Solving the problem of energy saving in residential premises, it is necessary to coordinate many diverse tasks with each other. Among them - the effectiveness of thermal insulation, safety issues, compliance with important dimensions. How to insulate the floor on a balcony or loggia in order to use this space as a living space? There is no one answer for all occasions. In this article, we will cover the main modern technologies and the limits of their capabilities. We will present the features of the application of each type of thermal insulation from the point of view of:

• the order of work and the materials used;
• reaching high-altitude marks;
• convenience of surface preparation for different kinds floor coverings;
• difficulty level.

This spray material is a champion in heat saving: 2% - 5% better insulating properties than extruded polystyrene foam, which ranks second. However, this technology is almost never used to insulate balconies. The economic feasibility of using special equipment is manifested when working on areas of at least several tens of square meters. In some cases, it makes sense to carry out insulation of this type in rooms with attached loggias. Work is underway wooden battens... Above, the rough covering is completed by slabs of moisture-resistant plywood.

The technology is not suitable for independent use.

The use of mineral wool

Not the most obvious material for insulating floors. Nevertheless, in some cases it will be correct to use it.

In addition to rolled cotton wool or mats, you will need wooden bar with a width of 40 mm and a height corresponding to the thickness of the insulator used. For example, it can be a 40 × 70 mm molding. Chipboard is used as a substrate for the finishing flooring, OSB boards or moisture resistant plywood, mounted with a gap of about 3 mm relative to each other. The minimum permissible thickness of all listed boards is 16 mm. If the balcony is not planned to be connected to the living quarters or to equip floor heating on it, then work should be started by applying a layer of liquid or roll waterproofing to concrete.

First, transverse jumpers are cut from the timber, which are installed with an interval of no more than 60 cm. If the insulation is carried out in one layer, then the jumpers must be set in the horizontal plane with the help of pads. When using the second layer, only the upper longitudinal beams are leveled with mounting wedges. The distance between the longitudinal moldings should not exceed 50 cm. It is not required to achieve the abutment of the beams to the walls. Let's say a gap of up to 10 cm (this applies to both layers of the structure). The lower lintels are attached to the concrete with anchors, the upper ones - to the lower ones with self-tapping screws. After installing the slabs and foaming the gaps between their ends and walls, the stage of the rough insulated floor is considered complete.

It makes no sense to use mineral wool less than 70 mm thick for floor insulation on the balcony. Thus, the minimum change in height during the roughing phase is about 90 mm (counting from the top of the concrete base). But, given the not the best hygroscopicity of this heat insulator, it is still better to insulate the floor with cotton wool in 2 layers. Then the total thickness of the structure will be 160 - 200 mm, depending on the section of the beams and the thickness of the slabs.

Linoleum, laminate (with backing) and carpet can be laid on chipboard, plywood and OSB without any additional preparation. Mounting ceramic tiles difficult. It is possible special glue after increasing the adhesion of the slabs using a serpyanka fastener, a few layers of primer, or flooring additional materials- GVL, CSP, glass magnesite sheets.

In general, the technology up to the stage of the subfloor and even laying the topcoat (with the exception of ceramic tiles) is quite simple and quite within the power of a layman. However, you will still need help - at least for transporting the slab materials to the apartment.

How to insulate the floor on the balcony with penoplex

One of the simplest and most effective technologies. Penoplex plates are glued to dust-free and primed concrete base... A special cut at the ends avoids cold bridges. The gaps between the walls and the foam are carefully foamed. It is best to use a glue-foam compound that can do both. It is important that the product does not contain toluene (this component destroys polystyrene foam).

For the last 10 years, extruded high-density foam has been the standard for insulating floors for subsequent facing with ceramic tiles. With this material, you can achieve the smallest possible change in elevation.

Thus, a 40 mm thick slab provides approximately the same level of heat saving as a 60 - 70 mm layer of mineral wool after a year of operation.

High strength properties allow, subject to certain conditions, to lay some finishing coatings on the penoplex without an intermediate cement-sand screed. What are these conditions? First, the expanded polystyrene must adhere to the adhesive layer over the entire area. Secondly, it is not necessary to use "foam glue", but a mixture such as tile adhesive for a comb. Thirdly, only laminate floors can be installed without screed. A layer of polyethylene film is laid between the elastic backing and the penoplex (the film joints are sealed with tape).

Scheme of floor insulation on the balcony with penoplex from official instructions manufacturer

Laying linoleum and ceramic tiles requires arranging a screed over the foam. However, the minimum thickness of this fill is a debated issue. Manufacturers of polystyrene foam insulation recommend a layer of at least 45 - 50 mm. However, this is done to play it safe from claims. The construction practice of the last 5 - 7 years has shown that high-quality thin self-leveling fillings (1.5 cm - 2.0 cm) are quite sufficient preparation for the installation of ceramic tiles on penoplex. The screed is arranged "floating", that is, nylon or metal grid to improve adhesion. Provided only polyethylene film as a vapor barrier. The final alignment of the tiles can be carried out on the adhesive layer.

An alternative to finishing screed is to use plywood sheets with a thickness of 10 - 12 mm.

Of course, the lack of a finish line concrete pouring, or using plywood instead is possible if the concrete slab of your balcony has a flat surface.

Within one day, you can do the insulation of the floor on the balcony with your own hands without outside help:

• bring light penoplex into the apartment,
• dust off the concrete base,
• glue the plates,
• fill up the cracks and
• lay polyethylene on top.

For some time it will be possible to walk (but not in stiletto heels, of course) on the insulation covered with a film - nothing will happen to him. You have time to calmly choose a topcoat and an experienced laying and screed master.

"Good old" styrofoam

Polyfoam is produced on the basis of the same polystyrene as materials such as foam. However, foams are inferior to extruded boards in terms of strength and hygroscopicity. Relatively low price is the only reason why foams have not yet been displaced from construction market more modern insulation.

Due to the low strength, the insulation of floors with foam is carried out using wooden logs as is the case with mineral wool... There are 2 differences in installing foam on the floor instead of cotton wool:

1. The wooden beam must necessarily be higher than the layer of the material to be laid.
2. The joints between the foam and the wood must be foamed.

Arrangement of electric underfloor heating on balconies and loggias

The only legal way of arranging heating in these zones is the installation of electric underfloor heating. The use of a special cable requires it to be laid in concrete screed... Low power electric mats can be used directly under the topcoat.

Floor heating on a balcony or loggia makes sense if this room is not combined with a room, but it is planned to use it as a living room (for example, to equip a small office there). Due to the high glazing area (increased heat loss), the choice of electrical warm floor right to do in favor of a powerful cable. It is technologically expedient to provide floor insulation from extruded polystyrene foam under such heating. This solution is better than others in terms of the total cost of all work and materials. It is also optimal if you need to minimize the elevation increase.

Summary

The answer to the question "how to insulate the floor on the balcony?" depends, first of all, on two points: obtaining the required elevation and the desire to carry out the insulation yourself.

If it is required to minimize the layer of thermal insulation and simplify the work to the limit, it is necessary to choose penoplex. The desire to raise the floor level on the balcony flush with the room justifies the use of mineral wool on the logs in two layers.

However, if you have other thermal insulation materials left from previous repairs, it will be correct to prefer them for equipping the balcony.

And finally, if you are the proud owner of a covered terrace with an area of ​​20-30 sq. m., it is better to invite a team specializing in the insulation of structures and premises using sprayed materials.

Balconies are a small outdoor seating area in summer time... From small space you can make a wonderful corner for relaxation. However, it should be borne in mind that there will be no point in insulating the floor if the balcony remains open to the outside. Therefore, before insulating the floor, you need to close the balcony. Warm floor on the balcony is simple and cheap.

Underfloor heating device

If you want to make floor insulation, you can't do without special tricks and technologies. There are many ways to insulate the floor on the balcony, but one of the most effective is using the "warm floor" system. Main feature of the present invention is that it works on the principle of a so-called heating pad. This is a very useful invention, because it is forbidden to put on balconies heating system, which works by pumping water. All this is for the safety of the building.

This method of insulating a balcony is widely used by clients who have a habit of catching colds often. It is also extremely effective for people with allergies and bronchial asthma... The fact is that the floor, although it increases the temperature of the air around itself, has practically no effect on the humidity of the latter due to the fact that it has a relatively low temperature surface. Also, when using such floors, the amount of dust in the insulated room is significantly reduced. Extremely useful characteristic for allergy sufferers and asthmatics.

Peculiarities

Heat transfer across the floor is carried out using electric cable he is a heating element... Next, we insulate the entire device from the inside with a concrete screed within 3-8 cm. It is important to note that when assembling the heating element, the distance between the cables inside must be uniform. This will help to distribute heat evenly and also increase the assurance that the cable will not overheat.

The most important thing in such an assembly is that when insulating the floor, the cable does not need to be laid immediately, but on a kind of heat insulator. As a heat insulator in Khrushchev, you can use a simple aluminum foil with artificial material attached to it. This is done so that the streams warm air spread only upward, that is, onto the insulated balcony. If you ignore this advice, then in the end it turns out that some of the heat will warm the neighbors from below the ceiling.

Heating elements are of two types - single-core and two-core cables. They differ physical characteristics and electromagnetic conductivity.

In order to make high-quality insulation of the floor on the balcony, it is necessary to use cables of fixed length. The main secret is that the power of the heat release depends on the length of the heating element itself. Therefore, if you lay the cable under the tiles, then you need to take into account how well the ceramic retains heat. Another important element when calculating the cable, the thickness of the walls, the area of ​​the room, and the presence or absence of a ceiling with a hatch are considered.

Here are some technical tips to help you solve your calculations:

• If you plan to heat the balcony with the help of other heating devices, then the average power should be enough if it is in the range of 140-180 W per square meter;
• When installing other heaters, 80-150 W should be enough;
• In the presence of wooden floors a power of 80-100 watts will be enough.

These tips will help you save extra energy and prevent the heating element from overheating.

Types of coatings

To answer the question of how to insulate the floor on the balcony, you also need to know which floor will retain more heat. Nobody wants to waste half of the electricity, and they would also like the coating to last as long as possible.

The leaders in heat transfer are considered to be floors covered with ceramic tiles. It is a well-known fact that ceramic tiles, like bricks, are capable of retaining and retaining heat for a long time. Also, ceramics is a fairly durable material.

Ceramic tiles are followed by linoleum or carpet. These two materials retain heat slightly worse, but changing them in case of deformation is much easier than ceramic materials like slabs.

Wood flooring is in the last place on the list for heat dissipation. These coatings do not retain heat in the best way, moreover, they are extremely short-lived. With constant heating, the wood dries up and soon wood flooring will disappoint you. Such a coating also has a small advantage - it is a quick change in its temperature. That is, it will be much faster to warm up a wooden floor "from scratch" than its counterparts in the form of ceramic tiles and linoleum.

Features of the structure

It is necessary to lay the foil on the floor, but it is extremely important to cover all the gaps between the floor and the adjacent wall with putty. There is one more important rule, which must be remembered when insulating your balcony floor. Do not put the heating element directly on top of the foil. There must be a thin layer of cement between the foil and the cable. This moment must be fulfilled and in no case ignored, because this is part of the safety precautions.

If you want to make the concrete screed as smooth as possible, then use better level... Draw a uniform line on the wall using this device - a limiter along which you will be guided when pouring concrete. Next, fill the floor, leave a spare 0.5 cm and level it. This distance is necessary in order to use the so-called "liquid floor". An excellent invention that, when dry, will give an absolutely flat floor, and will save you a large number of time and nerves.

How to insulate?

It is not enough to run the heating element across the floor. You also need to consider the materials that will best retain heat. Today there are a lot of such materials. There are, both expensive and beautiful, and very cheap and inconspicuous.

This type of insulation is called passive, since it does not use any cunning devices and is rather primitive. The basic principle is that the material itself is installed in the places that you want to insulate. Due to its properties to keep warm and not let the cold out from the outside, this option is great for people with an average income.

Here is a list of the most popular and affordable building insulators:

• penofol;
• Styrofoam;
• foamed polystyrene foam;
• mineral wool.

The most advanced and innovative material is penofol. This material is a foamed polyethylene, which is covered with a protective aluminum film. This substance is quite flexible, so it is extremely convenient to work with such a coating. There are two types of foam foam - with one-sided aluminum coating and double-sided.

Naturally, double-sided penofol has more a wide range useful qualities... One of them is protection against condensation formation. The production of the material and its storage is carried out in rolls, therefore, a special aluminum film is used to eliminate the joints. There is no need to be afraid that in case of bending it will deform, therefore this invention is at the top of the list for keeping warm and convenient in work.

If you want to achieve the maximum result in floor insulation with the help of a minimum of costs, then among the materials, foam is best suited. It is considered the cheapest and most common, as insulation, along with penoplex. In addition, it is easily accessible, and it is extremely easy to transport it due to its extraordinary lightness. The good thing about styrofoam is that you can get it in all sizes and thicknesses, but the downside is that it is quite tough and brittle. When working with him, this must be taken into account. V otherwise the cost of purchasing a thermal insulator will exceed the expected cost.

Another analogue of foam is extruded polystyrene. This material is practically the same cost as regular foam. Initially, it was created just for insulation and has become widespread due to its availability and low cost. Unlike pure foam, extruded polystyrene is more flexible and lightweight. Its main advantages are that it does not rot, is not subject to inflammation, and fungus and mold do not start in it.

One of the oldest, most reliable and proven materials on this list is mineral wool. Basically, it is made from fiberglass, although it happens that it is also made from basalt threads. The main difference and indisputable advantages is that mineral wool does not absorb moisture, does not burn, in general, does not react to almost any chemistry, and is also not a receptacle for mold and other living organisms. A huge plus is that it, like the material, is soft and can be used anywhere. Even though the coating is crooked, rock wool will handle it perfectly.

It is important that due to the special structure of the material, it is necessary to work with gloves in order to avoid unpleasant sensations. The fact is that the substance from which the cotton wool is made consists of fibers that are fragile and sharp in nature. On contact with the skin, they break off immediately, causing itching and discomfort. Therefore, it is imperative to observe safety precautions and wear gloves.

Preparation

It is imperative to start with the preparation of the floor. In order to correctly make the thermal insulation and not waste all efforts in vain, it is important to consider that the floor should be as even as possible and not contain cracks.

Experts advise to make a floor screed before starting insulation work. However, before proceeding with this preparatory phase, the administration of the house should clarify whether it will be safe to weigh the balcony. If they give their consent to renovation work, then you can safely get down to business. Otherwise, you will have to level the floor and cover up the cracks in another way.

How to insulate with your own hands?

For insulation, some options are available to us using expanded clay. The main thing to learn here is that, despite the strength of the house, you should not overdo it with the screed. You need to make it as thin as possible. Thus, the coating should be just thin enough so that it does not crack and it should be quite durable. Basically, repairmen use expanded clay and perlite in their arsenal to carry out this kind of work. However, pearlite is not always convenient to use when space is limited. This is due to the fact that perlite needs to be kneaded in a concrete mixer. For this reason, most often in limited space use more expanded clay.

Here are step-by-step instructions to help you prepare the solution yourself:

• Three parts of purified sand, because the solution should last more than one year, therefore it is recommended to use only construction sand, and not typed "in nature";
• One part of expanded clay and one part of cement. In the case when there is a need to reduce specific gravity solution, then part of expanded clay is reduced;
• One tenth of lime.

Modern balconies are already are not those rooms that are intended only for storing unnecessary things and items, as it was before. Today, many apartment owners decide to make a room out of this room, in which there will be nice to be located and which looks no less beautiful than any other room in the apartment.

Balconies are equipped with residential rooms, therefore one of important conditions considered their warming. Warm balcony allows you to be in this room even in winter time without feeling discomfort, v summer period the floor and walls breathe well, which allows you to practically not feel heat... Insulating the floor is a top priority if you want to keep warm and comfortable. climatic conditions in this room.

How to properly insulate the floor on the balcony?

There are several basic rules that should adhere to in the process of this work:

1. First, it is worth paying attention to strength the balcony itself. In some cases, instead of insulation, you have to completely change concrete slabs, otherwise the loggia will collapse if any work is carried out on it. This happens when the floor is too old and needs under repair.
2. Necessary calculate how high the floor can be raised. This is necessary in order not to make the floors on the balcony. above than they are in the room. It will not look aesthetically pleasing, and the subfloor may can't stand excessive load.
3. During the insulation of the floor, it is worth thinking about further insulation. walls and ceiling, because cold can penetrate into the room and through these surfaces.
4. Should right choose the material that will be used for floor insulation.

What materials can be used to insulate a balcony?

This question is worth approaching Seriously, since the final result will largely depend on the quality of the material, which must be reliable, durable and have attractive appearance.

Wooden floor

This is done light screed, the surface is cleaned and a waterproofing film is laid. Logs are attached directly to the floor, insulation is placed between them.

You can put on top any cover, or leave wood flooring... This option is considered one of the most inexpensive... Floor installation takes a little time, and the installation can be easily done with your own hands.

Thermal insulation with tiles

Tile is durable and durable material that has excellent decorative properties. The disadvantages of tiles include the fact that it will cold in the winter. Nevertheless, on the balcony itself, heat will be retained, and the tiles can be laid rug.

Electric underfloor heating

it progressive heating system, which provides for heating the floor of the room with a coolant. Advantages such a floor is visible to the naked eye. TO disadvantages can only be attributed to the fact that there will be certain costs for electricity.

Floor insulation with foam

This option will maximize efficiently insulate the floor on the balcony, creating a comfortable living room out of it. The advantages of the material are as follows: good heat insulating properties, high strength available price, easy to process, high tenacity to frost.

Thermal insulation of the floor surface with foam will become profitable solution for a number of reasons, the main of which is impeccable protection premises from cold.

How to insulate the floor on the balcony with your own hands?

Now we smoothly move on to the most process floor insulation on a balcony or loggia. As an example, take insulation using foam.

Preparatory stage

It is recommended to start with get rid of from all of us possible sources heat leaks. It may be small cracks in the floor, on walls or ceilings. Also, a lot of heat is escaping through the windows. Optimal an option would be to replace old window structures for completely new metal-plastic double-glazed windows.

Next, you need to prepare the material for the insulation of the balcony. In this case, it is polystyrene, thickness which should be approximately 5-6 cm indoors, and if you also insulate the balcony outside, then the thickness of the material must be at least 8-10 cm.

At this stage, you should take care of the availability racks for the construction of a structure for laying the selected insulation. You also need to prepare in advance special fasteners for reliable fastening of the material.

Leveling the floor

Initially surface balcony floor is required align... For this, dry mixes are used for leveling, as well as concrete. The screed layer should be equal to no more than 4 cm.

The screed is performed along the beacons, after which a layer of the mixture is applied for leveling. At this stage, you can also use a special tile adhesive, which is highly plastic.

Waterproofing

On the prepared screed, a special waterproofing material. In most cases, use a waterproofing film which also provides heat retention and prevents moisture penetration.

To carry out these works, it is necessary clear dust-free base and mud... All cracks, chips and seams should be filled sealant. Waterproofing material usually applied in two layers.

Fastening insulation

There are two main methods for attaching foam sheets: using glue or dowels.

The first way profitable so that the material will be firmly attached to the base, however, some types of adhesives may spoil foam, therefore it is necessary attentively approach the question of buying a special glue. In this case, you should spread the glue along the edges of the sheet for small distance from edges, and in the center apply it pointwise... Then a sheet of material is pressed tightly to the floor and fixed for a while.

Fixing method with dowels more reliable, since it can be used even in the case of concrete surface.

Installing the frame

However, before attaching the foam itself, you should put wood carcass which will consist of lag attached to the floor with polyurethane foam.

Insulation mounted just between lathing made of wooden bars. Above the lag is installed finishing flooring.

Finish coating

As a topcoat necessary use the materials that will ideally fit your gender as with practical and aesthetic points of view. Most simple option is considered painting floor with moisture resistant paint. However, this option will not help insulation floor, so other possibilities should be considered.

For example, linoleum. This coverage fabulous lends itself to care and looks attractively... On the other side, very coldy are also hazardous to this material. Although it is worth noting that if you already insulated the floor with polystyrene, then nothing to linoleum does not threaten.

Optimal an option for finishing the balcony floor is the purchase of carpet. it quality and enough light material that not subject the influence of low temperatures.

In addition, there is a very simply look after. The carpet is laid on a perfectly flat surface, otherwise you will not achieve the desired result.

As you can see, today there is lots of ways to insulate your own balcony. It will not take you much time, but you will be able to feel the positive results from the very first frost... Warm floor on the balcony is a guarantee that this room will become one of the most beloved rooms in the apartment.

Warm floor on the loggia, video instruction

It is difficult to find "extra" square meters in any apartment. Every free site becomes useful. It would be a mistake in such conditions to neglect the balcony room, leaving it the role of a warehouse for rarely used things and outright trash. The zealous owner will definitely turn it into a full-fledged room, but for this it is necessary to take care of heating, which is impossible without thermal insulation. Let's analyze, on.

Why thermal insulation is necessary

Thinking about it, you need to understand that finishing works will clearly not be enough to turn it into a full-fledged room. Even high-quality glazing will not save the day. It is necessary to close the space from the street, but this is very little. Temperature changes will not leave a chance for a new design and will make your stay on the balcony as uncomfortable as possible.

Therefore, the first thing to do after glazing is effective thermal insulation. It is required for all surfaces: ceiling, walls and floor. This is the only way to prevent heat leakage and, accordingly, to make the work efficient.

If the room will not be heated, the use of insulating materials will noticeably smooth out temperature drops and make its use more comfortable.

The better to insulate the floor on the balcony

Before starting work, you should select the type of material. His choice determines the installation technology and the set of necessary components. Several options are possible.

Foamed polyethylene

On its basis, a whole group of roll-type insulators is produced. Their distinctive feature- small thickness, so they are most often used together with other materials. The best choice can be considered a foil coating of the type that allows you to maintain thermal energy through additional reflection. In addition, foil is an excellent hydro and vapor barrier.

Perhaps the most famous insulator of this type is penofol. On sale you can find three varieties of it, marked with different letters.

• A. Only one side of the panel is covered with foil.
• B. Both sides are foil.
• C. Foil only on outside, an adhesive layer is applied to the inner one.

The latter version is a little more expensive, but it is very convenient to mount it.

Expanded polystyrene

The most affordable foam polystyrene insulator is polystyrene foam. Available in slabs that are easy to lay on Right place... Differs in low thermal conductivity, low weight and insensitivity to moisture. Of the negative qualities, fragility, flammability and possible toxicity should be noted. The latter depends on the quality of the selected foam. In addition, the vapor permeability of the material is almost zero. However, this is not important.

In all respects, it is superior to extruded polystyrene foam. Produced under the brands penoplex, technoplex, etc. Possesses high insulating characteristics, low weight, produced in the form of plates. Non-toxic, moisture-proof, low vapor permeability. The disadvantages include flammability and higher cost than foam.

Mineral wool

The general name for fiber insulation, produced in the form of rolls or slabs. Their common advantages include low cost, low thermal conductivity and sufficient elasticity, which allows you to fill the space to be insulated without voids. Unfortunately, cotton wool is completely unbearable. high humidity... They absorb water and then lose their insulating properties. They can also lose shape over time.

There are several. Slag is made from blast furnace waste. It is toxic and not suitable for residential use. Glass wool is produced from waste from the glass industry. The main disadvantage is the fragility of the fibers. The resulting particles are dangerous to the human body. Therefore, special care is required when working with it. In addition, shards of fiberglass must not enter rooms where people are.

Expanded clay

Porous clay balls of various fractions. Has a fairly low thermal conductivity, environmentally friendly material, non-flammable. Of the shortcomings, perhaps, only the rather high cost of the insulator. However, it is rarely used for balconies, since for high-quality thermal insulation it will be necessary to lay a high layer of expanded clay. This will put significant stress on the concrete slab, which is often undesirable.

We have listed the most requested options. It is possible to use other, newer materials. For example, ecowool or. They are distinguished by excellent insulating characteristics, they serve for a long time. During operation they do not lose their properties. But at the same time, their installation is carried out only by professionals using special equipment.

Preparatory work

After the insulation is selected, you need to carry out competent preparation for its installation. To begin with, it is worth assessing the general condition of the floor. If it is satisfactory, that is, the surface is free of defects, relatively flat, does not crumble, you can proceed to the next stage.

In the presence of significant defects in the base in the form of cracks, chips or potholes, it is advisable to eliminate them. It does not matter that the surface will subsequently be covered with an insulator. Flaws will become a kind of reservoirs where moisture will begin to accumulate. Subsequently, they can settle here, there will be foci of erosion. Therefore, all defects are carefully repaired.

The protrusions are chipped off, the cracks are neatly embroidered. That is, they expand at an angle so that the repair compound can fill them as tightly as possible. Then everything is well cleaned of dust and primed. After drying, the defective areas are filled with putty, etc. After the composition has completely dried, the "patches" are cleaned so that they do not protrude above the floor level. Installing the screed is most likely not worth it. It will significantly weigh down the structure.

Next important stage- waterproofing. The balcony slab is porous. This means that insulated from the inside, it will still absorb moisture from the outside. The water will quickly reach the heat insulator through the capillaries and begin to destroy it.

Therefore, it is necessary to lay a layer waterproofing coating... You can choose any option. The easiest way will be to work with mastic, which is applied with a roller or brush. But you can also lay a roll cloth.

How to insulate the floor on the balcony: 2 possible ways

The way of installing thermal insulation depends on the material to be installed. According to the rules, it is mounted on a base previously treated with waterproofing. The floor will need to be raised to the height of the insulation cake. From above, the thermal insulation coating is closed with another layer of vapor and waterproofing. Next, the subfloor is laid, mounted on top. Let's analyze two options for arranging such structures.

Insulated construction on racks

The easiest way is to place the rough floor boards on the joists. So that they are leveled at the desired level and raised to a height sufficient for the installation of the insulation. Metal corners, brackets in the form of the letter "p", etc. can be used as racks holding the lags. The work is carried out in the following sequence.

1. We carry out cleaning of the base, we remove the debris that fell on it.
2. We mark the surface for the racks. The step of fastening the longitudinal lags is 50 cm. In addition, you will need a rack for each of the jumpers. We start marking from the wall, retreating from them by 5 cm.
3. We mark the "zero line" on the wall. We will use it for this. We will align the height of the lag installation along it.
4. We install racks or brackets. We fix them securely on the base.
5. We put the lags in place. Correctly align them along the "zero line", control the horizontal using a level.
6. We put insulation between the lags. We cut off fragments of a roll or plate with a small margin, so that the material has to be lightly tamped. So you can close all the voids.
7. We lay a diffuse membrane, which will become vapor and waterproofing.
8. Installing a subfloor made of plywood. We fix the sheets to the racks.

You can then install the selected floor covering. It can be a board, linoleum, carpet, laminate. The latter is chosen quite often. It is practical, functional and beautiful at the same time. It is not difficult to lay it.

Insulated base with heating

It is possible to insulate the structure with the simultaneous use of heating. This makes it possible to get a living space without bringing the heating system to it. The best choice in this case . Let's figure out how to equip last option.

To begin with, the base is insulated according to the scheme described above. Further, such operations are performed.

1. On top of the rough coating, we lay a foil-type substrate of the penofol type. Foil facing up so that heat rays are reflected from it. Place the fragments end-to-end, glue them with foil tape.
2. We roll out film heaters along the length. We make sure that the panels do not lie on top of each other. We fix them in place with tape.
3. We connect the system. See the video for details.
4. We cover the heaters with foil to prevent contact with water.
5. We put it down finishing... Laminate, linoleum, carpet, etc. will do.

We figured out how to properly insulate the floor on the balcony. It is easy and quite affordable to do it yourself. It is very important to choose the right thermal insulation materials and install them following the manufacturer's recommendations. Then no cold weather will be terrible for the renovated balcony room.

Tsugunov Anton Valerievich

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Warming a loggia in an apartment is a great chance to create your own winter Garden or to increase the living space. You can turn it into a miniature gym, a cozy office, or make redevelopment by adding a few square meters to the area of ​​the room. Insulation of the floor on the loggia is an integral part of creating a comfortable environment in this room. Let's figure out how to do it right without wasting time, money and effort.

Preparation for floor insulation on the loggia

This stage is very important: the service life of the floor, as well as the ease of work, depends on the quality of surface preparation. Step-by-step instruction in preparation for floor insulation will look like this:

• The first step is the glazing of the loggia. The most suitable are double-glazed windows. Wooden frames with one glass, you can put it only if the loggia will not be heated and used throughout the year.
• Thorough cleaning of the room. There should be no dust on the loggia.
• Sealing cracks. Small cracks are filled with polyurethane foam or sealant, and large ones are filled with broken brick or crushed stone mixed in a cement solution.
• Thinking over the location of the outlets and the lighting system. Please note that the floors will rise by at least a few centimeters.
• If, due to the loggia, the area of ​​the room will increase or it will be used constantly, you need to think about heating.

Important! Take out the radiators connected to the balcony or loggia central heating, forbidden. Permission for such an event can be obtained only in some regions of the country, but for this it will be necessary to prove that the loggia is insulated with very high quality.

• If there are ceramic tiles on the floor, remove them together with the adhesive.

Floor insulation should be carried out on glazed loggia protected from moisture penetration. The floor must be completely dry.

The choice of material and floor structure

Do-it-yourself insulation of the loggia floor begins with the question: What kind of insulation to choose?

• Mineral wool. Considered one of the best heaters for technical and operational characteristics... It is durable, does not burn, is a vapor-permeable material. The main drawback is the fear of moisture, due to which the mineral wool loses its properties, therefore, when using it, high-quality steam and waterproofing is required.
• Expanded clay. Loose insulation with good thermal insulation properties and affordable cost. For high-quality insulation a large layer is required - from 15 cm. The disadvantages include high hygroscopicity.
• Penofol (isolon). Foil-coated polyethylene foam (photo). To insulate a balcony, its thickness will not be enough, but it is successfully used as a heat reflector and vapor barrier in combination with another insulation, such as mineral wool, making the thermal insulation ideal.

There are two ways to insulate the floor on the loggia with your own hands:

• Warming along the logs. A simple and quick method of installing a floor with insulation; any of the above insulation materials can be used for its implementation. The heat-insulating material is placed in the gaps between the logs, a flooring of boards or plywood sheets is placed on top, as in the next photo.

• Laying insulation under the screed. When choosing this method, you can insulate the floor on the loggia with expanded polystyrene (polystyrene, penoplex) or kermzite. Screed - optimal choice when installing a "warm floor" on the loggia, however, you need to take into account that you will have to wait a long time for it to dry.

Important! Laying the heat insulator under the screed is possible when the loggia is insulated, which has a reliable overlap. In the case of a balcony, it is better to immediately choose a lagged floor structure, since balcony slab may not support the weight of the screed.

Warming the floor of the loggia along the logs

The step-by-step instructions for choosing a lag structure will be as follows:

• Floor level markings. It is best to make the floor on the loggia level with floor covering in the rooms. The insulation together with the coating should not be higher than the level set by you. When marking, it is convenient to use a laser or water level.
• Laying a layer of waterproofing. You can use roofing material or technical polyethylene, laid in 2 layers. The material is overlapped, and the walls are overlapped at least 50 millimeters.
• Installation of wooden logs, which are pine beams 50 × 50 mm. They are laid at intervals of 30–40 cm, fixed to concrete with dowels and self-tapping screws. The first element can be placed at a distance of 10-15 cm from the wall. There should be a gap of 3 cm between the ends of the log and the walls so that the bars, having absorbed moisture, do not bend and do not spoil the floor covering.

Important! Each bar must be treated with an antiseptic without fail.

• Insulation laying. It is necessary to insert plates of mineral wool or foam so that there are no gaps between the lags, as in the photo. If they nevertheless formed, they must be filled with polyurethane foam. Expanded clay is simply poured into the intervals of the crate, which should protrude at least 15 cm above the subfloor.

• Arrangement of a vapor barrier. For this layer, you can use a film or foil-clad polyethylene insulation.
• Organization of the flooring. You can use boards, but more often the flooring is made of plywood or OSB.
• Installation of the topcoat.

Features of foam insulation

Insulation of the floor on the loggia with the help of penoplex has its own characteristics. The fact is that due to the strength of the material when laying it under the flooring, it is not necessary to use the logs; you can lay plywood sheets directly on the penoplex. The stages of work will be as follows:

• A leveling screed is made on the prepared floor, which is necessary to prevent deformation of the insulation boards.
• After being adjusted to size, foam boards are glued with special glue directly to the floor. It is convenient to use a type of insulation that has a groove connection system. If it is not there, then along the joints between the plates, as well as between them and the walls, you need to walk with polyurethane foam.
• To increase the efficiency of the floor insulation, you can lay the foam foil (isolon) on top with the foil side outward, gluing the joints with reinforced tape.

The following photo demonstrates the process of warming in this way.

Warming the floor of the loggia with penoplex under the screed is an excellent solution when organizing a system of underfloor heating. Such insulation is done as follows:

• After removing the old coating, a thin leveling cement strainer... Without a perfectly flat floor, foam sheets can be damaged.
• A film is laid for steam and waterproofing, the joints are glued with tape.
• Stacked foam sheets with a thickness of 40-60 mm. The joints are sealed with polyurethane foam or sealant.
• The second layer of vapor barrier is placed.
• The foil heat reflector is laid with the foil facing up.
• A "warm floor" system of the selected type is installed.
• The screed is poured. Its thickness when arranging the heating system should be at least 7 cm, without it - at least 4 cm.