A fairly common problem in most modern apartments is the lack of living space. Each owner tries to solve this problem in his own way. The easiest way to make the area of your apartment a little more is to combine the balcony with the room. A simple layman believes that implementing this idea is quite simple, but this is not so. Indeed, during overhaul, pitfalls arise.
What is a balcony pool? This is the formation of a single space with a room and the creation of comfortable living conditions. To do this, it is necessary to think over the redevelopment, get all the necessary documents for the work, glaze the balcony and insulate it. First, evaluate the situation, do you really want to embark on the warpath with the appropriate authorities.
Redevelopment
If you will be combining a balcony with a room, then you should familiarize yourself with the Housing Code. It says that glazing and combining a balcony is a redevelopment of the interior. Therefore, before repair it is necessary to obtain official permission for such events. This will allow you to make changes to the passport of the apartment and coordinate work with the relevant authorities.
What documents will be needed
The combination of a balcony with a room should be accompanied by an appeal from the owner of the apartment to the window installation service. Specialists will be able to develop a glazing project and conduct light-climatic calculation. After drawing up the project, it should be referred to the architectural and planning department. Its experts will give permission or refuse to glaze the loggia or balcony.
The project is unlikely to be approved if the appearance of the balcony stands out against the background of neighboring structures. Permission is almost never issued if glazing of balconies, which are part of architectural monuments and historical buildings, is ahead. If approval is received, then the project needs to be shown SEC and MES. Specialists of these services check whether the fire safety rules are observed.
The project will not receive approval if the balcony is located next to the evacuation routes and fire escape. If you have started the integration of the balcony with the room and all permits have been obtained, then the approval must again be referred to the housing inspection. At this stage, written proxy will be attached to the project, which indicates the consent of family members to redevelopment. This should include those who are temporarily absent.
Glazing
Before obtaining permission for redevelopment, care must be taken about the choice of glazing. You must understand that a balcony or a loggia have their own design features, which is why they differ from each other. Thus, the balcony is a concrete slab protruding beyond the living space. The plate is fixed in a cantilever manner. It can have different thicknesses and sizes. It is unacceptable to install double PVC double-glazed windows on it. A stove may simply not be able to withstand such a load, so it will not be possible to combine a balcony with a living room.
Any glazing can be carried out if the living space is supplemented by a loggia. This is due to the fact that the stove is located inside the apartment and forms a niche with side walls and a ceiling.
The difficulty of warming
If you decide to combine the balcony with the room, the photo must first be considered. They will make it clear that the work must also be accompanied by thermal insulation. For such manipulations, non-combustible solid materials can be used. The use of polystyrene is prohibited, because it burns well, emitting toxic substances.
Heating radiators are not allowed in the new room. The floor cannot be insulated by installing heating and hot water. To combine the balcony with the living room in advance it is necessary to carry out heat engineering calculations. This documentation will reflect changes in redevelopment, the construction of partitions, demolition of walls and the choice of glazing option.
Combining the balcony with the room
The combination of the balcony with the room, the coordination of which was carried out, can be carried out in several ways. The first does not involve the demolition of load-bearing structures. In this case, special difficulties should not arise, as in the preparation of technical documentation, as well as design. In this case, it will be necessary to thoroughly work on the balcony, having insulated it and glazed it, additionally removing the window block. On the window stand it will be possible to build a bar, while communications are not transferred anywhere.
Alternative merge solution
Considering options for combining a balcony with a room, you can resort to the second technology, which differs slightly from the first. In this case, the kitchen will be connected to a narrow loggia. The column, which is part of the support, will perform a restrictive function. It will divide the working area and the dining room area, only air and heat exchange will remain single.
The third method involves the partial dismantling of the bearing wall. Such a combination of a balcony with a room, the design of which will be significantly different, allows us to achieve the formation of maximum additional space in terms of area. However, this will require permissions.
Process description
In order to insulate and glaze the balcony, it is necessary to carry out work on cutting off the new living space from the street. Additionally, the structure is reinforced with a metal frame. The walls in some places are sheathed with insulation, as is the ceiling. If we are talking about the top floor, you will need to install a visor over the balcony.
The integration of the balcony with the living room provides for the next stage of dismantling. In this case, you will need to get rid of the window unit and doors. Depending on what the features of the redevelopment are, it will be necessary to demolish the window sill block and transfer the radiator to the adjoining wall. Side piers can also be removed, and the perimeter is sheathed with a channel to compensate for the weakening of the bearing wall.
Now you can level the floor. At the same time, it is unacceptable to destroy a concrete threshold, because a concrete slab can be held on it. The surface of the floor is leveled, you can use a cement screed for this. If you decide to combine the balcony with the room, you should be insulated. For example, high density polystyrene can be used on the floor. It will allow not only to level the surface, but also to protect it from low temperatures. The material will not create a large load, it is durable and light. In addition, you can use expanded clay or any other light bulk insulation.
Thermal insulation
Whatever ideas you use to combine a balcony with a room, it is important to carry out insulation. Particular attention must be paid to gaps and crevices, because through them most of the heat is lost. The process should start from the ceiling. Thermal insulation is fixed with dowels to the surface or to a pre-constructed crate. Slots and joints are filled with foam. Wall insulation is carried out in a similar way.
For the floor, you can use a beam, the thickness of which is 10 cm or more. It is laid along its entire length and fixed with dowels. After that you can start laying the insulation layer, “Isolen” is laid on top, which will guarantee normal vapor barrier. At the final stage, the screed is arranged, it is better to use dry systems as it, which will not give a large load on the stove.
Ideas for combining a balcony with a room
If you decide to use the technology, which provides for the dismantling of window and door blocks, then the main task will be the design of the opening. The place where the window sill used to be located can be used as a countertop, which is true when work is carried out in the kitchen. If the association involves the dismantling of part of the wall, then access to the loggia can be arranged with shelves that will make the space more airy.
Conclusion
When combining a balcony with a room, do not forget about weight restrictions. The loggia should not be overloaded, therefore it is not necessary to place heavy pieces of furniture and hinged elements in the new free space that we would like to fix on the front wall of the house. Do not try to supply gas to the loggia. This may cause problems. It is much more interesting to organize a dining room in the freed up space by setting up a table and a couple of chairs in it.