All types of balconies. Types of glazing of balconies and loggias. Traditional and unusual balcony shapes

The balcony is considered a useful addition to all the amenities of the apartment. But in most cases, when talking about a balcony, people mean a loggia. Often a person does not even think about what a balcony or loggia is, and what differences exist between them. Question: "Loggia and balcony: what is the difference between them?" - occurs only when buying real estate. Purchase and sale is carried out with a complete analysis of the design features of a house or apartment.

Depending on the type of this premises, the cost of the object you purchase directly depends. Therefore, it will be useful to analyze the concepts of "loggia" and "balcony". What is the difference between these designs?

Loggia VS balcony: basic concepts

The first balconies appeared in small Italian towns and were small ledges at the windows, on which one could freely go out and, while relaxing, enjoy the view of the city. At first they were not enclosed, but over time, the architects adopted this decision as a security measure. Forged rods were used for balcony railings, they were decorated with falling flower arrangements that were grown in pots.

If you look, then the loggia is a building that is structurally opposite to the balcony. It is a niche in the wall and, unlike a balcony, does not protrude, but is located inside the building: a house or an apartment.

What are the differences between a loggia and a balcony

If it is easy to identify what the design features between these elements are, then determining which is better is much more difficult. It is necessary to figure out what a loggia and a balcony are. What is the difference? SNiP is a system of normative acts and rules, guided by which it is possible to clearly define the features of construction, architectural and technical design, etc. A clearer difference between a balcony and a loggia is determined as follows.

Loggias and balconies as an element of decor

The design of buildings and structures in the 21st century is impossible without the use of external elements of decor, which helps to determine the individuality of not only the structure, but also the architectural direction of the entire residential complex (mass).

As the main decor use:

• balcony;
• loggia;
• terrace;
• veranda;
• observation deck.

And this is not a complete list of structural structures that adorn the facade of a modern new building.

It happens that apartment owners carry out unauthorized redesign or planning of their home, which can harm not only neighbors, but also lead to a violation of the stability of the house.

All kinds of redevelopment are regulated by law and are available only if they are in tune with the Housing Code of the Russian Federation and comply with the requirements of SNiP.

The concept of a loggia and a balcony according to SNiP

According to SNiP 31-01-2003 "Residential multi-apartment buildings (dated June 23, 2003 No. 109)", the term "loggia" means the structural part of the house that does not protrude beyond the facade of the building. This zone, which is a single whole with the main room, is fenced from 2 or 3 sides with walls, an upper ceiling with an open exit to the outer space. The loggia can be glazed.

The balcony is called a building addition, installed on a slab protruding from the plane of the wall - the base, enclosed by a barrier. In some cases, balconies are glazed according to the rules. These norms are specified in SNiP.

Distinctive features of balconies

Speaking of a balcony, they mean a fenced cantilever structure protruding from the plane of the facade. You can get to the balcony only from the side of the adjoining room. The bottom plate, adjacent to the facade, is fixed. Since the support area is small, the bearing capacity is not very high. Experts do not recommend overloading the balcony with bulky items and not doing insulation / glazing, if this is not provided for according to the plan.

So the loggia and the balcony are not very similar. What is the difference? Unlike the first design, the balcony is less functional. This factor can be called perhaps the main difference.

Open balconies were loved by residents of high-rise buildings in the last century. Modern time dictates its own rules, so today we meet more and more glazed balcony structures. Almost every second seeks to protect himself from the world, separating his personal space from others to the maximum.

A significant difference between a balcony and a loggia is in the footage of additional space, in which the second design loses.

Features characteristic of loggias

The main difference between a loggia and a balcony is the fencing system. Loggias have one side (outer), as a rule, open. Loggias are made small, this is determined by the norms of natural lighting in the premises.

The supporting structure of the loggia, unlike the balcony, rests on the semi-bearing or load-bearing wall of the building.

From the side of the facade, the loggia is necessarily framed by a parapet made of metal, concrete and metal, metal-plastic, glass, which is a prerequisite for design. The loggia, like the balcony, cannot be completely open and completely unprotected.

The difference between a balcony and a loggia (a photo of them can be seen in the article) is determined by their design features, but they also have one thing in common: the exit is carried out according to one principle: through a block window-door system.

The loggia differs from the balcony in the type of location inside the building. Literally from Italian, the loggia translates as "gazebo", and therefore it is a building framed by side walls and a ceiling.

Important! Unlike balcony structures, loggias can be placed one above the other, this will not affect the stability of a multi-storey building in any way.

Since the loggia is stable, it can be arranged in several types.

Lateral/corner arrangement implies the absence of one of the sides or front view. A functional feature of the loggia is to ensure a comfortable stay of the owners in the air.

Now you know what a balcony and a loggia are. The difference (photos of examples can be seen in the article) between these designs is immediately visible if you know what to look for.

What is better to choose: a loggia or a balcony?

• method of adjoining to the facade of the building;
• number of open sides;
• general rules for arranging additional space;
• average footage;
• level of reliability.

If in the future you are planning a designer renovation that requires minimal redevelopment, please note that balcony structures are not amenable to such changes. And from the loggia you can create a full-fledged small room where you can place an office or workshop. Sometimes the owners go the other way and, by removing the partition between the main room and the loggia, they increase the full-fledged living space.

So, what is the difference between a balcony and a loggia, you already know, now it's up to you, because the choice of an apartment depends on the preferences of the future owner.

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The presence of a balcony or loggia in the apartment is considered a great plus, and for good reason. This place can be arranged as your heart desires, used as an additional room for a specific purpose. But let's clarify, together with the editors of the online magazine, the site, what is it about: a balcony and a loggia, what is the difference and whether it is significant.

Balcony and loggia - what is it in terms of design and decorative functions

If a thing or object has two names, then this most likely means that there are some features and differences in their structure or design. So it is with such concepts as a balcony and a loggia. In simple terms, a balcony is called a slab with railings protruding beyond the perimeter of the building, and the loggia is a direct part of the building.

The number of storeys of houses grew, the number of balconies and loggias, too, depending on the wishes of the architects and the type of construction.

What is better balcony or loggia?

Typical and modern types of loggias

What is the name of the balcony inside the house? The beautiful word loggia, which has roots in the Italian language (“loggia”).

Since this is not a remote structure, it can be turned into a full-fledged part of the room or a concrete screed can be made on the floor, and furniture can be placed on it.The loggia space is either left open or glazed.

What is the difference between a balcony and a loggia in an apartment in terms of design parameters

Let us consider in more detail all the nuances and differences of the mentioned architectural structures.

By way of adjoining to the main room

To understand the difference between the balcony design and the Florentine architectural solution, it is enough to look at how they adjoin the facade of the building. The balcony will always protrude from the wall of the house, and the loggia is in harmony with the facade, being its built-in part.

By the number of sides open for review, and the size

If you look from the side of geometry, then the balcony is open to three sides of the street, has a standard size of 3275 × 800 mm. Basically, the width of the balcony is standard.

The loggia is open to the street only on one side, less often on two (at a corner location). The base is always slabs, most often with a size of 1200 × 5800 mm.

Nuance! Most often, one plate falls on two loggias.

According to possible loads on the structure and methods of arrangement

In any case, the security of the loggia will be higher, since it is not a hinged structure, but part of the building, and the load is distributed evenly from three sides.Due to the method of adjoining the facade, the balcony has limitations in terms of load and arrangement possibilities.

What is the difference between a balcony and a loggia when calculating the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe apartment

The correct definition of the loggia and balcony will help calculate the cost of housing. Loggia coefficient lowering: 0.5. At the balcony - 0.3.If there is a “French” balcony, it is pointless to calculate the coefficient, since it does not have a usable and significant area.

What is the difference between a loggia and a balcony according to the law

We found out the differences between a loggia or a balcony by type of construction, it remains to find out what is the difference between them according to the letter of the law.

The entire territory from the load-bearing wall to another of the same type, slabs and fences of the summer area of ​​​​housing are classified as private property. It turns out that from the point of view of the law, both constructions are equal.

Additional information on the arrangement of balconies and loggias

In Soviet times, loggias were glazed and used as a place for hanging clothes, a smoking room, and even as a warehouse for unnecessary things. But why waste precious meters today, if you can equip both the loggia and the balcony so that it will be the most favorite place in the apartment?

Interesting ideas for decorating a loggia with photo examples

Let's plunge into the world of other people's ideas and solutions: if there is already additional space, you can remake it into part of the room, insulate it, glaze it, turn it into a cozy veranda or study.

Design of balconies in a private house with photo examples

For the design of balcony structures in modern construction, plastic, glass, wood and metal are used. Artistic forged patterns become a wonderful architectural decoration. Plastic is the least beautiful, but this finish will cost the least. Most owners of balconies try to glaze them, thus turning the space closed from the weather.

Article

Modern trends in the field of building design have led to the fact that the balcony has long ceased to be a technical area for unnecessary trash and forgotten ski poles. Competent repair solutions can make the balcony an interesting place to relax, where you can spend your free time. A warm and beautiful balcony will add comfort and space to your home. It all depends on your means and imagination, it can be both beautiful and modest French balconies, as well as lush and expensive Italian ones. Let's try to understand the types and features of balconies based on products from Vikna Online, a manufacturer of metal-plastic windows ().

A balcony is a platform that protrudes from the facade of a building for some distance. How it will look, and what functionality it will have, is up to its owner to decide.

Types of balconies

Balconies can be classified into different categories.

By openness

There are two types of balconies - closed and open. Open balconies are not glazed, while closed balconies, in turn, can be warm or cold, depending on what temperature you want to maintain on the coldest days.

By design features

In this category, three types of balcony structures can be classified: on cantilever beams or reinforced concrete slabs (mainly in old buildings), balconies with external supports (usually they are columns, used for the first two floors), as well as loggias that do not have protrusions outside the facade of the building and are part of the room.

Modern technologies allow the installation of ready-made balcony structures to the building, even in those places where they were not planned by the house project. Attached and attached structures suggest the presence of a free area under the future balcony and, preferably, the floor is not higher than the second. Hinged balconies are mounted on special fasteners that are hung on the facade of the building.

By national origin

The French balcony is the most widespread in our country. Initially, this type assumes a very narrow design, in which it is very problematic for even one person to fit on it. However, over time, under the understanding of the French balcony, the construction of double-glazed windows is increasingly assumed. The transparent design will add not only light to the apartment, but also the elegance and sophistication inherent in France. Double-glazed windows can be chosen both transparent and tinted. With the choice of tinted glass, it is better to be careful, avoiding intrusive colors, because over time they can become boring and annoying. An authentic "Frenchman" can sometimes be found in very old Soviet houses, however, apart from decor, it does not carry any other purpose.

American balconies are large. The width and length are so large that sometimes there is more space than in many "Khrushchev", therefore, in domestic realities, such designs have not become widespread.

Italian balconies stand out for their diversity and splendor, as if taking us to different architectural eras. An abundance of various bas-reliefs, forged figures, railings and columns make a real work of art out of an ordinary boring balcony, but serious financial investments will be needed to achieve such a result.

Spanish designs are the exact opposite of Italian ones. Their distinguishing feature is conciseness and simple (rectangular or square) shapes. It is desirable to dilute such asceticism with flower arrangements. Such a solution will bring a beautiful view for very little money.

It can be concluded that, regardless of the design and age of the building, a solution to the balcony issue can always be found. Modern technologies will allow you to achieve the desired result without a strong blow to your wallet, and a competent approach to decoration and design solutions will make this area not only functional and comfortable, but also very beautiful and aesthetic. In order to avoid problems in installation and operation, it is better to entrust this issue to specialists. A professional approach will save you a lot of time, effort and money.

Owners of apartments with a balcony or loggia, as a rule, consider that they are very lucky. After all, they received additional space, which you can dispose of at your discretion. Of course, for some, this is just a place to store unnecessary things, but many are still more attracted by the opportunity to arrange a cozy place to relax or a full-fledged room here.

If you decide to build your own home, you need to think about the need for a balcony and its shape at the design stage. This is due to the fact that, in accordance with the concept of modern architecture, it is necessary to ensure that the shape of the balconies fully matches the structure and even complement the intended image of the house with them.

Varieties of balcony structures

There are several types of balconies with structural differences.

• Console on beams. Such designs are typical for old residential buildings. Reinforced concrete or metal cantilever beams that support the base slab must be embedded deep into the wall. In this case, the embedment depth cannot be less than half a meter. Quite often, such a design can be found on high-rise buildings.
• Cantilevered on a reinforced concrete slab. This design differs from the previous version in the type of base plate. In this case, we are talking about another plate - cantilevered, which is protected from below. As a rule, it is installed in brick structures. As for walls made of aerated concrete or ceramic blocks, they will not cope with too much weight of the structure, so this option will not suit them.

For reference!

Cantilever structures can be installed at any height, since their device does not require auxiliary support posts.

• External supports. Such a balcony can be quite large, as it is additionally supported either by brackets or columns. The use of columns has clear restrictions - the balcony should be on the first, in extreme cases, the second floor. There is always a risk that such supports may sink unevenly, and as a result, the structure may bend.

Today, three new types of such structures have appeared that are installed on the finished structure.

• Attached. Balconies are located on the facade of the finished building and are fixed by side supports. To reduce the load on the walls, face posts are installed, based on their own point foundation. Thus, during the construction of an attached structure, it is necessary to have a free area under the balcony, which will be used for the construction of this foundation.
• Attached. , for which the front racks serve as a support, are mounted on the supporting consoles. This option is considered the most convenient not only in terms of execution, but also in terms of cost.

• Mounted. The balcony is "hung" on the facade of the building, fixing it on special fasteners, pins embedded in the outer wall. It does not require free space to install.
• . This is a small design. In fact, you can only go out to such a site, and besides, how to get some air, you can’t do anything on such a small site. The railing of a classic French balcony is installed directly in front of the doorway.

Traditional and unusual balcony shapes

The design of the facades of modern houses is quite diverse. And in this a significant role is played by various configurations of balconies. As a rule, their choice is associated with the architectural series of the building. It should be noted that different configuration options can be presented in one series. Their functionality depends on the form.

• The most common form is a standard six-meter rectangle, which is not very wide. In some projects, it has two exits, for example, from the living room and the kitchen. When designing a balcony room in this case, you can achieve the maximum effect by dividing it with a partition.
• In addition to six-meter rectangular structures, longer ones are also popular: seven, nine, or even ten meters. Such dimensions will already allow the use of the balcony area for living space. If, moreover, it is properly insulated, equipping a warm floor will turn out to be a cozy living room.
• The semicircular exit is often called "French". For many owners, it remains a mystery whether it can be used to good use or, in general, something can be placed there. But in fact, for those who are looking for exclusive solutions for decorating an adjacent room, this form will be a real find. If you manage to combine them, then you can use the resulting bay window niche, for example, under a small island for relaxation.

• Another configuration option with a rounded end wall in the hands of a skilled designer can become an interesting element of the interior.
• The facades of multi-apartment panel houses are often decorated with L-shaped exits, because it is no coincidence that they are called "boots". For many owners, this configuration is difficult to design. However, in reality, it gives a lot of opportunities.

This form can be used for almost any functional solution. It can fit under the office, rest room or mini-gym. On the protruding part of the structure, you can also create a beautiful greenhouse.

The owners of modern balconies and loggias are increasingly thinking about glazing these small spaces. The glazed structure is more protected from weather changes, frost, and also from penetration. In addition, the convenience of using such balconies increases, their appearance improves. There are various options for glazing balconies, so it's easy to choose the most suitable option for yourself.

Possible glazing options

Considering the types of glazing of balconies and loggias, you can systematize them according to the following characteristics:

Cold glazing of balconies

Cold type glazing is chosen if the owners need to protect the balcony from wind, precipitation, street debris and dust. We are not talking about the insulation of the balcony, in this case. This design is a system of cold profiles equipped with glasses. Profiles can be wood or aluminium. Also, homemade frames of various types are sometimes used.

Advantages of cold glazing:

• ease of installation;
• affordable cost;
• the weight of the balcony changes slightly, which is especially important for balconies in Khrushchev and five-story buildings;
• the balcony is aesthetically pleasing.

If, having considered the options for glazing a balcony, you decide to choose a cold type of glazing, then you should be aware of the disadvantages of these structures:

• in winter, the difference between the temperature on the balcony and the street indicators will be almost zero;
• mosquito nets cannot be installed on some types of cold balconies.

Tip: If you use the balcony only for storage, then a cold option will be enough.

Warm glazing of balconies

The most progressive option for glazing balconies is warm glazing. It allows you to expand the living space at the expense of the balcony, grow flowers on the balcony all year round, create a relaxation area, combine the balcony with the room. This type of glazing can be reinforced with underfloor heating. For such balconies, multi-chamber PVC profiles, wooden frames with double-glazed windows or are used. One of the main components of the system are double-glazed windows that reliably protect the balcony from the street.

We note the following advantages of warm glazing:

• on the balcony in winter it will be much warmer than when using cold glazing;
• the sound insulation of the room increases several times;
• the balcony acquires an aesthetic beautiful appearance;
• security in terms of reliability and in terms of penetration from the outside.

Disadvantages of warm glazing:

• such a system is not liked by people accustomed to open terraces and being outdoors;
• large weight of warm frames. This can impose restrictions on their use if the balcony is not too strong.

Types of glazing balconies

There are several types of glazing for modern balconies, depending on the material, each of which can be applied in certain situations. Different types of glazing balconies have their own characteristics. Let's take a closer look at each of them in order to choose the most suitable option for your conditions.

plastic

This is the most popular design, which is very comfortable, beautiful and durable. Practical people use PVC frames equipped with double-glazed windows. This is a warm type of glazing that allows you to turn the outdoor balcony into part of the indoor space. Plastic systems can have both hinged and sliding doors.

Advantages of plastic frames:

• ease of care;
• excellent heat capacity;
• high level of sound insulation;
• affordability;
• ease of installation;
• aesthetics;
• increased security.

The disadvantages include:

• significant weight;
• in the closed position, the windows are completely sealed;

Wooden

The use of balconies in construction is not new. This was the way most balconies were closed in the past, before the invention of plastic profiles. Modern wooden frames are distinguished by their superior construction, weather resistance and beauty. One of the distinguishing features of the tree is that the frames will "breathe" due to the micropores in them. Consequently, the air on such a balcony or loggia will not stagnate. Frame doors are hinged.

Advantages of wooden frames:

• environmental friendliness;
• beautiful appearance;
• light weight;
• high degree of thermal insulation.

Disadvantages of wooden glazing:

• high cost of products with double-glazed windows;
• over time, the wood may dry out, become covered with cracks;
• regular maintenance, impregnation and varnishing of frames are required;
• gradually may lose their original appearance, burn out in the sun.

Aluminum

If the previous methods of balcony glazing did not suit you, we advise you to pay attention to aluminum frames. They are very reliable, and surpass all other materials in durability. Both cold and warm glazing can be created from aluminum. The main part of the aluminum frames has a sliding design, which saves space on the balcony.

Advantages of aluminum glazing:

• light weight;
• low cost;
• pleasant appearance;
• the ability to choose any color profile;
• resistance to corrosion and caustic substances;
• environmental friendliness;
• fire safety;
• high light transmission;
• it is possible to create a very large glazed area.

Few drawbacks:

• usually cold glazing is assembled from aluminum frames. If systems with a thermal break are used, then their cost rises sharply;
• the level of sound insulation is lower than that of profiles made of other materials.

Frameless glazing

When the question arises of how to glaze a balcony, many modern designers recommend using frameless glazing. Its peculiarity is that all sashes are attached only to the upper and lower rails. They can be folded to fully open the balcony. The amount of light transmitted from such structures is very large.

According to the principle of opening the sash can be:

• hinged, opening in one direction;
• pendulum, capable of opening in both directions;
• sliding, able to move along the rails along the railing. One of the varieties of sliding sashes are sashes that turn 90 degrees in the final position.

In some designs, the sashes are deaf. In this case, an aluminum frame is installed on the balcony, which is glazed.

Advantages of frameless glazing:

• original appearance of the structure;
• high degree of light transmission;
• very thick tempered glass is used, the thickness of which is 6-8 mm;
• folding and expanding the movable structure is not difficult;
• suitable for a balcony of any size and any shape.

Disadvantages of frameless glazing:

• this is a cold type of glazing. Glass does not allow you to protect the balcony from temperature extremes;
• impossibility of carrying out warming;
• too high transparency allows others to observe everything that is happening on the balcony;
• it is impossible to install mosquito nets on them, so the insects will constantly annoy the owners;
• unsatisfactory degree of sound insulation and tightness.

Panoramic or French glazing

When options for glazing loggias and balconies are considered, one cannot fail to mention panoramic glazing. This type of balcony is also called French. Its feature is that all sides of the balcony are made transparent. That is, the glass goes from the floor to the very roof of the balcony.

Panoramic glazing can be of the following types:

• cold (aluminum structures);
• warm (PVC or aluminum frames with thermal break);
• frameless.

Advantages of panoramic glazing:

• maximum illumination of the room and balcony;
• original, very beautiful design that attracts attention;
• exterior decoration of the balcony is not required, and interior decoration is minimized;
• visually increases the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room to which the balcony adjoins.

Disadvantages of a French balcony:

• too hot in summer if the balcony is under the sun;
• the outer part of the glazing is difficult to wash on its own;
• significant cost;
• the opportunity from the street to contemplate what is being done inside the balcony;

Features of a balcony with a takeaway

Very wide opportunities are represented by a balcony with one or more extensions. This makes it possible to slightly increase the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room and equip window sills on the takeaways, and already place flowers or any other objects on them. The extensions are designed at the initial stage of the balcony repair, when the load-bearing frame is being cooked.

The presence of a front takeaway is always allowed, and side takeaways may be absent for some reason. For example, if there is some kind of obstacle in the place of their future location. Typically, a standard take-out has a width of 25-30 cm, this distance is quite enough to find a convenient window sill on it.

Note: When creating remote glazing, it is important to correctly calculate the load on the supporting structure. Light weight frames are recommended.

Choose the type of glazing that suits your conditions, taking into account the indicated advantages and disadvantages, as well as the features of all the listed structures.