The balcony, loggia in the cramped conditions of small apartments is converted into a workshop, a recreation area or combined with a living room. On three square meters due to the hinged shelves, folding furniture, a full-fledged small room or a green oasis is obtained. Own piece of summer will delight all year round, suitable for relaxation, meetings with friends. But before expanding the borders of the apartment, you need to make sure the strength of the balcony slab, if necessary, strengthen the structure, strengthen the parapet, metal fence. The decoration of the balcony depends on the purpose of the future premises. In order not to waste money, before starting work, it is necessary to evaluate the physical properties of the facing materials, the characteristics of the double-glazed windows. Wrong choice will cause freezing, mold, condensation.
Depending on the type series of the house, balconies and loggias vary in shape.
On a rectangular site with good insulation, you can equip a room, an office.
Radius balconies are insulated with soft flexible materials, glazing is performed along the contour with semicircular double-glazed windows. The space is filled with plants, folding furniture.
The corners of the “boat”, “ironing” are better equipped with built-in furniture. Due to this, the loggia straightens, the usable area increases.
A convenient solution for the platform in the form of a boot is the creation of a built-in cabinet for storage of a stepladder, vacuum cleaner in the protruding part. The remaining rectangular space accommodates small furniture.
On the balcony in the shape of a "scarf" in the protruding corner, you can build shelves or a corner table, wardrobe.
The radius wall from the front side is played out with a round table or a rounded chair.
Types of glazing
The most popular glazing method is plastic windows. Sashes conveniently open and close, the profile does not deform, does not fade, does not need tinting. Even budget double-glazed windows reliably isolate from noise, cold. The thin aluminum profile weighs less and darkens the room. Rigid and lightweight constructions are the best option for expanding the space due to the removal of the balcony, glazing of long platforms. Wooden frames withstand large frosts, maintain a microclimate in the room, hold high and low frequency sounds. Designs do not deform at temperature changes, reduce the amount of carbon dioxide coming from the atmosphere.
Due to the various fittings, the frames differ in the way they are opened.
Types of Casement Windows
Casement Type
The properties
1
Deaf
Do not open, combine with other types, reduce the cost of construction
2
Swivel
Opens inward, easy to clean, suitable for installing horizontal blinds. But on narrow balconies, they take up a lot of space when open
3
Sliding
Save space, do not slam when gusts of wind, move independently of each other. Sliding systems retain heat worse than rotary systems.
4
Swing-out
During ventilation, the air flow passes at the top of the frame, there is no draft
5
Frameless glazing
Due to the tight fit of the wings in spring and autumn, the balcony is 8-10 degrees warmer than on the street. In winter, the temperature is outside the street by 2-3 degrees
Cold glazing
Single glass frames do not isolate heat; the temperature on the balcony will be several degrees outside. The windows are blown out, they do not protect well enough from noise. The option is suitable for non-residential premises, you can live on such a balcony, you can grow plants only in the warm season. New homes for rent with glazed loggias. If the site will not be used as a full-fledged living area, the walls are sheathed with insulation up to 50 mm thick. Lightweight frames are suitable for installation in Khrushchev and houses with worn-out plates. To expand the balcony block, the window structure is carried outside the balcony, mounted on brackets welded to the railing. On 30 additional centimeters, wide window sills, a built-in table or a bar counter are installed on each side.
Warm glazing
Due to double-glazed windows and wall insulation, a small but full room is created. Warm glazing protects from wind, cold, noise. On the loggia, which overlooks the courtyard with a children's town or on a busy highway, it is good to relax at any time of the day. In winter, the balcony area maintains a comfortable climate for indoor plants.After warm glazing and warming, you can use the balcony all year or combine with the room, with or without demolition of the partition. On a small area, additional heating is not required, heat comes from the adjoining room through the balcony door. To heat a large balcony, an electric floor is mounted under the screed. Warm glazing has drawbacks. Massive double-glazed windows are dangerous to use on shabby remote and built-in structures. Glazing a loggia on the top floor, for example, nine-story building, will cost more. It is necessary to make a roof that will provide thermal insulation and protection against moisture.
Trim requirements
Before finishing work, they insulate surfaces that do not border on heated rooms. Extruded polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, mineral wool have good thermal insulation characteristics and light weight. In order to protect the insulation from mold and moisture, the surface is coated with penofol. Wall insulation is saved by sandwich panels with a polymer coating, which does not need decorative decoration. Plywood is laid on the floor under a tile, cork, linoleum or logs under a board and laminate. A cement-sand screed overloads a reinforced concrete slab; it is not recommended for balconies in Khrushchev. When choosing materials for decorative finishes it is necessary to consider:
resistance to difficult operating conditions (ultraviolet, humidity);
heat insulating and sound insulating properties;
appointment of the future premises.
Moisture resistance
Due to the tightness of the plastic windows, the air exchange between the street and the space deteriorates. Additionally, moisture from indoor plants saturates the air. In order to prevent mold and condensation, wall-mounted inlet valves are mounted, they protect the insulation with penofol. The constantly inhabited balcony is sheathed with materials with low water absorption of 0.5-1% of the volume.Grooved chipboard, tile, gypsum board, linoleum, and PVC panels are not deformed during alternate wetting and drying. When buying a laminate, you need to make sure that it is moisture resistant.
Putty allows moisture and cold. To avoid bridges of cold and condensation, joints, cracks in the floor slabs are sealed.
Heat resistance
The indicator determines the ability of building materials to withstand thermal stresses, not to collapse, not to lose strength during heating and cooling. On the sunny side, a lot of thermal energy penetrates through the windows, the lining is heated. On the glazed balcony, the materials do not undergo sharp temperature changes, there are no plastic deformations, the structure remains stable.
Frost resistance
The physical and mechanical properties of the cladding depend on the number of freeze / thaw cycles. The indicator is affected by the structure and water absorption of the material. Plastic panels, lining almost do not absorb moisture, retain strength. It is recommended to sheathe the floor on a cold balcony with frost-resistant linoleum, which will maintain elasticity on an unheated loggia. For wall decoration, frost-resistant plaster is suitable, which does not crack at low temperatures, does not swell in the thaw and off-season. The outer surfaces of the balcony are sheathed with aluminum or vinyl siding, galvanized corrugated board.
The choice of material for decoration
The main task of facing the inner surfaces is to create a cozy room. For a well-insulated mini-room, they design, choose the appropriate finish. The cold loggia is sheathed with materials resistant to temperature fluctuations. The perception of space is affected by the texture, color of the lining. Visually increase the narrow balcony area with light shades and glossy surfaces. For those who do not like plain walls, fine-grained materials are suitable. During insulation, the height of the balcony block decreases.This disadvantage is corrected by the same light color of the walls and ceiling, contrasting tone and polished floor surface. A long shallow balcony visually expand the materials with a transverse pattern.
The same surface texture makes the space heavier. On the balcony, smooth plaster and panels imitating torn bricks are beautifully combined. The combination of wood with tiles revives the interior.
Walls
There are many ways to decorate the walls of the balcony, the material is chosen depending on the interior style, practicality considerations.
Most popular building materials
Material
Features
1
Plastic panels
They are easy to assemble with their own hands, hide wiring, are inexpensive, well cleaned of dust, immune to moisture, fungus. Due to the imitation of brickwork, leather, fabric, stone, suitable for different design styles
2
Eurolining
Natural material always looks beautiful, maintains a natural microclimate, retains heat, improves sound insulation. Boards with cut grooves for condensate do not crack at temperature extremes, do not bend, fit tightly to each other
3
Decorative plaster
Mixtures are applied to a brick, concrete base, chipboard, condensation does not form on breathing surfaces. The technology of applying “bark beetle” and drawings on plaster by a roller are easily implemented independently. Compounds with plant fibers, silicone are not afraid of dampness. Vinyl and acrylic based mixes do not pass air well
4
Moisture-resistant drywall
Improves sound insulation, levels walls, lets air through. GKVL suitable for painting, pasting with liquid wallpaper. You can hang paintings, shelves up to 6 kg on drywall 12.5 mm
5
Fake diamond
The cement-based material is not afraid of changing the temperature regime, mechanical damage, it is easy to cut, it looks like a natural stone. Heavy lining is not recommended for loggias in old houses.
6
Bamboo
Bamboo cloths do not fade, do not exfoliate, do not attract dust. One-piece bamboo looks original, combines with wood, plaster
7
MDF panels
They are easy to install, hide base errors, you can sew up walls yourself. Laminated surfaces do not warp at low temperature differences
Ceiling
After waterproofing, processing the cracks with silicone sealant, thermal insulation, the ceiling is finished with light materials.
PVC panels.
The cladding is mounted on the ceiling or crate after rough preparation. Budget plastic is practical, easy to keep clean, and is not permeable to moisture and steam. PVC panels, when mounted on a wooden frame, due to the air gap improve thermal insulation by 20%.
Paint.
Resistant to moisture and temperature extremes, the facade paint covers the ceilings in cold areas. For the decoration of a warm balcony, acrylic and water-based compositions are used.
Wooden lining, MDF boards.
They mask the strobes for the cable, the unevenness of the base, they look beautiful and modern, they fit without gaps. Wood allows air to pass through, conserves heat, and attenuates passing sounds.
Floor
Good heat-saving characteristics of cork flooring. Cork dampens sounds, does not slip, is not covered with dust. When the floor is heated, toxic substances are not released on the sunny side of the house. The floorboard has been unchanged for decades, looks beautiful, and combines with different wall materials. Natural-based linoleum tolerates mechanical loads well, is not afraid of moisture, but can crack on a cold balcony. Laminate copes well with mechanical loads, it is used in areas where the temperature does not fall below plus 5 ° C. A pleasant to the touch carpet creates comfort on a loggia converted into a children's room or bedroom.Porcelain tile when heated on the south side of the apartment does not emit harmful compounds, does not wear out. With a floor covering with almost zero absorbency, it is possible to clad glazed areas.
Ideas for arranging a balcony
If you do not burden the balcony space with bulky objects, order built-in furniture, you can create a full-fledged mini-room for relaxation and work.
Cabinet.
The dimensions of the balconies in panel houses do not allow to turn around, but even on a small narrow platform at the end you can find a chair, hanging shelves, a desk.
Creative workshop.
For the equipment you will need a comfortable chair and a functional table, shelves. Boxes, shelves for tools are easy to build from improvised materials yourself. At the end fit a sewing machine, workbench, easel. For economical use of space, the table can be replaced with a long tabletop along the entire length of the loggia.
Winter Garden.
In the greenhouse, high humidity, so that the finishing materials are not destroyed by condensation, it is necessary to install forced-type fans or windows with automatic ventilation.
Playroom.
For young children at the end of the site they build a dollhouse or put up a tent. A small corner with a horizontal bar or a Swedish wall is organized for the student. For a comfortable temperature in the game room you need to install a warm floor. On a large loggia, you can install a transforming sofa and table.
Mini gym.
The main requirements for the room - a reliable ceiling that can withstand loads and shock-absorbing floor from cork, composite tiles. In small areas, you will have to limit yourself to one exercise machine and a warm-up area. On a long balcony there is enough space for several shells, a corner for rest from a folding table and folding chairs.
Combining a loggia / balcony with a living room
For legal reconstruction before the start of the repair, you need to get the consent of the neighbors, a notice of permission to redevelop the housing inspectorate.For a package of documents, a construction project plan is prepared, which is agreed with the Fire Inspection, SES, the architectural department, and the cultural heritage department. The most common cases of failure are an emergency condition and a building not meeting the required specifications.
Without a lengthy and costly process, you can remove the window block and door, save the window sill, the wall under the window, and the threshold. Exit to the loggia is made out in the form of an asymmetric arch. The curvilinear coating is given an original look with artificial stone, brick panels, decorative inserts. From the window sill, a table top, a bar counter, a stand for flowers, souvenirs, an aquarium is obtained. The shelves installed along the entire height of the former window opening look original.
The threshold in brick houses compensates for the bending of the balcony slab, after its dismantling the structure is weakened. In panel buildings, a concrete sill blocks the flow of cold air through the joint, demolition leads to freezing.
Balcony Styles
When choosing a direction, the purpose of the room and your own feelings are taken into account.
A loft with artificially aged surfaces, board ceilings, a wooden box instead of a pedestal, and rough shelves is suitable for an office, sleeping place, workshop.
A rustic close to nature with simple furniture, wooden and stone surfaces will relieve stress and create an illusion of calm in the recreation area.
In a workshop decorated in the style of shabby chic, against the backdrop of pastel plastered walls, it is comfortable to create for writers, artists, and home craftsmen.
Minimalism is a good option for small loggias. Light shades of the walls expand the space. On a white background, a wall with imitation of brickwork, laconic black shelves stand out well.
High-tech with clear lines lends rigor to the teenager’s workplace. The walls and ceiling are finished with plasterboard, plaster.A narrow glass table with chrome details is installed in the end part.
The white and light blue color inherent in the Scandinavian style, as it expands and cools the space of the loggia overlooking the southern part of the apartment. A cold shade can be diluted with the warm tone of a wooden lining.
Conclusion
Additional residential meters on a warm loggia unload the apartment, for some they become a place of work and relaxing holiday. With the expansion of the kitchen, it becomes possible to accommodate household appliances, to equip the dining area. Glazing, facing materials are not cheap. But you can finish the balcony yourself with inexpensive plastic panels, drywall, plaster. Combining a balcony area with a room is a financially expensive option. In any case, the added square meters are cheaper than the market value of the meter. In order to avoid troubles, when finishing the balcony, you should not violate the law on redevelopment, you need to restore the chipped edges and corners, calculate the load on the ceiling.
The balcony, loggia in the cramped conditions of small apartments is converted into a workshop, a recreation area or combined with a living room. On three square meters due to the hinged shelves, folding furniture, a full-fledged small room or a green oasis is obtained. Own piece of summer will delight all year round, suitable for relaxation, meetings with friends. But before expanding the borders of the apartment, you need to make sure the strength of the balcony slab, if necessary, strengthen the structure, strengthen the parapet, metal fence. The decoration of the balcony depends on the purpose of the future premises. In order not to waste money, before starting work, it is necessary to evaluate the physical properties of the facing materials, the characteristics of the double-glazed windows. Wrong choice will cause freezing, mold, condensation.
Content
Balconies Configuration
Depending on the type series of the house, balconies and loggias vary in shape.
Types of glazing
The most popular glazing method is plastic windows. Sashes conveniently open and close, the profile does not deform, does not fade, does not need tinting. Even budget double-glazed windows reliably isolate from noise, cold. The thin aluminum profile weighs less and darkens the room. Rigid and lightweight constructions are the best option for expanding the space due to the removal of the balcony, glazing of long platforms. Wooden frames withstand large frosts, maintain a microclimate in the room, hold high and low frequency sounds. Designs do not deform at temperature changes, reduce the amount of carbon dioxide coming from the atmosphere.
Due to the various fittings, the frames differ in the way they are opened.
Types of Casement Windows
Cold glazing
Single glass frames do not isolate heat; the temperature on the balcony will be several degrees outside. The windows are blown out, they do not protect well enough from noise. The option is suitable for non-residential premises, you can live on such a balcony, you can grow plants only in the warm season. New homes for rent with glazed loggias. If the site will not be used as a full-fledged living area, the walls are sheathed with insulation up to 50 mm thick. Lightweight frames are suitable for installation in Khrushchev and houses with worn-out plates. To expand the balcony block, the window structure is carried outside the balcony, mounted on brackets welded to the railing. On 30 additional centimeters, wide window sills, a built-in table or a bar counter are installed on each side.
Warm glazing
Due to double-glazed windows and wall insulation, a small but full room is created. Warm glazing protects from wind, cold, noise. On the loggia, which overlooks the courtyard with a children's town or on a busy highway, it is good to relax at any time of the day. In winter, the balcony area maintains a comfortable climate for indoor plants.After warm glazing and warming, you can use the balcony all year or combine with the room, with or without demolition of the partition. On a small area, additional heating is not required, heat comes from the adjoining room through the balcony door. To heat a large balcony, an electric floor is mounted under the screed. Warm glazing has drawbacks. Massive double-glazed windows are dangerous to use on shabby remote and built-in structures. Glazing a loggia on the top floor, for example, nine-story building, will cost more. It is necessary to make a roof that will provide thermal insulation and protection against moisture.
Trim requirements
Before finishing work, they insulate surfaces that do not border on heated rooms. Extruded polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, mineral wool have good thermal insulation characteristics and light weight. In order to protect the insulation from mold and moisture, the surface is coated with penofol. Wall insulation is saved by sandwich panels with a polymer coating, which does not need decorative decoration. Plywood is laid on the floor under a tile, cork, linoleum or logs under a board and laminate. A cement-sand screed overloads a reinforced concrete slab; it is not recommended for balconies in Khrushchev.
When choosing materials for decorative finishes it is necessary to consider:
Moisture resistance
Due to the tightness of the plastic windows, the air exchange between the street and the space deteriorates. Additionally, moisture from indoor plants saturates the air. In order to prevent mold and condensation, wall-mounted inlet valves are mounted, they protect the insulation with penofol. The constantly inhabited balcony is sheathed with materials with low water absorption of 0.5-1% of the volume.Grooved chipboard, tile, gypsum board, linoleum, and PVC panels are not deformed during alternate wetting and drying. When buying a laminate, you need to make sure that it is moisture resistant.
Heat resistance
The indicator determines the ability of building materials to withstand thermal stresses, not to collapse, not to lose strength during heating and cooling. On the sunny side, a lot of thermal energy penetrates through the windows, the lining is heated. On the glazed balcony, the materials do not undergo sharp temperature changes, there are no plastic deformations, the structure remains stable.
Frost resistance
The physical and mechanical properties of the cladding depend on the number of freeze / thaw cycles. The indicator is affected by the structure and water absorption of the material. Plastic panels, lining almost do not absorb moisture, retain strength. It is recommended to sheathe the floor on a cold balcony with frost-resistant linoleum, which will maintain elasticity on an unheated loggia. For wall decoration, frost-resistant plaster is suitable, which does not crack at low temperatures, does not swell in the thaw and off-season. The outer surfaces of the balcony are sheathed with aluminum or vinyl siding, galvanized corrugated board.
The choice of material for decoration
The main task of facing the inner surfaces is to create a cozy room. For a well-insulated mini-room, they design, choose the appropriate finish. The cold loggia is sheathed with materials resistant to temperature fluctuations. The perception of space is affected by the texture, color of the lining. Visually increase the narrow balcony area with light shades and glossy surfaces. For those who do not like plain walls, fine-grained materials are suitable. During insulation, the height of the balcony block decreases.This disadvantage is corrected by the same light color of the walls and ceiling, contrasting tone and polished floor surface. A long shallow balcony visually expand the materials with a transverse pattern.
Walls
There are many ways to decorate the walls of the balcony, the material is chosen depending on the interior style, practicality considerations.
Most popular building materials
Ceiling
After waterproofing, processing the cracks with silicone sealant, thermal insulation, the ceiling is finished with light materials.
The cladding is mounted on the ceiling or crate after rough preparation. Budget plastic is practical, easy to keep clean, and is not permeable to moisture and steam. PVC panels, when mounted on a wooden frame, due to the air gap improve thermal insulation by 20%.
Resistant to moisture and temperature extremes, the facade paint covers the ceilings in cold areas. For the decoration of a warm balcony, acrylic and water-based compositions are used.
They mask the strobes for the cable, the unevenness of the base, they look beautiful and modern, they fit without gaps. Wood allows air to pass through, conserves heat, and attenuates passing sounds.
Floor
Good heat-saving characteristics of cork flooring. Cork dampens sounds, does not slip, is not covered with dust. When the floor is heated, toxic substances are not released on the sunny side of the house. The floorboard has been unchanged for decades, looks beautiful, and combines with different wall materials. Natural-based linoleum tolerates mechanical loads well, is not afraid of moisture, but can crack on a cold balcony. Laminate copes well with mechanical loads, it is used in areas where the temperature does not fall below plus 5 ° C. A pleasant to the touch carpet creates comfort on a loggia converted into a children's room or bedroom.Porcelain tile when heated on the south side of the apartment does not emit harmful compounds, does not wear out. With a floor covering with almost zero absorbency, it is possible to clad glazed areas.
Ideas for arranging a balcony
If you do not burden the balcony space with bulky objects, order built-in furniture, you can create a full-fledged mini-room for relaxation and work.
The dimensions of the balconies in panel houses do not allow to turn around, but even on a small narrow platform at the end you can find a chair, hanging shelves, a desk.
For the equipment you will need a comfortable chair and a functional table, shelves. Boxes, shelves for tools are easy to build from improvised materials yourself. At the end fit a sewing machine, workbench, easel. For economical use of space, the table can be replaced with a long tabletop along the entire length of the loggia.
In the greenhouse, high humidity, so that the finishing materials are not destroyed by condensation, it is necessary to install forced-type fans or windows with automatic ventilation.
For young children at the end of the site they build a dollhouse or put up a tent. A small corner with a horizontal bar or a Swedish wall is organized for the student. For a comfortable temperature in the game room you need to install a warm floor. On a large loggia, you can install a transforming sofa and table.
The main requirements for the room - a reliable ceiling that can withstand loads and shock-absorbing floor from cork, composite tiles. In small areas, you will have to limit yourself to one exercise machine and a warm-up area. On a long balcony there is enough space for several shells, a corner for rest from a folding table and folding chairs.
Combining a loggia / balcony with a living room
For legal reconstruction before the start of the repair, you need to get the consent of the neighbors, a notice of permission to redevelop the housing inspectorate.For a package of documents, a construction project plan is prepared, which is agreed with the Fire Inspection, SES, the architectural department, and the cultural heritage department. The most common cases of failure are an emergency condition and a building not meeting the required specifications.
Without a lengthy and costly process, you can remove the window block and door, save the window sill, the wall under the window, and the threshold. Exit to the loggia is made out in the form of an asymmetric arch. The curvilinear coating is given an original look with artificial stone, brick panels, decorative inserts. From the window sill, a table top, a bar counter, a stand for flowers, souvenirs, an aquarium is obtained. The shelves installed along the entire height of the former window opening look original.
Balcony Styles
When choosing a direction, the purpose of the room and your own feelings are taken into account.
Conclusion
Additional residential meters on a warm loggia unload the apartment, for some they become a place of work and relaxing holiday. With the expansion of the kitchen, it becomes possible to accommodate household appliances, to equip the dining area. Glazing, facing materials are not cheap. But you can finish the balcony yourself with inexpensive plastic panels, drywall, plaster. Combining a balcony area with a room is a financially expensive option. In any case, the added square meters are cheaper than the market value of the meter. In order to avoid troubles, when finishing the balcony, you should not violate the law on redevelopment, you need to restore the chipped edges and corners, calculate the load on the ceiling.