What can be cooked from squid: quick and tasty

Most residents use a loggia or balcony in their apartment as a pantry, smoking room, a place for drying clothes, and in the worst case, as a place for storing unnecessary things that are a pity to throw away. Few people get the inspiration to put things in order in this room, or to give it at least some useful functionality. In most cases, this is the most useless corner in the apartment.

And if you take, for example, a large loggia, equal in size to a small kitchen, and turn it into a comfortable recreation area with an abundance of decorative leafy plants and a canary singing, or into an office where you can retire and focus on solving important issues!

In this article, you will learn how by covering a balcony or loggia with clapboard you can turn an ordinary balcony into a functional room.

So that the loggia or balcony will serve you successfully all year round, it must be insulated and equipped with a heating device. There will be no problems with the installation of heating, it is very simple to install an additional battery on the balcony and connect it to the nearest riser. You can also install a warm electric floor, as a last resort, put an ordinary electric convector.

Insulating the balcony will take longer, because a number of measures will need to be taken to seal it. First of all, you need to glaze a balcony or loggia. There will be no particular difficulties in this work if you install high-quality plastic energy-saving double-glazed windows. But the rest of the sealing issues will have to be addressed more carefully.

It is very important to get rid of drafts on the balcony. To do this, it is necessary to very scrupulously close up all the cracks in the walls, floor and ceiling. If the house is brick, then the masonry must be covered with a thin layer of plaster, since it (the masonry) can itself be a source of drafts. A variety of suitable materials can be used to fill gaps. It could be polyurethane foam, acrylic or silicone sealant, as well as dry building mixtures for plastering.

After filling the cracks and plastering brick walls you can start additional insulation... It is a mistake to believe that only walls need to be insulated. In order for your efforts to be crowned with success, it is also necessary to insulate the floor and ceiling. A wind barrier can be used as an additional means of insulation. If you stretch the cellophane film on the floor, walls and ceiling, it will serve as an additional protection against the penetration of cold air from the outside.

The next stage of work will be the creation of a metal frame from profiles for drywall. Mineral insulation or polystyrene and, if necessary, electrical wiring must be inserted between the wall and the frame.

The choice of material for cladding a balcony

Further improvement of the balcony can be done in two ways. It can be completely sheathed with drywall, and then pasted over with wallpaper, or you can finish it with some kind of slatted material, for example, plastic or clapboard. Plastic works well for such purposes, but it is too cold a material, so it will be of very little use in winter. Another thing is lining made of natural wood. It can create a feeling of warmth and comfort at any time of the year.

How to properly sew a balcony with clapboard?

If you decide to sheathe the balcony with clapboard, then the frame needs reinforcement and the creation of a base on which wooden slats will be directly attached. OSB (Oriented Strand Board) is best suited for this.

Having chosen the thinnest OSB, which should be no more than 6 mm, we sheathe the walls and ceiling with it, thus creating the basis for the lining. We also lay OSB on the floor as a base, and already on top of it it will be possible to lay laminate or linoleum. If the floors are very crooked, they need to be leveled with mineral insulation, or a thicker layer of OSB should be laid.

Having done all the preparatory work, you can start installing the lining. It is fastened very simply, using self-tapping screws and special clamps. The rail is cut to the desired length and attached to the base, clinging to one another. On one side of the rail there is a protrusion, and on the other a groove, with the help of which, as a result, a seamless connection is obtained. The corner is formed with special corner glazing beads, or covered with a narrow strip, which is stuffed on both sides of the corner.

Final touches

Like many others building materials, lining made of wood needs protection from adverse weather conditions and mechanical damage. To protect and give shine, use a high-quality varnish, which is applied to the lining with a roller, brush or spray.

That's the whole process of installing the lining with your own hands. It remains to finish the little things: install sockets and switches and put furniture for rest or work, decorating the balcony with greenery. Now the renovated balcony is ready for use, and your apartment has acquired a few more square meters useful area!

It has become a practice for apartment residents to expand their square meters by combining a balcony with a living space. However, such redevelopment and accession entails a number of issues that will have to be resolved in the process of rework.

The article will talk about combining a balcony with an apartment, we will analyze the practical part of the issue, from the removal of the partition, the features of insulation and the choice of materials to the design of the combined room. We will also touch on the documents required for approval in order to legitimize the redevelopment, and consider the most successful combination of a balcony with a room, photo materials will clearly demonstrate interesting solutions for rework.

Where to start unification

First of all, you need to decide what the combination of a balcony with a room or kitchen gives you. The unification of the balcony has no obvious technical obstacles, and people have long been practicing increasing the room at the expense of a balcony or loggias. The union will expand the room, make it spacious. Before starting the rework, you should settle legal issues - collect documents and legalize the attached balcony, so you will need:

• fill out applications for redevelopment and unification of the balcony;
• warrant or certificate of ownership;
• written consent to the unification of the premises of capable family members;
• acts of consent to join from neighbors, from below and from above, if the balcony slab is common;
• for municipal housing - the consent of the chief engineer or the head of the DEZ for the combination and redevelopment;
• conclusion on the possibility of joining and redeveloping from the authorities for the protection of architectural monuments, if the apartment is located in a house that is of cultural or architectural value.

On the basis of the listed documents, collect the "Permitting package" for merging:

1. The technical passport of the apartment issued in the BTI.
2. A project carried out by a licensed design organization.
3. Conclusion of the fire service, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia on the possibility of making a combined balcony.
4. Conclusion of the SES, Rospotrebnadzor.
5. Coordination for integration with the architectural organization.
6. A copy, notarized, of the certificate of ownership of the premises.
7. Permits for combining REU ( management company or HOA).
8. Agreement with a licensed organization for the implementation of technical supervision of the work.

Reconstruction and connection step by step

When permission to merge has been received, you can begin to implement your plans in practice.

Balcony, combined with the room, photo opening

Preliminary work

At this stage, it is important to observe the technology of insulation and alteration of the balcony:

• It is necessary to start the union with external insulation and parapet sheathing.
• Further, high-quality, 2-3-chamber glazing is important.
• The next stage of combining is to eliminate all drafts by sealing the cracks with polyurethane foam.
• Waterproof the room with bituminous mastic.
• Heating issue solved with the help of electric heaters or underfloor heating. Central heating when combined, it is impossible to take out onto the balcony.
• Thermal insulation is carried out in 2 layers of insulation.

Getting started with the internal rework

Combining a balcony with a living room, bedroom, nursery is carried out using the same technology. Next, we will look at how to connect the balcony to the room, the photos will help us illustrate some of the difficult points of joining.

Redevelopment of the balcony into a room, original connection and design of the opening

Removal of the opening

The unification of the premises begins with the dismantling of the balcony block. After the frames are removed, the window quarter is cut down, which allows you to align the slopes and make the opening wider by 50-70 mm. Note that the opening can be made in several ways.

The simplest combination of rooms is to leave the opening in its original form, removing only the balcony block.

Combining the balcony, taking out the frame and the door block.

The second way to unite is to complete the load-bearing column. This alignment is not very different from the first, but it is of fundamental importance if you are not allowed to completely remove the opening. A project with a column, which will serve as part of the load-bearing wall, will help to obtain a permit for joining the balcony by strengthening the structure.

Combining a balcony with the installation of a load-bearing column

Breaking the opening together with part of the load-bearing wall is the most difficult option, both in collecting permits for joining the balcony to the room, and technically, but this method significantly increases the space. The battery that is installed under the window should be move to an adjacent wall.

Combined balcony as a continuation of the room; part of the load-bearing wall is hollowed out to join the space

Threshold and floor

After the opening is removed, the question arises of what to do with the threshold and the floor, how to correctly align the planes. The wooden threshold is easy to dismantle, but the concrete one will have to tinker with. When it is not possible to obtain permission for the complete connection and dismantling of the threshold, you can build a ramp, and the way out of the situation will be to raise the floor from the side of the balcony and build a low podium. If the agreement for the union is nevertheless obtained, then the concrete floor is hollowed out with a perforator and compared with the total floor surface.

Combining a balcony with a room, a photo of a podium - a multilevel floor device if it is impossible to remove a threshold

Suitable for heating the connected room infrared warm floor, if the covering is made of laminate, and under the tiles it is optimal to use cable mats, laid with a snake, for uniform heating of the room.

Electricity

How to solve the problem:

1. Luminaires with moisture resistant protection are acceptable.
2. In the opening, you can hang lamps on movable mounts with a directional light on the combined area.
3. To connect household appliances, a recess is grooved in the corner of the opening and a pipe is mounted, with a section of 30 mm, into which the electric cord is pulled. In the room, it is connected with a plug to the socket, on the balcony the wire ends with a socket for 2-5 sockets.
4. On the ceiling, the luminaires are connected with a flexible wire and brought out to a plug near the outlet.

On the combined balcony, the power supply looks like an extension cord and does not require approval.

Combining a balcony with a room

A balcony as a continuation of a room: bedroom, living room or nursery, does not have any special requirements for renovation. It is enough to choose the right facing material for the combined area so that the finish does not stand out from the overall design, or vice versa, to create an eclectic interior - an oasis, a spectacular and bright corner. For the harmonious connection of the bedroom, it is preferable to sheathe the walls with plasterboard and paste over with wallpaper. The combined part contains a dressing table or a study, and a closed one will also be appropriate there. wardrobe system with a large mirror.

Bedroom combined with a balcony, photo dressing table and places to stay.

If combining the balcony is conceived as a continuation of the children's room, it is important to pay attention to lighting and give preference to washing, environmentally friendly materials.

Combining a balcony with a play area

Combining the balcony and the nursery requires additional safety measures: put bars on the windows or provide fittings that the child cannot open.

On the balcony, combined with the hall, it is advisable to arrange a dining area. Choose compact furniture, folding chairs. In the corner for relaxation, you can install an armchair-bed or a built-in trestle bed with an opening lid, and inside you can hide things that are not in demand.

Combined living room with balcony

Combining a balcony with a kitchen

Combining a balcony with a kitchen has a number of subtleties. Let's take a closer look at what features the redevelopment of a kitchen with a balcony has, a few photos will suggest interesting solutions to organize the best ergonomics of the space. When transferring the working area of ​​the kitchen to the attached balcony, repairs should begin with the water supply and sewerage connections. For this, the walls are gouged, where the pipes are hidden. A separate box is built for the sewage system, since the pipes must be at least 50 mm in diameter, without kinks and sharp bends, and lie at an inclination of 1 cm per meter. When communications are brought to the attached balcony, they are sewn up with plasterboard. In addition, you should pay attention to the wiring, divide the connection of household appliances into several sockets. Gas stove it is forbidden to install on a combined balcony.

Kitchen connected to the balcony, photo of the working and dining area

Combining the balcony and the kitchen allows you to get an additional combined space from 2 small rooms, which must be divided into zones. You can zone the union using color or contrasting furniture elements.

Kitchen combined with a balcony, photo of space zoning

If only the balcony block is dismantled for connection, then the opening can be made in the form of a bar counter.

Combining the kitchen with the balcony, photo of the bar counter, which is part of the window sill

It is better to order built-in furniture for the kitchen, this will allow you to use the attached space to the maximum.

Combining a balcony with the main area requires time and financial investment, but at the same time you acquire additional meters of housing, combining significantly expands the space of small rooms.

Interior decoration of the balcony is an event that is used to create a comfortable atmosphere in a given room and to expand the living area of ​​an apartment. Work begins with the choice of material. It should be noted right away that whichever option is chosen, it is important that the material is of high quality, therefore it is better to refuse dubious purchases in the markets and from hands.

This material is a planed board with natural moisture. There is a subspecies of building material called eurolining. These are better products with complex geometric profiles and ventilation ducts. At the same time, the material is more demanding on the level of humidity in the room and the quality of the rough surface.

Lining advantages:

1. Environmental friendliness. The material is 100% made from natural raw materials, which does not pose a danger to the health of people of any age category.
2. Long service life. On condition correct installation and using the lining can last up to 20 years.
3. Ease of installation. The products are equipped with a connection system, so installation does not take much time. A beginner master will cope with finishing the balcony in 1 day.
4. Additional insulation. Despite the fact that the lining is a simple finishing material, it insignificantly protects the room from noise and retains heat.

Installation of lining

Before sheathe the balcony inside, you should stock up on the following tools and consumables:

• Screwdriver, hammer drill or impact drill, jigsaw.
• Square, building level, tape measure.
• Hammer or ax, nails 3 cm, dowel-nails up to 6x100, wood screws.

Then you need to carry out the following preparatory work:

1. Remove the old coating and thoroughly clean the base. Tap it with a hammer to identify weak fragments, they must be removed, and the resulting potholes should be covered with cement-sand mortar or putty.
2. Check the evenness of the walls. In case of severe blockage, it is recommended to apply a rough plaster layer, on which the lining will subsequently be attached.
3. Soak each product thoroughly with a special antiseptic compound.

Next is the installation of the lathing. This stage is laborious and responsible, so it is worth talking about it separately. The first step is to carry out the markup, the lines should be located 50-70 cm from each other and 10 cm from the walls. After that, you need to cut the wooden blocks and drill holes in them for fasteners with a step of 15 cm. Using dowels and self-tapping screws, the lathing is installed on the wall.

Now you can start plating inside the balcony with your own hands:

• You need to take the first element, lean it against the crate and fix it on it by driving a nail in the middle of the spike.
• Then you need to take the second element and connect it to the first by inserting the spike into the groove.
• Thus, finish the entire surface.
• In front of the area near the walls and ceiling, the material will have to be cut with a jigsaw.

On a note! You can also use clamps instead of nails. Then the mount will turn out to be invisible.

MDF panels

For balcony cladding, MDF panels are also used, which are fibreboard... Modern construction market offers several types of this material: flat products with protective polymer coating on the front side and panels with embossed patterns.

The advantages are as follows:

1. To cover the balcony with your own hands, you will need a minimum of money, time and effort.
2. Serious preparatory work is not required.
3. Behind the panels, you can hide electrical wiring or other utilities, you can also lay insulation.
4. The material is produced in a wide range of colors and sizes.

Installation work

Sheathing of balconies from the inside begins with the preparation of the tool and the installation of the battens. It should be noted that this material is somewhat similar to lining, therefore it requires exactly the same preparatory steps. The only difference is that the panels can be installed on a batten made of wooden battens or metal profiles. The installation process is as follows:

• The first element is installed in the corner. It is attached to the clamp, but if such fasteners were not at hand, then a regular construction bracket will do.
• The next panel is installed in the groove of the previous one and is also fixed.
• After finishing the entire wall, plugs are installed on the edges of the coating.

Plastic panels

To sheathe a balcony inside with your own hands, plastic panels are sometimes used. This building material is inexpensive and easy to install, so it has gained popularity among domestic users. It consists of PVC sheets equipped with a joint system.

Advantages of plastic material for finishing loggias and balconies:

1. Wide range of colors. Thanks to this feature, you can create a unique interior on the balcony.
2. Easy maintenance. It is enough to wipe such a coating with a damp cloth or sponge.
3. It can last up to 30 years. At the same time, it is resistant to temperature extremes, water and sunlight.
4. Low cost. Plastic panels are currently considered the most affordable option for interior cladding of balconies.

Installation technology

The preparatory work is exactly the same as in the previous cases:

• Removing the old coating and preparing the rough surface.
• Measurements of the area, marking, installation of the lathing.
• Purchase of material with a 10% stock.
• Acquisition of sound and heat insulation.

The first profile is fixed with a self-tapping screw on the ceiling lathing. You need to start from the top to make it easier to work. After that, you need to fix the profile in the center, which will be the guide. Under the installed elements, wiring is laid, as well as insulation. The entire ceiling is covered with panels using a tongue-and-groove system. The last panel will most likely need to be trimmed. Walls are trimmed similarly. Plastic plugs are used to decorate the corners.

Drywall

Sheathing the balcony with plasterboard is permissible only if painting, decorative plastering is carried out in the future, liquid wallpaper etc. This material is quite popular for interior decoration, despite the fragility and soiling.

The positive aspects of drywall are as follows:

1. Relatively low cost.
2. Fast and easy installation.

Important! This material is made on the basis of gypsum, therefore, it requires preliminary waterproofing.

Sheathing of balconies and loggias with plasterboard

Before sheathe the balcony with plasterboard, you need to prepare the surface and install the crate:

• Draw a line in the center of the ceiling and several perpendicular to it.
• Draw lines around the perimeter of the room at a distance of 5 cm from the ceiling.
• Mark on the ceiling after 1/3 of the length of the building material sheet.
• Cut metal profiles to the right sizes scissors.
• Fix the guides on the wall using dowels, and on the ceiling by means of an anchor connection.
• Starting from the corners of the balcony, install the profiles on the ceiling, and then on the walls on the dowels - in increments of 40 cm on the ceiling and 60 cm on the wall.

After that, you can start laying heat and sound insulation materials and, if necessary, engineering communications. The cut sheets of insulation are installed between the crate and the rough surface. The resulting structure is covered with foil, securing it with a stapler. Now you can sheathe the inside of the balcony with plasterboard.

The procedure for carrying out the work is the same as in the case of the crate: first, work is carried out on the ceiling, then on the walls.

1. The first step is to prepare the material. To do this, the sheets are cut to the required dimensions and chamfered from them (they slightly grind the edge so that later it will be easier to putty the seam).
2. The first element is mounted 20 cm from the corner on self-tapping screws in 15 cm increments. The hat must be sunk into the surface, but it is important not to overdo it so that the sheet does not crack.
3. The rest of the sheets are installed in the same way on the main area of ​​the ceiling and walls. At the end, small fragments of material are mounted in the corners and they begin to putty.
4. A primer is applied to the finished coating, and after it dries, a thin layer of putty is applied.
5. While the material is still not dry, a serpyanka is laid on it and covered with a thicker layer of putty.
6. At the end, the surfaces are primed again to prepare for further finishing.

Siding

Usually this material is used for facades, but it is permissible to use it inside the balcony. Products are made on the basis of vinyl, therefore, they have the following advantages:

• A good indicator of resistance to weathering (precipitation, wind).
• The absence of substances harmful to human health in the composition.
• A good level of ventilation, which ensures the timely removal of moisture from under the coating.
• The material well tolerates exposure to high and low temperatures, therefore installation work can be held at any time of the year.
• Possibility of spot repair.

Installation of siding inside the balcony

Preparatory work, tools and consumables are exactly the same as in previous cases. Inside, the balcony may be damp, so it is better to treat all surfaces with an antiseptic compound and lay a waterproofing material.

Siding installation begins with the installation of the frame for the panels. Wooden slats are stuffed on the ceiling at a distance of 40 cm, on the wall - 50 cm. The cross-slats are mounted at a distance that is 5 cm less than the length of the element. The lathing is attached to the dowels.

You should know! Before starting the installation, it is recommended to treat the crate with an antiseptic.

Then the insulation is laid. A thermal insulator is mounted in the formed voids of the frame and fixed with a hydroprotective film. As a result, the balcony will turn into an insulated room.

Now let's look at how to properly sheathe a balcony with siding. First of all, special guide profiles are mounted on the crate, after which the siding is cut to the required size using metal scissors. There is no need to make indents, the first panel is placed right in the corner and fixed with a self-tapping screw. For its wide part, the tongue of the next panel is wound and also fixed. Thus, the entire area is trimmed. At the end, plugs are installed on the corners and edges of the coating.

Sandwich panels

This material has a three-layer structure. The outer layers are made of metal, and the inner layer is insulation, for example, mineral wool... Sandwich panels are a popular option for balconies due to the following features:

• Safety and environmental friendliness.
• High rates of heat and sound insulation.
• Light weight, which reduces the load on the balcony and makes installation easier.
• No need for further finishing.
• Pathogens cannot develop on the surface.

Installation of panels

1. The installation process begins with fixing the fasteners: inner corners and finishing details on the crate.
2. Preparatory work is the same as in the case of the above materials.
3. If the panels are planned to be mounted to the ceiling, then first of all, a plinth is installed at the top of the crate.
4. The first panel is installed on a metal or wooden frame in the corner closer to the ceiling. It is fixed with a self-tapping screw, after which the next element is inserted into the groove. The rigidity of the structure is ensured by a reliable thorn-groove connection, so you can do without additional fastening of each part with self-tapping screws.
5. Before installing the next element, it is necessary to check the evenness of the installation of the current one. It is also important to ensure that no gaps or backlashes are formed.
6. After finishing the entire wall, it is necessary to install additional elements on the edges and outer corners of the material.
7. The structure is checked at the building level, after which it can be operated.

Conclusion

The better to sheathe the balcony inside, each owner decides on his own. The above materials are not very different in cost, with the exception of sandwich panels, since they already have insulation. The balcony area is small, which also has a positive effect on the cost of work. It doesn't matter what exactly will be chosen as the material for finishing, the main thing is to follow the above recommendations and do not forget to check the correctness of the installation of the products with the level.

Repair and insulation of the balcony will inevitably raise a lot of questions, and first of all it is necessary to find out how to sheathe the balcony inside and outside. The requirements for materials are different, therefore we will consider them separately.

How to sheathe the balcony inside

There are a lot of options, both traditional and new. The requirements for the interior decoration of the balcony are mainly as follows:

• durability - after renovation, you want at least 10 years not to worry about how the balcony looks like;
• practicality: the surface should be washed well, not absorb dirt;
• attractiveness - it is quite possible to make a place for rest from the balcony, and not a warehouse of unnecessary things;
• ease of installation - this is especially important if you are going to do the cladding with your own hands;
• maintainability - you never know how to develop, it should be possible to replace the damaged area.

There are many requirements, but often one more is added to them - financial. Not everyone has the ability or desire to invest a decent amount. From the point of view of all these requirements, we will analyze the most popular finishing materials.

Wood

In many regions, balconies are most often sheathed with wood products. The most popular lining and euro lining, but you can use any other similar materials: imitation of a bar, block house, terrace or even ordinary planed board. The difference in appearance and in some cases in the method of fastening: the lining and its varieties (imitation of a bar and a block house) have a lock - a thorn-groove, due to which a connection is obtained without cracks.

Sheathe the balcony with eurolining or ordinary clapboard - one of the most popular finishing options. Especially in regions where lumber is inexpensive. Where wood is a luxury, other materials are used.

Plastic

There is a wide range of plastic PVC panels in any store. Usually they are strips of material of different widths, which are joined like a lining: a lock with a spike and a groove. Therefore, such products are also called plastic clapboard. Usually this means a surface with seams (as in the photo below).

In the photo, a balcony sheathed with plastic - plastic clapboard

When they talk about plastic panels, they mean their seamless option. There is even more choice. There are surfaces glossy (shiny) and matte, monochromatic and with a wide variety of patterns.

Now we will consider the compliance of this material with the requirements for interior cladding for the balcony:

Sheathe the balcony plastic panels- an option from the category of "inexpensive and good". This is the best choice when a practical surface is needed.

Laminated materials: MDF panels and chipboard

Another option for interior decoration of the insulated balcony: paneling or. Their basis is wood fibers, treated in a special way and covered with a decorative film that imitates various surfaces... In addition to a flat surface, they also absorb sound well. This is an effect that is not available to plastic.

This material has one feature: it does not like high humidity. Therefore, MDF wall panels are suitable only for heated balconies, and they will feel best on loggias. The same applies to laminated chipboard.

Now about whether they meet the requirements for finishing materials for a balcony or not:

• Durability. Subject to the requirements for operation (at normal humidity), the service life is 20-30 years.
• Practicality. The surface is even and smooth, all traces of dirt can be removed easily. The film used is dense and strong, but if you set the goal, it can be damaged by a sharp object.
• Attractiveness. Various surfaces, mostly imitating wood - this is the range of MDF lining (as it is also called). If you like the surface of the wood, but do not want to care for it, this is your option, because there is a very successful imitation.
• Ease of installation. The system is still the same: the lathing to which the trim is attached.
• The maintainability of MDF panels is similar to the case described above: some margin is required. With chipboard, it is more difficult - either cut and replace part of the sheathing or change the entire fragment.

For the price, this is a completely democratic option. It takes a little time for installation: the width of the panel is about 20 cm, chipboard is generally sheets. So if you do not know how to sheathe a balcony inexpensively and quickly, you can take a closer look at the wall MDF panels or laminated chipboard.

Drywall

This type of finish has become last years traditional. Its advantages are known: you can get a perfectly flat surface of any configuration. But, with such a finish, "wet" processes with plaster are used, and if the surface is painted, without experience you are unlikely to get a sufficiently flat surface. Unless you use as a finish decorative plaster, which will hide small flaws.

Another option for covering the balcony is with plasterboard

Let's figure out the finishing requirements:

• Durability. The surface itself can last for decades, but the color will have to be updated regularly. But this has its plus: you can inexpensively change the annoying design. With all other previously described materials, this is not possible.
• Practicality. If the paint will good quality, it can be wiped with a damp cloth several times. Only special plasters can be washed.
• Attractiveness. Plasterboard finishing - at the current stage, this is practically the standard of mid-level renovation. You can create a very interesting design or a completely neutral surface. It all depends on the desire.

• Ease of installation. The technology is still the same: the frame on which the finish is mounted. Only in the case of gypsum cardboard is a rather large area of ​​plastering work added. This process is the most difficult of all described earlier.
• Maintainability. In principle, everything can be fixed, but there will be a lot of work. It is also very likely that everything will have to be repainted. In any case, one wall. But you can fix it.

As you can see, there are a lot of finishing materials. And that's not all possible options... There are also exotic possibilities: sheathed with bamboo, cork, braids or mats. But for these types of finishes, the surface will have to be leveled with plaster. With the advent of new materials, this process is not very popular: it is slow and messy, but sometimes you cannot do without them. On the leveled and plastered surface, the finishing elements are put on the glue. Everything is simple, only bamboo and cork are decent, but the design is beautiful and unconventional.

How to sheathe the balcony outside

The exterior decoration of the balcony makes slightly different requirements for the materials. In addition to everything else, it must be strong and reliable, wear-resistant. To understand the best way to sheathe a balcony outside, consider the main options.

Vinyl siding

It is available in two versions - the traditional one in the form of long boards with a tenon / groove fastening, which is often used to sheathe houses, and the facade one in the form of slabs with uneven edges, imitating stone or masonry. Both materials are mounted on the crate with self-tapping screws, but the frame is assembled slightly differently, adjusting to the geometry of each material.

Metal siding or profiled sheet

Although vinyl is considered durable among plastics, it will not argue with metal. If for high-lying balconies how strong the material is is not critical, then for the lower floors it is very important. Therefore, at the bottom, the balconies are often sheathed outside with metal siding or profiled sheet.

The better to sheathe the balcony with siding or professional sheet is a matter of personal preference. Both have high degree reliability. Siding is made of aluminum or galvanized iron, on the front surface of which a polymer film is applied. Profiled sheet - a shaped sheet of roofing iron covered with polymer or paint. The service life is declared from 15 to 25 years.

The main difference is in the installation method. A part of the desired shape is cut out of the profiled sheet and attached to the crate in a large piece with special self-tapping screws with a painted cap. Siding is also assembled as a lining: there is a spike on one side, and a groove on the other. Along the edge of the strip there is a perforation for fasteners. Self-tapping screws are screwed into it (in the middle of the hole, a little short of the cap - leaving the ability to move when the temperature changes in materials).

How to decorate a house with siding is described in the article ““. If you have chosen this material, you will need to know the features and installation rules ...

Wood cladding

Houses are built from wood, so why not sheathe the outside balcony with it? Not a bad option, but wood needs maintenance. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the impregnation of the material used. Take antiseptic and protective compounds for outdoor use. Processing is carried out before the start of installation - then it will be problematic. When finishing, do not forget to process the ends of the boards sawn to size. Otherwise, the entire installation is the same.

You can sheathe the balcony outside with wood - clapboard, for example

Just keep in mind that without proper care, pretty upholstery will turn into something unattractive. A fragment of a tree left without leaving can be seen in the photo at the bottom right.

How to sheathe a balcony without glazing

Since the finish of an unglazed balcony will be exposed to all atmospheric phenomena, it is necessary to choose from materials for exterior decoration at home. Possible options:

• siding - vinyl, basement, metal;
• decorative finishing stone;
• porcelain stoneware;
• external plasters;
• wood;
• ceramic frost-resistant tiles;
• polycarbonate.

Most of the materials are familiar to you. There may be questions only about polycarbonate. Sheathing the balcony with polycarbonate has recently become. And you can make not only a visor on the upper floors (pictured on the left). This material looks very nice paired with a wrought-iron balcony fence. But on such a balcony, the order should be perfect.

How to sheathe the ceiling

On a glazed balcony, the ceiling is often sheathed either with the same material as the walls, or with plastic panels. You can make a plasterboard ceiling.

If it comes about an unglazed balcony or loggia, then the ceiling is usually sheathed with siding. It is inexpensive, easy to clean, easy to install, and at the same time, holds well.

See the photo below for a few ideas for finishing unglazed balconies.

The idea of ​​combining a balcony and a room is quite interesting. After all, this allows you to increase the existing living space by several meters, which is valuable and relevant for owners of small apartments. But first you need to ask the question: how much such a redevelopment is legal, and whether you will have to face any problems in the future due to the completed combination of the balcony with the room.

Is it possible to attach a balcony to the room

There are significant differences between what you decide to combine: a balcony or a loggia. The fact is that the loggia is often called a balcony. Meanwhile, from the point of view of building and housing standards, these concepts are different.

A balcony is a fenced structure protruding beyond the facade of the building. The entrance to the balcony is usually carried out from the side of the apartment through a door that is connected to the window into a single balcony block.

The balcony slab is attached to the wall from the entrance side and has a low load-bearing capacity. According to technical standards, balcony slabs are capable of withstanding a weight of up to 200 kg / m2. But the statutory load indicator is only 112 kg / m2. And considering that modern housing stock(including balcony slabs) is strongly worn out, it is highly discouraged to overload the balcony with bulky structures and heavy materials due to the risk of its collapse.

Loggia is non-residential premises built into the building. At least the side rails are the wall of the house. The concrete base rests on the semi-bearing or load-bearing walls of the building. Of course, in comparison with a balcony, a loggia can withstand much higher weight loads and is more stable.

Both the balcony and the loggia are unheated premises and it is prohibited to carry batteries to these rooms.

So, if you are the owner of a balcony, and not a loggia, then, unfortunately, there are no legal possibilities for combining a balcony and a room by dismantling the balcony block. The current legislation directly prohibits the reconstruction of the building (and this is how the courts regard the demolition of the balcony block) by the residents. If such cases are identified, the violators will be obliged to return the balcony block at their own expense, and it is also possible to pay a fine (by court order).

What if you really want to expand the area of ​​the apartment at the expense of the balcony, but by law, combining a balcony with a room is prohibited?

How to combine a balcony with a room

The easiest and most economical option for combining a balcony and a room is to replace balcony door on an all-glass sliding partition (from floor to ceiling). In this case, the dismantling of the balcony block, and therefore the reconstruction of the building, does not occur.

Such a glass partition can be mainly kept open, and, if necessary, quickly returned to its place, closing the opening between the balcony and the room.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely remove the balcony window and door, as well as the wall between the balcony and the room, as already mentioned. The owners of the loggias are more fortunate in this regard, since they have such an opportunity.

Glazing and insulation of the balcony attached to the room

There are not as many options for insulating a balcony as loggias, due to restrictions on the weight load on balcony slab... Perhaps the most optimal and not very expensive way would be to perform warm glazing with an aluminum profile, fill up all the cracks and install a warm floor. These measures should be enough to keep a comfortable temperature on the balcony during the cold season.

If you want to additionally heat the balcony room, then use portable heating electrical appliances, such as a convector or an oil radiator.

It is better to entrust the work on glazing the balcony to a specialized company. The thickness of the glass unit must be at least 2-chamber. You can also add a heat-saving coating to the glass unit, which will save up to 30% heat. Such a glass unit differs from the usual one in that it has a high ability to reflect ultraviolet light, transmits a lot of daylight (which means that you can save on electricity for lighting the room), and also protects the glass from mechanical damage.

Pay attention to the hardware used. It must be of good quality from trusted manufacturers. Poor fittings are often the cause of fogging windows and poor sound insulation.

The last stage of the balcony insulation in order to join it to the room will be the installation of a warm floor. Most often, on balconies and loggias, an electric underfloor heating is used, which is cable, matte and infrared. There is also a water heated floor, but its use in apartments is prohibited by law, therefore it will not be considered in this article. Let's dwell on the features, main advantages and disadvantages of each type.

Underfloor heating cable- an electric cable is used as a heating element, which is connected to the mains. The electric cable is laid over the entire surface of the balcony floor, a concrete screed is required on top. Then put flooring, which can be laminate, tile or linoleum.

The advantages of underfloor heating cable include: uniform heating of the air, less energy consumption compared to heat radiators and convectors, prevention of heat loss.

The disadvantages of cable floor heating are: slow heating (from 30 minutes), the creation of an electromagnetic field (albeit small, less than from mobile phone), the need for a concrete screed. It is also not recommended to put bulky furniture, because on the floor in these areas, darkening from overheating can form.

Matt floor- here the cable is fixed on a special mesh, which greatly simplifies its installation. No concrete screed is required for it. Ideal for use under tile, as well as porcelain stoneware, laminate, parquet, linoleum, carpet.

Infrared underfloor heating is in many ways better than cable, since

• provide a higher degree of heating of the balcony (at the ceiling level, the air temperature will be about 200C, and not 150C-180C as with a cable and water heated floor);
• energy savings up to 20%;
• the room warms up faster in time;
• safe to use (does not shock, does not burn and does not freeze), electromagnetic radiation is less;
• installation does not require approval from housing and communal services;
• easy and quick installation, the ability to remove or relocate to another place.

The disadvantages of an infrared floor include the fact that preliminary leveling of the floor is required, and it is more difficult to connect electricity to it.

However, given the numerous advantages, we would recommend that you make a choice in favor of an infrared underfloor heating for heating a balcony or loggia.

How to use the balcony attached to the room

So, all the main work on joining the balcony to the room was done and you became the owner of additional square meters of your apartment. How can you make the most of them now?

We offer you some practical ideas use of the balcony room.

Balcony as a workplace or office

A very popular option for those who work from home and are simply necessary. Agree, it is very convenient when such a corner appears in the apartment, where you can calmly work in relative silence, admiring the view from the window.

Dressing room on the balcony

Another attractive option is to arrange a dressing room on the former balcony. There you can place clothes hangers, shoes. This will not only help free up space in your closets, but it will also make the collection process somewhere more convenient.

Greenhouse on the balcony

If you enjoy growing crops and all the windowsills are already full flower pots then the balcony area will help you or even a mini-vegetable garden.

Playroom on the balcony

This is a great option for families with children, especially large families. The balcony can be turned into a playroom where children can play free time... There you can also store toys, constructors, etc., freeing up space in the children's room.

Guest room on the balcony

If you decide to implement the idea of ​​combining balconies and rooms, share your experience in the comments. You can also ask your questions about this topic.