Everything you need to know about balcony doors

Doors are considered an important component of every house, apartment, building and any outbuilding. This design is also necessary on the loggia to provide security and comfort in the room. The choice of a balcony door should be done responsibly, since this interior element can provide an optimal microclimate for living rooms.

The door to the loggia separates the living rooms from the non-living ones. Homemade items or various rarely used things are usually stored on the balcony. In addition to skis, bicycles and vacuum cleaners, this room can be used for rest and relaxation. The loggia can be glazed or not, but the door to it must be equipped without fail.

These are the main functions of a balcony door:

• lighting of living rooms by transmitting sunlight;
• protection against the ingress of cold air masses in the winter season;
• protection against the penetration of dust, dirt, and insects;
• the implementation of noise insulation;
• protection of the apartment from intruders.

Currently, modern manufacturers of balcony doors offer a variety of product options, which can be either standard sizes or unique widths and heights. The design can be arranged in different ways, for example, have a block-standard or a kind of lower part. Since the types of doors are presented in a wide range, each apartment owner will be able to choose a suitable option for himself. Today, French devices are in great demand, as well as panoramic, double, stained glass, blinds and other models. Often a shtulp construction is installed on the loggia.

Today the doors to the balcony can have the following designs.

• Freestanding. Such a device has no connection with the window unit. These two-leaf models have found their way into small spaces. Freestanding doors are either fully transparent or half glazed.

• Combined. They look like a solid block, in the structure of which there are a window and a door. It is a common variety that can be suitable for any type of space. Such a block can be double-leaf, as it opens in two planes at once. This fixture can have one or a pair of double-glazed windows.

According to the opening option, door structures are divided into the following types.

• Swing. These are traditional doors that can be opened in one or two directions using pivot mechanisms.

• Swing-out. Constructions of this type can be used not only for access to the loggia, but also for the purpose of airing.

• Sliding. Doors in the form of a compartment have the form of a leaf with special guides. Thanks to the latter, they are able to disperse along the wall. Sliding door structure is able to save space. With its help, it is rather difficult to close the entire doorway.

• Bivalve. The spool doors are suitable for a private house or cottage with a large balcony. A double-leaf door has 2 components: working and fixed.The bobbin models have a reliable locking mechanism, so this design is quite difficult to break.

• In the form of an accordion. This modern type of door structure is composed of leaves that can be folded during opening. "Accordion" has a spectacular appearance in the case of full glazing of the loggia. Such doors are often installed in country houses, as they let in little light.

By filling balcony doors we mean the presence of elements that are located in the inner contour of the frame. The structure can be made entirely of glass, with impost, and other types.

According to the type of filling, the doors for the loggia can have several varieties.

• Sandwich panel. This three-layer element has a pair of plastic layers, as well as insulation inside. Often, such models are made with double-glazed windows.

• Glazed. In this case, double-glazed windows or completely tempered glass elements are mounted. To increase the thermal insulation, 1-4 sheets are installed with a space called "chamber".

• Light. The bottom of this door is made of opaque cloths, and the top is made of glass.

• Glass with impost. An impost is called a crossbar, which acts as a frame and reinforces the overall structure. Users often notice that when using glass doors with impost, condensation may appear in the lower part of the structure.

Every apartment owner wants the balcony door to be not only durable, but also attractive in appearance. Nowadays, manufacturers are implementing door designs for a loggia, which are based on different materials.

PVC fixtures are considered quite popular today. High-quality doors and windows for the loggia are made of this material.

PVC is used to produce door structures of various sizes and designs.

Advantages of plastic balcony doors:

• long service life;
• high rates of sound and noise insulation;
• resistance to temperature extremes;
• impossibility of freezing in winter and heating in summer;
• preservation of warmth in the room;
• the ability to complement the interior in an original way;
• affordable price.

The disadvantage of PVC is only the need to care for the fittings. From all of the above, we can conclude that metal-plastic structures are very convenient to use. They can be used both on open and glazed balconies. They are installed in areas with any climatic conditions.

Doors and windows made of aluminum are warm. For this reason, they are often installed on small loggias.

The main advantages of the structures:

• light weight;
• unique shape and design;
• durability;
• compliance with sanitary, fire, environmental standards;
• low cost.

The downside of the design is that it retains heat poorly, and also weakly insulates the room. If the aluminum door is not made of very high quality, then it will freeze in winter.

Many apartment owners believe that a wooden door can be negatively influenced by external environmental factors. But this opinion can be argued, since the products are made from glued beams impregnated with a special compound that protects the door from pests, fire and moisture.

Positive characteristics of wood products:

• keep the room warm well;
• create the correct microclimate of the environment;
• are characterized by aesthetics of design;
• environmentally friendly.

Users note only 2 drawbacks of wooden doors for a loggia:

• the need for regular care;
• high price.

Glass is considered expensive, but at the same time an original material that can be used to successfully decorate the entrance to the loggia. To install a frameless structure, a durable double-glazed unit with a thickness of 1 cm is used. Tempered glass is one of the most durable and reliable materials.

Its advantages:

• uniqueness of design;
• good illumination of the room;
• environmental friendliness;
• fire resistance;
• the ability to visually expand the space.

There are also disadvantages:

• large mass;
• high price;
• the ability to install exclusively on a glazed and insulated loggia.

Balcony doors are striking in a variety of shapes, here are just the main ones:

• rectangular;
• oval;
• semicircular.

The structures in the form of an arch look quite original; with their help, you can arrange a narrow doorway.

The classic option is a rectangular glass structure that looks fresh and inviting. Colors play an important role in the design of this interior element. The most common color is white. Brown and gray models look no less stylish.

The French door to the loggia is also noteworthy. It consists entirely of glass and has a pair of hinged doors.

Stained glass products look beautiful and original, on which there is a pattern on the floor.

The hardware for the balcony door must be selected correctly. This point is important for the quality of installation and the durability of the structure.

Balcony fittings should be equipped with the following fittings:

• locking mechanisms;
• loops;
• mechanisms for closing and opening;
• closers;
• handles;
• clamps;
• latches.

In addition to all of the above, the door to the loggia can be equipped with additional items:

• protection from children, which is represented by a limiter or blocker;
• double handle;
• a smoker's pen that has a magnetic holder.

The easiest to install and most popular at the present time are plastic doors to the balcony. They can be installed, replaced and repaired simply and quickly. In addition, replacing the PVC structure is also not difficult. To put the doors on the loggia, the master will need to acquire a building level, a puncher, a hammer, a crowbar, a construction knife, fasteners and foam.

Before proceeding to the direct installation of the door, you will need to properly prepare the doorway. To do this, perform the following activities:

1. moisten the doorway with a sprinkler or damp cloth;
2. remove the previous door;
3. sever the flaps on the new fixture and box;
4. on the new door, the handle is put in the open position;
5. anchor plates are fixed to the box with a distance of 15 cm.

When the preparatory work is completed, the master can begin the installation of the PVC door:

1. the box is placed in the opening, leaving a couple of millimeters at the base;
2. the gap is filled with polyurethane foam;
3. while the foam hardens, you need to check and correct the inaccuracies of the fasteners;
4. hang the door and install the fittings.

After some time using the balcony door, an imbalance may occur. To eliminate it, the wizard will need to make some adjustments.

There are several reasons for the imbalance:

• purchase and installation of a block and accessories of low quality;
• incorrect installation technology, which entails a violation of the terms of use;
• incorrect operation.

In order for the defects of the balcony door to be detected in a timely manner, the user will need to regularly inspect the structure. If the door sags, then it should be opened, then find an asterisk screw on the structure and turn it a few turns with a key. In some cases, after the procedure, the door may sag. In such a situation, the bottom screw will need to be tightened.

When the doors to the balcony do not close tightly, this may indicate that the sealing layer is worn out. In order to fix the trouble, the master will need to buy a new gasket material. In addition, the structure will not be able to close tightly if the handle is broken. To correct the situation, the door should be lifted, and the fittings should be replaced with a new and better one.

To maintain optimal conditions in the room, experts advise to insulate the balcony door.

There are several options for thermal insulation of the structure:

• finishing the door with insulation (it is worth choosing the material that does not absorb liquid that comes from the street;
• thermal insulation of double wooden structures by finishing the inter-door space;
• fixing additional glasses, if possible;
• covering all visible cracks with polyurethane foam;
• adjustment of fittings and replacement of the seal for a tight fit of the sash and frame.

If the balcony door is installed correctly, it will look neat.

In order to decorate the door to the loggia and thereby add functionality to it, you can use the following elements.

• Fabric curtains. This option is considered a classic in the decor of balcony groups.

• Roman curtains. Thanks to their use, you can elegantly decorate the structure. The inconvenience in this case can be caused by the fact that folds on the curtains interfere with use.

• Blinds. They are characterized by ease of use, and also protect the room from external influences.

• Rolled curtains. These devices include the positive characteristics of blinds and fabric curtains. Thanks to a wide range of colors and materials, everyone can choose the best option for their apartment.

• Decorative film. This decor option performs some protective function. This material is currently used quite rarely, as it leaves traces of glue on the door.

• Insect screen, which is used during the warmer months.

Every balcony owner should know how to properly close, lubricate, open the door from the outside and from the inside. In addition, the user should have knowledge of what to do if he hears from the side that the door squeaks or does not close tightly.

Caring for the door on the loggia consists in the following points:

• checking the ease of opening and closing;
• annual processing of the lock and the entire perimeter of the door with a special tool;
• washing the surface with soapy water;
• glass cleaning with special detergents;
• tightening the screw of the tongue on the door lock in the winter and when loosening it in the summer.

Balcony doors are an important part of the room. Their selection and installation should be carried out responsibly and correctly.In the case of a high-quality installation of this structure, the owner of the apartment can count on an optimal indoor climate and a long service life of the door.