Balcony doors: types and choices

Almost every modern apartment has such an architectural element as a balcony. Although it is small in size, it often helps the owners in many matters. It can be both a place where you can relax, and a storehouse of things, or even a small flower garden. However, for whatever business, the balcony is not used, its design plays a huge role, including the door leading to this small room.

There are many types of door structures. All types of doors have been used by millions of people for decades. However, you can’t just buy the first door you get. If you pick it up incorrectly, you can lower the level of heat conservation and the safety of the apartment, and also it may not look very beautiful. To choose the door correctly and with taste, you first need to learn more about all types.

• Swing. The simplest and oldest type of door. These are conventional designs that can open in one or both directions. Often they are half glazed.

• Bivalve. Such a door is not a novelty in the door world, but it is an excellent solution for owners of their own houses. It will be best for private owners, as it usually requires a wide balcony opening, and not a standard one.These doors are made of two components: the working half of the door with the usual mechanism and a lock, as well as the second half of the door, which simply closes with 2 locks (on the top and bottom of the door).

• Double shtulpova. Many consider this species as a subtype of a conventional double-leaf door. In fact, the way it is. Such doors have exactly the same interior design as double doors, but there is still a difference. Shtulovye doors are protected much better, thanks to strong and good built-in locks.

• Accordion door. This type of door is more modern. It is constructed from individual dies, which, when the door is opened, have the property of “folding” with an accordion. They have a significant minus - they are as unsafe as possible. Yes, no doubt, they look very beautiful, especially if their canvases are made of glass, but the locks leave much to be desired.

• Hinged. One of the classic types. A standard folding mechanism that can provide good airflow to your apartment. They are suitable not only for private owners, but also for owners of ordinary city apartments. The level of security can be compared to a conventional swing door.

• Swivel. This species is considered a “subspecies” of hinged doors. The only difference is the mechanism of action, which is called the swing-out. In terms of security, it is exactly the same as that of the folding ones. Such a door should not be placed in a private house due to the fact that it is not a standard of beauty.

If you want to correctly choose a door and enjoy it for a long time, then knowledge of the types alone is not enough. The correct selection of materials will help to increase the security and heat preservation of the apartment. Let us consider in more detail the basic materials for the manufacture of door structures.

One of the most classic, but at the same time the most relevant materials. Real wood doors (or at least particleboard / fiberboard) have been used in homes around the world for many decades.. Doors made of wood and its secondary products have an incredible price range. If fiberboard or chipboard were used, then the price can vary from 5,000 to 40,000 rubles (there are more expensive exceptions), and if it is natural wood, the price can easily exceed these amounts. These doors are considered the most environmentally friendly and beautiful.

Of course, they also have cons. Their biggest minus is the price. If you stint and bought a wooden, but very cheap door, then it may turn out to be of poor quality, which means it may crack out and crack.

Less classic and less popular door material. PVC in terms of popularity surpasses aluminum at times, despite this, many apartment owners purchase these doors. This is due to the fact that aluminum doors look more modern, one might even say that it is futuristic. No less important difference is strength: aluminum structures are much more durable than wooden models. Besides, metal can be poured into a structure of any shape and size in a short time, which gives the buyer a very large assortment to choose from.

Cons, of course, also exist. These can be safely attributed to not very high sound insulation, inability to retain heat well, a high chance of deformation of the structure itself in everyday life (from accidental impacts and the like). If even the smallest scratches occur, they become very noticeable, and you cannot hide them in any way. Only if stuck with some kind of sticker or calendar.

Even less popular material than aluminum. For the most part, the design of such doors consists of PVC or metal partitions (or just frames) fastening the glass packets.Such products have excellent external qualities: such doors look weightless, light. If you buy a high-quality door, then tempered glass bags will be used as material, which will not make it possible to break them in everyday life.

Naturally, in terms of strength and security, such a design will lose even PVC. Locks there are not the best, and glass is not the material that can provide you with security from robbers. They should be bought only for the visual component.

Plastic is the most used material in the production of all the components of a house (including doors, windows, frames and much more). As a material, PVC was able to enclose the maximum number of pluses with a minimum number of minuses. Plastic constructions are quite durable, retain heat very well, have very good sound insulation. Doors made of this material are lightweight and will serve you for a long period of time. These designs are “unpretentious”: they do not require special care.

Of course, listing the advantages, we must not forget about the price. Plastic doors, of course, also have a good range of prices, but structures made of this material have a record low price in the market. You can safely buy a PVC door even for 1000 rubles. Although, of course, we do not recommend making such purchases if you are even a little worried about your safety. When choosing plastic structures, most of all pay attention to the build quality and its reliability, because failure of the internal mechanism of the door is the main minus of the doors of this material.

In size, the doors can also be completely different. Standard dimensions according to GOST are as follows:

• height is from 190 to 220 cm;
• width - from 60 to 90 cm.

Of course, you can always order a door from the masters who will make you a design of any shape and size, even round. Making door designs to order is more expensive than a regular store purchase, but if you want to stand out among other owners of balconies, you can order a door with custom sizes for you.

If you want the door to serve you for a long time, in no case do not forget about the fittings. It is the door hardware that provides easier and better installation of the structure, and also increases the life of your product. Fittings may be as follows:

• constipation mechanisms (locks);
• door hinges;
• internal mechanisms of opening and closing;
• clamps and closers;
• handles;
• balcony latches.

All these accessories are available in many variations. Accessories will be useful for everyone, because you can choose it for every taste and color, while it will perform a useful function.

For example, you can install "child protection" - a special set of clips that allows you to open the door no more than a set amount. Or you can add a magnetic lock, which allows you to quickly and easily close and open the door without using its lock.

Now that you have learned what types of doors are, their material and much more, it's time to determine how to choose a door. The first thing you need to do is decide on your needs. Be sure to write down on the leaflet the exact dimensions of the door frame on your balcony so as not to confuse anything. Now determine what is more important for you: appearance, security and thermal insulation or price category. If you want cheap and with good characteristics - do not hesitate to take a plastic one.If the price is something average for you and beauty is important to you, then your choice should certainly be a wooden or chipboard door. And if security and durability are your priority, metal structures for your home will be the best option.

In no case do not forget about beauty. Everyone can buy a door, but choosing it correctly, given the design of an apartment or house, dimensions and all other parameters is a whole art. If your living room is made in high-tech style, then, of course, you should not buy wooden doors. Metal or glass is best, or maybe both at the same time.. If your living area is designed in the Provence style, then a wooden door will become your most desired and best decoration. Plastic doors are suitable for any style, since they are universal. You can repaint them, apply any pattern or decorate as your soul desires.

To install the door, it is better to call a special worker who has been doing this for a long time and will be able to do everything quickly and without any problems. If you decide to do everything yourself, strictly follow the following algorithm:

• if your door goes with the box, then go to the next step; if you do not have a door frame, you should purchase it according to the size of your design;
• install the box in the doorway and fix it; fastening is carried out by using long self-tapping screws and mounting foam;
• if the lock in your door was not installed initially, then now is the time to install it - select the lock that suits your model and parameters, or use the factory one; even in the cheapest models they put a lock in order to install it without unnecessary searches;
• usually complete with a door is an instruction for installing it in a box and the correct position of the hinges; guided by it, fasten the hinges and install the door into the box;
• After installing the door, install the platbands and everything that is due.

Do not forget about the door opening side. If it opens in both directions, then you can not worry, but if only in one direction - pay attention to it. It’s even better to mark the opening side with a pencil, and then erase it.

Doors are different and in the decorative component. As an example, consider glass models. The most standard glass doors are simple transparent or frosted. They are considered classic in the world of doors and for many, unfortunately, the variations of glass products end there. At the same time, the door can be not only transparent or matte, but also stained-glass, with multi-colored glass and even with a grille. It may have partitions, or may be almost completely absent along with the frame. A good solution is a glass model with a wooden edging of dark brown shades.

If you decide to save money and buy a cheap and not the most beautiful door, then for its beauty, not everything is lost. You can decorate the door with your own hands. The most popular and fairly effective way of decorating is to attach curtains to your design. They can also be hung on windows, but they must be the same. Curtains will help to create an atmosphere of comfort and warmth, and can also help to hide any defects of the door, if any.

The types and sizes of doors are completely different, so the choice of curtains is simply huge. Leading designers are advised to determine the uniform style of decoration for the entire apartment and be guided by it, so never buy 1-2 curtains, hoping to buy more later. It is better to buy the whole set at once, so that later you do not have to look for compromises. Another undoubted advantage of curtains is that they can fit into almost any interior.

The best material for curtains tulle fabric. This type of fabric is a very light and half transparent material. And also it is worth noting its price, which is in the "average" range.

Of course curtains are not the only way to make your apartment more beautiful and more comfortable. This task can also perform blinds. It was said above that curtains are suitable for almost all interiors, but they will not look very good in high-tech style. Just for hi-tech and similar designs, strict metal blinds are perfect. Of course, these should not be those curtains that are hung in offices, pick everything up beautifully and tastefully.

In addition to these two possibilities to decorate your balcony door, there is another very effective way. You can use vinyl stickers for decoration that are suitable for the general interior of your apartment or private home. If your apartment is made in the Provence style, a calendar with beautiful and colorful pictures in the same style is a good fit. Since many doors come with a glass top, you can also stick something to it. A stained-glass window, which can be done even with your own hands, will do well. Many handicraft stores sell inexpensive stained glass kits that even a child can handle.

A door cannot just be bought and forgotten about it. She needs regular care to maintain her presentation and performance. This is especially true for wooden models that require quite time-consuming processes on themselves. Plastic doors in this regard are much more convenient. You don’t have to paint PVC constructions, their structure is not spongy, which means that it will be easier for you to wash it.

Plastic models are much more resistant to external environmental influences such as rain. Plastic, unlike wood, will not dry out from the rain or crack. Wooden doors can only be wiped with a barely damp cloth and then polished to make the door look more beautiful. Plastic models can be washed easily, even using special cleaning products - plastic is not afraid of them.

If glass inserts are inside wooden models, then make sure that the product does not fall on the wood, so that it does not deteriorate.

In the next video, you will find the adjustment of the accessories of the balcony door.