Some believe that repairing a balcony with your own hands is a very simple matter, because the amount of work is very small. But not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance. There are secrets in updating this part of the apartment. So, in order.
Balcony and loggia - what is the difference
Before answering the question of how to make repairs on the balcony with your own hands, let's determine how it differs from the loggia, and also consider what they have in common. The balcony is a structure protruding from the wall to which it is attached using special beams. As for the loggia, this is a built-in small room with side walls. To continue the room to use the loggia is much easier than a balcony. In the second option, repair work is a little more expensive, more building materials are required.
What is a balcony for?
In terms of living in multi-storey and multi-apartment buildings, both a balcony and a loggia are extremely important for residents. Just a decade ago, many people used them to store unnecessary things. This trend was especially observed in the cold season. In the spring, these, so to speak, auxiliary facilities were cleared of rubbish, and in the fall they were safely clogged with them again. Now the priorities have changed.
Having made repairs, glazed and insulated the balcony, we get a wonderful additional room. If we are talking about the kitchen, then the design of repairing a balcony with your own hands can translate into an excellent dining room. If its location is in the bedroom, then you can get a cozy corner for hanging out. There are many options for the expedient use of a balcony.
Where to start repairing a balcony with your own hands
Starting repair, you need to clean the entire room from unnecessary things, check all the old partitions, floors and floor slabs or stove. It is possible that to give the balcony more strength, you will need to weld it around the perimeter with metal corners or weld a frame of channels.
When starting to repair a balcony with your own hands, it is extremely important to take into account the condition of the bearing concrete slab on which it is located. You need to make sure that there are no voids or weak elements in it. If necessary, the slab can also be strengthened by reinforcing it with an iron mesh, on top of which pour a concrete screed.
Sometimes reinforcing the entire structure with rolled steel beams is required. They are placed on the sides of the balcony, reinforcing the entire structure and previously securing the beams in the thickness of the bearing wall. There are not only large-scale preparatory work, but also small ones. They are no less important, therefore, it is required to perform them efficiently. You will need to blow out all the cracks with mounting foam, fill the cracks with silicone sealant, and smooth the walls with putty.
What materials to buy
Choosing building materials for repairing a balcony with your own hands in a prefabricated house, and not only in a prefabricated one, is by no means easy, since the range in construction stores is now extensive. It is not advisable to purchase materials in natural markets and from unfamiliar sellers. It is better to opt for the products of well-known and well-established firms and companies.
What exactly is needed depends on what needs to be obtained at the end of the repair work. Perhaps it is planned to remove the decorative external panels, and instead make a major wall. In this case, the brick can not be used, since the design will turn out to be too heavy. An alternative could be aerated concrete blocks.
It is also possible that you need to do the repair of plastic doors on your balcony with your own hands or completely change them. It all depends on the desires and financial capabilities of the owner. You will also have to decide which double-glazed windows are better suited, what type of insulation to take for exterior decoration, use drywall or wooden lining for the inside.
Glazing
Installation of glass and insulation are extremely important points at the initial stage, when it comes to step-by-step repair of the balcony with your own hands. What is the point of warming if the room is accessible to all winds and precipitation? Therefore, glazing is necessary. Now it is carried out in three ways.
The first is the so-called cold glazing. In this case, a single glass is installed in an aluminum frame. Since it practically does not retain heat, in the cold season the temperature on the balcony is usually higher than that outside the window by only 5-8 degrees. Therefore, this glazing is called cold.
Even when repairing a balcony with your own hands, you can use the frameless method of installing glass. In this case, there are no frames and partitions. The balcony has a feeling of spaciousness and lightness. Glasses move in special grooves mounted above and below. This way you can glaze balconies of almost any design. As in the previous embodiment, this method of installing glass is cold. Of course, you can bring batteries to the balcony and make a warm floor. But not everyone has the financial ability to make such a massive repair.
If you plan to make a balcony on which it will be comfortable even in winter, it is better to choose a warm version of glazing. Sealed two- and three-chamber double-glazed windows are used for this method. The fastening of these structures to the parapet is made using massive bolts. It should be noted that due to its multi-chamber nature, such windows not only retain heat very well, but also serve as good sound insulation. It is also extremely important in a modern metropolis.
Wall insulation
The next step in repairing a balcony with your own hands is its insulation. First, the walls of the room are equipped with a wooden crate, the thickness of which is equal to or somewhat greater than the thickness of the insulation. As it is better to provide not foam, but mineral wool or slabs from it. After fixing the insulation on the crate, it is necessary to cover it with a vapor barrier film. Some for this purpose take polyethylene, but it is better to take a special film. The joints on the vapor barrier must be fixed with construction tape. When the work on thermal insulation of the walls is completed, the balcony can be sheathed with a wooden lining or drywall.
Ceiling insulation
If the apartment is not located on the top floor, the ceiling on the balcony is the floor slab of the neighbors from above. If these neighbors have a warm balcony, then there is no need to insulate your ceiling. If the apartment is upper, then the ceiling of the balcony must be insulated. To do this, a wooden crate is mounted on it (as on the walls) using dowels or small anchors. Insulation is placed inside the crate, and vapor barrier is laid on it. Then the ceiling is faced with wooden or plastic lining. Moisture-resistant drywall can also be used.
Floor insulation
Doing a step-by-step repair of the balcony with your own hands, floor insulation completes the process of interior decoration. A layer of waterproofing is laid on the prepared bottom plate, on which the insulation is placed. Mineral wool, polystyrene foam, expanded clay, are suitable for its role, but the best option would be to use such a modern insulation as foam.
Wooden transverse bars are placed on top. In the formed cells, the insulation is again laid. This time, ordinary mineral wool boards are enough. A foil insulation is placed on top with a reflective film upwards and the whole structure is closed with wooden boards or thick plywood. Another option for insulation is a screed with a warm floor. For this, a self-leveling floor mixture is used. According to the instructions, a warm floor is mounted on the finished screed. On this, the decoration of the balcony and its insulation are completed.
Some masters do not look for easy ways. For them, repairing a balcony with their own hands is a cardinal restructuring of the entire apartment. Such restless people demolish the wall separating the balcony and the room, and in its place they equip the arch. You should be aware that such work necessarily requires the permission of the relevant authorities, since the retractable wall is the bearing.
External design
In the process of repairing the balcony with your own hands in Khrushchev or in another house where the general design of the entire building was not provided, the question will necessarily arise about the external design of this part of your home. For these works, the flight of fancy will have to be limited, as certain rules and norms will have to be followed.
External design can be performed using simple materials - lining, plastic panels, corrugated and profiled sheets or siding. It is he who is most often chosen by professional repairmen. It is durable, reliable, not susceptible to corrosion, does not change its properties under the influence of temperature changes and direct sunlight. The problem with finishing siding is the difficulty of installing it without special skills. Therefore, it is better to entrust this part of the work to equip your balcony to professionals. In addition, you can do the external decoration of the balcony yourself if it is on the first or second floor. If higher - it is better not to take risks.