Sliding windows on the balcony: advantages, features of care

The trend towards saving living space has gradually moved to other premises. By installing sliding windows on the balcony, you can equip this place with maximum benefit – for a mini-greenhouse, storing seasonal clothes, creating a recreation area.  And the addition of such a balcony to the living room or kitchen can significantly expand the living space.

What are the advantages of sliding windows?

For those who have not studied in detail the topic of saving space at home or apartment, it may seem that sliding frames on the balcony are  no different from the standard design with opening doors. But the advantages of such systems abound:

• Saving space – even a small balcony or loggia, not only visually, but actually will become larger due to the lack of an open sash inside.
• A wide range of designs – from panoramic glazing to the selective use of double-glazed windows in certain areas.
• The ability to choose colors – now PVC sliding windows on the balcony are not only white, but also bright red, blue, in various shades of “wood”.
• Perfect sound insulation, protection against rain, wind, dirt and dust.
• Reliability and functionality of all structural elements – the service life can reach 50 years.
• More natural light – panoramic windows to the balcony and sliding systems for them have a maximum glazing area.

Types of structures

Sliding windows on the balcony can have different mechanisms of the moving part. But another difference is the materials from which they are made: plastic and aluminum profiles.

Aluminum structures

Aluminum sliding windows on the balcony consist of a frame on which  original guides are attached  – sashes move along them. For smooth and silent movement,  polymer-coated rollers are installed on the doors. When closing, the latch mechanism is triggered, and handles are used for maximum tightness.  Sliding aluminum windows on the balcony are made of a conventional or reinforced profile, which is used at high altitude of multi-storey buildings and when removing glazing over the railing.  The main advantages of such systems include:

• light weight, which avoids strengthening of balcony ceilings;
• strength and durability of the material – the absence of corrosion processes even after several years of operation;
• aluminum sliding windows on the balcony can be taken out of its perimeter with the help of brackets, thereby increasing the usable area inside;
• The cost of such structures is relatively low when compared with other types of systems.

Plastic constructions

Sliding plastic windows on the balcony are installed quite often, due to their strength, tightness and attractive appearance.  The inner part of the PVC frame is made of galvanized steel. Other elements of the system are guides and window sashes that move on rollers. The double seal provides a high level of sealing, and a special lock duplicates the closing of the sash and prevents unauthorized entry into the room. Among the main advantages of such systems, it is worth highlighting:

• resistance to precipitation and any adverse conditions – from strong gusts of wind to snowfall and hail;
• are not subject to freezing – they open easily even in severe frosts;
• the ability to combine with various PVC profiles;
• if necessary, you can install radius structures, double-glazed windows for three or more chambers;
• impose excellent heat and sound insulation;
• Durable and unpretentious in operation.

How to care for sliding systems?

Caring for such structures is the  same as in the case of conventional opening windows. As the glass becomes dirty, it is cleaned  with products that contain alcohol. To wipe the sliding structure and glass from the outside, you can use a slime with a long handle, which will reach any outer corner. You should also regularly clean the guides from dirt and debris,  And twice a  year they need to be lubricated with a special silicone-based oil.  Otherwise, care does not cause problems regardless of the time of year.

First of all, what is required, choosing plastic, aluminum windows on the balcony or sliding – to find out the price. The cost calculator will allow you to quickly and easily determine how much a particular structure will cost,  depending on its configuration, materials used and dimensions.  In any case, the price of sliding windows  on the balcony will be objective and acceptable, given the number of advantages of the sliding system.