Aluminum glazing for balconies

Aluminum profiles are very reliable, strong and durable. Such structures do not have too much weight, so they are perfect for any balconies and loggias.

• The main advantage of aluminum glazing is its low weight. It can be installed on any balcony without having to be reinforced first.
• This type of glazing is suitable for apartment owners in old houses. Such glazing will not harm concrete floors and will not lead to the collapse of old structures.
• Many people assemble aluminum structures by themselves. It is not difficult at all and does not take much time.
• Aluminum glazing is very durable. Over time, it does not lose its attractiveness and strength.
• Modern manufacturers produce not only unpainted, but also multi-colored profiles. Each customer will be able to choose for themselves a version of their favorite shade. Such designs look original and interesting.

But this type of glazing also has its drawbacks.

• They absolutely do not keep heat on the balcony or loggia. In the winter season, the temperature in these rooms will differ from the outside temperature by only a couple of degrees.
• Often, in very low temperatures, sliding mechanisms and fittings freeze and become covered with an ice crust. This can make it difficult to open and close the flaps.
• Aluminum structures do not have good air tightness. Street noises pass through them without difficulty. If there is windy weather outside the balcony, then drafts can walk in the room.
• Such glazing should be used if the main balcony door is well-soundproofed. This part will compensate for the weak tightness of the aluminum structure.

Aluminum glazing differs in many ways from the popular plastic option. It is necessary to understand the characteristics of these structures in order to understand what is the difference between them.

• Plastic glazing can be warm. This type of decoration allows you to turn a balcony room into a real living room that can be operated all year round.
• It is impossible not to mention the great weight of such structures. They have excellent heat and sound insulation characteristics. Plastic windows are not suitable for old balconies and balcony ceilings.
• Aluminum structures are suitable for typical apartments and balconies. Such glazing is often cold, but ideally protects the room from adverse environmental factors. Aluminum profiles differ from plastic ones also in that they have less weight and are suitable even for old houses.
• In plastic structures, the sashes are hinged, and in aluminum ones - sliding.
• Each owner chooses for himself which type of glazing is right for him.

Aluminum glazing can have different functional characteristics. Consider several options that are in demand in the market for window designs.

The cold aluminum profile is the most common. It has no insulating properties. A balcony or loggia with such glazing will not be saved even by high-quality insulation of walls, floor and ceiling. In winter, it will still be cold and uncomfortable indoors.

This design is primarily aimed at protecting the balcony block from rains, snowfalls, winds and other negative factors.

Warm profile is less common... Such structures are equipped with insulating inserts. They are combined with thick double-glazed windows. Such glazing has good thermal insulation properties.

Modern manufacturers offer consumers a huge variety of aluminum frames. They can have different external design, with which you can create a fashionable interior in your favorite style.

Glasses are also different. Many apartment owners today are turning to tinted options.

The assembly process of such systems is simple and affordable, so aluminum structures can have not only different colors, but also shapes and sizes. In this sense, they outperform plastic glazing, since it is much harder and more expensive to carry out such metamorphoses with it.

If you are planning to install aluminum glazing with your own hands, then you need to stock up on the following tools:

• First you need to purchase a prefabricated window block. It includes details such as frame, ebb, window sill, visor and sash.
• Stock up on a few sheets of galvanized steel.
• You will need fasteners: self-tapping screws, anchors, dowels, bolts and rivets.
• Polyurethane foam and silicone glue will come in handy during the installation process.
• Additionally, you need to purchase rollers, aluminum profiles, latches and clamps.

If you have purchased all the necessary spare parts and stocked up with tools, then you can proceed to the preparatory work.

• Previously, you should remove the previous windows, if any. The roof can be replaced if it is not a reinforced concrete base plate for the upper balcony.
• Often, fences on the balcony also require replacement. Along with this, it is necessary to install an additional and reliable frame to which the aluminum profile will be attached.
• Before proceeding with the installation of glazing, you should decide on the external finish of the fence. It is better to carry out these works before direct glazing, otherwise the cladding process will be more complicated and laborious. Often during such work, the aluminum profile is exposed to various mechanical damage.
• After the preparatory work, you can proceed to the installation of the structure.

First, you need to make accurate measurements and select the appropriate glazing configuration. The entire installation process can be divided into three main steps:

1. Support design and installation of the window sill;
2. Assembly of all components of the aluminum structure;
3. Installation and adjustment of fittings.

• The installation process directly depends on the type of balcony fence. If it is metal, then the window frames should be installed on a special frame. The gap between the fence and the window is closed with a galvanized sheet steel apron.
• If the fence is concrete, then the frames can be installed on it, or on wooden blocks attached to concrete.
• It is recommended to fix such glazing using anchor fasteners. This method is the most reliable and durable.
• In the upper and lower parts of the frame they are fixed with anchor bolts, and on the sides - with anchor plates. You can add fixing density structures using polyurethane foam.
• After you securely fix the profile, you can start installing the ebb and window sashes. This work is very important and requires high precision.
• All doors must be installed exclusively at the level, otherwise you may encounter the problem of arbitrary opening and closing of swing mechanisms.
• Don't forget about the visor. Such a detail is able to protect the balcony block from various precipitation. The length of the visor should be suitable for the size of the balcony. The presence of a slope is mandatory, since it is this element that provides the natural slope of rainwater and snow.
• During the installation of the visor, all joints and cracks must be sealed.

As a result, you should have a reliable and durable design. Buy only high quality materials and tools. It is recommended to contact well-known window companies in your city that have a good reputation.

Technology balcony glazing with sliding aluminum windows, see the following video.

• If during the installation of the glazing there is foam left outside, then it must be repaired. If this is not done, then it can dry out and crumble under the influence of sunlight.
• Most often, the seams are covered with any solutions and only then they are sheathed with the materials they like (lining, siding, corrugated board, etc.).
• During the installation of aluminum structures, the level of the frames should be constantly monitored. It is especially important to adhere to this rule at the time of the return to their places of glass units and functional parts.
• Do not forget that the level often shifts under the influence of weight, so from time to time the frame will have to be corrected. After processing with polyurethane foam, this will no longer work.

People leave all kinds of reviews about aluminum glazing. This option for finishing the balcony room has its own pros and cons, therefore, opinions about it were both positive and negative.

If you choose cold glazing, then you need to be prepared for the fact that it will not be much warmer on the balcony than on the street at the appropriate time of the year. Many apartment owners tried to insulate the room in other possible ways: heaters, fan heaters, as well as wall and floor insulation. But these attempts were in vain. The balcony was still cold.

Consumers liked warm aluminum glazing more. It has excellent sound and heat insulation characteristics. The only drawback of this finish is its high cost.

Consumers also note the excellent appearance of such window structures. They can be painted in a wide variety of colors. Even after many years, such glazing does not lose its attractive appearance.

Such windows are a real salvation for the owners of "Khrushchev" houses and apartments in old buildings. Aluminum glazing is lightweight, so it can be installed in old balcony blocks. Plastic structures cannot boast of such a property.