Panoramic windows are gaining more and more popularity every year. This type of glazing instantly transforms the facade, gives the maximum amount of natural light, visually expands and “unloads” the interior. However, the specific design of a large window dictates certain requirements for installation and operation. What are these requirements, and what you need to know to install panoramic windows in an apartment and a private house, read in this article.
Content
What is panoramic glazing
The windows are called panoramic if they have large size and occupy the entire space from floor to ceiling. Roughly speaking, this is a glass external wall of a house or apartment. The large area of \u200b\u200bglazing allows you to make the room as bright and spacious as possible. However, for the same reason, panoramic windows are at greater risk of the penetration of cold and extraneous noise, so their design is qualitatively different from ordinary double -glazed windows.
Only in the case of proper installation can one achieve effective heat and sound insulation, therefore, without the appropriate experience, it is better to entrust this work to professionals. If you want to install large panoramic windows in an apartment or private house, keep in mind that just like you enjoy a wide review, passers -by will be able to consider what is happening at your house in all details. It’s not that this is a clear drawback, however, you can see a clear challenge for thieves and scammers, so you should immediately take care of security measures. Tint or coating with mirror reflection will help to hide from prying eyes.
But if you think that the thief will be able to break the panoramic window by throwing a stone at it or hacking it, we hasten to reassure you - such structures are made from high -strength tempered glass and, in addition, are covered with protective anti -speaking films. If the window is equipped with opening details, alarm can be put on it.
The panoramic window reliably protects against noise, so even if you live next to the highway or playground, extraneous sounds will not be disturbed by you. Also, a lot of light and heat flow through such a window. And if in the first case everything is fine, then the excess of heat in the summer can not only cause discomfort, but also lead to the burnout of the parquet, carpet, wallpaper, wilting shade -loving indoor plants. When planning glazing with panoramic windows, immediately take care of suitable curtains or blinds. It is logical that it is better not to choose the southern sunny side. Vertical blinds and Roman curtains look very beautiful, and in order not to overload the atmosphere, you can hang an air tulle or curtains from an easy organza.
If you want to put a whole panoramic window, get ready for the fact that you will have to learn to wash it. This will need to purchase a special mop to cover the entire area. If you live in a multi -storey building, glass care should be done extremely carefully. In addition, condensation will be formed on the large window in the winter, especially if the ventilation system in the house is faulty and micro -profile is not provided in the window.
The most important drawback is that the installation of panoramic windows requires legal approval with the relevant authorities. Indeed, in essence, the window will replace the outer wall of the house, and this is a serious redevelopment.
Types of panoramic glazing
Types of glazing vary, depending on the materials for the manufacture of panoramic windows. So, there is cold and warm glazing. In the first case, the profile is made of metal, or the window does not have a frame at all. Then there is no need to talk about high thermal insulation, but the work will cost cheaper. Cold glazing is used for verandas, loggias and balconies.
With warm glazing, as you could already guess, the heat insulation level is quite high, and allows the window to replace a full -fledged insulated wall. Profiles in this case are made of plastic or wood. Such panoramic windows can be seen in offices, apartments, private houses and stores. Depending on the needs in thermal insulation, you can choose one-, two- and three-chamber double-glazed windows.
Bezramic glazing
Such windows have a very original appearance, give the room and facade of lightness and airiness. Wheel -glazed windows are made of high -strength rabbing glass with a thickness of 6 to 10 mm. The height of the product can reach 3 m or higher (individual order).
How do glass hold without frames? Special guide profiles are attached to the window opening, which remain invisible and reliably hold the glass. The guides are placed in the lower and upper part of the opening, attached to the wall with anchor bolts and inserted a double -glazed window there. He, in turn, holds special glue and seals in profiles.
Since the bezbrane glazing is protected only by the wind, it should not be hopeful that on such a balcony or loggia in winter it will be very warm-the temperature difference will be only 2-3C. If you think that the problem can be solved by installing energy -saving heat, they are forced to disappoint you - it will cost many times more, but will not give the desired effect.
Aluminum profiles
Light and strong aluminum can be used not only for cold, but also for warm panoramic glazing. The difference is that with a cold type, a single-chamber window is inserted into the profile, and with warm-two- or three-chamber.
The main advantage of aluminum frames is that they are very light. This is useful in cases where the balcony plate is not very strong or old and is not able to withstand serious loads. In addition, aluminum is resistant to temperature differences and is not subject to corrosion, it can be painted, and the profile practically does not need care. The design of the aluminum window can be made both sliding and rotary-oatmeal, which will save a lot of free space.
Of the disadvantages, one can distinguish the fact that the aluminum profile is quite expensive, but at the same time is significantly inferior in heat -saving characteristics of plastic or wood. If you want to focus on heat, and the rigidity of the balcony, walls or loggia allows, it is better to give preference to the types of glazing listed below.
Metal -plastic glazing
Plastic profiles, like aluminum, are light and accuracy. They simply care for them, and a variety of mosquito nets are delivered in the kit. However, the plastic is subject to deformation under the influence of high and low temperatures - it expands from the heat, from the cold - narrows. For this reason, the sizes of the panoramic window are limited and are no more than 210x90 cm. The weight is also limited to 80 kg.
Plastic is not a very strong material, but a large window from floor to ceiling should withstand all kinds of loads. Therefore, during installation, it is necessary to use a profile with enhanced reinforcement, as well as an impost, which significantly increases the weight of the entire structure. To make a overall window, connect several small segments between which the expansion compensator is located, and this interferes with a full -fledged wide review.
Wooden profiles
For the same reasons as in the case of plastic profiles, the sizes of wooden products are limited to 280x80 cm. With a decrease in height, it is permissible to increase the width, which allows you to create creative designs of panoramic windows.
An important point: in order to eliminate the risk of decay and deformation of wooden profiles from the temperature and condensate difference, it is necessary to give preference to products from hardwood. It is also recommended to treat the surface with antiseptic compounds annually.
The glued profile serves much longer than the one made of a whole piece of wood. It has the best insulating characteristics, is practically not subject to corruption, but also costs more. To maintain it in proper condition, it is enough to renew the paintwork annually.
Features of panoramic glazing
A house with panoramic windows is very beautiful, but in order to get such beauty, you need to either pay a tidy sum, or work hard yourself. In technical terms, the design is quite complicated, and only a professional can cope with such a job. First of all, the safety of residents and the protective characteristics of the window depends on the correct installation.
Any panoramic window consists of a double -glazed window and a profile - a frame that should withstand the weight of this double -glazed window. In this situation, a strict sequence of choice is provided - first it is necessary to choose a double -glazed window, and already depending on its weight and characteristics - profile.
When choosing a double -glazed window, pay attention to its dimensions, thickness, total mass and formula. Each double -glazed window has its own formula. Take the following data for example: 4x14x4x14x4top, s/n (wide, warm glass -packet). Here the first digit is the thickness of the outer glass, the second is the width of the intermediate frame between the outer and central glass, that is, the width of the chamber. The next number means the thickness of the central glass, then again there is a width of the intermediate frame, but already between the central and internal glasses, and the last number, as you can already understand, is the thickness of the inner glass. Marking "TOP" means that the glass is covered with an energy -saving film, and the C/P40 is the sum of all layers of the double -glazed window, which gives its total width.
As we have already said, panoramic windows are made of high -strength tempered glass. For cottages, verandas and private houses, there is no need to choose the thickest product-5-6 mm is enough. The glass becomes hardened after a special heat treatment, as a result of which it acquires incredible strength, resistance to temperature differences and the ability to withstand a large load.
The following design features will help you when choosing and installing panoramic windows:
- Pay attention to the distance between the glasses. If the distance inside the double -glazed window exceeds 25 mm, then it will not protect from the cold. More, with a low thermal insulation ability to cost such a wide window will be very expensive. The optimal distance between the glasses is 10-16 mm.
- The dimensions of the double -glazed window are also crucial. Due to the specific features of the design and the effects of natural physical factors, it is not recommended to install windows with dimensions of pain 3x3.2 m. The same rule applies to large products with a narrow remote jumper. When the air temperature decreases, the volume of air inside the double -glazed window becomes smaller, as a result of which they are pressed against each other. If they press quite strongly, they can “stick together”, and this is fraught with cracks, depressurization and destruction of the structure.
- If you are going to put panoramic windows on the sunny side, choose tinted in the mass of glass. Green delay up to 65% of sunlight, and bronze - up to 60%.
- Mirror glass is delayed to 65% of sunlight when heat absorption in 10% (like ordinary glass). This is the best option for installation on the sunny side of the house.
- Energy -saving double -glazed windows will significantly reduce heating costs, especially in a private house. But they will bring tangible benefits only in case of warm glazing.
- Pay attention to the chamber of double -glazed windows. For residential buildings and apartments, it is better not to choose single -chamber products, since they practically do not protect against noise and cold. The two -chamber is enough to create a cozy and warm atmosphere in the room.
- If you need a reliable protection of housing, it makes sense to install armored double -glazed windows.
When you chose a double -glazed window, you can choose an appropriate profile for it. Such products for panoramic windows are imposed on special requirements. Firstly, the profile should be able to accommodate wide double-glazed windows up to 50 mm. Secondly, it should be reinforced, that is, have a metal amplifier inside for resistance to wind and static loads. Thirdly, the profile should have low thermal conductivity to maximize the heat loss.
The image below presents profiles from popular manufacturers and their characteristics:
Apartments with panoramic windows will cause admiration for all passers -by, and you can proudly declare that you live in a house with an exclusive design. However, as you already managed to make sure, it is not so easy to acquire such beauty, and caring for it requires a certain dexterity. Nevertheless, despite the difficulties, more and more people prefer to decorate their housing with original windows from floor to ceiling.
Panoramic windows: photo
In the end, we suggest you once again verify the beauty and originality of projects with panoramic windows and see a small photo selection.