The first hurdle when choosing a glass balcony is the abundance of options: insulated/non-insulated, sliding/folding/guillotine/suspended, curtained/uncurtained… In this guide, we use a concrete decision matrix to show which system is right for you, based on your balcony's orientation, floor, intended use and budget.
Answer these 5 questions first
- What direction does the balcony face? North, south, east, west — each direction has a different problem set.
- Which floor are you on? Ground — 5th — 15th floor make a real difference.
- How do you want to use the balcony? Just to protect items, or to turn it into a living space?
- What's your budget? The range is wide — from a 25,000 TL floor to a 200,000 TL ceiling.
- Children/elderly/pets at home? Safety features change.
Recommendations by orientation
North-facing balcony: insulation priority
North-facing balconies are very cold in winter and receive soft light in summer. The priority here is thermal insulation. Choice: insulated sliding system or Ultra Insulated series. 4+16+4 mm Low-E glass with the Argon-fill option may be considered mandatory.
South-facing balcony: heat management + UV
South-facing balconies overheat in mid-summer but receive useful sun in winter. Choice: Lux Curtained System (integrated curtain for summer shading), Low-E glass (low UV and heat transmission). Sliding alone is not enough; always plan a shading solution.
East-facing balcony: morning sun
Bright morning sun, cool afternoon. Choice: standard insulated sliding is sufficient; curtained system is optional.
West-facing balcony: evening sun + heat
Strong afternoon sun, high summer heat. Choice: insulated system + integrated curtain or external shading (glass balcony + awning combination).
Recommendations by floor height
| Floor | Recommendation | Critical point |
|---|---|---|
| Ground - 3rd floor | Standard sliding or folding | Safety (locks, laminated glass) priority |
| 4th - 8th floor | Insulated sliding or suspended | Wind-resistance class should be checked |
| 9th - 15th floor | Insulated + strong profile (Apollon Plus-class) | High wind + installation safety |
| 16th floor and above | Premium guillotine (Olympos 170, motorized) | EN 12210 class 5 resistance, double lock |
Recommendations by use case
Just protecting items / plants
Rain, dust, wind protection is enough. Choice: economical Express System or non-insulated sliding. Average m² 1,500-2,500 TL.
Turning it into a living space (use as a room)
If you want to use the balcony year-round as a room, insulated is essential. Heat loss is critical for those who want to heat the balcony with central heating/AC. Choice: insulated sliding or Ultra Insulated.
Preserving outdoor look (aesthetic priority)
For those who want a frameless transparent look, Premium Suspended Display or Aspendos Glass is preferred. When opened, the balcony becomes fully unobstructed.
Restaurant / café terrace
For customer comfort + 12-month use, the standard is insulated sliding + bioclimatic pergola combined.
Selection matrix by budget
- 25,000-50,000 TL budget (8-12 m²): Non-insulated sliding or folding. Rain/dust protection.
- 50,000-100,000 TL (10-15 m²): Insulated sliding. Year-round use, A+ energy.
- 100,000-200,000 TL (12-18 m²): Premium insulated + integrated curtain + acoustic glass upgrade.
- 200,000+ TL: Motorized guillotine (Apollon Plus, Side 150) or multi-system including bioclimatic pergola.
Children / elderly / pet safety
If young children, elderly people, or climbing cats use the balcony, request the following:
- Laminated glass: If broken, the pieces stay bonded.
- Child lock: An extra upper-position safety lock alongside the standard lock.
- Soft-close mechanism: Prevents finger pinching in sliding systems.
- Railing height check: After installation, the existing railing must not fall below the standard height.
What's the right system for your balcony?
Request a free site visit from your authorized Winperax dealer — get a tailored recommendation based on dimensions, orientation, floor and budget.
Dealer Locator All Glass BalconiesDecision matrix summary
If you still can't decide, a simple rule: if you'll use the balcony as a year-round living space, choose insulated sliding; if your priority is just protection, non-insulated sliding is enough; if aesthetics come first, look at suspended/guillotine systems. Our authorized dealers evaluate all parameters of your building during the site survey and provide a tailored recommendation.
Climate-based detailed recommendations
Coastal climate (Antalya, Mersin, Bodrum)
Salty air + high humidity causes profile corrosion. Anodized coating is a must; choose matte anthracite or white (salt buildup is more visible on black profiles). Sea-salt buildup should be wiped weekly during glass cleaning.
Black Sea climate (Trabzon, Rize, Samsun)
High rainfall + humidity. Watertightness is critical — premium EPDM gasket and drainage channels must be installed properly. Insulated systems are the standard choice for year-round use.
Continental climate (Inner Anatolia, Eastern provinces)
Wide gap between harsh winter cold and summer heat. Thermally broken profile + Argon-fill Low-E insulated glass combination is essentially mandatory. The balcony cannot be used with standard systems; thermal insulation is required.
Mediterranean climate (Antalya, Hatay, Adana)
Summer heat + sun intensity. For south/west-facing balconies, the recommended combination is Low-E solar-control glass + integrated curtain.
Color selection guide
Glass balcony profile color should match the building's facade; however, there are also some technical criteria:
- White: Most common choice, low solar heat absorption, suitable for hot climates. Stain-resistant (with anodizing).
- Anthracite gray: Ideal for modern building facades; salt buildup is visually masked in coastal regions.
- Black: For premium villa facades. However, profiles can heat to 60°C+ in summer sun — careful quality control needed for thermal expansion.
- Wood-look coating: For matching old-style facades. Foil quality determines UV resistance.
- Custom RAL colors: For matching architectural project brand colors — additional 15-25% cost.
Accessory selection tips
Lock system
A standard single lock is enough for residential use; in multi-story buildings or homes with children, double-point lock + safety lock is recommended. The dealer may not ask about this during the survey — request it.
Handle selection
Beyond aesthetics, ergonomics matter — large soft handles are more suitable for elderly users. Matte chrome is common; brushed gold is the premium option.
Fly screen integration
If you want a fly screen with the glass balcony, state this upfront — adding it later costs twice as much. Pleated (accordion) fly screens are the most popular.
Soft close
Sliding glass panels can pinch fingers when closing fast. The soft-close mechanism is an extra cost but important in homes with children.