Modern people have equated loggias and regular balconiesin their lexical meaning, although these are two quite big differences. A balcony does not have walls located on the right and left sides. From the very moment of its appearance, the loggia looked like a solid slab, whose dimensions go beyond the building. In the past, it served as an observation post or a place from which the leader, protected by vigilant guards, spoke. Then began a period of gradual transition from massiveness and strength to elegance. The revolutionary solution to this issue took place thanks to the Renaissance.
Loggia insulation scheme.It is interesting that even then some citizens decided to use the loggia to increase the area suitable for living. The primary reason for this: the loggia (which was beneficial to people) was not subject to taxes. Now a cozy balcony or loggia is used as a place where you can read a book, admire the beauty of your favorite courtyard, and also as a room that you can arrange as you wish. For example, organize an office for work or study there. In general, there is a place for creativity even in such a small area. Before insulating the loggia, you need to look for suitable thermal insulation materials in stores. You need to be guided not only by your own funds, but also by the recommendations of friends who have insulated the loggia themselves. The quality of the future actions of the novice experimenter will depend on the success of this stage. The highest effect is obtained when the insulation of the balcony and finishing is done from the outside, and then, without fail, from the inside. However, when the apartment is located high, it is better to entrust the facade work to professionals. You can do the internal insulation of the loggia yourself.
Parapet - a farewell greeting to the cold
Balcony extension device. Materials:
- polystyrene (or mineral wool);
- wooden beams;
- wooden boards;
- self-tapping screws;
- concrete;
- mounting foam;
- drywall;
- dowels.
Tools:
- level;
- saw;
- knife.
Insulation of balcony walls with mineral wool.The railing of any balcony is a kind of conductor of noise effects and dirt. Through it, particles of fine gray dust, as well as wind and cold, penetrate into the loggia. To say goodbye to these irritating factors, you need to eliminate the cracks in the parapet with your own hands. With the help of bricks and concrete mix, you can quickly seal the holes in the fence created from reinforced concrete material. If the fence is made of metal or does not converge with the ceilings located above, then more powerful adjustments are required. With your own hands, the walls and fence are laid out of brick or foam blocks. It is advisable to insulate the front side of the parapet with decorated panels or use American siding made of weather-resistant plastic. Return to the table of contents</a>
Glass: everything is visible and warm
Warm glazing scheme.The more glass in a plastic double-glazed window, the better the insulation will be - this is what ordinary people think, but they are mistaken. It is not about quantity at all. The highest quality double-glazed window is one in which the glass itself has different thicknesses and is placed at different distances. Reflective or tempered glass will be chosen - it does not matter. However, if the owners have children, here is a piece of advice: there is no better glass than laminated glass. If an impact occurs, it will not break and no one will be hurt. Only a crack left inside the film will testify to the incident. Double-glazed windows are mainly divided into single-chamber or heavy multi-chamber. The latter provide excellent protection from the cold and noisy sounds of the street, but they weigh a lot. Practitioners recommend insulating the loggia with single-chamber double-glazed windows, while one of the glasses should have a special shell that saves heat. It will be cheap, and the glass will be transparent, which is pleasant to the eyes. When choosing the type of profile, it is preferable to choose with an O-shaped type of reinforcement (the metal component is located along all 4 walls). This will provide insulation and strength. It is better to entrust the installation process when glazing a loggia to professionals. Return to contents</a>
Avoid the cold will help warm the flooring
Scheme of insulation of the balcony floor.The guide on how to do it correctly will help you avoid transitional (from cold to warm) bridges. You can insulate your balcony with your own hands using the electric floors that are becoming fashionable. You can get rid of cold bridges yourself by insulating the floor on a wooden structure. To implement the latter method, clear the floor surface of unnecessary elements and determine the types of materials that you cannot do without when insulating the balcony floor. First, you need to make and fix horizontal beams that will serve as a reliable support for the floor - logs. The bars are limited to a length that corresponds to the length of the balcony. Then fix a couple of boards, placing them at the edges. There are minor irregularities in the floor - you need to seal them with materials at hand, for example, plywood. Between the outer bars, place and pull even lines of threads well. They will serve as a kind of beacon to indicate the place where you need to fix the bar in the middle. The foam is cut into pieces, then placed in the middle of the logs. For greater reliability, a gypsum mixture is sometimes used. When the thermal insulation material is of the usual type (mineral wool), then it must be laid evenly, without haste. Completing the facing image of the floor when insulating a good balcony, the boards must be cut to the desired width. Later, they are tightly placed and firmly fixed to the wooden logs. Those who want to follow innovations will buy electric floors. To insulate the loggia at the highest level, it is necessary to level the existing floor plane. Next - screed. The cable intended to heat the floor is fixed directly on the concrete screed. Everything is done - you can fill it with a self-leveling solution, which should make the heating elements invisible. The thickness of this layer is about 15 mm. Do not forget about calculating the power of the heating cable (100 W per m²). You will like insulation with such a new-fangled method, since electric floors are able to maintain the required temperature. Another plus - the air inside the loggia is warmed up. Return to the table of contents</a>
Insulate even walls - and there won't be another problem
Technology of insulation of balcony walls.If the future balcony is planned as a mini-cafe, an office for the head of the family or a room for yoga, then it is necessary to choose materials that are harmless to humans when insulating. Perhaps this will again be foam plastic (it will not give off heat to the cold) and mineral wool. Next, you need to make a lathing from wooden beams (3x4 cm - the section required for wall insulation). The spaces formed between the fixed beams are filled with fragments of foam plastic. This lightweight thermal insulation material is fixed with glue, you can also screw it on. By implementing a strong barrier from cold bridges, you yourself determine how thick the thermal insulation layer will ultimately be. The main criterion influencing this parameter is the climate features in a particular region. People living in the neighboring apartment also play an important role. If they cannot live without a cozy balcony and have taken care of insulating it with their own hands, then those who are just starting this important process can insulate their balcony with a thin layer of foam. No need for extra. The gaps formed between the foam and the wooden lathing and the places where these objects are combined must be carefully sealed with foam. By the way, it also plays a role in insulating the balcony. Manufacturers claim that its porosity will save heat. When working with heat-insulating layers, it is necessary to take into account and conduct cables that will subsequently be needed to connect the light and some electrical appliances. In the dark, the balcony is not very cozy. Maximalists who want to insulate the balcony with a five will have to buy foil. This reflective material should be firmly placed on top of the foam layer. Then the walls are sheathed. Plastic or wooden lining will cope with this internal work, you can also use plasterboard. The facing finish will require moisture-resistant plasterboard. When the owners destroy the partitions, thus increasing the living area, the balcony finish will be similar to that usually present in the rooms. Return to the table of contents</a>
Insulation of a high ceiling - and your hand can reach there
Scheme of insulation of the balcony ceiling.The owners of the balcony should also be treated with respect. Without paying due attention to the upper plane, you can lose approximately 15% of the heat. Insulating the ceiling is a must when protecting the loggia from the cold. If you do not insulate the balcony ceiling yourself, you may later find liquid appearing during the condensation of steam. It is formed due to a lower temperature compared to other elements of the loggia. You can insulate the ceiling yourself economically: the same cotton wool and foam will do. They are economical and lightweight, the main thing is not to make mistakes. Transverse wooden joists will help to insulate the ceiling. They are scrupulously screwed to the flat surface of the ceiling. It is necessary to control the placement of the wooden beam - a level will help. Foam rectangles are beautifully laid between the beams and fixed with dowels - for strength. Again, inspect the joints of the materials for cracks. These shortcomings are corrected with foam, then they take on the cladding. The thickness of the layer used for thermal insulation of the ceiling can be thin. This is acceptable when the neighbors upstairs have thoroughly insulated floors. If there is an attic or roof of the house above the ceiling of the loggia, then more insulation material will be needed. The thickness of the ceiling insulation will be 15 cm. When insulating the ceiling, there is no need to rush. You need to be meticulous and double-check everything several times. Self-control will help to avoid mistakes. You need to follow all the recommendations tested in practice and protect the loggia from getting wet walls. After incorrect human actions, the finishing and materials that were used to keep the heat on the balcony begin to suffer.
