Among different options installation of a balcony in an apartment and a private house, the French balcony occupies a separate place. This design will fill the room with light, and the façade of the building will look more refined and light.

Let's look at the French balcony from all sides, what it is, what types and design types there are, how it differs from ordinary balconies, what pros and cons are inherent, whether a building permit is required (glazing), and what the price is made up of.

French balcony- forged balcony french style

The history of the French balcony

There are two interesting facts origin of the name.

The first version is beautiful and romantic

Associated with Romeo and Juliet, the phrase “juliet balconies” uttered in Shakespeare’s tragedy implies a balcony “that you cannot go out onto.” In modern interpretation, this stable word form in English stands for "French balcony".

The second version is dirty and obscene

In the XII-XIII centuries. there were no toilets in the Louvre, so the nobles relieved themselves wherever they had to, and in particular, on the balconies or right in open window, to whom they sat with their backs. Because climbing onto the window sill was not very convenient, someone came up with the idea of ​​increasing the height of the window, making it to the floor, for a more comfortable “landing”. To prevent a person from falling into such a “portal”, a fence was added. By the way, the fence curved towards the bottom is made for comfortable squatting, with your back to the world. This is the story of the appearance of a forged basket under the window, which was called a French balcony.

What is a French balcony?

Classic French balcony- this is a balcony without a balcony platform, having a fence installed directly in the opening outside the window or door. Some designs provide a small platform, 30-40 cm wide.

In simple words, this is a French window-door with a fence, usually in the form artistic forging. Material for the site www.moydomik.net

French-style balcony features big windows(to the height of the entire opening), in front of which a small fence is installed. Exactly wrought iron fence is the defining feature of a French balcony - business card. In addition to its decorative function, the fence serves as a safe barrier aimed at minimizing any risks associated with the design of the balcony or double-glazed windows.

Currently, the designation of a modern French balcony has been transformed and any balcony that has panoramic glazing.

French loggia- this is a loggia that does not have a parapet, and the entire opening has floor glazing (French or panoramic glazing).

French glazing of a balcony is a translucent structure, glazed around the perimeter with double-glazed windows from floor to ceiling. You could say that this is modern interpretation French balcony, may have a forged fence or be without it.

French balcony - photos inside and outside

French balcony in a brick house

French balconies in the apartment

French balcony in the bedroom, view from the inside

French balcony in country house, photo inside the living room

Wrought iron fencing for French balconies

French style balcony in the house

French balcony style

Glass fencing for French balcony

Types of French balconies

There are two types of French-style balconies according to the type of construction:

Wrought iron French balcony

As defined above, this is classic balcony in French, which does not have its own platform. In fact, this is only a fence in the window/door balcony opening.

Sometimes the balcony has a small platform on which, perhaps, an adult’s foot can fit. Decorative wrought iron fencing performs protective function, and the large area of ​​glass allows you to let a lot of light into the room. daylight.

Wrought iron French balcony

Wrought iron fencing for a balcony in a French style in a private house

Modern French balcony with platform

This is a familiar balcony or loggia, which is glazed from floor to ceiling. Those. This is a balcony with French glazing.

French glazing of a balcony in a house

French glazing of a balcony in an apartment

What is the difference between a French balcony and a regular one?

The difference with the traditional one lies in the design and parameters:

• a specific configuration of a window block, which consists in the absence of an impost (a vertical lintel to which the sashes are adjacent when closed), which allows for a panoramic view and a spacious exit to the balcony. At wide opening sliding window systems are used;

• absence of necessity interior decoration balcony Of course, any type of cold glazing does not require finishing. But from an aesthetic point of view, the balcony will look unfinished, so minimal work is still being done. In the case of a French balcony, the owner will simply have no walls left that need finishing; they will be covered with double-glazed windows;

• A feature of French balconies in our region is the replacement of solid double-glazed windows with segmental ones, which allows for ventilation on the balcony, as well as the use of tinted glass or sandwich panels in the lower part of the balcony glazing;

• size (dimensions). The dimensions of the French balcony are slightly larger than the usual ones, due to the fact that there is no massive parapet on which it is installed metal carcass. In addition, parapets are mainly insulated, and this also takes 10-15 cm from the width of the balcony;

• doorway from the room to the balcony. There is no point in installing a French balcony and not being able to enjoy its benefits. Therefore, owners of apartments and houses often dismantle balcony block with a partial change in the geometry of the opening (for which permission is required) and install French windows instead of a balcony block.

French balcony - pros and cons

Installing a French balcony is largely a tribute to fashion, but it is distinguished by a number of advantages and disadvantages unique to this type of glazing. Let's look at the pros and cons.

Advantages of a French balcony

• design, appearance. Since such glazing is still new in the domestic construction market- then the balcony looks unusual, attracting the glances of passers-by and making the owner proud;

• high level of light transmission. Due to the large glass area, more daylight penetrates into the room. It is also healthier and helps you save on electricity;

• illusion of open space. Due to the absence of a parapet at the balcony with French glazing, it seems that the floor slab is hanging in the air. This blurs the boundaries between the room and the surrounding landscape. This is especially evident in low-rise private houses or Khrushchev-era buildings, which are surrounded by plantings;

• a balcony with French glazing warms up well in the off-season, which allows it to be used as a living space, with a slight increase in heating costs;

• the usable space of the balcony or loggia increases;

• good sound insulation. Achieved by using warm systems glazing made of PVC profile or insulated aluminum profile with a thermal bridge (thermal break);

• no need for interior finishing of a balcony or loggia;

• there is no need to strengthen the parapet to install French glazing.

Disadvantages of a French balcony

This type of glazing also has disadvantages that may become an obstacle to its installation in a particular apartment (house):

• high price due to the objective factor of greater material consumption due to the larger glazing area;

• additional costs for the purchase of functional options: frames, heat-reflecting (heat-saving) film, energy-saving double-glazed windows, laminated profiles, metal fence(forging), clamps for sashes, etc.;

• significant cost installation work. Installation of a French balcony requires preliminary dismantling of the parapet, which cannot be done independently due to its significant weight and dimensions. In addition, the old parapet needs to be disposed of;

• the difficulty of window maintenance associated with an increase in glazing area. This is the paradox of the French window. Traditionally, French windows were installed on the first or second floor of the house to combine the window and the passage. Therefore, these windows are also called window-door or “portal”.

  Modern French glazed balcony panoramic windows, That's why door block naturally absent, and the glass area, on the contrary, increases. And access to them, especially to the lower sections, is difficult. Therefore, to care for a French balcony with a large number of blind sashes it becomes more difficult, sometimes requiring the involvement of industrial climbers;

• heat loss through a double-glazed window is higher than through an insulated wall;

• in summer, a steam room effect is possible due to the strong heating of glass surfaces;

• problems in people prone to acrophobia (fear of heights) or agoraphobia (fear of open space). The effect of the absence of boundaries, for which French balconies are actually loved, can cause a feeling of discomfort in some people;

• openness interior spaces. Big square glazing allows you to see what is happening inside the house if a French window is installed between the balcony and the room, as well as if the apartment is located on the lower floors. This effect is more pronounced in the dark (aquarium effect). Therefore, if you are not ready to share your personal life with others, the French balcony should be decorated with curtains, blinds or decorative screens. Or order tinted or mirror glass in double glazed windows for your balcony in advance.

French balcony safety

The space, open from ceiling to floor, is captivating, but it also carries risks. For safety, the French balcony has a fence on the outside, in the form of a small wrought-iron balcony, or a railing on the inside.

Subject to competent design, accurate calculations and correct installation- using the French balcony for its intended purpose is absolutely safe.

Permit for construction/glazing of a French balcony

Due to the design of the French balcony, its installation involves changing the geometry of the opening (if the balcony block also changes), which in some cases ( multi-storey building, load-bearing walls) requires approval from the relevant authorities, i.e. Documentary support is required.

Approval will also be required to change an element of the building's façade if the building is of architectural or historical value, or is located in a historical district of the city. Moreover, the documents should be received before the French balcony is installed, and not after.

Illegal installation is fraught with heavy fines, if not immediately, then later. Those. people have been living with such redevelopment for years, and when the need arises to sell or buy an apartment, they cannot do without legalization, otherwise it will not be possible to re-register the property.

Cost of a French balcony

The price of a French balcony consists of several components:

1. view window profile: aluminum, wood, plastic, metal-plastic or fiberglass;
2. thermal insulation characteristics of the profile (number of chambers, presence of thermal break, etc.). For wooden frame- type of wood;
3. type of glass: tempered, regular, energy-saving, triplex;
4. number of double-glazed windows;
5. quality of fittings;
6. additional options;
7. dimensions;
8. order volume (partial, wholesale, turnkey).

The price of installation work is influenced by:

• altitude;
• the cost of dismantling and disposal of construction waste;
• balcony configuration.

The estimated cost of a French balcony, loggia (Rehau profile, Germany) is shown in the table:

Material prepared for the website www.moydomik.net

How to save on French glazing of a balcony

• select profile domestic production. Its functional and quality characteristics are not much inferior to imported analogues, but the price is lower due to the absence of transport costs. In addition, global brands often locate production on the territory of neighboring countries and control the quality of adherence to technology;

• buy out of season. Glazing can be considered a seasonal service, and demand for it increases with the onset of cold weather (autumn). If you place an order in the summer or late spring you can get a big discount on your purchase;

• change several windows at once. In this case, you can count on discounts for bulk orders. For example, in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other large cities there is a lot of competition, so companies offer profitable promotions;

• selection of energy-saving double-glazed windows. Their cost is only 3-5% higher than the cost of a standard double-glazed window, but the efficiency is much higher, which will allow you to save on heating the balcony in the future. This factor is especially important for those who plan to use the balcony as a living space;

• choosing the “zero loan” program. Purchasing a French balcony on credit can hardly be considered as a way to save money; rather, it is an opportunity to divide the cost into several payments. And if the manufacturer is willing to provide credit to the buyer, the overall purchasing burden can be reduced.

Thus, we figured out what a French balcony is, what advantages and disadvantages this type of glazing has, and also how much such an extraordinary renovation of the interior and exterior design of a private house or apartment in a Khrushchev-era building (or in a new building) will cost.

Initially, the name French balcony was used for small space, where only one person could fit - without its own balcony area. Today, such balconies are often called panoramic, because they are windows that extend from floor to ceiling and may have a projection. The fence is made of lattice - for a romantic touch, so to speak.

Design Features

Our glazing technique is rightfully considered one of the most sophisticated in terms of balcony improvement. Transparent design, which does not have a parapet, is fenced around the perimeter with window systems from floor to ceiling. Thanks to high windows the balcony or loggia becomes elegant stylish look. “Glass” from floor to ceiling is beautiful and practical, because more light enters the room and a wonderful panoramic view opens from the window.

However, the practicality is low: in good weather you cannot install a chair on it to enjoy reading; You won’t leave things that are rarely used in everyday life. The design also resembles some kind of bent basket, which does not satisfy the aesthetic taste of everyone.

Read more about the advantages and disadvantages

The design is extremely popular in big cities, although it is not without a number of disadvantages, which, of course, need to be familiarized with first. How have you decided to transform your living space?.

The advantages of a French balcony are:

As you can see, the arguments “For” are weighty. Now let's list the disadvantages:

Comparison of regular and French balconies

Imagine an ordinary site in a Khrushchev-era building: fences, sometimes slate on the outside. You can complain about the following:

• Unaesthetic view from the street.
• Fences prevent the amount of light from entering the room.
• There are often cracks through which cold air passes.
• Lack of sound insulation.

That’s why the residents of Khrushchevkas are thinking about building French version, considering this solution elegant and noting that modern materials will significantly improve the appearance of their home from the street.

Facts from history

A French balcony appeared due to the peculiarities of the traditional French architecture. In large cities of this country, in houses on narrow streets, balconies were so small that there was only enough space for flowers. climbing plants rose to the ceiling of the upper floor, and at the same time a “closed” space was formed. The French also made windows and exits to the balcony as large as possible in order to let maximum light into the home.

Balconies of this type not uncommon in Spain and Italy. Occasionally, this architectural technique was resorted to in the USSR. In our modern new buildings it can be found if they belong to the “comfort” class or higher.

When it comes about home exterior decor, every detail matters: the shape of the windows, the color of the walls, other elements of the exterior. What can we say about such a noticeable structure like ours. This is one of the best ways giving your home an elegant look and increasing the amount of natural light entering the interior. In France, this architectural solution has been familiar since the 7th century, and today it finds many admirers among our citizens.

A French balcony will serve you well for decades, and you will only need to spend money on it once. If you divide the cost of the structure by the number of years it will last without repair, you will see that the price is quite low.

French balcony (from English balconet or balconette, sometimes found as Juliet balconies) is a type of balcony that does not have a balcony platform, and the fence is placed with outside directly opposite the door.

This balcony, when reviewing glazing options, is chosen not only by owners country houses, but also apartments. Such designs can be seen everywhere. Glazing has its own characteristics, among the main ones are the following:

1. Glass is installed over the entire height. Window blocks mounted on a concrete base.
2. The frame can be solid or divided into several blocks.
3. You can install tinted glass at the bottom of the structure; architectural films are used for this purpose. It is possible to independently choose the level of light transmission and the color of the films.
4. The bottom can be covered with a sandwich panel. The color of the plastic is chosen based on the design of the house.

Like any design, French balcony has its own characteristics. By making glazing, you will visually expand the space of the room. The design does not have insulating panels.

Finishing is in progress modern materials, a balcony with panoramic glazing will not have to be painted.

Several options for a French balcony.

You can significantly reduce your energy bills, because a lot of light enters the room through panoramic glazing. In addition, by choosing French glazing, you will also save on heating. It has been noticed that heat loss is significantly reduced if the room has double-glazed windows from floor to ceiling. The room will be quiet, because the sound insulation with such glazing is made using high level.

Other positive aspects include the following:

• Original appearance. The design is beautiful and looks stylish. Forged elements can decorate any balcony;
• The design is very reliable and completely safe. The use of special glass ensures that strangers will not enter the house;
• The material from which the balcony is made is environmentally friendly. Negative influence it will not be good for your health;
• Ideal for narrow balconies. There are a lot of old buildings, with ordinary glazing effective area premises remain unused. But this problem will be quickly solved, because the installation of a French balcony is carried out on the edge of a reinforced concrete slab.

After studying the advantages of this glazing, you may decide to make a French balcony with your own hands.

This is what a balcony might look like from the inside.

In a private house, if you are going to install double-glazed windows on the 1st floor, the work will not require much labor. But in a multi-storey building, the installation of double-glazed windows should be entrusted to specialists.

When choosing a company, read reviews. The organization’s specialists will take measurements of the room, make a profile and install it.

Features of installation of the structure

Select the type of glazing, it can be cold or warm. It all depends on how often you plan to use the room. winter period. Cold glazing will reliably protect from wind and precipitation. The design has an excellent appearance, but keep in mind that it will be cold.

The appearance of balconies may vary. These can be floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows or small openwork fences that either complement the double-glazed window or are installed without it. The installation of these elements can be ordered from an organization offering panoramic glazing.

Installation of warm glazing involves installing a PVC profile and suitable double-glazed windows. The design is a complex structure, it requires a more responsible approach to calculation bearing capacity balcony slab. It may be necessary to strengthen it and insulate the walls of the building.

A glazed French balcony has some disadvantages.

Let's list:

1. High price. Window profiles are not cheap, and the same can be said about architectural films.
2. The costs of the ventilation system should be taken into account separately. It is necessary in the summer.
3. There may be restrictions when installing a balcony. Before starting work, you need to make sure the strength of the floors.
4. The number of windows that need to be cleaned increases.

The advantages of this type of glazing are much greater than the disadvantages. If you see that the slabs are weakened, it is recommended to install windows with aluminum profiles. It should be borne in mind that such double-glazed windows are more expensive than metal-plastic ones; they are significantly inferior in terms of noise and thermal insulation.

You can see how French glazing with expansion is installed in the video below.

There are 2 types of windows, the following can be noted:

• swing;
• sliding

The lower part of the balcony has a transom. This design is more convenient to use than a blind window. If you decide to wash your windows, then this element guarantees safety. At the bottom of the balcony you can make blinds; they are built into the double-glazed window.

Conclusion

If you want to make a French balcony in a private house, then you can do the work yourself. Installation in apartment building will require contacting a specialized company. A PVC structure is more expensive than one made from an aluminum profile.

Some tips. What is important to know before ordering a French balcony. Video below.

Like any “experienced” summer resident, I have a stash with remnants of lumber left over after the construction of a summer house: the remains of clapboards, floorboards, beams, etc. I can’t even bring myself to write rubbish - building material!
The contents stored there allow you to build essentially “out of nothing” a lot of useful things, from stools/tables to a shed for storing NEW leftover lumber :)

Everyone's storage location is different: sheds, attics, sheds... I keep it all under the house (special opening doors are made). I regularly look there and pick up what I need for various crafts. Among all kinds of bars and boards, the remains of installed stairs in the attic - a dozen homemade balusters (made from shovel handles), but I couldn’t find a worthy use for them. And finally the insight came - shouldn’t we build a French balcony on the attic window?!
Use, naturally, for beauty, and not for - "historical" purpose :)

French balcony

(English balconet or balconette, also often referred to as Juliet balconies) - a type of balcony that does not have its own balcony platform - the fence is installed directly in the opening with outside, right in front of the door. An option with a platform is also possible, but it is very narrow, only sufficient for you to put your foot (“go out onto the balcony”).
Most often, this type of balconies can be found in France, Spain and Italy.

We begin to rake out the “necessities” from under the house and see what might be useful...
In the process, we additionally had to get a couple of boards (imitation timber), 50 blocks and cash for the doors.


When I figured out the size and frequency of installation of balusters, I decided that ten was not enough and bought a couple of the cheapest ones - I was lazy to sharpen the shovel handles :) This purchased pair of balusters is the only purchase required during production - self-tapping screws and impregnating paint were also found on the farm.

Well, let's get to work!?

To begin, we cut the balusters to desired length and make them the same (I previously tried to use some of them for various needs, so the length is different).




Scraps can be used for playing "town" ;)

I install the purchased pair of balusters along the edges - they have a different shape and are convenient for connecting at the corners. I connect with a regular 50 block using self-tapping screws.

In the middle, we also fasten all the other balusters with self-tapping screws.


We cut off the other ends of the balusters and screw on the first board (imitation timber) - this will be the floor of the French balcony.


then the second... (or rather half)


I made one and a half boards the width of the balcony floor.
If you make it wider, it will be necessary to install additional balusters on the sides. Make it Already - may not fit flower pots on the floor of the balcony.
Practically finished design(upside down). The side was lined with door trim - it makes it look prettier and at the same time provides additional reinforcement to the structure.

There was an idea to use another cash board (possibly loose) on the top of the railing, but my wife was against it. It seemed to her that it would be better without anything, and besides, it would be easier to attach “balconies” with flowers to the balcony :)

I lightly treat it and cover it with fire-bioprotective impregnation, in my case it is “Olympus”.
It dries quickly, there is no smell - it has stood the test of time. My house was painted 6 years ago and the coating is still in reasonable condition.

Result (impregnation is still wet, darkens a little when drying)


there are some “roughnesses” in appearance (not all trims were equally good:), but I didn’t worry too much about it, it shouldn’t be noticeable through the window, and even more so from below (from a distance)

This is what the house looked like BEFORE the balcony was installed

This is what it looked like AFTER installation
(below in the photo “koteyko” lies watching the changes in the facade :))) - there will be a place for him to sit/watch from above...

It will look something like this with flowers, only you need a larger balcony for the flowers. Well, you can put additional flower pots on the floor.

Manufacturing does not require special skills or specific tools.

Among the different options for installing a balcony in an apartment and a private house, the French balcony occupies a special place. This design will fill the room with light, and the façade of the building will look more refined and light.

Let's look at the French balcony from all sides, what it is, what types and design types there are, how it differs from ordinary balconies, what pros and cons are inherent, whether a building permit is required (glazing), and what the price is made up of.

French balcony - wrought iron balcony in French style

There are two interesting facts about the origin of the name.

The first version is beautiful and romantic

Associated with Romeo and Juliet, the phrase “juliet balconies” uttered in Shakespeare’s tragedy implies a balcony “that you cannot go out onto.” In modern interpretation, this stable word form of the English language means “French balcony”.

The second version is dirty and obscene

In the XII-XIII centuries. There were no toilets in the Louvre, so the nobles relieved themselves wherever they had to, and in particular, on the balconies or directly into the open window, to which they sat with their backs. Because climbing onto the window sill was not very convenient, someone came up with the idea of ​​increasing the height of the window, making it to the floor, for a more comfortable “landing”. To prevent a person from falling into such a “portal”, a fence was added. By the way, the fence curved towards the bottom is made for comfortable squatting, with your back to the world. This is the story of the appearance of a forged basket under the window, which was called a French balcony.

What is a French balcony?

Classic French balcony- this is a balcony without a balcony platform, having a fence installed directly in the opening outside the window or door. Some designs provide a small platform, 30-40 cm wide.

In simple words, this is a French window-door with a fence, usually in the form of artistic forging. Material for the site www.moydomik.net

A French-style balcony is distinguished by large windows (the height of the entire opening), in front of which a small fence is installed. It is the forged fencing that is the defining feature of a French balcony - its calling card. In addition to its decorative function, the fence serves as a safe barrier aimed at minimizing any risks associated with the design of the balcony or double-glazed windows.

Currently, the designation of a modern French balcony has been transformed and any balcony with panoramic glazing is called such.

French loggia- this is a loggia that does not have a parapet, and the entire opening has floor glazing (French or panoramic glazing).

French glazing of a balcony is a translucent structure, glazed around the perimeter with double-glazed windows from floor to ceiling. We can say that this is a modern interpretation of the French balcony; it can have a forged fence or be without it.

French balcony - photos inside and outside

French balcony in a brick houseFrench balconies in the apartmentFrench balcony in the bedroom, view from the insideFrench balcony in a country house, photo inside the living roomWrought iron fencing for French balconiesFrench style balcony in the houseFrench balcony styleGlass fencing for French balcony

Types of French balconies

There are two types of French-style balconies according to the type of construction:

Wrought iron French balcony

As defined above, this is a classic French balcony that does not have its own platform. In fact, this is only a fence in the window/door balcony opening.

Sometimes the balcony has a small platform on which, perhaps, an adult’s foot can fit. Decorative wrought iron fencing performs a protective function, and a large area of ​​glass allows a lot of daylight to enter the room.

Wrought iron French balconyWrought iron fencing for a balcony in a French style in a private house

Modern French balcony with platform

This is a familiar balcony or loggia, which is glazed from floor to ceiling. Those. This is a balcony with French glazing.

French glazing of a balcony in a houseFrench glazing of a balcony in an apartment

What is the difference between a French balcony and a regular one?

The difference with the traditional one lies in the design and parameters:

• a specific configuration of a window block, which consists in the absence of an impost (a vertical lintel to which the sashes are adjacent when closed), which allows for a panoramic view and a spacious exit to the balcony. For wide openings, sliding window systems are used;

• no need for interior finishing of the balcony. Of course, any type of cold glazing does not require finishing. But from an aesthetic point of view, the balcony will look unfinished, so minimal work is still being done. In the case of a French balcony, the owner will simply have no walls left that need finishing; they will be covered with double-glazed windows;

• A feature of French balconies in our region is the replacement of solid double-glazed windows with segmental ones, which allows for ventilation on the balcony, as well as the use of tinted glass or sandwich panels in the lower part of the balcony glazing;

• size (dimensions). The dimensions of a French balcony are slightly larger than a regular one, due to the fact that there is no massive parapet on which a metal frame is installed. In addition, parapets are mainly insulated, and this also takes 10-15 cm from the width of the balcony;

• doorway from the room to the balcony. There is no point in installing a French balcony and not being able to enjoy its benefits. Therefore, owners of apartments and houses often dismantle the balcony block with a partial change in the geometry of the opening (for which permission is required) and install French windows instead of the balcony block.

French balcony - pros and cons

Installing a French balcony is largely a tribute to fashion, but it is distinguished by a number of advantages and disadvantages unique to this type of glazing. Let's look at the pros and cons.

Advantages of a French balcony

• design, appearance. Since such glazing is still new on the domestic construction market, the balcony looks unusual, attracting the glances of passers-by and making the owner proud;

• high level of light transmission. Due to the large glass area, more daylight penetrates into the room. It is also healthier and helps you save on electricity;

• illusion of open space. Due to the absence of a parapet at the balcony with French glazing, it seems that the floor slab is hanging in the air. This blurs the boundaries between the room and the surrounding landscape. This is especially evident in low-rise private houses or Khrushchev-era buildings, which are surrounded by plantings;

• a balcony with French glazing warms up well in the off-season, which allows it to be used as a living space, with a slight increase in heating costs;

• the usable space of the balcony or loggia increases;

• good sound insulation. Achieved by using warm glazing systems made of PVC profiles or insulated aluminum profiles with a thermal bridge (thermal break);

• no need for interior finishing of a balcony or loggia;

• there is no need to strengthen the parapet to install French glazing.

Disadvantages of a French balcony

This type of glazing also has disadvantages that may become an obstacle to its installation in a particular apartment (house):

• high price due to the objective factor of greater material consumption due to the larger glazing area;

• additional costs for the purchase of functional options: shrouds, heat-reflecting (heat-saving) film, energy-saving double-glazed windows, laminated profiles, metal fencing (forging), clamps for sashes, etc.;

• significant cost of installation work. Installation of a French balcony requires preliminary dismantling of the parapet, which cannot be done independently due to its significant weight and dimensions. In addition, the old parapet needs to be disposed of;

• the difficulty of window maintenance associated with an increase in glazing area. This is the paradox of the French window. Traditionally, French windows were installed on the first or second floor of the house to combine the window and the passage. Therefore, these windows are also called window-door or “portal”.

  A modern French-style balcony is glazed with panoramic windows, so naturally there is no door block, and, on the contrary, the glass area increases. And access to them, especially to the lower sections, is difficult. Therefore, to care for a French balcony with a large number of blind sashes it becomes more difficult, sometimes requiring the involvement of industrial climbers;

• heat loss through a double-glazed window is higher than through an insulated wall;

• in summer, a steam room effect is possible due to the strong heating of glass surfaces;

• problems in people prone to acrophobia (fear of heights) or agoraphobia (fear of open space). The effect of the absence of boundaries, for which French balconies are actually loved, can cause a feeling of discomfort in some people;

• openness of the interior. The large glazing area allows you to see what is happening inside the house if a French window is installed between the balcony and the room, as well as if the apartment is located on the lower floors. This effect is more pronounced in the dark (aquarium effect). Therefore, if you are not ready to share your personal life with others, the French balcony should be decorated with curtains, blinds or decorative screens. Or order tinted or mirror glass in double glazed windows for your balcony in advance.

French balcony safety

The space, open from ceiling to floor, is captivating, but it also carries risks. For safety, the French balcony has a fence on the outside, in the form of a small wrought-iron balcony, or a railing on the inside.

Subject to competent design, accurate calculations and correct installation, using a French balcony for its intended purpose is absolutely safe.

Permit for construction/glazing of a French balcony

Due to the design of the French balcony, its installation involves changing the geometry of the opening (if the balcony block also changes), which in some cases (multi-story building, load-bearing walls) requires approval from the relevant authorities, i.e. Documentary support is required.

Approval will also be required to change an element of the building's façade if the building is of architectural or historical value, or is located in a historical district of the city. Moreover, the documents should be received before the French balcony is installed, and not after.

Illegal installation is fraught with heavy fines, if not immediately, then later. Those. people have been living with such redevelopment for years, and when the need arises to sell or buy an apartment, they cannot do without legalization, otherwise it will not be possible to re-register the property.

Cost of a French balcony

The price of a French balcony consists of several components:

1. type of window profile: aluminum, wood, plastic, metal-plastic or fiberglass;
2. thermal insulation characteristics of the profile (number of chambers, presence of thermal break, etc.). For a wooden frame - the type of wood;
3. type of glass: tempered, regular, energy-saving, triplex;
4. number of double-glazed windows;
5. quality of fittings;
6. additional options;
7. dimensions;
8. order volume (partial, wholesale, turnkey).

The price of installation work is influenced by:

• altitude;
• the cost of dismantling and disposal of construction waste;
• balcony configuration.

The estimated cost of a French balcony, loggia (Rehau profile, Germany) is shown in the table:

Material prepared for the website www.moydomik.net

How to save on French glazing of a balcony

• choose a domestically produced profile. Its functional and quality characteristics are not much inferior to imported analogues, but the price is lower due to the absence of transport costs. In addition, global brands often locate production in neighboring countries and control the quality of adherence to technology;

• buy out of season. Glazing can be considered a seasonal service, and demand for it increases with the onset of cold weather (autumn). If you place an order in summer or late spring, you can get a big discount on your purchase;

• change several windows at once. In this case, you can count on discounts for bulk orders. For example, in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other large cities there is a lot of competition, so companies offer profitable promotions;

• selection of energy-saving double-glazed windows. Their cost is only 3-5% higher than the cost of a standard double-glazed window, but the efficiency is much higher, which will allow you to save on heating the balcony in the future. This factor is especially important for those who plan to use the balcony as a living space;

• choosing the “zero loan” program. Purchasing a French balcony on credit can hardly be considered as a way to save money; rather, it is an opportunity to divide the cost into several payments. And if the manufacturer is willing to provide credit to the buyer, the overall purchasing burden can be reduced.

Thus, we figured out what a French balcony is, what advantages and disadvantages this type of glazing has, and also how much such an extraordinary renovation of the interior and exterior design of a private house or apartment in a Khrushchev-era building (or in a new building) will cost.

Tags: Balcony Glazing French windows French glazing