Types of balconies. The difference between a balcony and a loggia and types of structures. PVC profile for glazing
Loggias and balconies are integral parts of modern construction. Many people think that these terms are synonymous, but they are not. Balconies differ from loggias in certain characteristics.
According to SNIP, a loggia is a built-in room with a fully or partially open facade, having two side walls. Most often, this design was used in houses built in Soviet times.
A balcony is a platform that protrudes forward from a vertical wall and looks like a hinged structure, fenced around the perimeter. Previously, these objects were fastened with beams, now - using reinforced concrete slabs.
Fact! These objects can be distinguished even by the origin of the words. The Italian "Loggia" means "room", and the French "Balcon" means "ledge".
Balcony view from the street
There are several types of balconies:
- Standard variant.
It is based on a reinforced concrete slab and fenced with a metal grate. Sometimes the grate is replaced with slate sheets or a concrete fence is raised. The area of such a structure is small. Standing on it can comfortably accommodate no more than 2-3 people; - "French" version.
There are two varieties. This is the smallest type of construction, because. only a small ledge and a forged metal fence are used in its construction. In the modern sense, the "French" balcony is a small overhanging area, glazed on three sides from top to bottom; - Glazed version.
It occurs most often, it is an additional small room with glazed windows and sheathed with clapboard, plastic, aluminum, etc. On such a balcony you can stay even in winter.
Loggias do not have a division into options. They can only be straight or semicircular.
The visual difference between a loggia and a balcony
The main external difference between these objects is in the way they adjoin the wall of the house. The loggia is an integral part of the building that cannot be demolished. The balcony, on the contrary, is built using suspension technology. The interior of the building without this object will not change.
Comparison of the appearance of a balcony and a loggia
The difference between the loggia and the balcony can be considered the number of open walls. There is only one wall connecting the balcony with the main building. The other three go outside. The loggia is different in that three walls are part of the building, and only one looks out onto the street.
Important! Knowing the differences between a loggia and a balcony is useful when selling an apartment. The presence of these objects and their size affect the price that can be requested. The most popular option is a spacious loggia.
Dimensions and arrangement
A balcony, by definition from SNIP, is a small compact area with a safety fence. It cannot be made large-scale according to security rules, because there is a risk of collapse of the structure. As for the loggia, its dimensions and configuration depend only on the architectural design of the building. These objects, as a rule, have significant dimensions, which distinguishes them from balconies.
View of the loggia from the street
In terms of arrangement, the loggia wins again. It has more opportunities in terms of creating a recreation area. Of course, any redevelopment requires permission from the relevant authorities, but often this room is used as a continuation of the kitchen or living room. Sometimes they even equip a study or studio.
To do this, on the loggia you can:
- Install climate equipment (radiators);
- Lay a warm floor;
- Install double glazing.
Reliability of balconies and loggias
The degree of reliability of these premises also lies in their difference. Of course, according to the norms of SNIP, each of them must withstand significant loads. However, the loggia is safer in practice, because the carrier plate is fixed by three walls. The balcony, in turn, is inferior in this indicator due to the human factor. Many people store large and heavy items there, thereby increasing the risk of damage.
As can be seen from the description, one object is still significantly different from the other; a balcony and a loggia are not the same thing.
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 "Khrushchevs", 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.
Many people are still asking the question: what is the difference between a balcony and a loggia? In fact, the differences between them are quite specific: the loggia is surrounded by walls on three sides, in addition to the front part, but the balcony is not. However, this issue should be considered in more detail, talking about the main types of loggias and balconies.
When a person is going to buy an apartment, he is interested not only in living space, but also in the presence of a balcony in it. Many families simply cannot imagine their home and housekeeping without this element, they carefully create the design of balconies and loggias.
The balcony has no walls on the left and right, unlike the loggia, although it can also be glazed and not glazed But not every modern person can see the differences that characterize balconies and loggias. If you are going to repair or glaze windows with your own hands, be sure to read this article.
A balcony is a territorially fenced area protruding from the outer wall of the facade, used for recreation in the summer. Builders recommend glazing its windows even before entering a new apartment and starting repairing the inside of the building with their own hands. The calculator will help you calculate the right amount of materials.
The design of the protruding element may be different. For example, an independent reinforced concrete slab with a parapet, or beams on which the flooring is installed. The area of this architectural element also varies.
To the right is a balcony, to the left is a loggia In order for the interior to be warm, it is necessary to calculate the amount of materials and glaze the structure. The most common building material for its formation is a reinforced concrete slab. It is possible to make a remote platform made of wood if, according to the project, the house itself is made of a similar material.
You can build a hanging extension inexpensively with your own hands, but it is better to use the services of professionals. Parapets are made from all kinds of modern materials: polymer compositions, metal, asbestos-cement sheets. Glazing windows in such a design will be quite simple. A calculator and calculation of work will help you.
The design of the parapets has some peculiarities. Its height should not be less than 1 meter (according to SNiP).
The fence is very rarely continuous and uniform. It consists of a combination of a frame (metal pipe or angle) and sheet material (slate with brackets).
Repair of the external structure also involves its glazing. To perform these works, plastic double-glazed windows, aluminum structures are best suited.
Scheme of a standard balcony Typical balconies
A building element of this type is considered the most common and simple to arrange. It is a combination of a reinforced concrete slab protruding from the outer wall of the house, which is neatly fenced with a metal grate.
To make it more attractive and safe (according to the rules of SNiP), the slab area is additionally enclosed with slate or concrete slabs. On such a design, you can inexpensively install additional decorative elements made of concrete and metal with your own hands. The area of a typical balcony is limited by its bearing capacity.
Typical balcony nodes that must be repaired every 10 years french balconies
If we consider the form of the French type construction, then the difference from the classical loggia will immediately become noticeable. Its repair and installation is quite simple. If you want to have a spacious balcony in the apartment, then the French design is not suitable for you, since its area is strictly limited.
classic french balcony Using a calculator, builders calculate the size of the bearing platform, which is practically absent. There is only a slight ledge on which a person's foot can stand.
The French version was previously installed not only near the doors, but also on the back of the window. In the modern world, the concept of "French" type means an extension, the windows of which can be glazed from top to bottom, letting the maximum amount of daylight into the room.
Under the "French" balcony today they understand only fully glazed balconies Repair of this design involves sheathing and glazing with your own hands. Modern decoration of balconies and loggias allows you to make it aesthetically attractive and comfortable.
Interestingly, modern French balconies can even have a glazed floor made of very durable, tempered glass or even polycarbonate. True, at the cost of installing such a balcony will be very expensive. But from an aesthetic point of view - everything is fine, it's hard to argue here.
Wrought iron balconies
Wrought iron balcony can rightly be called a work of art. In this case, the difference between a balcony and a loggia will immediately become obvious to customers, since there is an open area.
An example of a French-style wrought-iron balcony railing in a private house Its fence is made of forged metal elements. There is a wide variety of stylistic versions and techniques that will turn the building into a design masterpiece. The windows of the apartment can be located at a sufficiently large distance from the parapet.
His calculation will help to make a calculator. This means that the construction area is larger than in the case of a typical or French balcony. You can easily install loggia and balcony furniture on the platform, turning it into an open veranda.
Glazed balconies
The name itself suggests that the design contains windows completely covered with glass. When professional builders carry out repairs to the premises of the apartment, they will offer you inexpensive glazing of the interior space.
Today, thanks to modern glazing materials, you can even make a completely transparent balcony. Such a measure will also be able to expand the area of \u200b\u200bthe adjacent room. Using a calculator, a team of workers will calculate the size of the window openings. Performing glazing of balconies and loggias, you will get the opportunity to install sliding double-glazed windows on a remote platform.
Today, double-glazed windows (both aluminum and plastic) are going out of fashion, and it has been proven that they are unsafe from an environmental point of view. It is better to prefer classic wooden frames, which visually may not even differ from a double-glazed window - only in color.
Windows and the building itself will be reliably protected from atmospheric influences, and the calculator will make the calculation of consumables as accurate as possible.
Many families want to make a full-fledged room out of a balcony ceiling. To do this, expand the structure, remove part of the doorway. After such a permutation, the total area will increase. If you contact a well-known construction company, it will do the work quickly and inexpensively. Some operations can be done with your own hands, using the necessary tools.
It is advisable to close windows not only with wooden frames, but also with more advanced, modern materials. Glazing of balconies and loggias with an aluminum profile has a lot of advantages: long service life, reliability and practicality.
If you have some building skills, it is better to buy cheap aluminum profiles and install them yourself. The calculator will calculate the length of the profile.
The repair should be completed by insulating balconies and loggias with the best insulating materials. Knowing the total area of \u200b\u200bthe internal walls, you can purchase the right amount of insulation. Take a calculator with you to the store.
An example of a balcony glazing scheme with sliding frames Distinctive characteristics of the loggia
Loggias are an equally popular element of modern apartments in a multi-storey building. This architectural segment has some differences that make its presence in apartments preferable. Repair on it without difficulty can be done by almost everyone with their own hands.
A loggia is a planned room, fenced and covered, which serves for the rest of the residents of the apartment in the warm season. The exit to the outer space can be open or glazed.
A loggia is more preferable from a functional point of view than a balcony What are the characteristics of this design? The area of the loggia varies depending on the layout of the window and the apartment. With your own hands, you will be able to add decorative elements to its design, insulate the interior space or perform cosmetic repairs (sheath with insulating mats, clapboard or high-quality wood).
The bearing capacity of this architectural solution is much higher than that of a standard balcony. The plate, pinched on three sides, evenly transfers the main load to the walls. And the balcony structure is always pinched from one (less often - two) sides. Therefore, even furniture can be arranged on the loggia with your own hands. In this case, the windows must be glazed and repairs in the interior space must be carried out.
The loggia is a priori more durable from a structural point of view. The maximum allowable load on it is 3-4 times more than on the balcony.
To summarize the comparative characteristics of the balcony structure and the loggia, it is necessary to clearly articulate their differences. Today it will be done by professional builders.
The main differences between a loggia and a balcony are as follows:
Video
You can watch a video where professionals give useful advice on glazing, strengthening, insulation and decoration of loggias and balconies.
Each of us represents our housing in a certain light, and a significant role is given to the presence of a balcony or loggia. It is here that you can spend quiet cozy evenings with a cup of delicious tea or reading an interesting book. Here you can go out to air, think, breathe fresh air. Many assign great importance to this place in the apartment, often making redevelopment and changing the appearance of housing. This is a purely individual approach. At the same time, the concepts of balcony and loggia are often confused. What is the difference, we will learn from this article.
The concept of a balcony and its types
To begin with, we will deal with such a concept as a balcony.
What is a balcony?
A balcony is a building structure that is attached to the facade with only one side. It is believed that loggias in this regard are safer and more convenient, but first things first.
The balcony is quite difficult to insulate due to the fact that this is not provided for by the design. In addition, forcing this place with heavy objects is not recommended. At the same time, it can be glazed at your discretion, thereby it will become cozier and more comfortable there, bad weather will not be terrible. However, it should be borne in mind that this can darken the room.
Types of balconies
Consider what types of balconies are and their distinctive characteristics.
Typical balconies
This type of balconies can be found in Soviet-era Soviet-built houses. It consists of a concrete slab protruding forward and enclosed by an iron grating. Some cover the metal grate with slate. When glazing, the grating is removed and covered with stainless plates.
french balconies
This type of balcony is now rare, but in old houses a similar design can still be seen. Such a balcony is limited only by the front ledge, on which you can put one foot. To date, such balconies are not in demand during construction due to their insecurity.
Some experts call French balconies, which are glazed from top to bottom, so that a lot of light enters the room.
Wrought iron balconies
This type of balconies got its name due to the forged ornament. But it can also be glazed at your discretion, removing the metal forging.
Modern balconies
Modern construction brings its own adjustments to the usual view of the balcony, but at the same time, the balcony still remains an open space. True, now more and more developers are glazing balconies during the construction phase, thereby increasing the cost of an apartment, but at the same time minimizing the costs of future apartment owners for their arrangement.
Balcony: a building structure attached to one side of a building's façadeThe concept of a loggia and its varieties
Let us dwell on the definition of the concept of "loggia"
What is a loggia?
A loggia is a part of a room, limited by one or two sides, it is also called a separate extension. Such designs were very popular in Asian countries and saved a lot from the hot sun. Today, the loggia is often an additional room, or kitchen. This is possible if its area allows. If this is difficult, then the loggia is combined with the room, while demolishing the wall. Such an event must be coordinated with the relevant authorities.
The advantage is that the loggia can be insulated, for example. Make underfloor heating. In addition, as a rule, there is an exit to the loggia not from one room, but from two or three rooms.
What are the loggias?
There are not so many varieties of this design, but experts nevertheless distinguish two types - semicircular and ordinary.
Semicircular loggias
They got their name because of the shape of the window. As a rule, in such loggias, an eker is installed - an oval-shaped window.
Ordinary loggias
Such loggias are rectangular in shape, limited by concrete slabs and glazed only in front.
Differences between a balcony and a loggia
We analyzed such concepts as a balcony and a loggia. What is the difference will be described below.
The position of the balcony and loggia relative to the room
As we found out from the definition, the balcony protrudes from the facade of the building, and the loggia is part of it. The latter is in the same plane with the facade of the building, this is provided for by the design. The French balcony does not belong here, outwardly it also resembles a loggia, but this is not so.
The number of open sides of the balcony and loggia
The loggia, unlike the balcony, has one open side, the outer one. There are three of them at the balcony - external and two side ones.
Possible arrangement of a loggia and a balcony
To equip a loggia is much easier and more options than a balcony. Due to its closeness, it is equated to a separate room in which you can carry out heating, put furniture, and much more. To do this on the balcony is somewhat difficult.
Loggia and balcony area
At the balcony, the area is limited by load-bearing structures. The loggia depends on the project of the construction organization, therefore its dimensions may vary. The loggia can be large enough even to make a greenhouse there or accommodate a kitchen set. It all depends on the intent of the architect.
Reliability of the balcony and loggia
When operating a balcony, it is important to follow one very important recommendation: fill it with unnecessary things as little as possible, especially if they are quite heavy. Balconies are not designed for this. Loggias in this regard are more reliable, since the load is evenly distributed over its entire area.
It is important to understand the differences between a balcony and a loggia precisely because the final cost of an apartment can directly depend on the type of “exit” to the street. The loggia is considered more expensive and its sales coefficient is higher. But at the same time, a glazed balcony is not inferior in cost to a loggia, since more materials are required for its glazing. The choice is always yours.
To date, there are various types of glazing balconies. Based on the fact that the glazing of loggias and balconies is done once for many years, you should thoroughly study all the little things in order to correctly select the type of glazing that you need and monitor the quality of the work carried out by specialists when glazing loggias and balconies.
Traditionally, for glazing balconies and loggias, various glazing options are offered - these are sliding and swing systems.
This option of glazing balconies and loggias allows you to effectively solve the problem of heat conservation. You should be aware that heat "leaks" through windows in two directions: through cracks and through glass.
According to experts, the choice of material from which the box and frames are constructed does not have a significant effect on heat transfer. Of course, the heat transfer coefficient of wood and metal has a significant difference, but the total surface area that the box and frames “cover” is insignificant compared to the glazing area. Based on this, according to the criterion of thermal protection, the quality of the frames is not determined by the material itself, it is determined by the quality of their direct manufacture, the accuracy of the "fit", which as a result will lead to the absence of cracks.
In this option, only factory frames should be used. They are perfectly fitted to the box, as a rule, it is not possible to visually detect cracks. It remains to solve only one nuance - the "exit" of heat through the glass.
In the practice of balcony glazing, double-glazed windows are usually not used. This is due to the fact that the frames are very massive and quite expensive. Therefore, either double frames or frames with double glass are mounted.
But still, the box and frames turn out to be very bulky and when installed on the balcony railing, they do not look very nice.
Application of metal frames
The metal structure is attached to the balcony by welding. Glasses have a rounded shape, edged with a rubber seal. The construction is pretty solid.
When installing wooden frames, however, you should follow the technological process for installing balcony frames - treat the seams and joints with silicone sealant, mounting foam, strengthen the window sill and visor.
But there are significant drawbacks. Since the metal has poor resistance to corrosion, it must be monitored, that is, periodically cleaned and painted, and this leads to some waste of money. In this case, locking devices very often fail. Because of this, some companies that are engaged in glazing loggias and balconies immediately mount ordinary bolts instead of standard locking devices.
In addition, this type of glazing “holds” heat worse and has the lowest ratio of glass area to the area of the entire glazing structure. It has a spectacular external appearance, but the view from the inside is less aesthetic. The positive properties of this type of glazing include a relatively low cost.
So, the above types of glazing can be attributed to the standard options. Now let's look at the most modern and more aesthetic types of glazing, which are used both for loggias and balconies.
Aluminum profile for glazing
Glazing of balconies and loggias using an aluminum profile has become widespread today.
The advantages of this material include:
- high strength (7 times stronger than wood);
- high fire safety;
- excellent resistance to mechanical stress and environmental influences;
- aesthetic appearance.
There is a sliding (sliding) and swing design. It is much more difficult to glaze a balcony with a hinged structure; moreover, it is necessary to use more expensive components. Based on this, glazing will turn out to be twice as expensive as compared to a sliding structure. The quality of glazing will largely depend on the quality of installation and profile (its design advantages).
Loggias and balconies, which are glazed with aluminum profiles, transmit light well and are able to protect the balcony from precipitation and wind. Already in early spring, on a sunny day, the temperature on the loggia will allow you to bring seedlings and indoor flowers to it, and in the summer, for example, grow a good crop of tomatoes.
The profile has a small width and a wide range of colors.
Variety of aluminum profile systems
Consider the two most common systems for glazing loggias and balconies: the Spanish Provedal and the Vidnovsky profile. The differences between these two systems are the design features of the components (locks, rollers, seals, handles).
Provedal only uses ball bearing rollers to guarantee a long service life and a noticeably smooth ride. The Vidnov system uses rollers without bearings. This, of course, makes it difficult for the doors to move, which leads to their rapid wear and jamming.
The locks in the Provedal system are provided by the designers, they are very easy to use, they are easy to open and close from the inside, do not allow the sash to be opened from the outside. At the same time, these locks are quite organically inscribed in the design. The Vidnovskaya system does not provide for locks in its design.
In Provedal, the seal is made of a special grade of rubber that does not wear out over time, is resistant to the environment (does not break down from frost and does not emit an unpleasant odor at high outdoor temperatures).
The disadvantages of sliding structures, in addition to poor thermal insulation of a loggia or balcony, include the fact that the lower guide (carrier) is poorly protected from precipitation. The Vidnov system does not even provide openings for the possibility of bringing water out, because of this, the movement of the valves is sometimes difficult.
Of course, the use of ordinary, rather than reinforced or tempered glass, can lead to very deplorable consequences in the event of natural disasters, etc. However, reinforced and tempered glass, due to its high cost, is used in their production by no more than 1% of domestic manufacturers.
PVC profile for glazing
PVC windows have an excellent reputation. But for glazing balconies, PVC frames are quite bulky. Based on this, manufacturers make special frames for balconies. As a rule, they are sliding - they do not have all the advantages of PVC window frames.
Of course, if you wish, you can turn the loggia into a small room, while carrying out a whole range of thermal insulation measures. It makes sense to install a PVC thermal profile equipped with double glazing. Since PVC glazing frames are heavy, they can only be installed on a brick or concrete fence.
When planning the type and number of plastic sashes, it should be taken into account that the sashes that are torn off in a rotary way should have a small width so that in the open position they do not “take up” the already not very large area of the balcony.
The opening sash must be located in such a way that it is possible to wash the outer surface of the fixed sash without danger to health. It should also be taken into account that the total number of plastic opening sashes significantly increases the cost of the entire glazing structure.
It is rather difficult to give at least an estimated cost of one square meter of PVC balcony glazing, since the price fluctuates over a very wide range.
Frameless balcony glazing
Scheme of frameless glazing - 1. Top floor; 2. Top ebb; 3. System of double row rollers on ball bearings; 4. Top aluminum (bearing) profile; 5. Top brush seal; 6. Top glass profile; 7. Tempered glass; 8. Bottom glass profile; 9. Bottom silicone seal; 10. Lower aluminum (guide) profile; 11. Lower ebb; 12. Lower barrier
Frameless balcony glazing designs are the most progressive type today. They look like a solid glass wall because they have no uprights or frames. They do not destroy the architectural design in elite and old buildings and do not exacerbate the diversity of the facade of an ordinary high-rise building.
The basis of the design is an aluminum profile, which runs along the perimeter of the opening of the loggia or balcony. The lower and upper profiles serve as guides for all glass doors. Moreover, the profile, which is located at the top, is the carrier. A roller mechanism carrying the sash moves along the two shelves built into it.
Particularly strong glass is used for the sashes. As a rule, this is tempered boron glass, which has a grade M 6 and a thickness of 6 mm. The maximum permitted height of these sashes is no more than 210 cm. If higher sashes are required, glass with a thickness of 8 mm is used, due to the increase in the windage of the sash. This is especially true when glazing a loggia or balcony on the upper floors of multi-storey buildings, where they will experience heavy wind loads.
https://youtu.be/yL5_OTqmXJ4
On the loggia, along its edges, the shifted doors will fold into their space. In this form, it is very convenient to wipe them, while remaining at a safe distance from the balcony railing.
The mechanisms of movement of the valves, with the help of ebbs, visors and water-repellent grease, are quite reliably protected from moisture ingress into them. However, the whole structure, by definition, is not particularly highly impermeable. Through small cracks on the loggia or balcony, street air can seep.
Once a year, you need to treat the guides and roller mechanisms with a silicone spray.