Owners of city apartments often wonder how to insulate a balcony inside with their own hands. This procedure is actually quite simple. However, it is still necessary to comply with the established technologies during its implementation. First of all, of course, you will need to decide how to insulate the balcony inside with your own hands. The type of sheathing of the parapet, walls and ceiling will largely depend on the type of material chosen.
Styrofoam or mineral wool?
These two materials are most often chosen for warming balconies and loggias. Expanded polystyrene is a little more expensive than mineral wool. However, at the same time, it is also the best answer to the question of how to insulate the balcony inside. The fact is that when sheathing a loggia from the side of residential premises, the so-called dew point is located inside the insulating "pie". Therefore, it is much better to use moisture-resistant material for insulation. Inexpensive mineral wool, unfortunately, does not differ in such properties. It absorbs moisture very quickly. Of course, you can use it. However, in this case, you will have to pay maximum attention to waterproofing. So the best answer to the question of how to insulate a balcony inside with your own hands is still polystyrene foam.
Material specifications
When choosing sheets for balcony insulation, you should pay attention to the following factors:
- sizes,
- density,
- thickness.
Styrofoam sheets produced by modern manufacturers have standard sizes: 2x1, 0, 5x1 or 1x1. Those who wondered how to sheathe a balcony from the inside should think about purchasing smaller sheets. It will be very inconvenient to mount too large plates in the limited space of the loggia. For a balcony, the best option is 0.5x1 or, in extreme cases, 1x1.
As for the thickness, you can buy absolutely any polystyrene foam for a balcony. The only thing that should be guided in this case is such an indicator as the area of \u200b\u200bthe loggia. After assembling the warming cake on the balcony, there should be enough free space for a comfortable pastime. Most often, the owners of the loggias of typical Soviet-built houses choose polystyrene foam 40-50 mm thick.
The density of this type of insulation can be found by looking at the label. The best answer to the question of how to sheathe a balcony from the inside is to useexpanded polystyrene brand 15-25. The higher the numbers, the lower the thermal conductivity of the material, and the more brittle it is. If the expanded polystyrene is supposed to be covered with decorative plaster or wallpaper in the future, it is worth buying thicker plates. If, however, lining or panels will be used as a final finish, you can take loose sheets that retain heat well.
Where to start?
So, how to insulate the balcony inside with your own hands, you now know. Next, let's look at how to do it right. Before proceeding with the installation of the insulating "pie", it is necessary to carefully prepare the loggia itself. First of all, the wooden floors are dismantled. Then proceed to repair the parapet. If there are through cracks in it, they must be sealed with a sealant. Chips are sealed with cement mortar or moisture-resistant putty. Prepare the walls, floor and ceiling in the same way.
Loggia waterproofing
Asking how to properly insulate the balcony with their own hands inside, the owners of the apartment must first of all make sure that it is always dry in this small room. Waterproofing during this operation is considered mandatory (especially when using mineral wool as a heater). In her absence:
- lifetime of balcony finishes will be reduced;
-
all metal structures will quickly rust;
- due to high humidity, various kinds of fungi will begin to develop, as a result of which an unpleasant smell will appear on the loggia.
Sometimes, on balconies not insulated in this way, the supporting structures even begin to collapse, which, of course, is very dangerous.
The easiest way is to waterproof the balcony using bitumen-polymer mastic. It is heated to a liquid state, the floor is poured into it and the parapet is smeared in 2-3 layers. Sometimes roll materials are also used to waterproof the balcony.
What glue do you need
Those who wondered how to insulate a balcony inside with foam plastic or polystyrene foam should, among other things, take care of using suitable glue to fix the sheets. It is allowed to mount this material directly on the mastic (on polymer-bitumen - immediately, on bituminous - after complete drying). In this case, special glue should be used. It's called Bitumast.
What else to buy
Thus, you now know how to insulate the balcony inside with your own hands. Photos of polystyrene sheets - the most suitable material for this purpose - can be seen on the page. However, in addition to them and glue, to insulate the balcony, you will also need to prepare:
- reinforcing mesh,
- fungal dowels,
- mounting foam (without toluene),
- decorative plaster or wallpaper.
Wrapping technology
So, then let's see how to insulate the loggia from the inside. Start the installation of sheets should be from the corner. This rule isit is true both when pasting a parapet, and walls or a ceiling. Actually the installation operation itself is performed as follows:
- Styrofoam sheets are roughened. To do this, they are passed with a special needle roller. Treated in this way, they will hold up much better.
- A support rail is attached to the bottom of the parapet.
- The adhesive solution is evenly applied to the surface of the wall, ceiling or parapet.
- Press the Styrofoam firmly against the surface.
Mount the material for insulation of the balcony from the inside in such a way that the joints between the sheets have a T-shape (as when laying bricks). After the plate is glued, it should be additionally fixed with mushroom dowels (5 per sheet). Holes for them can be drilled directly through the sheets. At the final stage, the joints are processed. In this case, building foam is used.
Sticking reinforcing mesh
Expanded polystyrene is an excellent answer to the question of how best to insulate a balcony inside. However, decorative plaster on this material does not hold very well. To remedy the situation, use a special reinforcing mesh. Mount it as follows:
- The pre-styrofoam surface of the ceiling, parapet and walls is completely coated with glue (for foam plastic).
- Next, the mesh itself is pressed into the resulting soft layer.
- Another layer of glue is applied over it. Its thickness should be such that the mesh joints do notprotruded above the surface plane.
Finishing
So, we have figured out how to insulate the balcony with our own hands. A step-by-step photo of this process is presented above. As you can see, this procedure is relatively simple. At the final stage, the dried adhesive surface is passed with a special grater to give it a roughness. Next, proceed to the application of decorative plaster. You can also wallpaper the balcony.
Second way
The loggia isolation technique discussed above is suitable when using dense polystyrene foam. And if the owners decided to buy mineral wool as an insulator? How to insulate a balcony with your own hands? A step-by-step (photo of the process is presented below) workflow in this case will look like this:
- A frame of wooden beams is attached to the parapet, walls, floor and ceiling. The step between its elements should be equal to the width of the plates of the selected insulation. The beam can be fixed to the concrete parapet with self-tapping screws. For balconies with metal railings, an independent paving structure is assembled.
- Next, the insulation itself is inserted between the frame elements. The material is attached to the concrete parapet with “fungi” (expanded polystyrene can be additionally glued). If the fence is metal, it is better to use cotton wool and insert it by surprise. If expanded polystyrene is chosen for insulation, you can, for example, fix plywood on the back side of the frame and glue the material to it.
- A vapor barrier film is stretched over the insulation. It is better to fasten it with thin slats (two on each side of the beam).
- the balcony is finished with clapboard, plastic panels, drywall or plywood. Attach the material to the bars of the frame.
How to insulate the floor
The base of the balcony is isolated last. The floor is preliminarily waterproofed, and then logs are installed on it. The answer to the question of how to insulate the floor on the balcony inside is simple. Most often, expanded polystyrene or mineral wool is laid between the bars. You can also use expanded clay. A vapor barrier is attached over the insulation, and then a floor or edged board is stuffed. Then the floor is covered with linoleum or finished with any other suitable material.
Heating the balcony
Whatever answer to the question of how to insulate the balcony inside, the owners of the house choose for themselves, subject to the installation technology, in the future it will be possible to have a good time here, including in winter. However, on very cold days, even an insulated loggia may require additional heating. It is strictly forbidden to take out central heating batteries to the balcony. Therefore, the best solution would be to install a conventional electric heater here. It should be placed against the wall separating the balcony and the apartment. It is not recommended to install heaters near the parapet. The fact is that in this case, due to the rising warm air on the balcony, they will start to fog up a lot.glass.
Also can be arranged on the loggia
Heated floor
This work is done as follows:
- Heat-insulating material is laid on the floor.
- Metal mounting tape is being installed.
- The heating cable is laid.
- The thermostat is hung on the wall.
- Concrete screed 30-40 mm thick is poured.
- Laying flooring.
Well, we hope we answered the question in sufficient detail about how to insulate the balcony inside with our own hands and how to do it right. The most important thing when assembling a "pie" is not to violate the established technology. In this case, the balcony will be cozy and warm.
