Aluminum windows on the balcony - characteristics, DIY installation

Balcony glazing is one of the most important measures in the process of apartment renovation. Firstly, it is necessary to insulate housing, because a significant part of the heat comes out through the balcony. Secondly, after installing windows there, you get additional space that can be used for certain residential or business needs. But, before starting work, you need to decide what material the glazing should be made of. And one of the most popular options is aluminum windows to the balcony.

Pros and cons of aluminum windows on the balcony

Installation of aluminum windows on the balcony is gaining popularity today. And for those who are just thinking about this, we will give the pros and cons of such glazing. Let's start with what are the advantages of aluminum windows to the balcony.

1. Availability . People often give their preference to aluminum windows precisely because of the low cost.

   On average, the price for them is 1.5-2 times cheaper than for similar glazing with PVC windows.

   

   Glazing of balconies with aluminum profile

   

   Aluminum sliding windows for balcony

2. Light weight . Aluminum itself is a very light metal. Accordingly, all structures made of it, including window frames and sashes for the balcony, are not heavy.

   And due to this property, window structures exert little pressure on the parapet. Therefore, aluminum windows are suitable for installation on balconies in emergency houses. In addition, it is much easier to carry and install.

3. High sound insulation . Due to the sealed frame and tight closing of the sashes, aluminum glazing will protect your house from extraneous noise from the street.

   

   Balcony with aluminum profile windows

   

   Photos of aluminum balcony windows

4. Attractive appearance and the possibility of painting aluminum windows in various colors.
5. Ease of maintenance - the outer surface of the frames and sashes of aluminum glazing is covered with a water-repellent film. Due to this, the product is less prone to pollution from dust and precipitation. Therefore, it is much easier to care for such frames than for wooden structures - you just need to wipe the inside and outside with a wet rag every few weeks.

   

   French balcony made of aluminum profile

6. High strength and durability - aluminum windows, despite their relative lightness and low cost, are very sturdy structures.

   Their service life is measured in three to four decades.

Important! For owners of small apartments, it makes sense to consider the option of glazing the balcony with aluminum windows with a perimeter that exceeds that of the parapet.As a result, the useful area of ​​the balcony increases and it can be used to arrange indoor plants in the warm season or as an additional refrigerator in winter.

Also, when thinking about purchasing aluminum windows for a balcony, you should be aware of their shortcomings. The main disadvantage of such structures is the insufficient degree of thermal insulation. A balcony with aluminum windows, as a rule, will be "cold" - in winter the temperature in it will exceed that outside by no more than 5-6 ° C.

Provence style balcony

Provence style balcony or loggia design is becoming fashionable among our compatriots. They are attracted by discreet grace, French simplicity, natural finishing materials and the presence of vintage elements.

For more detailed information on the issue, we recommend reading this article.

Another drawback is that aluminum frames and sashes are installed only on perfectly flat and prepared surfaces. Therefore, before the installation process begins, the parapet will either have to be leveled with a cement mixture, or a wooden board should be placed under the structure and all the glazing elements will be installed on it.

Video - Installation of an aluminum balcony frame

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Windows

Aluminum windows on the balcony - step-by-step installation instructions

Now that you know about all the features, advantages and disadvantages of aluminum windows on the balcony, let's consider how installation is in progress.

List of tools

But before starting work, any craftsman needs to stock up on a set of tools.

You can familiarize yourself with the list of what you need to install aluminum windows on the balcony from the table below.

Table. Installation of aluminum windows on the balcony is a necessary tool.

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Screwdrivers

Important! It is desirable that the screwdriver has two batteries - while one is working, the other is being charged. Then they change places.

Thus, the continuity of the work process is achieved.

Removing the old glazing - step by step instructions

Before you start installing new aluminum windows on the balcony, you need to get rid of the old glazing.

Step 1. The dismantling of the old glazing begins not with breaking the window frames, but with preliminary measurements. Using a tape measure, the length, height and depth of the opening on the balcony are determined.

Without these data, it is impossible to choose aluminum glazing of suitable dimensions.

Step 2. Next, the window sashes on the balcony open and measure the width of the low tide. Also, the number of sashes in the new aluminum glazing and the width of the window sill, if it is planned to be installed, are determined.

Step 3.

The building level is carried out along the upper part of the balcony opening - it is necessary to find out how flat the concrete slab is, whether there are distortions there.Such defects are characteristic of old houses in disrepair, and this must be taken into account when installing aluminum windows on a balcony.

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Building levels

Important! In the process of performing all measurements, it makes sense to record the work results. Craftsmen working in companies for glazing windows and balconies use standard forms for these purposes, as in the image below. You can adapt a regular piece of paper for your notes.

Step 4. Only after all measurements have been start dismantling the old glazing. Work begins by removing the leaves from the hinges. If they (sash) are in a satisfactory condition, then the process is done carefully, using a screwdriver. But more often the sashes of the old balcony glazing are removed using scrap.

Much faster, more efficient and safer, this work is done in pairs.

Step 5. The window sill and ebb tide are pushed off with a crowbar and removed. If they hold too tightly and tightly and just do not dismantle them, then the craftsmen resort to using a hammer and chisel - the latter is driven in between the parapet and the window sill (or ebb) in several places.

Then, a scrap is inserted into the cracks formed, the glazing piece is pushed on and removed from the fasteners.

Step 6. Then, with a regular saw, in a tree at several points on each side cuts are made of the window frame. This operation greatly facilitates the subsequent process of dismantling the structure, making it possible to remove it in small parts.

Step 7.

The sawn parts of the balcony glazing frame are removed from their place and retracted to the rest construction waste. If necessary, resort to the use of scrap.

Step 8. After removing all parts of the old glazing, the opening on the balcony is protected from concrete fragments, individual small parts of the frame or from fasteners. Then small irregularities are smoothed out.

All construction waste resulting from the dismantling of the old glazing is disposed of.

Important! Before installing aluminum windows, serious defects and unevenness of the window opening are eliminated with cement mortar.

Installation of aluminum windows on the balcony - step-by-step instructions

Now, when the balcony opening is free of old and worn-out glazing, new aluminum windows are being installed.As in the previous section, information about this case is presented in the form of step-by-step instructions.

Step 1.

In this example, the alignment of the edge of the parapet is done by installing wooden planks. They are fixed on long self-tapping screws screwed into concrete. In this case, the boards are aligned horizontally using the building level.

Step 2. The delivered aluminum window parts are unpacked, recalculated and inspected for defects.

Then, frames are assembled from individual elements - while rubber gaskets are inserted between them, necessary to seal the connection. The parts are connected to each other using self-tapping screws.

Step 3. Following the same principles as outlined in the previous operation, all other frames are assembled. As for the sashes, they are usually supplied ready-made - assembled and glazed.

Step 4. Anchor plates are installed on the upper part of the frame, with the help of which the structure will be connected to the ceiling on the balcony. Places for installation are not chosen randomly - from the edge of the frame to the anchor plate should be no more than 20 cm, and the interval between the elements - no more than 40 cm.

Step 5. A window sill is installed on top of the board laid on the parapet.

First, it is horizontally aligned.

Step 6. Then the window sill is fixed to the board using self-tapping screws screwed into the part ...

Step 7. The second window sill is laid and secured in the same way. In this case, both parts should fit tightly with each other, and their edges should lie on the same line.

Step 8. On the outer side of the parapet, on top of the newly mounted window sill, a metal low tide.

It is fastened with small screws.

Step 9. Another ebb is laid next to it, and it is not easy joins with the previous one, and connects with it with an overlap, as shown in the image below.

Step 10. Installation of the aluminum window frame begins from one of the edges of the balcony .

.. One of its component parts is inserted into the opening and fixed there from bottom to top. Its vertical position is controlled by the building level.

Step 11.

Part of the aluminum frame is attached to the parapet with self-tapping screws. They are inserted into the corresponding holes in the bottom part and screwed in with a screwdriver.

Step 12. Another part of the frame is installed next to it. It then joins the glazing element installed in the previous operation.

Fixation is carried out using self-tapping screws screwed into the side parts of both parts of the aluminum frame.

Step 13. Holes are drilled into the concrete slab on the balcony ceiling for fastening the anchor plates. Then dowels are inserted there and self-tapping screws are hammered. The latter fix these plates, and at the same time the parts of the aluminum frame from the upper side of the opening.

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Rotary hammers

Step 14. Between the balcony ceiling and the top edge of the aluminum frame outside a visor is started and installed, which is necessary to protect the glass from pollution during rains and other precipitation. The visor is attached using self-tapping screws screwed through the holes in the anchor plates.

Step 15. The joints "visor-frame" and "frame-ebb" are treated with silicone sealant - through them not a single drop should penetrate into the balcony, even during the strongest downpour.

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Silicone sealant

Step 16. Sashes are installed on special fasteners and guides of the aluminum frame - both rigidly fixed and movable. At the same time, it is checked whether the latter can walk freely and how well the windows on the balcony open and close.

Upon completion of all the above operations, the installation of aluminum windows on the balcony can be considered successfully completed. Now you can enjoy all the advantages of modern and high quality glazing.