Currently, most apartments are in new modern multi-storey buildings sold with aluminum cold glazing already installed.
From the street, such façade glazing looks very impressive., but its practicality is questionable. Balconies and loggias with such glazing are in most cases cold and you have a strong desire to insulate or replace the glazing.
If cold glazing cannot be removed
If the structure contains load-bearing supports or other elements, then it will be impossible to dismantle such a loggia, therefore, you will have to insulate what is already there. There are three options for dealing with this situation:
Replacing glass with double glazing in panoramic glazing
Insulation using light-thermo technology. Replacement of glass with double-glazed windows, replacement of opening AL sashes with PVC windows, insulation of vertical aluminum mullions with a sandwich panel in cold façade or panoramic glazing of a balcony.
One of the methods in demand today is in which all opening sashes made of aluminum profiles are replaced with plastic windows with double-glazed windows, the glass is dismantled using industrial climbers and in their place, using special profiles, double-glazed windows are installed.
The remaining cold aluminum racks and crossbars ( horizontal profiles) are insulated from the inside using decorative finishing sandwich panels.
Replacement of facade glazing with insulation of lintels
Insulation using "Plast-Techno" technology. very popular and popular technology insulation of facade glazing without changing the facade of the house. The technology makes it possible to insulate panoramic glazing from inside the room. The existing glass and opening aluminum sashes are removed, and plastic frames with blind and opening sashes and 2-chamber double-glazed windows 32 or 40 mm thick are built into the remaining aluminum frame.
After this, the aluminum frame inside the room is carefully insulated with 20mm thick penoplex and white decorative boxes are glued onto these insulated racks.
Photos of our work using this technology:
Parallel glazing of aluminum facade
Insulation using geo-line technology. The technology does not affect the existing facade structure. Parallel panoramic glazing is installed warm contour from PVC structures. This option provides maximum performance in terms of noise resistance and heat transfer, but is not entirely convenient when washing glass between the façade structure and PVC glazing installed close to aluminum façade design. This glazing option is the cheapest of all three. possible options insulation of facade glazing.
Only you will have to get used to the constant help of specialists who will remove double-glazed windows from PVC glazing every time they wash the interframe space (between the aluminum external facade and PVC construction, tightly adjacent to the facade). Otherwise, this is also a very reliable and good option for solving your problem. good insulation balcony facade.
Stages of work and technology for insulating cold facade glazing
1. Measurement and approval of the project.
Our specialist comes to you for inspection and measurements, draws up an estimate on the spot, and coordinates access to the roof with management company Your house.
After 2-3 weeks, delivery of new windows, double-glazed windows and components is carried out. When signing the acceptance certificate, the remaining 30% is paid.
3. Removal of glazing.
Installers remove aluminum glazing beads from the inside, or climbers (who have technical access to such work) hang from the roof of the house from the outside and remove the covers of the mullions and crossbars from the façade glazing from the outside. Fixed glass and aluminum sashes are dismantled.
4. Replacement of glass with double-glazed windows in cold façade glazing.
Installation of plastic frames and insulation of cold facade glazing. Thermal bridges made of polyamide are inserted into the racks and crossbars of the facade, creating a thermal break in the aluminum system, which eliminates “cold bridges” and increases the heat transfer coefficient of the structure. Spacers are used to level the façade line, insert energy-saving double-glazed windows into blind window fillings, and install new ones. metal-plastic windows instead of cold doors.
The junction of the side walls of the balcony and the new glazing is insulated with butyl tapes and polyurethane foam. In some cases, insulation with penoplex and penofol requires interfloor ceilings. Assembly seams are closing plastic platbands or painted metal strips. After these works, it is logical to finish the loggias and balconies.
Our vast experience in designing and installing translucent structures, coupled with the professionalism of high-rise installers, is the key to warmth and comfort in your home!
A balcony is a very important component in every apartment in a multi-storey building. It can serve as an additional layer of insulation so that the adjacent room has more high temperature in winter and helps to quickly ventilate the room in summer. The balcony can also become an office or playground for children. By removing the partition and carefully insulating the walls, with its help it is possible to increase the living space of the rooms or kitchen.
Options for using a warm balcony
Insulating and decorating an old balcony with your own hands will help transform it, adapting it to the design you need, making it more functional. High-quality insulation will help make your stay comfortable in winter, and nothing will stop you from spending time talking, drinking a cup of tea, or while away the evenings reading books.
Well protected from aggressive influences weather conditions, the balcony can turn into a small nursery or working workshop.
But if you have not yet fully decided or do not have enough funds, then we will tell you how to insulate windows with your own hands, make old openings warmer and able to withstand harsh winters. We will also describe ways modern insulation and the main nuances when performing such work.
Various methods of insulation
To maintain warmth and comfort in your home, you should ensure that there are as few sources of cold air as possible. Such sources are old windows, and sometimes new ones, worn out by time. If you insulate your windows well, then you won’t be afraid of any wind or low temperature.
Let's look at the basic and most effective principles by which you should seal windows yourself.
- A budget option for sealing cracks that were formed when a vent, window or balcony door, is the use of sealing tape. They are different thicknesses, so they can be selected to suit the required size of the slots. This way, you seal the windows well and do not change the external aesthetics at all.
- All cracks and joints in the window frame and the junction of the window with the slopes are clogged with foam rubber or cotton wool. To prevent them from falling out and to have a more attractive appearance, masking tape is glued on top.
- To seal cracks and joints, you can also use a “porridge” of moistened toilet paper or newspapers. The paper is dipped into water, after which all the water is squeezed out, and ready material we score in Right place. Seal the top with masking tape or tape. This strange mixture holds heat very well, as it has a fairly high density.
Self-adhesive foam rubber, which is designed for insulating old windows, is very convenient. Thanks to the installed adhesive surface, installation is very easy and quick.
It is sold in construction and hardware stores, in rolls of several meters.
- Covering the seams with plasticine or window putty is an effective method, but rather inconvenient. To then remove all the sealing mixture, you will need to work hard and spend a lot of time.
- If you don’t have any foam rubber or cotton wool on hand, you can simply cover all the cracks with plastic film. Polyethylene does not allow air to pass through and is able to maintain temperature well. Only such a film should be glued very well and not leave gaps.
Modern methods
Window insulation using Swedish technology: modern methods insulation has come very far. To insulate glass with your own hands, use heat-reflecting film and devices for electrically heating window glass and frames.
Aluminum frames are sealed with modern mounting foams and sealants, which perform their function perfectly and can get into the deepest and narrowest crevices. In addition, by using sealants you can hide all traces of such insulation.
Window insulation using Swedish technology is possible for wooden window frames. The glass unit is removed and set aside. In the place where window frame comes into contact with the sash, a groove is cut out using a special electric cutter. The sealing tape is then installed in this groove. Afterwards the window is put back on.
Swedish technology Insulating windows using Swedish technology has a pretty good effect on the final quality. But a cutter cannot be found in every home, and using it yourself will require some skills, so it is better to entrust the work to a professional. The entire installation process is quite quick, and is perfect for sudden cold weather.
When insulating cracks with special sealants, carry out the entire process carefully, leaving no gaps. You will not save money on this, and the quality of the work done will be significantly worse. Always insulate the joints under the window sill using polyurethane foam.
Very often, it is through them that a lot of cold sweats come in, since everyone forgets about them. Aluminum frames are not recommended to be insulated using electrical thermal systems.
When insulating seams with your own hands using foam rubber or cotton wool, try to seal them as much as possible at the joints. While securing with masking tape, overlap the lengths of livestock to prevent air leakage.
If the tape does not stick properly and constantly peels off, then you can use regular strips of paper. Using liberally applied glue, secure the paper in place.
Using the balcony as a place to spend cozy time or as workplace, you should take care of its warmth. Very in a good way To insulate a balcony is to seal the windows yourself. Do not forget that all insulation work should be carried out carefully and without omissions, so that there is maximum effect from the work done. A wide range of different materials, helps you choose what you need and make the insulation as high quality and efficient as possible.
Developers of residential neighborhoods in major cities, regional centers and even small populated areas houses are commissioned with standard glazing of balconies and loggias. Standard scheme its implementation - installation of a frame made of aluminum profile and installation of single sheet glass into window sashes. This is due to the fact that, according to existing standards and building codes, balconies and loggias are not residential premises, but perform auxiliary functions and therefore do not require insulation. This design, from a financial point of view, is the most economical for the developer and relieves him of responsibility for deficiencies that may arise during the installation of more expensive and quality-demanding warm glazing.
Rice. 1 Design of cold aluminum windows
Last time fashion trend is the insulation of a balcony with cold glazing, which allows residents not only to save thermal energy, which is subject to accounting and appropriate payment, but also to expand the useful living area of the apartment. On a warm balcony you can set up a workshop, create a study, or create a flower or vegetable greenhouse.
At the same time, homeowners are faced with the question: how to insulate balconies with cold glazing. If the walls and parapet can be covered effectively modern insulation and cover the top with finishing from a number of common and popular materials, then solving the problem of cold glazing is much more difficult.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that any changes and alterations to standard glazing can lead to changes appearance facade of the building, and the reconstruction may not be approved by the relevant services. As a result, replacing cold glazing with warm glazing may be prohibited. And if work is carried out without permission, penalties and litigation may follow, which usually results in a decision to dismantle the installed glazing.
There is no clear legal regulatory framework on the issue of glazing balconies, so it is difficult to answer whether it is necessary to declare this and whether there is any point in costly design permitting documents. Current legislation provides for a procedure for official registration repair work in a number of instances during redevelopment of apartments. Installation, dismantling, repainting and changing the configuration of balcony frames do not relate to reconstruction or redevelopment work, therefore the possibility of carrying them out and the legality of installation is determined by local officials or representatives of architectural services. Complaints to the owners may arise in cases where during the modernization the color of everything is changed profile frame or the shape of window frames.
Rice. 2 Glazing of a balcony with windows installed in a cold profile
Cold glazing conversion methods
An aluminum frame with cold single glasses on the balcony protects the room from precipitation, street dirt, wind and dust, but not from cold air in winter. Most residents do not face the question of whether it is necessary to insulate a balcony or loggia; they would all like to insulate the balcony with cold glazing. There are a considerable number of ideas and methods for solving this issue from craftsmen and reputable window companies, reconstruction concerns the insulation of the profile itself and replacement of glazing, the main methods consist of the following work:
- Insulation of aluminum profile. Most often it is covered with Penoizol or Penofol with inside, the effectiveness of this method is close to zero, the only plus is that the insulator will prevent hands and other parts of the body from sticking to the frozen aluminum frame in winter.
Rice. 3 Insulation of the loggia with multi-chamber plastic windows
- Covering single glass with heat-insulating film or replacing it with heat-saving types. In the first case, the film can reduce heat losses through glass by 30%; when installing glazing that reflects thermal radiation, heat loss can be reduced by one and a half to two times. However, these advantages are minimized when glass and metal are allowed to cool. balcony frame in winter.
- Replacement of window sashes. Some craftsmen, due to the fact that it is technically difficult to replace single glass with a warm multi-chamber double-glazed window in a casement, remove window sashes with cold glazing and install windows with multi-chamber double-glazed windows in their place. Since the aluminum frame is replaced with a PVC structure, the windows differ in color from the aluminum frame and disrupt the aesthetic appearance of the building facade. Another disadvantage of the design is the installation of heavy windows with multi-chamber double-glazed windows in an aluminum frame that is not designed for heavy weight - this can lead to breakage of the fragile aluminum frame, weakening of its fasteners and collapse of the glazing.
Rice. 4 Installation of additional glazing in the loggia from the inside
- Installation of the second glazing circuit. A radical method of insulating cold balconies and loggias is to install a second frame with warm glass inside the room. The method requires significant financial expenses and leads to a decrease in usable area, disruption of the aesthetics of the appearance from the inside of the room, difficulty in ventilation and accumulation of dirt between two glazing contours in places that are difficult to access.
- Replacing a cold aluminum profile with a warm one. The method allows you to maintain the typical appearance of the glazing, which does not cause any complaints from housing and architectural services, and reduce heat loss through the aluminum profile during finishing to a minimum. Warm aluminum profile represents external and internal aluminum frames, separated from each other by a plastic insert, which is a cold bridge. Reconstruction results in a complete replacement of all cold glazing on a balcony or loggia, so the costs are maximum compared to other methods. The design is better used in southern latitudes than in cold climates - the insulating plastic partition does not protect the aluminum frame well from freezing and frost appears on the window glass.
Rice. 5 Aluminum profile with plastic insulator
An analogue of replacing cold aluminum frames with warm ones is to use wooden structures, externally finished with aluminum profile. In this case, the old cold aluminum glazing must be replaced, wooden frames will cost even more, but will provide high thermal protection for the room in cold northern latitudes.
IN wooden doors in this case, double or triple glazed windows are installed; their advantage over standard wooden frames is the finishing of the outer part with aluminum, which protects the wood from the harmful effects of the external environment(moisture, solar radiation).
Rice. 6 Loggias insulated with wooden frames
Professional insulation of balcony frames
Some window companies glaze and insulate balconies with cold frames using modern technologies and materials. When carrying out work, the main stages are:
Standard glazing and insulation of balconies and loggias of modern high-rise buildings currently does not satisfy many residents due to its budget and cold indoors in winter. It is better to insulate a loggia or balcony with the installation of new, warm, high-quality glazing with the help of window companies that perform these types of work, while new multi-chamber double-glazed windows are installed and the aluminum frame is insulated.
Having received from the developer a modern glazed balcony, the owner begins to worry about the question of how to insulate it. An aluminum profile cannot retain heat at one specific level; such insulation is called cold.
— how to insulate an aluminum profile and make the balcony a warm and comfortable room?
Expert answer
You can choose cold glazing only due to its technical and economic advantages. Second row of glazing- a cheap and easy way to save your home from freezing. This option is used if dismantling the aluminum profile is impossible.
No structure can withstand a large mass, so you should first consult with a specialist.
In winter, the loggia cannot be used as extra room, since the temperature in the loggia will be lower than in other parts of the apartment.
To make full use of the entire space, you should install plastic windows, which will prevent the appearance of “cold bridges” that cool the entire apartment.
High degree of thermal insulation is the main technical feature PVC characteristic, however, the cost of installing such a system will be much more expensive than an aluminum (cold) window.
Before purchasing building materials, you should decide for what purpose the loggia should serve.
Wood-aluminum windows allow you to get a well-insulated loggia even in winter time of the year. They come in two types:
- With decorative inserts and overlays (window side).
- Wooden frames with decorative overlays (from the street).
Question to the expert:
— How to make insulation? What stages of installation can you name?
Expert answer:
You can insulate your balcony yourself, but in addition to practical properties, it must be neat and have a stylish appearance, so you should contact professional designers who can quickly and efficiently carry out the necessary work.
Installation work:
- Cleaning the aluminum profile from excess. After installation, there remains a lot of building materials that are not used in the future (putty, polyurethane foam, garbage). If there are few of them, then their presence will not greatly affect the energy-saving properties.
- Remove all cracks in the profile. During installation, many new defects may appear that were not there before. An ordinary sealant will do the job perfectly.
- Choose suitable insulation. Many people choose polyurethane foam, but it can deform the frame. This creates unnecessary problems when installing windows. Mineral wool will solve this problem.
Conclusion
Insulating a balcony using a cold profile does not take much time and Money. By following the instructions, you can save significantly on furnishing your home and provide it with reliable heat and sound insulation.
In large cities, capitals regional centers and even in small populated centers built on the basis master plan, new buildings are increasingly appearing, and more often entire microdistricts with new multi-storey buildings whose balconies and loggias have a complex semicircular contour and glazing. Made in the same style and color scheme glazing gives an attractive appearance and relieves owners who have purchased apartments in such buildings from worries about self-glazing balconies.
When designing glazing, architects proceed from the fact that a balcony (loggia) is not a heated structure. Therefore, the glazing provided for by the project is always laid as single, capable of protecting the balcony from wind, dust and precipitation, but not from low temperatures. More than 50% of Russians do not want to understand simple truth– a balcony is not a sauna or a greenhouse.
Having received a glazed loggia as a gift from the developer, they immediately begin to be tormented by the question of how an aluminum balcony is insulated.
In this article we will look at various aspects of this problem.
"Cold" aluminum window profile
Typically, when glazing balconies or loggias, the developer uses the so-called “cold” aluminum window profile with single glazing for glazing. The choice in favor of such glazing is made for economic and technological reasons. This option is the cheapest and does not increase the cost square meters in a new building. It allows you to easily glaze a semicircular or complex balcony contour.
The design of the aluminum window profile does not provide for the installation of 2-3-layer double-glazed windows.
Even a 3-chamber double-glazed window will not reduce heat loss from freezing of aluminum, which has excellent thermal conductivity.
Therefore, the developer, by installing such glazing, prevents the owners’ initiative in insulating balconies and increasing energy costs due to the high consumption of heat energy used to heat the street.
But restless citizens, no matter what, want to have “warm” balconies. The inability to physically insulate the cold aluminum profile of a balcony window forces them to look for all sorts of ways and resort to various tricks.
Legal aspect of changing the facade of a building
Any changes made to the enclosing structures of the building facade (and these include balcony parapets), as well as glazing that does not correspond to the general architectural concept, require permission from local authorities executive power.
Relevant regulations have been adopted at the level of each subject of the Federation.
In Moscow, this is Government Decree No. 508 dated October 25, 2011 “On the organization of reconstruction and (or) redevelopment of residential and non-residential premises V apartment buildings" One of the paragraphs of this Resolution provides for the mandatory obtaining of permission if “the shape of window and doorways in external enclosing structures;).
The procedure for obtaining such permission consists of five successive stages and the approval of about 40 documents.
The cost of services of law firms (in Moscow) providing services for coordinating changes to facades for a full package is about 1,000,000 rubles.
There is something to think about.
Methods of insulation from “traditional craftsmen”
The most in a simple way They are trying to solve the problem of insulating a cold aluminum window profile on a balcony by gluing its frame with thermal insulating material - penoizol or penofol. The efficiency of such “insulation” tends to 0. This is understandable. Even using the thickest 10 mm penofol, it is impossible to provide sufficient thermal insulation. Such “insulated” aluminum windows lose heat not so much due to freezing of the metal frame, but due to heat loss through the single window glass.
Pasting single window glass high quality heat-insulating (energy-saving) film can reduce heat loss in winter period up to 30%. But, of course, it cannot completely replace the second or third glazing contour with film.
Some craftsmen completely remove window frames made of aluminum profiles, leaving only crossbars-guides, and in their place they install windows made of PVC profiles with double or triple glazing. In this case, the appearance of the building facade immediately suffers. Because the PVC profile has a large thickness and is visually very different from window profile made of aluminum. Such a replacement is not acceptable if the balcony is semicircular.
Another trick to insulate a balcony is to install a second glazing loop made of PVC profiles with double glazing behind the existing glazing. This significantly reduces the area of the balcony and makes it impossible to wash the window glass between window blocks located close to each other.
All these “guerrilla” methods of insulating cold aluminum profiles balcony windows, are either ineffective and still do not allow its use in the cold season, or lead to a critical loss of appearance and functionality.
Replacing with a “warm” aluminum profile
More radical is to replace the existing glazing with a “warm” aluminum profile - a structure with disconnecting elements made of PVC or other plastic with a low thermal conductivity coefficient. Thanks to this, the aluminum window profile does not freeze, since cold bridges do not form. “The warm aluminum profile used for balcony windows can have 2nd or 3rd glazing or double glazing like PVC windows.
For southern and middle latitudes, such a replacement can be an excellent way out, since choosing an aluminum profile that matches the width and color is not a particular problem. Externally, from the side of the building's façade, such a window will not stand out among its kind. Perhaps a different shine from the glass.
But for northern latitudes, even a “warm” aluminum profile is not suitable for insulation. He's still freezing. If there is heating on the balcony, then ice and icicles form very quickly on the windows and frames.
This is due to the fact that the dew point is shifted towards the balcony and condensation of water vapor and its freezing occurs inside the balcony.
The low thermal insulation properties of aluminum windows are inherent in the very design of the manufacturer of the most popular window systems in Russia: Provedal Sistemas, Spain.
Wood-aluminum windows
The most the best option Wood-aluminum windows are the way to fully insulate a balcony and make it suitable for use in winter as a warm room.
They come in two types:
- Aluminum profile with decorative wooden trims on the inner (room) side of the window.
- Wooden frames decorated with aluminum overlays on the street side.
The first option for windows is absolutely unacceptable, because in its own way thermal insulation properties no different from a “cold” aluminum window.
The second option is of interest - wooden frames, glazed with 2-3 double-glazed windows and having aluminum linings on the outside, on the street side, which not only give the window a “techno” style, but protect the wood from the effects of precipitation.
The profile width of such windows will differ from the usual cold profile with single glazing. But you can precisely select the color of powder enamel, which is usually used to paint aluminum windows on the outside, and thereby minimize the visual difference of your balcony window from other balcony windows along the facade of the building.