September 16, 2016
Specialization: a professional in the field of construction and renovation (a full cycle of finishing works, both internal and external, from sewerage to electrics and finishing works), installation of window structures. Hobby: see the column "SPECIALIZATION AND SKILLS"

Almost an obligatory stage in the overhaul of a house or apartment is balcony cladding. Having finished the balcony railing from the outside and refined the room from the inside, we can get an additional living room.

Of course, it will be cooler in it than in the bedroom or living room, but subject to high-quality insulation, it will be possible to use the room from early spring to late autumn, and in the most severe frosts it will act as a buffer for cold air.

Naturally, to get such a result, you will have to work hard. And before sheathe the balcony inside and out, you should carefully study the theory. Moreover, in this article I have collected only vital information, tested in practice!

Preparation for the exterior cladding

The outer cladding has two functions:

• it protects the balcony railing and everything behind it (i.e. waterproofing, thermal insulation, decorative materials) from external influences;
• it provides an attractive appearance to the balcony.

In order for the implementation of these functions to become possible, we need to spend time and effort on preparing the balcony itself, or rather, the balcony fence. The instruction that I follow during a major overhaul involves working according to the following scheme:

1. Dismantling of weakly adhering elements of the balcony railing is in progress. We should have either a metal frame or a concrete parapet fixed on metal mortgages.

1. The fence is being repaired: the metal structure is reinforced with additional load-bearing elements, cracks in the concrete are embroidered and filled with cement mortar. It is also possible to impregnate a concrete slab with penetrating reinforcing solutions - they effectively protect the material from destruction under the influence of moisture.
2. If the old fence is in extremely poor condition, then it is better to dismantle it completely. In the vacated space, we either install a new frame from a shaped pipe and a corner, or we erect a parapet from foam concrete blocks (with mandatory reinforcement of the masonry).

In case of replacement of the fence, it is necessary to check whether the concrete base has coped with the increased load. In any case, it is worth reinforcing the concrete slab around the perimeter with a reinforcing belt and repairing the crumbling edge.

By the way, despite the fact that I prefer to do most of the work with my own hands, here I would advise you to contact a specialist. And it's not only the laboriousness of the repair: the correct assessment of the bearing capacity of the base is very important, and it is not worth doing it "by eye".

Outdoor work

Option 1. Siding decoration

Balconies are trimmed outside with their own hands either with siding or corrugated board. There is also a completely economical option, using PVC lining, but, as practice has shown, it “lives” until the first hail or gusty wind. Those. everything will have to be redone in at least three years.

But siding and corrugated board have sufficient strength for effective use. This section will describe all the options, and I'll start with the siding technology:

1. Siding in 90% of cases is mounted in a horizontal position. In principle, it can be installed on a perfectly flat plate anyway, but it is still better to make a frame from a wooden bar.
2. For the frame, I take a bar with a section of 40x40 mm and impregnate it with an antiseptic. Then I cut the pieces to size and start fixing them to the fence.

1. First, I fasten two vertical fragments close to the walls, and then I install fragments of the sheathing with a step of no more than 60 cm - this way the sheathing will not "play". At the corners I put two beams end-to-end: they will experience the greatest load.
2. I fasten the horizontal beams from above and below: I install the lower one on the anchor, which I twist the holes drilled in the end of the balcony base. The upper one can be laid on the railing - in this case, it will act as a support for subsequent glazing.

All beams must be flat. This can be done using mounting wedges, which are driven into the gap between the timber and the base. Due to this, we visually align with cladding even the most curved balcony.

1. I begin the installation by installing the corner strips: I fix the inner corners along the walls, and the outer corners at the junction of the planes. I set the corner strips exactly vertically, since the geometry of the entire structure directly depends on this.

1. I attach the starting bar to the bottom beam of the lathing, leveling it horizontally.
2. I bring the trimmed siding panel into the corner strips. I click the lower paradise on the starting plate, then I align the part and fix it with self-tapping screws, twisting them into the technological holes.
3. The self-tapping screw for attaching the siding is salted in the middle of the groove and tightened so that there is a gap of about 0.5 - 1 mm between the panel and the cap. This will allow the siding to deform freely with changes in temperature and prevent cracking and bulging.

1. I mount the following panels according to the same principle. The last panel sometimes needs to be sawn lengthwise so that its upper edge is at the level of the top beam of the sheathing. In this case, the attachment point can be masked with a drain bar or a finishing profile for siding.

Important note: for most operations, it is necessary to use a suspension system, since it is almost impossible to fix the frame and install the siding while inside the balcony.

The best way out here would be to contact specialists who have permission to work at heights. But if you decide to do everything yourself - at least insure yourself with high quality!

Option 2. Finishing with corrugated board

External cladding using corrugated sheet - a metal profiled sheet with an anti-corrosion coating - is done in a slightly different way. The large dimensions of the cladding parts somewhat reduce the labor intensity of the process, and the material is not so expensive. Therefore, for a beginner who is just trying his hand at finishing, corrugated board is the most suitable option:

1. The lathing for the sheathing is two or three belts of wooden beams impregnated with an antiseptic. The lower beam is fixed no more than 50 cm from the lower edge of the balcony railing, the upper one - at the level of the railing or slightly below.

1. We fix the bars to the parapet either with self-tapping screws for metal or with anchors. If the fastening is made to a metal frame, then bolts can also be used, which are inserted into pre-drilled holes and fixed from the inside with nuts with wide washers.
2. The balcony cladding with corrugated board is performed in such a way that the stiffeners are vertical - this will ensure an unobstructed drain of water.

1. Sheets of material are fixed with special self-tapping screws with thermal washers. The cladding elements are also fastened with self-tapping screws to each other at the overlap.
2. After the installation of the main part, additional elements are installed: external and internal corner strips, visors, ebbs, etc.

Preparation for interior decoration

Glazing

Sheathing a loggia from the inside is practiced when we intend to turn a room, if not into a residential one, then at least into a comfortable enough to stay in the warm season. Of course, here the protection of the finish from precipitation comes to the fore, therefore it is worth sheathing either an already glazed balcony, or a balcony that is about to be glazed.

Installing translucent structures on a loggia or balcony is a rather complicated procedure, but nevertheless, if you have skill, you can do it yourself:

1. First, we prepare the base for the installation of windows. They can also be placed on the railing, but if the fence is moved forward, or its strength is in doubt, then it is better to fix a bar with a section of at least 50x50 mm on several supports, placing it strictly horizontally.

Both the burs itself and the supports are attached to the balcony railing and rest on the floor slab - then the structure will be as stable as possible.

1. Then the dimensions of the window openings are measured and glazed structures are ordered according to them. Both wooden and aluminum frames can be used to decorate the room, but from the point of view of effective energy saving and cost savings, I usually opt for PVC windows with metal reinforcement.

1. Constructions made to measure and delivered to the apartment are unpacked, after which we remove the sashes from them and remove the double-glazed windows from the "blind" parts.
2. In the upper part of the opening, a visor is attached directly to the ceiling. Its task is to protect the front of the balcony from precipitation.
3. We raise the frames to the balcony railing, align in all three planes, and then attach them to the supporting structures with anchors. For fixing, either we use mounting plates, or we drill holes through the frame, hammering plastic / metal dowels into them.

1. We fill all the gaps between the frames and the opening with self-expanding foam.
2. We install double-glazed windows in place, hang and adjust the sash.
3. Outside, a drain bar is attached to the bottom of the frame or the support profile. It not only promotes water drainage, but also bridges the gap between the balcony railing and the outer cladding (siding, corrugated board, etc.)

Hydro and thermal insulation

From my point of view, do-it-yourself balcony cladding from the inside must be accompanied by waterproofing and insulation. Otherwise, in most regions, finishing materials will quickly deteriorate. And the microclimate of the non-insulated balcony leaves much to be desired, therefore one cannot do without a heat-insulating circuit.

We start with waterproofing:

1. Fill the joints at the junction of the balcony base with the walls and the fence with sealant. You can take ordinary polyurethane foam, but it is better if the material is moisture resistant - this will last an order of magnitude longer.
2. Then we apply a layer of bitumen or rubber based mastic to the concrete base - it will form a liquid-impermeable barrier.

1. An alternative to coating waterproofing can be the use of impregnations for concrete or the installation of special membranes. At worst, you can get by with two layers of dense polyethylene - the price of such waterproofing will be symbolic, but it does a good job with its responsibilities .

Now - insulation. The best choice would be to install heat-insulating material into the cells of the frame: this way we can simultaneously prepare the base on which the inner lining will be held.

We work like this:

1. Determine the thickness of the insulation that will be mounted on the floor, walls and ceiling.
2. On a concrete base, we install a lag system, which should rest on the cranial bars.
3. On the walls and ceiling, we strengthen the battens of the sheathing, fixing them either directly on the bearing surfaces, or (if the thickness of the heat-insulating layer exceeds 50 mm) on steel brackets.

1. We put panels of heat-insulating material in the cells of the resulting lathing. To save money, you can use foam, but I prefer mineral wool and products based on it: the vapor permeability of this material does not interfere with natural ventilation.
2. We fill all the cracks and cavities with scraps of insulation and blow out with polyurethane foam.

1. On top of the insulating layer, we lay a vapor barrier membrane or a layer of foil-clad polyethylene.
2. Before sheathe the balcony inside with our own hands, we mount a rough flooring made of plywood or boards on the floor logs. The floor covering itself is best laid last, when the walls are sheathed.

Internal work

Option 1. Lining

So, we have finished with the preparation - the room is protected from moisture and insulated, so that decorative materials can be mounted without fear of damage due to external factors. Now we need to figure out what material is better to sheathe the balcony inside.

By and large, any material is suitable, starting from drywall. But you need to keep in mind the key requirements for the interior decoration of the balcony / loggia:

• moisture resistance;
• mechanical strength;
• attractive appearance;
• ease of installation.

It was by these criteria that I chose three options, and the story about the best way to sheathe a balcony inside, I will start with the optimal one - a wooden lining.

Lining is a solid wood board that has a special shape. On the long side of the board, a groove is formed from one edge, and a spike of the corresponding shape and size on the other, which allows joining the sheathing elements with practically no gaps.

The poles of the lining for finishing balconies are obvious:

1. The material (subject to proper processing, of course) does not deteriorate even after prolonged contact with a humid environment.
2. Wood itself retains heat well, therefore clapboard cladding significantly increases the effectiveness of thermal insulation.
3. With proper care, the finish turns out to be almost eternal - in any case, it will survive several decades with a guarantee.
4. Finally, the significant strength of the material allows you to mount shelves, flower pots and other small parts on it without the hassle of installing mortgages.

An obvious disadvantage is the high price of the material: even a pine board will cost quite a lot, not to mention the more attractive and durable types of wood.

The installation process itself is simple:

1. We cut the boards to size so that their length is about 20-30 mm less than the height of the room. This gap is necessary for free thermal deformation of the skin.
2. We pin the lining, adjusted in size, to the crate, level it vertically and nail it to the frame, driving thin nails at an angle into the groove.
3. We push the spike of the next board into the groove of the already installed one, after which we repeat the alignment and fastening.

1. When the inner lining is completed with our own hands, we process the wood with protective compounds: stains, oils, waxes or varnishes are suitable. The main thing is that the product effectively protects the wood from moisture.

Lining is not the only natural material for cladding inside a balcony or loggia. Exactly according to the same scheme, the flush beam, the block house, and the planken are mounted: if only the appearance of the cladding fits into the design, and finances allow the purchase of the required amount of material.

Option 2. MDF

Figuring out how to sheathe the loggia itself, and choosing material for this operation, you should not ignore the MDF panels. They are made of pressed cellulose coated with melamine paper, and outwardly practically do not differ from natural lining.

However, MDF panels have their own characteristics:

1. The material weighs less than natural wood, but it is also inferior in strength / heat saving.
2. The material does not respond well to waterlogging. No, a few drops falling into the window will not harm it, but with prolonged moistening, the cellulose base will definitely swell.

1. An obvious plus is the cost: MDF cladding will cost significantly less than a lining or block house.

The installation procedure also has its own characteristics:

1. We adjust the MDF panel in height by cutting it off with a saw or jigsaw.
2. We install the part on the crate, align it and put on the clips-clamps on the edges of the groove.
3. We fix the clamps on the frame with small studs or staples of the construction stapler.

With this method of installation, rather fragile MDF is not damaged, which means that the strength of the sheathing does not decrease. In addition, such a finish can be disassembled and reassembled: of course, you will have to work hard, but we will not spend money on buying new material.

Option 3. Plastic panels

When deciding how best to sheathe a loggia with sliding or single-row glazing from the inside (i.e. a room into which precipitation is almost guaranteed to fall), it is worth considering such material as plastic panels:

1. By design, these products are similar to lining or MDF - but, of course, made of polyvinyl chloride.
2. The obvious advantages are the low cost of PVC and almost absolute moisture resistance - with the correct sheathing, you can protect the insulation and the bearing surfaces from moisture, if not 100, then 99%.
3. The disadvantages, I would classify not the most attractive appearance (as anyone, but for me even the highest quality textured plastic "lining" looks cheap) and low mechanical strength.

Installation technology is as follows:

1. Before sheathe the balcony with our own hands with plastic, we mount a plinth with a groove for panels on the junction of the walls and ceiling, and install vertical corner strips on all corners .

1. We cut the plastic panels to size with a knife or a cute one with fine teeth, and then insert them into the grooves of the plinth. We put the details in the corners into the corner profiles.

1. To fix the plastic to the frame, you can use greasy staples, small screws or glue like "liquid nails". However, I do not like the last option, because if necessary, dismantling the casing will have to be torn off from the crate "with meat".

In addition, when using plastic, we do not have to think about how to sheathe the slopes of the window overlooking the loggia: we install overlays with grooves for PVC panels on the frame and on the edge of the window opening, and then we simply put plastic dates into these grooves, if necessary fixing with glue-foam.

Balcony cladding materials

For both interior and exterior decoration, we need to purchase a considerable amount of raw materials. Naturally, it is very important here to plan the budget in advance in order to understand which price category we can focus on.

I will give examples of the cost of various products in this table:

Material	unit of measurement	Average cost, rubles
Wooden beam (pine), 50x50x6000 mm	PCS.	90 – 180
Metal profile for the frame, 3 m	PCS.	50 — 120
Decorative corrugated board	m.	700 – 740
Plain corrugated board with plastic coating	m.	250 — 450
Self-tapping screw for corrugated board	PCS.	5 — 8
Siding Grand Line	PCS.	110 — 180
Starting bar 3m	PCS.	100 – 350
Corner (external or internal) 3m	PCS.	220 — 450
Insulation 100 mm	packing 4 pcs.	1400 -1700
Insulation 50 mm	packing 4 pcs.	650 — 800
Vapor barrier film	roll 25 m	670 — 750
Foamed polyethylene	roll 15 m	1100 — 1300
Foil vapor barrier	roll 25 m	700 — 900
Antiseptic impregnation for wood	10 l	800 -1200
Lining for wall cladding (pine)	1 m.	100 -150
Lining for wall cladding (alder)	1 m.	180 — 250
Klammer for MDF	100 pieces.	50 – 80
Liquid Nails	100 ml	60 — 120
MDF panels Kronostar	packing 6 pcs. / 3.9 m2	950 – 1100
MDF panels EvpoStar	packing 6 pcs. / 3.9 m2	1200 — 1500
PVC wall panels	PCS.	120 — 250

In addition, you should find out the volume of purchases, which, by the way, is determined not only by the area to be finished. Many materials are supplied in the form of panels of strictly defined length (for example, MDF panels - 2.8 or 3.66 m), and therefore, before calculating the amount of material for cladding, you need to find out all the sizes of the trimmed areas. This way we will be able to select the number of panels that will allow us to perform cladding with a minimum amount of joints and waste.

When repairing an apartment, many people ignore the balcony. And it is completely in vain, if desired, this open area can be turned into a full-fledged room. True, this will require major repairs. And if some types of work need to be entrusted to specialists, then finishing the balcony with your own hands is quite possible.

In order for an open balcony to turn into a full-fledged room, you will need to perform a number of works, most of which can be done independently. The step-by-step instructions below will help you with this. Of course, you don't have to follow it literally. Depending on the plans for using the balcony, some items can be excluded or, on the contrary, new ones can be added.

Making plans

Planning is an important part of construction, so you shouldn't neglect it. It is necessary to decide how the balcony will be used. Only after receiving an answer to this question, it will be possible to determine the scope of work.

It is clear that if the balcony is planned to be left open or glazed, but used only as a summer veranda, then the amount of work will be less than if the room is converted into a living room. The step-by-step instructions given below include a full cycle of work, therefore, it can be taken as a basis, making changes if necessary.

Preparation

You need to start by freeing the balcony, you need to completely take out all the things, dismantle the old coatings, if any.

Then you need to inspect the structures, if cracks are found on the concrete slab, then repairs are carried out: the crack expands and is filled with concrete mortar.

Advice! It is much more difficult to make repairs if the destruction of the slab is significant and the reinforcement is exposed. With such destructions, the slab is required to be reinforced - this is a job that can only be performed by specialists.

Outside finishing

In order for the balcony to be beautiful from all sides, it is necessary to finish the outside. This is a rather difficult stage, but it can be done on your own if the balcony parapet is a metal lattice. In this case, it is possible to carry out finishing work outside, being inside the room and not bending over the parapet.

Advice! If the parapet of the balcony is a concrete slab, then only specialists with climbing equipment will be able to finish the outside.

How can you decorate a balcony? The most common options are:

• Vinyl siding. It is a lightweight and fairly strong material, characterized by absolute resistance to moisture.
• Professional sheet. It is especially recommended to install a solid steel cover on the balconies of apartments on the lower floors.
• Plastic panels. For exterior decoration, you need to choose frost-resistant plastic, ordinary PVC panels are intended for interior work, they warp from frost.

Glazing

After finishing the outside finish, you can start installing frames and double-glazed windows. Depending on the purpose of the balcony, the type of frames and double-glazed windows is chosen. If the balcony will be used as a summer veranda, you can install simple frames with single glazing.

If it is necessary to use the balcony all year round, you need to install multi-chamber double-glazed windows and heat-saving frames, only in this case, a sufficient level of thermal insulation will be provided.

Waterproofing and insulation

Waterproofing is necessary to protect structures from the damaging effects of water.

Advice! When installing glazing frames, one should not forget about the need to install ebbs and canopies that remove moisture from building structures.

The easiest way is to use special penetrating waterproofing solutions, they cover the floor and walls. Apply them with a brush or roller. Thermal insulation of structures can be carried out in two ways:

• laying roll materials with a foil layer, on top of which the crate is assembled;
• installation of the lathing and laying of solid heat-insulating material (foam).

Interior decoration

Interior decoration can be done using a variety of materials. You should start with the ceiling, then tackle the floor, and lastly finish the walls.

Ceiling decoration

On a glazed balcony, as a rule, a suspended or stretch ceiling is made. In this case, it is possible not only to lay a layer of insulation material, but also to lay hidden wiring. A suspended ceiling is made by sheathing the surface with plasterboard or plastic. If the option with plasterboard is chosen, then you will need to complete the finishing, for example:

• paint the surface;
• stick on ceiling tiles made of polystyrene foam.

If the option with plastic paneling is chosen, then additional finishing is not required.

Advice! Since the balcony, as a rule, has a small area, it is recommended to make the ceiling finish lighter than the wall and floor finish, this will visually expand the room.

Floor finishing

Before finishing the floor, you need to decide on its level. Initially, the floor of the balcony is at least 10 cm below the floor level in the room. It is impossible to carry out a concrete screed of this thickness, it will turn out to be too heavy.

There are two options for solving the problem:

• a rigid insulation (expanded polystyrene) is laid on the slab, a screed is performed on top. In this way, you can raise the floor level by 6-8 cm;
• if you need to raise the floor to a level of 10 cm or more, you need to mount the floor on logs installed on racks adjustable in height. A sub-floor made of moisture-resistant plywood is laid on top of such logs.

If you want to provide heating on the balcony, you can mount the "warm floor" system on the power supply. The final finishing of the floor can be varied, the choice is made depending on the purpose of the room and the chosen wall decoration. This can be wood flooring, laminate flooring, linoleum, floor tiles, or even carpet.

Wall decoration

You can choose how to decorate the walls from the inside from a fairly large assortment of materials. If it is paint, tile or decorative plaster, then the walls will need to be sheathed with plasterboard first.

Advice! To decorate the balcony, you should use moisture-resistant plasterboard, as in this room the humidity level can rise significantly.

The walls sheathed with plasterboard must be prepared for finishing - glue the joints of the sheets with a serpyanka, putty the places where the screws are installed. After that, the walls, sheathed with plasterboard, can be painted or other finishes can be used.

You can sheathe the walls not only with plasterboard, but also with plastic or wooden clapboard. It is not difficult to work with these materials, the panels are easily joined together, since each cladding element has a spike on one side and a groove on the other. It is especially easy to work with plastic, since in addition to the panels themselves, the manufacturer offers various additional elements, the use of which greatly simplifies installation.

If the option of cladding with wooden clapboard is chosen, then you must definitely take care of protecting the coating from negative influences. For this, the finished coating is varnished. If you want to choose an original way of finishing a glazed balcony from the inside, then you can use the following options:

• artificial stone finish, this material can be combined with decorative plaster;
• finishing with cork wallpaper;
• finishing with bamboo wallpaper.

So, repairing and finishing a balcony with your own hands is a rather difficult task, but quite feasible. Of course, the implementation of these works will require a lot of time and labor, but instead of a bare balcony slab, you can get a full-fledged room that can be used in different ways. This can be a utility closet, a home gym, or even a bedroom or study.

Balconies and loggias are an integral part of many apartments and houses. Often, owners of residential real estate do not carry out any repair work in these premises, saving money, however, this is considered the wrong decision. If finishing the balcony with your own hands, the step-by-step instructions of which are presented below, will be done correctly and efficiently, then you will get a full-fledged living room that can be used for any purpose. Various materials can be used to decorate this structure, but the best solution is the use of special panels, which can be plastic, wood or some other. Clapboard trim is an ideal choice because the material has a beautiful look and is environmentally friendly. High-quality repair work performed for loggias or balconies ensures a beautiful and warm room.

For finishing work, a variety of materials can be used to ensure excellent work results. The following options are considered the most popular.

Material	Specificity of its application
Wooden lining	Decorating balconies and loggias with clapboard is considered the best solution. This material is made from natural wood and also has a beautiful look. Photos of this design are very beautiful. The material is simple to work with, but not cheap.
Siding	Its installation involves not only improving the appearance of the balcony, but also additional work is being carried out related to the insulation of this room. Siding is available in numerous colors, and during the production process it is equipped with special fasteners that guarantee a simplified installation procedure.
Moisture resistant drywall	It is mounted on the crate, after which all the resulting joints are sealed. Such a covering can be covered with wallpaper, paint or other materials for decoration. This option will not require a large investment in the repair work for the loggias.
	They are a good choice for a balcony, however, they do not have the required vapor permeability indicator, so an airtight finish is obtained. They are produced in numerous colors, so with their help an interesting and bright design is obtained.

Siding
Drywall
Wooden lining

The above materials are considered the most relevant and often used in the process of finishing balconies. Long-lasting and beautiful coatings are obtained from them. Anyone who does not have experience in this direction can perform all the work on their creation.

Most often, lining is chosen for loggias, which forms a beautiful coating. It is easy to work with, and in production conditions it is treated with special protective compounds that prevent possible rotting or the development of microorganisms. Photos of such a finish are widely presented in the selection, so you can be sure of the correct choice of cladding for the balcony surfaces.

DIY step-by-step instructions for finishing a balcony

If you plan to independently carry out repair work on the balcony, then it is important to understand how all the details of the coating are installed. The step-by-step instruction describes the sequential actions with the help of which the independent creation of the correct and high-quality design is carried out.

Initially, it is important to calculate the necessary materials for the work ahead. For this, the size of the balcony itself is taken into account, as well as the dimensions of the lining panels or other selected material. It is recommended to initially purchase panels with a small margin, since a beginner can make mistakes that lead to the destruction of materials, which will significantly increase consumption.

Required materials and tools

Not only the panels themselves are purchased, but also additional materials that will be used in the process. If the walls of the balcony are uneven, then it is advisable to form a crate, for which high-quality and properly dried wooden slats are used. Particularly much attention is paid to the acquisition of fasteners that should not violate the integrity of the lining, but must ensure its optimal and reliable fastening.

It is important to prepare the following items for work:

• since it is planned to revet the balcony with clapboard, high-quality material is purchased in the right quantity;
• plastic wrap or other waterproofing material;
• wood slats, which must be of high quality and properly dried;
• insulation, which should correspond in size to the cells being created in the frame, and the thermal insulation material can be represented by plates or rolls;
• self-tapping screws, with the help of which the fixation of the main structural elements will be performed, and it is desirable that they be galvanized, since in this case they are highly resistant to numerous negative factors;
• dowel nails;
• polyurethane foam, which provides filling of the joints formed during operation;
• a drill and a screwdriver are prepared from the tools, as well as a level, thanks to which a perfectly flat structure is obtained;
• since the walls of the balcony are covered with clapboard, it is important to prepare a jigsaw for cutting it, and it is also allowed to use a hacksaw.

In the process of cutting the lining, it is necessary to work only with protective goggles to avoid possible contact with small and dangerous objects in the eyes.

Tool for finishing the balcony clapboard Materials for thermal insulation

Preparation of balcony surfaces

Decorating the balcony with your own hands begins with the preparatory stages, which involve bringing all surfaces to the desired form:

• the old coating is dismantled, if it is on the walls of the balcony;
• the surfaces are inspected for the presence of areas on which there is mold or crumbling areas, since they must certainly be eliminated;
• all surfaces are treated with special antiseptics;
• after the antiseptic has dried, a primer is applied, for which you can use rollers, brushes or sprayers.

After preparation, the installation of the frame begins.

Balcony preparation for finishing

Creation of the lathing

Instructions for the formation of a high-quality finishing of a balcony with clapboard assumes the formation of a reliable frame. It is to him that the selected materials for finishing will be fixed further.

To create the frame, a wooden beam is usually used, and correctly dried and high-quality elements are selected. Their thickness depends entirely on what parameters the panels selected for finishing have. It is taken into account whether insulation will be used in the process of finishing loggias, since it can affect the parameters of the lathing.

Bars for wooden lathing

Before using any wooden materials, which include wooden beams, it is important to cover them with high-quality antiseptics, which increase their resistance to moisture.

The installation of the frame is carried out in the following sequential steps:

• markings are applied, with the help of which it will be clear in which places it is necessary to fix the main elements of the crate;
• profiles or slats are cut in such a way that exactly the same elements are obtained;
• slats or profiles are nailed or screwed to the walls, and the distance between them should be equal to the width of the panels used for finishing loggias or balconies;
• the most often used is a bar, for fixing which dowels are used.

Photos of finished battens are presented below, so it is very easy to understand their structure and design. Moreover, their parameters may be different, since they completely depend on the panels used, since the balcony is not always finished with clapboard. Often, other materials are used for this, which are also fixed to the frame.

Horizontal lathing
Lathing on the balcony floor

Thermal insulation of the structure

Decorating loggias most often involves additional insulation. Since a crate is created, which has empty cells, it is in these cells that the selected insulation is laid.

Thanks to the creation of a heat-insulating layer, the formation of a warm room is ensured. The optimal choice for loggias and balconies is a penoplex, produced in slabs. Mineral wool is also often used, but its use is allowed only in conjunction with waterproofing films, since it is important not to allow water to get on the insulation, which negatively affects its basic parameters.

Penoplex can be used as insulation

Also, interior decoration often involves the use of foam during insulation. However, it is taken into account that it has poor vapor barrier parameters. Insulation plates should fit very tightly into the cells.

The heat-insulating material is fixed with glue or foam, but it is allowed to use different mechanical fasteners for these purposes. A photo of the finished result can be seen below.

Fastening insulation

Waterproofing

The step-by-step instruction assumes that the next stage in finishing the balcony with clapboard is to cover the created frame with waterproofing materials. The most often chosen for these purposes is a polyethylene film, which is considered affordable and easy to use. However, there are many types of modern membranes on the market, with the help of which excellent protection of the structure from moisture is provided. Their photos are presented in a selection, and usually one side of them is foil.

If roofing material is chosen as a material for waterproofing, then before installation, the material must be heated from the fastening side. If you plan to use polystyrene as insulation, then you will need plastic dowels or toluene-free glue to fix it. This adhesive must be applied to the fastening area with a notched trowel. For more reliable fastening, dowels are located at the edges of the slabs.

The reliability of sealing will allow for additional use of the sealant tape. Also, do not forget about such works as processing the surface of the frames with special hydrophobic compounds, as well as installing an ebb tide that blocks the access of water under the frames.

Waterproofing walls with plastic wrap
Balcony vapor barrier with foil isolon

Wall covering

The whole process is divided into the following stages:

• work begins from a certain corner of the room, for which a starting element made of plastic is fixed;
• installation is carried out using self-tapping screws, but it is allowed to use staples and a stapler;
• the rest of the sheets are connected to each other by the existing grooves and spikes;
• if it becomes necessary to cut the panels, then a special hacksaw is used for this, designed to work with a specific material.

Thus, decorating the walls of the balcony with lining is considered a simple and straightforward process that anyone can handle.

Installation of the guide profile
Fixing panels

Floor

For a full-fledged finish of loggias, it is important to pay attention to the floor. For this, the following structures are most often formed:

• the base can be created from cement, for which a screed is poured or self-leveling mixtures are used, and you can also make a structure on logs or a wooden floor;
• a high-quality floor covering is laid on top, and decking, ceramic tiles, laminate or linoleum of higher quality are considered an excellent choice for balconies.

It is important to target materials that will resist changes in temperature or high humidity.

Ceiling

The interior decoration of the balconies also affects the ceiling. For this, the following types of finishes can be applied:

• the formation of the same coating as on the walls, for which lining sheets, plastic panels or other elements are used, and they can be fixed directly to the base or a frame can be used;
• using whitewash for the ceiling;
• creation of a stretch or false ceiling.

Each type has its own characteristics, so the choice depends on the purpose of the balcony and on the desires of its owners.

Stretch ceiling
Drywall

Lighting

The end of finishing is to create high-quality and bright lighting. Photos of the finished result are presented below in large quantities. For loggias, you can use not only standard chandeliers located in the center of the ceiling, but also spotlights, as well as LED strips.

Thus, finishing any balcony or loggia is a complex process involving the implementation of a large number of actions. All of them are understandable and uncomplicated, therefore they can be performed on their own.

Video

Step-by-step instructions for finishing the balcony.

Photos of examples of finishing balconies

A selection of photographs with options for finishing balconies with various materials.

One of the pressing issues of the day is the proper arrangement of housing. A high-quality one can significantly expand the usable area of ​​the entire apartment. In order to insulate the balcony, to make it beautiful and functional, it is necessary to properly observe the finishes. The elements of such a cycle are sheathing with plastic panels, the use of lining or drywall, the application of plaster or the choice of another finishing material according to the customer's taste. Since different materials have different performance characteristics, and their cost can vary significantly, this article will help you choose how to decorate the balcony inside.

To reduce the cost of maintaining the balcony, it must be prepared for. The initial assignment will be. To decorate warm balconies with metal parapets, it is necessary to build walls from foam blocks. If the space does not need insulation, a simple wooden or metal frame will suffice. In this case, the parapet is sheathed on the outside with polycarbonate, siding, clapboard or corrugated board.

we insulate the balcony before finishing

Additional work consists of glass insertion, waterproofing and protection of the balcony from heat loss. The insulation layer is closed with insulating material, and the balcony itself is sheathed with bars or metal profiles.

When the external work is completed, you can start finishing the internal space. Any type of building material has its advantages and disadvantages, but the best choice for arranging a balcony is drywall, lining and PVC panels.

Such material is resistant to temperature extremes, tolerates moisture well and does not lose shape under the rays of the sun.

Glazing and insulation of the balcony

Glazing of balconies and loggias is made with PVC double-glazed windows. Their low cost with relative availability will be a good choice for self-construction. Opening packages must be placed in pairs in the corners of the balcony. Complete with them, it is necessary to install profiles for water drainage. The next steps will be insulation and sealing of the balcony space. If necessary, you can replace the metal lattice fences.

layout of finishing elements

The cracks that go out to the outside are closed with cement mortar, sealant or construction silicone before insulation. The thoroughness of the work carried out at this stage will affect the final result of the finish. A properly sealed balcony will not let air in from the street.

Materials for finishing the balcony from the inside

A good material for further work will be polystyrene, which will be attached between the sheathing bars. The upper floors and the apartments located on them will require additional insulation of the ceiling. For such insulation, special ceiling profiles with a U-shaped section are suitable. Located at half-meter intervals, they will serve as a crate for finishing work.

Drywall

Sheathing balcony walls with drywall is one of the best ways to level and finish them, which is available even to novice builders. The beginning of work will be a thorough surface preparation. You can skip it, hiding all the flaws behind sheets of finished material, but for a high-quality and durable repair, you will need to follow the entire procedure. Having removed the remnants of the old finish from the walls, you need to clean the balcony space from debris and plaster debris. Having applied a layer of plaster to the clean walls, the remaining cracks must be sealed with polyurethane foam and additionally treated with an antifungal mixture.

we sheathe the loggia with plasterboard

The most important stage of the work carried out is the installation of the lathing. Popular materials for installation are metal profiles and mounting rails, and their final choice depends only on the customer. When installing the battens horizontally on the wall, its guides must be reinforced with dowels with a half-meter distance. The excess parts are cut off with metal scissors. At the junction of the plasterboard sheets, double laying of the rods is made. After the installation is completed, they begin to lay the insulation. Regardless of the type of insulation, which can be both polystyrene and mineral wool, its laying should be dense and uniform.

Further wall insulation is carried out with foil rolls. Installed on top of the insulation, such a foil is fixed to the crate with a construction stapler.

The final stage of work is wall cladding with plasterboard sheets. It is possible to save on material, starting from those sections of the balcony on which whole sheets or their large parts can be freely placed. The ease of cutting and handling makes drywall very convenient for cladding balconies. The cut sheets are fixed with self-tapping screws every quarter of a meter, and their caps are deeply embedded in the material for the convenience of the primer. After the walls are completely decorated with plasterboard sheets, all seams and joints of individual parts are sealed, the surface is rubbed and primed.

Lining

The classic type of finishing is considered to be clapboarding of the balcony. The combination of the beauty of natural material and its clear geometric lines creates a stylish and modern interior.

environmentally friendly and natural

If the balcony is located in an area with high humidity, it is better to use euro lining for installation. The special shape of the tongue, when wet, will not allow the panel to come out of the groove. Two openings on the outside of each rail are provided for condensate drainage.

When facing, lining is used with right angles and with rounded chamfers. Since wood panels are not processed further during the factory production, it is undesirable to subject this material to stability tests. In everyday life, this means that when cleaning balcony rooms, it is better not to use household chemicals and strong abrasives - the lining can quickly lose its presentation. However, if the panels are impregnated with an antiseptic and a fire-fighting mixture before starting the sheathing, they will deteriorate less from the effects of an aggressive environment.

One of the options that involves the interior decoration of the balcony with your own hands will be an imitation of a lining made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Repeating the pattern and texture of natural wood, such slats have the same shape and the same locks.

sheathed with PVC clapboard

Advantages of PVC lining:

• practical application;
• ease of installation;
• resistance to mechanical and chemical damage;
• ease of care and cleaning.

Despite the fact that plastic lining does not expand and does not allow air to pass through, like wooden panels, its decorative properties are no worse. Surpassing natural materials in terms of fire performance, it has high strength and durability. If the balcony is trimmed with a simple wooden clapboard, such material will be vulnerable to sunlight and fungal effects. If double glazing is used as UV protection, the fight against fungus will take a lot more effort.

PVC panels look advantageous

Clapboard technology

Before starting clapboarding, it is necessary to create a protective barrier that will serve as waterproofing. Its first layer will be bitumen mastic, the second will be an antiseptic mixture, and the third will be a thorough PVA putty. In addition, the do-it-yourself interior decoration of the loggia begins with the lathing. In the process of sheathing, bars of 20x30 and 40x40 millimeters of section are used with a step between them of 500 millimeters. The lags are fastened with special mounting nails 60-70 with dimensions of 3-4 millimeters. The ends of wooden blocks must be additionally processed with PVA. Plastic nozzles for dowels must be firmly held in the wall and enter at a depth of at least three centimeters.

lining installation technology

After the crate is sheathed with centimeter-thick MDF plates, they can be impregnated with PVA and sheathed again with clapboard. Before attaching the rails, they must be cut to the same size and the installation process must be started from any angle. In this case, each rail is fastened with small studs, and its slope is checked by the building level. When the sheathing is almost complete, the battens should extend to the next corner. In the last boards, it is necessary to cut the tongue of the tongue in half, and carefully round them. Having installed these boards with a house directly in the grooves, you need to press on them until they click, which will show that the lining has fallen into place. The cracks in the ceiling, on the floor and in the corners are covered with skirting boards.

With the development of technology, the methods of assembling structures on balconies also change. For example, in the process of sheathing, instead of nails, you can use special metal brackets that will be attached to the crate with self-tapping screws. If nails are chosen for laying, they must be driven in at a slight angle with an inclination inward, closer to the roots of the ridges. Once the sheathing is complete, a moisture-resistant primer or durable lacquer can be used for extra protection. A good option would be to cover with alkyd-based varnishes.

PVC panels

Made of durable and modern material, plastic panels are often used in balconies. To resist mechanical stress, each such panel is internally divided by partitions. In their design, different colors of the balcony, photo imitation of the texture of wood, stone or metal, or ornaments of different shapes and styles can be used. This variety significantly expands the design options for balconies and loggias.

nice and inexpensive

For the correct distribution of finances and avoidance of unnecessary spending, it is necessary to carefully calculate the cost of purchasing materials. With horizontal paneling, each batten post will be mounted vertically at a distance of 40 centimeters. Likewise, with vertical planking, the studs will be fixed horizontally at the same distance. In the places where the panels end, at the corners of the balcony and below, additional fastening of the bars will be required. Special profiles with rivets are designed just for paneling. Despite the additional financial costs for their purchase, the convenience of using such profiles will outweigh all costs. Self-tapping screws with press washers will provide reliable fastening to the walls.

Additional interaction is provided by external and internal corner profiles (laying joints in the corners of the balcony). It will not be superfluous to purchase upper and lower guides for inserting panels.

Installation of PVC panels

Balcony cladding is carried out with asymmetrical plastic panels. Laying on the crate with the protruding parts of the grooves, they are attached to the wall with special press washers. Boards that are 2 meters long require two attachment points.

Observance of the correct technological cycle will be helped by viewing a photo of a diagram of finishing a balcony with plastic panels with your own hands.

Additional finishing of balconies

The rapid development of science makes it possible to create reliable and durable materials for construction. Decorating balconies, as an element of the design of a living space, was also no exception. Watching many videos on how to decorate a balcony inside with your own hands shows that installation requires lightweight and at the same time resistant material with low wear and tear.

decoration with decorative stone

A good design solution in this case would be the use of natural or artificial stone covered with decorative plaster. Withstanding heavy loads, such a stone will not only perfectly fit into the interior, but will also help the customer save on repairs in the coming years. Careful finishing with natural stone will require a certain skill, otherwise the result will be far from what was intended. Also, before fixing the stone and applying decorative plaster, the walls will need to be pre-leveled.

Surely not everyone knows what the difference is between a balcony and a loggia. A balcony is a structure that extends beyond the wall and is usually located on the front of a building. It has three outward-facing sides and a guardrail. The loggia has one open side, and the other three are closed and are the details of the room.

The square of an apartment with a balcony is multiplied by a factor of 0.3 and added to the total square of the apartment. In the case of a loggia, this coefficient is already 0.5. It is necessary to take into account this important point, especially now, when the price per square meter of an apartment is growing every year.

The balcony is more difficult to improve in many respects, this applies to glazing, thermal insulation and decoration. Therefore, finishing the loggia with your own hands will require less effort from the apartment owners.

Finishing

Why should we transform the loggia? During the day we look or enter this room more than once and observe a dull and neglected view there - not a very pleasant experience. Another thing is a renovated, finished loggia that fits into the overall design of the apartment or adjoining room. There can be a greenhouse corner, a place of retreat for a coffee lover, for a schoolchild with a book, for a mother with a fashion magazine in her hands. The head of the family will also drop in to enjoy the family idyll.

To decorate the loggia inside, you need to prepare both financially and theoretically, and master at least a minimum of knowledge before starting work. When interior wall decoration, several parameters must be taken into account:

1. what we want in the end result
2. will it be insulated or will it stay cold
3. financial costs (sometimes it comes first)

If you have correctly identified the future design and selected high-quality and preferably inexpensive material, then after finishing the loggia will become a welcome and permanent place for family members and guests.

Materials (edit)

Lining is the most popular material for interior work. This is a board made of wood of various species with a "thorn-groove" profile, 1.5 cm thick, 9 cm wide. Other sizes and types of lining can be made to order (eurolining, block-house under a log). The lining has good working qualities and appearance. Environmentally friendly material with low thermal conductivity is well suited for many types of work and finishes.

But it should be noted also disadvantages:

1. it is obligatory to apply protective compounds
2. you can work only with glazed balconies, moisture and temperature changes harm the material
3. may fade in the sun
4. not cheap

There is also a lining made of plastic - siding. It successfully replaces wood in both interior and exterior decoration. Siding can be of different colors and shades, the decoration with its use does not depend on the glazing of the loggia, it does not fade in the sun. Its cost is lower than a wooden lining.

PVC panels

Finishing work with these panels is as easy as with siding. Wide (25-30 cm) units cover the working area faster. They are durable, resistant to external influences, therefore they are suitable for both warm and cold loggias. Colors and shades are different, the cost is low, suitable for any option.

MDF panels

These are boards made of compressed wood fibers, covered with a PVC film in the color of wood. They are durable, good heat and sound insulators, aesthetic in appearance, easy to install and inexpensive. But they have low mechanical strength, instability to moisture. The loggia should be glazed and insulated.

Drywall

The use of drywall significantly speeds up all work due to the large size of the sheets. If the loggia is glazed and insulated, then this material will help to quickly and efficiently finish the premises. Finishing sheets may require painting, wallpapering, decorative plaster. Usually they use moisture-resistant drywall. The thickness of the gypsum board sheets is 9.5 mm or 12 mm.

Decorative plaster

Decorating with its use realizes interesting ideas, gives unusually bright effects.

Three different decorative plasters can be used to achieve the desired effect:

1. Structural
2. Textured
3. Venetian

All of them are sold ready-made, but if you wish, you can prepare the compositions yourself. Let's dwell on the "Venetian" transparent plaster. This is a mixture with marble flour, a seemingly transparent viscous mass in containers of 7-25 kg. It is applied on perfectly flat surfaces in several layers, can be tinted in any color. The application technology is not complicated, but quite voluminous, it allows you to get the effect of a marble coating of a wide variety of surfaces and shades. Such plaster is waterproof, environmentally friendly, odorless, wear-resistant, can dry quickly.

If the material and general design are selected, then work can begin. We will assume that the glazing has already been done, but it is desirable that the glass and double-glazed windows be removed from the window frames in order to avoid any trouble. Finishing work on the floor is carried out after the completion of work on the ceiling and walls.

So, we have window frames, a frame for hanging intermediate or finishing materials. We start directly finishing.

Step-by-step instruction

The clapboarding work is not difficult, but it requires attention and patience.

We determine the required amount of material in square meters. We multiply the height of each section by the width, add up and increase the resulting area by 15%. We choose conifers with a moisture content not exceeding 12%. We also need slats, corners, baseboards, waterproofing film, sealant and fasteners. Tools: hacksaw, drill, hammers, screwdrivers, including electric ones, and levels, simple or laser.

If necessary, cover the wall with a waterproofing film and make a crate of wood or metal profiles. Maintaining a distance of about 50 cm between the slats, we fix them to the wall. Fill the gaps with insulation.

We start the planking from the corner, level the first board and fasten it with a groove to the corner. We insert a cleaimer and fasten it to the crate. The next board should connect tightly with the ridge of the first one with a groove and secured with a clasp nailed to the crate. The position of each board is controlled by the level. It is very convenient to have a laser level, which allows you to quickly control the position of the board.

At the end of the fastening of all the boards, fill the gaps with sealant, close the corner joints with corners. Then we treat it with a protective solution such as "Autotex", which not only protects against decay and bugs, but gives the surface of the sheathing an aesthetic look.

PVC paneling

This work does not require any special training. The walls do not need to be leveled, the assembly itself is quite quick. Disassembly will not be difficult if necessary.

We measure the length, width. We determine the required amount of material and increase it by 15% when ordering. We buy:

1. PVC wall panels
2. mounting rails
3. connecting elements and fasteners
4. drill, screwdrivers (preferably an electric screwdriver), saw, self-tapping screws