Today the balcony has ceased to be a closet for all sorts of rubbish and empty cans and bottles. Many owners are trying to remake and improve this room. Some leave it open, wanting to be able to freely go out onto the loggia to breathe fresh air, while others make a warm balcony, equipping it with a small office or just a rest room. However, in both cases, the finishing of this room is still necessary. And if everything is more or less clear with the walls and ceiling, then the question of what to make the floor on the balcony from sometimes causes some difficulties. And because of the abundance of solutions, and because of some of the nuances that should certainly be taken into account during the work.
How to choose the right option
And there are really a lot of them. But in order to choose the most suitable one, you must first of all decide for what purposes this room is being equipped. Open balconies and loggias, as you know, are not protected from precipitation, therefore, on the floor here induring the rain there will be puddles, and in winter there will be snowdrifts at all. Accordingly, the material for the floor must be one that is not afraid of moisture. And here, I must say, there is not much to choose from. Either just make a high-quality concrete base and then paint it with paint, or lay tiles. Both options are, by and large, interconnected. In any case, the surface will have to be leveled under the tile, i.e. equip the same concrete floor. But with it, the coating itself will be of better quality and aesthetic. So, in fact, the question rests on finances, because laying tiles is, of course, additional costs. And not only material, but also temporary. And it's up to you to decide what to choose. Although, of course, everything can be decided for you and the condition of your home. How? Very simple. In the houses of old buildings, unfortunately, thoroughly dilapidated, balconies and loggias can no longer please the owners with the strength of the structure. And laying the same tiles is an additional load, and a considerable one. So, when thinking about what to make the floor on the balcony from (not, by the way, it matters - open or closed), be sure to consider this nuance.
As for warm balconies, here you can choose from all available flooring options, especially if your house is also relatively new. And then we will briefly tell you what materials exist for this.
Tile
We have already mentioned it briefly, but I would like to tell you all the same in more detail. This is an excellent material that many balconies and loggias are lined with. He possessesgood performance, low maintenance. In addition, tile floors are simply beautiful, and the abundance of all kinds of shades, patterns and textures allows you to choose tiles for any interior. In general, this finishing material is simply universal. It is equally good for any balcony, moreover, the tile is ideal for arranging a warm floor.
Porcelain tile
Today, such tiles are often used on the balcony on the floor. It differs from ordinary porcelain stoneware in higher strength characteristics, since it practically does not lend itself to any mechanical influences (unless, of course, purposefully hitting it with a huge hammer). In addition, it is more resistant to temperature extremes, which makes this material simply indispensable for arranging open-type balconies. As for the appearance, here the assortment of tiles is very diverse, so it will definitely not be difficult to choose something suitable for yourself.
Wooden floor on the balcony
Great option. Quality, as they say, proven over the years. And there is no need to talk about the environmental friendliness of such a coating. True, an open balcony and a wooden floor, as, in principle, and without explanation, it is clear, are incompatible concepts. Because this material will not withstand either temperature extremes, or high humidity, and even more so for long snowdrifts lying on it, no matter what compositions and impregnations you process it with. It will not work in cases where a decision is made to make a warm floor. The tree is literallyafter a year, it will begin to dry out, as a result of which cracks will form between the boards. In general, this, as you understand, will not add beauty. For a closed balcony and creating an ordinary classic floor, the material is ideal. Advice! If you want your coating to be really wear-resistant, then choose softwood.
And a few words about the process itself. Remember: when deciding what to make the floor on the balcony of, you need to understand that in any case you will have to carry out preparatory work. And first of all, level the surface of the base. The same goes for the tree. So anyone who thinks that if the tree is laid on logs, then the curvature of the base surface does not matter, is deeply mistaken. More like it has. And there is no way to avoid the alignment procedure.
Well, let's move on. What floors on the balcony are still popular? Laminated!
Laminate
This flooring, like the previous one, is only suitable if a warm balcony is being set up. There can be no compromises. The material is delicate, does not tolerate moisture and temperature changes. As well as the curvature of the base. Therefore, the base surface will have to be carefully leveled. But there are also pluses. Laminate flooring is very easy to install, you can cope with this work yourself, and quite quickly. In addition, if you purchase a coating of the appropriate class, you can easily build a warm floor. Well, there is no need to talk about the aesthetic component at all. Builders for more than a yearsing the praises of the beauty and grace of laminate flooring.
Carpeting
Budget, but extremely "cozy" option. Suitable only for closed balconies, and is especially good if a rest room is equipped. Soft, silky, produced in various colors and shades, it will fit into any interior. As for the shortcomings, the most important of them is fragility. After all, no matter how hard you try, in such a small space, incidents like a spilled glass of wine or an overturned cup of coffee cannot be avoided. However, with a fairly low price for the material and a fairly simple laying process, you can close your eyes to this minus. After all, replacing it will not require particularly large time and financial costs. However, the base surface will still need to be leveled before initial installation.
Linoleum
Budget option number two. But it’s also acceptable, and in some cases, when finances are tight, it’s completely excellent. Especially considering that today some types of linoleum imitate laminate and wood so well that it is almost impossible to distinguish a fake from afar. So this coverage, being in search of an answer to the question of what to make the floor on the balcony from, definitely does not need to be discounted.
A few words about the warm balcony
When we talked about which floors on the balcony are the most popular today, we often mentioned open and warm designs. From the first, of course, everything is clear. But that's allWhat is a warm balcony? If someone thinks that this is a loggia, which is protected from rain and snow by an antediluvian wooden frame, then this is not so. The frame, of course, is present on such a balcony, but modern, made of double-glazed windows. In addition, the walls are also insulated, and certainly the lateral side of the loggia facing the street, and the ceiling, and the floor, which was discussed today. All this is done before finishing with the use of materials intended for this (mineral wool, polystyrene, etc.). As for the floor, before laying a finishing coating, quite often special heating elements are mounted under it, which will heat the room. And if such additional heating is provided for in the plans, then the material for the floor must be chosen appropriately. What we, in fact, mentioned above.
Conclusion
We tried to tell you in as much detail as possible about what kind of flooring is most often used today when arranging balconies and loggias. His choice, as you can see, is more than great. In addition, the variety of textures, patterns and shades of the materials presented today gives the home master a unique opportunity to create a unique, inimitable and, let's not be afraid of this word, author's interior on his loggia.
Well, in conclusion, we express the timid hope that our article will be useful for you and will help you make the right decision in case of difficulty in choosing.