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Often, in panel houses, the rooms are quite cold due to the thinness of the walls and poor heat insulation. In order to at least partially solve this problem and add useful space to the room, you can start insulating the balcony. Knowing how to insulate a balcony in a panel house, you can do this without outside help. The difference will then become noticeable immediately.

Why is it cold in a panel house?

Quite often it turns out that it is quite cool in panel houses in winter, despite the presence of heating. Quite often, replacing heating batteries does not change the situation. Residents install, but it is still cold in the room: this is due to the fact that the walls of such houses are thin enough, in order to make the apartment comfortable and warm, you need to insulate the walls or limit yourself to the insulation of the balcony. A lot of heat leaves through it, since the space remains open.
inside will help turn it into useful meters of living space, make the apartment noticeably warmer. The process itself, with the exception of strengthening the slab and finishing outside, if the apartment is at a high altitude, it is quite possible to do it yourself. The article will focus specifically on the internal insulation of the balcony after it has already been glazed, on the methods of finishing it.
Thanks to the insulation of the structure, it will be possible to get rid of drafts, stop the flow of cold air from the street, create a pleasant microclimate in the apartment, the heat of which will be kept inside for a long time. You will immediately notice the difference without even changing the heaters. in a panel house - an easy task, so you can easily cope with the task on your own, even without experience in construction: you just need to study the instructions in detail, choose materials that you like in terms of price and quality, and acquire an elementary tool, which, as a rule , any owner already has.

Glazing and insulation of a balcony in a panel house will help improve the microclimate in an apartment

Where to start and which method to choose?

There are many ways from the inside with your own hands in a panel house. Whichever method you choose, it is important to make the glazing: it can be cold and warm. The first option protects only from drafts and precipitation, therefore, it is not very suitable as insulation: the balcony will remain cold. Warm glazing is usually made of PVC profiles. It retains heat well, allows heating on the balcony, and turns it into a small living space. After the glazing is installed, it is necessary to proceed to the insulation of the slabs themselves, since concrete is a poor heat insulator, which leads to a rapid cooling of the structure.

For insulation, you can choose from a large number of different ones. The most popular are mineral wool, polystyrene, expanded clay can be used for the floor. In order for the balcony to look aesthetically pleasing, interior decoration is required. It will help not only create an attractive appearance, but also physically protect the insulation from mechanical stress or moisture, if it is mineral wool.

An example of a glazed and insulated loggia

Which glazing to choose?

We need to start insulating a balcony in a panel house with a choice: it makes no sense to insulate an unprotected structure, since the cold air will not be completely isolated. There are three types of window structures:

• Made of metal-plastic.
• Wood.
• Aluminum.

It is quite expensive compared to other materials, but this option is the most desirable. The profile is not afraid of exposure to high and low temperatures, perfectly insulates heat and noise, does not absorb moisture, does not require additional maintenance and has a long service life. The only drawback is the large weight of the structure: it may be necessary to strengthen the balcony slab because of this. For loggias, the issue is not so acute, since they are part of the panel of the building itself.

It can be made independently, but such a window does not cope well with insulating tasks and is closer to cold glazing in properties. Sealed Euro windows are much more expensive than plastic ones, but they are not inferior to them in terms of characteristics, although they require specific maintenance. Aluminum structures are only suitable for cold glazing. They are not able to retain heat, so they can only protect against wind and precipitation. The advantages are light weight and affordable price.

Glass unit for plastic profile

The choice of insulation

How to insulate the walls of the balcony from the inside - the choice is quite large. The same material can be used for sweat, ceiling and walls. It is convenient to mount the foam: despite the fragility before breaking, it almost does not allow air to pass through, does not require the creation of a lathing, and does not absorb moisture. Sheets are well cut, have a convenient size, even shapes, and their price is low.

Another popular insulation is glass wool and. These are soft materials that require the creation of a crate and reliable protection from moisture, since if they get wet, they will turn into a lump that can no longer perform its functions. They protect from cold air well, but require the use of a special film to isolate the insulation from the room.

There is a large selection of heaters for the balcony

Stages of work

First of all, you need to measure the room in order to know how much materials are required. After purchasing the latter, you can begin preparatory work. There should be no foreign objects on the balcony or loggia, the space should be free so that nothing interferes. Before insulating the balcony from the inside with your own hands, if you have chosen mineral wool, you will need to create a crate. For this, wood bars 4 cm thick are suitable. The frame must be created around the entire perimeter of the room, from the walls to the ceiling and floor. The bars are fixed with dowels. The distance of each bar should be 40-50 cm from the next, as a result, you will get large squares of 40 by 40 cm.

Making a lathing for a balcony

It is necessary to pay attention to the corners of the structure. If, for example, the crate goes under the window, it is worth installing several bars in the vertical direction there, since in this place the structure will experience additional loads.

Methods for insulating a balcony from the inside are usually the same regardless of what material is chosen. First, you need to fill up all the cracks in the concrete base: if they are large, they are filled with cement mortar, if not, you can use polyurethane foam. It penetrates deeply into the gap, effectively filling it and preventing the passage of cold air into the house. After that, you can begin to install the insulation. It is convenient to fix it with special glue. Thinking about how to properly insulate the balcony from the inside, do not forget that you first need to insulate the walls, then the ceiling and floor. It is better not to break the sequence.

For floor insulation, the lathing is required.

After you have fixed the insulation, you can move on to the exterior decoration. To do this, you can use any solid materials, for example, drywall, plywood, less often plaster is used.

Do-it-yourself balcony repair in a panel house is not too troublesome and costly. It is enough to set aside one weekend for this, and you will receive a warm structure that will make your home more comfortable.

Today's balcony in many apartments turns into a full-fledged room, a functional space. This is especially true for small apartments, whose residents appreciate every centimeter. If the balcony is insulated, it becomes an office, a closet, a resting place, a mini greenhouse, a dining room or an extra bed. There are many options for using it. The main thing is to do the work on its insulation with high quality. Only in this case it will be warm and cozy on the balcony.

Features and Benefits

In the warm season, the whole family can rest on the balcony, but when autumn comes, this room becomes useless. If you insulate it, the situation will change. The plus is that all the planned work is easy to do on your own. Additionally, a warm room is a space in which it is easy to create a small work area or sitting area. In addition, the presence of a warm balcony will automatically make the apartment cozier and warmer. You can attach a living room or kitchen to it, depending on its location. This will create extra space.

Before you start with insulation or glazing, you need to get expert advice. He will definitely tell you what kind of load a warm balcony can withstand, whether it is worth strengthening it. If the base is a strong concrete slab, the question of reinforcement does not arise. But the metal parapet must be reinforced with foam blocks or lightweight bricks made of ceramic material. The same should be done in the case of a fragile fastening of a reinforced concrete base.

For insulation, double-glazed windows in wooden frames can be used. They are environmentally friendly, allow windows to "breathe", but are expensive. Aluminum windows insulated with polyamide inlays increase the thermal insulation of the room. The most optimal would be the equipment of PVC windows with double glazing, which reliably retain heat.

Such windows are cheaper than wooden ones, but at the same time their thermal insulation is not inferior to aluminum ones.

What materials are better to choose

For finishing balconies or loggias today there are many varieties of finishing materials, with the help of which they give even the smallest room an original and attractive look. The main thing is to make the right choice of material for finishing. For insulation, experts recommend using cork, plastic panels, lining with a wooden or plastic base, drywall, plaster, MDF panels, decorative stone, aluminum profile, penoplex, expanded polystyrene, penofol.

Mineral wool, styrofoam finishing is an excellent solution for self-warming a room.

In the case of a non-insulated balcony, it is better to give preference to artificial stone, plastic frost-resistant lining, cork panels or tiles. The following materials are most often used for finishing:

Drywall

• This material differs in that it is based on no toxic substances, it is easy to process and is combined with other finishing materials in design. Drywall can be plastered, painted, wallpapered, sheathed with panels and clapboard. With the help of such a versatile material, it is enough to simply turn the balcony into a full-fledged living room.

PVC panels

• A practical solution, but it is better not to use this material if the constant temperature on the balcony is below five degrees. This problem can be solved with the help of frost-resistant panels, developed using new technologies. This material is not afraid of moisture, but is able to quickly lose color from direct sunlight. This point should be taken into account if the room is located on the south side. Advantages: low cost, quick and easy installation with glue.

Cork panels

• They create coziness that cannot be organized using other finishing materials. Cork panels are pressed bark of cork oak. Cork panels are easy to install and are suitable for any type of balcony, regardless of the room temperature. The cork panel does not absorb foreign odors, including the smell of tobacco. Lack of material - high price. For insulation, inexpensive penoplex is also used; mineral wool is also perfect.

How to properly insulate a balcony with your own hands: step by step instructions

A balcony in a city apartment is a special space. This piece of the house, brought out under the open sky, can become an office, a greenhouse or a resting corner, as long as it is glazed and insulated.

Do-it-yourself balcony insulation will save a lot of money. Sheathing in a panel house, in "Khrushchev" is done taking into account the characteristics of the apartment and the building.

• Step 1... To begin with, the old frames are dismantled, the surface is prepared and things are taken out. Warming from the inside is an important stage in the entire process.

• Step 2... At the second stage, it is necessary to glaze the balcony. The best option would be plastic PVC windows. Many people prefer to keep the old wood frames. However, remember that even if wooden structures are in good condition, they will not be able to organize the same heat savings. There are cracks in the tree, so it makes no sense to engage in insulation in this situation.

• Step 3... After the plastic windows are installed, you can begin to warm the floor. Be prepared for the floor to get higher. Consider this if the ceiling in the room is low.

• Step 4... Wall cladding is carried out after the installation of windows and floor insulation. The walls on the balcony are considered to be side walls, except for the main one. At the final stage of insulation, finishing works are carried out. The choice of materials depends on the budget. In the process of finishing, window slopes are installed overlooking the balcony.

Required tools and materials

• In order to insulate a balcony or loggia, you will need the following tools: a hacksaw for metal or a clerical knife; roulette; level; pencil, marker or any other writing instrument; a tool for applying glue - a brush, a spatula, and so on; other instruments. From the materials you need glue and the insulation itself. In addition, you will need a vapor barrier film and a windproof membrane.

You will also need a frame device. In this case, you will need wooden beams, as well as nails to secure them. You may also need special fasteners - nails with very wide heads. They are used when polystyrene is not attached with glue.

Insulation inside

• High-quality thermal insulation combined with double glazing transforms the balcony into a living space. It is necessary to insulate not only the walls, but also the floor and ceiling. Insulation materials must be durable, lightweight, safe for humans. Due to precipitation and condensation, the walls of the balcony can become damp and moldy, which means that a hydro and vapor barrier is needed.

Polystyrene foam meets these requirements as much as possible: traditional foam and Penoplex thermal insulation boards. The first is very lightweight, compressive strength, waterproof. Penoplex is insulation made of extruded polystyrene foam. Its margin of safety and durability surpasses conventional foam, and its shape makes it easy to install in the grip and provides perfect insulation. Balcony cladding with slabs can be performed both inside and outside.

Insulation of a closed balcony begins with surface preparation. It is necessary to carefully cover the gaps and joints between the floor, walls and parapet with polyurethane foam without toluene in the composition. Metal structures must be cleaned of rust, covered with oil paint and treated with a building antiseptic.

Before laying the insulation, they put windows and doors. Window sills and slopes are mounted at the last stage of work. The glazing of the balcony depends on the parapet. If this is just a metal crate, it needs to be built up with ceramic (lightweight) bricks or foam blocks. The thickness should not exceed ten centimeters. To protect the foam blocks, at the finishing stage they are covered with corrugated board.

Floor

Window structures can be installed on a reinforced concrete parapet immediately using various assembly and sealing compounds. Reinforced-plastic windows have excellent characteristics, with skillful installation, they reliably protect the balcony and look aesthetically pleasing. When choosing a model, it is worth stopping at swing frames with double glazing.

Floor

• In order to insulate the floor, you can resort to two different directions at once: to make it warm or to constantly warm it up. We are talking about installing a floor heating system, for example, an electric one. Installation of a water system on a balcony is very inconvenient and almost impossible, but installation of an electrical or film system is easy to carry out.

photos

It all starts with preparation. A waterproofing film is laid on the floor under the tiles, which protects the floor from moisture from the outside. Further, the crate is arranged. Instead of a lag, a bar is used, five centimeters thick. If you do not want to raise the floor too much in relation to the old coating, it is better to use a beam of low height. A square beam of 50 × 50 mm is perfect. The beams are laid every 40-60 cm.

To prevent moisture from entering the insulation from the inside, it is covered with a vapor barrier film. It is laid on top of the beams and attached to them with a construction stapler. For internal fastening, a fastening step of 50 cm is sufficient so as not to create unnecessary holes in the film. Polystyrene must be protected from moisture on all sides. Therefore, it is better to lay the film with an overlap on the walls. All gaps between the beams and walls should be sealed with the same insulation material or polyurethane foam.

Walls

• Many do not insulate the walls, believing that they do not receive cold from the side of the house on the balcony. In many ways it is, but the work needs to be done. The walls themselves are not sources of cold, but the joints between them and the side walls of the balcony can be. For this reason, the whole work can only consist in installing foam foam, which is vapor-tight and thin. It will protect the walls from icing and the penetration of condensate into the balcony.

• Ceiling. If we are talking about a private house, then it is best to make a special roof structure. It is recommended to make a pitched roof, the slope of which is directed away from the house. The roof is made of rafters and lathing. A waterproofing film is attached on top of it. Roofing material is attached to the film, and the waterproofing is on top of the double-sided vapor barrier film, with the absorbent side inward. From below, the rafters are hemmed with a vapor-permeable windproof membrane.

The floor slab, that is, the horizontal part, must have several layers at once: insulation; vapor barrier layer; load-bearing beams with interior decoration. The device begins with the installation of the frame, namely the rafter system. Next, a vapor barrier double-sided membrane is attached to it in the specified way. Then they arrange a crate and lay a waterproofing layer. You can use classic roofing felt or special PVC films.

• Insulation outside. In order to insulate the balcony from the outside on your own, skills are required. It is not easy to do high-quality work on your own, taking into account the characteristics of the building. Finishing outside means saving up to thirty percent on heating. Remember that outdoor work is fraught with some difficulties: if the balcony is higher than the second floor, then industrial climbers will have to be involved in the work.

Before starting the insulation, obtain the consent of the officials from the architecture department. The exterior of the balcony can spoil the overall picture, but if you finish in the same style as the entire building, then you can get permission. Outside insulation has a number of advantages:

• the reinforced concrete slab remains warm, humid air from the room freely passes through it and is released into the atmosphere;
• saving useful space;
• you can install a layer of thermal insulation of any thickness, this will not affect the interior of the balcony in any way.

The materials can be used the same as for interior work. Preference is given to sprayed thermal insulation as the lightest and most effective. Experts recommend using polystyrene or expanded polystyrene. Mineral wool is sensitive to moisture penetration, so its installation requires special care and accuracy.

An independent procedure for insulating a balcony is difficult. All stages must be performed at a high level, otherwise the room will not be completely isolated. A glass, panoramic, stained-glass balcony is an excellent solution for a small space. Designers advise to connect it to the room for expansion. A glazed balcony connected to the kitchen on the top floor is a luxurious solution.

Today, the interior decoration of the balcony is easy to do with your own hands due to the presence on the market of a simply colossal assortment of building materials, with the same penoplex, for example, it can be done without difficulty. Interior decoration assumes insulation at the same time. This is especially true when it comes to a panel house built during the reign of Khrushchev or Brezhnev.

If the glazing with the profile happened correctly (it does not matter if it is cold aluminum or if we are talking about warm plastic double-glazed windows), then it is worth thinking about such works as the interior decoration of the loggia with your own hands, the main stage of which is insulation.

The process of warming is carried out with various materials, but most often - with an inexpensive and unpretentious penoplex.

The main stages of insulation

Stages of insulating a balcony or loggia from the inside:

Polyurethane foam is the best waterproofing sealant

In the diagram above, the question may cause an "expansion joint". It is also called deformation. It is made in a concrete screed to prevent cracking.

Ways and methods of insulating a balcony

The method and method of insulation depends on how you plan to use such premises in the future. For example, if the room will be used exclusively for drying clothes and storing various canned fruits and vegetables, you can insulate the loggia only in one layer and not even the whole one, but only the parapet.

An example of a diagram of a balcony insulation device

Cooling storage and drying is important. Such a loggia in winter can be generally used as a refrigerator.

Styrofoam is usually used to insulate the walls of the facades, but balconies can also

If the loggia will be used as a living room, then one layer will not be enough. It will be necessary to equip two layers of insulation, and make the cladding. At the same time, great attention should be paid to places that are not glazed: a fence, a parapet.

If the room is combined with a room, then from the side of the parapet the insulation is double, but from the walls, ceiling, floor - single. In general, if people are often in the room, it is necessary to insulate at least two layers, no - one is enough.

Various materials and their uses

What should be the ideal insulating material that covers the inside of the loggia? To answer this question, the tasks of thermal insulation should be clearly identified:

• Protection of parts of load-bearing structures, their walls from all possible effects of the atmosphere and the external environment: changes in street temperatures, precipitation, wind;
• Increasing the overall service life of the balcony structure and decorative elements with which it is sheathed from the inside;
• Protection of apartment premises from the scorching sun, heat;
• Reduction of heat losses in the winter period of the year.

Penoplex is one of the most popular insulation materials for balconies.

Each balcony insulation scheme has its own characteristics and similarities. But the laying of each specific insulation requires the use of special tools, building mixtures and auxiliary materials. Parapet insulation also has its own differences. Do-it-yourself balcony insulation can be done after a detailed study of all the features of the technology.

All insulation compositions used by construction crews can be conditionally divided into two groups: traditional and materials that are created thanks to the latest technologies.

The first class includes basalt and mineral wool, foam. The newest, multifunctional materials are penofol, polyurethane foam, penoflex.

By their nature, heaters are organic, inorganic and mixed. The materials of each individual group differ slightly in price, but representatives of the organic and inorganic class can differ in several orders of magnitude.

The thermal insulation characteristics of materials may not correspond to the declared ones, if the technology of their installation has not been observed!

When choosing the type of insulator for decorating walls, floors, and the parapet of the loggia from the inside, it is important to pay attention to the reviews and its thermal insulation characteristics.

An example of a balcony insulation scheme using polystyrene foam

Penoplex is the best option for sheet insulation in terms of price-quality ratio.

The process of insulating a balcony using any sheet material (in this case, both penoplex and polystyrene) is carried out as follows:

Penoplex is an extruded polystyrene foam

1. Fastening of such material is carried out exclusively with the help of special dowels, which are shaped like a mushroom. These are plastic dowels with a length of 8 to 10 centimeters. If then for finishing a method such as plastering is used, then the sheets of insulation must also be glued to the concrete surface;
2. Depending on the specific type of insulation, the sheets should be laid either according to the "groove-thorn" system, or simply end-to-end;
3. The sheets are fixed with dowels, and 5-7 pieces are needed for each sheet.

Loggia insulation scheme using polystyrene and penofol

Floor insulation

Do-it-yourself balcony insulation begins with the formation of floor insulation. The step-by-step instruction for the process is as follows:

1. A rough concrete slab is carefully treated with an antiseptic. The interior must be well protected from mold growth. On top, you can pour a layer of fine expanded clay, about 100-300 mm thick. It won't get any worse, but if it's not there, just lay 2 layers of slabs.
2. We lay the floor with insulation in the form of slabs. In the diagrams above, it fits between the wooden blocks. Personally, I packed them back to back. Joints and gaps between adjacent slabs and the edges of the parapet are glued with polyurethane foam. The excess of the frozen mixture is removed with a knife;
3. Then there are several options: a cement screed / warm floor, or a regular plywood sheet. In the first case, we lay a dense film, glue the damper film around the perimeter. Then the formation of the cement screed is carried out. In the second, we cut out a sheet of plywood to size, put it on top of laminate, parquet, linoleum.

Most often, penofol, isolon, penoplex, expanded polystyrene and an intermediate layer - expanded clay are used to insulate the floor inside the loggia.

Ceiling insulation

The insulation of the ceiling on the balcony is somewhat different from the method of insulating walls and parapet.

Detailed process instructions:

Wall insulation

The technology for cladding walls and parapet from the inside will depend on which type of insulator you choose.

If we talk about the general scheme of the process of walls and parapet insulation "from scratch" (insulation of a balcony with polystyrene foam, insulation of a balcony with expanded polystyrene, mineral wool, etc.), then it looks like this:

Insulating a balcony with foam foam means creating a multi-layer structure. The first layer is a polyethylene foam structure. Further, experts recommend laying (gluing) a layer of aluminum foil. It will increase the efficiency of the thermal insulation. The final stage is sheathing of vertical surfaces with penoplex.

Penofol does not have sufficient rigidity, therefore, it is impossible to decorate the walls with plaster or wallpaper over it!

Diagram of the internal arrangement of a remote balcony with insulation

In general, it is quite simple to insulate the balcony from the inside, the main thing is the quality of the thermal insulation materials.

Why is it important? for example, if even a drop of water gets into the insulation, then after arranging the balcony in 3-4 weeks it will make itself felt: the insulation will corny begin to rot.

Video

You can watch a video on how to properly insulate a loggia from the inside.

How to insulate a balcony from the inside with your own hands in a panel house? Often in apartments that are in panel houses, it is cool because of the rather thin walls and poor thermal insulation. In the presence of a loggia, insulation of the balcony can be a good solution for this problem, in addition, this allows you to expand the footage of the usable area. At the moment, there are a large number of materials on sale with which you can perform this operation yourself.

Why is it cold in a panel house?

Its cellular structure retains heat well and does not transmit sound, since the partitions between the cells damp heat transfer and sound vibrations.

It is produced in a variety of options, differing in thickness - from 20 to 200 mm and density - from 15 to 50 kg / m3. The density of the foam must be selected based on the need. If it is additionally covered from above with plywood or other strong material, then you can take a lower density, since the greater the density of the foam, the worse it retains heat.

High density polystyrene is stronger and easier to install and fix. It will help to extinguish the unevenness of the walls, and not only to insulate them. But the best option for leveling is extruded polystyrene foam.

Extruded polystyrene foam

Extruded or extruded polystyrene foam and foam, although they consist of one substance, differ in the technology of creating granules. At elevated temperatures, the granules are mixed and squeezed out of the extruder, due to this, a uniform, closed-cell structure is formed, which has a high density.

This material can be used even when covering the floor, as it does not deform under strong pressure, it evens and supports the surface.

In terms of thermal insulation and lightness, extruded polystyrene foam is better than ordinary foam. Also one of its advantages is low flammability.

The sheets have a thickness of 20 mm and usually have a special groove for joining, which allows achieving a uniform coating without cracks and facilitates installation. Additionally, they need to be fastened with polyurethane foam or liquid nails. Easy to cut with a regular construction knife.

The only drawback of this material is its high price, but usually the floor area of ​​the loggia is quite small, so in this case it is better to spend money.

Polyethylene foam

Foamed polyethylene is an elastic elastic fabric, produced in rolls, sheets and bundles. Thickness from 2 to 20 mm. Thin polyethylene foam is usually used for a substrate under a laminate, and the densest as insulation, alone or in combination with other materials.

The most effective polyethylene foam is covered with foil, which allows heat to be sent in the right direction - towards the room. It is important to follow the rules for laying the heat reflector - with the foil side in the direction of the room.

Polyethylene foam sheets are mainly used for the production of various thicknesses of rugs, for example, for tourism or children's games, it is not very convenient for insulating floors and walls.

Preparing the premises for insulation work

Before choosing a heater, you need to decide on the technology of thermal insulation, but first of all you need to prepare the balcony for repair, since the preparation is the same in any case, no matter what method you choose.

Do not ignore the preliminary procedures and do not save on them so that the insulation is of high quality, and it would not have to be redone after a few years. Proper preparation is necessary to prevent moisture from getting under the insulation, which makes it begin to collapse, lose the qualities for which you chose it, and becomes ineffective.

The algorithm for preparing surfaces for insulation is as follows:

• First, thoroughly clean the walls, ceiling and floor from old paint, various concrete irregularities, bumps, etc. Crushed, crumbling concrete must be scrapped to a level surface.
• Then the floor is carefully cleaned until it is absolutely clean. Large debris can be collected by hand, but the dust must be sucked up with a vacuum cleaner to detect various cracks in the walls and slabs.

Now you can repair holes, crevices and holes

• Cracks visible to the eye are expanded, cleaned, if necessary, moistened with water and filled with cement mortar or sealant

• The gaps between the plates must also be increased, moistened with water and filled with polyurethane foam.

• In addition to the listed damages, chipped holes, dents, small potholes can form in the concrete. They will not interfere with the evenly fix the base, but, when the temperature changes, condensation can accumulate in them. Therefore, they must be leveled; this can be done using cement mortar with the addition of PVA glue.

After all the smeared flaws are dry, you need to cut off the excess polyurethane foam, remove the remnants of the sealant. After that, it is necessary to prime all surfaces to protect against mold and to strengthen the surface.

Surface waterproofing

The next step is to protect the floor and the lower part of the walls from water ingress. The walls should be waterproofed to the height of the final floor installation.

There are several main methods of waterproofing:

• Covering the floor with roll materials that are impervious to moisture, for example, roofing material, which is glued "hot" to bitumen mastic. Currently, there is also a roofing material with a prepared glued mastic layer, which is heated with a burner.

• Penetrating waterproofing is a special compound for concrete impregnation. If you are going to lay tiles on the floor, then this method is not suitable. The action of such protection against moisture is based on the fact that it penetrates into the cellular structure of concrete and forms crystals that fill the pores of the material from the inside. Crystals become part of the concrete, compacting its structure and preventing water penetration. Since the composition is very toxic, it must be applied extremely carefully, protecting exposed skin, otherwise you can get burned.
• For tiles, it is recommended to use liquid rubber - a two-component cold-applied and quick-hardening mastic. It is applied with a roller or a wide brush. When solidified, liquid rubber forms a kind of thin moisture-proof film on the floor and walls.
• Waterproof plaster mix that can be applied with a wide brush or, if necessary, with a trowel of a suitable size.
• An inexpensive way is a thick-grated oil paint, which is easy to apply and hides minor flaws, but is quickly absorbed by concrete, which increases its consumption
• The time-tested method is to cover the floor with a thick plastic wrap, making sure that it completely covers the height of the future floor and lies correctly in the corners. The film should form a kind of bowl, which will protect the insulation. Fasten it with construction tape or liquid nails.

You can choose any method based on your preference and budget. All of them perform their main function - they do not allow water to enter the room, which means they reduce the likelihood of black mold, which is very difficult to fight.

Glazing

At the moment, the most common are window designs of three models:

• metal-plastic - the most common, they are distinguished by a long period of operation and high tightness, relatively inexpensive. Among the shortcomings, one can note that it is not environmentally friendly, compared to wooden structures.

• wooden - modern, sealed, well protected from the cold and can be made in any configuration, but quite expensive
• if you are going to use the balcony as a living area, as they are not airtight and do not protect well from the cold

Ceiling insulation

Foil underlay for the lathing

It is mounted on construction tape with two adhesive sides or on the Moment universal glue, which is evenly distributed over the ceiling in small dots and the insulation is pressed against it. It is best to use sheets for this purpose, which must be bent onto the walls by about 150-200 mm, for additional waterproofing of the joints. Check the reliability of the insulation fastening, since the crate will be installed on it.

The lathing can be made either from a galvanized metal profile for drywall, or from a wooden bar - both are suitable for laying mineral wool or foam.

The distance between the fastenings of the elements of the crate depends on the width of the insulation, it is desirable that it becomes close, without gaps. Since rock wool is elastic, this interval can be shortened by 30-50 mm for it for a good tight fit.

Laying insulation in sheathing cells

At the next stage, we lay the insulation. The mineral wool will become tight between the bars, especially if you followed the advice and reduced the interval, but the foam is a tough material, so small gaps may remain. To prevent the penetration of cold, they must be filled with polyurethane foam, the protruding parts of which must be cut off after drying.

Installation of slabs directly on the ceiling

Installation is carried out using special plastic mushrooms. For them, holes are drilled directly through the insulation in the concrete, into which the fungus is inserted, and then a plastic nail is carefully hammered.

Insulation of the loggia floor

For floor insulation, you can also choose different options: a dry screed, lifting with a lag, or simply cover the concrete floor with extruded polystyrene foam. The latter action is ineffective in maintaining the temperature on the balcony, as in the rooms, it just makes the floor not too cold.

Expert opinion

Konstantin Alexandrovich

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The most highly effective and most frequently used method is thermal insulation using a lag.

The logs can be placed directly on the concrete floor or adjusted in height using a variety of devices - metal holders, studs, adjustable or homemade stands.

Metal holders raise the rails, and this is a good way to attach the logs if they are high enough to install the insulation. For a standard loggia (3 * 1.2 m), three rows of logs will be enough.

The holders are attached to the concrete and each is equipped with insulation. Complete with such fasteners, mineral wool is most often used. A square is cut off from it, in which two holes are made, through them the insulation is put on the rack.

After fixing the logs in the holders and checking the horizontal position, we put the main insulation on the entire floor area. To achieve the best effect, lay another layer of mineral wool, almost to the level of the log.

Fasten the vapor barrier film on top of the insulation with staples on the logs.

From above, the logs are closed with plywood 10 mm thick, all cracks and crevices are filled with polyurethane foam. After drying, the excess foam is cut off, and a decorative coating is laid on top of the plywood.

• If you do not plan to use the balcony as a living space, but simply want to raise the temperature there so as not to let cold air into the apartment, then raising the floor to the level of the threshold is not required. It will be quite enough to lay the insulation at the height of the logs, fixed on thin polyethylene foam laid on concrete.

Under these conditions, the logs are drilled through and fastened with anchors. The space along the walls and between the logs is filled with insulation, closed with vapor barrier and plywood.

Insulation of the walls of the loggia

Wall insulation is done in the same way as on the floor or ceiling of the loggia. Here, too, you can choose a method to your liking - use a wooden or metal crate or rigid insulation, which is attached to the walls with special glue or foam.

• Installation of penoplex will be easy if you prepare the panels of the required size in advance. All vertical surfaces are faced in the same way - we apply glue to the reverse side of the insulation and press firmly against the wall. For additional fastening, you can fix the panels with plastic mushrooms.

But still, a more popular option, which is suitable for any thermal insulation material, is a method using wall lathing with a wooden bar or a metal profile.

Before installing the lathing, to increase efficiency, it is recommended to make a backing of polyethylene foam with a foil surface.

• Such a substrate will create the effect of a "thermos" and will reliably keep the heat on the loggia. Next, the crate is fixed on top. The guides should be positioned at a distance equal to the width or length of the insulation mats.

Installation of the lathing

The selected heat insulator is laid - foam or mineral wool, it is closed from above with a vapor barrier film fixed with brackets on the bars or, when using metal guides, with liquid nails along the upper and lower edges.

Foam insulation

And, finally, the final stage - sheathing with decorative material, such as clapboard, or drywall for painting or plastering.

Insulation with polyurethane foam

The most modern method of insulation is polyurethane foam spraying. In most cases, it is practiced for insulation from the inside of roofs and outside walls in private houses and summer cottages, but since this method is fast and easy to install, it is increasingly used on balconies and loggias in city apartments.

The only thing is that this method cannot be carried out independently, spraying is carried out only by professional specialized companies using special equipment.

Before entrusting your loggia to professionals, it is necessary to make additional preparation in the room, that is, to make a crate, as described in the article above. The lathing will serve as a frame for a heat insulator and fastening over decorative trim.

The great advantage of this method is that when sprayed, the polyurethane foam expands and fills the entire space without leaving gaps. It can be used not only on walls but also on the floor and ceiling. The surface becomes completely windproof, that is, it perfectly retains heat. Plus, you are relieved of the need for additional inspection and filling of cracks and cracks with polyurethane foam, you can immediately start finishing.

Loggia design solutions

Let's see how you can use the additional area resulting from the insulation of the loggia. In practice, you get one more room at your complete disposal, and it is up to you to decide what it will be.

For our part, we can offer several ideas on how to dispose of new opportunities.

The warmest transformation - the loggia turns into a cozy little corner for relaxation. Here you can enjoy the silence with a good book or handicraft. If necessary, there is enough space for installing a TV or a small table for a laptop.

If a large family lives in an apartment, it is sometimes difficult to find a comfortable, calm place for your favorite business. Despite the small space, your new insulated loggia will allow you to place even two separate corners for activities dear to your heart. For example, one corner can accommodate a cozy recliner, and the other has a small laptop table.

A very stylish modern option, suitable if the exit to the balcony is from the kitchen side. You can even transform the loggia into a kind of dining room.

Ideal for parties, especially in the case of high floors and an attractive view from the window, the window sill can easily replace the bar counter.

Small details like lighted candles can be used to create the atmosphere for a romantic dinner. Fresh fragrant air and watching the sunset on warm summer days, and in winter - cozy blankets, candles and mulled wine.

If you install glass sliding doors instead of standard doors, then you can delimit the space if necessary.

A bold design solution suggests expanding the living room space onto the loggia. The wall that previously divided the rooms has been converted into a comfortable table.

In this case, the area of ​​the former loggia can be used as a study or a hobby room.

By combining the two spaces, a large window opens up from the living room, which increases the illumination, you will feel it well in winter, when there is always not enough light.

It is not difficult to come up with the use of additional warm space, everything is limited only by your flight of imagination. A winter garden, a workshop, an office, even a sportswear - everything is doable.

Therefore, if your apartment has a loggia, and you still have not thought about insulating it, get down to business urgently.

Let's summarize

It is not so difficult to properly insulate the loggia on your own, everyone can do it. Although this process includes a sufficient number of serious stages, following the above tips and rules, you can easily cope with the insulation of your balcony.

Video of complex insulation of the balcony

The loggia, like the balcony, in the absence of insulation, is the coldest room in the apartment. Many of the apartment owners solve this problem by carrying out a complex of installation work on thermal insulation. It is especially important to insulate a loggia in a panel house, since they are made of individual concrete elements, which, due to their performance, do not have the proper level of thermal insulation.

To insulate a loggia or balcony, you can use various materials and components that are on the market for modern building materials. It can be environmentally friendly mineral wool, and effective expanded polystyrene or polystyrene foam. In terms of their qualities and other parameters, many of the materials have similar features, but the selection should be carried out taking into account many factors. For example, one of the most economical will be the option of insulating the loggia with foam. This material has a low price and has proven itself as an effective heat-insulating material. However, it should be borne in mind that, unlike expanded polystyrene, polystyrene has a lower density, and in order to provide a loggia or balcony with reliable insulation, it is necessary to use sheets of this material with a thickness of at least 75 cm, and this is a significant reduction in the total area of ​​the room.

You can also use mineral wool. This environmentally friendly material is easy to install and process, has such qualities as high efficiency, incombustibility and a relatively low price.

Fact! In practice, polystyrene foam is often used to insulate the floor, the walls are insulated with mineral wool, and penofol is used to insulate the ceiling.

Before proceeding with the insulation of a loggia or balcony, you need to take care of the availability of a set of necessary tools at hand, namely:

• Hacksaw for wood;
• Ruler, level, tape measure and building marker;
• Electric Impact Drill;
• Electric screwdriver;
• Hammer.

Installation steps

The main stages of insulation:

1. 1 Dismantling of the old casing;
2. 2 Waterproofing;
3. 3 Formation of the frame;
4. 4 Laying insulation material;
5. 5 Vapor barrier;
6. 6 Installation of new cladding and installation of the floor covering.

Work on the insulation of a balcony or loggia begins with the most dusty work - dismantling the old sheathing or the inner frame. The interior of the loggia is cleaned of dust and debris using an industrial vacuum cleaner. All existing cracks in the concrete base must be filled with polyurethane foam, and unevenness in the balcony floor can be leveled using special building mixtures.

After the basis for further work is ready, it is necessary to proceed with the equipment of waterproofing and the installation of the supporting frame of the future insulation and cladding. The entire surface of the loggia is sheathed with a waterproofing film, and wooden bars are used for the frame, the height of which will correspond to the thickness of the insulation layer. Bars for the formation of floor logs can be used with a section of 40 mm x 40 mm or 50 mm x 50 mm. All the bars of the floor frame are laid with a distance of 40-50 cm from each other, taking into account the mandatory installation of the bars along the horizontal boundaries of the balcony or loggia floor. The frame for the walls can provide for a step between the vertical bars of about 1 meter, depending on the width of the insulation used.

Important! Of no small importance is the need for pretreatment of wooden frame elements with special protective chemical agents that reliably protect the wood from the harmful effects of excess moisture, insects or temperature extremes.

After that, insulating material is placed in the finished niches, and possible gaps or voids can also be filled with polyurethane foam. At the same time, to fix the insulation to the surface of the elements of the panel house, you can use special glue and adhesive mixtures.

After the insulation is completely carried out, it is necessary to lay a layer of vapor barrier material on top of it. At the joints, an overlap of at least 10 cm is made, and the joint itself can be glued with a special tape or ordinary tape.

The final stage of work on the insulation of the loggia is the installation of new decorative cladding and flooring. In the case of using a wooden lining, each of the boards is attached to the supporting frame at the points of contact using self-tapping screws or nails.