These days, glazed balconies have become an inseparable part of Slovak housing estates. This is an exciting way for smaller flats in particular to expand the usable space, whereas for larger flats with larger balconies, it’s an excellent way to create a room for a pleasant sitting corner or a winter garden. In addition to the glazing itself, you should also think about your shading options – for several reasons.

Thinking about glazing your balcony? It’s worth doing it right

Glazing a balcony has a number of benefits. In addition to the benefits mentioned in the intro, it’s also worth adding that glazing your balcony will limit heat loss, protect the space from the weather and also reduce the noise from the outside. An added bonus is that you’ll be able to use the balcony for various purposes, depending on its size and the limits of your imagination.

Naturally, there are several ways of glazing a balcony and it always depends on the specific construction design, layout and your budget. Even before you decide on the right contractor for the job, you should have already considered how to shade your glazed balcony. It’s important to remember that, especially in summer, a glazed balcony will overheat significantly, even if you leave some of the panes open. This will make it unbearable to come out on the balcony at all, but the accumulated heat will also significantly impact the thermal comfort of the adjacent rooms. What shading options are available for a glazed balcony?

Venetian blinds made of bamboo

The shading options for glazed balconies on houses are much broader because you can also choose external shutters or roller Venetian blinds which are highly effective in this regard. However, installing these on a glazed balcony in a flat is usually not possible if, for instance, the flat is located on higher floors where the wind can easily damage the external blinds. Indoor Venetian blinds are the ideal solution in that case.

Larger slats are particularly well suited to larger glass surfaces, as they not only provide effective shading, but are also visually appealing. The 50 mm bamboo slats are a prime example, creating shade and a pleasant atmosphere for a glazed balcony. On top of that, you can also benefit from their thermal insulation properties to significantly reduce overheating of your glazed balcony. Another bonus with bamboo Venetian blinds is their long life and UV resistance, as well as easy maintenance to keep your slats looking brand new.

Hnedé bambusové žalúzie na veľkých oknách

Venetian blinds with 50 mm slats are suitable for large glass surfaces

Indoor shading roller Venetian blinds

Shading roller Venetian blinds can be an alternative to Venetian blinds for a balcony. In the case of apartment buildings, indoor roller Venetian blinds are once again the only options, as external roller Venetian blinds usually cannot be mounted and the building manager probably won’t allow you to install them anyway.

Shading roller Venetian blinds are affordable though if you can choose any of the universal sizes. However, universal roller Venetian blinds may not provide effective shading for your balcony, especially if they don’t cover the entire glazed area. It’s also important to realise that conventional fabric roller Venetian blinds won’t prevent heat getting in, are prone to tearing and if you choose colourful roller Venetian blinds, the colours will fade quite quickly.

Sun blocking window film

Solar control films are another interesting option for glazed balconies. Their advantage is that there’s no need to mount anything on the walls or the façade. Simply choose the film based on its transmittance rating and your personal taste. An added benefit is that the film can also be reflective, making your balcony perfectly safe from the prying eyes of your neighbours. High-quality window films can create effective shade and prevent overheating, but even this solution has its drawbacks. Their lifespan is definitely shorter than Venetian blinds as even the best quality films will fade over time. You also need to consider the cost of the installation itself, which requires precision and experience – otherwise you’ll have air bubbles under the film or it may not cover the entire glass surface. Finally, these won’t be your best choice in autumn or winter, when there is less sunlight. The film on the window creates shade all the time and doesn’t allow for any regulation.

In conclusion, shading for a glazed balcony is a must and if you don’t put something up from the start, you’ll quickly find that you could really use the shade when the first hot summer days hit. If you decide to go for bamboo Venetian blinds, don’t hesitate to contact one of our partners.