The subtleties of glazing balconies in "Khrushchev"

Multi-apartment five-storey panel and brick buildings of the Soviet type are popularly called "Khrushchevs". They are comparatively cheap, but, unfortunately, not comfortable.

One of the disadvantages is the open balcony. This causes discomfort for many residents. In this article, we will talk about the intricacies of glazing balconies in a Khrushchev apartment, types of glazing, in particular, with take-out and panoramic, and you will also learn about the advantages of each of them.

This type of balcony arrangement certainly has its advantages.

• Temperature... A glazed balcony allows less heat and cold to pass through than an unglazed one.
• Space... It can be used not only in summer, on rainy days, but also in winter, for example, to store items without worrying about their safety.
• Comfort. The balcony equipped with double-glazed windows contributes to the creation of a cozy atmosphere, does not let in the noise from the street.

There are also disadvantages to glazing.

• Illumination. It depends on how many glasses there are on each side of the balcony, as well as on the presence of sides that do not let light through.
• Airing. It will be difficult if one window or one small part of the window opens at the balcony.
• Temperature... With improper glazing, the balcony turns into a "greenhouse" in summer and a "refrigerator" in winter.

Khrushchevs arose in the USSR due to an acute shortage of housing. Soviet architects were faced with the task of quickly creating a large number of small apartments.This is one of the main reasons why people simply did not think about the design and convenience of the premises (including the balcony).

The main difficulty in transforming it is the state of the reinforced concrete slab. The second problem is the modest size of the balcony itself. It consists of a base and metal poles attached to it. The structure cannot withstand heavy loads.

The balcony has the following parameters:

• 2.6 m - facade length;
• 0.8 m - the length of the sides;
• 1.45 m - barrier height.

Such a miniature balcony, with skillful glazing, should turn into a convenient and comfortable room. Due to the numerous problems with the stove, some owners are forced to resort to installing an additional frame.

There are a lot of options for glazing balconies in Khrushchev. But there are those that are the most popular.

• Removable glazing. This is a convenient way for those who want to increase the size of the balcony at the expense of windows. However, the dimensions below the glazing line remain unchanged. A small plus will be the appearance of a shelf under the windows, directed inward.

• Panoramic glazing... It is distinguished by the presence of one fixed glass in the entire wall. At the same time, the window does not open, which leads to the need to install a ventilation system. A balcony glazed in this way allows the cold to pass through well in winter and heat in summer. It is, of course, beautiful glazing, but rather impractical and unreasonably expensive.

• There is also gaining popularity French glazing. It is also called stained glass. The whole structure consists of glass and a frame, most often it is white plastic. In this case, only the upper windows can be movable. This type is convenient for owners who do not want glazing to darken the room, but not suitable for apartment owners who feel discomfort when they are on public display.

• Another type of glazing is frameless. It is also entrusted to high-level craftsmen, since this type requires special skills: the glasses are installed in guides along which they can be freely moved.

Glazing on the 5th floor, the last, is a little more complicated in terms of construction. An additional roof must be installed... Usually it is done using roofing material. The roof rests on a frame made of metal profiles. The complexity of the installation depends on the intended design. For example, when installing French glazing, some owners also make the roof transparent. This is quite original, but it is worth considering the amount of snow that falls in winter - the glass must be durable. That's why it is more practical to use plexiglass, but only if you are sure of the strength of the frame.

The material selected for the roof can be different. This is the popular corrugated board, slate, and even tiles. It must be remembered that the roof, like the entire frame, puts additional pressure on the concrete slab. Your safety depends on its integrity.

At the cost of glazing a balcony the most expensive will be panoramic and stained glass. The frameless will cost a little cheaper. More budgetary options will be frame with extension, frame warm without extension, frame cold without extension.

Additional financial costs can be spent on glass tinting using a special film.

According to their functions, such glasses are divided into three types.

• Sunscreen. On sunny days, the film saves the residents of apartments facing the south from the heat.
• Mirror. Glasses with such a film are characterized by one-sided light transmission. The glass of the balcony becomes like a mirror, making it impossible to see the contents of the balcony. However, in the dark, this effect weakens when the light inside the apartment is turned on.
• Matt. This type is characterized by the use of a film that partially combines the functions of the two types described above.

The frame method is especially practical and simple. It is divided into two types.

Such glazing involves the use of plastic or wooden window frames. In this case, you seem to get another small room, but this makes the balcony itself very heavy.... Specialists work with such glazing.

In this case, use an aluminum profile. The balcony does not become particularly heavy, but it will not be warmer either. But this glazing is less expensive than the warm type.

There are several options for choosing a material for frames. Consider how to glaze the balcony and whether it is possible to do without frames.

The advantages of such frames include aesthetics and low weight, ease of installation. They will need to be painted, varnished. but all wooden windows tend to dry out.

This type of frame gives the balcony a modern and clean look. They insulate the room well from heat or cold, but they are quite heavy.

Cheap and lightweight, with well-chosen insulation they will be the best choice in terms of quality and budget.

The glazing of the balcony is due to the use of plexiglass. It has its advantages.

• Cheapness. Its cost is much less than ordinary glass, about half.
• Strength. The material of which the plexiglass is made does not allow it to break as quickly as ordinary glass. Plexiglass also does not differ in sharp fragments if broken, and this almost eliminates the possibility of serious injury or cut. But the price of such glass will be much higher.
• Transparency. Properly cared for, high-quality plexiglass allows 90 percent or more of sunlight to pass through.
• The weight... Plexiglass is lighter than conventional glass. Moreover, the entire structure remains strong.

As mentioned above, plexiglass needs care. To prevent it from becoming cloudy, it must be wiped with a soft cloth. First, it must be moistened in warm water or in a non-aggressive detergent solution.

Glazing a balcony is not an easy task. Indeed, your safety depends on the strength of the structure, while it is also worth considering which floor you are on.

Consideration should be given to the load that the slab can withstand. The type of construction and design will depend on this. Defects can be cracks, fractured areas, and holes. Therefore, such a slab must first be restored. It is also worth considering the strengthening of the railing, and, if necessary, restoration.

Of course, before choosing a particular design, you need to take into account the cost of all materials and work, so as not to interrupt the process of arranging the balcony due to unplanned costs that have arisen.

Glazing takes place in stages.

• First, the balcony is measured, the condition of the slab and the balcony as a whole is assessed. The foremen or the owners themselves measure the necessary parameters for further work. It is better to do this several times to avoid mistakes.
• Next, the best option is selected that will appeal to the owners of the apartment and will be most acceptable for a particular balcony, based on all its characteristics.
• Work always begins with a frame, its type depends on the previous stage. With a beautiful frame, any type of glazing will look gorgeous.
• If a roof device is not required, proceed to the glazing itself. Glasses are inserted, the operation of windows is checked.

Summing up, let us note the most important thing. The glazing of the balcony is included in the category of complex transformations of the apartment. When deciding on such a step, carefully weigh all the pros and cons of a suitable type of glazing, take into account external and internal changes. You can create your own unique and unrepeatable, sophisticated and very comfortable balcony. It all depends on the skill of the specialists who will deal with these works. In some cases it can be wiser and easier to use the traditional options that the masters will offer to familiarize yourself with.

How to choose a balcony and the subtleties of its glazing, see the next video.