How to choose a balcony door?

Most of the houses and apartments are equipped with a balcony or loggia, which perform the function of additional space. In this regard, there is a need for its decoration and proper zoning. The room begins with a door, so its choice must be approached very seriously and responsibly. After reading this article, you will learn how to choose a balcony door.

For each balcony you need a specific door with a suitable mechanism of action. There are the following types:

The design and principle of operation of the mechanism for closing and opening such a door is very simple and convenient. It turns out that it rotates around the axis vertically, so that it can open both to the left and to the right, as well as on itself and from itself.

This mechanism has several disadvantages:

• The canvas must have a certain weight, since the special mechanism is not designed to move a heavy door. Balcony must be insulated and glazed, as this model will not be able to sufficiently restrain the cold.
• The price of such a product is quite high, as there is a complex mechanism inside.

Thanks to special rollers, the door can move in both directions - along special rails. This type refers to the "cold" type of door partitions, so it should be installed only on the glazed and insulated balcony, otherwise cold air flows into the room. The door can be made of both glass and sandwich panels. There are also double versions with glazed doors.

There are also portal doors that are similar to sliding structures according to the principle of opening. The only distinguishing point is that the door also plays the role of a window, since it is entirely made of glass.It can be simultaneously retractable, recline, if it is double doors - in parallel to be exposed in the rails.

This view is an improved model of the turning mechanism. Its plus lies in the fact that you can put the door on the mode of ventilation, namely - it leans sideways to 30 degrees. This is the most common option for doors in apartment buildings.

This is the simplest type of mechanism. Such doors are very reliable, durable, and also have heat and sound insulation. The only drawback is the need for additional space to make room for a move. Most often, these doors are single-leaf, but there are interior double-wing structures.

Balcony doors differ from each other not only in shape, size, but also in the material from which they are made. Today there is a large list of materials from which to create such structures.

• Very popular are wooden doors. Of course, high-quality and beautiful wood costs a lot, but it will last for a long time - provided that it is properly cared for and processed. This is an environmentally friendly product that does not harm health. Most often, pine, oak or larch are used as raw materials.
• Cheaper, but no less quality PVC. The door of it is durable, high-quality, and also has excellent performance characteristics. Plastic doors are very popular among consumers.

• Often from plastic do shtulpovye doors. The front door to the balcony can be opened in the usual way, and the window adjacent to the frame or the blind door also opens, you just have to push the special lever. It turns out that when you open all the doors and windows there is no partition. This makes movement much easier, especially when installing furniture on the balcony, when fittings are large and do not fit into the standard opening.
• Balcony doors are considered a simplified version. from sandwich panels. These are two sheets of plastic, bonded to each other with foam insulation. Width depends on the profile installed. As a rule, most often they take 2.5-3 cm.

• Another material for the manufacture of doors is glass. Fully glass doors are quite rare, because they are very expensive. Usually they are in a frame that can be made of metal, wood or plastic. On the balcony, it will look very beautiful, this design expands the space - due to its transparency. Most often, such a door consists of half of the glass part, half - of plastic or wood.

• Recently, the door is gaining popularity with aluminum case. It has an affordable price, and the design has a small weight, which ensures ease of installation. This profile is durable, not subject to burning. Due to the plasticity of the material, it is possible to manufacture doors of absolutely any shape and size.

However, this metal has a number of drawbacks, namely, scratches may appear during operation that are difficult to remove or decorate.It is also worth noting that such doors do not hold back the cold coming from the street, so the balcony, the loggia should be insulated. The material is poorly suppresses and suppresses noise, so you should think about the installation if the apartment or house is close to busy streets or main roads.

• There is a hybrid - metal plastic balcony doors. They have a number of distinctive characteristics. Such products are durable, strong, provide good thermal insulation, and also absorb noise from the street. They are not afraid of humidity, sudden changes in temperature. Such designs come in different colors and are also eco-friendly, which is very important if the balcony is in the children's room.

During the production or construction of facilities, the master must follow certain standards or GOST to avoid inconsistencies and prevent the occurrence of defects. For the balcony door there are certain standards (except for non-standard options).

Standards for the width and height of the doorway and the door itself also depend on the building itself and on the features of the building’s layout.As a rule, it has a height of 1.9 m to 2.2 m, and a width of 60-90 cm. As for the loggia, the dimensions are about the same, but it can have wider openings.

The most common type of door is a single door. Its width varies from 60 cm to 80 cm, height - from 200 cm to 210 cm. It is very convenient because the adjacent window occupies half of the wall, and under the window sill you can install a battery that will heat cold air in winter. Such door possesses good heat-insulating properties, and also constrains extraneous noise from the street.

For lovers of large balcony openings wizard can install double doors. Their height is standard (2 m), and width - 1.4-1.5 m. Such doors are installed without a threshold, as it will interfere with the free movement.

In that case, if the balcony is connected to the room, insulated and furnished, then a folding door would be a good option. As a rule, it has many links, it already depends on the preferences of the customer, but the dimensions are standard: width - 80-90 cm, height - 2 m.

In winter, even on a warmed loggia or on a balcony there will always be a slight temperature difference. The room will always be warmer by 2-3 degrees. In order not to let the cold air flows into the room, it is necessary to purchase balcony doors with special insulation, as well as triple or double glazed windows.

In order for the balcony door to be warm initially, everything must be thought out in advance. All slots need to be smeared with foam, if possible - cover the top with panels (for full sealing).

If a wooden door is purchased for a loggia, then it is worth remembering that wood itself is a good insulation. If the door is still a cold stream of air when it is closed, then the case is almost certainly in its small thickness or badly missed spaces at the junction of the door frame and the wall.

Most often, 2 wooden doors are installed so that there is an air gap between them that will not let the cold out from the street. If, nevertheless, it enters the room, then it is quite possible that the shutters do not fit tightly to each other, leaving small gaps.

Modern models of balcony doors have many additional components that can somewhat facilitate its operation. This applies, for example, the door handle.It can be as usual, and with a special lock and key. This is especially important for residents of private houses and apartments on the ground floor: if the castle is good, thieves will not be able to enter.

Most often set locking mechanismacting from the usual key. The lock itself can be cylindrical (not very high quality, since opening it requires a key in the form of a plate, such a lock is easy to break) or a suvaldny lock (it is more reliable, since it has special internal teeth, just like on the key). There are electronic locks that open by touching a special magnetic card or key fob with a chip. Such mechanisms are most often found in smart homes or hotels.

There is also a special retainer - a latch that prevents the door from opening already closed, thereby preventing drafts and slamming. Such products are either just mechanical, made of metal, or of the magnetic type (such a latch is quieter).

Loops are also an element of fittings that should be paid attention to.For an ordinary plastic door, single-section hinges are suitable with an external decorative lining that hides the bolts. For heavier doors (aluminum, wooden) it is necessary to take two-or three-section options, so the design will last much longer.

A nice addition is the automatic closer. It can be installed both above and below. There are also closers of the hidden type, which are located inside the door box. They are small, so they are difficult to notice. The door closes smoothly, so suddenly it is impossible to pinch someone.

Not only on the windows, but also on the balcony doors began to add combs. This is a special device that limits opening. This mechanism is necessary for young parents when the child is actively exploring the space around him.

Recently, it is very fashionable to install French entrance doors on the balcony. And that's why: they fit very well into any interior. Thanks to this design, the space is visually expanding, as well as a large amount of sunlight. A distinctive feature of such products is that they are completely glass - except for the holder body.

It is possible that such doors will have to be washed frequently, since fingerprints or rain spots will remain on the glass (if the balcony is not glazed). However, now there are a large number of detergents that help quickly and easily remove stains.

Doors are sliding or "accordion". Each of the models has its pros and cons. It is worth noting the following fact: if before installing such doors on the balcony there was a narrow window and a small doorway, then it is better to combine everything into a single system, expanding the space for passage and “increasing” the view from the window.

Sliding structures save space, provide passage without obstacles, are easy to install and install, are easy to use, move smoothly along the rails without creating additional noise.On one rail frame you can install 2 doors.

Designs are divided into several types:

• Sliding - This is the simplest mechanism, where the doors move along the rails on special wheels. It is suitable for balconies with a small passage.
• Lift-slide - thanks to the oval rubber seals, the door presses against the lower base. To open the door, it is necessary to slightly raise. Unfortunately, this design does not allow you to open the door until it stops.
• Lifting-sliding - These are panoramic doors that provide natural light.
• Sloping and sliding - from the name it is clear that for opening it is necessary to push the door forward, and then you need to pull it by the handle to the side. If the balcony door is combined with a small window leaf, then it will drive into it, thereby saving space.

Glass doors lined with metal, plastic or wood material are interconnected by bridges that hold them together, creating an accordion effect. This design will last long enough - with proper operation.

Owners of loggias at dachas or balconies on the lower floors need to protect themselves from "guests", so balcony doors can be equipped with a grill. Some people think that this may give the appearance of a cage, but for many years there has been an artistic forging that will transform ordinary-looking iron bars. According to the method of opening steel gratings are divided into 3 types: the usual swing, sliding and in the form of an accordion.

• Swing door It is an ordinary lattice, which is mounted in the door frame. It closes either on an ordinary keyhole or on a chain lock that clings to specially welded hinges.Such an additional door requires more space, so this view is impractical.
• Sliding grid usually has two or one leaf, which are moved sideways along special rails. On the sides of the door you need enough space, so it will be possible to move the grill without difficulty.
• The most practical are considered lattice harmonicas. At first glance, it may seem that the mechanism is very simple and uncomplicated, but it is a network of steel or iron rods connected by special hinges, thanks to which the lattice can be compressed and decompressed.

It is worth saying that one of the most popular is the usual balcony door made of PVC. This is due to the fact that it has an affordable price, a concise look that will complement any space, as well as excellent characteristics, due to which it can serve for a very long time. You can purchase this option: one half is a plastic sheet, and the other is a double-glazed window.

The balcony door can be not only a household product, it can act as a decor element - both in a regular apartment and in a large private house.

Modern industry offers a large number of options for the transformation of balcony doors. This may be a change in shape, color scheme, as well as decorating the glass or just the exterior.

As a rule, the balcony box has a rectangular or square shape, and the door itself has a half glazing. One half has a clear glass, and the lower part is deaf. To make the door more beautiful, a great solution would be to make it in the form of an arch. You can use another shape as a base — for example, a hexagon or a triangle. This form will update the room.

Very often, in a room with a balcony, they change the layout, namely, they unite the loggia and the apartment space. In this case, the door can be purely decorative - for example, sliding from PVC or entirely glass.

As for the color solution, most often the owners install white or black doors, if they are made of plastic - either plain wooden, with preserving the wood pattern. But today, PVC panels can have absolutely any color, it all depends on the wishes of the customer.

• For the kitchen, it is better to choose darker tones, since they are less noticeable dirty stains that could accidentally leave during cooking. These can be shades of blue, brown or green.
• For a bedroom or living room, it is better to choose the color for the main interior. Many masters say that there is nothing better than white or beige color, since such shades are absolutely suitable in all cases.

• With a wooden door is much easier. You can paint it yourself, and several times. Using a stencil, you can easily create a beautiful ornament that will wonderfully complement the balcony door or initially order a carved one.
• Another way to decorate a balcony door is to replace or decorate glass. The quickest and easiest solution is to glue the surface with a special film for windows. It may have different colors and shapes.A ready-made stained-glass drawing, which will look beautiful in the sun, is sold immediately.
• An excellent design solution will be to order a balcony door with a real stained glass window. Of course, such a product is quite expensive, but such a picture will lift your spirits even on an overcast day.

• There are glasses made by fusing technology. Colored glass pieces are baked with each other, creating a volume textured surface. Such a product will be cheaper than a real stained glass window, since for its production it is not required to braid every detail with metal.
• If the loggia comes out on the sunny side, you should think about a mirror film that will reflect the direct sunlight, keeping the pleasant microclimate in the room.
• For those who like to create with their own hands, it is possible to paint the glass surface on their own - with the help of acrylic paints for stained glass. This process will give a lot of impressions, and the resulting pattern will be unique, one of a kind.

• It is better to hang curtains on the cornice with the help of rings or hooks, so that it is easy to push the canvases apart and open the door to the balcony. Do not forget about the possibility of combining materials curtains. It can be light tulle with massive lambrequins or waves on the sides - from thicker curtains.
• Very often they hang Japanese or Roman curtains, which are very practical and convenient to use. Very suitable functional additions will be rolled, slatted blinds.

How to choose a balcony block, see the following video.