Balcony doors: types and selection

Almost every modern apartment has such an architectural element as a balcony. Although it is small, it often helps the owners in many ways. It can be both a place to relax and a storage facility or even a small garden for flowers. However, for whatever business the balcony is used, its design plays a huge role, including the door leading to this small room.

There are many types of door designs. All types of doors have been used by millions of people for decades. However, you can't just buy the first door you come across. If you choose it incorrectly, you can reduce the level of heat retention and safety of the apartment, and besides, it may not look very beautiful. To choose a door correctly and tastefully, you must first learn more about all types.

• Swing. The simplest and oldest type of doors. These are conventional designs that can open in one or both directions. They are often made half glazed.

• Bivalve. Such a door is not a novelty in the door world, but it is an excellent solution for owners of their own homes. It will be most suitable for private traders, since it usually requires a wide balcony opening, and not a standard one.These doors are made of two components: a working half of the door with a conventional mechanism and a lock, as well as the second half of the door, which simply closes with 2 locks (top and bottom of the door).

• Double shtulpova. Many consider this type as a subtype of the usual double-leaf door. In fact, it is so. Such doors have exactly the same internal structure as double doors, but there is still a difference. Shtulp doors are much better protected thanks to strong and good built-in locks.

• Accordion door. This type of door is more modern. It is constructed from separate dies, which, when the door is opened, tend to "fold" like an accordion. They have a significant disadvantage - they are as insecure as possible. Yes, without a doubt, they look very beautiful, especially if their canvases are made of glass, but the locks leave much to be desired.

• Folding. One of the classic types. A standard folding mechanism that can provide good airflow to your apartment. They are suitable not only for private owners, but also for owners of ordinary city apartments. The level of security can be compared to a conventional swing door.

• Swivel... This type is considered a "subspecies" of folding doors. The only difference is the mechanism of action, which is called swing-out. In terms of the level of security, it is exactly the same as that of the folding ones. Such a door should not be installed in a private house due to the fact that it is not a standard of beauty.

If you want to choose the right door and enjoy it for a long time, then knowing the types alone is not enough. The correct selection of materials will help to increase the security and heat preservation of the apartment. Let us consider in more detail the main materials for the manufacture of door structures.

One of the most classic, but at the same time the most relevant materials. Doors made of real wood (or at least chipboard / fiberboard) have been used in homes around the world for many decades.... Doors made from wood and its secondary products have an incredible range of prices. If fiberboard or chipboard were used, then the price can vary from 5,000 to 40,000 rubles (there are more expensive exceptions), and if natural wood, the price can easily exceed these amounts. These doors are considered the most environmentally friendly and beautiful.

Of course, they also have disadvantages. Their biggest disadvantage is the price. If you were stingy and bought a wooden, but very cheap door, then it may turn out to be of poor quality, which means it may dry out and crack.

Less classic and less popular door material. PVC in terms of popularity surpasses aluminum at times, despite this, many apartment owners purchase these very doors... This is due to the fact that aluminum doors look more modern, one might even say futuristic. Strength is an equally important difference: aluminum structures are much more durable than wooden models. Besides, metal can be poured into a structure of any shape and size in a short time, which gives the buyer a very large assortment to choose from.

Of course, there are also disadvantages. These include not very high sound insulation, the inability to retain heat well, a high chance of deformation of the structure itself in everyday life (from accidental blows and the like). Even the smallest scratches become very noticeable and cannot be hidden in any way. Only if you cover it up with some kind of sticker or calendar.

Even less popular material than aluminum. For the most part, the construction of such doors consists of PVC or metal partitions (or just frames) that hold the glass units together.Products of this kind have excellent external qualities: such doors look weightless and light. If you buy a high-quality door, then tempered glass bags will be used as the material, which will not make it possible to break them in everyday life.

Naturally, in terms of strength and security, such a structure will lose even PVC. The locks are not the best there, and glass is not the kind of material that can keep you safe from burglars. They are worth buying just for the visual sake.

Plastic is the most used material in the production of all components of the house (including doors, windows, frames, and more). As a material, PVC was able to contain the maximum number of advantages with the minimum number of disadvantages. Plastic structures are quite durable, retain heat well, and have very good sound insulation. Doors made of this material are lightweight and will serve you for a long period of time. These structures are "unpretentious": they do not require special maintenance.

Of course, when listing the advantages, one should not forget about the price. Plastic doors, of course, also have a good range of prices, but structures made of this material have a record low price on the market. You can safely buy a PVC door even for 1000 rubles. Although, of course, we do not recommend making such purchases if you are even a little worried about your safety. When choosing plastic structures, pay attention most of all to the build quality and its reliability, because failure of the internal door mechanism is the main disadvantage of doors made of this material.

Doors can also be completely different in size. The standard dimensions according to GOST are as follows:

• the height is from 190 to 220 cm;
• width - from 60 to 90 cm.

Of course, you can always order a door from craftsmen who will make you a design of any shape and size, even round. Making door designs to order is more expensive than a regular purchase in a store, but if you want to stand out in some way from other owners of balconies, you can order a door with non-standard dimensions for yourself.

If you want your door to last a long time, do not forget about fittings in any case... It is the door hardware that provides an easier and more high-quality installation of the structure, and also increases the service life of your product. The fittings can be as follows:

• constipation mechanisms (locks);
• door hinges;
• internal opening-closing mechanisms;
• clamps and closers;
• handles;
• balcony latches.

All of these accessories come in many variations. The fittings will be useful for everyone, because they can be chosen for every taste and color, while it will perform a useful function.

For example, you can install "child protection" - a special set of latches that allow you to open the door no more than a specified amount. Alternatively, you can add a magnetic lock, which will allow you to quickly and easily open and close the door without using its lock.

Now that you have learned about what types of doors there are, their material and much more, it's time to determine how to choose a door. The first thing you need to do is define your needs. Be sure to write down the exact dimensions of the door frame on your balcony on a piece of paper, so as not to confuse anything... Now determine what is more important to you: appearance, security and thermal insulation or price category. If you want cheap and good performance, don't hesitate to take a plastic one.If the price for you is something in between and beauty is important to you, then a wooden or chipboard door should certainly be your choice. And if you prioritize security and durability, metal structures for your home will be the best option.

Never forget about beauty. Anyone can buy a door, but choosing it correctly, taking into account the design of an apartment or house, dimensions and all other parameters, is a whole art. If your living space is high-tech, then, of course, you should not buy wooden doors. Metal or glass is best suited, or maybe both at the same time.... If your living space is arranged in the Provence style, then a wooden door will become the most desirable and best decoration for you. Plastic doors are suitable for any style, as they are, as it were, universal. You can repaint them, apply any pattern or decorate as your heart desires.

To install the door, it is better to call a special worker who has been doing this for a long time and will be able to do everything quickly and without any problems. If you decide to do everything yourself, strictly follow the following algorithm:

• if your door comes with the box, then go to the next item; if you do not have a door frame, you should purchase it according to the size of your design;
• install the box in the doorway and secure it; fastening is carried out by using long self-tapping screws and polyurethane foam;
• if the lock in your door was not installed initially, then now is the time to install it - choose the lock that suits you in terms of model and parameters, or use the factory one; even in the cheapest models, they attach a lock in order to install it without unnecessary searches;
• usually complete with the door there is an instruction for its installation in the box and the correct position of the hinges; guided by it, fasten the hinges and install the door into the box;
• after installing the door, install the platbands and everything that is due.

Don't forget about the side of the door opening. If it opens in both directions, then you don't have to worry, and if only in one direction - pay attention to it. It's even better to mark the opening side with a pencil and then erase.

Doors are different in terms of decorative components. Consider glass models as an example. The most standard glass doors are plain clear or frosted. They are considered classics in the world of doors and for many, unfortunately, the variations of glass products end there. In this case, the door can be not only transparent or matte, but also stained glass, with multi-colored glass and even with a lattice. It may have partitions, or it may be almost completely absent along with the frame. A glass model with dark brown wooden edging is a good solution.

If you decide to save money and buy a cheap and not the most beautiful door, then all is not lost for its beauty. You can decorate the door yourself. The most popular and quite effective way to decorate is to attach curtains to your structure. They can also be hung on windows, but they must be the same. Curtains will help create an atmosphere of coziness and warmth, and can also help hide any flaws in the door, if any.

The types and sizes of doors are completely different, therefore, the choice of curtains is simply huge. Leading designers advise to define a uniform style of decoration for the entire apartment and be guided by it, so never buy 1-2 curtains, hoping to buy more later. It is better to buy the whole set at once, so that later you do not have to look for compromises. Another undoubted advantage of curtains is that they can fit into almost any interior.

As a material for curtains, they are best suited tulle fabrics... This type of fabric is a very lightweight and semi-transparent material. And also it is worth noting its price, which is in the "average" range.

Of course curtains are not the only way to make your apartment more beautiful and cozy. Blinds can also perform this task. It was said above that curtains are suitable for almost all interiors, but they will not look very good in high-tech style. Just for hi-tech and similar designs, strict metal blinds are perfect. Of course, these should not be the curtains that are hung in offices, choose everything beautifully and tastefully.

In addition to these two possibilities to decorate your balcony door, there is another very effective way. You can use vinyl stickers for decoration, suitable for the general interior of your apartment or private house. If your apartment is made in the Provence style, a calendar with beautiful and colorful pictures in the same style is a good choice. Since many doors come with a glass top, you can also glue something on it. A stained glass window is not bad, which you can even make with your own hands.... Many craft stores sell inexpensive stained glass kits that even a child can handle.

You can't just buy a door and forget about it. She needs regular care to keep it looking and working. This is especially true for wooden models that require rather time-consuming processes on themselves. Plastic doors are much more convenient in this regard. You do not have to paint PVC structures, their structure is not spongy, which means that it will be easier for you to wash it.

Plastic models are much more resistant to external influences such as rain. Plastic, unlike wood, will not rain dry or crack. Wooden doors can only be cleaned with a barely damp cloth and then polish to make the door look more beautiful. Plastic models can be safely washed, even using special cleaning agents - plastic is not afraid of them.

If glass inserts are inside wooden models, then make sure that the product does not get on the wood, so that it does not deteriorate.

In the next video, you will find the adjustment of the balcony door fittings.