How to make DIY repairs on the balcony yourself

In detail: how to independently make repairs on the balcony with your own hands from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

The presence of a balcony or loggia allows you to increase the area of the apartment with their competent arrangement.

In order to translate into reality various ideas aimed at achieving the desired result, you will have to carry out repair work.

What should be done and in what order? Consider in this article.

At this stage, you need to do the following:

1) draw up an installation diagram and purchase all materials;

2) dismantle old structures (remove windows, balcony blocks and remove trim);

3) if necessary, you can knock down the old screed or remove the old wooden floor, and check the condition of the balcony slab (if there are potholes on it, from which the reinforcement protrudes, it must be treated with a rust converter, and the potholes must be plastered);

4) it is best to level the surface of the walls (in this case, it will be much easier to finish the finish);

5) to create a reliable fence, you can use blocks of foam concrete, laying them with edges on a special adhesive mixture (the old parapet can be left in its place).

Advice: foam blocks should not be confused with gas blocks, since the latter absorb moisture very strongly and are not suitable for arranging a balcony fence.

It can be accomplished using materials such as:

- metal-plastic profile (optimal in price, durable and perfectly retains heat for a long time);

- aluminum (as a rule, it is installed on loggias that are not intended for insulation);

- wood (the most expensive material, which, in addition to everything, is highly susceptible to moisture).

The sequence of work related to the glazing of balconies or loggias is as follows:

Video (click to play).

1) on a parapet equipped with foam blocks, using a building level, a window frame is placed strictly vertically and fixed with self-tapping screws or anchor bolts (at least two on each side);

2) a window sill is installed on the inside of the balcony or loggia under the frame;

3) and from the outside - low tide;

4) after that, a double-glazed window is installed in each window frame;

5) all cracks formed during glazing must be sealed with polyurethane foam (this will not only help retain heat, but also create reliable protection against various sounds coming from the street);

6) after drying, the protruding parts of the foam are cut off with a clerical knife and these places are covered with special overlays.

To create a comfortable environment on the territory of a balcony or loggia, it is imperative to bring in electrical wires for installing an outlet, a switch and lighting lamps.

To prevent these wires from spoiling the interior, they must be laid in the corners or hidden in special channels made in the walls. Light sources can be a variety of lamps or LED backlighting.

To create comfortable conditions on the territory of the inner space of the loggia, it will be necessary to insulate all surfaces through which the heat from the apartment can escape to the street.

First, the cracks are closed and waterproofing work is performed. After that, they draw up an installation diagram and carry out the purchase of materials.

There are two ways to insulate this surface, each of which depends on the coating material (we are talking about a wooden or concrete field).

For a wooden floor, the sequence of work is as follows:

1) a film of waterproofing material is laid on top of the balcony slab;

3) sheets of insulation are laid in the formed gaps, which can be polystyrene or mineral wool;

4) another layer of waterproofing is laid (it is necessary to protect the insulation from water ingress during wet cleaning of the floor);

5) cover it all with a floorboard or sheets of OSB plates, fixing them to the logs with self-tapping screws;

6) the formed surface is covered with several layers of paint or varnish.

Advice: in no case should chipboard sheets be used as flooring, since this material is very afraid of moisture (swells and collapses).

For a floor made with a concrete screed, the sequence of work is as follows:

1) first, they equip a rough screed made of cement mortar (with its help they try to smooth out the unevenness of the balcony slab as much as possible);

2) then the sheets of expanded polystyrene are laid close to each other (in the case of the formation of gaps or cracks, they are sealed with polyurethane foam);

3) a waterproofing film is spread over them and a reinforcing mesh is laid;

4) then put up beacons and fill in a finishing screed 5–7 mm thick, leveling it with a small rule.

Such a system can work either with a heated coolant or from an electrical network using elements specially designed for this purpose (we are talking about an electric cable, heating mats, or a film covering that emits infrared rays).

If the apartment is not equipped with a water floor heating system, then in this case the use of electric heating will be the most appropriate.

Peculiarities

1. An electric cable intended for heating is placed on top of a layer of insulation, after which a finishing screed is poured. When the concrete is dry, floor tiles are glued to it.

The advantages of this method are that the cable connected to the electrical network heats up over time and transfers its heat to the concrete, which, in turn, heats the entire floor area.

2. As for the heating mats, they can be placed in a layer of tile adhesive, on top of which the tiles are laid.

3. To place an infrared-emitting film on the floor, a heat-reflecting material must first be laid on top of the rough screed. The final coating can be tiles, linoleum, etc.

If it is necessary to insulate the ceiling, it is imperative to seal all the cracks using polyurethane foam before starting work. Otherwise, condensation will accumulate between the layer of insulation and the upper ceiling of the balcony, which will eventually lead to the formation of mold.

There are two ways to insulate the ceiling:

1) build a wooden frame and lay the sheets of insulation in the gaps thus formed, then fix the vapor barrier on top of the insulation and hide it all behind the finishing;

Read also: Motherboard DIY repair

In principle, all work should be divided into stages.

Repair work begins after assessing the objective condition of the base of the balcony, its slab. If the defects found turn out to be minor, you can limit yourself to a new screed. Otherwise, if the damage is serious:

a reinforcing mesh made of reinforcing wire (diameter 5 mm) is laid on the cleaned surface of the slab, based on the calculation: three longitudinal and transverse rods for each running meter. At the intersection of the rods, welding is performed;
the reinforcement mesh is poured with a screed so that the resulting concrete layer is twice as thick as the thickness of the reinforcement;
perform the ironing of the screed;
the plate is additionally strengthened by installing struts, which are made of a profile with holes for fastening bolts.

In a broad sense, measures for the insulation of the balcony space involve its glazing and insulation with the help of heat-insulating materials.

Most often, balconies are glazed with PVC frames. Such a decision is supported by such qualities of this profile as:

resistance to weathering;
tightness of joints;
frost resistance;
excellent characteristics of heat and sound insulation;
wide design possibilities;
easy care;
external attractiveness.

Given the large glazing area in the case of a loggia, for greater efficiency it is better to choose double or energy-saving double-glazed windows.

Insulation of walls and floors

For floor insulation, it is recommended to use expanded polystyrene as a heat insulator, which, on the one hand, has a low thermal conductivity, and on the other hand, is resistant to high loads.

Expanded polystyrene can be laid in two ways - either glued to the floor, or laid in a frame pre-assembled from wooden beams.
The insulation is covered with plywood (10 mm) on top, then you can start laying the topcoat - linoleum, waterproof laminate and others.
When insulating walls and ceilings, you can use the same materials. Insulation on the walls is fixed, as a rule, on a wooden crate.
The gaps between the sheets of insulation and wooden blocks must be filled with specially selected polyurethane foam.

Finishing work - we put the appearance in order

If the owners' plans do not include the creation of a single room from the balcony and the room, the finishing material for the balcony is selected regardless of the decoration of the room.

Most often, the following materials are used for finishing:

The lining is wooden - its beautiful texture of natural wood gives the interior a special comfort. It is desirable to varnish its surface.
Plasterboard allows you to align walls and create multi-level structures, for example, niches or shelves for storing all kinds of items. It is preferable to choose a moisture resistant material. It is recommended to putty and paint the surface of the gypsum plasterboard.
Plastic panels are perhaps the most democratic of the finishing options. It is also easy to install and requires little maintenance.
Wallpaper is another of the simplest finishes. Considering that they quickly fade in the sun, you need to choose a lightfast material with the appropriate markings in the form of the sun.
Whitewashing is the cheapest of the finishing options, but it is rarely used - it clogs up quickly enough with dust and takes on an untidy look.To maintain cleanliness, you will have to whitewash the walls every six months.

Thus, it is quite possible to create a new aesthetic and functional room in the apartment - all you need to do is to repair the balcony. Its cost includes the total costs of the materials used and directly for the repair work.

The small area of the balcony sometimes dictates the erroneous decision - to do the repairs here last. And only then it turns out that this is no longer possible for a number of reasons. How to get a few comfortable square meters in an apartment at the expense of a balcony and cope with problems on your own - says Timur Abdrakhmanov, co-founder of the Quadrim repair service.

Repair of the balcony will inevitably affect other premises of the apartment, because:

you need to store building materials somewhere;

dust, debris and dirt will be no less than from the repair of any other room;

power supplies are needed to connect the balcony electrical network.

To minimize the inconvenience, you need to start repairing the balcony at the same time as other rooms.

Before starting repairs on the balcony, find out for what purpose you need additional space in the apartment. This will help determine the materials, scope of work and financial costs.

Are you planning to equip a spacious storage room?
Perfect solution! In this case, you can safely save on thermal insulation of the room. The best solution would be cold glazing of the balcony and wall insulation with foam plastic.

Do you need a job? Think about better landscaping.

Are you going to use the balcony as a dining room? Combine it with the kitchen! But remember: redevelopment will be required.

Do you want to make a winter garden or a flower garden? Well, this is quite an obvious solution, since the balcony has the most daylight. Just do not forget that not only good insulation should be provided for heat-loving plants, but also heating of the room.

Consider a typical repair option on a balcony - with insulation... If the house has been in operation for several years, then external improvement of the balcony may be needed. The most popular, inexpensive and practical wall cladding material is siding. Additionally, you can insulate the outside of the balcony with expanded polystyrene or mineral wool.

Glazing there are two types: cold or warm. The first option is suitable for arranging auxiliary premises: a pantry or a summer room. Warm glazing is used to create solid premises, when a balcony is combined with a living room or used as a fully functional space in winter and summer.

You can independently cope with these works, if only you have sufficient experience, free time and all the necessary tools.

You can insulate the floor on the balcony using various materials and technologies. The easiest option: to make a wooden crate, in the grooves of which to lay the foam plates and close the entire structure from above with a sheet of fiberboard or chipboard. You can also make a screed from expanded clay concrete (a mixture of cement mortar and expanded clay).

The modern way to insulate the coating is a warm electric floor. Use heating mats or cables to avoid obstructing the free space with radiators. Laminate, carpet, linoleum or floorboards are suitable as top flooring.

Advantages: lightweight, inexpensive material. Easy to handle - can be cut with a wallpaper knife. Keeps warm well.

Flaws: vapor-tight, that is, the balcony will have to be ventilated to remove excess moisture. We are very fond of rodents. Highly flammable.

Advantages: low thermal conductivity - keeps heat well in the room. Retains geometry under heavy loads. Excellent sound insulator.Moisture resistance and vapor permeability - the material does not disturb the indoor microclimate.

Advantages: price, good thermal insulation, low weight (compared to sand-cement screeds).

Flaws: laboriousness of work, special tools are required for mixing solutions.

In the lives of most people, comfortable and functional housing is of great importance, which would make it possible to isolate oneself from the noisy aggressive outside world. A cozy home where you can recuperate after a busy day at work, as well as work productively, makes life easier for any person. Therefore, competent housing arrangement is of great importance. Reconstruction of a balcony or loggia not only expands the useful living space by several meters, but also increases the functionality, order, and comfort of the living space. Turning a small open space into a beautiful balcony does not require too high skill of the craftsman. How to make a balcony with your own hands?

Decorating the balcony with your own hands should be done deliberately. However, the stages of reconstruction can only be performed well in the following order:

Strengthening the balcony slabs, parapets.
External finishing of the balcony with siding, corrugated board, lining, polycarbonate.
Glazing of the balcony.
Waterproofing, insulation from the inside.
Interior decoration of the balcony.

For. in order to repair the balcony with your own hands with high quality, you need to carefully and responsibly approach the choice of finishing materials, carefully prepare the base, make installation, and then properly maintain the cladding during operation.

Finishing the balcony begins with strengthening the base. This is the exact answer to the question of where to start repairing a balcony.

First, you need to close up all the seams, cracks with a cement-sand mortar.
Secondly, close the parapets of an open balcony for insulation with lightweight foam blocks that are resistant to moisture and retain heat well.
Thirdly, after strengthening the balcony slab, installing the front wall of the loggia, it is necessary to carefully putty the floor using a penetrating moisture-proof putty, prime the inner surface on the largest possible area of square meters.
Fourth, make waterproofing.

Exterior balcony finishing is an important first step in a balcony renovation. For these works, it is better to use PVC siding, flooring, polycarbonate, since these materials are most resistant to temperature extremes, high humidity and exposure to ultraviolet rays. Also, for such purposes, a crate made of a metal profile is better, since a tree can be deformed under the influence of the sun and moisture.

The space inside to strengthen the thermal insulation can be sealed with a special insulation. For this, polystyrene foam is suitable, which is attached to the outer surface with glue and special dowels with wide caps. An external cladding is attached to such a frame for a balcony. Moreover, in the case of using siding between its panels, it is better to leave small gaps.Glazing. At this stage, you need to carefully measure, taking into account meters in the horizontal and vertical direction. If necessary, you need to dismantle the old windows. Then, on the parapet of the open balcony, a window frame is installed strictly according to the level, which is securely fixed on each side. The space between the frame and the walls must be sealed with polyurethane foam.If you plan to carry out a major overhaul of the balcony, expanding the total area of the apartment by several meters, you need to insulate the balcony space, carefully seal up all the small cracks. For this, it is better to use PVC plastic bags, which are inexpensive. Loggia with such glazing takes on a modern beautiful look, increased functionality.Wooden windows are of great aesthetic appeal.They can also be used to keep the loggia nice and warm. The disadvantage of such windows is their high price, so it is advisable to use them for glazing a small balcony.Do-it-yourself rough finishing of the balcony includes waterproofing, insulation. The consistent implementation of such work allows you to answer the question of how to decorate the balcony from the inside.At this stage, on an area of all meters, you can do minor repairs yourself. First, it is better to close up all the cracks, joints, seams. After that, you can treat the surfaces with a special penetrating impregnation, moisture-proof putty, and then prime them. Then on the walls, ceiling, floor on an area of all meters, penoplex material is attached. At the same time, in order to close up the joints, it is better to bring this material from the floor to a wall height of 15 cm.A window sill on the balcony - you can learn how to make it right from the article on our website.More details about glazing options can be found in this article.Before finishing the balcony from the inside with plasterboard, lining made of wood, plastic panels, wooden floor on logs, you need to make a frame. The inner crate can be made of wood:

First, the timber is cut to length, which corresponds to the number of meters of the loggia.

After that, the wood is treated with a deep penetration antiseptic.

Then wooden blocks are attached around the perimeter with 5 mm gaps at the joints.

After that, with a step of 50 cm, the transverse elements of the crate are installed.

After installing the frame, do-it-yourself balcony repair focuses on the installation of electrical wiring inside the crate. For this, the required number of meters of wire is taken. A two-wire copper wire for lighting and a three-wire version with grounding for sockets are used.A junction box is installed at the point of their connection to the main line. Avoid twisting and straining the wires. A sufficient number of meters will allow a free cable outlet. In the case of using built-in lamps, you need to install special terminal blocks.