What is a balcony and what is it like?

All apartment owners and many residents of private houses need to know what it is - a balcony, what are the features of construction. It is required to understand the features of a wooden hinged balcony and other types, the dimensions of the plates and the types of construction outside. You will also have to get acquainted with the types of partitions and with the methods of arrangement (furnishing), with the nuances of lighting and other subtleties and life hacks.

A balcony is not just a "ledge in an apartment on the street". It is a meticulously designed platform with handrails. The structure is reinforced on beams protruding from the wall. During the construction of balconies, various solutions are used: some of them are open, others are closed, and still others are not only closed, but also insulated.

From the point of view of legislation, this is not a premise. Balconies can be used in a panel house, and in brick buildings, and in a number of other structures. You can meet them not only in residential, but also in public, administrative, and occasionally in industrial buildings. The exact dimensions of the balcony slab are not specified in the state standard, but in SNiP. They can also vary to some extent depending on the nuances of a particular project.

From the point of view of owners and tenants, there are no significant differences between balconies and loggias. They can store a variety of items and old unnecessary things. However, there are often well-appointed spaces, including conservatories.

All three sides of the balconies are open. Yes, this rule is followed even for fully glazed or boxed structures. Such walls are not considered to be the walls of the house itself. But for loggias, opening of no more than two sides is allowed - and then with an angular placement. More often they are blocked on three sides; in addition, loggias are usually designed for a more serious load and have a large area.

This type of design implies a mandatory design. Outside, the walls are most often trimmed with siding. Additionally, plastic glazed frames are attached. Classic balconies come in different finishes inside.

Nowadays, such structures are used most often. The necessary removal is provided by means of triangular trusses. They are attached by welding to the parapet. A plastic frame is mounted along the edge. The entire perimeter is equipped with an extended window sill.

Basic moments:

• a hard window sill can support the weight of an adult;
• this design allows the most efficient use of space;
• you can easily use flowers and seedlings for decoration;
• such a solution is not suitable for dilapidated buildings;
• debris can fall from above, possibly rainfall;
• insulation is required.

Strictly speaking, this is not a very large area, which hardly deserves the name of a balcony. External fencing - forged lattice.In some cases, panoramic windows are used instead. Such constructions:

• look stylish and modern;
• mounted quickly;
• are inexpensive;
• do not allow the use of a window sill;
• complicate cleaning (when using panoramic glazing);
• often forced to ventilate the room.

This solution is suitable for those who do not want to protect themselves from the outside world. If the facade of the house faces quiet streets, this is also a good option. But you must understand that open balconies are unsuitable for use in winter. You will definitely have to perform a complete dismantling, removing the screed as well.

A hinged, or suspended, balcony is a glazing mounted on a metal support. Attachment to the load-bearing wall is done with an anchor bolt. A canopy, that is, roof overlap, internal work is required. Connoisseurs praise wooden balconies for their cheapness and ease of arrangement. Usually they settle in the same houses: made of planks, beams or logs.

Wood structures can be made in a cantilever way. Such a step is justified if the use of supports is impractical. The base is sometimes beams. The attached type will be simpler and more modern. However, for reasons of reliability, it is better to choose an iron balcony.

The angular type is close to the letter G. Therefore, the competent organization of the internal space is critically important. It is best to choose the more traditional square and rectangular configurations whenever possible.

In any case, the cracks on the balcony need to be repaired. Primer and polyurethane foam allow bridging cracks up to several centimeters wide. Cement mortar is also a good option.

To cover the floor, you must first use the logs. Most often these are wooden beams. Such a solution saves building materials and facilitates the execution of work. When the wooden flooring is laid out, you can immediately move along it; cement filling does not provide such an opportunity. The flooring is quite reliable and lasts a long time.

Even if the balcony is made without glazing, this does not mean that its facade should remain without finishing. Vinyl or metal siding is most commonly used. The steel version is reliable and durable. This material tolerates moisture well and is highly fire resistant.

But metal products are heavy. In addition, they allow a lot of heat to pass through, which forces the use of significant layers of insulation. The profiled sheet has the same properties. Wooden lining provides much better thermal insulation, but it is not strong enough and can be easily damaged.

A very important point is the choice of flooring. You can put carpet there. True, he suffers greatly from temperature fluctuations. Much better and more practical is the use of linoleum of the latest generations.

Both flooring options differ in that they require a very even floor. It is recommended to use plywood sheets as a base. Fastening is best done not with glue, but with skirting boards.

In some cases, a carpet is placed on the balcony. It allows you to achieve a much more pleasant tactile sensation than other materials. This is considered a bold but practical solution. Of course, the remote platform itself must first be protected from precipitation.

When decorating, one must not forget about the walls, or rather, about the colors in which they should be decorated. In the classic version, balconies are decorated in calm noble shades. Beige and brown paint very well. To make the room look fresh, apply white. You can achieve an unusual look with pale olive paint.

The yellow balcony looks original. But sometimes it becomes faded and expressionless, therefore the composition must be formed very carefully. It is also advised to apply:

• blue;
• purple;
• green;
• gray tones.

It is worth paying attention to other nuances of the arrangement. So, even if you furnish the balcony with furniture and draw up curtains, you can make it even better using a cellar. It is created on the condition that there are no legal and administrative restrictions. Cellar floors are formed from a number of layers: from waterproofing, sand and gravel in the first place. It is advisable to lay out reinforcing mesh under the concrete layer.

Efficient and safe lighting of the cellar is achieved by connecting via a 36 V transformer... An alternative solution is to use soft cellars made of special fabric. Their capacity is not that great, but they are completely ready to use.

These structures can be made of drywall. They are relatively lightweight and heat-resistant. The construction of a plasterboard partition wall will require only a few hours. The sheets are almost perfectly flat, so no additional alignment is required. Quality sheets are environmentally friendly and do not pose a fire hazard.

Capital barriers are formed from foam blocks 7.5 cm thick. They will create a relatively small load on the surface and do not "absorb" a lot of useful space. Overlapping of glazed parts of windows is excluded.

In terms of reliability and wear resistance, brick structures stand out favorably. However, they are very heavy and expensive. Whether these problems are justified by excellent noise damping and heat retention - you need to decide on your own. To make assembly easier, silicate or hollow blocks are used. The calculation method is the same as in the case of conventional gas silicate.

It makes little sense to talk about the use of cabinets and shelves, sofas and armchairs. It is necessary to pay attention to less ordinary solutions. An upholstered corner corner can be a good choice. A full sleeping place is easily organized using folding structures. Sofas are placed near the end wall.

It is worth considering that the length of the products will have to be selected individually. When placing any balcony furniture, you must not block the entrances. Corner models equipped with drawers are preferred; they allow you to organize the space in a tasteful way. An excellent option, according to experts, is to mount the back on the wall. The decoration is done with soft pillows or stylish headboards.

A simpler solution is a couch, which is sometimes even assembled with your own hands. Such designs are inexpensive, so it is quite possible to buy box beds that replace the storage podium.

A good option is to use a chest. It looks emphatically old-fashioned, therefore it fits perfectly into classic interiors.A side function of the chests is their use as a bench. In most cases, they are made from wood. Steel structures are not bad either, but they are very heavy.

The fireplace is also quite heavy. But it is very attractive to use from both practical and aesthetic points of view. For a small space, a 50x60 cm fireplace is enough. The hearth will consume less energy than a standard heating radiator. But you can also install a bio fireplace that uses non-toxic fuel (although it costs more than an electric fireplace).

We'll have to carefully calculate the need for air. The classic way of airing is to open the sash. A more modern solution is the use of a supply and exhaust valve that does not need power supply; if a fan is used, it will have to be connected to the network.

To create a sense of naturalness and closeness to nature, you can use an artificial grass lawn. For example, from a block polymer with increased mechanical stability. It is recommended to choose products from major global manufacturers. Simple monochrome wall painting looks too boring. It is not necessary to decorate the appearance with the help of drawings - a design in two or more tones will look good.

Also, for wall decoration of the space, you can use:

• wallpaper;
• textured plaster;
• wood sheathing;
• decoration with glass and metal (which fits well into the loft setting).

It is impossible to provide high-quality light on the balcony simply through windows. Artificial light sources are also required. General lighting is formed from:

• sconce;
• chandeliers;
• other luminaires emitting a diffused luminous flux.

If possible, sockets should be placed not on the balcony itself, but in the main rooms. Connection is made through a cable channel protected from moisture and temperature effects. Spot illumination is created using special lighting fixtures. Using a chandelier less than 2 m in height is completely impractical, especially if the room is used by tall people.

If it is impossible to use a chandelier, you need to choose a sconce. Wall mounted devices turn out to be additional light sources, but in very small corners they can also become the main lighting points. In most cases, built-in point devices are used. Placing them on the same plane with the ceiling minimizes the loss of free space; the difference between them is due to:

• geometry;
• coloring;
• the type of radiating elements;
• the possibility or impossibility of turning.

The lighting scenario is very important. If a cabinet or wardrobe is equipped on the balcony, there is no need to use common devices, the main function is performed by the working light. A good option is to install table lamps. In recreation and reading areas, a diffuse color of sufficient brightness is needed.

Dark curtains are not wise to use. It can be stuffy in the room because of them. It is much better to give preference to light pastel colors. Cool colors create a visual feeling of coolness. When choosing options for blinds, one should give preference not to metal, but to fabric or wood structures; for classic curtains, linen or cotton fabrics are suitable.

A balcony with a wrought-iron frame looks very beautiful from the street. Ornamental plants can twine around it. A glazed balcony can also be a good solution. It is framed with a professional sheet. The design looks very attractive.