The glazing of the balcony has become an indispensable work in the arrangement of this room. But technology does not stand still. Swinging structures are being replaced by sliding windows to the balcony.
Features and Benefits
Constructions of this type have a number of advantages over their predecessors.
First of all, they do not take up space when opened. This is especially important for small balconies.
Sliding windows will not slam open when gusts of wind, which is very common in hinged glazing. They will not damage furniture and adjacent windows, or injure you.
7 pictures
Another positive point in the glazing of the balcony with sliding structures is the fact that when you open them, you do not have to rearrange the decorative elements or flower pots placed on the windowsill.
Sliding structures are cheaper than swing ones, which will save a lot of money when glazing a large balcony.
In addition, such double-glazed windows are usually immediately equipped with mosquito nets, which can be easily moved aside, they will not interfere with looking out of the window.
Views
Basically, there are three types of sliding windows.
- With compartment mechanism. They are located on a special profile and move parallel to the frames with the help of rollers. Their design is reminiscent of doors in wardrobes. But such windows have a drawback. Double-glazed windows of this type require a place where to move apart, therefore, the sash extreme to the corner is usually made deaf.
- With a retractable mechanism. Such windows are equipped with special fittings that allow the windows to first move forward and only then move to the side. The convenience of this option lies in the fact that the window, if necessary, can simply be tilted a little, according to the principle of plastic double-glazed windows.
- "English windows". Glasses of this type of construction go down. Glazing of this type allows you to fix the window at the height you need. Such constructions are practically not used in our country.
Materials (edit)
Sliding balcony structures can be made of various materials.
Aluminum
Windows made of this material are often used in the glazing of balconies, which do not imply insulation. They perfectly protect the balcony from dust, wind, rain and snow. Although in winter it is unlikely to be able to use them. Usually, due to the condensation accumulated on them, the frames freeze, and it is impossible to open them.
It will not work to insert a glass unit into an aluminum frame. Only single glass is intended to be used here.
The sound insulation of aluminum windows is very low. They will not protect your balcony from sound from the street.
Although the view is very nice. With these windows you can give your balcony a neat, modern look. They do not corrode and do not need to be painted.
In addition, these structures are lightweight, which allows them to be used even on bay windows with a long history, which are over 40 years old.
Wooden
Sliding structures of this type are extremely rare. This is due to the fact that with changes in humidity and ambient temperature, wooden frames can lead and deform. In this regard, it will be impossible to move them in the provided grooves. But this is a natural, environmentally friendly material. In the room in which double-glazed windows with frames are installed, it is easy to breathe, there is no feeling of stale air. But if you decide to glaze the balcony with wooden sliding structures, then do not forget to treat them with special impregnations that protect the material from decay and various parasites.
Plastic
This type of construction is the most reliable. If used correctly, the service life of this type of glazing is more than 50 years.
PVC windows provide excellent protection from the cold. They have fairly high thermal insulation rates. They allow you to make an additional insulated room in your apartment from the balcony or combine it with the living area of the apartment. In addition, even if you do not carry out additional heating in this room, the temperature on it will be quite comfortable, for being there without outerwear, even in frost.
The noise insulation of plastic sliding windows is also very high. Extraneous sounds of cars passing by or children playing on the playground will not bother you.
These windows are not subject to deformation, they perfectly tolerate temperature and humidity changes.
These double-glazed windows have a wide range of colors, they can be matched to any interior.
But such windows are of considerable weight and are unlikely to be suitable for old balconies. In addition, they are breathable. A room glazed in this way must be periodically ventilated.
How to choose?
The choice of materials for sliding structures depends on the functionality that you assign to the balcony area.
If you plan to organize a winter garden on the balcony, an additional room or combine it with an existing one, of course, only metal-plastic structures will suit you.
If you only need a room for storing things or for drying clothes, then installing aluminum or wooden structures will be enough.
If your balcony windows face south, it is worth ordering sliding frames with darkened glazing or installing blinds on them so that you can adjust the level of illumination of the balcony. This will save the room from overheating.
7 pictures
Installation
The installation of sliding structures on a balcony requires special requirements. The longitude and performance of the windows depends on the quality of their installation. Incorrect installation can lead not only to the appearance of mold and mildew on the window frames, but also deformation, and the inability to open this structure.
The installation should be trusted only by specialists with positive reviews and many years of experience.
Before installing the windows of a sliding structure, you need to check the reliability of the balcony base plate, whether it can withstand the considerable weight of the glazing. The parapet for attaching sliding structures must be strong, it is better if it is made of concrete, brick or metal.
It is possible to glaze balconies and sliding structures with panoramic glazing. In this case, only the upper part will open, the lower one will be with blind flaps.
During the installation period, you need to control the process so that the profile does not have bends and does not deform.
Glazing is best done at a positive ambient temperature, but not in heat, so that the profile does not break later when the temperature rises or falls
After installing the structures themselves, it is necessary to install the ebb and fill all the holes with foam and sealant. This is especially important when insulating a balcony so that cold air does not enter the room through the cracks.
Care
Glazing the balcony, you close the room from direct sunlight, so you need to keep the glass on the balcony completely clean. Cleaning sliding structures is not that difficult. For this, you can use the usual means. From the outside, it is convenient to wash with a slide on a long stick.
On metal-plastic structures, it is necessary to process silicone rubber bands with special compounds twice a year. This will extend their service life, and the rubber bands will maintain the tightness of window structures for many years.
10 pictures
Sliding windows are an excellent choice for balcony glazing. They will save space and allow you to open windows without freeing up the window sill. Especially such designs are perfect for a balcony, where there is a bar counter by the window. Sitting with a cup of tea, you can calmly admire the view from the window and breathe in the fresh air. In this case, the window sashes will not interfere with you at all. Such windows will give the balcony a modern look, while not cluttering the window space with an extra profile. Also, with sliding glass units, you can put any functionality into the balcony area by choosing the appropriate material for the window frames.
