Balconies in high-rise buildings, and especially in old Khrushchevs, are usually very small. Their interior space at best allows you to place only a small bedside table, a table and flower boxes. Therefore, many apartment owners order specialists or do with their own hands such an operation as expanding a balcony. Of course, take-out should be done with strict observance of the established technologies. Otherwise, the design may turn out to be unsafe both for the apartment owners themselves and for people passing below.
Removal methods
You can expand the balcony in a multi-storey building using two technologies:
- On the windowsill. This method is otherwise called "kerchief". In this case, the expansion of the balcony is made along the top of the parapet. As a result, a small window sill is formed inside, on which you can install, for example, the same indoor flowers or seedlings in the spring.
- Based on. This is a more laborious and expensive method. With such an expansion, in fact, the very area of \u200b\u200bthe base of the balcony increases. If the extension is supposed to be done by more than 30 cm from either side, onwork will have to obtain permission from the relevant organization.
Of course, when expanding the loggia, the owners of the apartments in most cases simultaneously perform its glazing. Next, consider how to expand and decorate a turnkey balcony with your own hands using both of the above technologies.
What materials will be needed
Of course, in order to take out, the owners of the apartment will have to spend money. Do-it-yourself expansion of the balcony in Khrushchev is carried out using the following materials:
- corner, profile and channel for welding a new frame;
- if necessary cement and sand for pouring or repairing the slab;
- insulating, hydro and vapor barrier materials.
You will also need to cook:
- siding or corrugated board for exterior cladding;
- interior lining materials;
- glue, adhesive tape, putty, polyurethane foam;
- double-glazed windows;
- floor boards;
- consumables, etc.
If the balcony is supposed to be heated, among other things, you will need to buy a copper cable, sockets and a heater. It is prohibited by regulations to take out central heating batteries to the balcony.
Required tools
You may need a welding machine to assemble a new frame. But you can connect the corners and bolts. ATin any case, the home master will need:
- grinder for cutting the old parapet;
- hacksaw for cutting plywood and boards;
- drill and screwdriver;
- perforator;
- building level;
- trowel.
You will also need to prepare buckets and a trough for cement mortar and other building mixtures.
Kerchief removal: main steps
To begin with, consider how to expand the balcony with your own hands using the first technology, that is, along the windowsill. Before proceeding with the removal, of course, all things should be removed from the loggia. The kerchief expansion is performed in several steps:
- checking the strength of the parapet;
- going to frame with removal under the glazing;
-
outer lining of parapet in progress;
- double-glazed windows are being installed;
- Insulation is mounted;
- stretching wiring;
- interior lining in progress.
Preparing the parapet
If the removal of the glazing is done with a “kerchief”, it is not required to cut off the old metal parapet or disassemble the brick one. However, the fence must be checked for strength and, if necessary, repaired. A block or brick parapet is usually simply waterproofed, sealing all existing gaps with putty. You should try to loosen the metal railing of the balcony with your hands. If aany elements of the parapet move from their place, they should be fixed. All rusted parts must be replaced with new ones. In addition, diagonal metal struts are welded on to increase the rigidity of the structure.
Assembling the frame on the floor
They begin such a procedure as expanding the balcony with a “kerchief”, with scalding the carrier plate along the edges with a metal profile. For this purpose, it is best to take the material thicker and with wider shelves. This is done in order to further strengthen the balcony (after all, when it is taken out, its weight will inevitably increase). The ends of the profile must be inserted into the wall by at least 25 cm. It is also advisable to additionally fasten the old frame to the wall using metal plates and anchor bolts.
Next, expand the upper part of the parapet by welding the profile from all sides using metal jumpers. The step between the latter should be 40 cm. The length of the jumpers is chosen depending on how far they want to expand the balcony.
Continue assembling the frame by welding on the outriggers from the corner. Their lower part is attached to the strapping of the slab, the upper part - to the extended parapet profile. At the final stage, glazing racks are welded.
Extension on brackets
The method of assembling the frame described above is only suitable for metal parapets. Next, we will consider how to increase the balcony along the windowsill if the fence is brick or block. For expansion, you will needspecial brackets. You can weld them yourself from the corner. To do this, a short spacer is simply attached to the support strip at an angle. Several of these brackets (in increments of 40 cm) are fixed with anchors along the top of the parapet. It turns out support for the future window sill. Further, as in the first case, a frame is installed under the glazing.
Setting out the base: assembling the frame
In this case, the expansion of the balcony is as follows:
- With the help of a grinder, pieces of channels are cut in such a way that one of their edges enters the wall by 25 cm, and the second protrudes beyond the base plate to the distance of the balcony expansion.
- Holes for channels are punched in the wall with a perforator.
- Cut off pieces are put into nests. The distance between the sections of the channels should be approximately 0.5 m.
- The free ends of the elements embedded in the wall are connected by means of a piece of channel of the appropriate length.
If the slab is severely damaged, it must first be repaired with a concrete mixture and using reinforcement bars. After the base of the frame is welded, you can begin to assemble and install a new parapet. Holes in the floor from the edge of the old slab to its front and side planes should be covered with thick pieces of metal.
At the final stage, a new concrete slab is poured along the channels over the old concrete base of the balcony. When performing this procedurea reinforcing cage made of 12 mm rod should be used. Dry the new concrete floor of the balcony for at least 2-3 days.
Extension of the base of the balcony, if desired, can be supplemented with the removal of the "kerchief". That is, weld the lintels to the top of the new large parapet and strengthen them with props according to the technology that was discussed above.
Visor
If the balcony is located on the last floor, when expanding it, among other things, it will need to be covered from above. A frame-frame from a corner should also be arranged under the ceiling. As a covering material, you can use a metal tile. In order to ensure the flow of water, corner trusses are welded onto the frame. In this case, the visor can be installed with an inclination. If the apartment is located on an intermediate floor, the frame is fixed to the bottom of the base plate of the upper balcony.
Glazing
Racks for double-glazed windows must be installed in all corners of the balcony. You can make them from a profile or a corner. Their lower edge is welded to the parapet or to the strapping of the base plate, the upper - to the frame from the corner.
Double-glazed windows are mounted, adhering to the established technology for a specific frame material. The profile is usually attached to the racks with the help of metal screws with the obligatory installation of press washers. All joints between the mounted windows and balcony structures are sealed with mounting foam.
Insulation
The construction of large-area balconies is completed with the installation of insulating materials and fine finishing. The outer skin must becompleted before glazing. Otherwise, subsequently, for its fastening, you will have to hire high- altitude installers with special equipment. Under the insulation on the inside of the balcony, a separately knocked down frame made of timber is installed. Previously, the parapet from the inside should be covered with a waterproofing film. Further, insulation plates are installed between the frame elements. As the latter, it is better to use polystyrene foam. But you can save money and install mineral wool (subject to good waterproofing of the parapet). Cotton wool is mounted in the frame by surprise. Plywood is pre-packed under the expanded polystyrene. You can fix the plates on it with glue and dowels-fungi. After the insulation is installed, the parapet is covered with a vapor barrier film.
The floor and ceiling are insulated using approximately the same technology. At the next stage, strobes are made for wiring in the wall separating the balcony and the apartment. After the socket and switch are installed, you can begin to sheath the interior space with the selected finishing material. It is better to install the heater near the wall adjacent to the room. If you place it next to the parapet, the windows will fog up quickly.
This is how you can take out and finish the turnkey balcony with your own hands. As you can see, the procedure is technically rather complicated. In addition, the removal is also a very responsible operation in terms of security. Therefore, those who are not confident in their abilities should still entrust the expansion to specialists with the appropriate skills.
