Choosing balcony and patio doors - what do you need to know?

In recent years, a lot of attention has been paid to the production of large doors for balconies and terraces: "Not only do they give you the opportunity to enjoy beautiful views, outdoor space and nature, but they also help to create a bright, spacious and aesthetically pleasing interior," says Giedrius Mastavičius, Head of Architects and Technical Support at GEALAN BALTIC.

Innovations presented at international exhibition

The latest innovations in facade, window and door technologies, advances in this field were presented to the public at the FENSTERBAU FRONTALE exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany, in the spring, 2024. This is a prestigious international specialized exhibition held every second year.
 
It is now possible to produce, so called “French” or “French Casement” type, balcony doors measuring 1.8 x 2.6 m. "These are extra-large doors, there are no divisions, no overhangs as we are used to seeing. In comparison, the width of a sliding colour door can be 5 metres or more and the height 2.6 metres," said Mr. Mastavičius.
 
Traditionally, sliding doors have been seen as a functional, but not always aesthetic, choice. Often there were problems with insulation, stability and tightness. However, modern manufacturers are now successfully introducing technologies that have virtually eliminated the previous problems of sliding doors. Much has been said about the advantages of large windows, but it should be noted that modern technology allows natural light to be 'employed' properly.

What are the most important things to consider when choosing a sliding door system?

The most important thing is to choose a sliding door system with advanced technical solutions: "Climate of central and north part of Europe requires high thermal and acoustic insulation. Stability, lightness and ease of use are important features," says representative of GEALAN.
 
So, here's a closer look at the aspects to consider when choosing large windows and structures:

• Thermal insulation is very important for a newly constructed building. Large panes of glass can lead to heat loss, so it is essential to use high quality double glazing.
• Sound insulation: It is important to choose windows with good sound insulation in order to ensure peace and comfort, especially in urban areas and noisy areas.
• Safety, stability: "Indoors, residents need to feel safe and not be afraid to go near the window, not be afraid that children will lean against the window or fall on it," says Mr. Mastavičius.
• Climate change and solar control: "Large windows in the summer months can lead to overheating, so it's important to think in advance about what measures we will take to control the heat, whether it's blinds, curtains or special films," says Mastavičius.

BALCONY AND TERRACE DOORS: OPTIONS AND SOLUTIONS

Tilt and slide (PSK) doors

These inward opening (Tilt) and slide doors are easy to open and have large glass areas, with a total length of up to 4 m and a sash width limited to 1.5 m. The weight of the glass unit should always be taken into account when designing these doors. The choice of locks and how the product will function in the building also depend on this. "Very often, the most basic, simple locks are put into these doors, and they break very often," says the representative of GEALAN BALTIC, who identifies one of the most common mistakes.
 
Folding doors (FST) doors

The design of this, so called "armonica" type, door is quite convenient, with a maximum width of up to 4 metres and a height of up to 2.5 metres: "The product is divided into a number of elements - the sashes, which fold up and can be pushed to one side or the other. These doors are very convenient, and we can open up large spaces, but they need more space for open sashes. This needs to be taken into account when planning the interior and choosing furniture," says the expert on sliding systems.

Lift and slide (HST) doors

The boundary between indoors and outdoors is also eliminated by sliding the door to one side, opening up the room completely. The doors are extremely easy to open, provide excellent thermal insulation and the threshold is concealed in the floor - we can have a barrier-free entrance, the design is light and elegant, and the opening can be adapted to a variety of opening styles.

"It should be borne in mind that especially for large products, wind loads are a factor. The wind loads prevailing in the area will determine the optimum sliding door option. If the loads are low, the sashes can be divided by 3 metres. However, if, for example, the building is to be constructed in an offshore area, there may be leakage challenges.

GEALAN-SMOOVIO® sliding doors

This is the newest product in the sliding structure category. The sealed, easy-to-operate structures glide smoothly, save space, protect against wind, rain and noise, and feature a discreet design. The maximum frame length can be up to 4 m, the height up to 2.4 m and the sash weight up to 200 kg. "GEALAN-SMOOVIO® could also be used for sliding windows: "This was a bit of a gap: often in living, dining and kitchen areas, at the countertop, it was desired to simply open the window to the courtyard, so as to avoid having to be restricted to certain furniture layouts, and so as not to need additional space for the casement. The system is perfect for both new builds and renovations," says Mastavičius of the satisfied customer expectations.

How to avoid the key mistakes when choosing a patio door?

GEALAN’s representative says that the earlier you start working with manufacturers and designers of patio doors, sliding systems, etc., the faster and more efficiently you can find optimal solutions. GEALAN representatives advise architects, developers and even builders to consult which design would be the most suitable in each case, to discuss which products to choose, and to ask for technical documentation such as drawings, assemblies and specifications. All this information is essential to ensure accurate and high-quality production, installation and operation of the products, to avoid mistakes, and to guarantee that all phases of the project run smoothly. GEALAN offers everyone the possibility to use a planning program to model PVC windows, analyze solutions, check their compliance with technical requirements, etc.