The balcony is a multifunctional space in the apartment. Over the past couple of decades, it has evolved from a pantry for winter things, grandmother's compotes and obsolete items that the hand did not rise to throw out into a full-fledged part of the living space. Of course, this only applies to the closed-type variants. If it is still blown by all the winds and is regularly covered with knee-deep snowdrifts in winter, the situation will be saved by glazing the balcony with your own hands.
Kinds
The glazed balcony allows you to competently optimize the additional square meters in the apartment, turning it into a study, a mini-dining room, a dressing room, a sports ground, a workshop for creative family members. You can set up a winter garden in it or equip an area for your favorite pet.
It is quite possible to perform glazing on your own, but you need to take into account some of the nuances of the work.
Firstly, it is important to figure out what is the difference between a balcony and a loggia. Many apartment owners confuse these concepts, but meanwhile the types of glazing of the loggia differ from the types of glazing of the balcony. The glazing of the loggia is simpler, since it is bounded on both sides by walls - it is located "inside" the living space. A balcony is a structure protruding from the wall of the building's facade. It "hangs" above the ground and is taken out of the main square.
Secondly, you need to decide on the method of glazing - cold or warm.
The cold one consists of a single layer of glass and a lightweight frame. This method provides relative sound insulation, protects the room from dust, wind and sunlight, if the glass is covered with a UV filter, but does not keep heat. It is suitable for arranging a summer kitchen on the balcony, a temporary bedroom or study, and in winter - for storing food in the cold.
Warm glazing assumes a more complex, heavy and reliable design. And more expensive. It consists of window frames with double seals and double-glazed windows, which provide the ability to maintain room temperature on the balcony at any time of the year and use it in a convenient quality.
Installation of warm windows requires more time and strict adherence to the conditions:
- Good thermal insulation and waterproofing. The penetration of condensation between the glasses is unacceptable, they will fog up and retain heat worse.
- The ability to provide natural ventilation of the room.
- The presence of an air circulation system between the balcony and the room.
Thirdly, it is necessary to study the legal side of the issue, when planning to make changes to the design of the premises. The balcony slab is designed for a specific load. Exceeding the permissible weight can lead to its collapse, and this is fraught with negative consequences.
Nowadays, getting expert advice and permission to improve such a plan, which were not foreseen during the construction of a house, is quite easy. It's easier to spend a little time studying the Housing Code before starting work than solving problems afterwards.
Popular types of glazing
The most common ways to protect a balcony from rain, wind, stratification of street dust, frost and visits of feathered guests are: sliding glazing, panoramic, with a carry-over, on a supporting frame.
Each type of glazing has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Simple (classic) glazing with a wooden frame and single panes refers to the cold method and is installed mainly in Soviet-style apartments. It protects from moisture, noise and street dirt, but does not differ in particular aesthetics and great possibilities.
Sliding
The design is equipped with a special roller mechanism that allows you to easily move the sash and takes up a minimum of space. The mechanism works on the principle of guide rails: the sashes slide one after the other.
This type is not suitable for every balcony, specialist advice is required, however, for small balconies this is the best option. It does not take up half an extra centimeter, saves space, protects against insects, dirt and precipitation.
On the negative side, roller mechanisms may not withstand the harsh conditions of the Russian climate in the winter season. If they freeze, it will be impossible to open the windows. The design implies single glass, so it will be cold in the room at subzero temperatures.
Panorama
This type of glazing implies the absence of any frame. Along the top and bottom guides with grooves are installed, into which glasses are inserted (using special fasteners). Glass railing occupies the entire space from floor to ceiling, offering beautiful views from the balcony at any time of the year. In this case, the sections are glazed in various ways: sliding, swing, folding.
For panoramic glazing, glass of special strength is used, with a special coating to neutralize thermal radiation. It looks good and can provide maximum noise isolation. Has a number of disadvantages:
- At high temperatures, glass heats up and heats up the room. During installation, blinds must be provided. In the cold season, it retains heat poorly.
- The surface requires frequent washing, since dust is clearly visible on it, water streaks are visible after rain.
- The structure as a whole is significantly heavier and more expensive than any other material.
- Installation is risky and requires high professionalism, so it cannot be done independently.
With takeaway
The essence of the method is that steel profiles are welded to the balcony parapet, on which a wide window sill is fixed. It is the base that holds the aluminum or plastic structure for the balcony glazing. Such glazing is suitable for narrow and small balconies with a solid parapet.
Modified balconies look beautiful (especially if a greenhouse is placed in them), expand the space practically and visually, and have a functional wide window sill.
The disadvantages include the fact that the own weight of plastic structures is quite large. It is necessary to correctly assess the current operational state of the slab and parapet. Aluminum frames are lighter, but they don't hold heat well. It will be cold on such a balcony in winter.
With supporting frame
The most difficult method, which involves serious changes in the appearance of the outer side of the balcony and requires a lot of time and several pairs of working hands. At the same time, it is the best, since it allows you to glaze a completely open balcony, which does not even have a visor, and turn it into a warm living space for the next 15-20 years.
This Soviet-style glazing is popular - despite its laboriousness and high weight. Its advantages:
- Welded steel frame is cheaper than other materials. At the same time, it is distinguished by greater strength and wear resistance.
- As a paint coating, ordinary enamel for the bathroom is suitable. It gives a beautiful lasting color, gloss, reliable protection against corrosion, and costs much less than PVC.
- Possibility to install a visor. This will not only turn the balcony into a living space, but also allow you to distribute the load over the upper floor and less load the balcony slab.
- Can be replaced with a parapet frame. It is easier to install the frame, it costs less, and in appearance is not inferior to a panoramic balcony in an elite house.
- The frame is easy to insulate with plasterboard and foam.
- Any type of window can be inserted - from traditional wood to solid glass.
- Due to the strength of the frame, only the wind load falls on the glass, so they can be made of any width.
- The problem of the old parapet does not matter. It can be removed, and the base frame can be made lower or higher than the previous level.
Materials (edit)
The balcony glazing system is represented by a set of casements for windows, a window sill, thermal insulation material (most often it is foam), external ebb and interior decoration.
The choice of material directly depends on the purpose of the balcony room and determines the final cost of the changes made. If the balcony is used as a place for drying clothes and storing preservatives, it makes sense to give preference to budget materials: lightweight aluminum or duralumin frames and single glass. Such a balcony will not be insulated, and the difference with the subzero temperature outside will be no more than 6-7 degrees.
If you plan to arrange an office on the balcony, a playroom for children or a place for receiving guests, you should choose more reliable and expensive materials. This will be "full" or "insulating" glazing, which will allow the balcony to be used as a living space at any time of the year, or to combine it with the room by dismantling the wall between it and the balcony.
Plastic frames
They are convenient in that they do not require additional efforts to insulate the balcony. In the case of a low-budget renovation, simple light PVC frames and single glass, massive windows with double-glazed windows are suitable. For better tightness, you can foam the cracks.
The choice of the type of double-glazed windows determines the ultimate goal of the repair. With any technical characteristics that satisfy the requests, the basis of windows of this type will be a frame-profile made of polyvinyl chloride. The kit includes all the necessary fittings, as well as a single-layer or multi-layer sealed glass unit.
The frame (static element) is mounted in the window opening, and the "filling" can be chosen at your discretion: in which direction the sash will open, whether there will be a window with an impost (transverse slats along a horizontal or vertical line), what will be the strips on which the glass unit is attached what glass the windows will be made of.
The most common material for the production of insulating glass units is four-, five- or six-millimeter glass. In a separate group, it is worth highlighting "triplex" - double glass with a layer of transparent tape.
A double-glazed window can be single-chamber or double-chamber - depending on the number and parameters of the chambers.
The PVC frame from the inside also consists of a number of bridging compartments (stiffening ribs). Their purpose is to create air-filled segments in the profile cavity. The more compartments there are, the higher the heat resistance.
The number, volumes and placement of air segments inside the profile are strictly defined, since some of them are necessary to ensure rigidity, some provide water outflow, and some are needed to fix the fittings.
The level of thermal protection directly depends on the thickness of the glass unit and the distance between them. The warmest will be the balcony, which is glazed with double-glazed windows of different thicknesses and at different widths from each other. An important role is played by the seals, which are laid along the edge of the glass unit.
As for glass, its properties can be different:
- reflective reflects the sun's rays;
- reinforced - fire resistant;
- hardened - shockproof;
- colored absorbs solar energy;
- laminated provides excellent sound insulation (another feature of the "triplex" is that with a strong impact it does not break into fragments, but cracks and remains inside the film).
Wooden frames
Their appearance has undergone significant changes over the past few decades, but the trend towards installing wooden frames continues to grow. They have a small number of advantages when compared with the same PVC profile: beautiful, natural, environmentally friendly. However, there are not very many shortcomings either - they require high-quality installation and good care. The tree must be treated with special protective solutions and paints, otherwise it will quickly lose its appearance, begin to rot and crumble.
Any glass can be inserted into wooden frames. A cold single without a seal will make the balcony beautiful, but unsuitable for use in the winter season. Expensive insulated double-glazed windows with a seal will solve two problems at once - both aesthetically and practically.
Stained-glass or pseudo-stained glass looks beautiful in wooden frames. You can order it from the master or do it yourself. This can be done using a printed stencil and ordinary acrylic paints on glass. If you don't have the time or desire to be creative, you can purchase a ready-made film stained glass window on any topic in the store.
Aluminum frames
Aluminum profile is the most current option for balcony glazing. This is due to the fact that in most old houses the condition of the balcony slab and parapet leaves much to be desired. It is not very safe to install a heavy steel frame on them, and aluminum is light enough and does not give such a load on weak floors.
Convenient aluminum profile on small balconies. It allows you to save or even expand the space by several tens of centimeters (due to the frame with an extension). Frames made of this material look aesthetically pleasing, they are quite durable. If you paint them with protective enamel, the service life will increase significantly.
The most important advantage is that it lets in much more light into the room than a profile made of wood or plastic. And this is especially important if the balcony is used as an additional living space, and not as a second storage room.
Precautionary measures
When starting work, first of all, you need to think about how to minimize the risk of injury, your own and passers-by below. A miniature home coffee shop in the spirit of Montmartre is, of course, good, but safety is paramount. First of all, it is provided by a safety belt. The most reliable is considered to be an industrial one, but a high-quality sports one is quite suitable for one-time work.
When choosing a belt, you need to pay attention to the length of the safety halyard (cable). It should be neither too short, so as not to impede the work, nor too long, so that a traumatic jerk does not occur when falling. The optimal length is 2.5 meters.
It is also necessary to take into account the information on the product certificate. The harness and carabiner must withstand a load of up to 400 kg. You should not purchase a product without specifying this information and uncertified products.
At the time of repair work, the safety halyard is fixed with an anchor pin with a metal collet. The collet must be firmly mounted in the main wall (at least 15 centimeters deep), and screw the pin into it until it stops - using a screwdriver or a pry bar.
“With your own hands” does not mean alone. The glass is not only fragile, but also quite heavy, therefore it is recommended to perform independent glazing of the balcony with at least one partner.
When your own safety is assured, it's time to take care of others. It is unlikely that compensation for damage to health caused by a mount falling on a neighbor's head is included in the estimate of the cost of repairing the balcony. The area below should be protected with bright construction tape. Neighbors from the upper and lower floors should be warned about the planned works.
Training
Balcony glazing requires a careful approach. Preparation for repair work is carried out in stages:
- Cleaning. First of all, you need to take things out of the balcony, remove the blinds (if they were installed), remove everything that may interfere with the work.
- Assessment of the operational state. When the balcony is not cluttered, it must be carefully examined from the inside and outside - for damage, decay, broken concrete, cracks, rot. If the condition of the slab and parapet is satisfactory, you can proceed to the next stage.
- Elimination of defects. During the inspection of the balcony, problems may be revealed that were made during the construction of the house. Before installing the profile and glazing, it is recommended to level out any irregularities and bevels that may hinder work.
- Security.
How to glaze with a wooden structure: step by step instructions
Self-glazing of a balcony with a wooden structure implies a sequence of steps:
- Surface preparation for work. When the balcony is cleaned, inspected and tidied up, it's time to get rid of all internal and external coatings. Then you need to remove accumulations of dust and other contaminants.
- Measurements. The accuracy of measurements of window openings determines how well the frame will fit to the base, so it is important to be extremely careful and double-check the resulting values.
- Installation of a wooden "box". The "box" consists of wooden beams that form the base for the frame. It is fixed at the level of the existing balcony railings and the upper beam. Side rails are mounted to the left and right wall surfaces. All bars are secured with metal staples.
- Installation of battens for interior decoration of the balcony. If this step is foreseen in the repair, it is carried out until the very glazing of the balcony. When the surface of the walls, floor and ceiling is sheathed with panels or clapboard, you can proceed with the installation of windows.
- Installation of frames. Before starting glazing, the glass must be inserted into the frames and fixed. They are made to order (according to individual sizes), purchased ready-made or made independently - from profiled wooden beams with grooves.
Glasses are inserted into these grooves, pressed with slats and fixed with nails on three sides.
- Treatment of cracks with insulating materials. Even with the most careful preparation, it is impossible to assemble frames without any gaps, like a good constructor. There will certainly be gaps that need to be treated with tow or polyurethane foam.
- Installation of platbands. It is carried out after thermal insulation, in no case before.
- Treatment of wooden frames with protective agents. The moisture-proof coating is applied in 5-6 layers. The frame can then be repaired, painted, or left clean.
Installation of metal-plastic
The most accessible type of glazing without the help of a wizard. During the installation and installation process, you will need: a drill, screwdrivers, a hammer, a spatula, a knife, screws, foam.
Algorithm of actions step by step:
- Rack blank. 10-15 fragments with an area of 4 by 4 cm, which are needed to align the line of the parapet and correctly align the windows along the horizon.
- Removing the glass unit from the frame. The manufacturer delivers a one-piece structure made of PVC and double-glazed windows, but before starting to install the frame, the glass must be removed, otherwise the frame will be heavy.
The double-glazed windows should be removed carefully, placing them in a row against the wall. For reliability, it can be moved with a soft cloth or thin foam rubber.
- Removing sashes from window hinges.
- Installation of the support profile. This is an obligatory element of the kit, necessary for the convenience of installing the window sill. It is only 20 mm high and cannot be installed without a stand profile.
To install the profile, you need to turn the frame 180 degrees, insert it into the groove, fix it on the underside of the frame with a wooden (not steel) hammer.
- Installation of frame mounts. Departing from each edge of the frame by 15 cm, fix the plates on the top panel - using a hammer and self-tapping screws with a length of 3 cm.
- Installation of windows. The most difficult moment at this stage is to fix the frames on the parapet. It is necessary to do this with assistants so that the frame does not "look" beyond the perimeter. It is important to take into account that self-tapping screws are not driven into the dowel, but screwed in.
After fixing the upper level, the frame will be held securely enough. Then you can fix the rest of the sides by connecting them with self-tapping screws at a distance of about 6 cm.
The connected frames are leveled using a level and a plumb line.
- Processing cracks and gaps from the outside.
- Installation of the window sill.
- Installation of slopes and ebb tides. At the same stage, the window perimeter and joints are processed with silicone.
- Installation of double-glazed windows according to the instructions.
- Hanging sashes.
How to glaze a balcony with sliding windows, see the following video:
Frameless way
Aesthetic frameless glazing is chosen when it is necessary to let in a maximum of sunlight into the room. It is a sliding system made of impact-resistant glass (transparent, tinted or stained glass). There are no frames and partitions, and the glass at the top and bottom is attached to the metal rails.
A fixing tape is placed on the lower profile under the extreme sash, which is needed so that the opened sashes do not come into contact with each other.
Such a balcony can hardly be warm, because it will not work to fit the glass to each other without gaps. The only way to reduce gaps is with acrylic window seals. They are included in the kit and are designed to be slipped over the edges of glass like covers.
The system is equipped with rubber seals, which are laid from the outside - between the sashes and the aluminum profile. They are necessary in case of sleet and rain.
The system seems light enough, but at the same time it is very durable (due to the thick glass) and perfectly protects against precipitation, wind, noise. The thickness of the glass is chosen according to the height of the balcony. With a height of over 200 cm, a thickness of at least 8 mm is required, with a height of less than 2 m, 6 cm is sufficient.The width of the flaps varies between 60-80 cm.
Tsugunov Anton Valerievich
Reading time: 4 minutes
The modest dimensions of most apartments force their owners to use each square as efficiently as possible. The most attractive option for increasing the useful space of the home is the glazing of the balcony. In the process of its modernization, you can get a convenient place for a summer vacation or a full-fledged living space that is available year-round for comfortable use. It is quite possible to glaze a balcony with your own hands if you have at least basic building skills.
Glazing types
At the initial stage, it is worth deciding on the nature and scale of the work being carried out. Depending on the time range in which you plan to use the balcony, you can choose a cold or warm version of the glazing of the loggia.
- In the cold version, the balcony can be glazed using single-pane frames. In this case, you can create a comfortable room for use in the warm season with minimal costs.
- With warm glazing, window frames include at least two panes. This option also means insulating everything for year-round use. In some cases, the balcony becomes part of the adjoining room, not even separated by a door. There is no need to clarify that glazing the balcony with such an expansion of space should be of the highest quality.
By profile type
Balcony windows may differ, which serves as the frame of the entire structure. They can be:
- Wooden. This type of glazing is the most familiar, available both in price and in complexity for doing it yourself. The main disadvantages of this type are that the frames must be painted periodically to protect them from decay. With warm glazing, it is problematic to wipe the double frames twisted together.
- From an aluminum profile. Lightweight, durable, reliable, unaffected by the external environment. Cons - only a rectangular room can be glazed. With warm glazing, special thermal inserts will be required, since the aluminum profile conducts cold and heat well.
- Plastic. The most popular type of balcony glazing at the present time. With high-quality insulation of the entire loggia, it allows you to create comfortable conditions there at any time of the year. Reinforced-plastic windows are easy to operate and maintain, have good durability, tightness and sound insulation. Among the disadvantages, in addition to the high cost, one can name a solid weight, which will require serious calculations in the design and, if necessary, reinforce the structure of the parapet and the entire balcony as a whole.
Frameless glazing
Aluminum profiles, which play the role of a frame in this structure, are practically invisible. Such frames are very easy to use. But there are also enough disadvantages: very high cost, do-it-yourself installation is almost impossible due to the complexity of the work, poor thermal insulation. In addition, over time, the glass in the structure begins to rattle due to a decrease in the rigidity of the frame.
A separate type can be attributed to the external glazing of the balcony, in which the usable area increases due to the removal of window blocks beyond the plane of the parapet. Naturally, such glazing requires major changes in the design of the entire balcony.
When choosing an option, you should take into account the design of the parapet: if it is made of brick or concrete, then all glazing methods are available. A simple metal fence of the balcony will have to be strengthened if the installation of plastic double-glazed windows is planned. If the glass is from floor to ceiling, then the parapet is removed.
Do I need to get a permit?
Before you start glazing the balcony with your own hands, you need to take care of obtaining permission for these works. Installing windows on the balcony is not considered a redevelopment, but it is equated to it. Therefore, complications after changes made to the design of the loggia are inevitable. At least in the absence of the necessary approvals and permits, it will not be possible to sell the apartment. For unauthorized glazing, you face a fine, after which you will have to legalize the changes made or dismantle them.
In addition, an increase in the total weight of the loggia can provoke its complete or partial collapse, which will lead to much more sad consequences. So it is better to take care of the permission and approval, as well as instructions for the modernization of your balcony in advance. It is quite long and tedious, but necessary.
Balcony glazing stages
To begin with, let's highlight the general points that will be relevant for glazing a balcony of any configuration with any type of frame:
- The balcony is freed from all unnecessary items. All coatings are removed, right down to concrete, dust and dirt are removed.
- The necessary changes are made in the design of the loggia. This can be the strengthening of the base with a metal frame, followed by leveling with a screed. If necessary, the metal parapet is additionally reinforced with corners or wooden beams. And when glazing with metal-plastic windows - even aerated concrete blocks or bricks. If a remote structure is planned, then a frame made of metal triangles welded to the parapet serves as a support for it. In any case, one should take into account the loads that the loggia will experience after the changes are made, including wind effects.
- The window frames are carefully measured. If the frames are made to order with or frameless glazing, then all the necessary calculations are made by the measurers of the manufacturer. You can make yourself only wooden frames for cold glazing or limit yourself to buying ready-made ones.
All work on leveling the surface must be carried out before installing the frames. Otherwise, it will be inconvenient to produce them, there is a chance to damage the windows in the process.
It is better to postpone insulation and final finishing until the moment when the balcony is glazed. Delivery and installation of frames may take a certain period of time. Moisture that gets on the balcony at this time will ruin the interior decoration and worsen the thermal insulation characteristics of the insulation.
Step-by-step instructions for installing wooden windows
Since wooden windows are most often installed with your own hands from start to finish, we offer you instructions for glazing a balcony using a wooden frame.
A couple of years ago I decided to glaze my balcony. I wanted to give it a cozy look, put an armchair, a coffee table. But without glazing, this was impossible. I decided right away that I would carry out all the installation work on my own, because I have little experience, and glazing a balcony with my own hands is a laborious process, but quite real.
A couple of decades ago, all apartments had only wooden windows, but nowadays in the modern world there are several options for glazing residential premises. They have different characteristics, composition, and each has its own pricing policy. Therefore, everyone can choose the most suitable option.
Do-it-yourself balcony glazing
Choosing a material
Since I wanted to make my balcony cozy, the main task for me was thermal insulation. Therefore, I immediately stopped my choice on the "warm" version of glazing. But I will write more precisely about each.
So, there are three types of balcony glazing:
- Cold - does not keep warm in the room, it is used for glazing balconies that do not require maintaining room temperature
- Warm - maintains room temperature at any time of the year, does not let the cold through. It differs from the cold look by the set of materials used and their characteristics
- French - glazed balcony around the entire perimeter and height. High strength and tinted glass are used
French balcony glazing with transparent mirror windows.
It remained to choose a glazing option for your balcony.
The most popular today is the option of glazing with PVC windows, but there are also:
- Aluminum profile
- Wooden windows
Glazing with an aluminum profile refers to cold balconies
The option of glazing with an aluminum profile immediately became impossible for me. This type of glazing belongs to cold balconies. The material is not heat-insulating - it is used on those balconies that do not need to maintain room temperature. The aluminum profile serves to protect the premises from wind, rain and snow.
However, this form has its advantages:
- Low weight of materials used
- Low cost
- Parallel sliding sashes
Balcony glazing - wooden frames
Wooden windows are made of two types of materials. If homogeneous wood is used, the cost of the windows is relatively low. If the material is glued laminated timber, then the price automatically rises and already becomes, on average, 60-80% higher than the cost of similar PVC windows.
For me, the option with wooden windows did not fit because of the price. Although it is beautiful, the financial side of the issue interested me no less. My choice was on PVC windows. Good price / quality ratio, heat and sound insulation properties brought this material to the first place in demand.
Siding
In addition to the glazing of the balcony, I was interested in the option of the external cladding of the balcony. And for this I chose siding. This material is the most optimal, it is durable, consists of PVC and is not afraid of sunlight, precipitation. In addition, it enhances the thermal insulation on the balcony. Siding has a wide range of colors, and the manufacturer claims a service life of at least 50 years.
Balcony siding with your own hands
Advice! For those who decide to carry out all the work on glazing the balcony on their own, you need to know that the outer cladding of the balcony is best done before glazing. This will save time and money. After all, after glazing the balcony, it is not so convenient to carry out external cladding, and calling the masters who will do all the work with the help of climbing equipment will cost a lot of money.
It is quite possible to perform siding work on your own, but if you are confident in your abilities and have the skills in such work.
Otherwise, it is better to entrust all work on cladding the balcony with siding in apartments to qualified specialists who have professional equipment.
Balcony decoration with siding
The instructions for covering are described by me below:
- First you need to build the fastening belts from wooden beams - the upper and lower. In the future, siding will be attached to them.
- We fasten the beams to the wall using liquid nails. Connects them to each other using iron corners
- We proceed with the installation of siding - you should start from the sides. Do not overtighten the screws; they should be left in the middle of the hole.
- Upon completion of the installation of the siding, we hide all the screw heads with the help of platbands
Balcony cladding with siding
Balcony glazing
After all the work on the external cladding of the balcony was completed, I proceeded directly to the glazing of my balcony.
Next, I will write a step-by-step instruction with which everyone can try to glaze a balcony with their own hands.
Advice! Start glazing with the installation of the visor - then you will not have to guess where to attach this visor so that it does not fall off with the first strong wind. It will be enough to screw it to the ceiling using the dowel-nails.
Glazing of balconies with plastic windows
- Before buying windows, you need to know what size they need. To do this, measure the length of the parapet to the ceiling and from wall to wall with a tape measure. You need to know if there is a bias on the parapet - the level will help with this. By the way, many companies selling glazing send their master, who makes his measurements. This is very convenient and minimizes the option of incorrect calculations. I did the measurements myself, I left the pass 1.5-2 cm in both directions, for those who are not sure that the diagonals are even, you can leave somewhere 1.5-3 cm. In any case, it will all be blown out by foam.
- Next, we take out the double-glazed windows from the windows; this is not required for the opening sashes. There are a couple of reasons for this action - firstly, together with double-glazed windows, the windows are very heavy, and secondly, it is possible to damage the glass during installation.
- Then we will fix the support profile. Turn the frame over and insert the profile into the grooves. Then we turn the frame back. Doing everything will be convenient and simple, the frame without a glass unit is very light.
- We set the frame mounts with a distance of 15 cm from each edge. We drive the fixing plate into the grooves with a hammer, then turn it 90 degrees to fix it to the concrete wall.
- The next step is to install the frame into the opening. A friend helped me in this. With the help of a level, we set the frame straight and fixed it in the opening with self-tapping screws. You don't need to drive them in - you need to screw them in.
- After that, all frames are inserted according to the same principle, using a level and self-tapping screws.
- Once all the frames were in place, I secured them to the parapet, ceiling and walls using anchors. Deepened them by about 60 mm.
- It remains to close all the cracks. For this, polyurethane foam is used.
- So there is just a little left - we insert the double-glazed window into the frame and return the flaps to their place. It is enough to hang them back on the hinges and check the performance of all mechanisms.
Installation of an ebb and a window sill on the balcony
In the end, I installed an ebb from the outside of the balcony, and inside I installed a window sill.
Although I spent quite a lot of time doing all the work, and then cleaning the entire room from construction dirt, I was satisfied. Self-glazing balcony can save you a decent amount of money. In addition, I gained valuable experience and new skills in construction work, and the external siding of the balcony is doubly pleasing. Now the balcony looks perfect from the outside, and this is not only the merit of the siding manufacturer, but also mine.
Technologies and types of outside balcony cladding
Precipitation falls on a balcony without glazing, a lot of street dust accumulates there and presents from birds appear. Often apartment owners prefer not to store anything in such an open area. To make the balcony a full-fledged enclosed space, it is better to glaze it. Anyone can do it with their own hands.
What you need to be prepared for before starting glazing
Balcony glazing requires a professional approach. In such work, it should be remembered that the balcony slab is designed for a certain load. Therefore, it may not withstand the increase in weight. In order to prevent the fatal collapse of the entire structure, it is better to seek the advice of specialists. They will be able to give clear recommendations on the materials that can be used for glazing in a particular case.
When glazing a loggia, such detailed calculations of the bearing capacity of a balcony slab are not required, since the load of the loggia sidewall is transferred to the main wall of the house. Glazing can be produced by almost any material and method.
It is better to do the glazing of the balcony with your own hands in tandem with an assistant. In such work, you will have to constantly bend over the parapet, so a person who can insure does not hurt. For safety, it is advisable to prepare the safety equipment in advance.
Balcony glazing - choose the best way
Do-it-yourself balcony glazing can be done using both cold and warm methods. In the first version, lightweight frames with single glasses are most often used. In winter, it is quite cold on such a balcony, therefore, during this period of the year, this room is used as a pantry for food. Well, in the summer on the balcony with such glazing, you can arrange gatherings.
To avoid unnecessary care, an aluminum profile can be advised as a substitute for wood. Such material is easy to install, environmentally friendly and lightweight. During operation, aluminum is not subject to decay. Therefore, there is no need to worry about the destruction of this material. For such a case, the doors can be used both rotary and swing-out. Recently, sliding sashes are gaining popularity.
Such balcony glazing requires a serious approach to work and careful calculation, since the dew point should not be inside the balcony. Condensation in the room from improper insulation can lead to mold in the entire apartment. So that the dew point is not in the room, it is required to carry out high-quality hydro and thermal insulation of the floor and parapet. Remember, even a small gap or cold bridge can lead to condensation.
For warm glazing of balconies, a double-glazed unit with seals is needed. It is recommended to implement natural ventilation, which can be adjusted independently. For this, the manufacturer of metal-plastic windows provides ventilation dampers. To get rid of condensation, air circulation is required between the balcony and the room. For this purpose, it is necessary to mount a fan in the window of the room, which will draw air out of the room. A ventilation grill is required at the bottom of the balcony door.
Varieties of glazing
In elite multi-storey buildings, as a rule, panoramic glazing of balconies is used. This option implies a glass railing from floor to ceiling. The most popular frameless panoramic glazing, with it, the natural lighting of the room increases several times.
For such glazing, impact-resistant glass with a thickness of 6–8 mm is used, which is treated with metal oxide. Such a double-glazed window is quite difficult to break. Thanks to special coatings, glass can reflect heat back into the room and let ultraviolet light into the room. Such double-glazed windows have very high sound insulation properties.
Glass doors can be hinged, sliding (on rollers) or folding. In the case of a small balcony space, the best option would be to use a sliding mechanism. In this version, when the doors are opened, the area of the room is not lost.
Also, aluminum profiles are used for glazing. The weight depends on the thickness of the glass and the size of the sections, but, as a rule, does not exceed 20 kg per linear meter. m. Therefore, it becomes possible to carry out glazing of the balcony with the removal. For this, detailed strength calculations are not required.
To assemble the sections, you will need to make guides at the top and bottom of the balcony opening. Then you need to install vertical posts. After that, the frame is attached with the help of latches and locks. It is imperative to measure the evenness of the location of the guides and racks. The misalignment should not exceed 5 mm per linear meter. m.
Glazing of balconies can also be done using metal-plastic windows. In this version, the weight of the structure will be 40 kg per linear meter. m. It is recommended to do the installation of such glazing before installing the window sill. Racks made of a metal-plastic profile must be attached to the ceiling and parapet using self-tapping screws.
Before installation, double-glazed windows must be removed in all windows, since glass can be easily broken during installation work. To get the double-glazed windows out of the frame, you need to pull out the window glazing beads.
Also, before installing the frame, it is required to remove all the sashes. To do this, it is necessary to squeeze out the pins in the upper hinges, which can be pulled out using pliers. The sash can then be removed from the lower hinge.
If it is decided to make a winter garden or a greenhouse on the balcony, then glazing of the balcony with a take-out can be used. This will require a parapet of increased strength. Additionally, you will have to take care of installing the visor.
Sequential glazing of the balcony
Balconies are always finished and glazed at different stages. For example, with lattice fencing, insulation and decorative external finishing are done before glazing. But the interior decoration and installation of the window sill must be done after the window frames have been installed.
In the presence of a brick or concrete parapet, it is first necessary to level its surface with cement mortar. Then do the exterior decoration. Only then can the glazing work be carried out. Interior decoration and insulation is done after the installation of the window sill.
If the balcony does not have an upper ceiling or is hanging, then pipe stands must be used. They will be able to withstand most of the glazing load. External frames are required to be made from corners of 40-60 mm. With the help of a grinder, it is necessary to smooth out all the welded seams. After that, you need to do degreasing with stripping. Then you can cover the entire frame with acrylic enamel.
The most time-consuming stage of work is the creation of a visor. It should protrude 15 cm beyond the glazing. As a rule, 40 mm corners are used. The height of the visor is made within 40 cm.
The first step for the visor is to make a frame in which you need to drill 10-12 mm holes for the anchor bolts. The distance between the holes should be 40-60 cm. You need to count on the fact that there are at least 4 holes along the entire length.
To mark the places for the bolts on the wall, you will need to attach a frame, align it horizontally using a level and draw marks in the holes. After that, you can start drilling the holes for the anchors. Once the bolts are in place, the frame itself can be attached to the wall.
The next step is to create cross members and slopes that need to be welded to the frame. Then the outer bar is attached. Upon completion, you can proceed with the installation of the roof of the visor. As a rule, galvanized sheets are used for this. They must be laid with an overlap in one wave. To prevent water from flowing between the wall and the roof during the rain, it is required to wind the sheets into the inside of the groove.
The width of the bearing frames must be made with a small margin (10-15 mm) from the thickness of the window. According to experts, the frame can have a maximum size of 1100x1500 mm (provided that a 40 mm corner is used). If an angle of 60 mm is used, then the length can be made 1300x1700 mm. With the help of pipe supports, the frame must be connected to the visor by welding.
When the frame is fully installed, you can start decorating and insulating. For cladding, it is possible to use metal sheets, which must be welded to the frame. Alternatively, you can use moisture-resistant plywood or drywall for finishing. The balcony, sheathed with siding, looks quite decent. Basalt wool is used as a heat-insulating material.
The glazing process begins with the installation of window frames, which must be fixed to the corners with 6 mm self-tapping screws. The distance between the fasteners should be 25-30 cm. After the window frames are fixed, all the grooves must be foamed. Then the window sashes are installed and the double-glazed windows are put in place. Upon completion, you can proceed to the interior decoration. For this purpose, use wooden lining, plastic panels or drywall, which can be painted.
Do-it-yourself balcony glazing - instructions from the master
The renovation is in full swing and it comes to improving the balcony? Of course, the modern variety in the service market makes you tense. Everyone wants high quality and cheap. How about making a balcony glazing with your own hands? Let's figure it out together.
Stage one - preparation.
You cannot do without it. It is important that the balcony does not collapse under the weight of the structure, the windows do not fly out at the first wind, and the sheathing does not come off as quickly as it is being installed.
Technical analysis is one of the components of the initial action. Assessment of design features, the percentage of dilapidation (accident rate) of the living quarters - these parameters will make it possible to conclude whether the structure of the house is designed for the fact that there will be an additional load on the balcony in the form of glazing.
After making sure that all this will definitely not collapse, we proceed to additional strengthening of the parapet. Depending on the future load, the reinforcement is carried out by means of foam concrete blocks or metal.
Which material should you choose? The answer depends on your goals and the technical capabilities of the home. Metal will be universal, suitable even for extremely dilapidated balconies.
How to do this is indicated in detail in the diagram. We only note that a strong metal structure "ties" the parapet and is able to take on the main load of the glazing system.
If your balcony is strong and wide, then you can use foam blocks. This material also serves as excellent thermal insulation. But such a structure requires reinforcement with reinforcement. Otherwise, the desired effect will not be achieved.
After the preparatory work is completed, you can, without fear, deal directly with what, in fact, everything was started for.
Stage two - design selection.
Of course, the process itself is not so complicated, given that almost every man, to one degree or another, has little knowledge in the field of construction.
But, glazing without the help of specialists, you must be prepared that not only "dirty" work is being done with your own hands, but also other accompanying work. One of which is the choice of design.
It makes no sense to say that there are standard and non-standard double-glazed windows. This is clear to everyone. But the expected result from the design matters. The traditional division into warm and cold glazing. What is the difference?
Having dealt with the functional load, we will solve the issues with the material. Wood, aluminum, PVC. For today, these are all possible options for finishing the balcony:
- Wooden euro windows have a long service life, so you shouldn't worry that they will rot or dry out under the influence of external factors.
- Aluminum frames are cheap, lightweight and are most often used for cold glazing.
- If we take PVC, then they have a wide range in the field of additional functions - noise insulation, thermal insulation, imitation of a certain style in architecture, etc. Of course, they are heavier than aluminum ones and are used for warm glazing.
How are things going with the illumination of the room? In addition to frames, you should also pay attention to glass. You have a sunny side, but on the balcony you want to make a playroom? To prevent the baby's delicate skin from being exposed to ultraviolet rays, sun-protection glasses are used, which are covered with a film by means of a special technology.
How Energy Saving Glass Works
This glass absorbs almost 99.9% of the radiation. Or maybe the balcony is a future greenhouse? For this, tinted glass is used, which does not allow the sun's rays to penetrate through the glass and create a "magnifying glass" effect.
Colored glass, stained glass - these are ideas for specific styles of both interior and exterior. Well, and finally, energy-saving windows. The thinnest layer of metal is applied to the glass surface at the factory, which retains the heat inside the room.
Glass, construction, reinforcement - all preparatory issues have been covered, the decision has been made. It remains only to understand how you can glaze it at all. To do this, go to the next step.
Video - what is and what are the possibilities of energy-saving glass:
Stage three - the choice of the glazing method.
The variety is surprising, just look at the neighboring house. What you will not see there, but we focus on the methods.
a) With the removal. The internal space becomes wider due to the removal of the window profile (relative to the main fence). The increase is insignificant - 20-25 cm. A window sill can be placed on such a frame.
b) Frameless. In fact, you get a panoramic window without vertical frames and horizontal partitions. A lot of light is a plus. A problem with leaving (like washing) is a minus. The design is quite durable, so you shouldn't worry about bad weather.
c) Art decoration. This method is relevant when, for example, we install stained glass windows. It is difficult to do without an artist-designer here (unless, of course, you have a talent for drawing). Also read the article: Interesting Loggia Designs.
Stage four - installation of the visor.
This should be done before the glazing system is installed, in order not to think later how to stick it there so that it does not come off. Using ordinary dowel-nails, we attach it to the ceiling.
After the visor is fixed, you can start glazing, but first, you should fix the anchor plates on all sides, except for the bottom.
Video - installation of a loggia with a visor:
Stage five - step-by-step instructions for glazing.
Of course, the balcony should be freed from everything that was previously there: chairs, flowers, linoleum, tiles, old rubbish and so on. The question of strengthening was touched upon earlier, so we will omit the description of this procedure.
Installation of wooden windows.
Correct installation according to gost
Installation of the frame. The bars that serve as the base are pre-treated with a sealant (but only the mounting surface). Further, a wooden structure is erected along the perimeter using mounting dowels.
Installation of windows. Frames must be glazed, as the glasses can simply break. Installation is carried out in the following sequence: frontal structure - side elements.
After - it is obligatory to seal the seams with the help of sealant and polyurethane foam. When everything hardens (at least a day), you can glaze. But first, all grooves must be treated with silicone sealant. The beads, with which the glass is fixed, must firmly press it against the frame.
Video - how to glaze a balcony with wooden windows:
Installation of an aluminum frame.
Video - how to install an aluminum frame with your own hands:
Installation of PVC windows.
The installation scheme is similar to the previous one, with some exceptions.
- To pull out the window, you just need to remove the plastic glazing beads.
- Installation is carried out using fastening plates that are attached to the frame with self-tapping screws.
- All gaps are also filled with polyurethane foam.
The final stage is bringing the balcony into the appropriate aesthetic state: installation of siding.
Outdoor installation requires some effort, such as the construction of fastening belts. There are two of them - upper and lower.
Such structures are built around the perimeter, which are attached to the walls with corners or liquid nails. The blocks are connected to each other by metal corners. The lower belt should go along the base of the balcony.
The fastening of the siding itself begins from the sides. The screws should not be overtightened, they are located exactly in the middle of the technological hole of the panel. Installing platbands that hide all the screws completes the glazing process. It simply slides over the siding strip until it clicks into place.
Thus, by carefully examining the technical characteristics of your premises and strictly following the instructions, it is possible to glaze without resorting to the help of specialized companies and saving your own money.
Do-it-yourself balcony glazing - step by step instructions
A couple of years ago I decided to glaze my balcony. I wanted to give it a cozy look, put an armchair, a coffee table. But without glazing, this was impossible. I decided right away that I would carry out all the installation work on my own, because I have little experience, and glazing a balcony with my own hands is a laborious process, but quite real.
A couple of decades ago, all apartments had only wooden windows, but nowadays in the modern world there are several options for glazing residential premises. They have different characteristics, composition, and each has its own pricing policy. Therefore, everyone can choose the most suitable option.
Do-it-yourself balcony glazing
Choosing a material
Since I wanted to make my balcony cozy, the main task for me was thermal insulation. Therefore, I immediately stopped my choice on the "warm" version of glazing. But I will write more precisely about each.
So, there are three types of balcony glazing:
French balcony glazing with transparent mirror windows.
It remained to choose a glazing option for your balcony.
The most popular today is the option of glazing with PVC windows, but there are also:
- Aluminum profile
- Wooden windows
Glazing with an aluminum profile refers to cold balconies
The option of glazing with an aluminum profile immediately became impossible for me. This type of glazing belongs to cold balconies. The material is not heat-insulating - it is used on those balconies that do not need to maintain room temperature. The aluminum profile serves to protect the premises from wind, rain and snow.
However, this form has its advantages:
- Low weight of materials used
- Low cost
- Parallel sliding sashes
Balcony glazing - wooden frames
Wooden windows are made of two types of materials. If homogeneous wood is used, the cost of the windows is relatively low. If the material is glued laminated timber, then the price automatically rises and already becomes, on average, 60-80% higher than the cost of similar PVC windows.
For me, the option with wooden windows did not fit because of the price. Although it is beautiful, the financial side of the issue interested me no less. My choice was on PVC windows. Good price / quality ratio, heat and sound insulation properties brought this material to the first place in demand.
Siding
In addition to the glazing of the balcony, I was interested in the option of the external cladding of the balcony. And for this I chose siding. This material is the most optimal, it is durable, consists of PVC and is not afraid of sunlight, precipitation. In addition, it enhances the thermal insulation on the balcony. Siding has a wide range of colors, and the manufacturer claims a service life of at least 50 years.
Balcony siding with your own hands
Advice! For those who decide to carry out all the work on glazing the balcony on their own, you need to know that the outer cladding of the balcony is best done before glazing. This will save time and money. After all, after glazing the balcony, it is not so convenient to carry out external cladding, and calling the masters who will do all the work with the help of climbing equipment will cost a lot of money.
It is quite possible to perform siding work on your own, but if you are confident in your abilities and have the skills in such work.
Otherwise, it is better to entrust all work on cladding the balcony with siding in apartments to qualified specialists who have professional equipment.
Balcony decoration with siding
The instructions for covering are described by me below:
- First you need to build the fastening belts from wooden beams - the upper and lower. In the future, siding will be attached to them.
- We fasten the beams to the wall using liquid nails. Connects them to each other using iron corners
- We proceed with the installation of siding - you should start from the sides. Do not overtighten the screws; they should be left in the middle of the hole.
- Upon completion of the installation of the siding, we hide all the screw heads with the help of platbands
Balcony cladding with siding
Balcony glazing
After all the work on the external cladding of the balcony was completed, I proceeded directly to the glazing of my balcony.
Next, I will write a step-by-step instruction with which everyone can try to glaze a balcony with their own hands.
Advice! Start glazing with the installation of the visor - then you will not have to guess where to attach this visor so that it does not fall off with the first strong wind. It will be enough to screw it to the ceiling using the dowel-nails.
Glazing of balconies with plastic windows
Installation of an ebb and a window sill on the balcony
In the end, I installed an ebb from the outside of the balcony, and inside I installed a window sill.
Although I spent quite a lot of time doing all the work, and then cleaning the entire room from construction dirt, I was satisfied. Self-glazing balcony can save you a decent amount of money. In addition, I gained valuable experience and new skills in construction work, and the external siding of the balcony is doubly pleasing. Now the balcony looks perfect from the outside, and this is not only the merit of the siding manufacturer, but also mine.
Technologies and types of outside balcony cladding 
How to sheathe a balcony with siding: installation instructions 
Phased erection of a frame for a balcony cladding 
Balcony in Khrushchev with your own hands: step by step instructions 
Analysis and types of repairs to balcony slabs
DIY balcony glazing instructions
Living in a big city in apartments is associated with a number of problems, the main of which is considered to be the lack of living space. Many owners use the balcony to store various things in order to free up at least a little space in the rooms where they spend most of their time. However, wind, rain and cold do not always allow this. Do-it-yourself glazing of the balcony will help to solve this problem, at least partially.
Types of balcony glazing
The simplest type of construction is the so-called cold glazing. In this case, we are talking about the use of thin single-layer frames, which is why the balcony can be fully used only in the warm season. Such structures will be able to reliably protect against dust, wind, birds and insects (this is provided that they are correctly installed), but they will not help in thermal insulation.
The main advantage of cold glazing is its low cost
A more expensive option is warm glazing. For this procedure, full-fledged frames with double-glazed windows for 2-3 cameras are used. In this case, we can already talk about a full-fledged additional room in which you can equip a recreation area, a small office, a greenhouse, and so on. In some cases, the balcony is even attached to the living room after this procedure.
Warm glazing implies the use of full-fledged frames, therefore, it is a more expensive option.
Also, different frames can be used for glazing:
Wooden frames - a classic option for balcony glazing
It is best to entrust the installation of metal-plastic structures to professionals.
Installing frameless windows allows you to create a panoramic view, but requires professional equipment
Important! Before choosing the final version of glazing, you need to soberly weigh your strengths and capabilities. If there are any doubts, then it is better to entrust this matter to specialists.
Installation of wooden frames
This procedure consists of the following steps:
Glazing of wooden frames
Do-it-yourself glazing of a loggia requires the following tools and materials:
- Hammer, cloves and glazing beads.
- Rubber trowel, putty or putty.
- Drying oil and paint brush.
When installing glass in wooden frames, one problem very often arises - the impossibility of installing glazing beads on the back side of a blind window on floors above the first. If the frames are small, then it is better to put glass in them first, and then carry out the installation. But if we are talking about large massive structures, then placing them on a base with glass is not only difficult, but also dangerous. Therefore, the installation will have to be carried out from the inside.
One of the main problems of installing glass in wooden frames is the installation of glazing beads from the back side.
Installation Guide:
- First you need to moisten the brush in linseed oil and process the window openings with it. It should be applied in one layer, but without gaps. After the material has dried (the time is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging), you can start painting.
- To do this, they also use a brush, which they carefully paint over all openings, and leave to dry.
- After that, putty or a special putty is applied to the folds of the opening, which will close the gaps between the glass and the frame, preventing water from entering and the appearance of drafts.
- Next, the cut glass is installed in the frame and pressed against the putty.
- Then another layer of putty is applied, but already on the glass itself closer to the frame.
- A glazing bead is laid on a strip of putty and carefully nailed with small carnations.
The putty performs the main function when fixing glass
On a note! Carnations must be driven strictly vertically or horizontally, since driving them at an angle can damage the glass.
Alternative options
Instead of putty, you can also use a silicone tube, which is cut and laid in the same way as putty and then pressed with glass. You can also do without hammering in nails. To do this, a thick layer of putty is applied to the glass, after which it is neatly leveled.
You can also use a sealant. Some people think that it will firmly fix the glass in the frame and cannot be replaced. But there is one secret: before applying the sealant, the glass must be treated with soapy water.
Installation of metal-plastic frames
To remove the glass unit from the plastic frame, you must first remove the glazing bead
Important! Even slight distortions are unacceptable, since they will subsequently lead to breakdown of the entire structure.
Installation of double-glazed windows
In the lower and lateral internal parts of the frame installed in the opening, gaskets must be laid. It must be laid so that the weight of the glass unit is evenly distributed over the frame. One of the edges of the gasket should extend slightly beyond the borders of the frame, so that after the glazing is driven in, cracks do not form on the glass. After that, they take two suction cups, press them against the surface of the glass and carefully place it in the window frame. At the end, the glazing beads are hammered with a wooden mallet; on this, the glazing with your own hands can be considered complete.
To fix the glass unit in the frame, it is necessary to hammer the glazing beads using a mallet
Installation of frames and glasses is a rather complicated process that requires experience and certain skills, so if you are not completely confident in your abilities, then it is better to call specialists right away.