Which windows are better to put on the loggia: plastic or aluminum

A full-fledged arrangement of a loggia or balcony is unthinkable without glazing. Its high-quality execution will make this additional area of ​​the apartment comfortable and functional. But you need to decide which windows are better to put on the loggia or balcony: aluminum or plastic?

frame material

Double-glazed windows are inserted into frames made:

• from wood;
• aluminum;
• from PVC.

With all the advantages of modern wooden windows, they are rarely installed on a balcony. There are 3 main reasons for this:

• High cost: aluminum or plastic frames will cost much less.
• Large weight: you will have to strengthen the supporting structures before putting such frames. And this is a serious alteration of the balcony, which requires effort and expense.
• Wooden frames should be regularly painted or treated with compounds that prevent them from collapsing under the influence of the external environment. And when installing them on a balcony, it can be difficult to do it from the outside.

Therefore, loggias and balconies are glazed using aluminum or PVC frames.

Do you know the difference between a balcony and a loggia? Read here.

Aluminum windows on the balcony

They have a lot of positive qualities:

• Strength. Due to this property of aluminum, it is possible to make frame profiles thinner compared to metal-plastic ones. This increases the amount of light entering through the window.
• Lightness: glazing does not require a massive parapet on the balcony, you can move the structural elements beyond it, increasing the usable area.
• Durability, resistance to weathering: the service life of windows is 50 years or more.
• Wide palette of shades. Profiles are painted by spraying or anodizing. Both methods give a stable and durable coating.
• Environmental safety: profiles do not emit harmful substances.
• Great view. Metal frames are indispensable for panoramic glazing, they look beautiful with a large total area of ​​​​windows (photo).

The main disadvantage is the high thermal conductivity of the metal. Because of this, aluminum profiles are commonly used in cold glazing applications.

If the windows on the loggia are needed to protect against wind, noise and precipitation, aluminum is the best fit. In the cold season, with the exception of severe frost, the aluminum-framed balcony will maintain a positive temperature.

However, this does not mean that when choosing warm glazing from aluminum, you will inevitably have to be. The new aluminum profile models have thermal inserts that significantly increase thermal insulation. In terms of heat saving, such windows are close to PVC structures. You can choose an insulated aluminum profile for the balconies of apartments located in a warm or temperate climate.

Note! Cold glazing with aluminum and single glass will cost 2 times cheaper than PVC windows. Aluminum structures with a warm profile will cost more than plastic ones.

Read more about warm and cold aluminum profiles here.

PVC windows to the balcony (loggia)

Suitable in the case when the loggia needs to be turned into a full-fledged living space, heated all year round. To do this, you need to glaze it correctly, and then insulate the floor, walls and ceiling. Otherwise, the effect will be minimal: the heat retained by plastic windows will escape through the ceilings.

Advantages of PVC windows:

• Good thermal insulation, which is provided by a multi-chamber profile and sealed double-glazed windows.
• Strength and resistance to environmental influences.
• High noise reduction performance, which is important in urban noise conditions.
• Affordable price. Plastic windows are cheaper than insulated aluminum and wooden counterparts.
• Many design options, the ability to choose a model for specific conditions.
• Possibility of self-installation. Installation is relatively simple. With minimal building skills, you can do it yourself, and this is a significant savings on the services of builders.

All selection criteria: when is plastic definitely not suitable?

The choice between aluminum or plastic windows can be made by answering the following questions.

What glazing is planned: cold or warm?

1. Cold - aluminum windows. They will protect from wind and precipitation, make the balcony (loggia) as illuminated as possible.
2. Warm - PVC or warm aluminum profile. They will retain heat, with proper thermal insulation, they will make the loggia a living room at any time of the year.

Is the house new or old? What load can the balcony slab withstand?

1. New. In such houses, you can put PVC windows on the balcony: the plate will withstand the weight of heavy plastic structures.
2. Old. It is impossible to put plastic in stalinkas, Khrushchevs and Brezhnevs in 80% of cases. The balconies of those times were designed with the expectation of a small load. The only option is a cold aluminum profile. Warm frames made of aluminum are potentially acceptable, but calculations will have to be done. Double-glazed windows, insulation for the parapet and floor will significantly add weight.

Note! If the house is older than 40 years, the allowable load prescribed in the documents can be safely divided by 2. Concrete collapses due to temperature changes, crumbles, and becomes covered with microcracks. In no case should the balcony be overloaded: it can collapse.

How much money is planned to be invested in the arrangement?

1. Less is better. The solution is cold aluminum frames.
2. Average amount. The optimal ratio of price and performance - PVC windows.
3. Lot. If finances are not limited, you should choose a warm aluminum profile. It will look better than plastic, last longer, there will be more light on the loggia, and it will retain heat almost as well.

Plastic windows on a balcony or loggia: which are better?

Consider the golden mean - PVC windows to the balcony, which, judging by the reviews, the owners choose more often than aluminum. City apartments often have modest dimensions, so warm glazing is preferable, which will turn the loggia into a living space. To choose the right window, you need to consider:

• the structure of the metal-plastic profile;
• type of sash opening;
• parameters of the double-glazed window;
• quality of fittings;
• construction dimensions.

Which profile to choose?

The structure of the profile determines the strength and durability of the window. The thicker the inner and outer walls of its chambers, the stronger the structure will be.

With rare exceptions, all profiles, including well-known foreign brands, are produced in Russia. Moreover, the quality differs depending on the manufacturer.

According to the wall thickness, the profiles are divided into classes. Class A - the thickest partitions, which means the most durable and retain heat well.

An important role is played by the number of internal chambers in the profile and its thickness, otherwise called the mounting depth. It is these parameters that determine the thermal conductivity characteristics.

For installation on a loggia or balcony, it is recommended to choose a profile with at least 3 chambers and an installation depth of 70 mm.

Sash opening mechanism: sliding or hinged?

On the balcony, only part of the windows are made to open.This is enough to ventilate and care for them. There are two main types of opening, which have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Sliding frames

Plus: this design is very convenient on small balconies, as it allows you to make the most of the available space.

Minuses:

• This type of mechanism does not provide reliable thermal insulation.
• In the cold season, the windows are difficult to open due to icing on the rails.
• Difficulties arise when washing glasses.

Swing structures

Pros:

• More familiar and easy to maintain.
• Provide reliable thermal insulation.

Minus: opening inwards, they take up a lot of space. You can not put anything on the windowsill, and the clothesline for drying clothes will interfere. Suitable for spacious loggias and balconies.

The choice of double-glazed windows

Important parameters are the thickness of the double-glazed window and the number of glasses. A two-chamber package with a glass thickness of 4 mm is considered standard. Wider double-glazed windows are too heavy for a balcony, and they are unlikely to fit in width.

To prevent windows from freezing, spacers between panes should be plastic or steel, not aluminum.

For large sashes that are installed on balconies, low-e glass is well suited. It lets in the sun's rays, but delays heat radiation from the apartment. This is how savings are achieved when heating the balcony. You can choose a smaller thickness of glass and even put a single-chamber double-glazed window instead of a double-glazed window, reducing the weight of the structure. But such material will cost more.

Hardware quality

Affects all window operation. Fittings are constantly exposed to stress, so its choice is extremely important. Well-known and well-established German companies are Roto and Siegenia Aubi.

Pay attention to the quality of the window seal. It must be elastic, otherwise it will quickly deform and crack, and it will have to be changed.

Manufacturers often save on door handles by installing cheap plastic models. It is recommended to purchase metal ones: they are stronger and more reliable, but they cost not much more.

Dimensions and installation

The frame is made to order: the dimensions of the window opening are taken and the gaps along the edges are taken into account, which are subsequently filled with mounting foam. Their size:

• 20 mm - on the sides.
• 30 mm - on top of the frame.
• 20 mm - from below.

These are the minimum dimensions. In the conditions of apartments, even seams are rarely obtained. Most likely, their thickness along the length will be different. But in the narrowest place - no less than the specified parameters.

A few tips:

1. The frame must be made in one piece, without plastic extensions. They reduce the rigidity and strength of the structure.
2. It is better to fix windows on anchor bolts: they are more reliable than mounting plates.
3. The installation of frames on the balcony should be entrusted to specialists: compared to installation in the room, this work is more difficult and dangerous.

We hope that our advice will help you choose the right windows for your balcony or loggia. Write in the comments about your choice.