Balcony windows or their larger counterpart, French doors, flood interiors with plentiful supply of natural light and make for effective ventilation. Living rooms therefore appear more spacious and inviting while a comfortable indoor climate is achieved. With our extensive range of customizable options, at Neuffer secure access outside, stunning design, and user-friendly functionality can be relied on.
Factors to Consider when Purchasing Balcony Windows
Because they are often placed higher up in buildings, can feature generous glazed surfaces, and are exposed to the elements, balcony windows should have the following features:
- Secure, safe, and user-friendly opening mechanisms
- High strength and purpose-designed weather resistance
- Excellent thermal and sound insulation<
- Beautiful customizable design
When deciding on a balcony window, the exact form it will take should also be thought about. The products can come in a range of made-to-measure dimensions and are typically installed as a fixed or operable glazed element next to an existing door that provides access outside.
If the window is manufactured with a hinged turn mechanism and in a large size though it can be classified as a French door that swings open and provides an exit out. A low threshold can then be added.
Safe & Innovative Opening Options
There are many available opening options for balcony windows installed next to doors. Some mechanisms, popular in the UK or US, include vertically sliding glass Georgian sashes or double hung products. While these sliding windows add traditional character and style, they can be heavy to lift and will not provide the market-leading security and insulation that more modern non-sliding European openings can.
Sliding Mechanisms vs Tilt and Turn
Although we can supply pivot and outward-opening awning mechanisms as well as horizontal sliding windows, at Neuffer we primarily recommend tilt and turn options. The mechanism is equipped with high-quality German-manufactured metal fittings and is operated by turning the handle to different positions. When turned to 180°, the window or door sash will lean out of its frame and inwards by around 15° at the top and stay fixed at the bottom. This allows for a secure, steady, and subtle air supply. When the handle is turned to 90°, the sash swings fully open, providing full views out and maximum ventilation.
Alongside their ability to supply differing amounts of air, tilt and turn openings are particularly suitable for balcony windows because they can be customised to maximise safety. To make it more difficult for children to operate the products, a push-button handle can be installed, for example, or a lockable one with a key. A sash opening limiter can then also be used, which controls how far out the window or French door can swing. In addition, the fittings can be adapted so that the product must be put into the tilt position before turning is possible. Tilt-only openings are then a further option to enhance safety for windows or French doors located particularly high up.
Ensure Lasting Weather Resistance
To protect balcony windows and French doors from the elements our products come with purpose-designed features. Anodized aluminium frames or external metal cladding attached to a uPVC or wooden base, are particularly strong, anti-rust, and won't corrode, for example. Beyond this, our different window models are equipped with multiple high-quality seals and professionally welded corners to provide excellent watertightness.
For windows or French doors installed in windier or coastal locations, special glazing is then also available. An extra thick tempered impact-resistant glass featuring multiple layers of invisible PVB foil inserted between panes means the product can withstand high pressures. The glazing also reduces the chance that the glass could break into sharp shards.
Tried & Tested Products with Quality Frames
To prove their impressive performance our balcony windows and French doors, such as the Eco Plano or Idealu aluminium clad wood models, have undergone multiple rounds of testing. Installed in a booth, the products are exposed to rapid cycles of positive and negative pressure as well as much water. Due to excellent results, we have received certificates from accreditation bodies like IFT Rosenheim and All Façades Ltd recognising storm-proof strength, water tightness, and impact resistance. For customers after a full sliding opening, our Hi-Finity and CP 155 aluminium sliding glass patio doors and complementary Reynaers CS 77 aluminium window are then Miami Dade, Florida certified (NOA No.18-1226.01 [13.08.25]), capable of withstanding hurricane conditions.
Excellent Insulation with Modern Glazing
Because balcony windows or French doors are often south facing and conduct heat through their generous glass surfaces, at Neuffer we offer quality glazing as a standard. Our basic glass features two panes, for example, while triple glazing, made with three panes, is also available. The thicker the glass and the greater the number of panes used to construct it, the more effective the window will be at preventing energy loss via conduction. The panes between the glass are filled with inert sealed argon gas which adds density and further improves thermal insulation.
Passive House Products
Purpose-designed thermal glass can have balcony windows and doors achieve passive house certificates. With its origins in 90s Germany, the Passive House Institute sets requirements for buildings to achieve particularly high energy efficiency. U-values that define the amount of heat lost through a window each hour per square metre should not exceed 0.8 W/(m²K), for example. Interiors should also be able to maintain a steady temperature that does not pass 25°C for more than 10% of hours annually.
With frames equipped with multiple interior chambers and additional low-e glass coatings that reflect excess radiant heat, our products, such as the Energeto 8000 uPVC window or the aluminium-clad wood Eco Idealu French door passive house certified as they excellently meet and surpass these definitions.
Noise Reduction Glass
A further type of insulation that is important for balcony windows relates to sound. As balconies may face busy streets or buildings may be located close to airports, sound protection can be required to ensure peaceful interiors. At Neuffer we therefore offer particularly dense, asymmetrically thick glazing that slows the travel of sound waves. This can have products achieve sound insulation classes 2 and 3, for example, reducing noise by 32 - 38 dB, which, at a maximum, is recommended for buildings located up to 300 m from a motorway with around 5000 vehicles passing each hour. To achieve insulation classes 4 and 5, reducing noise by 45 dB, and suitable for buildings as close as 300 m from an airport, the glazing can additionally feature an invisibly integrated "silence foil" layer.
Beautiful Customizable Design
Because balconies can be located at the front, back, and side of buildings, their windows or French doors can add to first impressions and the overall style of the building. At Neuffer we specialise in custom-made solutions and offer a wide range of surface finishes to tailor products to suit various façades and preferences.
If one of our low-maintenance uPVC frames is chosen for a balcony product, for example, innovative aludec or woodec coatings are available. Produced by Aluplast, these finishes are market-leading – they have the uPVCcore authentically replicate a wooden or metallic surface in texture and appearance. Professionally applied during manufacturing via a high temperature foiling process, these coatings and others like our standard white, contemporary anthracite, or deep green tones, durably retain their vibrance and are excellently UV-resistant.
When it comes to other frame materials like aluminium or its cladded uPVC and timber variants there are different options for the window's interior and exterior. Where RAL colur finishes are powder-coated onto aluminium, for example, wood can feature a range of acrylics or varnishes to perfect its tone.
Add-on Options for Windows & Doors
Opting for innovative European tilt and turn balcony windows does not mean having to forgo the traditional look of double hung or Georgian sliding products. Glazing bars in a matching colour can be added, for example, to bring character or meet historic renovation standards. The bars are added during manufacturing with different variants available. Our sash bars separate the glass into individual sections, for example, whereas Helima bars are inserted between the panes of the entire window’s glazed panel. These options can make for particularly low maintenance as well as smooth surfaces. Our Viennese muntins, on the other hand, are externally applied on the interior and exterior faces of the glazing. They can be more easily replaced and tend to be most affordable.
Alongside glazing bars, roller shutters are a further recommended complementary product. Featuring an upper storage box and a uPVC or metal curtain, they are installed on the building's exterior and provide reliable sun protection as well as an extra layer of impact resistance. From round to square, the box can come in a variety of shapes to suit different design preferences or structural requirements. It can be installed hidden inside the wall reveal or visibly attached to the façade. Manual crank opening systems are available as are motorised options that can be connected to smart home systems.
For those after further smart home features, our windows can then additionally feature a security sensor. Here a contact device is installed onto the frame with a magnet located on the sash. Users can open the window normally using the handle but if it is forced open, a switch will be triggered. The signal sent can be connected to different triggers from lights to alarms or smart home app notifications and hubs. This improves home safety by deterring intruders and speeding up response times.
