Balcony space today is less and less used as a storage space. The apartment owners are trying to ennoble this area, and if not to combine it with the room, then make it suitable for a comfortable stay at any time of the year.
The initial stage in the improvement of balconies is insulation. This is a very significant process, because the slightest mistakes will certainly lead to drafts and freezing of surfaces. How to insulate a loggia with your own hands, what materials can be used for this purpose and how to perform the necessary work, read our article.
Preparing for balcony insulation: choosing technology and material
So that the loggia does not freeze, condensation does not form on the walls, absolutely all surfaces in the room must be insulated. However, if you plan to install thermal insulation indoors, be prepared for the fact that its space will decrease slightly.
If this fact confuses you too much, you can installmaterials from the outside of the balcony. Experienced climbers will help you insulate the loggia from the outside as efficiently as possible. If your balcony is not higher than the second floor, then you can do this work yourself using a ladder.
When choosing the optimal sheathing method, the type of material used must also be taken into account. Today, for such purposes, you can use several options for insulation. Namely:
- mineral wool;
- styrofoam;
- foam.
Each of them is actively used for insulation. However, before insulating the loggia, it is better to study the characteristics of all options and choose the most suitable one.
Properties of mineral wool and features of its installation
The most popular and inexpensive material for insulation of internal surfaces is mineral wool. It is made on the basis of bas alt fibers and has high thermal insulation characteristics.
Before insulating the loggia with mineral wool, some of its features should be taken into account. First of all, the need to create a crate for mounting a rolled product. The material is quite soft, so it is very difficult to fix it on the base.
The second feature is the fear of moisture. In order for the insulation not to lose its original properties, it must be protected from moisture and steam. To do this, it is necessary to equip an additional vapor barrier layer.
Userolled mineral wool is possible only on the walls of the loggia and the ceiling. The material does not withstand significant mechanical impact, which does not allow it to be laid on the floor.
Thinking about what material to insulate the loggia with, one should also take into account the fact that working with mineral insulation is complicated by the shedding of its small particles. They cause itching and irritation, which requires the use of protective clothing, goggles and a respirator.
Polyfoam and its features
Styrofoam is another common and inexpensive material. It is light enough to be used on any surface. The ceiling and each of the walls of the loggia can be insulated with polystyrene.
It is possible to use polystyrene foam for floor insulation, but only in those cases when a solid wooden flooring is laid on top of it. The material is located between the wooden logs. All joints are filled with foam.
Polyfoam has a number of advantages that allow it to outperform mineral insulation. These include:
- moisture resistant;
- strength;
- easy installation;
- versatility;
- good soundproofing properties.
Foam boards do not need vapor barrier and do not require crates. They are fixed with glue and screws. In the process of work, the material does not crumble, which allows for insulation without special protective equipment.
It would seem that foam is a great option for those who are wondering how to insulate the loggia (inside) with their own hands. However, he has one significant drawback: he practically does not miss steam.
This property contributes to the accumulation of condensate on the surface of the insulation. If there are wooden elements in the wall construction, they can quickly begin to mold and rot. This must be taken into account when choosing it.
Penoplex and its characteristics
Recently, foam insulation has been increasingly used to insulate the interior walls of rooms. Outwardly, it slightly resembles the previous version, but is more durable.
If you do not know how to insulate the loggia inside (with your own hands), feel free to choose penoplex. It has several positive qualities that distinguish it from other materials. Namely:
- high density (allowing material to lay flat on the floor);
- moisture resistant;
- good steam capacity;
- durability.
Its disadvantages include poor resistance to sunlight. But if we take into account that the material is in any case covered with a finish, then this property can be reduced to nothing.
It should also be noted that foam plastic costs a little more than foam plastic. But this fact fully compensates for its long service life.
How to insulate the loggia yourself: the initial stages
Before proceeding with the installation of insulation material, you needpay attention to the windows of the loggia. If the glazing does not fulfill its purpose or is completely absent, you need to order new double-glazed windows.
Before insulating the loggia with plastic window systems, evaluate the condition of the parapet. The base for heavy windows must be strong enough.
You also need to assess the condition of the balcony slab. If it crumbles, you need to remove all the fallen parts and pour a new solution. For large damage, it is recommended to reinforce the screed.
If the fence on the balcony is presented in the form of metal rods, you need to make a high-quality base from aerated concrete blocks or bricks. Only after that you can invite specialists to install glazing. For good heat preservation, you should purchase frames with double or triple glazing.
After installing the windows, you need to inspect all surfaces inside the loggia. To insulate a cold loggia as efficiently as possible, all microcracks in the floor, on the ceiling and walls must be sealed with mounting foam or plumbing sealant.
The floor of the room must be treated with a liquid rubber compound. It protects the surface from moisture, helps to keep heat inside and does not let cold air in from the street. Now you can start warming.
Floor insulation technology
Instructions for warming the loggia suggests two options for arranging the floor: in the form of a wooden flooring or concrete screed.
If you decide to pour a screed over the insulation, then on the waterproofing materialit is necessary to lay plates of extruded polystyrene foam. Penoplex is best suited for these purposes. The seams between the plates are filled with mounting foam. Also, the joints of walls and insulation are subject to processing. Polyethylene film should be laid over the boards.
The resulting base is poured with a solution. For these purposes, cement mortars and modern leveling mixtures can be used. The cured screed is ready for a fine finish.
Wooden flooring is considered warmer. However, its arrangement is very laborious. Works are performed in the following order:
- Lay a layer of film over the rubber compound.
- Prepare material for lag. Any wooden blocks will do. Remember: the larger the lag section, the higher the floor will be.
- Plan laying the log in a horizontal direction (along the balcony). In this case, you will need significantly less wood. Measure the size of the bar in such a way that about 5 mm remains from its edge and the beginning of the side walls. For standard balconies and loggias, 3 bars are enough.
- Fix the lag on the basis by any method. They can be pulled with self-tapping screws, fixed with metal corners, mounting foam or liquid nails. Control the correctness of their installation with a level.
- Place the insulation of your choice between the lags. It is very important that it fits snugly to the bars and the floor. For reliability, the junction of wood and thermal insulation can be treated with a sealant.
- Received base cover moreone layer of polyethylene film. After that, start laying the floorboard. Fix it to the joists with nails or self-tapping screws.
With this method of insulation, you can use another material - expanded clay. It is made of clay and is a reliable heat insulator. It is poured along the upper edge of the log, covered with a film and sewn up with a board.
Wall insulation technology
When analyzing the question of how to properly insulate a loggia in a panel house, first of all decide on the finish. If you plan to plaster walls, then you need to choose hard materials for insulation. In this case, it is not necessary to create a crate.
If the walls will be finished with plastic or wood panels, then it is necessary to create a frame. In this case, you can use a soft heat insulator (mineral wool).
In the first version, foam or polystyrene boards are fixed to the walls with liquid nails, mounting foam or dowels. They are located on the walls in a checkerboard pattern. In this process, make sure that there are no gaps between the sheets of insulation.
Install a reinforcing mesh over the slabs. To do this, apply a layer of glue (5 mm thick) to the surface of the insulation. Dip the mesh into the composition with a smooth spatula.
Lay adjacent mesh strips overlapping by 1 cm. After the glue dries, apply a second layer. This will make the base smoother. Then you can finish the loggia with decorative plaster or putty.
If you need to create a crate, use wooden blocks or metal profiles. Natural material must be treated with antiseptic compounds without fail.
Insulation work is done as follows:
- In the corners of the room you need to place vertical racks. Fix them to the walls with self-tapping screws.
- On the side walls, install one more vertical bar. It should be in the center of the wall. On the longest wall, install the bars in increments of 50-60 cm. Fix them.
- Now you can install horizontal bars: top, bottom and middle. They need to be screwed to the vertical bars with self-tapping screws.
- Fill the voids between the wood and the wall with mounting foam.
- Install insulation in the empty spaces of the crate. The places where it joins with the side walls and wooden elements are also treated with foam.
If mineral wool or polystyrene is chosen for insulation, the wall surfaces must be covered with vapor barrier material. For penoplex, this is not necessary. In this case, you can immediately finish the loggia.
Ceiling insulation
In order for the thermal insulation of the balcony to be as effective as possible, the ceiling should not be ignored. This issue is especially relevant for those who have an uninsulated loggia on the top floor. In this case, the ceiling plate may become a source of cold.
How to insulate the ceiling on the loggia? As well aswalls: with the help of crates. The technology of work is as follows:
- Walls are being marked. It indicates the final height of the ceiling. The distance from the base to the markings must correspond to the width of the insulation you have chosen.
- Now mark on the ceiling where the U-profiles will be installed. It is better to place them along the width of the wall, otherwise long profiles may sag. Keep the spacing between elements at 50 cm.
- Using self-tapping screws, install guide profiles around the perimeter of the ceiling. Align them with the top edge. That is, the bar should be strictly under the marking line.
- Now install the hangers for the cross members. Fix them to the ceiling with dowels.
- Put insulation sheets on suspensions and clamp with U-shaped profiles. For more reliable fixation, the plates can be pre-lubricated with mounting foam. Fix the profiles on hangers.
If mineral wool was used during the work, then after it you need to install a vapor barrier. If you use wood for the crate, install waterproofing material on the ceiling before fixing it. Then start finishing.
External insulation of the balcony
It is possible to insulate the loggia with penoplex or other types of polystyrene foam from the outside. This approach will allow you to keep the space of the room in the same size.
However, it is very dangerous to do such work on your own. Most often, apartment owners resort to the help of specialists. Their services cannot be called cheap pleasure. The cost of insulation of 1 m2 reaches 3500 rubles. Installation of thermal insulation on the entire balcony will cost you about 16,000-20,000 rubles.
If you cannot afford such expenses, arm yourself with all the necessary material and reliable assistants. For external insulation, the same foam is used.
It must be placed over the entire surface of the outer walls and fixed with glue. After drying, the composition of the plate is attracted to the base with the help of self-tapping fungi.
A reinforcing mesh must be fixed on top of the insulation sheets. It is attached with glue. The dried base must be plastered and painted.
Method of warming a glass loggia
Recently, loggias with panoramic windows have become very popular. They allow you to significantly expand the view and visually remove the edges of the room. However, glass is a good conductor of cold, which can create an unfavorable microclimate on the balcony.
So how to insulate a glass loggia? Indeed, in such a situation, the use of standard materials is unacceptable. Owners of panoramic windows should focus on installing energy-saving double-glazed windows.
To insulate glass loggias, double-glazed windows should be used, in which the profile is thicker than 70 mm. However, consider the fact that the installation of heavy structures requires a solid foundation that can withstand heavy loads.
The best option would be single-chamber double-glazed windows withspecial coating made of energy-saving polyethylene. Such a package is connected by a special "warm" frame. The space between the glasses is filled with gas (argon), which reduces the thermal conductivity of the material and does not let the cold into the room.
If you are insulating a large space (a long loggia), then install special temperature compensators every 4 meters. They will prevent the windows from deforming as a result of expansion (under the influence of external natural factors).
Insulation of walls, floor and ceiling is carried out by the above methods.
Summing up
As you can see, warming a loggia or balcony space is not a difficult task. The work is fairly easy. All you need is attentiveness and strict adherence to technology.
Divide the process into several main steps:
- Determine the best insulation method.
- Inspect surfaces for any imperfections.
- Select the material and purchase all the necessary components.
- Install the insulation on the floor.
- Fix the thermal insulation materials to the ceiling.
- Insulate all walls in the room.
- Finish the interior of the loggia.
If you can do it yourself, you will save a decent amount of money. Of course, indoor work is much cheaper than outdoor work, but why overpay when you can avoid these costs?
How much does it cost to insulate a loggia? The price tag may vary depending on the performing company and region.your residence. However, it is not difficult to name the approximate cost of the work.
When insulating the walls with 5-centimeter foam (meaning the width of the slab), experts will charge you about 800 rubles per square meter. Similar work using 3 cm material will cost about 600 rubles per square surface.
Floorboard flooring will cost you from 1000 to 1500 rubles per square meter. If you want to sheathe the walls of the loggia with plastic panels, get ready to pay about 1,100 rubles per square meter of wall for work. Installation of wooden lining is considered a more expensive process and is characterized by a price tag of 1300 rubles.
If you have the simplest home tool and the desire to transform the loggia yourself, go for it! The main thing - do not rush. This will allow you to comply with the technology and eliminate possible errors in the process of work.
That's it. We wish you good luck!
