Sliding doors to the balcony: varieties, selection, installation

Installing balcony doors with a sliding system in an apartment is a practical solution. Of no small importance is the material from which the canvases are made, as well as the types of opening and closing door blocks.

Sliding structures perform 2 functions: they provide access to the balcony and fill the room with natural light from the street. Sliding devices are ideal for small apartments. The special opening system does not require additional space, thus saving space.

In comparison with swing doors, sliding doors have clear advantages:

• neat aesthetic appearance;
• saving usable floor space;
• it is impossible to open the door from the outside, and this is an obstacle to burglary;
• injury at the time of opening and closing is minimized;
• unlike the usual design, the doors can be pushed a decent width;
• silent opening and closing of doors;
• maximum natural illumination of the room is achieved due to the huge built-in glass;
• doors are capable of blocking large openings.

The disadvantages include the difficulty in caring for sliding mechanisms. The inconvenience of installing a sliding door system in old-style apartments is that instead of a window block, large canvases must be installed. To solve this problem, you will need to remove a part of the wall, a window, a window sill and remove heating radiators.

Aluminum models have specific disadvantages:

• there is a need to strengthen the balcony before installing heavy structures;
• the material does not retain heat and does not protect against street sounds;
• moisture concentrates at the bottom of the balcony profile.

Most often, sliding doors consist of four sections. A common option is the central sliding canvases and the fixed extreme ones. Sometimes all sections are moved. The unit can have from 2 to 8 door leaves.

Exists cold and warm modifications. Cold glazing with a single-chamber double-glazed window is produced with high-quality protection of the balcony with a window system. The warm version is used if there is an open balcony.

Today there are the following types of sliding structures.

The model works on the principle of a wardrobe. A very convenient and simple mechanism of built-in rollers moving along special rails allows the doors to open and close smoothly. The door leaves move smoothly and silently. The disadvantages include the need for constant cleaning of roller skids from dust and debris.

The modification is distinguished by the ventilation system - ventilation is provided by pulling the handle up... Moving it to a horizontal position makes it possible to open the sash. The structure is closed by sliding the doors all the way. The model cannot be opened from the outside. The disadvantage is the need for some effort during the use of this modification.

Such a door is usually installed in huge openings. It does not provide for any kind of swing system at all. A special mechanism raises the door slightly upward, then, moving in a given direction, it goes behind another sash.

Consists of several individual doors made of aluminum or wood. The doors do not slide behind the wall unit. In the process of opening, the door leaves go over each other. They fold like an accordion, turning perpendicular to the plane of the frame. Unlike swing systems, it is possible to arrange large openings.

Completeness of door opening and space saving guaranteed. The downside of the design is that the doors take up too much space and poorly transmit sunlight due to the numerous profiles available for individual leaves.

Such door models are very much appreciated for having a good panoramic view. In winter, freezing of the moving mechanism is possible, but innovative methods of insulation give a chance to use the modification in a harsh climate. A distinctive feature of French canvases is the integrity of the glass that opens to the entire doorway, which provides a panoramic view.

Balcony doors are made from different materials. Many models perfectly protect the apartment from dust, debris, dirt, wind and precipitation. If the balcony is glazed, then a single-chamber double-glazed unit can be installed. In the presence of an open loggia, a three-chamber product is used.

Balcony doors with PVC frame profiles (polyvinyl chloride) are very popular. Consumers are attracted by a long service life (up to 40 years). Plastic doors are safe. Reliable structures are relatively light in weight.They protect the premises from the cold in the cold and from the heat on hot summer days. The indisputable advantages over structures made of other materials are:

• it is very difficult to open the door from the outside, which contributes to protection against burglary;
• models retain their original appearance, they do not fade, do not collapse due to unfavorable climatic conditions, sharp temperature jumps;
• plastic is not subject to deformation, rust and rot;
• the material provides the room with excellent sound insulation;
• PVC has high thermal insulation properties;
• sash maintenance is very easy and simple.

Aluminum structures are suitable for openings of any size... Their profile must be insulated, since heat is not retained in the room. Aluminum doors have many advantages:

• environmental friendliness of the material;
• duration of operation;
• fire resistance;
• thermal insulation;
• ease of use;
• the ability to change the color of the frame;
• resistance to sediments, decay, corrosion, mechanical damage and aging.

Glass doors are durable and easy to use... They are made of special durable glass impregnated with resin. Stained glass, engraved and matte canvas looks stunningly stylish. Often, various patterns and ornaments are applied to the material. Advantages of glass doors:

• the material is easy to repair;
• not afraid of sudden changes in temperature;
• environmentally friendly material is harmless to health;
• the same possibility of creating large and small dimensions;
• lightness;
• no noise when opening and closing;
• thanks to the thermal insert, warmth is kept in the room in winter, the airtight material does not let cold and hot air masses into the room;
• the ability to create any design.

Wooden profiles are made from pine or oak. It is best used indoors with a glazed balcony well protected from precipitation. The advantage is environmental friendliness and beautiful texture of the material.

Types of glass used for insertion into plastic, aluminum, wooden frames.

• Energy saving glass do not let ultraviolet rays into the room and do not release heat from the room on cold days. It is necessary to take into account the thickness of the glass unit, otherwise it may not withstand the harsh climate and burst. To avoid such problems, the balcony should be well insulated.
• Shockproof multilayer products protected by a transparent film. In case of severe damage, the fragments do not fly in different directions.
• Tempered glass when destroyed, they do not form sharp edges.
• Electrochromic products control the degree of light transmission using the remote control.

It is best to install sliding balcony doors in any apartment, because they make it possible to save usable space and fill the house with sunlight. It is necessary to select balcony structures taking into account the climatic conditions of the region. Before purchasing door designs, it is necessary to study all the advantages and disadvantages of various modifications. For example, an accordion opening system is perfect for a very spacious apartment, but for a cramped room such a configuration is generally not suitable.

For the installation of such structures, sometimes you have to make changes to the interior of the room. You need to know that to dismantle a part of a wall with a window, a special permission for redevelopment is required. The removed radiator is compensated for by warm floors. Such heating is connected to a general heating system or fed with electricity.

For supporters of the classic style, wood products are recommended. Adherents of colored doors are well suited for the plastic or aluminum version - it becomes possible to choose any shade. Decorative door strips give an aesthetic look to the room.

• When installing yourself, it is very important to carefully consider the entire process from start to finish.
• First you need to prepare the balcony opening. It is necessary to clean it from crumbling plaster with a primer. All rubbish and unnecessary items must be removed. If necessary, get rid of the window block with the window sill and the wall segment under it. The concrete wall is dismantled using a special professional machine that has the function of diamond cutting. A brick wall can be removed with any tools at hand.
• New doors must match the dimensions of the entrance in height and width. Plastic kits are delivered assembled. Before installation work, disconnect the door leaf from the frame.
• Fastening is carried out by installing anchors through holes pre-drilled with a drill in the door frame, while the appearance of plastic doors suffers slightly. The second method of fastening involves mounting the brackets in the grooves. In this version, the appearance does not deteriorate.
• Holes are made in the wall opening at the top and bottom for screwing self-tapping screws into the installed stops. Some people prefer to hammer in suitable nails.
• Components include rollers and retaining rings. Carrying rollers are installed along the lower guide. The main wheels move along the upper guide. Moving rollers are placed below and above. The number of wheels is calculated for each door leaf individually. They ensure the movement of the door and support its weight.

For lift-and-slide doors, see the following video.