The subtleties of glazing balconies in the "Khrushchev"

The apartment buildings of five-story panel and brick houses of the Soviet type are popularly called "Khrushchev". They differ in comparative cheapness, but, unfortunately, not in comfort.

One of the disadvantages is the open balcony. For many residents, this causes discomfort. In this article we will talk about the intricacies of glazing balconies in an apartment-Khrushchev, types of glazing, in particular, with offset and panoramic, as well as you will learn about the advantages of each of them.

This type of arrangement of the balcony, of course, has its advantages.

• Temperature. A glazed balcony allows less heat and cold to pass through than a non-glazed balcony.
• Space. It can be used not only in the summer, on rainy days, but also in the winter, for example, for storing items without worrying about their safety.
• Comfort. Equipped with double-glazed windows, the balcony helps to create a cozy atmosphere, does not allow noise from the street.

There are also disadvantages to glazing.

• Illumination. It depends on how many glasses are on each side of the balcony, and also on the presence of sides that do not allow light to pass through.
• Ventilation. It will be difficult if the balcony opens one window or one small part of the window.
• Temperature. With improper glazing, the balcony turns into a “greenhouse” in the summer and into a “refrigerator” in the winter.

Khrushchev arose in the USSR due to an acute shortage of housing. Soviet architects faced the task of quickly creating a large number of small apartments.This is one of the main reasons why the design and convenience of the premises (including the balcony) were simply not thought of.

The main difficulty in its transformation is the state of the reinforced concrete slab. The second problem is the modest size of the balcony itself. It consists of a base and metal poles attached to it. The design cannot withstand heavy loads.

The balcony has the following options:

• 2.6 m - length along the facade;
• 0.8 m - the length of the sides;
• 1.45 m - the height of the fence.

Here such a miniature balcony with skillful glazing should turn into a convenient and comfortable room. Due to numerous problems with the stove, some owners are forced to resort to the installation of an additional frame.

There are a lot of options for glazing balconies in Khrushchev. But there are those that are most popular.

• Glazing with removal. This is a convenient way for those who want to increase the size of the balcony due to the windows. However, dimensions below the glazing line remain unchanged. A small plus will be the appearance of a shelf under the windows, directed inward.

• Panoramic glazing. It is distinguished by the presence of one fixed glass in the entire wall. The window does not open, which leads to the need to install a ventilation system. The balcony glazed in this way allows the cold to pass through in the winter, and in the summer - the heat. This, of course, is beautiful glazing, but rather impractical and unjustifiably expensive.

• There is also gaining popularity. French glazing. It is also called stained glass. The whole structure consists of glass and frame, most often it is white plastic. In this case, only the upper windows can be movable. This type is convenient for owners who do not want glazing to darken the room, but are not suitable for apartment owners who feel uncomfortable when they are on public display.

• Another type of glazing - frameless. It is also entrusted to high-level masters, since this type requires special skills: glasses are installed in guides along which they can be freely moved.

Glazing on the 5th floor, the last, in terms of design is a bit more complicated. An additional roof must be installed. It is usually made using roofing material. The roof rests on a frame made of a metal profile. The complexity of the installation depends on the intended design. For example, installing French glazing, some owners make the roof transparent. This is quite original, but it is worth considering the amount of snow that falls in winter - the glass must be strong. therefore it is more practical to use plexiglass, but only if you are confident in the strength of the frame.

The material selected for the roof may be different. This is a popular corrugated board, and slate, and even tile. It must be remembered that the roof, like the entire frame, exerts additional pressure on the concrete slab. Your safety depends on its integrity.

At the cost of balcony glazing the most expensive will be panoramic and stained glass. Frameless will cost a little cheaper. More budget options are frame with removal, frame warm without removal, frame cold without removal.

Additional financial costs can be spent on tinting glasses with a special film.

By their functions, such glasses are divided into three types.

• Sunscreen. On sunny days, the film saves the residents of apartments facing the south side from the heat.
• Mirrored. Glasses with such a film are characterized by one-sided light transmission. The glass of the balcony becomes like a mirror, not allowing you to view the contents of the balcony. However, in the dark, this effect weakens when light is turned on inside the apartment.
• Matt This species is characterized by the use of a film that partially combines the functions of the two types described above.

The frame method is particularly practical and simple. It is divided into two types.

Such glazing involves the use of plastic or wooden window frames. At the same time, you kind of get one more small room, however this makes the balcony very heavier. Specialists work with such glazing.

In this case, an aluminum profile is used. The balcony does not get much heavier, but it will not be warmer either. But this glazing is less expensive than a warm type.

There are several material choices for frames. Let's consider how to glaze a balcony and whether it is possible to do without frames.

The advantages of such frames include aesthetics and low weight, ease of installation. They will need to be painted, varnished. but all wooden windows are prone to drying out.

This type of frame gives the balcony a modern and tidy look. They insulate the room well from heat or cold, but are quite heavy.

Cheap and light, with well-selected insulation, they will be the best choice in terms of quality and budget.

Glazing of the balcony is due to the use of plexiglass. It has its advantages.

• Cheapness. Its cost is much less than ordinary glass, about two times.
• Strength. The material of which plexiglass consists does not allow it to break as quickly as ordinary glass. Plexiglass also does not differ in sharp fragments if it is broken, and this almost eliminates the possibility of receiving a serious injury or cut. But the price of such glass will be much higher.
• Transparency. Quality plexiglass, which is properly looked after, transmits 90 percent or more of sunlight.
• Weight. Plexiglass is lighter than ordinary glass. Moreover, the entire structure remains solid.

As mentioned above, plexiglass needs care. To prevent clouding, it must be wiped with a soft cloth. It must first be moistened in warm water or in a non-aggressive detergent solution.

Glazing a balcony is not an easy task. After all, your safety depends on the strength of the structure, while it is also worth considering what floor you are on.

The load that the plate can withstand must be taken into account. Both the type of construction and the design will depend on this. Faults can be cracks, and broken areas, and holes. Therefore, such a plate must first be restored. It is also worth considering the strengthening of the railing, and, if necessary, the restoration.

Of course, before choosing this or that design, you need to consider the cost of all materials and work, so as not to interrupt the process of arranging the balcony due to unplanned expenses.

Glazing occurs in stages.

• First, they measure the balcony, assess the condition of the stove and the balcony as a whole. Masters or the owners themselves measure the necessary parameters for further work. It is better to do this several times to avoid mistakes.
• Next, the optimal option is selected that the owners of the apartment will like and will be most suitable for a particular balcony, based on all its characteristics.
• Works always begin with a frame; its type depends on the previous stage. With a beautiful frame, any type of glazing will look chic.
• If the roof device is not required, proceed to the glazing itself. Glasses are inserted, windows are checked.

To summarize, we note the most important. Glazing of the balcony is one of the complex transformations of the apartment. When deciding on such a step, carefully weigh all the pros and cons of a suitable type of glazing, take into account external and internal changes. You can create your own unique, inimitable, complex and very comfortable balcony. It all depends on the skill of the specialists who will be involved in these works. In some cases it is wiser and easier to use the traditional options that the wizards will suggest to familiarize themselves with.

About how to choose a balcony and the subtleties of its glazing, see the next video.