French glazing of balconies and loggias. French glazing of the balcony and loggia French balcony and loggia

Lately a very fashionable, prestigious trend began to glaze balconies during french style. They look very nice, glazed from floor to ceiling. If you live on the upper floors, the whole city will be perfectly visible from it. Ask, why glaze the entire structure? The answer is obvious. Previously, the balcony served as a kind of storage, a pantry, where old, unnecessary things were hidden. Preservation, vegetables, etc. were also stored here. Today, the balcony has become part of the home, they are trying to equip it, make it cozier, more comfortable. french glazing balcony in this regard can be one of best solutions.

Stylish, beautiful, original

So far, French glazing has not been given such popularity in our country as, say, in the Western countries of the world. Every year more and more Russians prefer to glaze their loggias in this style. And this is due to the many advantages that the French glazing of the loggia gives us. Among them:

The entire upper part is glazed
Glazing the lower part, it is not at all necessary to insulate it
Attractive appearance

Residents of the upper balconies receive the most benefits, they will have a simply gorgeous panoramic view. By the way, if you are afraid of heights, you can sheathe the bottom with sandwich panels, then it will not be scary to go out.

A Few Disadvantages

There are always disadvantages. They did not bypass our systems.

How is it different from the usual

Although most manufacturers insist that French loggias are a completely safe type of glazing, many experts admit that one can never talk about the complete safety of the structure, especially if the glazing is made from floor to ceiling. Glass is a rather traumatic material. In this regard, it is recommended to install additional protective structures. As a rule, such a structure can be removable. You can use it, for example, when there are children on the balcony.
The beautiful view that opens up is, of course, great, unusual. But your apartment is in the hands of the neighbors. When choosing French glazing of loggias, be sure to take care of privacy, close the apartment from the inside with curtains or, if you don’t want all the neighbors to be aware of your intimate life. By the way, you can also install opaque glass, that is, from your side everything will be perfectly visible what is happening outside, but from reverse side the glass will have a tinted effect, no one will see what is happening behind them.

Which balcony is suitable

The French glazing system can be applied to almost any loggia. However, before embarking on the implementation of this idea, think about the appropriateness of such a solution. So, many experts recommend glazing only small loggias. In this case, glass installed from floor to ceiling will visually make the loggia wider, more spacious, and massive outdoor structures - lighter and more elegant.

Of course, wide loggias can also be glazed. However, material expenses can only be justified if residents of the northern or southeastern sides want to acquire a French balcony. Large windows brighten up the rooms.

IMPORTANT! If the loggia that you plan to glaze joins the living room, give preference to double plastic profile with double-glazed windows that save heat. Profiles made of aluminum are not able to retain sufficient heat.

Which balconies are unacceptable

Unfortunately, not in all cases it is possible to glaze a loggia in a similar style. So, if, it is better to refuse large windows, because they will deprive you of privacy, especially if there is another house opposite yours.

Glazing scheme

It is also better to abandon the idea of French glazing if your balcony or loggia is located on the south or southwest side. The fact is that in summer the glass on the French balconies heats up too much, respectively, it will be hot everywhere. This entails additional costs for paying for electricity used to cool the apartment. Also, if you like flowers, keep in mind that it is almost impossible to plant a balcony with such glazing from the sunny side, the flowers will die, dry out.

More. Remember that you are at great risk if you want to French-glaze a loggia that is constantly exposed to the wind. Of course, you should not give up on your idea. However, design more carefully, calculate the parameters of all structures, strengthen them.

Protection option from prying eyes

So, before giving some advice, we want to warn you once again: glazing should be approached very carefully, with all responsibility. Therefore, if before you did not have to deal with any glazing at all, it is better to abandon the idea. self installation glass. Use the services of specialists to be 100% sure of further security. All calculations are carried out as accurately as possible, literally to the millimeter. If you make any mistakes, you or your relatives can risk their own lives. Always keep this in mind when planning to do the installation of a French balcony yourself.

In addition, you will have to work high above the ground. This requires special preparation, application special measures security.

Before installing, decide on the doors. Often installed, however, if you are an adherent of the classics, it is quite possible to install a hinged door version.

Installation of the French system involves some preliminary work. So, first prepare the old balcony for everyone. construction work- remove the old railings, fences, strengthen the balcony with power supports. How the installation is done is shown in detail in the video, which you can see.

As you can see, the installation is not difficult. However, installation is still best left to professionals. Together with the French balconies, the owners get a wonderful view that opens from it. I must admit that glazing a balcony in the style described above is not a cheap pleasure. It will be fully justified! See for yourself, you won't regret it.

The balcony is a place that is an important part of the apartment. That is why it is so important to make it as comfortable and cozy as possible. French glazing of balconies from floor to ceiling is now very popular, which combines beauty, originality and sophistication.

Thanks to this type of glazing, the natural is improved. This indicator is important for apartment owners, because the balcony is no longer a place suitable only for storing unnecessary things. Now they spend hours of relaxation on it, admiring the surrounding scenic views. French glazing of the balcony allows you to open a panoramic view of the beautiful streets cities. It also combines modern tendencies and classic lines. If you give preference to such a balcony glazing, then the feeling of lightness will not leave you.

What can be a French balcony?

French-style balconies and loggias can be different. Classic variant is different big window and lack of space for recreation. With such glazing, you can decorate the balcony flower pots and vases. Best of all, this style is suitable for the balconies of old houses.

French balcony decorated with flowers

Sometimes there are options when the site can be. It differs in small sizes, but they are enough to set foot and admire the scenery outside the window and even take a photo. The design completes the large glass door. She draws attention to herself and becomes separate element decor.

Semicircular loggias with French glazing will become great option for owners of corner apartments. A similar balcony will also be made of floor-to-ceiling glass.

Semicircular loggias with French glazing

Lightweight French-style balconies are distinguished by the fact that their frames are made of metal such as aluminum. However, when choosing this option, it is worth remembering that this metal does not conduct heat, so only those people whose apartments are located in southern cities should choose it. And for the northern regions it is better to choose loggias with a PVC profile.

Which glass to choose?

Glass can also be different. If you want your outline to be not very clear, then choose balconies with frosted glass. Usually this option is represented by transparent glass on top, and frosted bottom.
If you want to protect your apartment from the sun, then order tinted glass that will hide you from prying eyes and protect the balcony from bright sunlight.
Anti-vandal glass will allow you to be sure that no one can spoil the appearance of the loggia . Your balcony will be securely protected from floor to ceiling.

Office on the balcony with French glazing

Why choose balconies with French glazing?

Panoramic glazing of the balcony allows you to complete any interior. Even if the apartment is made in high-tech style, it is better to choose instead of loggias with plastic or aluminum frames. After all, glass and straight lines are the fundamental details of high-tech style. French windows to the balcony can be different depending on the number of shutters.

Another advantage is the fact that with panoramic glazing you can visually enlarge the apartment. This is due to the fact that a lot of light passes through the glass of the loggias and enters the rooms. And, as you know, a well-lit room always looks more spacious than a dark room.

The next plus is that the loggia from the outside does not have to be sheathed with special materials, such as or. After all, from the street the balcony will look amazing. The same goes for appearance inside. It is worth noting the fact that during glazing are not required welding work, which often cause discomfort to apartment owners.

Flaws

As for the shortcomings, the French windows to the balcony are distinguished by the presence of several of them. The most basic is that it is very dangerous for families with young children to use floor-to-ceiling glass in their interior. By the way, some balconies are framed with forged parts from the outside. Which increases their security. Similar options can be seen in the photo on the Internet.

French balcony interior design

Of course, it is worth considering the fact that everything that happens on the balcony will be visible through the glass. Therefore, it is recommended to restore order there as often as possible.

If you want to hide the balcony from prying eyes, then order tinted windows. Having ordered French glazing, be prepared for the fact that there will be no window sill on your balcony. However, this can be treated differently, rejoicing that now you do not have to wipe the dust on it.

It is worth considering the fact that glass tends to heat up. Also, everyone knows the fact that glass requires special care. Dust, fingerprints and other contaminants are clearly visible on it. Therefore, the panoramic balcony will have to be constantly looked after. However, it is worth it to go out at any time to a beautiful loggia and admire the panoramic view.

Panoramic glazing of a balcony in an old house is a reality

It's no secret that old high-rise buildings are different small balconies. However, this should not be the reason for the rejection of panoramic glazing. On the contrary, you can enlarge and make the loggia visually more spacious with the help of glass. Often there are options when the upper part of the balcony expands.

It is impossible to install French glazing on a balcony if its platform is weakened

Owners of small apartments should pay attention to. They allow you to save space in the apartment. After all, with an open balcony door, a lot of space is “eaten up”. As for the glass balcony, many owners note that after such glazing they no longer treat the loggia as a pantry. This is due to the fact that now I want to go to beautiful balcony, which is not in the photo, but in his own apartment. Now it will be possible to hold romantic evenings and meetings on it.

The color of the balcony may be different. Designers are still advised to pay attention to the color of the house itself from the outside, so that the loggia is in harmony with it. In this case, the balcony will look as beautiful as possible. After all, it often happens that one of the loggias "knocks out" of overall design and therefore does not look quite appropriate.

The original design of the loggia with French glazing from the inside

Trust only professionals

Repair and - an important and time-consuming business. That is why it is necessary to trust it only to professionals. To do this, try to contact only those companies that have been engaged in French glazing of balconies for a long time.

Such companies have many photos of their work, reviews of satisfied customers and a team of professionals. To contact the “right” company, you need to spend time searching for it and studying its activities. Remember that this is not an easy task, so you should not save on paying for the services of masters. Of course, such work is not cheap, but I would also like to note that such costs are fully justified. The installation itself must take place in several stages. This is necessary in order for the masters to take measurements, assess the condition of the finishing elements.

If you want to make your apartment unusual and beautiful, then a French balcony is what you need. With it, you can spend evenings on the balcony, admiring the view around.

Useful video on the topic: the secrets of proper French balcony glazing

The view of the balcony as a pantry has long been outdated, and this was reflected in the attitude towards it. Now its interior is being taken as seriously as in living rooms, and especially close attention is paid to the design of the doorway. IN modern apartments the traditional window block is absent, and its place is taken by a French door, entirely or partially consisting of glass.

What is a French door to the balcony and its advantages

French doors are arranged in the entire width of the exit to the balcony. In their design there is no traditional window opening - it is occupied by doors. At the same time, they consist of fully glazed frames and resemble a huge window in the entire wall. This type of door is very unusual and has its own advantages.

Advantages of French doors:

The abundance of sunlight penetrating through the glass;
Visual connection between the room and the balcony;
Feeling of space;
Air access, high-quality ventilation of the room;
By opening the door, you can easily increase the area of a small room;
Stylish design.

Thanks to the huge glass, the boundary between the room and the outdoor space is blurred. This is especially felt if you can admire the picturesque landscape from the window, or the apartment is located on the upper floors, and a panorama of city streets opens from a height.

French doors suit any interior and will be in their place in a room decorated in a discreet style. classical style, luxurious antique or modern, not recognizing the slightest frills.

Minus the French doors to the balcony. The abundance of glass complicates the care of the doors, since they clearly show fingerprints from touching hands and stains after poor-quality washing. Spots and lint left from the napkin are especially noticeable if the balcony is located on the sunny side.

Types of French doors to the balcony

Although French-style balcony doors have not yet become widespread, their range is already quite wide. They differ in the material of manufacture, design (mainly the type of opening) and glass configuration.

sliding. The most simple design sliding doors: door leaf moves on rollers along metal guides. The disadvantage of this type of door is the loose fit of the leaf to the frame, so they are installed only on heated balconies.

Sliding system

Plastic tilt-sliding doors at the beginning of the opening, they are slightly pushed forward, and then retracted to the side, completely opening the passage. The movable part of the door in the closed position fits snugly against the frame, not letting the heat out of the room, so it is installed on balconies with any glazing and even on unglazed ones. The door is set to the ventilation mode according to the principle used in window blocks. The mechanism is operated silently and easily.

Tilt-sliding doors

Peculiarity lift-sliding door in that it does not open to the end, therefore it is installed in very wide openings. Despite the massiveness, it opens easily and fits snugly to the box. It is made of metal-plastic, has a modern design.

Lift-sliding doors are made of any width (up to 10 m), provide complete heat preservation in the room. Opening is carried out after a slight turn of the handle: the door leaf rises slightly, after which it shifts to the side along the upper and lower rail mechanism.

Lift-sliding system on the balcony

Accordion door by design, they are somewhat reminiscent of a screen. Several sashes are connected into one whole and, when opened, they fold according to the principle of an accordion, from where the name of the structure came from. Since the doors are made up of several parts, the penetration of light into the room is limited. Folding doors are produced up to 6 m wide and 2.5 m high, so they are suitable for installation in large openings. Made from plastic and aluminium. The simplicity of the design also allows the use of wood for the manufacture of doors. Just like in the case with sliding door sliding, the “accordion” does not fit snugly against the box and, as a result, does not retain heat well in the room.

Door - Accordion

Interesting fact. It makes no sense to install French-style swing doors on the balcony, since the doors take up too much space in the open position, and when they are opened, the curtains have to be completely pushed apart.

swing doors

French balcony doors are produced from modern materials(metal-plastic, aluminum) and traditional wood. Combined models are also available - metal structure decorated with wood. They combine the strength and reliability of metal and decorative wood.

Double-glazed windows are installed in one, two and three glasses, just like in plastic windows. IN wooden frames glass is installed different sizes. It can be one solid glass for the entire door or several small ones inserted according to the panel principle. A combination of large (in the center) and small (at the edges) glasses is possible. At the same time, the edge glasses are made transparent or decorative: with fusing, matte, with engraving. Used for glazing strained glass that can withstand mechanical stress.

French door installation

Before installing a French door, the preparation of the doorway is made, which differs significantly from that which is carried out before the installation of a conventional door. IN preparatory work includes the mandatory dismantling of the section of the wall on which the window unit rests. If there is no glazing on the balcony, take out the wall (in the same way as old door with a window) is recommended immediately before installing the door, so as not to leave the resulting opening open indefinitely. If there is glazing on the balcony, dismantling work can be done in advance.

Important. The removal of the balcony block with the dismantling of the wall requires coordination with the managing organization. If planning permission is not obtained, there may be difficulties in selling the apartment in the future, which will entail additional costs.

Who to entrust the installation

Since the French window blocks are large in size, and the glass occupies most windows, they should be installed by a team of professionals. It is unlikely that it will be possible to install windows without experience in this matter, and even more so alone.

Why French windows should be installed by specialists:

If the glass is damaged, the construction company will be responsible, not you;
If during the operation there are shortcomings, their elimination will be undertaken by the company that installed the windows;
After installation of the structure, professionals will give care recommendations and provide preventive care for the doors;
Serious companies give a guarantee on doors only if the installation was carried out by employees of the company.

It should be noted that the finishing of the slopes is not included in the services for installing the door, so this work is ordered separately or is done on its own.

Is it possible to install the door yourself and how to do it

It is not recommended to install a French door on the balcony with your own hands, but if the owner of the apartment believes that he has enough experience for this, the work should be done in the following sequence:

The doorway is cleaned of dust and loose places;
If ordered wooden door, the doorway around the perimeter is laid with waterproofing material. This will prevent dampening of the wood;
The floor area where the structure will be installed is leveled at a horizontal level. If necessary, the floor is strengthened cement screed and left until it dries;
A door frame is installed in the opening;
The box is aligned in vertical plane using a level. Deviations are not allowed even up to 1 mm;
The frame is attached to the side walls with anchor dowels;
Door leaves are installed in the Box.

The gaps between the box and the wall are closed mounting foam. It should not be applied too much. It is enough that the gap is half filled with foam, because after swelling the foam will come out and stain front side door frame.

A day later, when the foam hardens, its remnants are cut off with a knife, and the slopes are finished. They can be plastered, lined with drywall or plastic. If plastic or drywall is chosen for finishing, between a concrete (or brick) wall and finishing material insulation is installed. Suitable mineral wool, since it fits snugly to the surface and can be hammered into the cracks. Styrofoam and similar materials are not suitable for this purpose.

At the end of the work, it is removed from the glasses protective film. You can’t leave it on the glass for a long time, as it will be more difficult to peel it off later.

French door maintenance

Glass surfaces require basic care. For washing them, it is not recommended to use cloth napkins, because after them the villi remain on the glass, and sometimes stains. The exception is special fiber cloths for cleaning windows. You will also need a window cleaner in aerosol packaging: a second, nichthinol and the like. Cleaning should be carried out as the surface of the glass gets dirty, but at least once a week.

Once every 1-2 months, scheduled maintenance of windows is carried out using a foam rubber or rubber scraper. The long handle allows you to reach the very top corners of the window without standing on a ladder. The device does not leave streaks, captures a large surface at once and washes away dirt well.

Advice. Using a scraper, it is important to make movements directed only in one direction - towards yourself. Thus, the dirt is washed down without smearing along the edges of the glazing beads.

Plastic and wooden elements doors are wiped with a damp sponge, after which they are wiped dry with a dry cloth. When contaminated, you can use detergents, which do not include aggressive components.

Traditionally plastic surfaces are made in white. But you can step back from tradition and paint the plastic in any color suitable for the interior.

Wooden surfaces are usually updated with varnish, but they can also be painted if desired. To do this, the old coating is removed with special solvents, and 2 thin layers of paint are applied.

Among various kinds glazing more and more popular are French windows to the balcony. The design, a feature of which is the installation of a translucent material - glass, transparent PVC- from ceiling to floor, becomes an expressive accent of both the interior and the facade of the building. Such glazing creates the feeling of a large free space filled with light.

french glazing balcony

Surely, many city dwellers noticed the unusual glazing of the balconies of high-rise buildings, which seem to serve as a huge window for one of the rooms. They seem to be its continuation or the original veranda adjacent to the apartment. Behind the high glass, you can see flowing curtains from the ceiling to the floor, and the balcony side is decorated with a beautiful lattice. This design is called french balcony.

The French balcony has a long history. Previously, it was a door fenced with forged metal railings in the opening of the outer wall.

To a greater extent they:

Performed the function of windows;
They served for ventilation and lighting of the premises.

This type of architectural solutions was mostly distributed in France, Italy, Spain. Having opened the door, only one person could go out onto such a balcony, not to mention placing furniture or equipping shelves there. The maximum that could fit on them was a few flower pots and containers.

IN modern construction the decorative function of the French balcony has given way to practice, and it already has its own platform protruding from the facade of the building, usually glazed with panoramic windows. Its main feature is that instead of standard reinforced concrete or metal railings, French balcony glazing uses double-glazed windows in PVC, aluminum or wooden structures.

As a rule, this type of glazing is performed on separately located balconies. The loggia is not a suitable place for this, since the blank walls on the sides do not allow to achieve the proper effect of a full panoramic view.

French windows in the interior of the balcony (video)

Pros and cons of a French balcony

When deciding whether it is really rational to install French windows on a balcony in your case, you need to thoroughly weigh the pros and cons.

Among the advantages:

A visual effect of space expansion is created;
Due to panoramic glazing, there is good lighting;
The use of energy-saving materials allows you to save on insulation and cladding;
During the installation process, you can not resort to expensive welding work;
Provides good sound insulation;
Guaranteed durability of the structure;
Provides wide opportunities for exclusive elegant design interior.

Some features of French glazing are considered disadvantages:

Sometimes it is not easy to get used to a completely transparent balcony, especially in an apartment on a high floor - then it is recommended to sew up the lower part with frosted sandwich panels;
In summer, in regions with a hot climate, on sunny days, a greenhouse effect can be created in such rooms - in this case, shading will help thick curtains and frequent airing;
On frosty winter days, additional heating will be needed to avoid hypothermia;
The design feature suggests the absence of a window sill;
The frame must be further strengthened with reinforcing elements;
Glass surface requires special means care to maintain crystal cleanliness;
Glass is a relatively fragile material, and it is undesirable to let young children play near it.

You can protect privacy from prying prying eyes by installing blinds on the balcony. As an option, order tinted windows that will open a wide panorama of the street, but the residents of the apartment will not be visible from the courtyard.

Features of the French door on the balcony

Doors are an important part of the design of not only the balcony, but also the interior of the room to which it adjoins. Therefore, it is important that this detail fits into the styles of both rooms. It is immediately necessary to take into account that a standard narrow balcony door will distort the entire effect of the panoramic expanse of French glazing. And it will not brighten up even a completely glass door leaf.

You should pay attention not only to the form, but also to the functionality:

Double swing option – perfect solution, only if the doors open into the room, so as not to take away the already small area of \u200b\u200bthe balcony;
Sliding doors- they are chosen in the case when the width of the room and the furniture allow using part of the wall on both sides for the product to move;
Accordion door- convenient in that it is easy to mount it on any width of the opening, but on small areas It is recommended to choose narrow sections.

During the installation of a French door, as a rule, a part of the wall with a window opening in the room is demolished. This is only allowed if you balcony design allows it on its own technical specifications. This partition is not only load-bearing, but also supports the balcony slab.

The order of installation of the French balcony

The process of installing a French balcony consists of several stages, but it is much faster than installing a traditional one, since there is no need to perform welding, insulation and finishing.

The order of work is as follows:

The required measurements are taken.
If necessary and if there is a permit, the window opening and the partition of the balcony block are dismantled.
Dismantling of concrete and metal fences.
The concrete slab is being reinforced.
Double-glazed windows made of aluminum and plastic are installed, which, if desired, can also be combined with sandwich panels.
IN doorway install the frame and sash.
Cracks and voids are filled with mounting foam. The excess is cut off until it hardens. Joints are treated with plaster.

Which curtains to choose for French windows (video)

French glazing can transform not only the balcony, but also the interior design of the adjoining room. To remain satisfied with the installation work performed, it is important to weigh the pros and cons and choose the right one. suitable door. Trust the experts, and the process will not take much time.

Examples of French windows on the balcony (photo)

Attention, only TODAY!

The further we move away from the Soviet past, the more we begin to resemble Europe. This applies to clothing, and furniture, and repairs. The balconies were not left without attention. Today they are no longer storage rooms, turning after renovation into a continuation of a room or a small terrace. This is achieved thanks to the modern glazing of balconies and loggias, especially its French variety that has recently become fashionable.

What it is?

In the classical sense, the French balcony is a floor-to-ceiling window (window-door), decorated with a wrought iron lattice on the outside. The platform on such structures, if it exists, is no more than 40-50 cm, just to put your foot on it. The French balcony looks very attractive, but at least functional: place flowers in pots or, standing at the door with a cup of coffee, admire the surroundings.

But the Russian soul rarely accepts small forms, and our interpretation of the French window enters Russian reality.

Initially, French windows (windows-doors) were installed in private houses and cottages for free access to the garden or terrace. Now such windows often appear in apartments, where they are placed instead of a balcony block, since they fit perfectly into the style of the most different rooms, expand the space and let in a lot more light.

But recently, more and more French-style balconies can be seen on the facades of modern multi-storey buildings and even Khrushchev. Russian balcony with French glazing is a window blocks made of aluminum or metal-plastic structures up to the floor, installed in place of the dismantled fences. It transforms an ordinary balcony or loggia beyond recognition.

Thanks to the French glazing, the light in the room becomes larger, the space visually increases and a wonderful view of the surroundings opens up.

Decorating the balcony in this way, you can give free rein to your imagination and come up with your own version of the glazing.

To facilitate the maintenance of a large area of glazed surface, transoms can be installed in the lower part, and hinged windows can be alternated with blank frames in the upper part.

Since French glazing provides not only a panoramic view from your balcony, but also opens it to the eyes of passers-by. interior decoration, installation of any pleasant option of blinds is possible.

When the blinds are lowered, the glass does not get dirty, collects less dust and hides the owners from prying eyes.

French balcony glazing is becoming more and more popular not only due to its excellent aesthetic qualities, as it looks great on any facade, but also due to its very significant advantages.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of a balcony with a French type of glazing include:

Increasing the amount of natural light, as through panoramic windows Light is supplied to the room throughout the day.
Expansion of the closed area of the premises due to the dismantled parapet and the lack of interior decoration.
No need for exterior finish, because the French glazing itself will become a decoration of the house.
Increasing the viewing angle due to panoramic glazing. The dream of how pleasant it is to go out on the balcony in the morning or in the evening with a cup of your favorite drink and admire the view, becomes a reality.
Heat and noise insulation during use quality materials. This is an important quality in a big city. Can arrange extra room and use it all year round.
Durability and safety. Glass and aluminum profiles do not burn. To increase safety, an additional forged fence is installed outside. It also serves as a decor for the French balcony.
Wide choose combinations of glazing, which allows you to cater to the tastes and desires of the homeowner and designer. And choose the most comfortable window frames to use.
Installation work is short and welding of structures is not required.

The balcony of the French type of glazing is not without some unpleasant sides:

It is not recommended to install continuous glazing in a house where there are small children. Although it is possible to install special locks (the so-called child protection) on the frames and an additional forged fence on the outside.
Glass will not hide everything that happens on the balcony from prying eyes. Cleaning will have to be done more often. Although frosted glass and blinds can correct the situation.
A very big disadvantage of glass is that it gets dirty quickly, and you can’t hide fingerprints, dust, and various stains on it. Therefore, the French balcony requires constant care.
Rather high installation cost, especially if there are additional components in addition to the main set (laminated PVC profiles, tinted coating, colored or stained glass, etc.).
Since the dimensions of the glazing are large, overheating in hot weather and strong cooling in winter cannot be avoided. You should take care of the possibility of ventilation and a system of underfloor heating.
A large mass of the structure, which does not allow the installation of this type of glazing on weak balcony slabs, especially in old houses.

Features and subtleties

The main difference between balconies with French glazing is the absence of the usual parapet-obstacle (metal, brick or concrete) and its replacement with double-glazed windows. They are installed directly on inside balcony platform, retreating inward by a few centimeters, or along its very edge, if expansion and strengthening of the balcony slab is provided. This is done around the entire perimeter of the balcony and in its entire height.

The most common types of French glazing are:

Full frame(frameless). This type of glazing is especially suitable where you want to create a maximum overview, while maintaining the visual effect of the absence of glass. Anyone can handle washing such glasses, since they are folded like book sheets. This makes it possible to fold all the glasses, completely opening the room, for example, for ventilation. This type of glazing seems very light and elegant. From the front it looks very elegant.

Group(sectional). Choosing a sectional type of glazing, you can choose the location to your taste window frames and their size. Possible various options: in the middle - doors, along the edges - two-section windows, alternation of hinged frames with deaf ones, opening windows from above, deaf ones from below. Frames can be both swinging open, and moving apart, and reclining. There is a place where the customer's fantasies roam.

Which one to choose: warm or cold?

A balcony with French glazing can be either warm or cold, depending on its purpose.

For cold glazing use aluminum profile, which is able to protect the balcony from bad weather and pollution. It will have a chic look, but it will be cold in winter. Such glazing is cheaper, because you do not have to spend money on insulation and heating appliances.

A cold balcony is suitable for homeowners in the southern regions of the country, for old houses with weak load-bearing balcony slabs, or for those houses where it is not adjacent to the living space.

For warm balcony PVC profiles are used. The installation of such structures is more difficult, it is required to calculate the ability of the carrier plate to hold a heavy structure.

If you plan to turn the balcony into an additional room: an office, a gym, a relaxation area, you need to insulate the floors and facade wall Houses.

Often, warm French glazing involves moving the structure a certain distance so as not to lose precious centimeters of balcony area.

Plastic windows much better retain heat and protect against excess noise.

If the bearing support allows, it is recommended to install multi-chamber double-glazed windows with a thickness of at least 7 cm, which will save on heating. A variant with single-chamber double-glazed windows is possible, then you need to make sure that there is a special film covering the glass to retain heat.

Particularly careful choice is required for the fittings of double-glazed windows, their service life largely depends on its quality. Rollers for sliding windows or doors must be made of a material that can withstand heavy loads and negative impacts. environment. It is preferable to choose a sealant for frames from transparent polymeric materials, since its service life is longer.