Additional square meters are needed in every apartment. Therefore, owners choose how best to glaze the balcony in order to increase the usable area. The choice is influenced by various factors. Let's figure out how to find an option that takes into account the purpose of the balcony space, its technical characteristics and the financial capabilities of the owner.
Glazing type
There are different ways to protect a balcony room from atmospheric influences. There are two options.
Cold
A profile with a thin glass unit is installed. It turns out to be something like a cold summer veranda, where the temperature is not much different from the street temperature. But at the same time, precipitation and wind do not enter the room. For installation, choose an aluminum profile, less often wooden frames.
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Pros of the solution
- The balcony space is reliably protected from atmospheric influences.
- Light weight of the structure since insulation is not required.
- Simple and quick installation.
- Low price.
Minuses
- The temperature in the resulting room is uncomfortable. It depends on the weather and time of year. This is especially noticeable in regions with harsh winters.
- Sound insulation is not good enough. Street noise easily penetrates inside. This limits how the room can be used.
Warm
Placed on insulated balconies. The structure is completely sealed and thermally insulated. Multi-chamber double-glazed windows are installed. The result is a full-fledged living space, which the owner can use as he wishes: combine it with a living room or kitchen, arrange an office or mini-gym, etc. For installation, choose plastic or thermally insulated aluminum profiles. Less often wooden.
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pros
- The appearance of additional usable space.
- Effective sound insulation.
- Opportunity to implement interesting design ideas.
Minuses
- Among the disadvantages, it should be noted that there is a significant load on the load-bearing slab, so engineering calculations are required. This is especially true for old houses.
- The costs for warm glazing are much higher than for cold glazing. More materials are required, installation is more difficult and longer. If repairs are required in the future, they will also be costly. For full implementation, it is necessary to insulate the entire loggia.
- Balconies and loggias
How to glaze a balcony with your own hands and not break the law
Is it possible to glaze the balcony?
“In accordance with the current Landscaping Rules, balconies are classified as landscaping elements; their glazing is carried out on the basis of a developed and agreed upon landscaping project. ... Thus, turning a balcony into a loggia is possible only if there is a single project for the improvement of the entire building.
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Which profile to choose for glazing a loggia
The load-bearing element of a window structure is called a profile. A double-glazed window and fittings are installed in it. Previously it was called a frame. Modern modifications are more complex. Several chambers can be located inside, the size and number of which determine the insulating characteristics of the system. The material from which the frame is made matters. There are three possible options.
Wood
Traditional material for window systems.
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Advantages
- It can withstand a glass unit of any width and weight; the strength of wood allows this.
- Natural wood is environmentally friendly and completely safe for people. It does not emit toxic substances, provided that it has not been treated with uncertified impregnations.
- An attractive appearance, especially if valuable wood was used to make the elements.
- The frame is durable. If necessary, repairs and partial restoration of parts are possible.
- Low thermal conductivity. Wooden frames retain heat well.
Flaws
- Heavy weight, which often requires reinforcement of the base.
- The tree is quite capricious to care for. Before assembly, it must be impregnated with special compounds, however, from time to time it needs additional processing.
- Natural wood is an expensive material. Therefore, the price of such systems is high.
All this explains why wooden frames for balcony structures are rarely chosen.
Aluminium alloy
The frames are made of an alloy based on three metals: aluminum, magnesium and silicon. The first gives the frame the necessary strength, the second improves the casting characteristics of the material, the last increases reliability.
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Advantages
- Durability. On average, the design lasts 80 years without changing its performance characteristics. This is more than its PVC counterpart.
- Resistance to adverse influences. The alloy is not sensitive to any weather changes. Neither precipitation nor ultraviolet radiation spoil it. It is not subject to corrosion and deformation.
- Fire safety. Metal parts do not burn. This ensures that there is no fire spread or accidental combustion.
- Light weight. Aluminum is a lightweight metal; it does not place additional load on the concrete base. Therefore, there is no need to strengthen the slab.
Flaws
- The disadvantage of an aluminum alloy profile is its high thermal conductivity. It gives off heat very quickly. Therefore it is used only for cold glazing. This shortcoming is leveled out in frames with thermal inserts, which can be installed in “warm” systems.
- Another disadvantage is the high price.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
The frame is made from a mixture, the main element of which is polyvinyl chloride. This is plastic that is safe for living organisms. Modifiers and other substances are added in small quantities to give the finished product the desired characteristics. For example, UV resistance, color, etc.
If the composition of additives or their quantity does not meet the standards, the PVC frame acquires the ability to release toxic substances. Therefore, they buy only certified products.
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Advantages
- High insulation characteristics. Plastic systems retain heat well and do not allow sound to pass through.
- Resistance to deformation processes, moisture, mechanical damage and any weather influences.
- Easy to care and maintain. Almost any contamination can be easily washed off with a soap solution or a special product for plastic windows.
- Large selection of colors, textures and designs. It is possible to produce a frame of any shape, even the most complex.
Flaws
The disadvantages include a relatively short service life. Plastic windows will last 20-25 years. True, their price is the lowest of all analogues. Metal-plastic lasts much longer, more than 50 years. This is polyvinyl chloride reinforced with metal elements. Such systems do not differ in appearance from plastic ones, but they are more durable and reliable. Metal-plastic is considered the optimal solution to the question of what is better for glazing balconies: aluminum or plastic.
It is very important not to forget about safety precautions
Remember, dear friends, that by installing window structures on your balcony or loggia, you are performing high-altitude work, which is an order of magnitude more dangerous than the types of repairs that you perform indoors.
If you have decided to carry out the glazing of a loggia or balcony yourself from scratch, I strongly recommend not to take unnecessary risks and, if your apartment has risen above one floor above sea level, to seek the help of professionals. If you live on the ground floor and want to carry out work, resorting to the support of your friends, acquaintances and nothing more, I advise you to build the most convenient and acceptable structures that will support not only your weight, but also the weight of the metal-plastic window structure.
It is also advisable to equip these structures with additional safety cables, which will prevent you from falling down even from a height of a couple of meters, because such a fall can lead to far from pleasant consequences.
Important! Friends, before doing any work on the façade of your home, you must agree on the procedure with the BTI body or local governing organization. Let me give you an example. Having bought an apartment in a new building, I already had a glazed loggia, but I had to ask the local government about my desire to repaint the balcony a different color.
They refused me, and in case of my disobedience they threatened me with a fine, since such actions would change the architecture of the entire building. No amateur performances!
Sash opening method
It would be a mistake to think that a balcony frame can consist only of solid, that is, fixed elements. In order for window glass and frames to be washed or maintained, opening sashes must be installed. They also provide the necessary ventilation. There are several types of opening sashes.
Rotary
The mechanism ensures that the frame swings inside the room. When fully opened, it rotates almost 90°, providing access to the outer part of the glass unit and the blind elements adjacent to it. The rotating system is inconvenient for ventilation. When fully open, it gives too much air flow; it has no other positions. Therefore, comb-type holding devices are produced. Micro-ventilation is not provided. If the sash has to be opened frequently, over time it will sag under its own weight. It can be adjusted and returned to its previous position, but the number of such adjustments is limited. Hinges and fittings of swing doors break more often. In addition, rotating structures are considered the most dangerous, since people or pets can fall out of them.
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Folding
The lower part of the glass unit is firmly fixed. The top one can tilt into the room, that is, open at a slight angle. This is very convenient for organizing ventilation and is completely safe. It is impossible to fall out of such a window. The main disadvantage is that you cannot wash the outside of the glass.
Tilt&Turn
They combine the functions of both systems, which is very convenient. Their shortcomings are mutually neutralized. Tilt and turn sashes are equipped with several opening modes, and it is possible to organize micro-ventilation. They are easy to clean and maintain. They are considered a good choice for finishing balconies.
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Sliding
The sash does not swing open or recline, but moves along a horizontal guide. It extends behind the adjacent element, which saves free space. They are often chosen when looking for the best way to glaze a balcony in a Khrushchev-era building. The features of the sliding mechanism do not allow it to be sealed. Therefore, for insulated loggias, for example, it is not suitable. Most often, sliding frames are made of aluminum profiles.
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There are other types of frames. With a transom, hanging, folding, rotating along a horizontal axis, etc. They are rarely used to solve non-standard architectural problems.
Frames made of plastic material
Plastic blocks are unpretentious to weather conditions. The disadvantage of such structures is weight. Structures that are too heavy are not suitable for large glazing. But now you can purchase designs with a lightweight profile. Options with a thermal profile are very popular. The price of the structure varies depending on the area of the balcony, the number of sashes and the folding mechanism.
