Panoramic windows are a spectacular appearance, plenty of light and visual space of a small balcony room, which are increasingly preferred by people who are not indifferent to comfort. The panoramic window to the balcony will become an absolutely transparent design, which is capable of unrecognizable changes in the appearance of the room, while ensuring a decent level of security and functionality.
Panoramic glazing options
Panoramic windows will allow the owner to open a view of the surrounding landscapes or cityscapes, making them accessible for admiring. In the case when the windows face the unsightly side, their appearance can always be designed in the original way using projections of the desired paintings. The choice of designs is unlimited in the possibilities that offer functional solutions for winter / summer mode. In the cold season, the room will always remain warm, and in the hot season, the air conditioner will significantly decrease due to installation using energy-saving glazing.
Glazing of a balcony will present the following advantages:
- visually increase the space;
- significantly improve lighting;
- open the opportunity to see the panorama;
- save energy performance;
- eliminates the need for external decoration;
- allows you to mount a retractable or hinged balcony door;
- will provide a presentable appearance.
In addition to the positive characteristics, it is worth saying a few words about the possible design flaws. For example:
- it is necessary to look after glass more often;
- problematic to tidy up the outside;
- the need to install an air conditioner;
- condensate on glass in the absence of insulation;
- increased cost of installation.
The disadvantages associated with panoramic windows are much less than the pluses. And if you take into account the presence of insulation and the air conditioning system installed in many houses, there are even fewer of them.
Glazing typology
There are two ways to glaze a balcony. One of them is called “Cold” and is characterized by the installation of leaky structures, which are designed to protect the balcony from dust and natural precipitation.
Cold type
The cold type is used in cases where the balcony room is a separate room with a door and does not combine with the room. Practical designs will be:
- Frameless glass frames.
- Aluminum frames.
Frameless glass frames
Such installations do not exert additional load on concrete slabs and do not burden the external design. Glass is mounted on metal rails and most often opens in a sliding way. The price of frameless structures will be an order of magnitude higher than conventional double-glazed windows designed on a frame basis. But at the same time, the frameless glazing of the balcony will visually expand the room, provide a large flow of daylight and give the exterior decoration a stylish and luxurious look. It is worth considering that frameless structures will not be able to provide perfect sound insulation and heat preservation functions, so the balcony will be suitable for use only in the warm season.
Aluminum frames
In the "cold" way, you can glaze the balcony with aluminum frames, which will cost a little more than metal-plastic profiles, but will demonstrate high safety. Protective structural elements prevent loss from the balcony. The only minus is the inability to use sealed glass units, since soft metals tend to deform under the influence of temperatures.
Warm method
The “Warm” method, which is practical to use for combined loggias, belongs to the second type.. An excellent solution would be glazing the balcony with metal-plastic double-glazed windows. Such windows have a wide size range and a variety of configurations, equipped with a mosquito net and other useful fittings. The ability to install double-glazed windows with several cameras will reliably protect the room from any external factors and provide good sound insulation. Since metal is considered a heavy structure, before starting work, a calculation of specialists on the properties of the concrete slab will be required.
On the pros and cons of frame installations
Glazing a balcony with the help of window frames is considered a traditional design, since the method has a number of undeniable advantages:
- high reliability, since the frame acts as a barrier to fall;
- allows you to comfortably perform the thermal option, allowing you to use the balcony at any time of the year;
- provide excellent isolation from extraneous noise;
- will open the possibility for fixing blinds and mosquito nets.
A few words about the flaws of the frame on the balcony:
- the design looks bulky;
- there is a need to document the redevelopment;
- installation of a heating system to prevent freezing.
The panoramic window installed on the balcony will look advantageous in a frameless design, giving the room a modern style and non-triviality.
We choose materials for glazing
When choosing glazing options, it is necessary to consider planning aspects. It is important to carefully consider whether there will be a redevelopment of the room in the future or whether it will remain in its original form. Choosing the option of redevelopment, you can safely dwell on the “Thermal” window decoration on the loggia. In the absence of changes, the “Cold” method with a single-chamber double-glazed window for windows on the balcony would be the best choice.
Pay attention to the goals that need to be achieved by glazing. In the case when the abundance of daylight, heat preservation and good sound insulation become priority, choose the appropriate materials for the installation of the structure. Wanting to hide from prying eyes what is happening on the balcony, a practical step will be to draw up the bottom of the panoramic window with tinted film with one-sided visibility.
Design features
Panoramic designs allow owners to design a balcony in an individual style with the help of drapery with 3D effect, installation of roller blinds or various types of blinds. A large number of options for execution depends only on the imagination, interior wishes and financial capabilities of the owner of the loggia in the apartment.
Decorative elements like fountains or waterfalls will help to decorate the space and create a cozy atmosphere for residents. Such designs are perfectly combined with artificial stone or floral arrangements, organically complementing the interior of the balcony or loggia. When doing decoration, do not forget about safety measures: furniture installed close to the glass may be an unfortunate option. Try replacing it with small tables or hanging cabinets.
Panoramic glazing of the balcony will be an excellent solution for rooms that suffer from lack of lighting, and also help to make the space as spacious as possible. Panoramic windows on the balcony will give the loggia a visual weightlessness and lightness, and the interior will be significantly transformed.