The balcony space can be used not only as a storage room, but also as an additional area, due to which the living room increases. To do this, you need to redevelop the apartment.
Attaching a balcony to a room can be done in several ways. The complexity of the upcoming work and the design possibilities of the space depend on the option you choose. The design features of your home also play a significant role. We talked about all the nuances of redevelopment and options for using a balcony in our article.
How can I use the balcony?
Balcony or loggia can be combined with any room, be it a kitchen, living room or bedroom. The extra square footage can be used as a place to eat or put in a fridge, which often doesn't fit in small kitchens.
Often the balcony is used as a dining room. This approach expands the possibilities of designing the working area.hostesses as the space is freed from the dining table.
Connecting a balcony to a living room type allows you to expand the space, arrange an extra bed in it, install a folding sofa for relaxing or a desktop with office equipment.
The presence of a balcony in the bedroom will allow you to get a cozy boudoir, wardrobe or just arrange a seating area on a soft sofa. If your apartment is characterized by a modest area, use a balcony to delimit the space. Install a light partition between the loggia and the room or hang a curtain. So you get two zones for different purposes.
How can I combine a balcony with a room?
Building codes divide all rooms into two types: cold and warm. When deciding to combine two different premises, you deviate from the standard, which in some cases requires obtaining permits. However, appeal to state authorities is not always required. It depends on the redevelopment method you choose.
There are two ways to attach a balcony to a room:
- without dismantling the dividing wall;
- with complete removal of the window sill and part of the facade of the house.
The first method is used in cases where you do not set yourself the goal of expanding the room, but only want to ennoble the free space. In this case, the balcony is simply glazed, insulated and decorated in the way you choose.
In progressonly the door and window block are dismantled. Such work does not violate the integrity of the facade of the building, therefore, it is not required to obtain permission from the relevant authorities.
If you want to completely connect the balcony with the room, remove the structures that separate the loggia and the living space, you will have to draw up a redevelopment project, coordinate it with the BTI and obtain permission to work.
We note right away that this process takes a lot of time and money from apartment owners, so most of them do not draw up the necessary documentation. What threatens them for such actions?
The illegal attachment of a balcony to a room with the removal of part of the facade remains invisible until there is a need to sell the property, transfer it as an inheritance and draw up any documents with the apartment. At this stage, you will not be able to draw up a contract of sale or donation, since the layout of the apartment will not correspond to that stated in the plan.
Also, problems can arise if one of the neighbors writes a complaint about illegal redevelopment to the house management company. In this case, an inspection will come to the owners, which states the fact of redevelopment, fines and administrative pen alties will follow.
If, as a result of ongoing work, the floors or ceiling of the neighbors begin to freeze through, they can sue for illegally changing the architecture of the building. In this case, the owners will be obliged to compensate the victims for the costs ofcarrying out repairs and return the partition to its proper place.
Nuances to consider when applying for a permit
When thinking about redevelopment of an apartment, pay attention to the fact that you are much more likely to get permission if you live in a monolithic building or a brick building. Residents of panel houses face particular difficulties with paperwork. In buildings of the p44t type, the connection of a balcony to a room is prohibited for security reasons. A window block in such buildings may be part of a load-bearing wall.
Also, difficulties may arise in the process of dismantling the threshold between the room and the loggia. In panel houses, this element serves as a fastener for the balcony slab, so its absence can adversely affect the entire building. Walls can begin to freeze, condensation will accumulate on them and mold will form. In brick high-rise buildings, this is a little easier, but permission is also required.
How to legalize the redevelopment of an apartment?
When considering an application for redevelopment of an apartment, state authorities do not always take the side of the applicant. Therefore, to combine a balcony with a room, prepare all the necessary documents in advance.
The first thing you need to do is draft your changes. It can be done independently or ordered from the relevant organizations. Once you have the plan in hand, follow these steps:
- Visit BTI. When contacting the bureau, you need to write a statement that you want to make changes totechnical plan of the apartment. Specialists will review your project, analyze the likelihood of a negative impact of the restructuring on the building. If there is no possibility of negative factors, your application will be approved.
- If the coordination of joining the balcony to the room is successful, order a technical passport for the dwelling from the BTI.
- Next, you need to contact the sanitary and epidemiological service, which must also issue a permit for restructuring.
When two positive answers are received, go to the housing inspection. There you should provide a whole package of documents, including:
- technical passport for the apartment (which was given to you at the BTI);
- application for redevelopment;
- documents for an apartment where you are listed as the owner;
- re-planning project (with permission from the above authorities);
- Written consent to redevelopment of all adult family members;
- certificates that your house is not a historical object, a cultural monument.
This list may be supplemented by other documents. Check with your city's Housing Inspectorate in advance.
Having received positive answers in all instances, you can start arranging a balcony combined with a room. Upon completion of the work, you will need to re-apply to the housing inspection so that their specialists evaluate the quality of work and exclude the negative impact of the reconstruction on the building.
After the assessment, you will be issued an act that will indicate the completion of workhousing redevelopment.
Estimating, costing
At the initial stage, immediately decide on the materials that you will use in the repair process. Prepare a design project and cost estimate. Measure the area of the entire room, roughly calculate how many materials you will need to carry out repairs.
If the balcony does not have glazing, include its cost in the estimate. For residents of the central part of Russia, window blocks with three-chamber double-glazed windows are quite enough. If you live in one of the northern regions, use systems with thicker glasses and three profiles.
Also consider the cost of hiring specialists. You may need the help of experienced craftsmen during the insulation of the balcony from the outside, dismantling part of the load-bearing wall, arranging underfloor heating systems.
The base estimate will consist of the following items:
- balcony glazing;
- dismantling;
- laying cables, arranging sockets;
- materials for room insulation;
- work on the insulation of the balcony;
- acquisition of finishing materials;
- finishing surfaces;
- buying new furniture.
Pay special attention to electrics. Most often, balconies do not have electrical wiring, which makes it necessary to involve the appropriate specialists.
You also need to take into account the cost of drafting the project and state feesfor issuing all necessary permits.
Where does the work begin?
The redevelopment of the apartment begins with dismantling. Depending on which room design with a balcony you have chosen, start removing the balcony block. If you are not going to dismantle the slab under the windowsill and the threshold, just remove the double-glazed windows and the door to the balcony. After that, you can start decorating the opening and warming the cold room.
If the work is planned global, then you will have to choose a company to join the balcony to the room, since it will be very difficult to do the work with your own hands. The dismantling of the window sill in a panel house will require special work, since such walls only need to be cut with diamond discs.
In brick buildings, the partition wall can be removed by yourself. To do this, you need to perform the following work:
- Dismantle the balcony block. If you have PVC systems, carefully remove the double-glazed windows, unscrew the anchors from the inside of the frame. After that, using the mount, dismantle the frame.
- In houses with wooden frames, the glass is first removed, after which the box is broken out with a puncher.
- Get rid of the nut. It is broken with a jackhammer or a perforator with a thick chisel.
When the dismantling work is completed, remove all debris and assess the condition of the screed in the room and the slab on the balcony. If they have a large number of cracks, the surface needs repair. In this case, you can pour a new screed or cover the base with a self-leveling compound.
Stage two:space insulation
The balcony connected to the room looks very unusual and attractive, but such decoration can significantly lower the temperature in the room. To prevent this from happening, pay due attention to the arrangement of thermal insulation.
First of all, install reliable double-glazed windows. Next, pay attention to the condition of the balconies of the neighbors above and below. If their balconies are not glazed, you will have to insulate not only the walls, but also the floor with the ceiling.
If you do the work of attaching a balcony to a room and insulating it yourself, choose fireproof and reliable materials. Mineral wool and expanded polystyrene boards are excellent for arranging thermal insulation from the outside. They are fixed on a metal frame and covered with siding.
The following materials can be used for interior work:
- foam;
- mineral wool;
- cork tree;
- foam;
- fiberglass boards.
Internal insulation begins with the arrangement of vapor barrier. After collecting the crate of wooden slats or metal profiles. The selected heat-insulating material is installed between the frame rails. If you prefer tiled products, fill all joints and seams with mounting foam. Sheathe all walls and ceiling in this way.
You can use all the same materials to insulate the floor. The work boils down to the fact that alongbalconies are fixed with wooden beams. Thermal insulation is laid between them. A floorboard or plywood is laid over the beams. In the latter case, the arrangement of the finishing flooring is required.
If you plan to lay a floor heating system, place OSB boards on top of the log, cover them with a reflective film. Glue the joints of the plates and walls with foil tape. Lay infrared film or heating mats on the base. Place a floor finish over the system.
Finishing space - the final stage in combining a balcony with living rooms
Just removing the wall between the room and the balcony is not enough, the rooms need to be connected visually as well. This can be done with thoughtful design.
The design of a room with a balcony depends on what purpose the space has. The materials used in the decoration should be well combined with each other, fit the overall interior.
Use plaster, natural stone, wood, liquid and paper wallpaper. If you combine a balcony and a kitchen, the finish must withstand high humidity and temperature changes. Dining room materials should be well cleaned of dust and grease.
When designing an interior for a room with a large number of windows, focus on lighting design. With a lot of daylight, glossy, glass and mirror surfaces look great.
If you combined a balcony with a room in order to increase space, try not tooverload the room with furniture. Make the interior light and bright. For the bedroom, it would be appropriate to use air curtains or partitions, which, if necessary, will prevent the penetration of a large amount of light into the relaxation area.
In cases where you do not plan to combine space into one room, create visual boundaries. Here you can perform zoning using lighting fixtures, color differences in finishing materials.
The balcony combined with the children's room can be slightly separated from the main space by raising the floor level. With the help of a small step, the border between the two zones is indicated, which is especially important if there are two children.
You can delimit the space with the help of an arch or a portal. This method is especially suitable in situations where permission to dismantle the partition wall could not be obtained. In this case, the concrete part of the facade of the building is enclosed in a figured arch structure, supplemented with through niches, lighting fixtures and glass decor.
Ideas for combining different rooms and a balcony
A room with a glazed balcony looks very attractive in itself, and if you choose the right interior, then the combined space can become a subject of delight for all guests.
Since loggias in modern houses are located near different rooms, let's consider the space design options for each of them:
- Balcony-bedroom. If you have a miniature bedroom with a balcony in your apartment, useadditional squares to create a modern interior. Install a bed with bedside tables in the main area, and arrange a place to relax with a small sofa on the balcony. Complement the interior with bookshelves, elegant lamps and modern glass curtains. If the sun shines into the room most of the day, provide light curtains for each window.
- Balcony-kitchen. Combining a balcony and a kitchen, two design options can be considered. In the first, the loggia is used as a dining room, and in the second, as a cooking area. If a dining table does not fit on the balcony, use folding varieties. On one of the walls, place a TV or shelves with kitchen utensils. Take a refrigerator or a few bedside tables from the kitchen set to the balcony, and the amount of space vacated in the kitchen will pleasantly surprise you.
- Balcony-living room. Photos of the balcony, combined with the reception room, demonstrate the successful design of the space for an office and a place for fun gatherings with friends. If you don’t have enough main space, decorate the balcony as a zone for training on the simulator, as a place for a favorite hobby or a space to relax with your favorite book.
- Children's balcony. When decorating a children's room, the balcony most often acts as a working area. At the same time, a lot of free space is freed up in the room, where you can equip a sports corner or a play area for the youngest family members.
Whatever room you expand by combining with a balcony, try to stick to about the same styledesign. You can focus on different colors, but the direction should be the same. Otherwise, the interior may feel chaotic.
Adding a balcony to a room: design photos and tips
When drawing up the design of the future premises, pay attention to the fact that state standards categorically prohibit transferring heating radiators to the balcony. Such actions will lead to a decrease in pressure in the heating system, which can lead to fines and other troubles.
To prevent a room with a balcony and a window from becoming the coldest place in the house, place the battery on an adjacent wall. It would be a good idea to equip underfloor heating, but there is also a certain rule here: heavy systems with a water carrier cannot be taken out onto the balcony. In such situations, it is better to give preference to electrical varieties.
Also note that it is not recommended to take out the sink and stove to the balcony. If the apartment has gas, it will require additional time for you to obtain permission from the gas service. In most cases, such a change is prohibited in apartment buildings.
If the design of your house does not allow dismantling the wall, arrange it for a functional piece of furniture. It can serve as a solid bar counter, computer table or aquarium stand.
The design of a balcony combined with a room can be absolutely anything. If ato complement the wall with a figured drywall construction, you can get an excellent shelf, a niche with lighting or a stand for living plants.
Summing up
Combining a balcony with a living room is a great way to increase a small space, acquire the missing square meters. In addition, dismantling the balcony block allows you to make the room much brighter.
If the space is too small, give up the curtains on the balcony, decorate the room in bright colors. As for interior styles, minimalism is best suited for small spaces. Free walls and shelves from a lot of decor, place compact and functional cabinets and niches in the room.
The design of the living room and balcony should be based on the proper arrangement of lighting fixtures. Darkened corners should not be allowed in small areas.
Use glossy surfaces, mirrors and glass. They visually move the edges of the space, and the sunlight coming through the windows of the balcony will refresh the room and add coziness to the interior.
When planning a room remodel, don't forget about safety. If you have to work with load-bearing walls, contact the experts, as wrong actions can lead to tragic consequences. In all other cases, you can act on your own, with the support of family members and instructions from our article.
