Balcony glazing with your own hands

Glazing of the balcony allows you to turn an open uncomplicated area into a comfortable room. Provided that the glazing and insulation are correctly performed, the balcony can become a continuation of the room, which will significantly expand the living space.

Self-management of balcony glazing is possible. For this, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the features of the existing varieties of balcony structures, choose the appropriate option and perform the main stages of work in accordance with the instruction.

Varieties balcony designs

To date, there are 3 main mToda glazing of balconies: using wooden frames, with the use of metal structures, as well as the method of frameless glazing.

Wooden frames

Wooden balcony systems of modern design are distinguished by high quality, reliability and long service life. Such frames in many respects surpass the obsolete analogs, effectively coping with suppression of street noise and thermal insulation.

Essential flaws appear only when using sliding wooden frames. They are designed so that water can penetrate into the sliding elements. If the temperature drops below zero, this will cause the window system to become iced, which will not have a positive effect on its state.

Plastic systems

Modern metal-plastic systems are famous long-livers. The average lifetime of such structures is 40 years or more. The risk of freezing of frames is excluded due to the presence of a drainage hole in the system design.

The method of frameless glazing

Frameless glazing, despite its apparent lightness and airiness, provides reliable protection against atmospheric precipitation, muffles street noise and transmits more solar heat.

The glazing order is as follows:

• installs the lower and upper guides for the window flaps. In this case, the functions of the guides take on the aluminum profiles;
• to the guides fixed tempered glass, characterized by a very high strength and resistance to various kinds of damage.

However, frameless glazing has a significant drawback: the temperature on this balcony will be only 2-3 degrees above the street, so it is not possible to fully use the balcony as a residential and equipped room in cold weather.

Concepts of cold and warm balcony glazing

Cold balcony glazing is made using single glasses installed in lightweight window frames. Summer in such a room will be quite comfortable, but in the winter a similar balcony can be used except as a pantry.

It is important that the supporting frame for such glazing is sufficiently reliable. Too much to save on this constructive element is not necessary, becauseit is the frame that takes over the bulk of the wind load.

The warm balcony glazing , equipped with all the rules and requirements of the technology, allows you to comfortably use the room at any time of the year.

When performing such a glazing it is important to create conditions under which the dew point could not move into the interior. Otherwise, condensation starts to fall on your balcony, which will reduce all efforts to increase the useful area by no. In addition, the dew point must not penetrate between the installed glasses. This condition is particularly difficult to observe if the balcony is behind the contour of the building.

To avoid the problems that can cause condensation loss, it is necessary to observe 4 basic conditions, namely:

• to provide high-quality moisture and heat insulation of the balcony and parapet floor. Any kind of cracks or thermal paths outside in the room will lead to condensation;
• install frames with double-glazed windows and the same quality seal. In the case of the use of ordinary wooden frames, it is necessary to create a double seal when installing the swinging flaps and seal all the slots in the deaf components of the structure;
• provide for the possibility of providing adjustable natural ventilation. Balcony systems of a modern design made of metal-plastic are usually equipped with shutters initially. In the case of the installation of wooden frames, the valve is equipped in a parapet;
• provide the necessary level of air exchange between the balcony and the living room. For this, the design of the window, coupled with the balcony, is complemented by an exhaust fan. In addition, a special ventilation grill is installed at the bottom of the door.

Advice before starting

1. If the frames are to be mounted on a metal parapet, heat and trim it before starting the glazing.
2. Interior decorative finishing and window sill installation are carried out after the installation of the frames.
3. It is important that the top of the old enclosure is strictly horizontal. If there are deviations, it is better to dismantle it completely - you will spend more money on alignment than buying lower frames.
4. When installing the frames on a parapet made of bricks or concrete, the upper surface of the base can be leveled with cement mortar. After the alignment, the exterior decorative finish is performed. Internal work is carried out after the installation of the window sill.

Guide to the glazing of the balcony

The work on the glazing of the balcony is carried out in a few simple steps.

Recommendations for taking measurements

Measure front and side balcony rails. You need to make sure that the roof of the balcony hangs over its railing. To do this, use a plumb line. Also make sure that the upper perimeter of the balcony room is the same as the bottom one.

In case of detection of deviations, be sure to consider these points when manufacturing( ordering) insulating glass. Make a sketch of the glazed balcony indicating the measurements taken.

Set for work

1. Hammer.
2. Hacksaw.
3. Brushes.
4. Nails.
5. Lining.
6. Varnish.
7. Glass.
8. Bar.
9. Sealant.

Assembly of wooden frames

First step

Install the box from the wooden beam. The lower bar should be fixed at the level of the handrail. Top attach to the ceiling with the help of staples. Lateral elements are fixed by brackets to the walls.

To further increase the strength of the structure, install the third horizontal bar.

Second step

Install the crate for decorative finishing.

Third step

Fit the glazed wooden frames. Treat the wooden elements with an antiseptic and color them if necessary.

opening Fourth step

Outside, install the galvanized visors to protect the wooden structure from atmospheric moisture and improve the appearance of the balcony.

Assembly of plastic systems

Metal-plastic systems are installed on the parapet before the window sill is installed.

First step

Install the corner, end and intermediate support posts. For this it is very convenient to use a wooden beam.

Second step

Attach the support posts to the upper floor and the parapet. For fixing, use corners and screws. If you want, you can sew the structure with PVC strip.

Third step

Remove the double-glazed windows from the frames so that they do not damage them during installation.

To do this is extremely simple: poddent shtapiki narrow screwdriver, pull them out and remove the double-glazed windows.

Fourth step

Remove the sash. To do this, press out the pin of the upper window hinge and pull it out using the pliers, and then lift the window leaf and remove it from the hinge.

Fifth step

Fix the front profile at the bottom of the window frame.

Step 6

Insert the anchor plates from the kit into the grooves of the frame.

Seventh step

Insert the frames into the prepared openings, make sure there are no distortions and other defects. If any misalignment is detected, level them with wedges.

Eighth step

Fix the frames by screwing the screws into the designated holes for the anchors.

Ninth step

Return the doors and double-glazed windows to the seats.

Ensure that the system is operational. In the end, you will still have to groove the grooves, mount the sill and perform the finishing trim.

Sealing recommendations

After the glazing of the balcony has been completed, take the necessary measures to protect the structure against the penetration of atmospheric moisture. To do this, fill the existing cracks with foam and sealant.

Qualitatively executed sealing will contribute to an additional increase in thermal insulation characteristics of structures.

Successful work!

Video - Glazing of the balcony with your own hands