Some believe that repairing a balcony with their own hands is a very simple matter, because the amount of work is very small. But not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance. There are secrets in updating this part of the apartment. So, in order.
Balcony and loggia - what's the difference
Before answering the question of how to make repairs on the balcony with your own hands, let's define how it differs from the loggia, and also consider what they have in common. The balcony is a structure protruding from the wall, to which it is attached using special beams. As for the loggia, this is a built-in small room with side walls. To continue the room, it is much easier to use a loggia than a balcony. In the second option, repairs are a little more expensive, and more building materials are required.
Why do you need a balcony
In living conditions in multi-storey and multi-apartment buildings, both the balcony and the loggia haveessential for residents. Literally a dozen years ago, many people used them to store unnecessary things. This trend was especially observed in the cold season. In the spring, these, so to speak, auxiliary premises were cleared of rubbish, and in the fall they were safely clogged with it again. Now the priorities have changed.
Having made repairs, glazing and insulating the balcony, we get a wonderful additional room. If we are talking about the kitchen, then do-it-yourself balcony renovation design can translate into an excellent dining room. If its location in the bedroom, then you can get a cozy corner for spending time together. There are many options for the appropriate use of the balcony space.
How to start repairing a balcony with your own hands
Starting repairs, you need to clear the entire room of unnecessary things, check all the old partitions, ceilings and floor slabs or stove. It is possible that in order to give the balcony greater strength, it will be necessary to scald it around the perimeter with metal corners or weld a frame from channels.
When starting to repair a balcony with your own hands, it is extremely important to take into account the condition of the supporting concrete slab on which it is located. You need to make sure that there are no voids or weak elements in it. If necessary, the slab can also be reinforced by reinforcing it with an iron mesh, on top of which a concrete screed is poured.
Sometimes it is necessary to strengthen the entire structure with rolled steel beams. They are placed on the sides of the balcony, reinforcing the entire structure and pre-fixingbeams in the thickness of the bearing wall. There are not only large-scale preparatory works, but also small ones. They are no less important, so they need to be performed efficiently. You will need to blow out all the cracks with mounting foam, fill the cracks with silicone sealant, and level the walls with putty.
Which materials to buy
Choosing a building material for repairing a balcony with your own hands in a panel house, and not only in a panel house, is by no means easy, since the assortment in hardware stores is now extensive. It is not advisable to purchase materials in spontaneous markets and from unfamiliar sellers. It is better to opt for products of well-known and well-established firms and companies.
What exactly you need depends on what you need to get at the end of the repair work. Perhaps it is planned to remove the decorative external panels, and instead make a main wall. In this case, the brick cannot be used, since the structure will turn out to be too heavy. Aerated concrete blocks may be an alternative.
It is also possible that you will need to do your own repair of plastic doors on the balcony or completely change them. It all depends on the desires and financial capabilities of the owner. You will also have to decide which double-glazed windows are best suited, what type of insulation to take for exterior decoration, use drywall or wooden lining for interior.
Glazing
Glass installation and insulation are extremely important items at the initial stage when it comes todo-it-yourself step-by-step repair of a balcony with your own hands. What is the point of warming if the room is accessible to all winds and precipitation? Therefore, glazing is necessary. Now it is carried out in three ways.
The first is the so-called cold glazing. In this case, single glass is installed in an aluminum frame. Since it practically does not retain heat, in the cold season the temperature on the balcony, as a rule, is only 5-8 degrees higher than that outside the window. Therefore, this glazing is called cold.
Even when repairing a balcony with your own hands, you can use a frameless method of installing glass. In this case, there are no frames and partitions. On the balcony there is a feeling of spaciousness and lightness. Glasses move in special grooves mounted on top and bottom. In this way, you can glaze balconies of almost any design. Just like in the previous version, this method of installing glass is cold. Of course, you can bring batteries to the balcony and make a warm floor. But not everyone has the financial means to make such a large-scale repair.
If you plan to make such a balcony that will be comfortable even in winter, it is better to choose a warm glazing option. Used for this method sealed two - and three-chamber double-glazed windows. These structures are fastened to the parapet using massive bolts. It should be noted that due to their multi-chamber nature, such windows not only perfectly retain heat, but also serve as good sound insulation. This is also extremely important in today's metropolis.
Wall insulation
The next step in repairing a balcony with your own hands is its insulation. First, the walls of the room are equipped with a wooden crate, the thickness of which is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the insulation. As it is better to provide not polystyrene, but mineral wool or slabs from it. After strengthening the insulation on the crate, it must be covered with a vapor barrier film. Some take polyethylene for this purpose, but it is better to take a special film. Joints on the vapor barrier must be secured with construction tape. When the thermal insulation of the walls is completed, the balcony can be sheathed with wooden clapboard or drywall.
Ceiling insulation
If the apartment is not located on the top floor, then the ceiling on the balcony is the floor plate of the neighbors above. If these neighbors have a warm balcony, then there is no need to insulate your ceiling. If the apartment is upper, then it is necessary to insulate the ceiling of the balcony. To do this, a wooden crate is strengthened on it (as well as on the walls) with the help of dowels or small anchors. A heater is placed inside the crate, and a vapor barrier is laid on it. Then the ceiling is lined with wooden or plastic clapboard. Moisture resistant drywall can also be used.
Floor insulation
Doing step-by-step repair of the balcony with your own hands, floor insulation completes the process of interior decoration. A layer of waterproofing is laid on the prepared bottom slab, on whichplace a heater. Mineral wool, foam plastic, expanded clay are suitable for its role, but the best option would be to use such modern insulation as foam plastic.
Wooden cross bars are placed on top. Insulation is again placed in the formed cells. This time, ordinary mineral wool slabs are enough. A foil insulation is placed on top with a reflective film up and the entire structure is covered with wooden boards or thick plywood. Another option for insulation is a screed along with a warm floor. For this, a floor self-leveling compound is used. On the finished screed, according to the instructions, a warm floor is mounted. This completes the finishing of the balcony and its insulation.
Some masters don't look for easy ways. For them, repairing a balcony with their own hands is a radical restructuring of the entire apartment. Such restless people demolish the wall separating the balcony and the room, and equip an arch in its place. You should be aware that such work necessarily requires permission from the relevant authorities, since the wall being removed is a carrier.
Exterior design
In the process of repairing a balcony with your own hands in Khrushchev or in another house where the general design of the entire building was not provided, the question of the exterior design of this part of your home will definitely arise. For these works, the flight of fancy will have to be limited, as certain rules and norms will have to be followed.
Exterior design can be done using simple materials - lining, plastic panels, corrugated andprofiled sheets or siding. It is most often chosen by professional repairmen. It is durable, reliable, not subject to corrosion, does not change its properties under the influence of temperature changes and direct sunlight. The problem with siding trim is the difficulty of installing it without special skills. Therefore, it is better to entrust this part of the work on arranging your balcony to professionals. In addition, you can do the exterior decoration of the balcony yourself if it is located on the first or second floor. If it's higher, it's better not to risk it.
