2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 22:24
- Varieties of the French balcony
- Pros and cons of the French loggia
- On which balconies French glazing is unacceptable?
- Installation features
Quite a popular solution for the arrangement of modern balconies and loggias in apartments is French glazing. This option implies a panoramic arrangement of windows that take up space from floor to ceiling, and this design looks especially beautiful on the balconies of the upper floors, from where a beautiful view can be opened.
Varieties of the French balcony
The main feature of this design is the absence of an impost, since when open, French windows should be completely devoid of elements that obstruct the opening. The doors are fixed using a shtulp system or have an emphasis on the frame with guides, so they roll back when opened, completely freeing the opening.
Structurally, French glazing of loggias and balconies can be of two types:
- Cold. Such structures have an aluminum frame, the glazing will help protect the balcony from precipitation, debris, and foreign objects. Aluminum frames are lightweight, stylish, and relatively inexpensive. The downside of the cold structure is the temperature regime: if the balcony is planned to be used as a living space, such a system is not suitable for installation. The temperature on such a balcony will be a maximum of 2-3 degrees higher than outside.
- Warm. This is the more popular glazing of balconies: the French balcony is equipped with plastic double-glazed windows, due to which the structure receives improved noise and thermal insulation characteristics.
Advice: with warm glazing, it is necessary to insulate the floor, side and front walls, as well as to calculate the load on the slab in order to exclude collapse when the glazing is overweight.
Most often, a French window is made in the form of a portal with moving sashes, which are used as sliding doors. Portals look harmoniously on large balconies, terraces and verandas, the glazing area is increased, due to which you can arrange a panoramic view. Structurally, the portal can be made in the form of a lift-and-slide door or parallel-sliding planes.
Another popular system is the fold-over door. French balcony glazing with such doors has a wall that can be moved by folding the sections like an accordion, and in the presence of a wide opening, this type is optimal. Also, such glazing systems can be equipped with flaps, if the balcony slab is not designed for high loads. Lift-and-slide doors are installed on loggias and balconies, where an enlarged canvas is required. When you press the handle, the rollers located at the bottom end move the canvas and force it to move along the guide rail in the desired direction.
Pros and cons of the French loggia
French glazing of balconies and loggias has many advantages over other systems:
- Excellent visibility: a balcony with a panoramic view looks especially harmonious in a multi-storey building in the upper sectors. In large cities, French windows are installed in many residential complexes.
- The increased area of the glazing ensures maximum penetration of ultraviolet radiation into the room. Due to this, you can improve the comfort in the apartment and save on lighting, especially if the house is located on the shady side.
- French glazing of balconies and loggias can be carried out with the removal, so the usable area of the room is significantly expanded.
- Since most of the area is glazed, insulation should be carried out only in the area of the floor and facade parts, which saves energy, time and reduces material costs.
- The interior decoration of the balcony will be minimal; you can choose both classic and modern materials for renovation.
- There is no need to finish the room from the outside if you choose such balcony glazing: the French balcony looks stylish and neat without any additional steps.
- The attractive design of the structure makes it suitable for any facade, regardless of shades and architectural solutions. The glazing itself can be performed both with ordinary double-glazed windows and products with frosted, stained glass, tinting to protect the interior space.
- Installation of the structure requires less time.
On which balconies French glazing is unacceptable?
Despite its many advantages, this design has a number of limitations. For example, if the balcony is a room leading to a bedroom, panoramic windows are not very appropriate, as too much sunlight will get inside in the morning, and privacy becomes questionable. The solution to the problem can be the installation of a structure with tinted windows: the most interesting is the system with mirror tinted windows. Such a model protects from excessive ultraviolet radiation and at the same time hides what is happening in the room, but its cost will be higher than in the standard case.
It is not recommended to choose French balcony glazing if it faces south. This contributes to overheating of the room, besides, if the loggia is used for a flower garden, you will have to protect the plants from excess ultraviolet radiation. Also, the structure will not work if the balcony is on the leeward side, since the increased loads contribute to a decrease in safety in subsequent operation.
Installation features
Before installing the structure, it is important to decide on the type of doors, the glazing itself and choose the fittings. The procedure includes the following steps:
- Dismantling of old structures, preparation of a balcony and cleaning of debris.
- Reinforcement with special supports, heat and waterproofing of the facade and floor.
- Installation of the frame in the opening, alignment, installation of the door element.
- Sealing joints and joints.
- Installation of double-glazed windows, fittings, system integrity check.
The procedure takes on average 2 to 6 hours, depending on the area and type of glazing, and does not cause any difficulties, however, if you lack experience or lack tools, it is better to entrust the work to specialists.
Conclusion: French glazing of loggias and balconies is a popular finishing option, which is distinguished by its aesthetic appearance, convenience and a variety of design solutions.
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