Among the many advantages of a country house, the terrace area adjacent to the building stands out. We can say that this is the soul of private home ownership, since in this space the naturalness of an open street area and the comfort of the room are combined. Actually, the task of harmoniously combining these qualities is the meaning of the glazing of the veranda, which should open up a view of nature, but at the same time provide insulating and protective qualities.
Design solution development
Regardless of the size of the work, the area and the complexity of the planned design, it is recommended that you first make a list with general requirements for glazing characteristics. The design should take into account dimensional parameters, properties of insulating materials and ergonomics of control of functional elements. The main attention is paid to materials, but the implementation of the construction is no less significant - on this, in particular, the convenience of the system and its reliability will depend. In answer to the question of what should be the glazing of the veranda and terrace in a particular case, clear objectives should be set. As noted, this zone acts as a transitional platform from home to the site, but there may be other options. For example, the conditions on the veranda with moderate microclimatic indicators make it possible to break up a small garden. Or organize a lounge area for relaxation. In each case, the choice of a particular design concept for a veranda with a terrace will provide its information for the subsequent determination of glazing tactics. At the first stage, you should deal with the materials through which the project will be implemented.
Glass or polycarbonate - which is better
In any configuration, the main area of the glazing will be translucent material. A typical solution is tempered single glass. It is able to provide decent physical protection, heat and sound insulation. Also, in terms of light transmission, this is the best option. But, again, if it is planned to arrange a green corner on the veranda, then the classical glazing of the veranda will not work due to excessive heating. Also, dense sealed glass does not have the best effect on materials sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, as an alternative, it is worth considering polycarbonate. How is he good? In winter, it acts as a more efficient heat insulator, and in summer it limits light transmission. That is, on the veranda with plastic panels in natural light will be darker. However, light distortion and a low level of transparency are not required properties of polycarbonate. Today, models with different light transmission coefficients are produced. The significant advantages of this material include ductility, as well as resistance to mechanical stress and stress. But polycarbonate also has disadvantages - it quickly wipes out, and after a while it can change the shade.
Frame material
Most users naturally prefer aluminum and plastic in this part. In general, their performance is similar, although there are some differences. So, aluminum frames will be distinguished by durability, wear resistance and a solid appearance. With such load-bearing elements, it is advisable to glaze the veranda in full height. Frames will provide not only reliability in a stationary state, but also open up the possibilities for using mechanized parts of the structure, in which the load increases. Plastic in this regard is not so attractive precisely because of its lower physical strength. On the other hand, frames made of thick composite panels provide the most effective heat and noise insulation.
Should I use wood elements
The least practical and functional material, if we talk about its use as the same supporting frame. In almost all the technical and physical properties, wood loses both plastic and aluminum. Unless the use of a three-layer glued beam can bring the structural strength to an acceptable level. Moreover, the glazing of the veranda with wood frames is recommended to be used only for heated areas, since the structure of the material has weak insulation properties. Part of the problem is solved by modern impregnations and protective coatings for wood, but this is not enough for proper insulation. And yet, is there any justification for using such frames? Wooden fittings, regardless of purpose, always have two very significant advantages. This is environmental friendliness and natural texture, which will organically be combined with the landscape design adjacent to the veranda.
Features of frameless glazing
Also, this design method is called frameless. Its essence is the complete exclusion of the bearing frame profiles, which in the traditional system perform the functions of mechanical support. It turns out a solid transparent wall without foreign inclusions. But, the frameless design can only be realized with thick (at least 1 cm) hardened glass sheets. It should be borne in mind that the entire load will be borne by the main light-transmitting material, therefore frameless glazing of the veranda and terrace does not allow the use of lightweight thin panels - including polycarbonate. The edges and joints of hardened canvases undergo a special treatment, which rounds sharp corners. Mounting is performed by metal brackets with rubber pads.
Warm or cold glazing?
There are no clear rules defining the differences between the two approaches to decorating the veranda. The boundaries are very arbitrary and can manifest themselves in different technical and structural nuances. For example, warm glazing is characterized by such features as tightness, the presence of frames to improve thermal insulation, the use of frost-resistant double-glazed windows and the minimum number of openings. That is, the emphasis is on heat saving, which is important for the northern regions or terraces in which heat-loving plants are grown. Conversely, the cold glazing of the veranda does not aim to ensure sealing with insulation. For such systems, the use of lightweight frameless canvases, the installation of large windows, and sometimes whole spans without windows, are sometimes left.
Partial or panoramic design?
The features of the use of panoramic glazing, which is considered the most technologically advanced and attractive in appearance, have already been mentioned more than once. In this case, full-height glass is used. That is, the entire area of the partition dividing the veranda and the territory adjacent to the house will be covered with glass paintings. In this configuration, the frameless system looks the most advantageous, and polycarbonate is not allowed in it. As for the partial glazing of the veranda, in essence it is implemented as ordinary windows, but in a large format. As a rule, the lower region is either an incomplete capital wall or a partition. The upper half along the entire perimeter is made out of light-transmitting canvases. This is a suitable option if the emphasis is on thermal insulation.
Using Sliding Doors
This is not to say that this is a fundamentally new solution, but it was precisely in designs with the exterior decoration of the house that similar systems began to be used recently. The mechanism of operation of functional panels in this case resembles the action of doors from a sliding wardrobe with guides. That is, they do not open "on themselves", but move aside. The advantages of the system of sliding glazing of the veranda and terrace include the following properties:
- The exception of spontaneous plowing (for example, in strong winds).
- Space saving.
- Convenience of physical management.
- The ability to implement automatic progress.
The device of window openings
Window placement is also organized differently depending on the operational requirements for glazing. Experts advise to opt for functional swivel or tilt-and-turn designs, which give more control options than conventional frame inserts. And again, it is worth abandoning systems that open "upon themselves", as they hide the useful space. In this case, it also makes sense to use sliding frames. Glazing the veranda and terrace in this design will require the creation of a more reliable supporting base, since the emphasis of the movement mechanism will lie on the light-transmitting canvases.
Roof device
Another interesting solution, which, however, should be considered at the stage of capital construction. An empty terrace can get a full frame on the basis of double-glazed windows with a transparent roof, which will give both aesthetic appeal and functionality. But this option will not work if you plan to design with increased thermal insulation. It will be necessary to refuse from the sliding glazing of the veranda, since the roller mechanism weakens the structural strength of the entire system. In addition, in order to eliminate the load on the roof from snow in winter, it is necessary to provide an angle of inclination from 7 to 45 °. And one more trick: if high throughput with respect to light is required, then it is desirable to maintain a right angle of glazing to the sun. In summer, the greatest amount of energy with such an angle can be obtained by creating a slope of 10-15 °.
Terrace foundation requirements
Despite all the advantages of modern frame profiles and double-glazed windows, natural movement of the soil can destroy the most reliable structure, if a quality foundation foundation has not been thought out. This applies to cases with a remote terrace, which does not mate with the house through its screed. For such sites, it is recommended to use reinforced concrete slabs with laying in compacted concrete. If you plan to install a frameless glazing of the veranda, then for the future bundle of brackets with the foundation, you need to initially think about the output attachment points in the plate. The power bundle should not be provided with a decorative flooring, but rather with a connection to a reliable base. By the way, with regard to the floor decoration of the veranda, it is advisable to use stone or porcelain tile.
What else to consider during installation
As an addition, you should take care of sealing the docking places and strengthening the supporting frame in the wall. As for the first, the joints of jumpers and profiles, with which external seals are interfaced, are referred to weak points from the point of view of isolation. As a means of sealing, you should use a mounting foam with decorative grouts or priming mixtures that provide an insulating effect. The reinforcement of the supporting elements is carried out by tin plates, which are mounted on the wall on one side and fixed with bolts to the frame base on the other. In the lower part of the glazing of the veranda and terrace, it may be necessary to lay engineering channels - for example, outlets to the sewers. This is done with metal castings, which not only protect communications, but also give this part a more aesthetic appearance.
Conclusion
The rich possibilities of the structural and functional design of the veranda with glazing allow us to solve almost any tasks of the homeowner in terms of the arrangement of this zone. But in the pursuit of modern technical solutions, one can lose the very significant positive properties of traditional terraces. For example, this refers to the rejection of wood materials in favor of more practical plastic. Conversely, sliding frames in the glazing of the veranda provide exclusively advantages in terms of ergonomics of handling openings. It will also not be superfluous to think over the possibility of transforming the completed design. This primarily relates to transitions from the summer season to the winter season with a logical change in microclimate requirements. It is not necessary to exclude the possible conversion of the veranda from the inside, which will also require changes in the design of the glazing. In this regard, you can recall the same winter garden, which would require a special climate, and higher ventilation requirements.