Glazing of balconies and loggias, modern designs made of various materials have become part of our life. Windswept and recorded in the winter snow outside of the glass turns into an extra room, office, Conservatory or gym.
The most popular remain plastic Windows. For wooden structures have gained a reputation as the most eco-friendly and functional. Less demand for glazing systems from aluminium for balconies and loggias. It appears that in many respects this fact is due to the lack of information about the types of glazing with the use of aluminum profile, the difference between «cold» and «warm» options of glazing, the obvious benefits of aluminium loggias and the same obvious flaws.
Aluminium loggias: the advantages and disadvantages ↑
Aluminium loggias and balconies belong to the mainly sliding type constructions. In the upper and lower profiles of the guides (called technical groove) equipped with special rollers, which are hung sash. Currently available designs with two or three guides.
The sash in the frames easily and silently move on ball bearings. The number of folds in this design can be from 2 to 8. When closing the sash, the trigger locks with snaps that make it impossible entry into the room from the street. To improve noise insulation in aluminum loggias are different seals. You can also order a deaf ear, opening or combined opening of the valves.
Aluminum construction for glazing of loggias and balconies can be «cold» and «warm». «Cold» are referred to as profiles without the use of thermostatic (sealing gaskets). Without termostate aluminum profile having a high thermal conductivity, the winter freezes instantly. «Cold» glazing can only protect against wind, dust and precipitation. The temperature in autumn-winter period on an aluminum loggia or balcony is not comfortable for humans. The difference between the outside temperature and the temperature on the balcony will be about 7-8°.
Therefore, to create on the balcony comfortable for the person conditions, any time of the year for the glazing used «warm» profile. Today, leading manufacturers have mastered the production profile with a complex thermostable, which significantly reduces the thermal conductivity of aluminium.
For exclusive design «warm» aluminum profile loggias finish with a tree that besides the decorative function performs the additional function of a kind of thermostable.
The benefits ↑
The advantages of glazing of loggias construction of aluminium include:
The exceptional reliability of the material profile aluminum.
A lightweight design.
- Fire safety.
- Protection from outside intrusion through the use of locks with latches.
- Reliable protection from rain, wind, dust and noise.
- Various options (sliding, hinged, swing-out, dull, combined).
- The relative ease of installation.
- Silent and easy running of the sliding sashes.
- Attractive appearance.
- Aluminum loggia with sliding design looks bigger. Furthermore, a sliding type of glazing due to the small width of the profile to increase the illumination of the balconies and adjoining rooms.
- A huge variety of colors painting profile. In the RAL catalogue, you can choose any of the 300 presented color options. In the selected color can be painted one or both sides of the profile.
Additional benefits of aluminium loggias sliding is a light weight design that allows it to be installed on the balconies of the houses of the old residential Fund. Sliding design saves usable area of the balconies and terraces. And the main advantage – the reasonable price compared to other glazing systems.
Deficiencies ↑
Any system has flaws, and aluminum balconies are no exception to this rule:
- High conductivity aluminum eliminates the possibility of the glazed loggia or balcony, the same comfortable conditions as the glazing systems PVC (often referred to as «plastic Windows»). In «cold» aluminum construction there is no termostatos, and in winter in our climate of the frame will freeze. In «warm» aluminum designs termostojki there are, however, the thickness (and hence characteristics), they can not be compared with the thickness of the PVC profile. «Warm» aluminum profiles do not have the price advantage before glazing systems made of other materials.
- Aluminium has a significant coefficient of thermal expansion. Aluminium profile length 2000 mm with temperature changes in our climate can grow/shrink in the range of 10-15 mm. Such fluctuations require special attention to device junction profile and the walls of the house.
- In the winter time is freezing «cold» profile and the formation of ice in the guides. Trapped moisture in them does not have time to fully go through the drain holes on the bottom of the ebb and freezes, making it impossible to open the valves. Until the moment of thawing ice folds will remain locked.
Installation of aluminum glazing of the sliding type in the loggia ↑
Today the market offers a profile Provedal, Krauss, SIAL, MAC, as well as the profile of other manufacturers. So, in typical new residential buildings often install glazing series R-400 Krauss in a remote or hinged version. It «cold» profile with one glass. Both manufacturers occupying in the Russian market leading positions – Provedal and Krauss, released as «cold», and «warm» profile. Constructively «cold» profile Provedal and Krauss are virtually indistinguishable.
The installation tool ↑
Pre-prepare the tool which we will need for mounting of aluminium loggias:
- Drill and drill bits for concrete.
- Screwdriver.
- Hammer.
- Building level.
- Roulette.
- Pencil.
- The dowels.
- Foam construction.
- Sealant gun.
- Sealant.
- Hardwood timber 50×50 mm.
- Wooden wedges.
Preparation ↑
First, remove the old wooden frame glazing.
After removal of the fasteners, remove all the garbage. For more reliable installation aluminium glazing before mounting fixed on the parapet of a wooden beam 50×50 mm. Installation is simplified, and the design will appear as an insulating spacer between the parapet and the profile. Check the levelness of the installation logs.
Before installation, remove the glazing in the structural elements where possible – primarily from remote parts. So when installing we do not damage. It is recommended to remove all sliding parts.
To the upper concrete slab fasten the visor. On the parapet mounted low tide. The gap between the shade and the parapet sealed with sealant.
Fasten to the profile with the help of special screws for metal mounting plates with a pitch of 700 mm, installation-ready design with the help of an assistant raise and set in the prepared opening. Align with wedges horizontally, vertically and in the plane of the opening. Check with a level. After alignment we do the layout on the walls and ceiling (the upper concrete slab) under the mounting plate.
Drilled in walls and ceilings holes, and dowels fasten the mounting plate. Again check the frame to the vertical position, hang the removed before installation items and installed Windows. Structurally, aluminum sliding loggia of the type arranged in such a way that the sash can be easily removed and easily installed. Efforts to make it not necessary. The sill is set in place and check that it is well fit to the bottom profile of the structure and was stable. Then take out the window sill.
Supenaam all gaps around the perimeter of the profile, starting with the bottom plane of the opening. Finally installed the window sill. When foaming control over completeness of filling the gaps, fine-pored foam. Place of foaming from the room side closing plastic cover strips.
After completing the installation of aluminium loggias installed accessories. We adjust ride sash guide designs. Do not forget to lubricate moving parts accessories lubricating oil.
We have considered the simplest example of installing aluminum balconies into the prepared rectangular opening. For glass installation in the complex configuration of apertures and Bay Windows are encouraged to contact the experts.
