All about sliding windows to the balcony and loggia

When choosing the type of balcony glazing, many apartment owners today lean towards sliding window systems. Let's see why this type of windows is so attractive to modern people.

The idea of ​​installing sliding window panels on the balcony is most likely due to the need to save space. It is no secret that typical "Khrushchev" and "Stalinka" buildings are not spacious, which forces residents to use every meter of usable area. If you install such windows on your balcony or loggia, you will not need to take care that when you open them there is enough space for the lapel.

In addition, the advantages of sliding window panels include:

• excellent sound insulation;
• stylish appearance;
• comfortable ventilation;
• the area of ​​penetration of light into the room at the sliding windows is larger;
• when you open the window, there is no need to remove the flower pot;
• in windy weather, the open window will not slam.

The disadvantages of sliding systems are the following points:

• you can wash windows with a sliding mechanism only by removing one of the canvases;
• in case of condensation on the window, in frosty weather, it turns into ice, which freezes to the sliding mechanism and does not allow the canvases to be tightly closed;
• In summer, dust particles get into the sliding mechanism, which negatively affects its operation.

Sliding windows will be the most suitable option for those balconies where the owners additionally equip the living space. In this case, the window sill can be a table top at the same time, and sliding glass units will be very useful.

There are sliding canvases according to the following types.

• Parallel Sliding Mechanisms - these are compartment windows. Their system is very similar to the cabinet of the same name, and the doors move using a roller system. Below and above the frame there are guides into which the sash is inserted.
• Sliding swing mechanism window opening operates on the principle of door opening in Ikarus buses, where the canvas is first fed forward and then opened along the profile border.
• Vertical sliding mechanism not often found on the territory of our country, however, it is very popular in America and European countries. This system consists of superimposed window panels, where, when opening, the lower one is lifted up and tightly fixed. Here, connecting rollers and fittings are installed on the frames. When opening, it is necessary to turn the handle and allow the sash to go inside the balcony. This type of windows is more suitable for warm loggias, where the owners have a lot of flowers or greenery. This device makes it possible to ventilate the space without affecting the plants.

In the manufacture of sliding window systems, manufacturers use two types of materials: aluminum and plastic - PVC.

The PVC version of the sliding package is considered to be most optimal for loggias and balconies with moderate glazing. The advantage of PVC windows is their excellent thermal insulation.Thanks to the chambers in the profile, it is possible to install a multilayer double-glazed unit, which makes it possible to enhance sound insulation and tightness. Such windows are able to withstand any frost, gusts of wind, up to hurricanes and showers, and also block the flow of sounds from the outside.

The disadvantages of plastic sliding windows include their high cost. In addition, before installing plastic glazing, especially with reinforced double-glazed windows, you need to analyze the condition of the floors of your balcony or loggia, and understand whether they will withstand the weight of the planned windows. Basically, warm glazing with plastic windows is more suitable when the balcony is heated and used all year round.

It is a common mistake to classify aluminum window openings as "cold glazing". This is not true. An increase in thermal insulation in the manufacture of windows is achieved not by the choice of material, but by the presence of a heat-insulating bulkhead in the structure. If it is not installed, it will not be possible to reach a high room temperature in cold weather. However, if you make an aluminum sliding door in compliance with all energy-saving principles, then it is in no way inferior to plastic or wood.

Due to the fact that aluminum bags are made according to individual sizes, you can choose any shape, model, type of construction and color that suits you, as well as adjust the degree of thermal insulation. For balconies that do not have special purposes, it may be smaller; if you plan to use the loggia as a territory additional to the living area, then choose aluminum windows with increased thermal insulation and energy-saving double-glazed windows.

The construction of modern windows is much more complex than that of older wooden models. They also have hinges, as it was before, and components that set the sash in motion. However, modern models are equipped with other mechanisms, thanks to which new opportunities are available to windows today.

Whatever type or material of plastic windows you choose, their durability and trouble-free operation depends on the fittings, or rather, on its quality. You can choose a not very expensive profile, a double-glazed window of an average configuration, but experts advise you to choose extremely reliable fittings. Let's list what is related to the hardware:

• hinges on which the sash will hold;
• handles for opening the window;
• latch;
• lining necessary to ensure protection from external influences;
• pivot system blockers, retainer;
• locks to ensure the safety of children;
• mosquito net.

With the help of fittings, the following processes are triggered:

• windows open and close;
• the sashes are fixed in a certain position;
• it is possible to open windows in different planes;
• the room is protected from burglary;
• a child lock prevents children from opening the window when their parents are not around.

Sometimes, without receiving proper advice, homeowners with plastic windows are not even aware of the possibilities that are available to them thanks to the fittings. For example, a micro-ventilation function.It is available in most high-quality hardware models, but many users do not even know about its existence. For cheaper models, this function may not be available.

Also, not everyone is familiar with the microlift function, which is also provided in plastic windows by fittings. It does not open additional opportunities, but thanks to it your window will last much longer.

Also, the swing-out versions have a function of protection against incorrect movement, which prevents the handle from turning while the sash is open. If it were not for it, then the canvases would simply fall on us.

When choosing a material for sliding windows for a balcony or loggia, several factors must be taken into account that affect the final decision. In this case, you need to decide on the following questions.

• How do you plan to use the balcony space? If your balcony carries a banal function of storing things and a place for the systematic receipt of a portion of fresh air, then there is no point in installing expensive plastic energy-saving double-glazed windows, an aluminum profile is perfect for you. If you use a balcony as a study or a place for leisure, then it is better to glaze it with reliable and expensive plastic windows.
• Aluminum windows are also suitable in the case when the base of the balcony is old, and it is dangerous to make it heavier with additional load... In this case, an aluminum profile is the only suitable option.
• What area of ​​the open space of the balcony do you plan to glaze? In the case when it is necessary to glaze the entire balcony around the perimeter, an aluminum profile is more suitable than plastic frames. The glass itself is heavy, and in order to facilitate the construction, it is better to choose the aluminum option.

When choosing accessories, ask the sales assistant for how many cycles the option that he offers you is designed for. Pay attention to those whose durability is designed for more than 10 thousand cycles, ideally 50 thousand.

Plastic and aluminum sliding windows are very similar in design, and the principle of their installation will be the same. There are differences only depending on the space in which they are installed. For balconies, the algorithm of actions will be one, and for loggias, glazing with frames is different.

You should not take measurements from your balcony yourself - it is better to let the specialist of the company that will make the window do it... So you will avoid size inconsistencies, which usually arise when some nuances are not taken into account when determining the parameters.

Installation stages.

• Mount the base for the frame. If the window is installed on the balcony, then the subframe is made of an aluminum profile, if you need to glaze the loggia, then from a wooden board.
• Assembling the frame. This manipulation is carried out if the windows are aluminum. Plastic constructions are delivered to the customer already assembled.
• With perforated tape, temporarily fix the frame to the loggia subframe. To level the horizontal of the subframe, you can use adjusting elements - pads.
• Mount the window sill. If the loggia is long, then it may consist of different parts. On small loggias in "Khrushchev", as a rule, a solid element is used. You can calculate the length of the window sill yourself.
• An ebb is mounted on the outside... It will not allow moisture to accumulate under the frame in the future, as well as rain under it.
• Fasten the frames to the stretcher and connect them together.
• The frame is exposed by level and attach it to the top of the opening.
• Fill with polyurethane foam the resulting voids.
• Mount the visor. In the case of a balcony, it is attached to the top of the subframe, on the loggia - to the upper level of the frame.
• The last step is the installation of the sashes. Each of them must first be inserted into the upper frame hole, then into the lower one. At this stage, you will need an assistant who will insure and support the heavy sash.

The windows are ready, we check the operation of the mechanisms and adjust them in case of discrepancies.

The fittings of the sliding windows can be adjusted correctly by yourself. This is necessary if:

• the sash moves with difficulty along the frame guides;
• the lock does not close or the tongue does not fit into the strike plate.

There are two reasons for the lock mismatch problem:

• the striker is out of place;
• the latching tongue sinks and does not reach the bar.

Allen key number 4 will be able to help in solving the problem. With this key, turning counterclockwise, it is worth raising the sash to the desired level. We do the same from the other end. Use a level to prevent the sash from tilting.

Ready-made sliding shutters on the balcony can be beautifully and stylishly decorated. The decor of sliding window openings will allow not only to give the elements a modern look, but also to darken or completely block the space or necessary items from the sun... To do this, use fabric blinds, blinds or curtains. The option depends on the type of premises and its purpose. For an office building, strict fabric roller blinds are more suitable; refined and stylish textiles can be used in home premises. Decor elements can also be metal frames on the frames, if you choose them in the appropriate color or combine them according to the type of material.