Balcony and loggia repair

It's no secret that balconies often turn into storage for old and unnecessary things. Meanwhile, throwing out useless rubbish and completing repairs, you can carve out a few additional meters of the functional area of ​​a residential apartment: equip a comfortable lounge-zone, a study, and even arrange a mini-greenhouse. The modern market offers many techniques and solutions that allow you to make a balcony warm, cozy and beautiful.

There are two main types of repairs - cosmetic and major.

• Cosmetic - partial renovation, which does not imply special transformations and transformations. The decorative finishing of the installed building foundations is carried out here. Such manipulations improve the appearance of the additional space, but at the same time do not change its technical and operational characteristics and do not create additional load on the surface of the balcony ceiling. Usually carried out in new buildings.
• Major overhaul involves the creation of fences, restoration of the building base, thermal insulation, as well as glazing. Such work allows you to create a functional area that can be used both in warm and cold months. However, the weight load on the floor increases, which is why, at the planning stage, an engineering assessment should be performed and permission to carry out the corresponding manipulations should be obtained.

To carry out large-scale changes, you will need approval for the execution of work. Usually it is obtained from the housing inspection authorities at the location of the object. To obtain the necessary permission, a package of documents should be submitted to the BTI:

• statement;
• copy of the certificate of ownership;
• technical certificate;
• reconstruction project of square meters.

The preparatory stage of any repair on a balcony or loggia involves drawing up a plan for construction and installation work and calculating a budget. At this stage, the sequence of work is determined, the need for additional insulation and waterproofing of the balcony is determined, and the basic materials for external and internal decoration are calculated. Only after that you can proceed directly to the preparation of an additional room for repair. To do this, dismantle old coatings and cladding, dismantle window frames and rid the room of dirt.

If a major overhaul is planned, all building bases should first be tapped with a hammer. - this will allow timely detection and repair of unstable fragments. The metal elements of the balcony are protected from traces of rust and covered with anti-corrosion agents. If the reinforcement of the concrete slab is thoroughly corroded, it is advisable to fix the new material on top. The optimal solution would be to lay a mesh with cells of 150-170 mm, made of reinforcement of class A3 with a diameter of 3 mm.

The cost of repairing a balcony and a loggia directly depends on the volume and complexity of the work, as well as the materials used. For example, light "cosmetics" of the premises using plastic panels can keep within 15-20 thousand rubles, if all work is carried out independently. When you turn to the services of specialists, the price tag will double. High-quality renovation will be much more expensive.

The technology of repairing old balconies and loggias in panel and brick houses involves strengthening the slab, installing fences, glazing, hydro and thermal insulation of the space, bringing engineering communications and finishing.

Designers recommend choosing light colors for finishing the balcony. In combination with natural insolation, they visually expand the space, create a calm and cozy atmosphere. In addition, do not forget that dark shades visually conceal an already small space and create a darkening in the adjoining room.

If you still want some bright accents, you can combine light colors with brown, pink and azure. You can also achieve the necessary rich "inserts" by placing furniture in contrasting colors.

Equipping a balcony into a full-fledged functional room is not at all difficult if you correctly approach the use of free square meters. The design and furnishings of such spaces primarily depend on how you plan to use this additional space.

A common solution is equipment on balconies and loggias of a workplace or even an entire office. This will be a good option for schoolchildren, as well as adults who lack a secluded corner in the apartment. You can equip a functional office even on the smallest balcony. All you need is a desk with a chair and several shelves for storing documents and office equipment.

If you plan to equip a recreation area on additional meters, then the design will depend solely on your imagination and financial capabilities. Classic style, hi-tech, loft or art deco look most harmonious.

When arranging a balcony, additional square meters can be used as a sleeping area - of course, only if the room is insulated. In this case, preference is given to delicate and calm decorative elements.

The organization of a winter garden on the loggia is very popular in megalopolises - such a mini-greenhouse will allow you to enjoy the blooming view and bright colors even on the coldest days. For this, flowerpots with flowers are placed in the room, ampelous cultures and vines are placed. A country or Provence style decoration will allow you to create a truly paradise corner.

For practical reasons, you can place several zones on the loggia at once. For example, equip a comfortable workplace in one corner, and put a small sofa in the opposite corner for a quiet pastime and reading your favorite books.

Let us dwell in a little more detail on the main stages of the overhaul of balconies and loggias "from scratch".

At the first stage of repair work, it is necessary to devote time to restoring the slab. If its destruction is significant, it is advisable to invite experienced craftsmen. Professional help may be needed in the following situations:

• a piece of cement slab is destroyed, as a result, part of the reinforcement has opened or through defects have arisen;
• a large crack has formed at the junction of the concrete slab with the building;
• if the concrete base is destroyed or the material begins to flake off.

It is permissible to restore the slab with your own hands only if the defects are insignificant or you need simple alignment. It is carried out as follows.

• The slab is covered with a primer. The primer is applied in 2-3 layers.
• Lay the screed.In this case, the material must be evenly distributed over the entire surface.
• Formwork is installed from boards or bars 15-17 cm wide.
• The structure is poured with concrete, leveled and wait until the composition has completely hardened. Depending on the weather, this can take anywhere from 2 weeks to a month.

Particular attention should be paid to replacing the guard. Even at the first stage of work, the old fence, together with the glazing and coating, is dismantled, after which a new structure is installed. It makes sense to invite professionals to carry out these works.

When making your own fencing, a strong rectangular pipe is usually used. This material has its advantages: ease of use and durability combined with visual appeal. To carry out the installation of the fence, first measure the balcony and draw up a plan for the parapet. Then the pipe parts are welded and fixed to the cement base using anchors.

An indispensable part of any balcony renovation is the selection and installation of a glazing system. Windows both decorate the façade and improve visibility inside the building. There are two techniques.

• Cold - involves the use of cheap PVC or aluminum structures filled with single glass. Such a system effectively protects the balcony from dirt, dust, precipitation and wind loads. However, it does not retain heat, therefore, in the cold months of the year, the balcony will freeze through - it can only be used in the warm season.
• Warm - includes the installation of window systems made of PVC structures or warm aluminum, less often wood is used. The difference between such systems from cold ones is that multi-chamber double-glazed windows are used here, and the space between them is filled with vacuum or inert gas. This makes the thermal insulation of the room as efficient as possible. Warm balconies can be operated all year round.

If the loggia is being repaired with the aim of further uniting with the adjoining room, then structures with a width of at least 70 mm should be used for glazing. They are filled with a two-chamber glass unit 30-40 mm thick.

It is very important to pay special attention to floor insulation. The choice of technology in this case directly depends on the material of the building base. For example, to insulate a wooden floor, proceed in stages as follows:

• spread a polyethylene film on the floor for waterproofing the slab;
• fix the wooden logs from above and secure with fasteners;
• insulating material is placed in the resulting paths;
• from above, the structure is covered with polyethylene to protect the insulation from moisture.

At the finishing stage, all that remains is to lay floorboards or other similar materials. We draw your attention to the fact that it is undesirable to use chipboard, since it does not have the necessary resistance to moisture - after installation, this coating quickly exfoliates.

To insulate the cordon of a concrete floor, a different procedure is assumed:

• insulation can be laid directly on the screed;
• from above the material is covered with polyethylene - it will protect from the negative effects of water and condensation;
• a reinforcing mesh is attached on top and beacons are placed on the base;
• after that, a cement-concrete mortar is prepared and the mesh is poured so that the layer thickness does not exceed 4 mm;
• the composition is evenly distributed over the entire surface and left to dry completely;
• after that, the lighthouses are dismantled, all voids and cracks are sealed with cement mortar and again wait until the material dries.

A good solution for insulation can be the "warm floor" system. The balconies use infrared and electrical structures. Water ones are heavy and create an excessive load on the concrete floor, their use is justified only on loggias.

When insulating the ceiling, follow the instructions below.

• All cracks and joints are sealed with construction foam. If you do not pay attention to this work, then condensation will begin to accumulate between the insulation and the base - in such conditions, fungi and mold often appear. When the material hardens, all protruding edges are cut off with a clerical knife.
• A frame made of wooden blocks is fixed on the prepared base. A layer of heat-insulating material is placed in the tracks.
• From above, the structure is covered with a polyethylene film for waterproofing and vapor barrier and finishing is performed.

When repairing a balcony and loggia, it is important to insulate the corner walls that do not adjoin the room. This is done in several stages:

• using glue, the heat-insulating material is fixed on a vertical base;
• fix the film to increase waterproofing;
• make the finishing.

To improve the microclimate on the balcony, it is recommended to think over the heating system in the cold season. Most often, electric radiators are used, using them as needed so as not to create a significant overspending of electricity.

Of course, it will be impossible to use the balcony as a full-fledged functional area if you do not complete the interior decoration. Usually one of the following materials is used for this.

• Lining made of wood - environmentally friendly material, does not emit toxic and harmful substances. Its installation does not have any negative impact on human health. Usually, the lining is attached to a wooden frame using self-tapping screws, after which it is covered with wood stain, varnishes or paints. Keep in mind - any wood bases require treatment with fungicidal impregnations, which will prevent the appearance of pathogenic microflora and unpleasant insects.
• Plastic panels - the most demanded and at the same time environmentally friendly material. It is distinguished by an affordable price, a long period of use, ease of installation and unpretentious maintenance.
• MDF panels - environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing material. Its only drawback is its high price.
• Drywall - we pay attention to the fact that on balconies it is necessary to use only gypsum board, which is resistant to moisture. To mount this material on vertical surfaces, it is necessary to build a metal frame, put the sheets using special glue or fasteners.

If you are going to arrange a resting place on the balcony, an office or a mini-flower garden, it is important to organize a lighting system on it. For this, electrical wiring is mounted, sockets and switches are installed. To prevent these communications from spoiling the interior, they are covered with special boxes.

When conducting electrical wiring on the balcony, the following requirements must be met.

• Eliminate temperature extremes. With a large difference in heating in the residential block and on the balcony, condensation appears - this becomes a frequent cause of electrical wiring closure.
• The room must be ventilated and dry. You should not conduct electricity on open balconies - in this case, you will have to strengthen security measures, and this entails additional costs. On such balconies, only waterproof lamps can be mounted, and the electrical wiring is laid in insulated corrugations.

Features of lighting on the loggia directly depend on its functional purpose. One of the following options is usually used.

• Spot. This solution is optimal for rooms sheathed with PVC boards or wood. Spotlights of various types (incandescent, halogen or diode) can be bought in stores these days, they vary in connection method and energy consumption.
• Wall. It involves the installation of a sconce. They are fixed in different parts of the balcony.
• General. This is the most energy-intensive and technically uncomplicated option that is easy to implement with your own hands. If only technical light is required on the balcony, a luminaire with one or two lamps is simply mounted on the ceiling.

Furniture for balconies and loggias is usually made by hand or purchased ready-made. It is undesirable to use old room furniture - massive armchairs, sofas and wardrobes will be difficult to integrate into a small balcony space. Such items create a "dead-end" design: it does not make additional square meters cozy, but simply turns the loggia into a repository of unnecessary items.

For tight spaces, built-in and folding furniture is the ideal solution. Transformers allow you to save space and use the balcony in different ways. For example, a folding sofa in the daytime will serve as a place to relax and meet with friends, and at night it will become a full-fledged sleeping area.

Of course, mobile furniture will cost much more than ordinary furniture, since it will have to be made to order. But at the same time, the balcony will become a truly comfortable and functional area. Such furnishings will add useful space to the apartment and will not entail a loss of decorativeness of the room.

In conclusion, we offer you a selection of ideas for an unusual repair of balconies and loggias.

We hope these examples will allow you to correctly think over the layout of the additional space and make the balcony a cozy place in the house.

Some of the nuances regarding the repair and decoration of the balcony can be found in more detail in the next video.