What and how is it better to insulate the balcony from the inside with your own hands. What is the best way to insulate a balcony? The choice of the best heater! Do-it-yourself balcony insulation methods

The part of the apartment that needs primary and thorough insulation more than others is, of course, a balcony or loggia. Because by no means all owners use these premises exclusively for a warehouse or pantry. Modern views are such that balconies and loggias are increasingly being transformed into a personal office, kitchens, or simply rest rooms. This is what makes the owners perform competent, and therefore high-quality insulation of these premises.

With this publication, we set ourselves the goal of conveying to the reader information on how to properly insulate the loggia from the inside, what is needed to insulate the loggia from the inside, etc. This will provide significant savings, since you will not have to hire expensive specialists, and learning something new is always useful and exciting. The basis for success here is to avoid the most common mistakes, as well as to clearly follow the sequence of actions.

Let's start, perhaps, with a few points that are considered the most common mistakes of inexperienced builders when they decide to insulate the balcony with their own hands.

Rush. Quite often, insulation work is carried out at an accelerated pace or hastily. Usually, in these cases, all work is limited to installing a new warm double-glazed window, covering all visible cracks with putty and plugging in an oil cooler. And meanwhile, the precious heat from the apartment both came out and comes out. In this way, it will not work to insulate the walls, floor and ceiling of the loggia. To warm the loggia, you need to make a little more effort.
Use of low quality materials. In order to avoid this common mistake, the question of how best to insulate a balcony from the inside must be taken responsibly and approached in advance. Since balconies have a fairly large area, improperly selected insulation for a balcony or loggia will cause a fairly serious heat leakage from the apartment.

To ensure maximum insulation of the balcony, and eventually the entire apartment, from the cold, a clear sequence of actions must be followed in the performance of work. This will achieve high-quality insulation, save the expended effort, money and time. So, further we consider the question of how to do the interior decoration of the balcony with your own hands and step-by-step instructions for this process.

Installation of warm windows

The beginning of insulation work in any room, including on the balcony, is the installation of new double-glazed windows. The presence of old wooden frames is one of the main reasons for the escape of a large amount of useful heat from the apartment. Unlike other rooms, the installation of a metal-plastic double-glazed window requires one nuance to be taken into account: the reliability of the parapet.

Especially on old-style balconies, the parapets are quite flimsy and their strength may not be enough to install fairly heavy metal-plastic double-glazed windows. Under such conditions, it is necessary to take care of additional reinforcement of the parapet. The most suitable method for this is reinforcement with thick metal rods, followed by pouring them with cement mortar. Along with insulation work on other surfaces of the balcony, parapet insulation is no less important and must be approached very responsibly.

How and how to insulate a balcony

Probably, the most important moment in the insulation work on the balcony is the choice of the thickness of the material with which the internal surfaces are insulated. Most often, the internal insulation of a balcony involves sheathing with insulating materials not only the walls, but also the ceiling and floor. Therefore, the better to insulate the loggia from the inside is the most important issue. And to solve the question of how and how to insulate the balcony inside with your own hands, it is necessary first of all.

The main criterion for choosing such materials is their thermal conductivity.

This indicator is inversely proportional to the heat it retains, or rather, its amount. It is for this reason that the question arises more often than others: how to insulate the balcony from the inside? Mineral wool, polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam?

The most common insulation for these purposes is extruded polystyrene foam.. In combination with lightness and thinness, it is still perfectly cut and mounted, and very inexpensive. It has good resistance to corrosion and moisture. However, it is very, very expensive. If necessary, it can be replaced with a budget option - foam. The latter has similar properties, but is not as durable.

Crack sealing

Any fairly old or not even very old balcony has gaps. That is why, even by installing the most modern and warm double-glazed windows, you will notice that the heat still disappears somewhere. Sealing gaps in insulated surfaces is best done with polyurethane mastics and sealants. They are the most plastic, resistant to natural influences such as wind or frost, and seal gaps longer.

Such sealants and mastics are sold most often in small cans, and the gaps are sealed with a plastic nozzle or a special gun, which often comes with cans. As soon as the sealant or mastic is completely dry, you can begin the next step - to fix the insulation material.

We warm the balcony floor and walls

The insulation has been selected and purchased, and now the only thing left is how to sheathe the surfaces with it. There are 2 fairly simple options on how to insulate the loggia from the inside with insulating material, or rather, how to fix this very material: glue, which does not necessarily contain toluene (since the latter can corrode the insulation boards), and dowels. If it is decided to fix the plates with dowels, then their location should be such that about 10 dowels are located on each square meter of the plate.

Stages of insulation of balcony walls

Insulation of the balcony walls begins with the installation of a vapor barrier film and gluing its joints with construction tape;
A crate is mounted from bars or a profile. For these purposes, both wood and metal are suitable;
Insulation is mounted: expanded polystyrene, mineral wool or polystyrene. The seams between the plates are blown with mounting foam. When the loggia is insulated from the inside, this stage is the main one;
The crate is sheathed with moisture-resistant drywall, plywood, chipboard or other sheet materials;
Finishing the resulting surface is in progress. For these purposes, among other things, we also need a finishing material, with which the walls on the balcony are finished.

I would like to note that the use of vapor barrier tape will help to avoid, for example, mold or fungus.

And on the insulated floor, it is imperative to lay a layer of waterproofing. Moisture-resistant drywall will go on the walls and ceiling as a sheathing. How to insulate the balcony from the inside with your own hands, see the video step by step below:

Video

Stages of insulation of the balcony floor

A concrete screed is poured, the thickness of which varies between 3-5 centimeters. If desired, you can mount a warm floor system in the screed;
A waterproofing film is mounted with the subsequent processing of its joints with a sealant or moisture-resistant mastic;
Thermal insulation is laid in the form, for example, foam;
The flooring is finished by laying ceramic tiles, laminate or linoleum.

The arrangement and insulation of the balcony floor is possible without the use of a screed. In this case, longitudinal logs made of wood are laid on the waterproofing layer. The latter are attached directly to the concrete base of the balcony. Next, the floor is insulated with a gasket between the lags of basalt wool, expanded clay, foam, etc. All this is covered with boards or some kind of sheet material (chipboard, plywood, etc.). Insulation work is completed by laying the finish coating.

Balcony ceiling insulation

When deciding how to insulate a balcony inside, one more thing should be taken into account. If there is no neighbor’s balcony above your balcony, that is, the ceiling of your balcony is not the neighbor’s floor, then a slightly special approach is needed to warm it. Here you will need a high-quality roofing material with sound insulation applied to the inside in the form of a film or spraying.

The following layers are also laid:

Waterproofing - PVC film or polyester;
Windproof membrane that allows steam from the insulation to pass through, but does not allow drops that penetrate inside with the wind;
Anti-condensation layer that does not allow water vapor to condense and flow onto the insulation material;
Wooden frame holding the roof;
Insulation, which, in fact, is thermal insulation;
Vapor barrier of the insulation itself, which helps to preserve its properties. It prevents the penetration of water vapor into it.

Additional insulation

In order to ensure comfort, warmth and coziness on the balcony, even in severe frosts, a well-thought-out additional balcony insulation scheme may be required. Part of this can be: air conditioning, radiator or underfloor heating system. In fact, the insulation of the balcony from the inside is limited only by the imagination of the owner of the apartment and his financial capabilities.

If the balcony is connected to the apartment, then it is quite possible to do without an additional insulation scheme. In this case, even an apartment air conditioner can easily cope with the role of an additional heater. However, there is one "but". It will be warm on the balcony, but the floor, as it was cold, will remain so, even if there is a carpet.

To avoid such an incident, we still recommend equipping a warm floor system. Believe me, it will be very appropriate. The installation of such a system is a rather complicated step-by-step action, therefore, we will not consider it within the framework of this article.

The internal insulation of the balcony is, of course, good, however, in order to achieve the maximum effect, care must be taken to insulate the balcony from the outside. And although it is forbidden to independently insulate the balcony from the outside, we decided to briefly describe this process using the example of how professional companies do it on their own.

External insulation

Pipes with a square section are welded to the upper edge of the parapet, on which the window sill will be fixed and insulation material will be mounted from the outside of the balcony.
The insulation is laid in two layers, and with some shift, so that the top layer overlaps the joints of the first. This is done so that cold air through the joints of the insulation does not penetrate into the balcony. Warming the walls of the loggia from the outside helps to ensure that there is no condensation in the apartment, or rather, on the loggia.
The fastening of the foam boards (namely, this material is used for insulation when the loggia is insulated from the outside) is made with self-tapping fungi directly to the surface of the parapet and tubes welded on the upper end of the parapet.
Sheathing of the balcony from the outside is carried out either with a metal profiled sheet or with plastic. The first is more reliable and durable, the second looks aesthetically better.

During the insulation of the balcony from the outside, potholes and splinters may appear on the parapet, from its outer side. It is not particularly worth worrying about this, since these defects will be blocked from the outside with a heater, and inside they will be sealed with mounting foam.

Once again I would like to repeat that for questions about how to insulate a balcony from the outside, it is better to contact professional construction organizations. Working outside the apartment at a height (from the side of the facade) is very dangerous, and it is better to trust specialists in this. Be smart and don't take risks!

In this article, we tried to show in as much detail as possible the procedure for warming the balcony. Of course, it cannot be argued that the tips we have given will suit absolutely every owner of a balcony. After all, everyone has their own approach to the question of which materials for insulating a balcony from the inside are better and which are worse. The choice always remains with the respected reader.

Owners of city apartments often wonder how to insulate a balcony inside with their own hands. This procedure is actually quite simple. However, it is still necessary to comply with the established technologies during its implementation. First of all, of course, you will need to decide how to insulate the balcony inside with your own hands. The type of sheathing of the parapet, walls and ceiling will largely depend on the type of material chosen.

Expanded polystyrene or mineral wool?

These two materials for warming balconies and loggias are most often chosen. Expanded polystyrene is a little more expensive than mineral wool. However, at the same time, it is also the best answer to the question of how to insulate the balcony inside. The fact is that when sheathing the loggia from the side of the living quarters, the so-called is located inside the insulating "pie". Therefore, it is much better to use moisture-resistant material for insulation. Inexpensive mineral wool, unfortunately, does not differ in such properties. It absorbs moisture very quickly. Of course, you can use it. However, in this case, you will have to pay maximum attention to waterproofing. So the best answer to the question of how to insulate a balcony inside with your own hands is still polystyrene foam.

Material characteristics

When choosing sheets for balcony insulation, you should pay attention to the following factors:

density,

Expanded polystyrene sheets produced by modern manufacturers have standard sizes: 2x1, 0.5x1 or 1x1. Those who wondered how to sheathe a balcony from the inside should think about purchasing smaller sheets. It will be very inconvenient to mount too large plates in the limited space of the loggia. For a balcony, the best option is 0.5x1 or, in extreme cases, 1x1.

As for the thickness, you can buy absolutely any polystyrene foam for a balcony. The only thing that should be guided in this case is such an indicator as the area of \u200b\u200bthe loggia. After assembling the warming cake on the balcony, there should be enough free space for a comfortable pastime. Most often, the owners of loggias of typical Soviet-built houses choose polystyrene foam with a thickness of 40-50 mm.

The density of this type of insulation can be found by looking at the marking. The best answer to the question of how to sheathe a balcony from the inside is to use 15-25 grade polystyrene foam. The higher the numbers, the lower the thermal conductivity of the material, and the more brittle it is. If the expanded polystyrene is supposed to be covered with decorative plaster or wallpaper in the future, it is worth buying thicker plates. If lining or panels will be used as a quality, you can take loose sheets that retain heat well.

Where to begin?

So, how to insulate the balcony inside with your own hands, you now know. Next, let's look at how to do it right. Before proceeding with the installation of the insulating "pie", it is necessary to carefully prepare the loggia itself. First of all, the wooden floors are dismantled. Then proceed to repair the parapet. If there are through cracks in it, they must be sealed with sealant. Chips are sealed with cement mortar or moisture-resistant putty. Similarly, prepare the walls, floor and ceiling.

Loggia waterproofing

Having wondered how to properly insulate the balcony with their own hands inside, the owners of the apartment must first of all make sure that it is always dry in this small room. Waterproofing during this operation is considered mandatory (especially when using mineral wool as a heater). In its absence:

the service life of the balcony finish will be reduced;

all metal structures will quickly rust;

due to increased humidity, various kinds of fungi will begin to develop, as a result of which an unpleasant odor will appear on the loggia.

Sometimes, on balconies not insulated in this way, the supporting structures even begin to collapse, which, of course, is very dangerous.

The easiest way is to waterproof the balcony using bitumen-polymer mastic. It is heated to a liquid state, the floor is poured into it and the parapet is smeared in 2-3 layers. Sometimes roll materials are also used to waterproof the balcony.

What kind of glue do you need

Those who wondered how to insulate the balcony inside with polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam should, among other things, take care of using suitable glue to fix the sheets. It is allowed to mount this material directly on the mastic (on polymer-bitumen - immediately, on bituminous - after complete drying). In this case, special glue should be used. It's called Bitumast.

What else to buy

Thus, you now know how to insulate the balcony inside with your own hands. Photos of polystyrene sheets - the most suitable material for this purpose - can be seen on the page. However, in addition to them and glue, to insulate the balcony, you will also need to prepare:

reinforcing mesh,

fungus dowels,

polyurethane foam (without toluene),

decorative plaster or wallpaper.

pasting technology

So, next, let's see how to insulate the loggia from the inside. Start the installation of sheets should be from the corner. This rule is true both when pasting a parapet, and walls or a ceiling. Actually the installation operation itself is performed as follows:

Styrofoam sheets are roughened. To do this, they are passed with a special needle roller. Treated in this way, they will hold much better.

A support rail is attached to the bottom of the parapet.

The adhesive solution is evenly applied to the surface of the wall, ceiling or parapet.

Firmly press the polystyrene foam to the surface.

Mount the material for insulating the balcony from the inside in such a way that the joints between the sheets have a T-shape (as when laying bricks). After the plate is glued, it should be additionally fixed with mushroom dowels (5 per sheet). Holes for them can be drilled directly through the sheets. At the final stage, the joints are processed. In this case, building foam is used.

Reinforcing mesh gluing

Expanded polystyrene is an excellent answer to the question of how best to insulate a balcony inside. However, decorative plaster on this material does not hold very well. To remedy the situation, use a special reinforcing mesh. Mount it as follows:

Previously, the polystyrene foam surface of the ceiling, parapet and walls is completely coated with glue (for polystyrene).

Another layer of glue is applied on top of it. Its thickness should be such that the mesh joints do not protrude above the surface plane.

fine finish

So, we have figured out how to insulate the balcony with our own hands. A step-by-step photo of this process is presented above. As you can see, this procedure is relatively simple. At the final stage, the dried adhesive surface is passed with a special grater to give it a roughness. Next, proceed to the application of decorative plaster. You can also wallpaper the balcony.

Second way

The loggia isolation technique discussed above is suitable when using dense polystyrene foam. And if the owners decided to buy mineral wool as an insulator? How to insulate a balcony with your own hands? A step-by-step (photo of the process is presented below) work guide in this case will look like this:

A frame of wooden beams is attached to the parapet, walls, floor and ceiling. The step between its elements should be equal to the width of the plates of the selected insulation. The beam can be fixed to the concrete parapet with self-tapping screws. For balconies with metal railings, an independent paving construction is assembled.

Further, the insulation itself is inserted between the elements of the frame. The material is attached to the concrete parapet with “fungi” (expanded polystyrene can be additionally glued). If the fence is metal, it is better to use cotton wool and insert it by surprise. If expanded polystyrene is chosen for insulation, you can, for example, fix plywood on the back side of the frame and glue the material to it.

It is stretched over the insulation. It is better to fasten it with thin laths (two on each side of the beam).

the balcony is trimmed with clapboard, plastic panels, drywall or plywood. Attach the material to the bars of the frame.

How to insulate the floor

The base of the balcony is isolated last. The floor is preliminarily waterproofed, and then logs are installed on it. The answer to the question of how to insulate inside is simple. Most often, expanded polystyrene or mineral wool is laid between the bars. You can also use expanded clay. A vapor barrier is attached over the insulation, and then a floor or edged board is stuffed. Then the floor is covered with linoleum or finished with any other suitable material.

Balcony heating

Whatever answer to the question of how to insulate the balcony inside, the owners of the house choose for themselves, subject to the installation technology, in the future it will be possible to have a good time here, including in winter. However, on very cold days, even an insulated loggia may require additional heating. It is strictly forbidden to take out the central heating by the regulations. Therefore, the best solution would be to install a conventional electric heater here. It should be placed against the wall separating the balcony and the apartment. It is not recommended to install heaters near the parapet. The fact is that in this case, due to the rising warm air on the balcony, the windows will begin to fog up heavily.

You can also arrange on the loggia

Warm floor

This work is done as follows:

Thermal insulation material is laid on the floor.

Installed metal

Installed heating cable.

A thermostat is hung on the wall.

A concrete screed with a thickness of 30-40 mm is poured.

The floor covering is laid.

Well, we hope we answered the question in sufficient detail about how to insulate the balcony inside with our own hands and how to do it right. The most important thing when assembling a "pie" is not to violate the established technology. In this case, the balcony will turn out cozy and warm.

Recently, more and more apartment owners in high-rise buildings decide to expand their area with a balcony. This is a great option if you figure out how to properly insulate it from the inside and equip it.

If the balcony is not glazed, windows must be installed before insulation. It is better to choose high-quality double-glazed windows without saving, because the amount of heat in the apartment depends on them. Elements of window structures should fit as tightly as possible to each other so that drafts do not penetrate into the house.

The balcony is a part of the building that needs insulation more than others, because not all residents use it only as a warehouse. Increasingly, people are beginning to equip their balconies for additional space, for example, a personal office. For these and not only reasons, it is necessary to produce competent insulation of the structure from the inside.

Stages of balcony insulation

In modern technologies for insulating open hinged structures (balconies), four types of material are used as internal insulation: polystyrene foam, foam plastic, penofol and mineral wool. Consider the technological features of installation and types of cotton wool insulation used for thermal insulation of balconies.

playlist

1. First, existing gaps are sealed. It is necessary to carefully examine the balcony and determine their location. You can fix the problem with mounting foam, even if the slots are quite wide, you just need to choose a quality one, for example, Macroflex, Soudal, Moment Installation. After the foam dries, the excess is trimmed with a clerical knife.

2. Waterproofing the balcony from the inside. For these purposes, you can use penetrating waterproofing "Aquatron", "Penetron" and the like. They are applied with a brush, roller or by spraying. The advantage of penetrating waterproofing is that it penetrates inside the walls, as a result of which they become more resistant to low temperatures and more durable. In addition, waterproofing eliminates all microcracks that are not visible to the "naked" eye.

3. Laying thermal insulation material. For this purpose, you can use expanded polystyrene, polyurethane foam, foam plastic, mineral plates, etc.

Vapor barrier installation. You can use polymer "breathing" membranes, vapor barrier films "Izospan", "Rockwool" and the like, or in extreme cases penofol, which is laid with the foil side towards the apartment. So the heat leaving the room will return back.

4. Exterior finish ceiling and walls on the balcony.

Insulation option in which there is no additional insulation

This technique can be used provided that materials with low vapor permeability are available (we are talking about materials such as polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, or extruded polystyrene foam).

No. 1. Balcony insulation with polystyrene foam: sequence of work

If you chose expanded polystyrene as a heater, then the sequence of work is as follows:

After all the cracks are sealed and waterproofing is completed, the surface is treated with a deep penetration primer, for example, Ceresit. This can be done with a brush or sprayer. The primer is poured into a bucket or other container, which is not a pity, then applied to the surface. Carefully work out the walls, ceiling and floorto achieve maximum adhesion of the insulation boards with them.

After applying the primer, you must wait at least six hours, then continue work. If the wall is made of cinder concrete, then the primer is carried out twice.

Rest - continue. We unpack the styrofoam boards. They are attached with glue and fasteners. Glue must be prepared according to the instructions and mixed thoroughly. Then apply it on the first sheet, which is glued to the surface (do not forget to step back three centimeters from the edges, and leave small gaps between the sheets). Mount sheets of expanded polystyrene in a checkerboard pattern.

To lay a vapor barrier or not - it's up to you. In this case, it is not necessary to do so.

Installation of reinforcing mesh. When all the plates are securely fixed to the walls or ceiling, a reinforcing mesh should be mounted. To do this, the surface of the plates is worked out with glue, perforated corners are fixed at their corners. The reinforcing mesh is rolled to the glued surface with a roller, then another layer of glue is applied. When the wall dries, it is primed and plastered

No. 2. Insulation of the balcony with foam

Penoplex is actively used in the insulation of rooms. You can fix it to the surface using bituminous mastics, mounting foam or mushroom dowels. Consider the option of mounting on mounting foam.

So. Waterproofing done. Mounting foam is applied to the insulation plate around the perimeter. It's enough. After applying, wait a couple of seconds and fix the plate on the insulated surface. The next plate is laid end-to-end to the first. After two days, you can fix the plates with additional dowels. Then the whole process is repeated in the same order as described above. Do the finishing to your liking. You can sew up the insulation boards with plastic panels, they look very original.

Advice. If the balcony is intended only for storing essential items on it, then it is enough to insulate the walls in one layer. If you need to insulate more thoroughly, then it is better to lay the insulation in two layers.

Number 3. Balcony insulation with mineral wool: technology features

Warming of balconies with mineral wool is carried out under the constructed crate. A lining is attached over the frame - wooden or plastic panels with special grooves.

A well-known fact is the building recommendation to carry out insulation from the outside of the building. However, in the insulation of balconies and loggias, it is often not possible to place the insulation material outside. The internal placement of the insulation layer requires certain calculations, adherence to technology and the correct selection of materials so that in the future the work performed does not lead to wetting of the walls, corners and ceiling inside the remote structure.

Types of mineral wool

Depending on the raw materials used in the production, there are three main types of mineral wool: glass, stone and slag. All three materials are suitable for insulation work.

Mineral wool is a soft material that does not have rigid dimensions. It is supplied in the form of rolls (before laying they are unwound into a track) or soft mats. Sometimes one side of the insulation is covered with aluminum foil to enhance the thermal insulation properties.

Important! During installation, the foil should be located on the side of the room. The internal heat of the room will be reflected from the foil surface back into the living space.

The thickness of the mineral wool layer determines the quality of insulation and varies in size from 20 to 200 mm.

Mineral wool installation technology

Any type of mineral wool is mounted under the frame, located between the outer wall (ceiling, roof) and the frame supports. Wooden sticks or metal profiles can be used as supports, depending on which cladding will be used in the future.

When using lining for finishing wall cladding, the frame-lathing is constructed of wood. Wooden sticks with a cross section of 150 - 250 cm 2 are installed, while you can save a little the interior space of the balcony by installing sticks of a rectangular rather than square section (30 × 50 cm 2, 30 × 70 cm 2).

All racks and horizontal laths of the crate are installed under the level. Fastening of vertical racks to the concrete surface of the ceiling and floor is carried out with anchor bolts. Horizontal ones are attached to the vertical supports. If the future cladding is made of plastic lining, horizontal slats are attached at three levels: knee, thigh, shoulder.

For internal insulation with mineral wool, it is mandatory to install a vapor barrier. By itself, the cotton material is breathable, it easily passes gaseous substances (air, steam).

Given that during internal insulation, the point of condensation is shifted into the insulation, it is necessary to limit the ingress of steam or air from their living quarters into the building wool. For this purpose, a vapor barrier film is laid between the mineral wool and the finish.

Interior decoration

Purpose of interior decoration:

Close the heat insulator material from the living space.
Create an aesthetic interior wall covering of a room or insulated loggia.

There are various materials for interior decoration of balconies (drywall, wood, plastic, plaster). With a previously constructed crate frame, the finishing is done by hanging various types of panels: plywood, MDF, lining made of wood or plastic.

Finishing with clapboard is done by lining the walls with wooden (or plastic) carload panels, which have special grooves around the perimeter for ease of installation and fastening density. At the same time, plastic lining is often a cheaper imitator of a wooden coating laid on the inner walls of a balcony (or loggia). It is characterized by less strength and rigidity.

Wooden wagon panels are reliable, environmentally friendly, have sufficient rigidity for flooring. Plastic clapboard can sheathe the ceiling of the loggia, the floor is covered with wood, as for the walls - both types of wagon cover (plastic and wood) can be used here.

Clapboard lining is recommended to start from the corner. Each panel is checked for verticality by a level and fixed to the crate with a special fastener (clamp). You can fix the wagon panel with small carnations.

After finishing, the inner surface is treated with a composition that protects the wood from moisture and from destruction.

Problems faced with internal insulation of the balcony

1. When sheathing walls, ceilings and floors with insulating material, the area of the room inevitably decreases. And this drawback is not the only one.

2. Condensation often occurs in many structures, which is difficult to get rid of when all construction work has already been completed. Why does excess moisture appear?

The insulation structure installed on the balcony includes the following elements:

outdoor fencing located on the street; warming material; warm room.

Air masses tend to get outside, and their moisture, which has passed through the insulation, settles on the outer fence in the form of condensate. The insulation gets wet and completely loses its performance characteristics.

Warm vapors, colliding with a cold fence, also turn into a liquid state. Excess moisture in the room causes many problems: for example, the appearance of mold or rotting of wooden structural elements. That is why you need to know how to properly insulate your balcony.

From the inside, this can be done in two ways.

Hydrobarrier

Hydrobarrier - a special design that prevents moisture condensation on the outer fence. The technology of its installation includes certain stages:

installation of vapor barrier;
facing materials.

The hydrobarrier makes it possible to use even materials that do not tolerate moisture when insulating from the inside. Polyethylene or foil serves as insulation.

Important! All seams must be sealed with construction tape.to best insulate the balcony.

The disadvantage of this method of insulation is that the walls cannot breathe.

Warming without additional insulation

It is possible to insulate a balcony from the inside in this way only if there are materials with low vapor permeability: polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam or extruded polystyrene foam. The design includes:

fiberglass mesh, also mounted with glue; finishing.

Advice! For better fixing of the insulation, you can use plastic dowels.

For thermal insulation with polystyrene foam, glue is not required. This material is applied to the surface to be insulated with a sprayer, foams and dries.

Innovative insulation from TechnoNIKOL LOGICPIR Balcony is suitable for walls, ceiling, floor. saves space - plate thickness from 20 mm.

keeps warm due to the unique thermal conductivity of 0.022 W / m ° K (compare with glass wool 0.032-0.041 W / m ° K);
protected from moisture, rot, mold and fire (combustibility group G1 according to GOST 30244-94);
will last for many years (the insulation retains its properties for 50 years).

Advice! When insulating a balcony from the inside with polystyrene foam, it is better to make a layer of material about 80 mm thick. The vapor permeability of extruded polystyrene foam is lower than that of a simple one, so its layer can be even smaller.

Floor insulation

Behind the insulation of the walls of the balcony, the floor should be insulated. If you correctly calculate the amount of insulation and the thickness of its layer, you can make the floor on the balcony at the same level as in the rest of the rooms.

At the first stage of work, the slab is cleaned of dirt, debris and crumbling plaster. Then the floor is covered with foil and penofol. The second stage is the fastening of the crate, previously cut with a jigsaw. Insulation plates are laid between its bars (preferably foam), and the gaps between them are filled with foam. The final stage is the installation of flooring, linoleum or parquet and skirting boards.

This design can raise the floor on the balcony by about 150 mm.

Electric heated floor

It is possible to insulate the floor using modern technologies. Then the balcony will not differ from other rooms in almost nothing. Installing electric heat tracing is a relatively simple process, but electricity costs increase significantly.

To heat the balcony floor from the inside, a special electric cable is installed.

Important! Moisture must never get into the cable.

Insulation components:

Ceiling insulation

Advice! If the neighbors living on the floor above have already insulated their balcony, there is no need to insulate the ceiling.

The most optimal material for ceiling insulation is foam. It weighs very little, which is very important in this case. Its main layer is supplemented with foil, which acts as a vapor barrier and heat reflector. Foiled polystyrene foam is fixed with polyurethane foam glue and dish-shaped dowels. All seams are sealed with a special metal tape.

The foam plastic is attached to aluminum hangers using the same combined method.

Important! Insulation sheets should fit together as tightly as possible.

All cracks are filled with mounting foam with special care, so every, even the smallest, hole can make all work absolutely useless.

You can insulate the balcony from the inside both independently and using the services of professionals. However, these construction works can be simple if you use the tips and carefully understand the technology.

How to insulate a balcony with your own hands: step by step photos and instructions

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Errors when warming a balcony

In city apartments, the presence of a balcony means the ability to expand the usable area of \u200b\u200bthe entire housing. But without proper repair, which includes the insulation of the entire balcony, such an area can only fit like a terrace or a cold storage room. Balcony insulation technology includes a set of repair measures aimed at creating a special design that will provide comfort and warmth in the renovated room.

Features of warming the loggia

On the one hand, do-it-yourself warming should not present any difficulties. It is enough to purchase material with the required parameters and install it on your balcony. The difficulty is that the appearance of ease of repair leads to further disappointment. This is when in cold weather an unpleasant draft, mold forms on a loggia insulated and repaired with love, water accumulates and the walls freeze. The culprit is condensation. When warm air comes into contact with a cold surface, the vapor reaches such a saturated state, under the scientific name "dew point", when it easily turns into water. This leads to an uncomfortable state inside the balcony, the destruction of the thermal insulation system and other unpleasant sanitary and hygienic consequences.

The most reliable way of insulation is a multilayer enclosing structure from the outside. This option contributes to the free movement of heat outside the inner walls. This leads to the fact that the junction of different temperatures, or rather the contact of cold and warm air, occurs outside the walls of the interior, which means that such unpleasant phenomena as condensate, steam, mold and dampness do not threaten. The outer de layer will not allow the penetration of cold from the street.

As a result, an almost perfect atmosphere is obtained inside the balcony. The whole difficulty is that it is not always possible to do the external insulation of the walls and roof with your own hands. The only way out is a well-built design of internal insulation.

The installation of a window unit has a double meaning: firstly, protection against atmospheric precipitation getting inside, and secondly, keeping the heat on the loggia. But doing glazing with your own hands is not always a justified risk, it is better to invite professionals for this. When installing windows, check how carefully the cracks are sealed, whether the parapet (base) is reliable, what the frame is made of, whether the height of the expanders corresponds to the thickness of the intended insulation. All these questions are best clarified before window work.

Before starting work, decide on the choice of material for interior decoration. For this purpose, foam plastic, mineral wool, foam plastic, penofol, etc. are used. In order to prevent subsequent condensation, vapor barrier materials are chosen for internal work.

You will need:

polystyrene or its equivalent, layer thickness 3-6 cm;
foil penofol or plain foil, polyethylene film for vapor barrier;
screed materials (dry floor mix or antiseptic boards);
bars for crates;
moisture resistant panels for finishing;
glue, double-sided tape;
mounting foam;
self-tapping screws, dowels.

Thermal insulation of the loggia implies thermal insulation of walls, ceiling and floors. Any material, especially walls and ceilings, should be securely fastened. For this, two methods are used: glue or dowels. The peculiarity of the adhesive method is the application technology and the accuracy of the choice of composition. The important point is that the adhesive must match the material of the insulation. A notched trowel is used to apply the adhesive. The first step with its help is an adhesive solution is applied around the perimeter of the heat-insulating material. In order to avoid leakage of glue at the joints, it is laid, retreating a couple of centimeters from the edge. The rest of the usable area is evenly dug with glue in the form of dots.

Another method for do-it-yourself repairs involves fastening with the help of "fungi" - special dowels. They are available in different sizes, and when buying insulation, you need to immediately look for fasteners that are suitable in size and property. For comparison, when attaching a 4 cm thick insulation, you will need about 7 dowels with a diameter of 1 cm and a length of 9 cm.

To protect yourself from unforeseen embarrassments in case of unsuccessful do-it-yourself fastening, it is permissible to use two methods at the same time: first, glue is applied and the insulation is installed in place, and then the structure lends itself to the doweling process.

If everything is fine with the floor, then it can not be repaired. But if you observe special scrupulousness and do everything according to the rules, then floor insulation will not take much time, and in the end it will help to avoid unpleasant surprises. A well-mounted do-it-yourself floor shelter will help make a cozy room out of the balcony for living at any time of the year. The first step is to achieve a perfectly even coverage. Before installing a thermal insulator with your own hands, give the floor surface an even appearance. As a heater for the floor, mineral wool, polystyrene foam are used, or a “warm floor” structure is mounted.

The first layer of insulation is laid in a checkerboard pattern. The first step, as in the case of the floor, is to level the entire surface of the walls, close up holes and cracks. The next step is to cover the joints that form between the insulation and the wall using mounting foam.

Warming methods

Loggia insulation technology suggests two possible ways to create a comfortable, warm environment with your own hands.

1. This method is designed for the property of polyethylene or foil to retain moisture and prevent it from passing into the internal thicknesses of the insulation. In this technology, it is quite possible to use mineral wool, because in other cases it is not recommended to use it as a heat-insulating material.

In this case, the structure will look like:

balcony railing;
insulation, for example, mineral wool;
vapor barrier (foil or polyethylene);
MDF or PVC panels;
wooden beam or plastic panels.

All technology is carried out in a "dry" manner, which facilitates construction work. The only downside is the lack of breathability. This problem is solved by functional ventilation.

2. This option does not use a protective barrier, and thermal insulation is carried out by materials with low vapor permeability.

In this case, the do-it-yourself design will be as follows:

fencing;
glue;
insulation;
glue;
reinforcing glass mesh;
glue;
finishing layer;
dowel fastening.

With this method, putty can be used as a finish, followed by wallpapering. The design occupies some of the usable area, more laborious than the first, but has good breathability with proper heat retention.

Standard operating procedure for insulation

1st step– laying and fixing insulation on the floor, front and side walls and ceiling. In this case, all cracks and joints are sealed with mounting foam.

2nd step- vapor barrier. For this purpose, foil or polyethylene is placed on the surface of the insulation and fixed with adhesive tape or glue. The fastening is completed by mounting the vapor barrier at the joint with metal tape.

3rd step- floor screed. You can make a floor finish with your own hands in different ways.

Tie and thickness. Its height reaches 4 cm. Before pouring the screed along the perimeter of the floor near the wall, a gap of 1 cm is laid out from penofol. After the screed has hardened, ceramic tiles are laid using the appropriate adhesive.
Screed with electric heating. Here is a job for specialists or skilled craftsmen in repairing their own hands.
Wooden flooring. Wooden rods are laid over the entire area of the loggia, which are fixed using mounting foam. Tongue-and-groove boards are mounted on them, forming a flooring.

4th step- crate. A horizontal and vertical crate of wooden beams is laid on the ceiling and walls. For mounting in a concrete wall, self-tapping screws and dowels are used.

5th step- final finishing. Finishing the loggia largely depends on financial capabilities and preferences in external design.

The last final step is finishing with plastic panels, drywall or wooden clapboard. The main thing is to observe the technology of repair work in the apartment.

Some subtleties in this matter will help to avoid further disappointment. The vapor barrier is laid on the dark side of the insulation, the foil should be turned inside the warm room. The use of mineral wool as a heater is not always justified. If water seeps into it, you will have to change the entire insulation system. When using mineral wool, you need to take care of waterproofing measures. Wooden rods cannot be mounted through the thickness of the insulation, since then places of accumulation of cold and water are formed, the so-called "cold bridge". In order to fully improve the repair of the loggia, consider an additional ventilation system that will significantly enhance the climate control of the entire living space.

Until recently, the balconies of city apartments served as a kind of storerooms - people kept conservation and various things there. What is there, on the balconies they carried out any unnecessary rubbish that it was a pity to throw away. Today, however, these spaces are increasingly being used as additional living space. And in order to realize such an idea, you need to take care of the insulation of the balcony.

If you insulate the balcony, you will not only be able to expand the living space of the apartment relatively cheaply, but also significantly reduce the heat loss of housing. The fact is that it is through the balconies that most of the heat leaves. But in order for everything to be done efficiently, you need to know where to start. With a well-designed scheme, it will be much easier to turn a cold balcony into a small, but almost full-fledged room.

So, first sketch out a rough work plan - it will include:

Important information! The balcony can be insulated both from the inside and outside. But in view of the fact that you will do the work on your own, that is, without the help of specialists, it is better to resort to internal insulation.

Stage number 1. Choosing a heater

There are a lot of heat-insulating materials on the modern construction market, but it is more suitable for a balcony:

As for foam plastic and XPS, the laying of these materials is carried out using almost the same technology (the only exception is the form of adhesion - it is better for XPS due to the use of grooves).

It is better not to use mineral wool for a balcony - the installation procedure will be more laborious, and the condensate that inevitably forms on the balcony is undesirable for this material. Expanded clay, for obvious reasons, can only be used for floor insulation (insulation technology will be described in detail below).

And if we add to all of the above the fact that the balcony should in no case be overloaded, then it becomes obvious: the most suitable option is foam plastic 4-5 cm thick, which is cheaper than polystyrene foam or mineral wool.

Stage number 2. We carry out glazing

If your balcony is already glazed, you can skip this step. The glazing procedure itself largely depends on the parapet installed on the balcony. If we are talking about an iron crate, then you must build it up using foam blocks or ceramic bricks. It is important that the wall thickness as a result exceeds the mark of 10 cm. And if you have a reinforced concrete parapet, you can immediately start installing windows.

Today, many (especially admirers of environmentally friendly building materials) prefer double-glazed windows with wooden frames. It is worth remembering that such structures must be treated with an antiseptic and regularly painted. You can learn about the installation of double-glazed windows with wooden frames from the video below.

Video - How to install a wooden window with double-glazed windows

However, most consumers still buy PVC windows. When buying, choose a special plastic profile, characterized by increased rigidity and strength characteristics. In addition, the profile must have good thermal insulation performance.

Also, plastic windows should have:

5-chamber profile;
2-chamber (if you live in the middle lane) or 3-chamber (if in a more severe climate) double-glazed window;
reinforced reinforcement.

After installing the PVC construction ordered according to the dimensions of the balcony (specialists should do the work), you can proceed directly to the insulation.

Stage number 3. We warm the floor

Consider how to insulate a balcony from the inside with your own hands using foam (although the technology described below is also suitable for polystyrene foam).

Table. Floor insulation on the balcony

Steps, no.	Short description	Illustration
Step #1	First, prepare the work surfaces - seal all the cracks found in the concrete with mounting foam, as well as at the joints between the slabs and the wall.
Step #2	Mark the floor for the subsequent construction of the crate. At the same time, it is important that the pitch of the crate exceeds the width of the insulation sheets by about 10 mm.
Step #3	According to the previously made markings, lay the slats (the approximate size of the bars is 4x4 cm, however, it is necessary that their width matches the thickness of the insulating material). The first and last rails should recede from the walls by 50-100 mm. Connect the rails with self-tapping screws.
Step #4	Lay foam sheets between the lathing laths, gluing them to the floor with liquid nails or special glue. Blow out all the voids formed as a result of this with mounting foam.
Step #5	Lay on top of the insulation Lay a vapor barrier layer on top of the insulation (required to increase thermal insulation and prevent condensation). If you use ordinary PET film, then in no case lay it on the "cold" side of the insulator. If you are laying foil insulation, then do it with foil to the foam.
Step #6	Fix sheets of plywood or chipboard on top, and the thickness of the floor covering should be at least 20 mm. Attach the sheets to the rails with self-tapping screws.
Step #7	It remains only to lay the finish coating, for which you can use carpet or linoleum.

Important information! There is another way to insulate the floor on the balcony with foam plastic: foam sheets are attached to the leveled and cleaned surface, and a thin screed is poured on top from a previously prepared dry mix solution. Ceramic tiles can be used as a finishing coating here.

Alternative option. We use expanded clay

As noted earlier, the floor on the balcony can also be insulated with expanded clay. This material is also inexpensive, and its installation is not difficult. Let's get acquainted with the algorithm of actions.

Step #1. First, lay a waterproofing film on the floor with a 10 cm exit to the walls.

Step #2. Arrange beacons around the perimeter in increments of about 25 cm, while being careful not to lean them too much against the walls.

Step #3. Fill the floor with a layer of expanded clay 15 cm thick, evenly distribute the material over the surface.

Step number 4. Moisten expanded clay with cement "milk" (this is an aqueous solution of cement).

Step number 5. Pour expanded clay with a layer of concrete or self-leveling mixture. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the structure of the insulator.

Step number 6. Wait for the screed to dry completely. After that, you can start laying the finish coat.

Stage number 4. We insulate the walls

The technology here is almost the same as for floor insulation. Do the following.

Step #1. Mark the future location of the rails on the walls (as for the floor).

Step #2. Attach the slats according to the given markup.

Step #3. Apply mounting foam to the surface with wave-like movements. At the same stage, holes for dowels should be drilled.

Step #4. Attach the styrofoam sheets using plastic mushroom dowels.

Step #5. Blow out all the cracks formed with mounting foam, then glue with mounting tape.

Step #6. Lay a waterproofing layer on top - for example, penofol, which at the same time will also serve as thermal insulation.

Step #7. Seal the seams at the joints with foil tape.

Step number 8. Mount the counter-lattice on top of the foam foam and install the finishing material.

Stage number 5. We insulate the ceiling

This procedure is also performed using a similar technology, but there are still some differences.

First, mark up where the hangers for attaching the rails will be installed.
Install the suspensions themselves, necessary for fixing the guides (use a galvanized profile or timber as the latter).
Cut small holes in the insulator (styrofoam or XPS) in appropriate places for hangers.
Next, fix the insulation boards using the same mounting foam.

If the insulation weighs too much, then you can use dowels for fastening. Fill the cracks with foam. Otherwise, there are no significant differences.

Finishing Features

In most cases, balconies are lined with clapboard or profile from the inside, but drywall is also used, followed by wallpapering. PVC panels are also used for cladding. As for the exterior decoration, it is better to entrust it to professionals, especially if your apartment is located higher than on the ground floor.

Important information! It is forbidden to conduct central heating there, so if additional heating is required, you can lay a film "warm floor" under the linoleum.

Even on the balcony you can install a socket to which an electric heater will be connected. The described room is small, so heating will take a minimum of time. We also note that a double-glazed window weighs quite a lot, so the rest of the materials (including the insulator itself) should be with a minimum weight. By the way, this is another reason why it is better to give preference to XPS or foam boards.

Video - Instructions for warming the balcony

Now you know about the strengths and weaknesses of materials suitable for insulating a balcony, as well as about the technologies for laying foam and expanded clay. So it's time to get straight to work! Moreover, there is nothing complicated here if you are armed with step-by-step instructions and all the necessary materials. If you do everything right, then turn the balcony into a full-fledged living room with all the ensuing benefits.