French balcony glazing

French balcony glazing is becoming an increasingly attractive option for most apartment owners. Another name is windows-doors. For this technology, window structures made of metal-plastic or aluminum from floor to ceiling are used.

Glazing using French technology turns an ordinary city balcony into a cozy country terrace where you want to enjoy a beautiful view, spend evenings and meet the sunrises. At the same time, the balcony becomes attractive not only from the inside, but also from the street side.

Panoramic French glazing involves installing a window instead of a balcony block to the floor.

With this in mind, the lower part of the structure can be made of frosted or transparent tinted glass or plastic sandwich panels.

The main advantages of French glazing include:

• filling the apartment with natural light, which saves money on electricity;
• in this case, finishing is not used and it is possible to move the glazing a distance, therefore, the territory of the balcony expands not only visually, but actually increases the usable area;
• savings on interior and exterior decoration;
• high-quality floor-to-ceiling windows have excellent heat and sound insulation properties;
• you won't want to turn a beautiful balcony with transparent glass into a warehouse of unnecessary things.

The disadvantages of French glazing include:

• the cost of this option much more expensive than standard glazing. The price is influenced not only by the dismantling of existing structures, but also by additional options: heat-reflecting film, laminated PVC profiles and colored glass;
• exposed to direct sunlight on a hot day the balcony overheats and cools down quickly in winter. Therefore, it is necessary to use high-quality glass that does not transmit ultraviolet radiation and retains heat. And also take care of the installation of a forced ventilation system for the summer and heating for the winter;
• to maintain an attractive appearance such windows require more careful maintenance and cleaning. In this case, the window area is at least doubled;
• lack of privacy - passers-by on the street and neighbors from the house opposite can watch what is happening on the balcony;

There are many disadvantages, but the advantages have their weight. And if the decision to change the balcony has been made, then it's time to act. First, you need to study the weaknesses of the issue - a balcony slab, choose a design, and then proceed to the stage of collecting the necessary documents.

The panoramic view is created using holistic structures. At the same time, a rather attractive view opens with a divided window block.

Panoramic glazing is divided into two types:

• one-piece block without frames;
• sectional structures with an aluminum profile or plastic fittings.

Window blocks must be particularly reliable with a minimum thickness of 7 mm and withstand vibration and shock. Window structures made of PVC profile do an excellent job with this function.Plastic double-glazed windows must have excellent sound insulation characteristics. In addition, multi-chamber structures reduce the volume of heat loss by about 3 times. But, having a lot of weight, with the wrong choice of design, they can lead to the collapse of the balcony.

There are two types of designs:

• Cold glazing - this is a more budgetary option and is made of aluminum profiles. Protects from rain, wind, dust and provides some sound insulation. The room will remain cold during the winter.
• Warm glazing - is carried out using double-glazed windows and PVC profiles. For this option, it is necessary to strengthen the balcony slab, insulate the front part and the floor. The cost of warm glazing differs significantly from cold glazing. But the undoubted advantage is the possibility of combining the balcony with the living quarters.

If the loggia is located separately from a single balcony structure, then two options are possible: frameless glazing or installation of an aluminum profile with subsequent glass fastening. Windows on the "French balcony" can be sliding and swing-out.

Another glazing feature is that when two sashes are opened to the sides, the opening is completely free and there is no vertical stiffener. Thus, the structure is attached to the frames and fixes the two windows to each other. The sides of the balcony can be made of frosted glass or plastic panels.

The supporting frame of the structure is made of metal, such as aluminum. The profile type is selected based on the climate. For regions with warm winters and light gusts of wind, an aluminum frame is used, and for northern territories with a harsh continental climate - a metal-plastic bag.

For warm glazing of the balcony, it is necessary to insulate the floor according to the principle of a heating pad. A cable is laid on aluminum foil with a synthetic or natural coating, a screed is poured on top. After complete drying, a "liquid floor" is applied and a floor covering (tile, board or other option) is installed.

Glazing using French technology is applicable for cottages and multi-storey buildings. The decisive factor here is the condition of the floor slab. At the initial stage, a number of calculations are carried out, and all typical and atypical loads are determined for each structural element separately.

At the same time, a balcony for French glazing can have different shapes:

• standard rectangular;
• semicircular;
• without a platform - a miniature balcony.

For glazing a balcony using French technology in an apartment building, you must have permission from certain authorities. If the dismantling of the balcony structure does not affect the strength of the supporting structures and the reliability of the building, then it will not be difficult to obtain a permit for repairs.

List of documents:

1. BTI passport and certificate of ownership.
2. Written consent from the owner of the building or the maintenance department.
3. The conclusion of the technical service about the possibility of making changes to the layout.
4. Balcony glazing project - drawn up by a licensed design organization.
5. If the building is classified as a listed building or is included in the list of historic buildings, the written consent of the relevant management body must be obtained.
6. Notarized consent of all adult residents and apartment owners.

When installing a window structure, the usual parapet made of concrete or metal is absent; it is replaced by glass or plastic. Artistic forged vertical railing of a convex shape can add sophistication to the balcony.

Before installing the structure, it is necessary to verify the strength of the floor slab and, if necessary, develop methods of reinforcement. The wind load for the structure is also calculated and the optimal option and the required number of double-glazed windows are selected.

Window slabs are very heavy, so panoramic glazing is impossible on some balconies with crumbling floor slabs. For old "Khrushchev" and "Stalin" buildings, in which it is impossible to strengthen the slab to the required value, glazing with an aluminum profile, which has a lower weight, can be used.

Glazing a balcony with a distance and an increase in area is more of a necessity than a whim... Especially for the owners of narrow loggias, because the insulation of the front part will "eat up" the available area. And when strengthening the slab, it is possible to increase the bearing capacity of the entire structure. And the glazing is performed along the edge and expands the balcony area by several centimeters.

The following video will reveal the secrets of choosing French glazing for the balcony.

The balcony can complement the interior of the room or be an independent separate room with its own character. A variety of colors, materials and textures will help you complete any task. Plastic constructions can be either white or with natural wood shades. In this case, the glass can be completely transparent or covered with a tinted mirror film with gold, bronze, blue, green or red frames.

The following methods will help to hide the balcony space from the eyes of strangers:

• Reflective film, which has excellent light transmittance, will save the balcony from prying eyes from the street.

• Sandwich panels will significantly save money on balcony glazing, while such a design seems to be safer. Plastic structures hide the life of apartment owners from prying eyes. The only disadvantages include the fact that plastic interferes with the creation of a panoramic view.

• Stained glass drawing is one of the most expensive glazing options. For convenience and safety, a transom is installed near the bottom of the structure.

• The film with one-sided visibility in the daytime will not allow viewing the room from the outside, but everything will be visible from the apartment. The broken glass will not shatter into fragments, but will remain fixed on the adhesive surface.

The use of such a film will be relevant:

1. for residents of the first floors;
2. if opposite, a few meters away there is an apartment building;
3. the balcony faces the sunny side.

In addition, it is possible to use various types of dimming with adjustable infrared transmission capacity.... Or double-glazed windows with shutters are a great option that does not require additional maintenance. Moving elements between the glasses are securely closed and will not get dirty or covered with a layer of dust. Vertical blinds or curtains will also provide privacy.

French balconies will add more light and space, and hide privacy from unnecessary glances, which is especially important for residents of a modern metropolis. An ordinary small balcony in an apartment building can be turned into a terrace with blooming greenhouses, a mini gym, or just a corner to relax and enjoy the view.