Step-by-step insulation of the loggia with foam and MDF. Loggia insulation technology foam. Installation of penoplex for insulation of the balcony from the outside

In this article I will tell you how to properly carry out the work and insulate your balcony with the help of Penoplex - one of the best thermal insulation materials. But if you make mistakes and fix the material incorrectly, then there will be little benefit from such thermal insulation. And how to avoid this, you will learn by reading the article to the end.

Description of works

We will figure out how to insulate three parts of a balcony or loggia:

• Walls;
• Ceiling.

Most often, all surfaces are thermally insulated, but only walls can be limited. If the balconies are warm above and below, then floor and ceiling insulation does not make sense. You need to select the required sections and follow all the recommendations in order.

Walls

It is through this part of the structure that the most cold penetrates the balcony, so it is important to insulate it with high quality. First, let's figure out what materials will be needed during the work.

Do-it-yourself insulation of the walls of the balcony with Penoplex is done in two ways. The first option is to fasten the sheets to the surface with dowels.

The technology of work is as follows:

• The surface is cleaned of dust and debris, if there is a network of protruding fasteners on it, then it should be removed. Cracks and damage are repaired with cement mortar or filled mounting foam;
• Penofol is attached in different ways. If the base is wooden, then you can use self-tapping screws or a construction stapler. On concrete and brick surfaces, the easiest way to glue the material is on liquid nails. Just apply the composition around the perimeter and a little in the middle and press firmly to the base;

The joints between the sheets of reflective material are glued with a special metallized adhesive tape.

• Next, you need to try on insulation sheets and mark them for cutting. You can cut the material with an ordinary hacksaw for wood with a fine tooth size;
• Fastening is done as follows: the sheet is attached to the surface, after which a hole for the dowel is drilled right through it. For work, a perforator with a drill of the appropriate diameter and length is used;

• Dowels are inserted into the holes, after which nails are hammered into them. Thus, the insulation is very quickly and securely fixed. One sheet should have at least 2 fasteners, but it is better if there are 3-4;

• If there are wide gaps at the joints, then they are filled with mounting foam. If the connections are tight, then to ensure reliability, you can glue them with foil tape. On this this species work can be considered successfully completed, then comes the finishing in the chosen way.

We will figure out how to insulate the balcony along the crate.

Do-it-yourself instructions in this case look like this:

• First of all, you need to fix the crate on the surface. Ideally, if the spacing of the elements is equal to the width of the Penoplex sheets. If the crate is located more often, then the distance between the posts should be a multiple of the width or length of the sheet in order to cut it in half or into 3 parts and thereby avoid waste. Reflective material can be placed under the structures;

• The easiest way to fasten elements is with dowels. quick installation. Their length should be 40-50 mm more than the thickness of the bar;
• A heater is placed in the crate, which is cut to size. This is not mineral wool, and it’s not worth cutting sheets more than necessary, they simply won’t fit into place. It is not necessary to fasten the material, it should hold on like that;

• All gaps must be carefully filled with mounting foam. This will prevent heat loss through the surface. After the composition has dried, all excess can be cut off with a construction knife;

• On the crate is made finishing selected material. Here you can use anything: from wood or plastic lining to drywall or wood-based materials.

Floor

Floor insulation can also be done with or without a crate. The materials used are the same, so we will immediately proceed to consider the workflow.

First, let's figure out how to insulate a surface without a wooden structure:

• The surface is freed from all unnecessary and cleaned of dust and debris. After that, you need to check the floor with a level, if there are bumps on it, then they should be removed. Alignment can be done as cement compositions, and self-leveling mixtures. The level difference should not be more than a few millimeters;

• Next, the heater is installed. Everything is simple here: the sheets are arranged so that they fit snugly against each other and completely cover the surface. In order for the elements to stand in their places and not move, they need to be fixed with dowels, and one fastener is enough;

• Next, you need to lay the reinforcing metal mesh and pour a screed 4-5 cm thick. If desired, you can also mount a floor heating system, then you will have full heating on your balcony. In this case, the thickness of the screed is made such that there is 3 centimeters of solution above the system;

• After the screed has dried, any floor covering can be laid: from tiles to or laminate.

The second solution involves laying bars.

The process consists of the following steps:

• The location of the elements is selected depending on the configuration of your balcony. The distance between the lags should not exceed 60 cm, this is important for reliability;

• The easiest way to fasten the elements is with the help of fast mounting dowels. They are located in increments of 50 cm. It is important to fix the bar in the desired position so that it does not move later;
• Next, Penoplex is cut into pieces of the required size and placed in the crate. Do not worry if there are small gaps at the joints, you can eliminate them without problems;
• All joints must be filled with mounting foam, this will not only insulate the surface, but also additionally fix the material;

• After the foam has dried, any floor covering can be laid.

Ceiling

Considering the insulation of the loggia with Penoplex, one cannot help but touch on the ceiling. There are also two options for doing this.

First of all, consider the design without crates:

• To begin with, it is worth attaching a Penoplex sheet to the surface and drilling at least 2 holes for fastening;

• Next, the elements are fastened, it is important to join them well in order to close the surface as best as possible;

• All cracks and joints are carefully filled with mounting foam. Pay special attention to the perimeter junctions, they usually lose the most heat through them;

• After the foam dries, you need to fix the mesh on the surface and putty it.

As for the option with the crate, then everything is simple:

• First of all, you need to fix the frame, while it is very important to align your elements in level. If the surface has significant irregularities, then it is best to fix the bar with drywall hangers. As for fasteners, the same quick-mount dowels are used, the length of which is selected according to the situation;

• Next, Penoplex should be fixed, in this case it is best to use special glue. It is applied as shown in the photo. After that, you need to gently press the element to the ceiling and glue the following:

• After the glue has hardened and the sheets hold firmly, you can start sealing the seams. All joints are filled with mounting foam to eliminate flaws that will definitely be;

• After the foam has hardened, you can finish the ceiling with any suitable material.

You can cover the surface under the finish with reflective material, but if above you warm balcony, then it makes no sense.

Conclusion

Using the recommendations from this review, you can easily insulate the balcony with Penoplex, even without experience in this area. Be sure to watch the video in this article. If you have questions - write them in the comments.

Recently, a client called me and asked me to help him finish the balcony. Naturally, one of the stages of work was the thermal insulation of this room so that it could be used as a residential even in winter time. I decided to insulate the balcony with PENOPLEX, as I consider this material to be one of the most effective.

Moreover, the insulation technology itself is so simple that everything necessary actions can be done on your own. This will help you step-by-step instruction which I bring to your attention today.

Material characteristic

Exists a large number of heat-insulating materials, which can be used to insulate loggias and balconies. But in this case I gave preference to PENOPLEX extruded polystyrene foam, which is ideal for fulfilling the tasks.

To justify my choice, I will point out only a few features of this material:

1. PENOPLEX is produced in the form of sheets with a cellular structure. Inside the material are sealed small balls filled with air. Due to this, the material does not absorb moisture (the water absorption coefficient is almost zero) and has a very long service life (retains its operational properties for at least half a century).
2. The considered insulation has a small weight, which is very important for arranging balconies or loggias. I consider it very important that the installed thermal insulation layer will not exert a strong load on building structures.
3. Extruded polystyrene foam PENOPLEX has a high compressive strength. Therefore, they can do floor insulation under the screed. Wherein additional support frame will not have to be built.
4. PENOPLEX is completely safe for humans and does not emit hazardous substances into the air. chemical elements. While working with him, you do not need to take additional measures for guard skin, eyes and respiratory organs, as is the case with glass wool.
5. Working with extruded polystyrene foam is so simple that even an inexperienced and novice master can do the insulation of the balcony with PENOPLEX with their own hands. When cutting, the material does not crumble, and it can be fixed without glue, on plastic dowels with wide caps.

When choosing a material for the thermal insulation of a balcony in high-rise building need to pay Special attention on the fire safety. Therefore, for work it is necessary to buy PENOPLEX, in the marking of which there is a letter "C". This means that the XPS is impregnated with flame retardants, which contribute to the attenuation of the flame.

For the sake of fairness, I cannot fail to note two shortcomings of PENOPLEX. First of all, the material does not withstand prolonged exposure to direct sun rays. Therefore, after installation, it should be protected plaster mortar or some decorative cladding.

Also, the insulation does not tolerate contact with certain chemical compounds. Therefore, when choosing sealants and mounting foams for insulation, make sure that they can be used in tandem with PENOPLEX extruded polystyrene foam.

Well, the last thing I would like to say is the price. It is slightly higher than the cost of the more common, but less effective foam. However, this is fully offset by high performance properties.

And to save money, you can do the insulation of the loggia with PENOPLEX with your own hands, using my instructions. Moreover, I tried to choose a technology that would be as easy to repeat as possible.

Choice of PENOPLEX brand

But before you insulate the balcony inside, you need to decide on the brand of material. The amount that you spend on the purchase of materials and the performance properties of the insulation depend on this.

Insulation PENOPLEX brand "45" is somewhat more expensive than a similar material brand "35". This is due to the fact that the latter has a lower density (about 30 kg per cubic meter) compared to the former (about 45 kg per cubic meter).

Consequently, the 45th PENOPLEX also has greater strength to mechanical impact, so I recommend buying it only if a screed will be made on the floor (for tiles, for example). Rest specifications differ slightly and are insignificant for warming the balcony, so I will not talk about them.

There is also PENOPLEX brand "31", but I personally do not recommend using it, since its performance properties are worse, and the price is not so low as to justify this drawback.

PENOPLEX is sold in packs. The number of plates in one depends on the thickness of each sheet of insulation. There are sheets of 20, 50 and 100 mm. The cost starts from 1200 rubles per pack.

In my opinion, if you are insulating a loggia, it is enough to take PENOPLEX 2 cm thick, since most of its walls will already be in contact with living quarters. The balcony can also be thermally insulated with 5 cm thick slabs to achieve greater efficiency. In general, the question of what thickness of PENOPLEX to choose is decided depending on how you are going to continue to operate this room.

Internal insulation technology

I will open to you little secret. You can insulate the balcony from the inside and outside. But since in my case the apartment was located quite high, I decided to resort to internal thermal insulation. And I advise you to do the same if you are not fond of mountaineering and do not want to spend money on ordering aerial platforms.

Preparatory stage

The thermal insulation process begins with preparatory materials. I must say right away that it is necessary to carry out any warming measures only after the balcony glazing has been installed. You can also make it yourself, but today I will not talk about it.

We confine ourselves to stating a fact.

Glazed balcony must be cleared of debris. Treat walls, ceiling and floor in such a way that there are no defects on the surface. If you find cracks, they should be repaired with putty or cement mortar.

In my case, the difference between the walls vertically and the floor horizontally was small, so I did not carry out any actions to align them (then everything is leveled by the crate).

By the way, if you use the balcony as a living space, then do not forget to immediately lay all the necessary engineering Communication. In my case, an air conditioner was installed on the balcony, so I pre-drilled a hole in the wall, laid pipelines in it and blew it all out with mounting foam.

For work I used PENOPLEX Comfort with a thickness of 50 mm. I bought the right amount in advance and brought it to the balcony so that the temperature of the material would correspond to the microclimate that had formed in the room.

In addition to the thermal insulation itself, I needed the following materials in my work:

• wooden bars of various sections, with the help of which I make a crate for installing PENOPLEX on the floor and mounting the base for decorative trim;
• PENOFOL - foil foamed polyethylene, which will play a role additional insulation and a heat shield that preserves thermal energy electric convectors indoors;
• plastic dowels with wide caps - with their help, insulation plates are fixed on all surfaces except the floor;
• construction stapler and staples - they are necessary for securely fixing the PENOFOL on the insulation;
• polyurethane foam - useful for sealing joints between separate sheets thermal insulation material.

Well, you can not do without tools:

• screwdriver for tightening screws;
• perforator for making holes in wooden slabs;
• building level;
• knife for cutting PENOPLEX boards.

Having stocked up with everything you need, you can begin to implement a project to warm the balcony.

Wall and ceiling insulation

I always start with thermal insulation of these surfaces. I am telling the method that I used, and you yourself refract and modernize it, taking into account the characteristics of your object.

1. First, I measured the width of the side walls of the balcony, marked the desired segment on the PENOPLEX plate and cut it with a construction knife. Use a jigsaw for this purpose or hand saw I didn’t, because they make more crumbs than real use.

1. After cutting the right amount details, I proceeded to install the first. Started the procedure from the floor. The system here is quite simple. It is only necessary to attach PENOPLEX to the surface, having previously smeared it on the reverse side along the edge with mounting foam. Glue, by the way, can not be used, since dowels will be quite enough for reliable fastening.

1. In order for PENOPLEX to stay on the walls until the installation of PENOFOL and the crate, it must be fixed with dowels with hats - “fungi”. To do this, I use a puncher to drill holes directly in the insulation and the wall, after which I insert the dowel and wrap it with a screwdriver. Given that the dowel is plastic, the formation of cold bridges through such an attachment is completely excluded.

1. Before installing the second and subsequent sheets, I process the edge at the junction with mounting foam. Despite the fact that PENOPLEX sheets have special protrusions, this operation will completely eliminate heat loss through the seams in the heat-insulating layer.

1. Some difficulty was caused by the installation of the last sheet. In my case, I had to cut the PENOPLEX plate not only in width, but also in length. It is important here to correctly calculate all dimensions so that after installation the gap between the ceiling and the slab is minimal. And in any case, I blew a large amount of foam into it in order to seal this gap as thoroughly as possible.

1. Having finished with the installation of all PENOPLEX boards on one wall, I once again processed all the seams with mounting foam. He especially carefully blew out the cracks in the corners, since during installation the sealing compound did not get there, so a cold bridge can form there, which will negate the efforts to insulate the room.

1. According to a similar scheme, I insulated the opposite wall. Please note that on this wall I had a channel connecting the remote and indoor blocks air conditioning system. As I said, it is better to make them in advance, before installing thermal insulation and performing decorative finishes.

1. Then he turned to warming. On the balcony, which I was insulating, the ceiling was quite complex shape and therefore it was not possible to glue the plates to it. But I think there is nothing wrong with that. I just drilled holes and secured the extruded styrofoam sheets with plastic dowels. The photo shows the final stage of work, since I do not see the need to paint it in stages.

1. The only thing I want to remind everyone again is the need for careful sealing of the joints. On the ceiling, as well as on the walls, for this purpose, I used a special mounting foam that does not enter into chemical reaction with extruded polystyrene foam.

1. Then it was the turn of the vapor barrier. For this purpose, I decided to use PENOFOL. it special material made of foamed polyethylene with an additional heat-reflecting layer of aluminum foil. The latter makes the membrane more durable, and polyethylene acts as an additional insulation.

In addition, aluminum foil acts as a thermal screen that reflects the thermal energy generated by heating devices into the room. Consequently, the efficiency of heaters that heat the air on a balcony or loggia increases.

1. PENOFOL can be fastened with a conventional construction stapler. It is important here to lay sheets of foil polyethylene so that there are no gaps between them. I make small overlaps and seal them with metallic tape.

1. Having finished with the installation of penofol, I proceed to the design of the crate for the subsequent fixing of the decorative material (looking ahead, I will say that in my case it will be plastic, so the crate was placed horizontally).
   For the crate, I use wooden bars with a section of 3 by 3 cm. Their additional task is to provide ventilation gap between insulation and decorative material through which moisture accumulated inside will be removed.

1. When installing the crate, I advise you to pay special attention to the correct installation of the support bars of the crate. The correct installation of the decorative material depends on how carefully you align the crate.
   To level the bars, you can use a plumb line or a water level.

After installing the insulation and battens, you can proceed to the installation of plastic panels. However, that's another story. If you are interested, ask your questions in the comments, and I will try to prepare a separate material.

In the meantime, I’ll move on to a story about how to insulate the floor on the balcony using extruded polystyrene foam.

Floor insulation

PENOPLEX is good because, due to its strength, it can be laid under a floor screed, which will then experience significant loads. But I decided not to resort to "wet" construction processes. Moreover, there were bars for the crate, and you would still have to go for cement.

Therefore, I will tell you how the floor of the balcony is insulated with PENOPLEX under wooden crate:

1. First, I make a wooden crate of 5 by 5 cm bars. I arrange the details crosswise so that after laying the PENOPLEX, a air layer. As you know, air has a low thermal conductivity, so this trick will further increase the effectiveness of ongoing activities.
   The bars are fastened to the surface with dowel-nails, and to each other - with self-tapping screws. It is advisable to treat the wood with flame retardants and antiseptic compounds so that it lasts as long as possible and is fireproof.
   As a result, I got this crate.

1. Then I cut the PENOPLEX sheets into pieces right size and laid them between the longitudinal details of the crate. Fitting should be carried out so that there are as small seams as possible between the wood and the insulation, through which cold can penetrate into the room and heat can flow out.

1. For reliability, and in this case, I recommend blowing out the seams with mounting foam. In addition to sealing, it will fix the panels in place and prevent them from moving during operation.

1. I put sheets of plywood on top of the crate. And already on them you can lay any floor covering of those that you choose. I once laid a laminate on the balcony, about which I prepared the corresponding material. If you are interested, you can read more.

That's the whole process internal insulation balcony can be considered finished.

Features of external insulation

In order not to be accused of a biased and one-sided approach to describing the process of insulating a balcony, I will take a few minutes to describe the features of the external thermal insulation of this room.

I must say right away that it is more efficient to insulate any premises from the outside. In this case, you not only get warm rooms and balconies, but also prolong the service life of enclosing structures (walls or fences).

However, insulation from the outside has several disadvantages:

• violation of the architectural integrity of the facade of the house - in most cases, for such insulation, you need to obtain permission from the organization that is responsible for the operation of the house;
• the need to use lifting equipment or equipment for industrial mountaineering - in the first case, this will entail additional costs, in the second, you must have the appropriate skills.

However, here is a summary of how it works:

1. The foundation is being prepared. The surface of the insulated walls must be cleaned of contaminants and minor concrete repairs should be performed: repair cracks and potholes, get rid of bumps.
2. PENOPLEX is glued. For this, special adhesive compositions are used, after which the insulating layer is fixed with plastic dowels.
3. Surface finishing is in progress. It is necessary to stick a reinforcing fiberglass mesh on PENOPLEX, and then plaster the material with cement mortar.

Summary

Warming of balconies and loggias with the help of PENOPLEX is quite simple and fast technology thermal insulation of these premises, with the implementation of which you can easily handle. But in order for the balcony to look perfect, it must be sheathed with decorative material. For example, as described in the video in this article.

But maybe you have some of your own ways of warming or decorating balconies or loggias. In this case, I and the readers of this material would be happy to get acquainted with them. You can post a description. own technologies in the comments to the article.

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, ask the author something - add a comment or say thanks!

Penoplex is a plastic material for insulating a balcony with a cellular structure. Its production is carried out according to the technology of mixing components with high temperature under pressure. Many people confuse foam plastic with foam plastic, since their areas of application, including construction and repair work, similar. Otherwise, penoplex is called extruded polystyrene foam.

Preparation for foam insulation

The balcony can play the role of an additional room, but this is impossible without good insulation. Insulation work can be entrusted to specialists, or you can do it yourself.

If you take on the case yourself, you should try to avoid common mistakes.

It is not enough just to put double-glazed windows, seal them with mounting foam and turn on the heater.

Before proceeding, a certain set of tools is being prepared:

• perforator with a drill;
• drill with a nozzle;
• a hammer;
• electric jigsaw;
• building level;
• pencil and tape measure;
• special gun for foam;
• stepladder;
• construction knife;
• drill with nozzle.

Before starting work, it is necessary to free the entire balcony from foreign objects. There are several successive stages of warming:

1. Installation of double-glazed windows;
2. Crack processing.
3. Heater selection.
4. Balcony insulation.
5. Finishing and decoration.
6. Installation of an additional heat source.

Before installation, you need to remove the double-glazed window from the frame. When processing cracks, the foam must be applied evenly to all cracks. Penoplex is suitable for warming all surfaces. Balcony wall insulation.

To install windows that are suitable for a future balcony, you need to understand what the parapet design is. If it is strong enough, then you can proceed with the installation of double-glazed windows immediately. In cases where there are doubts about the strength of the parapet, it is necessary to strengthen it. For this, an additional parapet is used.

Read about how to strengthen the parapet.

After installing window frames, the problem with heat will not disappear. It will go through numerous gaps and cracks. To seal them, it is necessary to use sealants and mastics based on polyurethane.

As a heater, one of the most optimal is penoplex.. It meets all the criteria that are important for optimizing the microclimate on the balcony - low heat conductivity, lightness, small thickness, complete safety for health, as well as the ability to use only a knife for cutting.

Characteristics of penoplex in thickness:

The process of insulation includes several stages of work on the walls of the balcony, its floor and ceiling. The details of each stage are described below.

After the warming process is completely completed, you can proceed to cosmetic finishing. The choice of materials depends on the tastes of the owner of the apartment. Can be used as an additional heat source radiator batteries or .

Video:

Floor insulation on the balcony with foam

The method of floor insulation with penoplex is not much different from working with other materials. The only difference is the choice of material for the external surface finish.

Since the penoplex is very strong, then ideal option wood for the exterior various kinds processing, for example edged board, eurolining or chipboard.

After laying the foam, the seams can be sealed with a mounting exchange

Rails are laid out around the perimeter of the entire floor. The layout should form a single frame. Inside it, it is necessary to install supports that lie parallel to each other, at a distance that is equal to the size of the foam boards. The plates are stacked with precision in the resulting cells. The thickness of the rails is selected in accordance with the thickness of the insulator sheet.

After thermal insulation works have been completed, you can start exterior finish. Due to the fact that the penoplex does not absorb moisture, it is not necessary to equip additional vapor and waterproofing.

Insulation of the ceiling with foam

To insulate the ceiling on the balcony, you can choose a standard-sized penoplex. Its thickness is optimal for further use of almost any external finishing materials, for example, PVC panels or fine wood fractions.

The density of penoplex allows you to perfectly retain heat. Even very thin panels, including twenty-millimeter ones, can be used.

A layer of foil is needed for heat reflection and vapor barrier, if the balcony is adjacent to the kitchen, the steam rises.

If it is supposed to use putty for finishing the ceiling, then it is better to use thicker sheets of material.

On the balconies of the last floors, insulation can be started directly under the roof. You can also start warming under the stove. In the case of insulation under the roof, sheets cut to size are inserted into the opening. After that, they must be blown out with mounting foam.

When the insulation takes place with the calculation for putty, the foam must first be glued to the slab, and then fixed with special dowel fungi.

Due to the peculiarities of the material, only two hardware is enough along the edges of the panel. But for reliability, it is better to use the method of fastening at five points - in the corners and in the center. As an adhesive, it is best to choose a composition designed for ceramic tiles.

We insulate the walls of the balcony with foam

It is necessary to disconnect all fasteners and hooks from the balcony walls. Where it does not hold well, it must be removed.

The surface of the walls is completely leveled. This work must be carried out to the end, so its duration will depend on the condition of the wall. If the condition is regarded as bad, then we plaster it, and then we putty it. The stage of leveling the walls should not be neglected, thinking that foam sheets can hide defects. When gluing the boards to the wall, maximum area contact.

If fastening is carried out on a special crate with self-tapping screws, then the evenness of the walls will be much less important. However, on a very curved surface, the laths can lie non-parallel to each other, therefore, the insulator sheets and outer material also will not lie flat.

When arranging the crate, it is highly desirable to treat the slats with an antiseptic that prevents rotting. Since the frame is able to significantly reduce the usable area, it is worth choosing rails whose thickness does not exceed 20 millimeters. To connect them to the wall, dowels or special screws with sleeves are used.

The installation of foam boards must begin with the side walls. Fastening to the crate is carried out using hardware. To glue the plates to the wall, you need to use compounds that do not contain toluene - a substance that can dissolve foam. Bonding must start from the bottom. A strip of polyurethane foam is applied to the floor. The bottom row of plates is pressed by the end part onto this strip. So it is necessary to act along the entire length of the walls.

In order to avoid the formation of cold bridges, it is in no case recommended to use metal structures inside foam boards.

The joints between the plates are sealed with adhesive tape. If the option with a crate was chosen, then the gap between the insulation is filled with mounting foam, which also plays the role of a good sealant.

When working on wall insulation, all aspects related to lighting must be thought out in advance. All electric wires laid during installation.

Advantages and disadvantages

Thermal insulation of balconies using penoplex has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of the material include:

• • • minimal water absorption;
    • low coefficient of thermal conductivity;
    • low vapor permeability;
    • long service life;
    • compressive strength;
    • convenient processing and easy installation;
    • the highest indicators of environmental cleanliness;
    • low chemical activity.
  Minimal water absorption is one of the most important advantages of the material when used as an insulator for a balcony. In case of precipitation through open window you can not be afraid of damage to the penoplex. Water will only remain in the outer cells and then evaporate from there without any problems.

  As for low thermal conductivity, thanks to it, penoplex can be used as an insulator even where high level humidity is implied initially. This eliminates the need to install an additional moisture-proof layer.

  Penoplex has increased resistance to wet fumes. This property of the material makes the vapor permeability of a twenty-millimeter slab equivalent to that of a roofing material layer.

  The choice of penoplex as a heater for a balcony is a guarantee of a long service life while maintaining all the original properties even under strong external influences. Manufacturers' data suggests that the plates can serve for fifty years.

  High values ​​of compressive strength significantly improve the strength characteristics. This is largely achieved due to the fine-mesh structure. Under heavy loads, the dimensions of the plates do not change, which once again emphasizes the convenience of penoplex as a heater for the balcony floor.

  Installation and processing of material is very fast and convenient. One construction knife is enough for cutting. Sheathing of walls, floors and ceilings of the balcony is done without much effort.

  A high level of environmental friendliness is another argument in favor of using penoplex as a heater in a residential area. Majority chemical substances, which are used in construction, cannot react with the material. Exceptions are:

  • toluene, benzene and other aromatic hydrocarbons;
  • formaldehyde and formalin;
  • acetone;
  • petrol, diesel fuel and kerosene;
  • polyester substances;
  • oil based paints.

  The disadvantages of penoplex include standard flaws all expanded polystyrenes obtained by extrusion. Among them are restrictions on the maximum temperature external environment. These parameters must be taken into account when purchasing, and they are indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging or in the accompanying documents. Otherwise, there is a risk of excessive heating and even fire.

  Penoplex suffers from exposure to direct sunlight. It is undesirable to use it as a top coat.

  And the last drawback of the material is a higher price compared to analogues. What is offset by the mass of its merits.

Insulation and glazing of the balcony prolongs the period of its active operation and improves the thermal protection of the apartment. And when installing the "warm floor" system, it becomes a full-fledged living space.

But if not everyone can risk installing several windows on their own, then insulating the balcony with foam plastic with their own hands is a feasible task.

Why penoplex

It is also extruded polystyrene foam, best suited for insulating a balcony.

If we talk about its thermal insulation properties, then it is slightly better than its "closest relative" of expanded polystyrene (in everyday life - polystyrene), and is much superior to another popular insulation - mineral wool. For comparison, in order to achieve the same effect, the thickness of the layer of rigid facade stone wool should be almost twice as large as that of EPS. The only competitor is polyurethane foam, but PPU loses in other respects.

When comparing the water absorption of heaters, EPPS has no competitors at the household level. The extrusion manufacturing technology provides a closed cell structure, and if the foam board is kept immersed in water for a day, it will absorb no more than 0.2% of moisture from its volume (and only “due to” damage to the shells of some of the cells of the upper layer). At conventional foam this figure is 2%.

Polyurethane foam mats (foam rubber) and mineral wool Like a sponge, they easily absorb water. The sprayed polyurethane foam is very heterogeneous - good performance only for an industrial (two-component) composition, and single-component (household) aerosols after application form a layer with a mixed cell structure. And when any material is saturated with moisture, its thermal conductivity increases, that is, its thermal insulation properties deteriorate.

Penoplex has good "structural" strength and durability. It does not shrink like mineral wool, and does not delaminate into granules like foam. Inside the "pie" of the insulated structure, it can be glued to thin-sheet shells and to each other, without fixing to the fence with mechanical fasteners (dowels or self-tapping screws).

Rigid XPS boards can simply be inserted between the outer skin and the batten for interior decoration, and then blow out all joints and perimeter with mounting foam. And this is important for warming the balcony, which differs from the loggia in that it does not have side walls and a concrete or brick parapet.

What to do before warming

A balcony, unlike a loggia, is a cantilever structure.

In rare cases, the balcony slab is a continuation of the floor, more often it is attached to the facade in one of the following ways:

• pinch one edge in the wall of the house (butt to the end interfloor overlap or with the entry of the spike into the groove);
• mounted on protruding beams;
• supported by a supporting structure.

The bearing capacity of such an attachment is low and is designed for the load from a “light” balcony, in which even the fence is usually made of welded or forged grating. Window blocks with a warm profile, outer skin, insulation and quite heavily weight the structure. Especially considering that a significant part of the glazing and insulation materials falls on the outer edge of the slab, and their weight acts on the principle of a lever.

Materials wear out over time bearing capacity weaken and the plate may not withstand the total load. Therefore, before the reconstruction of the balcony, the slab must be strengthened. And the method is chosen depending on the age, condition of the house and the materials from which it is made.

Important! Even when insulating a cantilever balcony in a new house, it is better to strengthen the plate fastening with additional hangers or stops.

Preparatory stage

Preparing a balcony for insulation has the following step-by-step instructions:

1. They remove all objects, remove hinged elements - pots, antenna, lamps, ebb of the balcony block.
2. dismantled old skin fences, inspect the condition of the grating and the strength of its fastening to the walls.
3. If the fastening of the balcony railing grate is satisfactory, and the rust damage is superficial, then it can be left as load-bearing element. The metal is cleaned of rust, a primer and two coats of exterior paint are applied. A frame is mounted around the lattice - they are “tied” from two sides and from above wooden block. The width of the upper timber should be sufficient to install windows, window sills and low tide. The distance between vertical elements the frame is taken equal to 60 cm (this is the width of a standard XPS sheet), and the section of the bar is chosen to be 50x50 mm.
4. In case of poor condition of the fencing lattice, it is dismantled and a frame made of a metal profile is installed, which will take the load from glazing, foam insulation and sheathing.
5. Balcony slab repaired. The technology is similar to repair concrete floors. They remove the old floor covering, clean the stove from debris and inspect it. small cracks close up with a non-shrinking repair compound (ready-made dry mixes are on sale). Large cracks embroider, if reinforcement is visible, then process it anti-corrosion composition, then close up repair mix. If the surface of the plate has destruction on more than 40% of the area, then carry out overhaul- up to the creation of a new reinforcing frame and pouring the screed.
6. They are cleaned of dirt both in the area of ​​​​the balcony and along the perimeter of the fence up to the top plate (the latter is important for the adhesion of the mounting foam when sealing cracks). If there are traces of fungus and mold, then these places are treated with a fungicidal composition.
7. They repair the top plate - they clean off the paint on their side, prime it, close up cracks and chips
8. Mounted window blocks without double glazing. The frames are attached to the upper balcony slab and to the facade through expanders. The top extensions must have a height greater than the thickness of the insulation and ceiling trim, the side extensions must be greater than the thickness inner lining walls.
9. A visor is installed, the outer skin is attached to the frame - siding or PVC panels, joints and cracks are blown with mounting foam (including junctions to the facade).
10. Mount corners on the casing. At the junction with the facade - internal, at the corners - external.
11. Ebbs are installed and the joints of the windows and the facade are covered with flashings. Put the glass panes in place.

The balcony is ready for insulation.

Foam insulation

From the point of view of design and heat engineering, the solution to the problem of how to properly insulate a balcony from the inside with foam plastic in each plane takes place in different ways.

Fence insulation

A warm balcony fence comes down to assembling a sandwich panel - a frame with insulation inside and thin-sheet sheathing. And from the heat engineering side, this is a typical single-layer wall that combines load-bearing and heat-insulating properties (clause 8.11 of SP 23-101-2004).

To insulate the fence in one layer, a 5 cm thick foam is chosen. EPS is cut into lengths slightly less than the height of the fence - so that they stand between the balcony slab, the top beam (or profile) and the vertical frame elements. The insulation is inserted into the cells formed by the frame and outer skin, fill the gaps with non-shrink mounting foam.

If they plan to arrange a living area with heating on the balcony, then one layer of foam plastic is not enough. XPS for the second layer can be chosen the same as for the first, but is often limited to a material thickness of 3 cm, which slightly reduces the loss of usable volume. The laying direction of this layer is not important, although in order to overlap the seams of the first layer, the crate for the second layer can be shifted by half a step or placed horizontally.

Then fill the gaps with foam. After it has hardened, the influxes are cut off and sheets of reflective thermal insulation are laid on top of the foam plastic - one-sided self-adhesive foam foam 2 or 3 mm thick. The joints of adjacent sheets, the junctions to the facade and to the window sill bar are sealed with foil tape.

And already on top of the penofol, a counter-lattice is stuffed for the inner lining of the balcony.

Attention. A counter grille is required to create normal conditions for heat reflection - an air gap between the foil and the inner skin.

Ceiling insulation

The ceiling on the balcony is a hemmed structure with insulation between the top plate and the interior trim.

Penoplex is fixed to the ceiling with dowels with umbrellas. To make it convenient to work, the plates are laid across the ceiling, and the number of dowels depends on its width. But usually three pieces are enough for a plate.

After installing the XPS, the seams and slots are blown out with mounting foam. Then the penofol is laid, the seams and joints are sealed with foil tape, and the crate for the ceiling panels is fixed on top.

If the balcony top floor, then in this case, foam insulation technology applies to an individual canopy.

it classic way insulation of a non-attic coating, which in layers (from inside to outside) looks like this:

• crate for inner lining;
• reflective thermal insulation penofol (part-time);
• penoplex;
• supporting structure of the canopy over the balcony;
• roofing carpet.

Floor insulation

Warming balcony slab can be carried out in two ways - as a concrete floor, and as wooden floor on the lags.

The first method is used if a heating electric cable is installed in the screed.

The second way to insulate the floor of the balcony with penoplex is chosen if heating is provided by a convector or a film underfloor heating. This technology is simpler, and with “normal” insulation (without heating) and more efficient - wood has a much lower thermal conductivity than concrete, which means that heat transfer between cold facade wall and flooring.

Mount first wooden logs one of the ways:

• laying along the balcony and fastening wooden beam by level in increments of 60 cm, stepping back from the facade and the edge of the balcony by 10-20 cm;
• longitudinal laying and fastening of a wooden beam without observing the level in increments of 60 cm, then laying on a level (using pads or wedges) of a transverse beam in increments, the size of which depends on the thickness of the subfloor coating;
• longitudinal mounting of the beam at a level with a step of 60 cm and the insertion of crossbars in the form of honeycombs.

1. The easiest is the first way. But the large distance between the lag, dictated by the width of the foam, imposes restrictions on rough coating. The thickness of the plywood sheet must be at least 15 mm, and the thickness of the board - 35 mm.
2. The second way of laying is more “warm” due to air gap, but takes up useful volume.
3. The third method is the most durable and reliable, but the most difficult to implement.

After installing the lag between them (or in the honeycombs for the third method), foam plastic is laid and all the cracks are sealed with mounting foam. Lay floorboard or moisture-resistant plywood, fixing the coating to the logs using self-tapping screws.

Video: step by step instructions.

P.S. It is easier to insulate a balcony with penoplex with your own hands than with other materials. It allows you to make a kind of hermetic "shell" along all the enclosing surfaces with high thermal insulation properties. Moreover, such a shell is not afraid of high humidity - the foam plastic does not get wet and does not lose its qualities because of this.

Insulated glazed balcony or a loggia, you can get additional usable area and put it to good use. In order for the insulation to be effective, it is necessary to choose a quality and good insulation. enjoys great popularity construction material penoplex, which today is the best insulation. With the help of penoplex, it is quite easy to do the work on warming a loggia or balcony with your own hands. Those who have not yet worked with this material must first familiarize themselves with its characteristics, study the features of the use of penoplex and watch the video training.

The main characteristics of penoplex

Penoplex is a foamed extrusion material that is filled with gas. It is made from expanded polystyrene by extrusion and has moisture resistance, thermal conductivity and high strength.

Due to its characteristics, the material can withstand maximum loads, therefore it is suitable for insulation floor covering. Penoplex is thinner than foam plastic, which allows you to save space inside the room when it is used. Despite the high cost of insulation, due to its properties, it is widely used for insulation of various kinds of premises.

Penoplex advantages:

1. The insulation is stronger than mineral wool and polystyrene. It can withstand a large compressive load and is resistant to deformation.
2. Penoplex is very lightweight material, which is important for its use in the insulation of balconies.
3. Insulation, consisting of dense balls with air, therefore does not absorb water at all. Thanks to this property, it can last at least fifty years.
4. Penoplex, which includes flame retardants, is non-combustible. When buying material, you should pay attention to the marking, which should contain the letter C.
5. The environmental safety of this insulation is higher than that of other similar materials.
6. Penoplex has convenient size, it is easily cut and fastened, so you can insulate the balcony with it yourself, without the help of professionals.

Along with its advantages, penoplex has several disadvantages. Firstly, the material does not tolerate contact with petroleum products and solvents, and secondly, it is unstable to sunlight.

General rules for working with penoplex

Before starting work on the insulation of the balcony, it is necessary to completely empty the room and clean the surfaces of all coatings.

When working with foam, you should follow a few rules:

It should be borne in mind that you should not lay penoplex using crates. In this case, wooden or metal slats on which the material will be laid will become cold bridges, which will reduce the effectiveness of the insulation.

Preparing a loggia or balcony for insulation

First of all, you should purchase materials and tools that will be needed during the work.

Required tools:

Before starting work with insulation on a loggia or balcony, you need to prepare the surfaces. They must be made even and strong, then the insulation on them will hold securely.

Preparatory work:

1. Roughnesses on the walls are leveled with plaster mortar.
2. Loose areas, cracks, potholes and fragile places of the wall are eliminated and sealed with putty.
3. The floor is leveled with a cement screed.
4. The balcony ceiling does not need preparation, as it has a smooth surface anyway. It will only need to be coated with an antifungal or bactericidal primer.

After the floor, ceiling and walls of the loggia are prepared, you can proceed with the installation of penoplex, having previously prepared materials needed for this:

• dowels with wide caps;
• self-tapping screws;
• dry adhesive composition for tile work;
• mounting foam.

Do-it-yourself ceiling insulation

Begin to insulate the loggia or balcony should be from the ceiling.

Stages of work:

1. The first foam slab is placed in the corner of the balcony, then the next sheet of insulation is closely inserted into its groove.
2. If on top of the insulation will be installed decorative panels or drywall, then foam sheets should be fixed with dowels in the form of fungi.
3. To attach the panels with dowels, a hole is drilled in them and then a nail is driven in. Five dowels are taken per sheet.
4. If putty is applied to the installed foam, then it should be mounted first on glue, and then on dowels. To do this, the sheet is processed adhesive composition, tightly pressed against the ceiling and screwed with dowels.

If the plates need to be cut, then it should be done with a construction knife, cutting them along the entire length and breaking them with your hands.

Do-it-yourself floor insulation with penoplex

This is enough simple work, since it is not necessary to fix the insulation with glue or dowels to the floor. Penoplex sheets just need to be connected with grooves and laid tightly.

The wooden floor is mounted on the insulation without preparation. For ceramic tiles floor pre poured with a screed from cement mortar, the thickness of which should be at least four centimeters.

After all the slabs are laid on the floor, the gaps between them must be blown out with mounting foam.

Insulation of the walls of the balcony with foam

With your own hands, you need to install insulation on the walls immediately after applying the foam to the floor. It shouldn't dry out.

Stages of work:

1. The first sheet should be placed end-to-end, setting it directly into the foam. As a result of such actions, the effect of solidity of the floor with walls will be obtained.
2. It is necessary to mount the material on the walls with the help of dowels. And if they are installed on penoplex Decoration Materials, then the sheets will first need to be treated with an adhesive mixture.
3. For better insulation outer wall, it can be pasted over with two layers of foam. To do this, the sheets are installed so that their seams do not line up and the second layer is attached with mounting foam.
4. So that the vertical seams do not coincide with each other, it is recommended to fasten the insulation panels "in a row".

If desired, a penofol vapor barrier can be installed on top of the penoplex, which is fastened with metal tape with the foil side out. However, in this case it will be problematic to hide the penofol with some finishing materials.

Finishing surfaces after insulation of the balcony

After installing the insulation, the surfaces of the balcony or loggia should be ennobled with decorative materials.

For screed gender you can lay any material - ceramic tiles, linoleum, laminate, wood flooring. You can also install floor heating on the basis of heating mats or infrared heat-insulated floors.

On the ceiling and walls finishing materials are mounted using a frame, which is built from antiseptic-treated narrow boards. The frame is installed on foam, which makes the structure durable and reliable.

Most often, as a decorative material for the ceiling and walls is chosen wooden lining, drywall or plastic panels. If drywall will be used, then the crate should be made of metal profiles. The lining will not only look beautiful on the walls, but also additionally retain heat.

After decorative material will be installed, it will be necessary to attach the skirting boards for the floor and form the corners between the walls.

Penoplex installation is best done in warm time of the year, however, the temperature should not be more than twenty-five degrees. This is due to the fact that water from cement and adhesive mortars evaporates quickly enough. If the insulation of the loggia or balcony will be carried out in cold weather, then the room should be warmed with a heater.

When installing the plates, you can not leave any gaps, otherwise all the work will lose its meaning. The joints between the sheets are recommended to be additionally glued with adhesive tape.

When installing insulation, one should not forget about the parapet, which must be well protected from wind blowing, cold and moisture penetration. To do this, any small cracks and cracks on it should be masked with foam.

On an insulated loggia or balcony, you can place flowers and make a greenhouse, you can equip a room for a rest room, children's games or a study.

For a more detailed study of the insulation of the balcony with penoplex, it is recommended to watch the proposed video instruction.