How to close the windows on the first floor from prying eyes

Often, many buyers believe that windows in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, children's room and other rooms should have similar performance characteristics. As a result, when ordering, the design that is optimal from their point of view is selected, and then models for all rooms are made according to this “template”. This approach is fundamentally wrong, since different requirements are imposed on the functionality of windows in different rooms, and the creation of an average “universal model” will not solve all the issues. On the contrary, this path will lead to increased costs and will not provide the expected level of comfort in all rooms.

General requirements for windows

Despite all the differences, there is one characteristic of windows that is mandatory for all structures without exception - the stability of the frame, which depends both on the quality of the profiles and the presence of reinforcing liners. In addition, all windows without exception must be:

• sealed;
• safe to use and not emitting harmful substances;
• hygienic.

A set of general requirements for window structures is specified in detail in GOSTs, the main provisions of which can be found on OknaTrade. At the same time, the standards adopted in our state can be supplemented by the German RAL standard. It is recommended to give preference to manufacturers who have not only certificates of compliance with GOSTs, but also with RAL standards.

The manufacturer’s lack of GOST compliance certificates is a good reason to start looking for another company that will be entrusted with the order.

Turn away, curious passerby

In addition to material damage, residents of the first floors are more susceptible to moral damage - in the form of glances from curious passers-by. In some houses, the basement is so low that the boiling life in the apartment is clearly visible. Curtains or roller blinds that are too dark will make the room gloomy and lead to excessive energy consumption. In this case, it is better to give preference to systems that can be moved along the window, both up and down. Pleated blinds are good in this style.

The modern market offers an ideal solution for apartments on the ground floor - double-glazed windows with variable levels of transparency. Of course, today this is a rather expensive investment, but this system provides a lot of advantages, including simultaneously allowing you to view outside and not allowing you to see what is happening inside the room, providing optimal sun protection, which means saving on cooling bills. Externally, such windows are no different from their standard counterparts, which is important for standard buildings.

For those who have recently replaced windows, such an investment will certainly not be rational. A variety of window films will come to the rescue. They can be applied to the entire glass unit, which is good in the case of completely transparent films, or partially, for example, in the case of decorative or stained glass films. Often on the ground floor, covering only half of the window with an opaque film is sufficient to provide adequate privacy.

Special products called film curtains have been developed for covering windows with patterned films. They are located throughout the glass unit and look especially advantageous on panoramic windows.

Also, window films, in addition to protection from prying eyes, perform decorative and sun protection functions, and also increase the strength of the glass unit covered with them.

What are the differences between window designs?

First of all, you need to understand that windows for a summer house, a residential cottage and an apartment are different products. In the first case, they usually purchase an economy option, in the second they focus on security with confidentiality and can sometimes save on active doors, and in the third they act according to circumstances, depending on the number of rooms, their purpose and the allocated budget. There are quite a lot of nuances that you can and should become familiar with thanks to our expert reviews.

If you have pets, then regardless of the purpose of the room, do not forget to play it safe and install a reinforced version of the Anti-Cat mosquito net.

Classification of panoramic windows

• Glazing without the use of frame structures (frameless) does not involve the use of guides and frames.

  
  A single plate is installed across the entire wall and creates the illusion of invisibility and weightlessness. This type of window is one of the most expensive, but apart from external qualities, it does not have any great advantages. Frameless windows do not protect against cold and noise; they cannot be opened and ventilated. Their installation is often driven by a design decision to fit into a specific concept;

• Frame glazing - involves the use of a frame in the window structure, which can be made of various materials: aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, metal-plastic, wood.

Windows in the kitchen

For the kitchen, ensuring good ventilation is usually considered paramount. Moreover, the presence of a productive hood does not solve the problem, since its effective operation requires a constant flow of fresh air. That is, a kitchen with a window that lacks modern ventilation systems is guaranteed to turn into a stuffy room filled with not always pleasant odors. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to simultaneously install:

• tilt and turn sash;
• supply ventilation valve;
• micro-slit ventilation system.

This approach will allow you to effectively control the supply of fresh air at different times of the year. The tilt and turn flap is perfect for summer. And in the autumn-winter period it is better to use a micro-slot ventilation system. In such a situation, an additional supply ventilation valve is needed to ensure a constant flow of fresh air when the doors are closed, which is necessary in the kitchen at any time of the year and day.

Sound and heat insulation for the kitchen are not the primary criteria. However, you should not completely neglect the energy efficiency of such windows.

A riot of colors

Choose stylish blinds.

If you don't want to use fabric curtains, which create too many washing problems, you're better off choosing horizontal or vertical blinds. Specialized stores offer a luxurious range of colors for these accessories. They are ideal for any setting and create a complex and original decor.

Windows for children's rooms

Regardless of the modification, any window in the nursery must first of all be absolutely safe. To do this, it is equipped with special fittings and triplex double-glazed windows. In addition to safety, parents need to take care of:

• the ability to effectively manage natural light;
• excellent heat and sound insulation;
• aesthetic appeal of the window design.

You should also remember about good ventilation, since the child constantly needs fresh air. At the same time, it is unacceptable for there to be drafts in the room. If the window is equipped with a wide window sill, it is recommended to make its protruding corners rounded.

Problems of panoramic windows and solutions to them

1. Significant heat loss due to huge glass structures. To avoid this problem, you can install energy-saving windows.

   
   They have a special layer, which is a metal coating. It is composed of metal oxides and allows glasses to reflect infrared rays without much light resistance. Such double-glazed windows reflect heat from the radiators, as a result of which the room heats up faster;

In addition, double-glazed windows are insulated in the following ways:

• Increase the number of cameras. As a rule, double-glazed windows are used. There are also three-chamber windows, but their cost is much higher, and heat loss is not significantly reduced;
• The space inside the frames is filled with a special inert gas, most often argon, which helps retain heat;
• A thermal curtain is used to additionally prevent heat exchange between the window space and the room;
• They install shutters - shutters consisting of artificial material and fixed to the vertical profiles of the window frame. They prevent the passage of cold air and are removable.

1. The problem of overheating due to frequent penetration of sunlight. It will help to eliminate it:

• Use of energy-saving double-glazed windows. Mirror coating of glass reflects the sun's rays and does not allow them to heat the room;
• Window tinting is also capable of reflecting some ultraviolet rays;
• The use of shutters provides protection from overheating during the warm season.

1. The problem of insufficient sound insulation. To eliminate it, you should choose two-chamber windows with chambers of different thicknesses.

   
   However, they are heavy, and excess load can lead to rapid wear of the fittings. Therefore, acoustic films are used to provide additional noise protection. They consist of three layers: the outer ones are made of ordinary film, and in the middle there is a special sound-absorbing layer. Such films have not yet become widespread in Russia, but they are very popular abroad.

2. The problem of icing and fogging of windows. To solve this, heat sources are installed next to the windows and thus create a thermal curtain.

   
   A warm baseboard can solve this problem.
   And to prevent the appearance of condensation, provide constant ventilation and ventilation.

3. Fading problem. A large amount of light and sunlight lead to fading and fading of objects located both indoors and outside the house.

   
   This applies to a greater extent to energy-saving windows. Their glass reflects ultraviolet rays, resulting in double solar exposure. For this reason, the area near the window, for example, siding, burns out, and plants planted under the windows can dry out and die, the stone covering heats up to very high temperatures. Therefore, you should not plant plants in the area where rays reflect from windows, or place any objects there. The material around the window space must be resistant to sunlight.

4. The problem of maintaining and cleaning floor-to-ceiling windows. Huge windows need to be washed periodically and cleared of stains. If such windows are not on the ground floor, then special workers have to be hired to clean the glass from the outside, and this service is expensive. The manufacturer's application of a photocatalytic composition to the glass will help solve the problem. It gives windows the property of self-cleaning. When exposed to the sun, dirt decomposes directly on the glass and is washed away by the next rain or watering from a hose.

5. The problem is a wide view of the premises from the street and low privacy. To prevent it, you can stick tinted film or mirror coating on the windows.

6. Safety problem when using floor-to-ceiling windows. In the case where the wall consists almost entirely of glass, the strength of the double-glazed window and its reliability must be taken into account. To strengthen panoramic windows you can use:

• Windows made of tempered glass - in this case, high temperature exposure and treatment with a special chemical composition are used in the production of glass. As a result, the strength of double-glazed windows increases approximately 5 times;
• Using triplex material as glass.

  
  It consists of transparent layers of silicate glass, which are held together by a polymer. This material is highly durable and ensures safety. Even under strong mechanical stress, it remains solid and cannot shatter into fragments. Triplex also has additional sound and heat insulation qualities.

Bathroom windows

In typical apartments, a bathtub with a window is a rarity, but in the private sector you can find just such an option more and more often.
The operating conditions in these rooms are considered the most difficult, so high demands are placed on the reliability of windows. Due to regular and sudden temperature changes and high humidity, it is recommended to approach the selection of fittings and profile systems with special attention. You should also remember to ensure privacy and good ventilation. Since the window sills of such models are often used as shelves, it is best to equip them with sliding doors - in this case, the window in the bathroom will perform several functions at once.

How to close windows from prying eyes: not the best options

Residents of apartments located on the ground floor usually use curtains to protect them from the eyes of passersby. But if you curtain the windows with thick curtains during the daytime, the room will become dark. This option is suitable for night protection. And if you consider that curtains on the first floor collect dust, the rationality of their use is called into question.

Not the most successful way to protect yourself from the eyes of passers-by and neighbors is to tint the windows. Even by darkening a separate part of the glass, the room will become too dark and residents are unlikely to appreciate this effect.

It is also hardly worth filling the inside of the window sills with various toys, flowers and other elements. This does not look very neat and creates a corresponding impression on the residents.

Bedroom windows

Windows in the bedroom should be the quietest and warmest, but at the same time well ventilated. Moreover, a constant flow of fresh air is a prerequisite, and in this regard, designs for the bedroom are similar to kitchen windows. You should also ensure that such models are equipped with an effective system for adjusting the flow of natural light. In some cases, it consists of several elements at once. For example, reflective glass and awnings or blinds.

By analogy with the bathroom, you can also make a multifunctional window in the bedroom. Most often, it is equipped with a wide window sill with an integrated ventilation grill and additional elements (drawers, mirror, etc.) that serve as a dressing table.

Tip 1: decide on the size of the floor-to-ceiling windows

First you need to decide on the size of the floor-to-ceiling windows. The material from which the windows will be made - aluminum, plastic or wood, and the type of opening will depend on them.

Floor-to-ceiling windows are also called large windows, panoramic windows, panoramic glazing, panoramic doors, glass walls.

Curtains of different lengths

Experiment.

To create a stylish and unusual interior, experts recommend hanging curtains in a non-standard way. An example is this image, where you can see that they are arranged in a pirouette shape. If your room is decorated in a traditional style, decorations such as fringe and tassels will look very organic.