Modern technologies for glazing windows, balconies and loggias have undergone major changes. Frameless (glazing) glazing is gaining popularity. When using this method, there are no "classic" frames, and the window looks as open and free as possible.
- Features of frameless glazing
- The benefits of frameless glazing
- Drawbacks of frameless designs
- Selection of panoramic windows
Features of frameless glazing
Original frameless constructions are an invention of Finnish specialists, which was liked by architects of many countries. They can be seen on the streets of cities: loggias, balconies, terraces, conservatories, verandas amaze with their lightness, airiness. A feature of frameless windows is the absence of partitions, racks, supporting frames. The structural elements are held by aluminum rails attached around the perimeter of the opening. Glass is installed in the slots of these rails, which have the ability to move and rotate on special rollers.
Frameless glazing systems are available in three versions:
- First type. The carrier is the upper profile. The glass sheet is hung on two roller bearings. At turning points, transition elements are mounted. Below there are plastic stops to prevent the glass from swaying.
- The second type. The load is evenly distributed on both rails, and the lower profile is considered to be the bearing. Glasses move on 4 upper and lower rollers. Windows open with a "book" to the right or left.
- The third type. It includes all-glass sliding systems with profiles that contain 6 running skids. Glasses ride on them like the doors of a wardrobe. They are used only in rectilinear facades.
To create frameless window structures, only strong, durable materials are used. Fasteners are made of stainless steel, aluminum elements are made of reliable metal with powder spraying. Instead of ordinary glass, a toughened sheet thickness of 0.6-1.2 cm is used. The sheets are placed end-to-end to each other, and sealed at the edges with an elastic sealant.
The benefits of frameless glazing
Similar double-glazed windows can be mounted on U-shaped and L-shaped balconies, as well as on ordinary facades. Thanks to the special fittings, the systems can be installed in offices, shops, shopping centers, pavilions. Compared to ordinary plastic windows, frameless structures have many advantages:
- Excellent illumination of the room. By installing frameless glazing systems, you can increase the amount of light in the room. Since there are no window frames in the structure, there will be no shading of the space. Result: improved well-being, mood, and working capacity of people. Especially valuable is this advantage in offices.
- Visual increase in the room. As in the case of white walls, ceilings and light furniture, with large frameless double-glazed windows, the illusion of increasing the size of the room is created. A window makes space free, voluminous, because it has no borders (frames).
- Attractive look. The viewing angle in the presence of frameless systems is an order of magnitude greater than when installing conventional windows. This allows you to view the surroundings to the fullest, which is especially important with beautiful areas around the home.
- Aesthetics.Externally, the building, in which frameless packages are installed, looks stylish, catchy, immediately attracts attention. Even old houses can radically change their appearance after installing such systems.
- High-quality airing. Most designs allow you to open windows with maximum scope, so a lot of fresh air will enter the house.
to contents ↑Do not be afraid that frameless glazing systems are unreliable. On the contrary, such windows have higher strength than ordinary. They protect the room from negative environmental factors, while being easy to maintain.
Drawbacks of frameless designs
The advantages of installing frameless double-glazed windows are obvious, but they also have disadvantages. Here are the main disadvantages of the designs:
- Heat loss. If the house or apartment is located in an area with a cold climate, the windows may turn out to be cold. Their glass surface area is too large, so they are more suitable for unheated rooms or houses located in warm latitudes. The temperature inside with such a glass cloth will be only a few degrees higher than the street temperature. If desired, you can improve the heating in the housing, but this will result in additional costs.
- Low noise isolation. The thickness of the glass is small, so powerful soundproofing properties can not be expected. Standard two-, three-chamber windows definitely win by this indicator. It is easy to guess that a single glass sheet is not able to suppress all the sounds going outside to the room. For busy places in the city, these systems are completely unsuitable.
- Glaciation. In some cases, frameless structures may be covered with ice, but this is not the norm. The reason is the destruction of the sealant layer and the appearance of cracks through which cold air penetrates. Ice also forms on glass when the rail is damaged, along which the rollers move.
- Excessive openness. The privacy of people after installing such window structures may be impaired. If the apartment is on the ground floor, any passerby can look inside. We have to use more voluminous, dense curtains. Another good solution is gluing a special film that does not reduce lighting, but hides the view from the outside.
- Difficulties with furniture. If you have large windows, you will have to reconsider the interior of the room. You may need to abandon the dimensional cabinets, many shelves and racks. The glazing system will occupy the entire wall, and blocking it with sofas, armchairs is also undesirable.
- Hooliganism. Residents of lower floors or their own homes often suffer from vandals striving to throw stone at glass. Huge windows attract more bullies, so you should only install special shockproof designs, and they have a high price.
Also, the disadvantages include the need for frequent washing of glass paintings and difficulties with installing mosquito nets.
Selection of panoramic windows
Due to the significant cost of frameless designs, many seek to reduce their cost by any means. As a result, product quality may suffer, which is highly undesirable. Only double-glazed windows from materials with high strength, wear resistance will last a long time, without the need for regular repairs.
When buying a window, you should pay attention to the type of profile. Thin, cheap profile can be bent with your hands, so it will not be resistant to stress. Structures made of anodized aluminum should be chosen, which will not bend for many years and will not wear out from the movement of the wings.
Look for cheap clips, no locks needed either. During operation, they creak, scratch the profile, and wear out very quickly. The thicker the window glass, the better the windows will serve.Cloths covered with a special film will not allow the glass to crumble even with a strong blow. The film holds the fragments in place, and also has a reflective surface. Having decided to make frameless glazing, you do not need to think about saving. It is worth choosing the best option for yourself, responsibly approach the installation and care, and then the operation of the product will be comfortable.
