of swing doors?

Advantages of swing doors:

A common option that can be implemented in any profile and with any fittings, therefore fast production time.
Optimal price-quality ratio.
Warm

Disadvantages of swing doors on the balcony:

They take up a lot of space in the open (swing) position. In order to ventilate and not block the balcony, you will have to make a tilt-and-turn opening, which will increase the cost of each sash by 10%.
You can't put anything on the windowsill. Boxes with seedlings will interfere with the opening of the doors.

Photo: warm glazing of a balcony can be made with any opening, © ru.depositphotos.com The main thing is that it is made of high-quality components - profiles, double-glazed windows and fittings. MACO MULTI MATIC window and door fittings will make opening and closing windows easy, comfortable and durable. Durable metal fittings can withstand at least 20,000 opening-closing cycles with a 10-year guarantee. The fittings will serve well in any region and will not rust due to the patented Silber-Look coating.

Useful tips for glazing a balcony or loggia

On large balconies up to six meters long, you can make a sliding opening with a frame (without a jumper in the middle) - the sashes will move apart in different directions, and in the center you will get a completely open opening. In this case, you can enjoy a panoramic view without lintels.
Next to the sliding sashes, it is better to make hinged sashes rather than blind windows for easy cleaning. To prevent the handles on them from interfering with the sliding sash, you can use a removable handle with a plug.
To wash blind windows on a balcony you need to be an acrobat and risk your own life every time. It is better to choose rotary doors for convenient and safe washing.
Balcony windows are just as dangerous for children as the windows in the room. They must be equipped with means of protection against opening by children - child locks or a tilt-and-turn window option
If the balcony faces the sunny side, then it is better to use solar control or multifunctional glass. Without it, a small balcony room will overheat greatly in the sun.
For glazing balconies on the first and last floors, it is recommended to install anti-burglary fittings and anti-vandal outer glass (triplex or tempered). Glazing without these options is unprotected and can be opened in a couple of seconds.
The balcony-office will have excellent sound insulation from the noise of household members if triplex (laminated glass) is installed in the double-glazed window of the balcony block.

Exterior glass cleaning accessories

If you were unable to remove the sliding window yourself, you will have to clean the glass from the outside using other methods. This cannot be done with ordinary rags.

For safe washing you will need the appropriate tools:

Long-handled brush with replaceable rollers. It is better to choose one with telescopic length adjustment. A soft roller is for removing dirt, a rubber roller is for removing water and eliminating stains.
Scraper-cleaner. Usually it has two working surfaces - soft and hard.
Robot windshield wiper. The operating principle is similar to that of a magnetic brush, but it works without human intervention. It makes it easy to touch windows. The cost of such a device in Moscow starts from 18 thousand rubles.
Magnetic brush for external glass cleaning. One half is installed on the inner surface, the other on the outer surface. The built-in magnet presses them to the glass on both sides. The outer part repeats all the movements of the inner. The main advantage is complete safety, since the washer is located indoors. Disadvantage: areas near the frame are difficult to clean.

What not to do when glazing a balcony

Balcony glazing should not change the appearance of the house. In this regard, there are a number of prohibitions:

You cannot replace, for example, frameless glazing installed by the developer with warm glazing. The only option is to make a change to the project and change the balcony windows throughout the house.
You cannot change the color of balcony windows from the outside.
You cannot cut off the continuous facade glazing of balconies provided for in the project and install another one. If you want to insulate your balcony, but the facade glazing from the developer is cold, then you can install warm windows with a second thread. But this requires agreement.
Without approval, you cannot demolish the balcony block and combine the balcony and the room.

Preparatory work

The initial stage is the release of the space in which they will work and the preparation of the materials themselves for work.

If the installation takes place in a new building, empty openings, then you need to clean the masonry and prepare the surface - knock off the remaining concrete with a hammer, and also sweep out all dust and debris.

If the installation takes place in the house where the frame was installed, then you need to dismantle it, also removing the remaining mortar and debris.

After this, you need to mark the opening, drawing the necessary lines. You need to prepare tools such as a container of water, masking tape and wooden wedges.

The new opening is being dismantled. You need to remove the glazing beads. If you apply a little more force, you can damage the profile or break the glass unit. The process starts from the middle of the plank and moves along the edges. After removing one element, there will be no difficulties with the others.

The instructions for the windows also indicate which elements are installed with gaps.

Sliding windows to the balcony - comfortable and safe

If the balcony will be used as a storage room, then cold sliding aluminum will be a suitable option. Glazing with cold sliding plastic will allow you to use this area a little longer, but the price will be more expensive.

Photo: If you plan to make a balcony or loggia a living space, then sliding warm plastic will be the best option, © oknamedia You can use the balcony all year round after it has been glazed, insulated and heated flooring has been installed. This option may not be budget-friendly, but the investment is justified by ergonomics and increased living space. Real estate capitalization will increase due to an increase in residential square meters.