Insulation of a loggia in a panel house. How to insulate a loggia from the inside with your own hands in panel houses. How to insulate a balcony: what materials are better to choose

Today's balcony in many apartments turns into a full-fledged room, a functional space. This is especially true for small apartments, whose residents appreciate every centimeter. If the balcony is insulated, it becomes an office, pantry, resting place, mini greenhouse, dining room or extra bed. There are many options for its use. The main thing is to do quality work on its insulation. Only in this case it will be warm and cozy on the balcony.

Features and Benefits

In the warm season, the whole family can relax on the balcony, but when autumn comes, this room becomes useless. If you warm it up, the situation will change. The advantage is that all the planned work is easy to do on your own. An additionally warm room is a space in which it is easy to create a small work area or a relaxation area. In addition, the presence of a warm balcony will automatically make the apartment cozier and warmer. You can attach a living room or a kitchen to it, depending on its location. This will create extra space.

Before you engage in insulation or glazing, you need to get expert advice. He will definitely tell you what load a warm balcony can withstand, whether it is worth strengthening it. If the base is a powerful concrete slab, the question of reinforcement does not arise. But the metal parapet must be reinforced with foam blocks or light bricks made of ceramic material. The same should be done in the case of unstable fastening of the reinforced concrete base.

For insulation, double-glazed windows in wooden frames can be used. They are environmentally friendly, allow the windows to "breathe", but are expensive. Aluminum windows insulated with polyamide inserts increase the thermal insulation of the room. The most optimal would be the equipment of PVC windows with double-glazed windows, which will reliably retain heat.

Such windows are cheaper than wooden ones, but at the same time their thermal insulation is not inferior to aluminum ones.

What materials are better to choose

For finishing balconies or loggias today there are many varieties of finishing materials, with the help of which they give even the smallest room an original and attractive look. The main thing is to make the right choice of material for decoration. For insulation, experts recommend using cork, plastic panels, lining with a wooden or plastic base, drywall, plaster, MDF panels, decorative stone, aluminum profile, foam plastic, expanded polystyrene, penofol.

Mineral wool, foam plastic trim is an excellent solution for self-insulating a room.

In the case of an uninsulated balcony, it is better to give preference to artificial stone, plastic frost-resistant lining, cork panels or tiles. The most commonly used finishing materials are:

Drywall

  • This material is distinguished by the fact that it is based on no toxic substances, it is easy to process and is combined with other finishing materials in design. Drywall can be plastered, painted, wallpapered, paneled and clapboarded. With the help of such a versatile material, it is enough to simply turn the balcony into a full-fledged living room.

PVC panels

  • A practical solution, but it is better not to use this material if the constant temperature on the balcony is below five degrees. This problem can be solved with the help of frost-resistant panels developed using new technologies. This material is not afraid of moisture, but is able to quickly lose color from direct sunlight. This point should be taken into account if the room is located on the south side. Advantages: low cost, quick and easy installation with glue.

Cork panels

  • They create a cosiness that cannot be organized using other finishing materials. Cork panels are pressed cork oak bark. Cork panels are easy to install and are suitable for any type of balcony, regardless of the temperature level in the room. The cork panel does not absorb foreign odors, including the smell of tobacco. Lack of material - high price. For insulation, they also use inexpensive foam plastic, and mineral wool is perfect.

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

A balcony in a city apartment is a special space. This piece of the house, taken out under the open sky, can become an office, a greenhouse or a recreation area, one has only to glaze and isolate it.

Warming the balcony with your own hands will save a lot of money. Sheathing in a panel house, in "Khrushchev" is done taking into account the characteristics of the apartment and building.

  • Step 1. To begin with, the old frames are dismantled, the surface is prepared and things are taken out. Insulation from the inside is an important step in the whole process.

  • Step 2. At the second stage it is necessary to make a balcony glazing. The best option would be plastic PVC windows. Many people prefer to keep the old wood frames. However, remember that even if the wooden structures are in good condition, they will not be able to organize the same heat savings. There are gaps in the tree, so it is pointless to deal with insulation in this situation.

  • Step 3. After the plastic windows are installed, you can begin to insulate the floor. Be prepared for the floor to be higher. Consider this if the ceiling in the room is low.

  • Step 4. Wall cladding is carried out after the installation of windows and floor insulation. The walls on the balcony are considered side walls, except for the main one. At the final stage of insulation, finishing work is carried out. The choice of materials depends on the budget. In the process of finishing, window slopes facing the balcony are installed.

Necessary tools and materials

  • In order to insulate a balcony or loggia, you will need the following tools: a hacksaw or a clerical knife; roulette; level; pencil, marker or any other writing instrument; glue application tool - brush, spatula and so on; other tools. Of the materials you need glue and the insulation itself. In addition, you will need a vapor barrier film and a windproof membrane.

You will also need a frame device. In this case, you will need wooden beams, as well as nails to secure them. You may also need special fasteners - nails with very wide hats. They are used when polystyrene is not fixed with glue.

Warming inside

  • High-quality thermal insulation combined with double-glazed windows turns the balcony into a living space. It is necessary to insulate not only the walls, but also the floor with the ceiling. Insulation materials must be durable, lightweight, safe for humans. Due to atmospheric precipitation and condensate, the walls of the balcony can become damp and moldy, which means that hydro and vapor barriers are needed.

Expanded polystyrenes meet these requirements as much as possible: traditional foam plastic and Penoplex thermal insulation boards. The first is very light, strong in compression, waterproof. Penoplex is an insulation made of extruded polystyrene foam. Its strength and durability exceeds conventional foam, and its shape simplifies installation in the clutch and provides perfect insulation. Sheathing the balcony with slabs can be done both inside and outside.

Insulation of a closed balcony begins with surface preparation. It is necessary to carefully cover the cracks and joints between the floor, walls and parapet with mounting foam without toluene in the composition. Metal structures must be cleaned of rust, coated with oil paint and treated with a building antiseptic.

Before laying the insulation put windows and doors. Window sills and slopes are mounted at the last stage of work. Balcony glazing depends on the parapet. If this is just a metal crate, it needs to be built up with ceramic (lightweight) bricks or foam blocks. The thickness should not exceed ten centimeters. To protect the foam blocks, at the finishing stage they are covered with corrugated board.

Floor

It is possible to install window structures on a reinforced concrete parapet immediately, using various mounting and sealing compounds. Metal-plastic windows have excellent characteristics, with skillful installation they reliably protect the balcony and look aesthetically pleasing. When choosing a model, it is worth stopping at hinged frames with double glazing.

Floor

  • In order to insulate the floor, you can resort to two different directions at once: make it warm or constantly heat it up. We are talking about installing a floor heating system, for example, an electric one. Installing a water system on a balcony is very inconvenient and almost impossible, but installing an electric or film system is easy.

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It all starts with preparation. A waterproofing film is laid on the floor under the tiles, protecting the floor from moisture from the outside. Next, a crate is arranged. Instead of a log, a beam is used, five centimeters thick. If you do not want to raise the floor much relative to the old coating, it is better to use a beam of low height. A square bar 50 × 50 mm is perfect. The beams are laid every 40-60 cm.

To prevent moisture from entering the insulation from the inside, it is covered with a vapor barrier film. It is laid on top of the beams and attached to them with a construction stapler. For internal fastening, a fastening step of 50 cm is sufficient so as not to create unnecessary holes in the film. Polystyrene must be protected from moisture on all sides. Therefore, it is better to lay the film with an overlap on the walls. All gaps between the beams and the walls should be sealed with the same insulation material or mounting foam.

Walls

  • Many do not insulate the walls, believing that cold does not enter the balcony from the side of the house. In many ways it is, but the work needs to be done. The walls themselves are not sources of cold, but the joints between them and the side walls of the balcony can be. For this reason, all work can only consist in installing penofol, which is vapor-tight and thin. It will protect the walls from icing and the penetration of condensate into the balcony.

  • Ceiling. If we are talking about a private house, then it is best to make a special roof design. It is recommended to make a pitched roof, the slope of which is directed away from the house. The roof is made of rafters and battens. A waterproofing film is attached on top of it. Roofing material is attached to the film, and waterproofing is applied over a double-sided vapor barrier film, with the absorbent side inward. From below, the rafters are hemmed with a vapor-permeable windproof membrane.

The floor slab, that is, the horizontal part, must have several layers at once: insulation; vapor barrier layer; load-bearing beams with interior trim. The device begins with the installation of the frame, namely the truss system. Next, a double-sided vapor barrier membrane is attached to it in the indicated way. Then arrange the crate and lay the waterproofing layer. You can use classic roofing material or special PVC films.

  • Warming outside. In order to insulate the balcony from the outside on your own, you will need skills. It is not easy to do quality work yourself, taking into account the characteristics of the building. Finishing the outside means saving up to thirty percent on heating. Remember that outdoor work is fraught with some difficulties: if the balcony is above the second floor, then industrial climbers will have to be involved in the work.

Before you start insulation, get the consent of officials from the Department of Architecture. The appearance of the balcony can spoil the overall picture, but if you complete the decoration in the same style as the entire building, then you can get permission. Insulation from the outside has several advantages:

  • the reinforced concrete slab remains warm, moist air from the room freely passes through it and is released into the atmosphere;
  • saving usable space;
  • you can mount a layer of thermal insulation of any thickness, this will not affect the interior of the balcony in any way.

Materials can be used the same as for interior work. Preference is given to sprayed thermal insulation, as the lightest and most effective. Experts recommend using foam or polystyrene foam. Mineral wool is sensitive to moisture, so its installation requires special care and accuracy.

The independent procedure for warming a balcony is complicated. All stages must be completed at a high level, otherwise the room will not be completely isolated. Glass, panoramic, stained glass balcony is a great solution for a small space. Designers advise to connect it with a room for expansion. A glazed balcony connected to the kitchen on the top floor is a luxurious solution.

The vast majority of modern apartments in panel houses have a layout that provides for a loggia. Unfortunately, many people use this place only for drying clothes and storing old unnecessary things. But after all, it is precisely due to the loggia that you can significantly expand the space of your home on your own by creating an additional room or expanding an adjacent one.

In order to be comfortable and cozy in the loggia all year round, it must be insulated. Not everyone knows how to do it on their own and what stages the work should be divided into. Let's take a closer look at the issue of proper insulation of the loggia in a panel house with our own hands.

Where to begin? Stages of work

The whole process of warming with your own hands should be divided into several main stages. Such as:

  • preparatory work;
  • balcony glazing;
  • selection of suitable material for insulation;
  • ceiling lining;
  • flooring and wall coverings.

It should be noted that before starting work on the insulation or redevelopment of your own loggia, it is imperative to coordinate all the necessary documentation with the relevant service.

Preparatory work

Preparatory work is, so to speak, cleaning and cleaning the loggia. That is, it is necessary:

  • remove all old trim in the loggia, as well as dismantle all old window frames. Also, if there is any wood coating on the floor, then it must also be removed;
  • clean the walls, ceiling, and floor from dust. If possible, you can use a construction vacuum cleaner;
  • restore all cracks, chips, and places of destruction that have formed during operation, using cement mortar.

It should be noted that without fail, before performing any work on the insulation of the balcony with your own hands, you should get rid of all structural defects, especially those in which reinforcing bars are visible.

If this is not done, then in the future, corrosion will develop under the layer of the newly laid insulation, which will lead to the destruction of the base of your loggia.

The final stage of preparation is the treatment of all surfaces of the loggia, which will subsequently be insulated, with a specialized antiseptic substance.

It is he who will prevent the process of formation and development of fungus and mold under a layer of insulation.

Installation of loggia windows

The selection of balcony glazing should be approached with all responsibility, because the degree of thermal insulation of your loggia will depend on the selected windows. Currently, the most optimal, attractive and economical option for glazing are windows with two-chamber glazing, made of metal-plastic and having a five-six-chamber profile.

Yes, of course, single-chamber glazing can also be used. But then it is important that each of the glasses has a specialized energy-saving coating.

The second glazing option is the installation of aluminum windows. The main feature is the presence of a thermal break, which allows you to keep and keep warm in the loggia during the cold season.

The third most environmentally friendly, but also the most expensive option is to install wooden window frames.

Their main feature is that such windows perfectly combine the characteristics of the two above types.

How to choose the right material for insulation?

The next, and also one of the most important stages, is the selection of material suitable for do-it-yourself loggia insulation. It should immediately be said that on the modern market there is simply a huge variety of materials intended for insulation. The laying technology of each of the varieties is similar due to the similarity of the structure of the material and its shape.

In the modern market, the most common materials for insulation are:

  • Styrofoam;
  • mineral wool;
  • penoplex.

During the selection, you should pay attention to such characteristics as thermal conductivity, ease of installation and installation, cost, as well as the duration of the service life.

Of the three materials listed above, the leader in most characteristics is penoplex. Its only drawback is only the increased cost.

If your financial situation is too limited, then you can easily pick up other material, for example, foam.

Performing ceiling insulation

All work on the implementation of the insulation of the loggia in a panel house must begin with the work of the insulation of the ceiling. Do not forget that the sheathing of the ceiling surface is a more time-consuming task than it seems at first. Consider how to properly insulate the ceiling of the loggia.

First of all, on the ceiling previously cleaned and treated with an antiseptic agent, foil insulation material should be glued. After that, you need to build a frame for your future ceiling. It is best to carry out this kind of construction either from wooden slats or from a metal profile. Next, electrical cables are laid to provide the possibility of further installation of lighting fixtures. The final stage is the installation of finishing material.

For high-quality fastening of the insulation, you can use the following adhesives:

  • PVA glue;
  • tile adhesive;
  • construction foam.

It is worth noting that, if desired, you can not use any of the above adhesives at all, and use ordinary self-tapping screws to fix the insulation.

Floor and wall sheathing

The most ambitious stage of work is the decoration of the walls. It all starts with the installation of a wooden frame. Also, if necessary, support will have to be placed under the frame.

Upon completion of the installation of the wooden frame between its bars, you need to stick plates or sheets of the previously selected insulation material. At the end, a vapor barrier film should be attached to the frame, which can protect the insulation material from excessive moisture.

Let's move on to floor insulation. The whole complex of works begins with the laying of a waterproofing material, since the balcony was previously glazed, then an ordinary polyethylene film can easily cope with this task.

The next step is to install wooden logs, which, using a level, need to be leveled in a horizontal plane. After installation, you should start laying insulation materials. Do not forget that the laying should be done tightly so that no gaps form.

The final step in the insulation of a balcony in a panel house is the laying of a vapor barrier film and the installation of a floor covering.

Summing up

The process of warming a loggia in a panel house is not too complicated, but it includes many processes, each of which is important in its own way. But be sure that, following all the above tips and rules, you can easily cope with the insulation of your balcony.

How to insulate a balcony from the inside with your own hands in a panel house? Often in apartments that are located in panel houses, it is cool due to rather thin walls and poor thermal insulation. If there is a loggia, a good solution for this problem can be the insulation of the balcony, in addition, this allows you to expand the footage of the usable area. At the moment, there are a large number of materials on sale with which you can perform this operation yourself.

Why is it cold in a panel house?

Its cellular structure retains heat well and does not transmit sound, since the partitions between the cells dampen heat transfer and sound vibrations.

It is produced in a variety of options, differing in thickness - from 20 to 200 mm and density - from 15 to 50 kg / m3. The density of the foam must be selected based on the need. If it is additionally covered with plywood or other strong material from above, then a lower density can be taken, since the greater the density of the foam, the worse it retains heat.

High density polystyrene is stronger and easier to install and secure. It will help to extinguish the unevenness of the walls, and not just insulate them. But the best option for leveling is extruded polystyrene foam.

Extruded polystyrene foam

Extruded or extruded polystyrene foam and polystyrene, although they consist of the same substance, differ in the technology for creating granules. At elevated temperatures, the granules are mixed and squeezed out of the extruder, due to this, a uniform, closed-pore structure is formed, which has a high density.

This material can be used even when covering the floor, as it does not deform under strong pressure, levels and supports the surface.

In terms of thermal insulation and lightness, extruded polystyrene foam is better than ordinary foam. Also one of its advantages is low flammability.

Sheets have a thickness of 20 mm and up and usually have a special groove for connection, which allows you to achieve a uniform coating without cracks and facilitates installation. Additionally, they need to be fastened with mounting foam or "liquid nails". Easily cut with a regular utility knife.

The only drawback of this material is its high price, but usually the floor area of ​​​​the loggia is quite small, so in this case it is better to spend money.

Polyethylene foam

Foamed polyethylene is an elastic elastic fabric, produced in rolls, sheets and bundles. Thickness from 2 to 20 mm. Thin polyethylene foam is usually used as a substrate for a laminate, and the densest one as a heater, alone or in combination with other materials.

The most effective polyethylene foam is covered with foil, which allows you to throw heat in the right direction - towards the room. It is important to follow the rules for laying the heat reflector - with the foil side facing the room.

Sheets of polyethylene foam are mainly used for the production of various thicknesses of rugs, for example, for tourism or children's games, it is not very convenient for floor and wall insulation.

Preparing the room for insulation work

Before choosing a heater, you need to decide on the technology of thermal insulation, but first of all, you need to prepare the balcony for repairs, since the preparation is the same in any case, no matter which method you choose.

Do not ignore the preliminary procedures and do not save on them so that the insulation is of high quality and does not have to be redone in a few years. Proper preparation is necessary to prevent moisture from getting under the insulation, which will cause it to break down, lose the qualities for which you chose it, and become ineffective.

The algorithm for preparing surfaces for insulation is as follows:

  • First, carefully clean the walls, ceiling and floor from old paint, various concrete irregularities, bumps, etc. Crushed, breaking concrete must be eliminated to a flat surface.
  • Then the floor is carefully cleaned to absolute cleanliness. Large debris can be collected by hand, but dust must be sucked in with a vacuum cleaner to detect various cracks in walls and slabs.

Now you can deal with sealing holes, crevices and holes

  • Cracks visible to the eye are expanded, cleaned, if necessary - moistened with water and filled with cement mortar or sealant
  • The gaps between the plates also need to be increased, moistened with water and filled with mounting foam.
  • In addition to the damage listed above, cracks, dents, and small potholes can form in concrete. They will not interfere with evenly fixing the base, but, when the temperature changes, condensation can accumulate in them. Therefore, they must be leveled, this can be done using a cement mortar with the addition of PVA glue.

After all the smeared flaws have dried, you need to cut off the excess mounting foam, remove the remnants of the sealant. After that, it is necessary to prime all planes to protect against mold and strengthen the surface.

Surface waterproofing

At the next stage, you need to protect the floor and the lower part of the walls from water ingress. The walls must be waterproofed to the height of the final floor laying.

There are several main methods of waterproofing:

  • Covering the floor with roll materials that do not allow moisture to pass through, for example, roofing material, which is glued in a “hot” way onto bituminous mastic. Currently, there is also a roofing material with a prepared glued mastic layer, which is heated with a burner.
  • Penetrating waterproofing - a special composition for the impregnation of concrete. If you are going to lay tiles on the floor, then this method is not suitable. The action of such protection against moisture is based on the fact that it penetrates into the cellular structure of concrete and forms crystals that fill the pores of the material from the inside. The crystals become part of the concrete, compacting its structure and preventing the penetration of water. Since the composition is very toxic, it must be applied very carefully, protecting exposed skin, otherwise you can get burned.
  • For tiles, it is recommended to use liquid rubber - a two-component mastic of cold application and rapid hardening. It is applied with a roller or a wide brush. When hardening, liquid rubber forms a kind of thin moisture-proof film on the floor and walls.
  • Waterproof plaster mixture, which is applied with a wide brush, or, if necessary, with a suitably sized trowel.
  • Inexpensive way - thick oil paint, which is easy to apply and hides minor flaws, but is quickly absorbed by concrete, which increases its consumption.
  • The time-tested method is to cover the floor with a thick plastic film, making sure that it completely covers the height of the future floor and lies correctly in the corners. The film should form a kind of bowl that will protect the insulation. Fasten it with construction tape or liquid nails.

You can choose any method based on your preferences and budget. All of them perform their main function - they do not allow water to enter the room, which means they reduce the likelihood of black mold, which is very difficult to fight.

Glazing

At the moment, the most common are window designs of three models:

  • metal-plastic - the most common, characterized by a long period of operation and high tightness, relatively inexpensive. Among the shortcomings, non-environmental friendliness can be noted, in comparison with wooden structures.
  • wooden - modern, airtight, well protected from the cold and can be made in any configuration, but quite expensive
  • , if you are going to use the balcony as a living area, as they are not airtight and do not protect well from the cold

Ceiling insulation

Foil underlay

It is mounted on construction tape with two adhesive sides or on the Moment universal glue, which is evenly distributed over the ceiling in small dots and the insulation is pressed against it. It is best to use sheets for this purpose, which must be bent onto the walls by about 150-200 mm, for additional waterproofing of the joints. Check the reliability of the fastening of the insulation, as a crate will be installed on it.

The crate can be made either from a galvanized metal profile for drywall, or from a wooden beam - both are suitable for laying mineral wool or polystyrene.

The distance between the fasteners of the crate elements depends on the width of the insulation, it is desirable that it becomes close, without gaps. Since mineral wool is elastic, for it this interval can be reduced by 30-50 mm for a good tight installation.

Laying insulation in the cells of the skin

The next step is to install insulation. The mineral wool will become tight between the bars, especially if you followed the advice and shortened the interval, but the foam is a hard material, so small gaps may remain. To prevent the penetration of cold, they must be filled with mounting foam, the protruding parts of which will need to be cut off after drying.

Installation of plates directly on the ceiling

Installation is carried out using special plastic fungi. For them, holes are drilled directly through the insulation in concrete, into which a fungus is inserted, and then a plastic nail is carefully hammered.

Balcony floor insulation

To insulate the floor, you can also choose from various options: dry screed, lifting with a log, or simply covering the concrete floor with extruded polystyrene foam. The latter action is ineffective in maintaining the temperature on the balcony, as in the rooms, it will simply make the floor not too cold.

Expert opinion

Konstantin Alexandrovich

Ask an expert

The most highly effective and most commonly used method is lag insulation.

Logs can be placed directly on the concrete floor or adjusted in height using various devices - metal holders, studs, adjustable or homemade stands.

Metal holders raise the rails, and this is a good way to attach the lag, if their height is high enough to install insulation. For a standard loggia (3 * 1.2 m in size), three rows of logs will be enough.

The holders are attached to concrete and a heater is put on each. Complete with such fasteners, mineral wool is most often used. A square is cut off from it, in which two holes are made, through which the insulation is put on the rack.

Having fixed the logs in the holders and checking the horizontal position, we lay the main insulation on the entire floor area. To achieve the best effect, lay another layer of mineral wool, almost to the level of the lag.

Fix the vapor barrier film on top of the insulation with staples.

From above, the logs are covered with plywood 10 mm thick, all cracks and crevices are filled with mounting foam. After drying, the excess foam is cut off, and a decorative coating is laid on top of the plywood.



  • If you do not plan to use the balcony as a living space, but simply want to raise the temperature there so as not to let cold air into the apartment, then raising the floor to the level of the threshold is not required. It will be enough to lay the insulation to the height of the log, fixed on thin polyethylene foam, laid out on concrete.

Under these conditions, the logs are drilled through and fastened with anchors. The space along the walls and between the lag is filled with insulation, closed with vapor barrier and plywood.

Insulation of the walls of the loggia

Wall insulation is done in the same way as on the floor or ceiling of the loggia. Here, too, you can choose a method to your liking - use a wooden or metal crate or hard insulation, which is attached to the walls with special glue or mounting foam.

  • Installation of penoplex will be easy if you prepare the panels you need in size in advance. All vertical surfaces are faced in the same way - we apply glue to the back of the insulation and press it firmly against the wall. For additional fastening, you can fix the panels with plastic fungi.

But still, a more popular option that is suitable for any thermal insulation material is a method using wall lathing with a wooden bar or a metal profile.

Before installing the crate, in order to increase efficiency, it is recommended to make a substrate of polyethylene foam with a foil surface.

  • Such a substrate will create the effect of a "thermos" and will reliably retain heat on the loggia. Next, the crate is fixed on top. The guides should be placed at a distance equal to the width or length of the insulation mats.

Lathing installation

The selected heat insulator is laid - polystyrene foam or mineral wool, it is covered from above with a vapor barrier film fixed with staples on the bars or, when using metal guides, with liquid nails along the upper and lower edges.

Foam insulation

And, finally, the final stage is cladding with decorative material, such as clapboard, or drywall for painting or plastering.

Insulation with polyurethane foam

The most modern way of warming is a spraying of polyurethane foam. In most cases, it is practiced for insulation from the inside of roofs and outside walls in private houses and cottages, but since this method is fast and easy to install, it is increasingly used on balconies and loggias in city apartments.

The only thing is that this method cannot be carried out independently; spraying is carried out only by professional specialized companies using special equipment.

Before entrusting your loggia to professionals, it is necessary to make additional preparations in the room, that is, to make a crate, as described in the article above. The crate will serve as a frame for a heat insulator and fastening over a decorative finish.

The great advantage of this method is that, when sprayed, the polyurethane foam expands and fills the entire space without leaving gaps. It can be used not only on walls, but also on the floor and ceiling. The surface becomes completely windproof, that is, it perfectly retains heat. Plus, you are relieved of the need to perform additional inspection and fill cracks and cracks with mounting foam, you can immediately start finishing.

Design solutions for the design of the loggia

Let's see how you can use the additional area resulting from the insulation of the loggia. In practice, you get one more room at your disposal, and only you can decide what it will be.

For our part, we can offer several ideas on how to manage new opportunities.

The warmest transformation - the loggia turns into a cozy little corner for relaxation. Here you can enjoy the silence with a good book or needlework. If necessary, there is enough space to install a TV or a small table for a laptop.

If a large family lives in an apartment, it is sometimes difficult to allocate a comfortable, calm place for your favorite business. Despite the small space, your new insulated loggia will allow you to place even two separate corners for activities dear to your heart. For example, a cozy deep armchair can be placed in one corner, and a small table for a laptop can be placed in the second.

A very stylish modern option, suitable if the exit to the balcony is from the kitchen. You can even transform the loggia into a kind of dining room.

Ideal for parties, especially in the case of high floors and an attractive view from the window, the window sill can easily replace the bar counter.

With the help of small details, such as lit candles, you can create the atmosphere for a romantic dinner. Fresh fragrant air and watching the sunset on warm summer days, and in winter - cozy blankets, candles and mulled wine.

If you install glass compartment doors instead of standard ones, you can, if necessary, delimit the space.

A bold design decision suggests expanding the living room space to the loggia. The wall that used to separate the rooms has been turned into a comfortable table.

The area of ​​the former loggia in this case can be used as an office or a hobby room.

By combining two spaces from the living room, access to a large window is opened, which increases the illumination, you will feel it well in winter, when there is always not enough light.

It's not hard to come up with the use of additional warm space, everything is limited only by your flight of fancy. A winter garden, a workshop, an office, even a sports corner - everything is doable.

Therefore, if your apartment has a loggia, and you still have not thought about its insulation, immediately get down to business.

Summing up

It is not so difficult to properly insulate the loggia on your own, it is quite within the power of everyone. Although this process includes a sufficient number of serious steps, but by following the tips and rules described above, you can easily cope with the insulation of your balcony.

Video of complex insulation of the balcony

Knowing how to insulate a balcony in a panel house, you can qualitatively block the access of cold air to the apartment. After all, with the onset of frost, it is from there that it penetrates into the living quarters. You can perform all the work using a wide range of heat-insulating materials and without resorting to the services of specialists, that is, with your own hands.

What is it for?

The loggia can be turned into a warm office

At the beginning of the article it was already said that if you insulate the loggia in a panel house, this will serve as a barrier to the cold from the street. It should also be recalled that reinforced concrete has a high degree of thermal conductivity, and this negatively affects the preservation of heat. In addition, the use of a small room can be used in different ways. The first option is the connection of the balcony with the adjacent room. The second is the use for its intended purpose and the design of a separate room on its square.

A warm loggia will be an excellent option for a place of rest and relaxation after a working day, an ideal option for a student doing homework here, because the best lighting is natural, sunny. And if you install a computer and a desktop, then the room can turn into an excellent office. In general, we can say that there are a lot of options for arranging. The matter remains small - to insulate the balcony with your own hands.

Necessary scope of work

Insulate the floor, walls and ceiling

Thinking about the question of how to insulate a balcony in a panel house with your own hands, you should evaluate the range of work that will need to be done to achieve the intended goal. There are several main steps:

  • Floor insulation.
  • Ceiling insulation.
  • Thermal insulation of walls.

It is worth emphasizing right away that it is best to perform this procedure from the outside. But in some situations, the installation of thermal insulation from the outside is not possible. For example, if an apartment is located on the upper floors of a building, it can be life-threatening. Not everyone will be able to work with the help of scaffolding (depending on what floor the apartment is located on), and hanging over the handrails during installation is a direct violation of safety regulations. Based on this, options are further considered on how to insulate the balcony from the inside with your own hands.

Many balconies in panel houses built in the last decade already have the necessary thermal insulation. For fencing here, structures made of aerated concrete slabs with an internal reinforcing screed are used. If a wall made of this material meets the climatic requirements of the region, insulation is not needed.

The choice of insulation

Before choosing a heater, you should first decide how the thermal insulation of the loggia will be carried out. This is due to the fact that some types of work require the use of a certain category of insulation. Therefore, below are the most alternative types of heat insulators offered on the modern construction market:

  • Mineral wool.
  • Styrofoam.
  • Extruded polystyrene foam.
  • PVC foam.
  • Polyurethane foam.
  • Polyurethane mastic.
  • Bulk expanded clay
  • Polyuria (polyurea).

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The main coefficients regulating the composition of heat insulators are considered to be 3 characteristics:

  • Density.
  • Thermal conductivity.
  • Vapor permeability.

The table below shows the average coefficients of these categories of insulation.

Insulation category Density coefficient, kg/m3 Thermal conductivity coefficient, W / (m * C) Vapor permeability coefficient, mg/(m*h*Pa)
Mineral wool 50 — 200 0,048 – 0,070 0,49 – 060
Styrofoam 33 — 150 0,031 – 0,05 0,13 – 0,05
Extruded polystyrene foam 45 0,036 0,013
PVC foam 125 0,052 0,23
polyurethane foam 30 — 80 0,020 – 0,041 0,0 – 0,05
Polyurethane foam mastic 1400 0,25 0,00023
Expanded clay (bulk) 250 — 800 0,10 – 0,18 0,50 – 0,70
Polyuria (urea) 1100 0,21 0,00023

Insulation of a loggia in a panel house

According to the data, you can choose the right quality material in order to insulate the loggia in a panel house with your own hands.

To correctly answer the question of how to insulate a balcony from the inside with your own hands, it is enough to follow a simple procedure. In this case, the frequency can be ignored and work can be done in any sequence.

It is understood that the loggia is already glazed with good double-glazed windows.

Floor insulation

One of the important criteria in how to properly insulate a loggia is competent thermal insulation of the floor. This can be done using various heat-insulating materials: from bulk expanded clay to mineral wool or extruded polystyrene foam. Initially, for this you need to lay wooden logs or timber on the floor, which must be treated with an antiseptic.

The location of the so-called crate is strictly horizontal. This will make the next job easier. Heat-insulating material is placed (or poured) into the formed cells. The next step is to close the entire area with sheets of plywood, chipboard or OSB, on which the facing floor material is laid:

  • Laminate.
  • Linoleum.
  • Parquet.
  • Tile.

The final aspect of insulation in how to insulate your balcony is the installation of a heated floor connected to a heating system, or the installation of a similar independent system powered by an electric carrier.

Ceiling insulation

Spread the insulation over the entire ceiling area

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How to insulate the loggia from freezing the ceiling plate during cold weather? It needs to be insulated. It is done like this: on the surface, with the help of a dowel of nails, galvanized suspensions are fixed. Having unbent the technological edges, a thermal insulation plate is pushed through them. If the density of the material is sufficiently rigid, you can perform this action in turn, piercing one hole at a time. Thus, the distribution of insulation over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe ceiling is carried out.

In order to insulate the loggia from the inside, a wooden beam or a galvanized profile is fixed on the protruding edges of the suspensions. This is done along the previously stretched rope, which should be located strictly horizontally, parallel to the floor surface. The interval between the elements of the crate should not exceed 40 cm. Otherwise, the decorative material may bend under the influence of time. The location of the timber is determined depending on the chosen method and type of finish. If, for example, PVC panels are used, then they will be fixed parallel to the window, the crate should be perpendicular to the window opening. For more information about the insulation of the balcony, see this video:

As a ceiling decorative finish, you can use the following types of finishing material:

  • PVC panels.
  • MDF panels.

When choosing drywall, keep in mind that in the future it will need to be wallpapered, painted or applied with decorative plaster, which requires some financial costs, time and effort.

Wall insulation

Balcony insulation is hard to imagine without wall insulation. If the floor and ceiling can have a relative positive temperature due to the fact that they are insulated from the neighbors from above or below, then the wall partition goes directly to the street. The procedure in this case is similar to the work on the insulation of the ceiling. Special suspensions are fixed on the wall, which are bent and insulation plates are put on through them. Using expanded polystyrene or polystyrene, it is desirable to foam the formed seams between the panels with mounting foam.

For several decades, residents of apartment buildings have used balconies and loggias as warehouses. Unnecessary things were taken out here, washed clothes were hung up to dry. In a word, the premises were considered auxiliary and did not perform any other function. With the advent of new building materials, it became easier to insulate balconies, and they began to be refurbished for more rational use. How to perform ceiling insulation on a balcony or loggia? How to make full rooms out of them?

Why is it necessary to insulate the balcony from the inside

Extra square meters are never superfluous - every apartment owner knows about it. If it is still possible to attach a veranda or terrace to a private house, then the residents of high-rise buildings have to save every centimeter of living space. Balconies and loggias can be adapted to suit your needs, making them full-fledged functional rooms.

Insulated balconies are equipped with winter gardens, recreation areas, offices and even smoking rooms with hoods. Loggias are often combined with the rooms to which they adjoin. This allows you to significantly increase the area. An additional plus: the rooms are not only getting bigger, but also brighter, because. barriers to sunlight disappear, and windows can be made as wide as possible.

Balcony ceiling insulation in the spotlight

It is necessary to insulate all building structures - floors, ceilings, walls. But why should the ceiling be given special attention? Warm air flows up, and cold air flows down to the floor. If the ceiling is not insulated, then heat loss increases significantly. By heating the balcony, the owner of the apartment heats the floor slabs, neighbors, and the environment. This is an unsustainable waste of energy.

In order for every penny paid on heating bills to be spent for its intended purpose, you need to choose an effective heat insulator and install it with high quality. The comfort of living in an apartment depends on this, because if there is not enough heat, you have to turn on electric heaters, which means additional costs. You will have to spend money on warming the balcony from the outside and from the inside, but thanks to this you can live in a cozy apartment, and at the same time save money for several years.

The main stages of thermal insulation of a loggia or balcony

Although balcony insulation technologies can vary significantly depending on the materials chosen, the work procedure is always the same:

Structure preparation

To begin with, all structural elements requiring replacement, finishing materials are dismantled. After that, cracks, gaps, cracks are blown with mounting foam. It is important to buy quality foam. The following trademarks have proven themselves well: Macroflex, Moment Montazh, Soudal. When the material dries, it should be carefully trimmed.

Filling gaps with mounting foam

Waterproofing

The owner of the apartment can choose any materials - coating, gluing, painting, but the easiest option is to use penetrating compounds. The popular Penetron or Aquatron waterproofing is perfect for concrete processing. Its main advantage lies in the fact that the composition not only does not allow water to pass through, but also strengthens the base material, seals microcracks.

Scheme of waterproofing the floor with materials TM "Master"

thermal insulation

A layer of heat-insulating material for insulating the balcony from the inside is mounted only after the issue of moisture protection has been resolved. The effectiveness of the insulation directly depends on the quality of the waterproofing, because. heat insulators, getting wet, lose their properties. To insulate a loggia or balcony, they use mineral wool, polyurethane foam, penoplex, penofol, polystyrene. You should choose, focusing not only on the budget, but also on the features of the operation of materials.

How to insulate the ceiling on the balcony

vapor barrier

This layer is needed to protect the materials for thermal insulation of the balcony from the damaging effects of condensate. The best choice for laying a vapor barrier layer is special breathable films and membranes (Izospan, Rockwool, Ondutis). Some thermal insulators do not need to be protected. For example, when installing penofol, you can do without a vapor barrier. In addition, if it is laid with the foil side against the wall of the room, then the thermal energy emanating from the house will be reflected back.

Insulated ceiling before finishing

How to insulate a balcony from the inside: a review of materials

How and how can a balcony or loggia be insulated from the inside? There are several popular materials that are most often used for this. Choosing the appropriate option for warming the loggia, you should calculate the total cost of the insulating "pie" - with hydro-, steam protection.

Often, more expensive materials designed for complex insulation are the most profitable. For example, reflective insulation with vapor and water protection will cost less than installing separate layers of heat, hydro and vapor barrier. You should also compare the service life indicated by manufacturers.

Note! Some materials can be shared. When deciding how to insulate the balcony from the inside, you can stop at the combined version.

Consider the properties of popular heat insulators and the features of their application.

Option # 1: mineral wool

How to insulate the loggia from the inside? You can use mineral wool. There are several varieties - glass, stone, slag. The material is produced in rolls. An excellent option is foil mineral wool. It reflects part of the thermal energy, thereby minimizing heat loss. The material is afraid of moisture, so it can only be used in those rooms where high-quality waterproofing is provided.

Important! If mineral wool is chosen to insulate the loggia from the inside, you should take care of safety precautions. Be sure to work in tight clothing, close your hands, eyes, respiratory organs. Getting on the mucous membranes and skin, mineral wool causes severe irritation, itching, microtrauma.

Proper insulation of the loggia with mineral wool:

  • The thickness of the material depends on the needs of the owner of the premises. You can buy mineral wool with a thickness of 20-200 mm
  • Installation of hydro-, vapor barrier is required, because. moisture accumulates under a layer of mineral wool. It promotes the growth of fungus and mold.
  • Mineral wool is attached to a frame made of wooden bars or slats. Under a layer of thermal insulation, a nylon thread is made of a constriction. Option - fastening with U-shaped hangers.
  • During installation, it is important to achieve high-quality fastening and tightly close the material with a finish so that dust from it does not enter the room.

Scheme: how to properly insulate a loggia with mineral wool

Option #2: Styrofoam

How to insulate a balcony or loggia inside with your own hands? Polyfoam is an affordable and easy-to-install material. To fix it correctly, no special skills are required, just the ability to handle tools. Another plus: the foam is easy to cut. For its installation, assistants are not needed, everything can be done independently.

Advice. The material is suitable for warming the loggia from the outside, but it is better not to risk your life trying to do the work yourself. Order this service from professionals.

How to properly insulate the loggia from the inside:

  • Choose foam with a thickness of 50 mm. It is mounted on adhesive compositions. Additionally, in the center and corners they are fixed with dowel fungi.
  • Slots and joints are blown out with mounting foam so that there are no cold bridges.
  • A reinforcing mesh is mounted on top of the foam plastic, plastered.
  • From above, the material is covered with drywall or plastic. After glazing and insulating the balcony with foam plastic, the temperature inside the room will be 5-7 degrees higher than outside, even without connecting to the heating system.

Option #3: technoplex

In recent years, technoplex, specially designed for thermal insulation of apartments and cottages, has gained popularity. It is well suited for insulating partitions, balconies, loggias. This is a product of the TechnoNikol company. In its production, a unique material is used - nanographite, thanks to which the technoplex is many times more effective than the usual heat insulators.

Technoplex is not afraid of water, fungus, mold. It is not eaten by rodents and insects. It does not shrink, does not change physical characteristics over time. The technology for insulating a loggia with a technoplex is very simple, and anyone who knows how to handle tools can cope with the installation.

How to insulate a loggia from the inside using a technoplex:

  • Before the loggia is insulated with a technoplex, the surfaces are leveled, primed for better adhesion of materials, then a crate of wooden slats is mounted. The thickness of the rails should be the same as the heat insulator.
  • Technoplex sheets are glued between the rails and gently pressed against the wall, leveled.
  • It will take about 3 days for the adhesive to dry completely. After that, the sheets are additionally fixed with dowels: along the edges and in the center.
  • After the installation of the technoplex, the seams are sealed and the final finishing is started.

Installation of technoplex on the ceiling of the loggia

Option # 4: foam

An excellent choice is the insulation of the ceiling and floor on the loggia with penoplex. Compared to foam, this material retains heat better, because. its density is 35-45 kg/cm2. However, it also costs more.

The advantages of the material include resistance to decay, moisture. Extruded polystyrene foam is not eaten by insects, fungus and mold do not start in it. For high-quality insulation, a foam layer 20 cm thick is sufficient.

Mounting Features:

  • Extruded polystyrene foam is fixed with special adhesives. Additional fasteners - two fungus-dowels along the edges of the panel.
  • In the process of insulating the floor and ceiling of the loggia with penoplex, the cracks and joints are carefully sealed.
  • The use of waterproofing is optional, the material can be mounted directly on the slabs.

Option # 5: penofol

The ideal option is to insulate the balcony with penofol. This is a heat, hydro, vapor barrier material with a reflective film made of polished aluminum foil. The base of the insulator is polyethylene foam. Due to the pores filled with air, the material perfectly retains heat. At the same time, he is not afraid of water, condensate, chemicals, fungus, mold, insects.

Depending on the requirements for the quality of thermal insulation, you can choose penofol with a thickness of 2-10 mm. Despite the high cost of the material, its use is beneficial because you do not have to spend money on waterproofing and buying expensive breathable membranes.

Things to remember when installing:

  • The best heat-insulating effect can be achieved by leaving 1.5-2 cm of air cushion on both sides of the penofol layer. For this, the material is mounted on a wooden crate. Fasten it with a stapler, screws or dowels.
  • Lay the material with the reflective side inside the room. The strips are mounted end-to-end, avoiding overlaps.
  • The seams should be carefully sealed by gluing with a special tape. This will provide high-quality vapor and waterproofing, and prevent the appearance of cold bridges.

Attention! If there is electrical wiring on the loggia or balcony, then after installing the penofol, make sure that it is reliably protected and has not been damaged during work. Aluminum foil is a good conductor, so supervision is essential to prevent accidents.

Option #6: combination of materials

Many apartment owners doubt the better to insulate the loggia from the inside: penofol or penoplex. Both materials meet all the requirements for thermal insulation, cope well with loads and the impact of negative environmental factors.

The good news is that you can not choose, but apply both options. The advantages of double thermal insulation are obvious. The room will not cool down for a long time, and cold air will not penetrate from the outside.

Features of balcony insulation with penoplex and penofol:

  • Penoplex is installed first. It is attached with glue and dowels.
  • Penofol is laid on top of the foam layer, fixing it with dowel fungi.
  • The materials are fastened together with staples of a construction stapler. Also, self-tapping screws can be used to attach penofol to penoplex.
  • For finishing, MDF or chipboard boards are used.

Note! It is not necessary to mount layers of insulators one on top of the other. When glazing and insulating the loggia, penoplex is often used from the outside, and penofol - from the inside of the room.

Educational film: how to insulate a loggia or balcony

Glazing and insulation of balconies and loggias are becoming vital measures. The cost of energy resources is only growing every year, and any sane owner is ready to invest money if he knows that he will save in the future.

When deciding how and with what to insulate a balcony or loggia inside, choose modern multi-purpose materials. This is much more profitable than spending money on several types of insulators. New generation heaters will last for many years without losing their properties and without requiring replacement. Save right!