Quite a few owners of modern apartments that have balconies are thinking about whether to make this part of the home an extra room. This expands the space (sometimes very limited). Some dwell on the cost and complexity of the process, while others compromise and do the work themselves.
If you still cannot decide for yourself whether it is worth making insulation, then you should evaluate how cold it is in the apartment in winter. Do-it-yourself loggia insulation allows you to reduce heat loss and reduce the penetration of noise and dust. Harmful gases will not enter inside, which is especially true for people who live in apartments facing the main streets.
The issue remains for those who can't stand the constant traffic outside. On the loggia you can place a greenhouse, install pieces of furniture and even arrange a sports corner. In this case, warming again cannot be avoided. This technology should also be used ifyou want to combine the loggia with the adjoining room, because otherwise the outer wall will be damp and moldy, and the temperature will remain low in the room.
Preparatory work
If you decide to carry out the insulation of the loggia with your own hands, then you should pay special attention to the weakest links, among which you need to highlight the external fence and parapet. They will be in contact with the street. The most common parapet is a reinforced concrete slab. Before carrying out work on insulation in this case, it is necessary to close wide cracks and concrete narrow ones.
In the first case, a brick is usually used. If the parapet is made of metal or does not match the level of the upper ceilings, then the parapet and side walls should be laid. To do this, it is recommended to purchase foam blocks or ceramic bricks.
The outer base of the fence can be finished with plastic siding. Excellent for this purpose, decorative panels are suitable, which will also contribute to the thermal insulation of the area. Wooden parts should be coated with an antiseptic compound to prevent the growth of bacteria that cause rot and contribute to the further destruction of materials.
Glazing features
It will be necessary to glaze the loggia in the process of insulation. For this, warm plastic structures are usually used. It is better to entrust their installation to specialists. An excellent solution would be two-chamber packages that have a 32 mmglasses.
If the thermal insulation is carried out correctly, then the installation of window frames will be accompanied by the installation of expansion additional profiles from all sides. After installation, the seams and joints are foamed. After drying, the foam is covered with flashings from the outside, which will protect it from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.
Some owners of modern apartments stop at this stage and use heating appliances. Usually this does not make sense, since in the absence of proper insulation of the parapet, ceiling and walls, the temperature on the loggia will be only a few degrees higher than the outside.
Installation of metal-plastic system
Metal-plastic double-glazed windows are placed on the parapet before the window sill is installed. The first step will be the installation of support racks, during which it is very convenient to use a wooden beam. Support posts are attached to the parapet and the upper floor. To do this, you can use screws and corners. The structure is sheathed with a PVC strip if desired. Double-glazed windows are removed from the frames to prevent damage during installation. This is done very simply: the glazing beads are pry off with a narrow screwdriver, and then removed to dismantle the double-glazed window. Next, you can remove the sash. To do this, the pin of the upper loop is squeezed out. You can take it out with the help of pliers.
The sash is raised and removed. A dummy profile is fixed at the bottom of the frame. If you want to glaze the loggia, then it is important to follow the work algorithm. The next step in the technology will be the installation of anchor plates. Frames are inserted into window openings. It is important to exclude distortions and defects. You can level them with wedges.
Frames are fastened with self-tapping screws installed in the holes of the anchors. The sashes are returned to their place, as are the double-glazed windows. The system must work correctly. The grooves should be filled, the window sill should be installed and the decorative finish should be carried out. Having installed plastic windows on the loggia, you must perform sealing measures. This will prevent the penetration of atmospheric moisture. Existing gaps are filled with sealant. This will help improve the thermal insulation properties of the structure.
When choosing a sealant, you need to pay attention to compounds that are designed for outdoor use. By installing plastic windows on the loggia, you can count on the fact that they will be ready to serve for more than 40 years. Structures cannot freeze, because such systems have drainage holes.
Material selection
When insulating, you can use different materials, it can be:
- extruded polystyrene foam;
- foam;
- mineral wool;
- materials with a foil layer;
- glass wool.
Extruded polystyrene foam, which is also called penoplex, has improved thermal insulation characteristics. It is easy to finish, easy to cut, transport and fit. The optimal width of the layer used is 5 cm. Penoplex is economical, inexpensive, characterized by strength andmoisture resistance.
Among the materials for warming the loggia from the inside, foam plastic should be especially highlighted. It has low thermal conductivity and is one of the most affordable. The foam is lightweight and thin. It is quite often used in construction, but it has two important drawbacks - fragility and fragility. Within just a few years of use, the foam will often turn into pellets, aided by changes in humidity and temperature.
Insulation of a cold loggia can be done with mineral or glass wool. These materials are sold in mats or rolls. The layer thickness varies over a wide range and can be equal to 20 - 200 mm. The thermal conductivity of these solutions is lower. For installation, use a respirator and special clothing. And cotton wool must be protected from moisture, since when it comes into contact with it, it loses its thermal insulation properties.
As an alternative solution, materials with a foil layer are used, it can be polyethylene foam or polystyrene. They have a metallized coating, and the foil acts as a heat reflector. When in contact with the foil surface, the air does not lose temperature, which helps to retain heat. When installing such materials, waterproofing is not required, which allows additional savings. Foil heaters are straightened along the entire length and fixed with rails.
Preparation for work: tools and materials
If you want to know where to start warming the loggia, then you should useadvice of specialists who recommend preparing everything necessary for the work. In addition to insulation materials, you will need:
- mounting foam;
- plastic dowels;
- vapor barrier material;
- antiseptic;
- metallized tape;
- guides;
- galvanized profile;
- perforator;
- pliers;
- screwdriver;
- metal scissors;
- pencil;
- roulette;
- level;
- level with tripod;
- foam gun;
- electric jigsaw.
Styrofoam or technoplex can act as an insulating material. In order to rid the surface of the remnants of mounting foam, you should take care of the availability of an appropriate cleaner. The vapor barrier material can be isolon or penofol.
When choosing dowels, you should prefer plate type fasteners. You will also need dowels, which have the shape of a plastic cork. To fix the gaskets to the lags, you must prepare self-tapping screws. A beam will be laid on the logs, it must undergo chamber drying and have an antiseptic coating.
Inside the loggia you will need to strengthen the finishing material, for this you should use guides. For installation, you will also need crabs. To fix the profile and guides, it is necessary to purchase galvanized hangers. You will need bars of different sections, namely: 50 x 30; 45x30; 45x20; 50 x 20 mm.
Self-insulation from the inside: thermal insulation of the ceiling
The loggia insulation technology also provides for work in the ceiling area. To do this, it is necessary to fix the suspensions to its surface, followed by the installation of guides. A polystyrene board is attached to the surface.
You can use mounting foam or plastic plate-shaped dowels. In the latter case, it will first be necessary to make slots for suspensions in the insulation layer. The core of the dowel, which can be metal or plastic, is selected taking into account the weight of the thermal insulation. Holes made in the insulation should be sealed with pieces of thermal insulation or filled with mounting foam.
Floor insulation
Insulation of a loggia in a panel house is always accompanied by thermal insulation of the floor. Gaskets from a bar that has been pre-treated with an antiseptic should be fixed to the stove. These elements will act as supports. They are leveled. During the installation process, it is necessary to ensure that the height of the timber, together with the logs, is such that they rise above the layers of thermal insulation by 5 mm or more.
The lag is fastened to the supports with self-tapping screws, and in between there are insulation plates. The next layer will get tired of the vapor barrier, which must be turned with foil outward. Joints and layers in the outer corners should not be, this is the only way you can avoid cold bridges.
Laying wooden logs in the thickness of polystyrene foam plates also leads to such consequences. The situation will be aggravated if a metal frame is used. Connectionsfoil layer should be glued with tape to achieve the effect of a thermos. If the loggia is combined with an adjacent room, then the finishing and floor insulation are made to such a height as to reach the inner plane of the wall. The floor level will be higher due to the presence of a layer of thermal insulation between the lags.
Wall insulation
At this stage, you must decide whether there is a need for wall insulation. If they border the street or the corners of the walls bordering the room adjoin them, then the insulation is carried out especially carefully. Now you can determine the height of the extensions. For thermal insulation, it is better to use expanded polystyrene, in the plates of which a quarter is selected. This eliminates through holes in those places where the connection of the sheets was made. If there are no such plates available, then ordinary canvases must be laid in two layers, shifting the seams so that through holes do not form.
The first layer is fixed to the slab with dish-shaped dowels, while the second can be fixed to the first with mounting foam. When insulating the walls of the loggia, it is also necessary to pay attention to those areas that are under the double-glazed windows. They border the street. It is also important to insulate the corners that are adjacent to the living quarters. Along the plastic structure and under it, as well as along the parapet, a vertical strip of insulation should be fixed. Its height should be equal to the height of the side wall.
But the width is selected depending on the type of building. If we are talking about a panel house, then this parameter should be more than 300 mm. In the case of brickits house should be made more than 500 mm. The corners are insulated with insulation, the thickness of which is equal to the limit from 20 to 30 mm. A foil vapor barrier is located on top.
In order to achieve the best effect, the vapor barrier should be placed on the warm side of the insulation material. Insulation of a brick loggia at the next stage involves the installation of suspensions and guides to form an air gap between the finish and insulation. Guides are installed under lamps, clothes dryers, curtains and other equipment at this stage. Before installing them on an external wall, it is necessary to carry out electrical work. Wooden beams or galvanized profiles can act as guides.
Finishing
Insulation and finishing of the loggia are stages that are inseparable and follow each other. The room can be given a complete look with the help of cladding. A crate is applied to the surface for this. It will consist of dry timber 40 x 20 mm. It is pre-treated with an antiseptic.
Frame elements are leveled and fixed to concrete with self-tapping screws or dowels. Finishing materials can be fixed to the crate. For interior cladding, drywall or plastic panels are most often used. The first must have high moisture resistance. The disadvantage of its use is the need for large-scale subsequent work.
When installing drywall, it will need to be coated with a primer, putty, and then painted or wallpapered. Underthe windows that overlook the loggia are equipped with plastic window sills. There will be a threshold under the door. But first, a wooden log is mounted on this place. It should be treated with an antiseptic solution.
External insulation
It is possible to insulate a loggia not only from the inside, but also from the outside. The last option for carrying out work is carried out when there is a need to minimize heat loss when combining areas. It is possible to carry out work independently only if the room is not higher than the second floor. For work at height, you should call specialists who have professional equipment at their disposal.
Insulation of the facade of the loggia can be carried out in one of two ways - frame and frameless. The latest technique involves the installation of polystyrene foam insulation. For fastening, dowel-umbrellas with wide hats are used. A layer of external plaster is applied on top, then the surface is painted.
Do-it-yourself warming of a loggia can also be done using frame technology, which involves the installation of a crate made of wooden beams or a profile. Insulation is laid between the formed sections, and siding is sheathed on top.
Features of using penoplex
Before proceeding with foam insulation, it is necessary to vacate the room, clean the old plaster using a spatula, and then treat the surface with a primer. Ceilings and walls are plastered and puttied. After that, another coat of primer can be applied.
All cracks and crevices are sealed on the floor, it is necessary to use sealant or mounting foam for this. All layers must dry completely. If in the future you plan to decorate the walls with MDF or PVC panels, then you should install U-shaped fasteners for metal or wooden batten profiles in advance.
Do-it-yourself loggia insulation provides for fixing the insulation to the ceiling and walls on the crate or on the wall. In the latter case, it is necessary to achieve perfect evenness and smoothness of the surface. But in the case of using crates, the evenness of the walls does not really matter.
Sheets are fastened with plate-type dowels. If putty is to be applied to the wall, then foam sheets are additionally glued. The joints are filled with mounting foam, which should not contain toluene. It dissolves polystyrene. After drying, the foam must be trimmed with a knife.
Do-it-yourself insulation of a loggia with foam plastic can be accompanied by the installation of foil plastic film. The foil should face the inside of the room. Fasteners will be polyurethane adhesive. The joints are closed with metal tape. Then you can proceed to the final finish.
Installation of underfloor heating
If you want to make the loggia warmer, and you plan to use it even in the cold, then you can supplement this part of the living space with a warm floor. To do this, at the first stage, the surface of the base floor is leveled, then the thermal insulation is laid. It will form the basis formounting tape. It is fixed next, and a heating cable is pulled over it.
The warm floor on the loggia is supplied with a thermostat, which should be installed in an accessible place for operation. The area is filled with cement-sand mortar. After it dries, you can lay ceramic tiles. Even a thin screed device will cause an increase in the load on the bottom plate. This fact should be taken into account before carrying out work. The warm floor on the loggia can be represented by a film system. It eliminates the need for laying a concrete screed.
