Insulation of balconies and loggias with aluminum glazing

Most developers rent out houses with standard aluminum balcony glazing, which most often consists of cold glazing with an aluminum profile. This is due to the fact that the balcony is not a living space and, according to the standards, does not require additional insulation. This glazing option is considered cost-effective. If a tenant decides to arrange a living space on the balcony, equipped as a veranda, workshop or office, he needs to think first of all about insulating the aluminum profile.

Insulation of seams between window frames and walls

Seams are a weak point in a window structure. They can allow moisture and wind to pass through. The windows are constantly fogged up. Fungus and mold appear at the joints. To obtain airtight joints, you need to perform a number of actions:

1. Clean the seams around the perimeter from paint, plaster, sealant, and old polyurethane foam. You will need a spatula 100 - 150 mm wide.
2. Carefully inspect the seams for gaps and empty spaces.
3. Fill the voids in the joints with polyurethane foam. Curing time is 24 hours.
4. Tape the joints with protective tape to protect them from getting wet.
5. Seal the seams. The method depends on further work. You can putty, paint or install plastic strips. If you plan to insulate the side walls, then no additional finishing steps are required.

Important! Polyurethane foam is available in two versions: for summer and winter use. This must be taken into account.

It is necessary to take into account the tension of bolts and self-tapping screws, which are fixed directly to the base of the structure, since aluminum is subject to mechanical stress.

Extruded aluminum gives the structure lightness and strength, and polyester powder lining protects the balcony frame from precipitation. The powder coating of the profile is standard white.

Important! The profile for folding windows is a complete frame. The doors of the product move along a guide, which is firmly attached to the base of the concrete partition of the balcony. For smooth wheel movement, it is better to purchase a roller device with a rubberized base.

To remove condensate that forms in the openings of the guide profile, special openings are provided. This equipment prevents freezing of the structure and mechanism, which helps to extend the service life of the entire structure.

Aluminum systems for balconies are of the following types:

• Folding. An aluminum sliding door is located along the sash, providing “ventilation” mode.
• Recoil. Aluminum sliding doors on the balcony are mounted in a horizontal position along the guide panel.
• Rotary. This kind of glazing is equipped with special spherical-type fittings, which can rotate both inward and outward.
• Fixed glazing. This type of balcony glazing is used if it is an area that is little used.

Insulation of the loggia with a combined wooden-aluminum profile

The wooden-aluminum profile, due to its thermal insulation characteristics, will make it possible to turn the balcony into the most suitable room for use in winter. There are two versions:

1. Aluminum frames with decorative wooden trims on the inside of the window.
2. Wooden frames decorated with aluminum overlays on the street side.

The first option is a cold glazing option and is used to decorate the room and give the balcony a natural, natural look.

The second option is more functional. Wooden frames give the window an eco-style, and aluminum linings protect the wood from the effects of precipitation. Such windows are wider than the aluminum profile in the first version. However, this option makes it possible to choose the closest possible color of powder enamel on the outside. Thanks to this, it will be possible to minimize the difference between the balcony and the general facade of the building and other balconies.

This insulation process will not require significant costs. If all points are performed correctly, you can get rid of drafts, get additional sound insulation and reduce heat loss.

Insulate a balcony without glazing

If the loggia was originally without frame and glass and made in the French style, then it can be protected from the cold with the help of panoramic glazing. Such construction provides spaciousness, security and versatility of the fenced space.

Installation of this structure is a complex and materially expensive process, since the balcony will have to be glazed on all sides from floor to ceiling. But thanks to this installation, you can create an extraordinary loggia design with a view of the city’s beauty. The disadvantage of insulation is that stained glass windows are not able to retain heat in winter.

Let's get straight to work

Before insulating a loggia with aluminum glazing, you need to carry out some preparatory steps, without which the insulation may be useless.

1. Clean the entire aluminum profile of unnecessary elements. Remains of putty, polyurethane foam or other construction debris - remove all this. In small quantities they will not greatly affect energy saving, but the inconvenience during installation will be obvious.
2. Seal any unnecessary holes or gaps in the profiles. It often happens that when installing the frame, a screwdriver might come off or a grinding machine might slip. There were no defects of such a scale that you would have to throw it away or cut off a part, but you may suffer a little while insulating it. An ordinary sealant will help you solve this problem.
3. Choose insulation. In this case, since the process will involve small objects, many experienced builders suggest using ordinary construction foam. I do not recommend resorting to such drastic methods because it can deform the frame, which will create unnecessary problems when installing the windows themselves. The most appropriate, in my opinion, is to use mineral wool. In this case, you can purchase a roll rather than plates, which will be cheaper, and fill all the cavities in the same way.
4. Prepare your instrument. If you use polyurethane foam, all you need is a special gun into which the cylinder is inserted. If your finger fell on mineral wool, then a small spatula, a stationery knife and a tape measure will be enough.

Options for using a warm balcony

Insulating and decorating an old balcony with your own hands will help transform it, adapting it to the design you need, making it more functional. High-quality insulation will help make your stay comfortable in winter, and nothing will stop you from spending time talking, drinking a cup of tea, or while away the evenings reading books.

Well protected from the effects of aggressive weather conditions, the balcony can be transformed into a small nursery or working workshop.

But if you haven’t yet decided to completely insulate your balcony or you don’t have enough money, then we will tell you how to insulate windows with your own hands, make old openings warmer and able to withstand harsh winters. We will also describe methods of modern insulation and the main nuances when performing such work.

Professional insulation of aluminum windows and doors

The insulation method is selected based on diagnostics and thermal imaging studies of the profile system. We will eliminate any defects that lead to freezing, blowing and icing of the profile system.

Our craftsmen have extensive experience in successfully insulating any aluminum windows and doors. We do not skimp on construction foam; we use high-quality seals based on rubber and silicone. Any work is carried out carefully to avoid damage to surfaces. Insulation is carried out according to standards, which ensures excellent results and good thermal insulation of windows.

Is it necessary to insulate the ceiling on the balcony?

The main source of heat loss is not only window structures and walls, but also poorly finished ceilings. For some reason, he is underestimated the most and in vain. Firstly, warm air is always located at the top, so if there are any gaps or errors there, the heat will go either to the neighbors above or to the street. Secondly, due to the warm air accumulated at the top, condensation, dampness and mold form on the uninsulated ceiling.

In some cases, there is no need to insulate the ceiling on a balcony or loggia if your neighbors above have insulated the floor.

It is better to entrust the insulation of the ceiling on the loggia to professionals, because the quality and further operation of the balcony structure depends on the order in which the layer of thermal insulation, vapor and waterproofing is laid.

The vapor barrier layer is installed closer to the interior, and the waterproofing layer is installed closer to the street.

Prices for insulation of aluminum windows in Moscow

The cost of insulating aluminum windows and doors depends on the type of work performed. There are often several defects that lead to a decrease in the thermal efficiency of the structure, which increases the complexity and cost of repairs. A detailed price list can be requested from our managers.

Applying for permission to glaze a balcony

There is no clear legal regulatory framework on the issue of glazing balconies, so it is difficult to answer whether it is necessary to declare this and whether there is any point in the costly preparation of permits. Current legislation provides for a procedure for official registration of repair work in a number of authorities when redevelopment is carried out in apartments. Installation, dismantling, repainting and changing the configuration of balcony frames do not relate to reconstruction or redevelopment work, therefore the possibility of carrying them out and the legality of installation is determined by local officials or representatives of architectural services. Complaints to the owners may arise in cases where during the modernization the color of the entire profile frame or the shape of the window frames are changed.

What causes aluminum windows to freeze?

Loss of thermal efficiency of a window or balcony door can be a consequence of:

1. defective installation of the profile system;
2. using cheap or unsuitable seals;
3. savings on polyurethane foam when insulating the box;
4. depressurization of the glass unit;
5. house shrinkage;
6. drying out/wear of the sealing rubber.

You can prevent window freezing by regularly cleaning and lubricating the seal. Aluminum window fittings also require systematic maintenance: cleaning, lubrication and adjustment. This will help correct the position of the sash and eliminate minor defects. Entrust installation work on flashings, slopes and flashings only to qualified specialists.

Insulation of a cold balcony

Of course, it is possible to do such insulation, and you definitely won’t regret it. But an important component of such an event is correctly selected materials and other auxiliary elements.

To turn the balcony glazing into a warm one, you need to carry out the following work:

• Insulate and carefully seal the seams that are located between the walls, windows and balcony frame;
• If there are cracks on the walls, on the floor or ceiling, they also need to be sealed;
• Directly insulate all surfaces of the room.

Frame for laying insulation

As you know, insulation can be both external and internal. As a rule, for external insulation it is sometimes necessary to take permission from city services, since it may interfere with the general appearance of the building, but for internal insulation no permission is needed, it will be carried out indoors, and no one except you will see it.

But in this case, the question arises: how to insulate a balcony with cold glazing, on your own or trust the professionals? In this case, you must solve this problem yourself.

If you have the necessary knowledge, and as they say, your hands grow from the right place, then it is quite possible to do such work yourself. But if you are not entirely confident in your own abilities, then seek help from a master!

Insulation of seams around the frame

If you are redoing the cold glazing of a balcony, then initially you need to seal all the seams adjacent to the frame, since it is through them that most of the heat is lost and cold air from outside enters.

Moreover, moisture penetrates into the room through the seams, which can damage both the balcony structure and the room itself. Moisture promotes the development of fungi and mold, which will be very difficult to remove in the future.

To seal the seams you will need to do the following work:

• It is necessary to clean the seam cavities from dirt, paint, plaster, foam, etc. This can be done using a regular spatula;
• Make sure there are no gaps or other empty spaces. It is recommended to check this in sunny weather;
• Fill all empty spaces with foam;
• Wait at least a day, then cut off the remaining foam and seal the joints with a special tape for thermal insulation of insulated cold glazing.

Methods of insulation from “traditional craftsmen”

The simplest way to try to solve the problem of insulating a cold aluminum window profile on a balcony is to paste over its frame with a thermal insulating material - penoizol or penofol. The efficiency of such “insulation” tends to 0. This is understandable. Even using the thickest 10 mm penofol, it is impossible to provide sufficient thermal insulation. Such “insulated” aluminum windows lose heat not so much due to freezing of the metal frame, but due to heat loss through the single window glass.

Pasting a single window glass with a high-quality heat-insulating (energy-saving) film can reduce heat loss in winter by up to 30%. But, of course, it cannot completely replace the second or third glazing contour with film. Some craftsmen completely remove window frames made of aluminum profiles, leaving only crossbars-guides, and in their place they install windows made of PVC profiles with double or triple glazing. In this case, the appearance of the building facade immediately suffers. Since the PVC profile is thicker and visually very different from the aluminum window profile. Such a replacement is not acceptable if the balcony is semicircular.

Another trick to insulate a balcony is to install a second glazing loop made of PVC profiles with double glazing behind the existing glazing. This significantly reduces the area of ​​the balcony and makes it impossible to wash the window glass between window blocks located close to each other.

All these “guerrilla” methods of insulating cold aluminum profiles of balcony windows are either ineffective and still do not allow its use in the cold season, or lead to a critical loss of appearance and functionality.

Do-it-yourself insulation

This work should begin with the windows. If you plan to replace them, then it is better to opt for double-glazed windows with an energy-saving effect. If the owner in the near future wants to do without replacing the structures, then all the cracks need to be filled with putty, and a rubber sealant must be attached to the places where the frames are pressed. Next, the sequence of work will be as follows:

• all seams, joints and cracks are sealed using construction foam;
• The floor is insulated. For example, you can make a cement screed with electrical heating. Another option is insulation with mineral wool, on top of which boards will be laid;
• Insulation is installed on the walls and ceiling. To do this, a profile frame is attached on top, after which the distance between the profiles is filled with glass wool. Only after this do they proceed to covering the walls and ceiling with sheets of plasterboard;
• the final stage is finishing work. First, the flooring is laid, after which they move on to finishing the ceiling and walls.

Cold glazing conversion methods

An aluminum frame with cold single glasses on the balcony will protect your home from rain and snow, from street dirt and dust, but will not save you from cold air in winter. Many apartment owners do not think about whether it is necessary to insulate the balcony. Of course, everyone would like to insulate with cold glazing. This issue can be solved with the help of a large number of ideas from handymen and large window installation companies. The reconstruction involves the insulation of the profile itself and the replacement of glazing.

Legal aspect of changing the facade of a building

Any changes made to the enclosing structures of the building's facade (and these include balcony parapets), as well as glazing that does not correspond to the general architectural concept, require permission from local executive authorities.

Relevant regulations have been adopted at the level of each subject of the Federation.

In Moscow, this is Government Decree No. 508 of October 25, 2011 “On the organization of reconstruction and (or) redevelopment of residential and non-residential premises in apartment buildings.” One of the points of this Resolution provides for the mandatory obtaining of permission if “the shape of window and door openings in external enclosing structures changes;).

The procedure for obtaining such permission consists of five successive stages and the approval of about 40 documents.

The cost of services of law firms (in Moscow) providing services for coordinating changes to facades for a full package is about 1,000,000 rubles. There is something to think about.