types of balconies. French balcony and other types of glazing with detailed characteristics. Warm and cold glazing of the balcony


Before you take on the arrangement of a cozy corner, you need to clearly understand what you are dealing with. In other words, you should study the types of balconies and loggias in order to speak the same language with repairmen and understand well what result you want to achieve.

In the era of antiquity, balconies played important role in the formation of the architectural appearance of the building. They complemented its symmetry, they were a connecting part between the two wings of a large building. For now, it's just a chance to increase usable area housing and gain some space to stay. But, you see, no matter how small the balcony is, it is always welcome!

  • openness
    • Glazing types
  • isolation
  • National types of balconies
    • American balcony


"Classification of loggias and balconies"

So, we can divide all available “windows to the world” into two large groups:

  • Balconies
  • Loggias

The main criteria for dividing balconies and loggias into groups:

  • openness
  • isolation



You can read more about the differences and design features of each type in a separate article - we hope that the article about will answer any of your questions.

"Openness"

Here are the following types of loggias and balconies:

  • Closed
  • open

Of course, we are talking about glazing, which changes not only appearance space, but makes it suitable for a variety of functions. The final one will depend on the type of glazing you choose. Let's see how it happens, and in favor of which you will make a choice.

"Types of glazing"

Wanna smash on the balcony winter Garden, make an office, or do you have enough table and a couple of chairs for evening tea? As you understand, the heat of the room in these cases will vary, and the materials and technologies chosen by the workers will affect the temperature.

So, glazing of balconies and loggias happens:

  • Cold
  • Warm
  • This uncomfortable name should not be taken literally - of course, the room will be guaranteed protection from drafts, bitter frosts, a large number dust and noise. The appearance will improve, and the changes in the level of illumination will practically not be affected. It will not work to arrange a room on the balcony, but not all old houses provide this opportunity. It will probably be on the loggias of some types.


  • This transformation will allow you to use the room at any time of the year - specialists will take care of its protection in the cold. In parallel with it, work is underway to insulate both the internal and external parts. Read more about this in the article about.

"Isolation"

According to the size of the balcony and its isolation, there are two types:

  • Singles
  • Paired

Single balconies are designed for one apartment, the distance to the neighboring one is usually quite large. Paired balconies connect adjacent apartments, most often a partition is installed between them. Sometimes the balcony is the same for the whole apartment section, then they have an emergency exit to the stairwell.

"National types of balconies"

What are the balconies and loggias according to architectural features?

  • American balcony

Such balconies rarely take root in Russian realities, however, they are found in some Soviet-built houses. French balconies are microscopic in size - the platform is so small that you can literally put your feet on it, or it does not exist at all. Such a balcony is conditionally external, its space begins immediately behind the balcony door, sometimes without a ledge.

"American Balcony"

These balconies are quite wide and long, encircling the building and separated from each other only by a thin wall. The railings are usually low, half a person's height. There is plenty of space on American balconies!


Spanish balconies have a strict rectangular, and more often square shape and a laconic look. They are small, neat, often with bars only in the front, and surrounded by solid concrete around the perimeter.


Italian types of balconies are much more elaborate and varied, they can be pot-bellied, curved, decorated with rich openwork forging, balustrades and columns, you can often find stucco and bas-reliefs. Even such beauty is additionally decorated, because the balcony from the street should look as presentable as possible, attracting the eye. Therefore, if you want to become like the inhabitants of Florence, work hard so that your balcony is buried in greenery and flowers.


"Swedish balconies"

We often cite Swedish balconies as an example for several reasons. First, they have a similar design to those available in Russian houses- the same narrow extension, framed by metal crossbars. Secondly, Sweden is a northern country whose climate is similar to ours, so you can safely borrow any solution without thinking that it is only suitable for hot Rome or Barcelona.

Of course, balconies in modern private houses can have more original shape and for sure larger size. The most common are semicircular balconies supported by columns framing the entrance.

"Flower Decoration"

They play an important role in both emotional coloring home, and in its aesthetic appearance. In many countries, decorating balconies with flowers is a good tradition that is not customary to change. It is surprisingly easy and inexpensive - and not only changes your apartment, but also affects the urban environment as a whole. Do you want to learn it? Welcome to the above section!


We have yet to get used to the idea of ​​using the balcony only as a place to relax. For too long, small housing made us appreciate every square meter available space and use the balconies for household needs. But it's time to admit that it's time to breathe a sigh of relief and make the balcony a zone of lightness and tranquility, as we see in the photo, where the varieties of balconies and loggias appear in all their diversity!

Before you take on the arrangement of a cozy corner, you need to clearly understand what you are dealing with. In other words, you should study the types of balconies and loggias in order to speak the same language with repairmen and understand well what result you want to achieve.

In the era of antiquity, balconies played an important role in shaping the architectural appearance of the building. They complemented its symmetry, they were a connecting part between the two wings of a large building. At present, this is just a chance to increase the usable area of ​​\u200b\u200bhousing and gain some space for recreation. But, you see, no matter how small the balcony is, it is always welcome!

  • openness
    • Glazing types
      • cold glazing
      • Warm glazing
  • isolation
  • National types of balconies
    • french balcony
    • American balcony
    • spanish balcony
    • Italian balcony
    • swedish balcony

flower decoration


"Classification of loggias and balconies"

So, we can divide all available “windows to the world” into two large groups:

  • Balconies
  • Loggias

The main criteria for dividing balconies and loggias into groups:

  • openness
  • isolation

You can read more about the differences and design features of each type in a separate article - we hope that the article about balconies and loggias will answer any of your questions.

"Openness"

Here are the following types of loggias and balconies:

  • Closed
  • open

Of course, we are talking about glazing, which not only changes the appearance of the room, but makes it suitable for many functions. The final design of balconies and loggias will depend on the type of glazing you choose. Let's see how it happens, and in favor of which you will make a choice.

"Types of glazing"

Do you want to set up a winter garden on the balcony, make an office, or do you have enough table and a couple of chairs for evening tea? As you understand, the heat of the room in these cases will vary, and the materials and technologies chosen by the workers will affect the temperature.

So, glazing of balconies and loggias happens:

  • Cold
  • Warm
"Cold Glazing"
  • This uncomfortable name should not be taken literally - of course, the room will be guaranteed protection from drafts, bitter frosts, a lot of dust and noise. The appearance will improve, and the changes in the level of illumination will practically not be affected. It will not work to arrange a room on the balcony, but not all old houses provide this opportunity. It will probably be on the loggias of some types.
"Warm glazing"
  • This transformation will allow you to use the room at any time of the year - specialists will take care of its protection in the cold. In parallel with it, work is underway to insulate both the internal and external parts. Read more about this in the article about the decoration of balconies and loggias.

"Isolation"

According to the size of the balcony and its isolation, there are two types:

  • Singles
  • Paired

Single balconies are designed for one apartment, the distance to the neighboring one is usually quite large. Paired balconies connect adjacent apartments, most often a partition is installed between them. Sometimes the balcony is the same for the whole apartment section, then they have an emergency exit to the stairwell.

"National types of balconies"

What are the balconies and loggias according to architectural features?

  • french balcony
  • American balcony
  • spanish balcony
  • Italian balcony
  • swedish balcony

"French Balcony"

Such balconies rarely take root in Russian realities, however, they are found in some Soviet-built houses. French balconies are microscopic in size - the platform is so small that you can literally put your feet on it, or it does not exist at all. Such a balcony is conditionally external, its space begins immediately behind the balcony door, sometimes without a ledge.

"American Balcony"

These balconies are quite wide and long, encircling the building and separated from each other only by a thin wall. The railings are usually low, half a person's height. There is plenty of space on American balconies!

"Spanish Balcony"

Spanish balconies have a strict rectangular, and more often square shape and a laconic look. They are small, neat, often with bars only in the front, and surrounded by solid concrete around the perimeter.

"Italian balcony"

Italian types of balconies are much more elaborate and varied, they can be pot-bellied, curved, decorated with rich openwork forging, balustrades and columns, you can often find stucco and bas-reliefs. Even such beauty is additionally decorated, because the balcony from the street should look as presentable as possible, attracting the eye. Therefore, if you want to become like the inhabitants of Florence, work hard so that your balcony is buried in greenery and flowers.

"Swedish balconies"

We often cite Swedish balconies as an example for several reasons. Firstly, they have a similar design to those in Russian houses - the same narrow extension, framed by metal crossbars. Secondly, Sweden is a northern country whose climate is similar to ours, so any solution for decorating balconies and loggias can be safely borrowed without thinking that it is only suitable for hot Rome or Barcelona.

Of course, balconies in modern private houses can have a more original shape and certainly a larger size. The most common are semicircular balconies supported by columns framing the entrance.

"Flower Decoration"

Flowers for balconies and loggias play an important role both in the emotional coloring of the house and in its aesthetic appearance. In many countries, decorating balconies with flowers is a good tradition that is not customary to change. It is surprisingly easy and inexpensive - and not only changes your apartment, but also affects the urban environment as a whole. Do you want to learn it? Welcome to the above section!

We have yet to get used to the idea of ​​using the balcony only as a place to relax. For too long, small-sized housing has forced us to appreciate every square meter of available space and use balconies for household needs. But it's time to admit that it's time to breathe a sigh of relief and make the balcony a zone of lightness and tranquility, as we see in the photo, where the varieties of balconies and loggias appear in all their diversity!

Modern housing construction allows you to decide on the layout of the apartment even at the construction stage. However, sometimes it can be difficult for owners to navigate with functional purpose premises, especially if there is a balcony and a loggia. The offers of construction supermarkets allow you to create cozy open areas relaxation or amazing winter gardens.

To understand what is the difference between a balcony and a loggia, or to understand what a bay window is, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of these buildings according to SNiP.

Balconies: description and types

According to the definition of SNiP, a balcony (translated from the ancient German word balko means "beam") is a platform protruding from the plane of the building wall. It is noteworthy that the building will be considered a balcony when located at floor level, even without a roof / canopy, parapet.

Only a professional should evaluate the design of the balcony and the possibilities for its repair or alteration. Only a specialist can tell you whether it is possible to glaze the balcony or is it better to leave the area open.

The methods of attaching buildings to the wall determine the types of balconies, their parameters and depend on the characteristics of the materials of the house, the thickness of the elements.

  • Cantilever - the balcony slab is connected to the floor element in the carrier slab (reinforcements are connected by welding) or located on beams protruding from the wall. Width of the open area - up to 1 meter, configuration: rectangular, semicircular.
  • Attached - the balcony slab is supported by various supports (the wall of the house or individual elements - columns). Designs of any shape and size are allowed.

Of course, it is better to arrange a site of any size in any design style and it won't even matter covered balcony or open. According to the external design, the following types of balconies are also conditionally distinguished:

  • italian - stands out with openwork wrought iron fence having a curved shape. Vases with flowers are necessarily exhibited - as an additional decoration of the site;
  • American is a large balcony resembling a terrace. Furniture, umbrellas or awnings from the sun, flowers in large tubs are freely located on it. It can “encircle” the entire building, it is notable for its low fences;
  • Spanish - has a small area of ​​rectangular or square shape, allowing you to place some compact furniture items (armchair, chair) or flowers in flowerpots. These unusual balconies are rare, and their supporting beams are usually decorated decoratively and are one of the decorations of the facade of the building;
  • french - can be considered a design whose only function is decor, since the balcony area as such is completely absent or allows you to place small flower pots. A picturesque view outside the window will become an interior detail if balcony door made entirely of glass. Significant investments are not required for registration - it is enough to install a beautiful forged fence.

Loggia: characteristics and types

According to the wording of SNiP, the loggia (on Italian the word loggia means a room open from several directions) is a built-in / attached platform, bounded by walls on three sides. The depth of the room is determined by the possibility of using natural light. There are glazed or unglazed designs. What is a loggia modern apartment? This is a recreation area or a separate room equipped with heating.

Despite the difference between a balcony and a loggia in design, these buildings are similar in design types, namely:

  • french - different panoramic glazing, visually significantly expands the space;
  • spanish - playground small sizes, mostly rectangular / square in shape, the fence is necessarily designed in the form of a concrete wall;
  • Italian - equipped forged railings bizarre, ornate form;
  • American - located along the perimeter of the building and can be of different widths.

An interesting spatial form on the wall of the building is a bay window (the name of the structure comes from French word"arquer" - archer). The structure can have a triangular, rectangular, semicircular and polyhedral shape and, as a rule, is glazed around the perimeter. Bay windows are most common in the Nordic countries - Germany, Denmark. The building expands the area of ​​​​the room and increases daylight premises. The most suitable for these purposes is a rectangular bay window.

Differences and features

To clearly understand what can be insulated and where it is better to place cozy corner for recreation, you need to know the types of balconies and loggias, bay windows, understand their "weak and strong" sides.

  1. Loggia glazing options are more diverse due to the ability of the structure to withstand significant loads.
  2. The reliability of the balcony is limited design features. The structure can withstand a specific weight, which must be taken into account when placing overall or heavy items.
  3. Equipping the loggia with suitable heating (best of all - with "warm" floors) allows you to arrange the room into a separate full-fledged room.
  4. Appropriate glazing of the balcony and opening can significantly increase the natural lighting of the room.

Of course, it is optimal when the question is not raised when choosing a living space: a balcony or a loggia? The rapid construction of new houses allows you to choose your favorite version of the apartment project. However the right approach when repairing or redevelopment of any buildings, it will make the room cozy, unique and safe.

Loggias and balconies are integral parts 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 vertical wall and looks like 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.
    Founded on a reinforced concrete slab and fenced metal grating. 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. during its construction, only a small ledge and forged metal fence. IN modern understanding the "French" balcony is a small overhanging platform, glazed on three sides from top to bottom;
  • Glazed option.
    The most common, 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

Main outward difference these objects in the way of adjoining to 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. Interior view buildings 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 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. She differs more wide 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 an extension 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 in practice is safer, because carrier plate secured 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.

The choice will depend on what goal you are pursuing. You can equip a mini-office, a room for children, a greenhouse for exotic plants, or you can simply close the space from rainfall or use it as a pantry, basement in winter, keep vegetables and fruits there. In the first case, the balcony will be expensive, but warm, in the second case, it will be cold, but cheap. The difference in price is about 80%, so the choice must be approached responsibly. Let us consider in more detail the features of each design.

Glazing of balconies at home using insulation materials allows you to save up to 35% of heat in the apartment, since most of it leaves through windows and doors. Moreover, in remote balconies without insulation, the wall of the house is very cold, on which moisture can condense. This problem is solved by warm balcony. As an advantage, you get additional living space. The price of the apartment is 30 sq.m. immediately increases by 10% - this also costs a lot of money.

Such a structure is made through the use of aluminum or wooden block structures, which can consist of 2 or 3 chambers. Double-glazed windows for 3 air chambers have maximum sound insulation and minimum heat conduction, but their price is much higher. The structures are durable and reliable. As a rule, these are equal constructions, where each package is in its own frame.

Glazing balconies with a roof without the use of insulation materials is much cheaper, since packages with high heat conductivity are used. Such a balcony is necessary for the tightness of the room - moisture and wind do not penetrate inside due to durable glass and high-quality insulators. But the space remains cold in winter, and the temperature will not be much higher than outside. For many, this will be an advantage, since it is very convenient to store vegetables and fruits, but to do working room or a full room would be impossible.

Most often used on balconies simple aluminum profile from which the frame is made. There are also frameless designs that allow you to increase visual visibility. This seriously affects the lighting of the room, it will be especially useful for the warm season, when you can take out the table and chairs and relax, admiring the view from the window. Glazing of balconies with wood has recently been carried out quite rarely, since poor tightness of such a design significantly reduces the service life. natural materials, and the cost of the tree is high.

We select glazing methods

What do you want from balcony design? Increase living space? To give it an aesthetic appearance? Maybe make it more comfortable? These and many other problems can be solved with different ways glazing. Let's consider them in more detail.

The most popular method of glazing, which involves an increase in living space by moving the outer wall of the balcony a certain distance.

Most often, the area increases by 25-30 centimeters. This allows you to make a small room there or a summer "terrace" where you can put a table and chairs. There are really many ways to use this space. Additionally, you get the following benefits:

  • excellent appearance;
  • freeing up space for a future window sill;
  • additional reinforcement of the parapet.

The only negative in the design of a remote balcony is that it is imperative to obtain permission to change the design in order to avoid a possible fine later.

It represents modern approach to solving the problem. More often panoramic glazing balconies are used for summer construction i.e. cold. Because it will simply be impossible to insulate it - despite high strength, the thermal efficiency of the flaps will be very low.

The frameless option is also suitable if you want to make a French balcony. The review will become much larger, but the insulation will not play significant role, since the profiled frame can be made in the wall and insulated with other building materials.

Benefits of a frameless design:

  1. increased strength and resistance to atmospheric phenomena;
  2. all are saved architectural features premises, can be used even in the historical parts of the city;
  3. strong visual magnification of the window;
  4. sound insulation due to the solidity of the structure;
  5. ease of use.

Most often, balconies are glazed with aluminum, especially if there are sliding shutters on the windows. Cheap, beautiful, practical.

French balcony and what is it

The original design with, which does not belong to any of the above types. In fact, this is the absence of a balcony, or rather, its visualization. It does not have a platform (or it is minimal, 20-30 centimeters, for flowers, for example) and serves only to decorate the facade of the house or the interior of the room.

The window in the room goes from the floor itself, which significantly improves the appearance, increases light transmission. Glazing takes a minimum of time, since often its area is equal to the area of ​​​​the opening itself in the wall. The thickness of the glass is at least 0.5 mm, often multi-layered glass is used so that it does not crumble upon impact, but only deforms. french glazing balcony is considered the cheapest and most beautiful, as the interior is enriched with a panoramic view of the street, and a visual balcony appears in the exterior of the room (the outside is decorated with railings, sometimes with a small decorative ledge).