A guillotine glass balcony consists of an aluminium frame and side rails, glass panels, a motor, a cord-reinforced belt or chain, bearings, brush seals and a button or remote. Fly screens, zip screens, indoor blinds, double glazing, the wipe-clean model and the pinch sensor are options added later or chosen at the start.
Short answer
The main parts of a guillotine glass balcony are the aluminium frame and side rails, the glass panels, the motor that lifts them, a cord-reinforced belt or chain, bearings, brush seals and a button or remote. On top of these come options such as a fly screen, blinds, double glazing, the wipe-clean model and, on some models, a pinch sensor. Some can be added later; others can only be chosen when ordering.
What parts make up a guillotine glass balcony?
| Part | What it does | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium frame and side rails | Carry and guide the glass | 2 mm aluminium wall thickness; jointed side rails allow glass replacement without dismantling |
| Glass panels | Close the opening; when open, the bottom pane acts as a balustrade | 2 or 3 panels; 8–10 mm tempered or 4+12+4 double glazing |
| Base profile | Holds the glass | 24 mm inner gap; glass thickness can vary on request |
| Belt or chain | Raises and lowers the glass | 3 × 25 mm cord-reinforced belt or chain depending on model; lasts at least 5, usually 6–7 years |
| Bearings | Keep the glass moving evenly | 8 stainless steel bearings in the side channels |
| Brush seals | Reduce air flow between frame and glass | Insulation weakens as they gather dust; keep them clean |
| Motor | Drives the system | Failures are rare and usually electrical |
| Button and remote | Stop the glass at any height | Button, remote or both |
Accessories and options
| Accessory / option | Can it be added later? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fly screen | Yes | Can be fitted; if it needs removing, the service team does it, not the customer |
| External zip screen | Yes | Cuts the sun; edges locked in rails also keep insects out |
| Indoor blind (roller, pleated) | Yes | Blind and rail must stay clear of the glass path (can you fit pleated blinds?) |
| Double glazing | No, chosen at the start | If the balcony will be used as a room in winter (does it let the cold in?) |
| Wipe-clean model | No, chosen at the start | On high floors the outer face is cleaned from inside (how to clean it) |
| Pinch sensor | Depends on model | Fitted on bottom-up models for children and pets; top-down models lower under control and don't use it |
| Spare remote | Yes | A new remote must be paired with the system |
Spare parts and replacement: who does it?
- Belt and chain: they don't wear quickly; when replacement is needed, the service team does it. Chain and belt replacement are the same job and take at least 1.5 days (replacing the chain).
- Glass: if a pane breaks, the jointed side rails allow replacement without dismantling (does guillotine glass break?).
- Don't open the system yourself: opening the frame or touching the belt or motor voids the warranty. All our products carry a 2-year warranty, extended for customers who keep up regular maintenance.
As an authorised Albert Genau manufacturing dealer, SkyArt Group manufactures, installs and services guillotine glass balcony systems in Istanbul. To decide together which options your balcony needs, request a free survey.
