A balcony or loggia is an integral part of most apartments or houses, and each owner has the right to independently determine their functional purpose. Some prefer to increase the total living space by attaching these additional meters to the adjoining room. Others equip the balcony as an independent space for relaxation, as an office, for example, or a convenient place to store various things. At the same time, in the latter embodiment, a door must be present in the design of the balcony, the choice of which also depends on many criteria. After reading this material, you will learn how to do it correctly.
Door to the balcony – the main functions
Any design of balcony doors is designed and created taking into account a variety of functions. And first of all, of course, it is protection from cold, various types of insects and pollution, such as dust. Also, the installation of a balcony door can significantly reduce the street noise effect, freely lets daylight into the room and, of course, protects against intruders and robbers from entering the home.
Types of balcony doors
It is impossible to say unequivocally which door needs to be installed on the balcony, since nowadays there is a huge variety of such designs. In addition, everyone chooses for their balcony the option that is most suitable for the interior and meets all the requirements.
Swing doors
In fact, swing doors are a conventional design that opens in one or both directions. In most examples, they are half glazed. This option can be called one of the most budgetary and common.
Double-leaf doors
Such doors consist of two components. One half has only deadbolts at the top and bottom, while the other is equipped with a standard door mechanism and lock. A similar design is designed for installation in spacious doorways.
Double shtulp
This type of balcony door is in many ways reminiscent of a conventional double-leaf door, with the difference that the double door is equipped with a stronger built-in lock.
Accordion door
A product of this type is made of separate dies, which are assembled together in the process of opening, forming a kind of accordion. Such a door looks very impressive, but is significantly inferior in strength and functionality to the previous options.
Hinged door
The main feature of the folding door model is the presence of a standard folding mechanism, which allows, if necessary, to ventilate the room and not open the door completely. It belongs to the category of standard designs. In terms of strength and safety, it occupies the same level as a conventional swing model.
Swivel door
A balcony door with a swivel mechanism can be confidently called a subspecies of folding structures. The difference between the models is the built-in tilt-and-turn mechanism. All other criteria regarding strength and level of protection are exactly the same as the previous sentence.
Material selection
Before you start choosing a balcony door, it is necessary to study what material the structure you are interested in is made of, since this factor is responsible for the functionality of the product. For example, balcony doors made of high-quality wood will be expensive, but with proper care they will last a long time and are considered an environmentally friendly product.
Door structures made of aluminum look more modern and are more durable. However, they are not able to retain heat well and are susceptible to deformation.
Plastic structures are quite strong, durable and affordable. They do not need complex care and have a small mass. The downside is the failure of the internal mechanism of the door.
Most balcony door structures made of glass are equipped with metal or PVC partitions. The main advantages are visual attractiveness and the ability to create a feeling of weightlessness and lightness in the room. The disadvantages are the lack of a frame, medium-quality locks and a low level of security.
Types of modifications for balcony doors
Since a modern balcony door can be made of a variety of materials, and the method of glazing is selected by the owners individually, the exit to the balcony can have a different modification. Only a double-glazed window is inserted into the fully transparent door. This design allows daylight to freely penetrate into the adjacent room and is considered the most common option.
French doors consist of two parts, each of which is also fully glazed.
The balcony door with the original name “sandwich” is divided into two parts. There is glass in the upper one, and the lower one is closed with a panel, if we are talking about a wooden structure, or a special panel. The latter option belongs to the most budget category.
The shape of the doors
Like any other type of doors, balcony structures are often made to order, so they can have different shapes, which allows you to choose the perfect option for any interior design. The standard balcony door has a rectangular shape and a different level of glazing.
To obtain a more expressive decorative effect, you can install a semicircular, triangular or hexagonal arched structure at the entrance to the balcony. In this case, the door can be freestanding or combined with a window. And in the latter embodiment, the window opening can be located on the left, right or on both sides of the door itself.
Color scheme for balcony doors
The traditional solution for arranging a doorway on a balcony is the installation of classic white or wood-imitated structures. However, in fact, the choice of color scheme of balcony doors is very diverse, and if you want to change the shade and design of the doors, you can use any paint you like. In this way, you can not only change the basic tone of the structure, but also apply a bizarre ornament to the door around the perimeter.
Options for decorating a balcony door
One of the easiest ways to decorate a balcony door is to use curtains or blinds in the interior, which do not require complex maintenance and, if necessary, can be easily replaced with new ones.
In addition, there are many options, which will allow you to choose the perfect option, taking into account the wishes of the owner and the general style of the room where the balcony is located. It can be chic curtains or laconic curtains in the Japanese style, Roman curtains, forming attractive soft folds or fashionable roller shutters when folded.
As for the choice of blinds, such devices can be of two types: vertical and horizontal.
An equally original option is the use of decorative glass for decorating a balcony door. In this case, stained-glass windows and fusing are popular.
Tips for choosing
Now that you have all the necessary information regarding balcony doors, it’s time to decide on the rules for choosing them. And in this case, we put your wishes and preferences on the first step, since it is these factors that subsequently determine the type of structure and the material from which it is made.
Also, we should not forget about the practical side of the issue and rationally assess the ratio of price and quality of the selected product. And of course, do not forget about the visual appeal of the balcony door and its compliance with the overall style of the interior.
Installing a balcony door is not just a way to arrange an opening between the balcony and the adjacent room. First of all, it is an integral part of the interior, which has many functions.
