Deformation of the roof and dampness are most often integral components of the balconies of the upper floors in old multi-storey buildings. This is due to the fact that this part of the building is the most vulnerable and open to precipitation. It is not worth delaying the solution to this problem, because restoration work will become even more complicated and expensive over time.
Masters advice on when to start repairs
The fact that the roof of the balcony needs repair is indicated by moisture in the corners, damp walls and a change in the microclimate on the balcony. Dampness may cause an unpleasant odor. Sometimes it is not necessary to change the roof, sometimes it is enough to do without replacing the sealant.
In some cases, you have to change the whole design. Installation errors may lead to such consequences. If employees have a low level of qualification, this may lead to some shortcomings. The reason for repairing the roof may be a damaged fixing of the coating. Here we are talking about worn out rubber bands on self-tapping screws, if they were improperly twisted. At height, it sometimes happens that the screws are twisted.
The main causes of leaks
Repair of the roof of the balcony on the top floor may be necessary in the event that there is wear of the slab or coating. This can happen when the house is in repair. In this case, you need to completely change the roof. Wear of the roof is a natural process, because no roof can stand forever. Even if we are talking about a concrete slab, it will constantly retain moisture, and subsequently collapse. The sooner you notice leaks on the balcony, the better.
The concrete slab will need to be strengthened, and then apply roll insulation. At the final stage, the roofing is laid. Repair of the roof of the balcony on the top floor may be necessary in the absence of sealant. Cold bridges and crevices can lead to leaks.
Repair Methodology
Using bituminous materials, it is possible to repair a balcony concrete slab using waterproof solutions based on cement. For this, you can take bitumen mixtures. A fairly expensive process will be the dismantling of the plate, so it is better to restore it or cover it with a new roof.
Repair materials can be polymer-bitumen binders. They are resistant to weather conditions, elasticity and durability. Such binders can undergo temperature extremes from -60 to + 100 ° C. Repair of the roof of the balcony on the top floor may be necessary if cracks or crevices were found on the concrete slab.
At the first stage, after a careful inspection of the roof, it must be freed from construction waste. The concrete slab is plastered and liquid rubber or mastic is applied to its surface. You can lay a new layer of roofing material. The next day you should check the integrity of the roof.
How to carry out repairs?
Laying of roofing material is carried out using a gas burner. The material is laid in several layers. To carry out such work in cold weather will be difficult. If you do not have enough skills, then you may encounter overheating or insufficient heating of the roofing material, because of this, it will soon separate from the base.
If the repair of the roof of the balcony on the top floor involves the restoration of the existing soft roof, it is necessary to remove the damaged area and replace it with a new one along the entire length. It is necessary to bring new material to the wall by 20 cm and install the tide on the joint of the wall and the roofing sheet. If this stage is excluded, over time, under the influence of ice and snow, the seams begin to diverge. Repair can also be done using Technoelast, which has a coarse-grained powder. It protects the roof from the sun.
Alternative repair options
If you decide to repair the roof of the balcony on the top floor, you can use liquid rubber, which is an analogue of roofing material. This is a two-component mixture, which involves a hardener and a base material. Liquid rubber solidifies within an hour, after which it is ready for use.
If the roof is in poor condition, a new balcony slab must be installed on top. To do this, prepare the bars and use them in place. Elements are well attached to the plate, and after them a profile coating is installed on them. If you decide to use corrugated board, it is most difficult to work with the last piece. After the new coating is installed, it is necessary to seal the joint between the corrugated board and the wall.
Repair of the roof of the balcony on the top floor by some craftsmen is carried out using semi-dry mixtures, which fill the cracks. This technology cannot be followed, because over time an interpanel seam of this type ceases to breathe. The mixture turns into a sponge and begins to absorb moisture. For these purposes, special-purpose roofing sealant should be used.
Frame roof repair
If the roof of the balcony was installed after the construction of the house, then the design is a separate brackets and roofing. To repair such a structure, it is necessary to examine the problem areas and determine the cause of the failure of the system. It is important to prevent cracks, defects and chips.
Next, select repair materials. It is important here whether the wall to which the roof is attached will warm up. It is also necessary to determine whether the balcony is on the sunny side. Remember how often it rains in your area, as well as what material the roof is made of.
If dealing with these issues is difficult, you need to purchase a universal sealant that is suitable for such work. Versatility, however, is usually achieved by the high cost and reduced life of the sealant. Such formulations usually protect the joints for 15 years. Therefore, experts recommend choosing a special composition for a specific task.
Troubleshooting
Repairing a roof over a balcony may include sealing and repairing the tide. In some cases, you have to change it to a new one. When the temperature drops, the materials expand and contract. The usual mixture can break, so roofers advise using a sealant that will be able to undergo compression and tension, for example, Sazilast 24.
It also happens that the roofing screw is overtightened during the installation process, and the rubber under it crackes. She may fail from old age. If the self-tapping screw is loosely fixed, the roof will also leak. This is bad, because the tightness is violated, there is a risk of tearing off the roof.
A big mistake will be the installation of self-tapping screws from the inside. Some "craftsmen" avoid such dangerous work at heights, but in this case on the roof surface there will be an unprotected thread through which water will flow. The self-tapping screw cap should block the hole. In this case, you have to change the roofing, although some may offer to protect the connection with sealant, but there are no guarantees.
Norms and requirements
If you do not want to carry out the work described in the article yourself, then you can order repair of the roof of the balcony in Moscow from specialists. For example, waterproofing a roof will cost 80 rubles. per m 2 . Laying a vapor barrier costs the same. A complete repair of a leaking roof of a balcony costs 4,000 rubles. These works include sealing joints on the facade.
If you plan to carry out the work yourself, then you need to study all the norms and requirements. For example, resistance to precipitation, mechanical stress and temperature fluctuations is important. The roofing should have a high reflection coefficient, so you should choose silver or white color, which will help in the summer heat to exclude the red-hot roof.
When repairing, it is also important to observe the angle of the roof. Avalanche convergence of snow must be avoided. The roof should be steep (approximately 45˚) or with snow retainers. The length of the eaves should be equal to the limit of 20 to 35 cm. The angle of the roof of the building also affects the angle of the roof.
Subtleties of repair
The roof of the balcony of the last floor can be repaired by technology, which involves the insulation of the ramp. In this case, materials are used in the form of plates or rolls. It can be Penoplex or Penofol. The insulation is laid out between the elements of the crate. To isolate the joints between the parts of the insulation there should be a mounting foam.
When choosing heat-insulating boards, you should pay attention to their thickness, which should not be less than 50 mm. A large repair of the roof of the balcony provides for a careful selection of heat-insulating materials, which may have a foil coating. This will also provide sound and vapor barrier of the roof.
After the lower waterproofing layer is fixed, you can proceed with the installation of the binder. In this case, you should stock up on the following materials:
- MDF sheets;
- plastic pvc panels;
- galvanized steel sheets;
- wooden lining.
Roof repair and balcony glazing
Now you know how to carry out repairs, but in most cases the roof needs reconstruction for the reason that it bothers the owners with noise. In this case, it makes sense to make soundproofing. If a problem place has been found, it is worth using an insulating roofing tape with a bitumen base. One side of this material is self-adhesive. It must be heated with a construction hairdryer, and then glued on the outside and inside in several layers.
Another good soundproofing material is Vibroplast. It is used for soundproofing automobile engines. With this material it is enough to cover about 60% of the roof to provide the necessary level of silence. After laying the roofing material, you can proceed to glazing. It can be cold or warm. In the latter case, it is necessary to carry out thermal and waterproofing of the floor and parapet. If you want to avoid condensation, close all slots and eliminate the outflow of heat. Among the main types of glazing should be highlighted:
- Panorama
- aluminum profile;
- metal plastic;
- glazing with removal;
- glazing on the supporting frame.
Methodology
Repair and glazing of balconies with a roof you can do it yourself. It is important to follow the sequence of work. If the fence is an old lattice, it is insulated from the outside and inside, and the interior decoration is carried out after the installation of window frames.
Glazing can be installed on a concrete or brick parapet. Top make alignment with cement mortar and decorative finish. After the roof repair of the large brick balcony has been completed, you can proceed to glazing it. The supporting frame may be made of a steel corner. The structural elements are assembled for welding. The seams must be ironed out and the frames painted with acrylic enamel.
The roof should extend beyond the glazing by 150 mm on the free sides. Based on this, you should determine its size. If you will assemble the roof on the basis of the visor, then you should not do this right away, since the construction will be bulky and heavy.
Balcony roof repair masters emphasize that you will need to insulate metal sheets along the joints. Application should be carried out in two layers with a roller or brush. When restoring waterproofing, mastic covers drainage and roofing material, which adjoins the wall.
Conclusion
If, under the terms of the contract with the housing and communal services, the work should be carried out by specialists for free, you should know what a sample application for repairing the roof of the balcony looks like. This document is prepared in duplicate and sent by mail if housing and communal services employees refused to accept it personally.