Material selection and glazing
Take into account the weight of the materials: they should be extremely light. If we talk about glazing, it is better to give preference to wooden windows. If your budget is tight, order an aluminum window system: it is not only lightweight, but also relatively cheap.
Today, outside glazing services are in great demand. It helps to increase the free space around the balcony perimeter by several tens of centimeters.
Erection of a new frame
Independent insulation and improvement of the Khrushchev balcony must be started with the process of erecting a new parapet. First of all, dismantle all the elements of the old frame. Only the concrete base of the balcony should remain intact.
Outrigger beams
If you want to expand the balcony, then this is done using outrigger beams. As such, as a rule, ultra-strong metal channels act. The frame is welded from metal corners and securely fastened with dowels to the base of the balcony and the wall of the building. This approach allows you to increase the perimeter of the balcony by 40 cm on each of the three protruding sides.
Balcony on outrigger beams.
However, please note that an extension exceeding 30 cm is already considered as a redevelopment, which means that it will require approval from the relevant government agencies. And if you wish to move the central heating batteries along with the glazing and insulation of the balcony, you will need to obtain additional permits.
Roof
For a new frame, a new roof is also needed. It is usually erected from metal or corrugated board, which are attached to a metal frame. The frame, in turn, is mounted with reinforced dowels to the wall of the house. Raindrops falling on metal can create a lot of noise, so make sure your roof is soundproofed.
Complex INSULATION of balconies and loggias.
Insulation of the balcony helps us to create and maintain a comfortable temperature regime on it. This is especially true if the balcony is used as a year-round greenhouse or conservatory, recreation room or hobby.
Depending on the requirements, thermal insulation can be made in several layers and include various thermal insulation materials with reflective, vapor-tight and heat-saving functions.
Balcony insulation on a turnkey basis will allow you to feel comfortable in the room, regardless of the season and weather conditions. In addition, high-quality thermal insulation made according to all standards can significantly save on heating the room, which is especially important in winter, because electric heaters are additionally used to heat them and create room temperature.
Glazing
The choice of window systems plays an important role in how effective the insulation of the Khrushchev balcony will be. They can be "warm" and "cold". Before installing new windows, make sure that the top of the parapet is level and strictly in a horizontal plane. An old metal fence can be leveled by welding, and a concrete or brick fence can be leveled with a suitable layer of mortar.
Another important point is the collapse of the walls of the building. If it does not exceed 20 mm, then the frames adjacent to the walls are deepened into the groove. If the deviation of the walls from the vertical plane is more than 20 mm, it makes sense to revise the building: perhaps it is in an emergency condition, and then it is generally dangerous to carry out any work on the balcony.
If the balcony is hanging and does not have an upper overlap, then the glazing should be reinforced with pipe supports. They will also be required when the length of the balcony exceeds 4 meters. Pay attention to the correspondence of the horizontal plane of the balcony ceiling. If there are deviations, then a corner is welded to the ceiling, taking into account the level, and the resulting wedge is sewn up with the same finishing materials that are used inside and outside.
The cost of insulation of the balcony and loggia
The price of installation works offered by us already includes heat-insulating materials and additional goods: glue, sealants, adhesive tape, hardware, fasteners. But it is important to take into account that the final price is calculated for each object individually and depends on the following factors:
- the types of insulation material used. We offer several different types of thermal insulation for balconies and loggias;
- scope of work;
- the amount of spent insulation in sq.m.
It is important to remember that the installation of a warm floor on the balcony is not always included in the cost of insulation and is calculated separately!
You can also roughly calculate how much it will cost you to insulate a loggia using a certain heat-insulating material - for this it is enough to use the price list of our company.
Materials and tools required for work
There are several approaches to how to insulate a balcony in Khrushchev faster, more efficiently and cheaper with your own hands. Here is a set of devices and materials we propose to use:
- mineral wool for floor insulation;
- penofol for finishing the ceiling;
- foam plastic with a thickness of 75-100 mm for walls;
- wooden beams or metal profiles for lathing;
- wooden logs for the floor;
- plywood with a thickness of 10 mm or more or OSB boards for arranging the subfloor;
- material for finishing walls and ceilings (of your choice);
- puncher;
- screwdriver;
- hacksaw;
- gun for applying polyurethane foam;
- foam knife;
- roulette;
- building level;
- construction stapler;
- fastening accessories.
Types of work when insulating balconies
- insulation of the floor and ceiling with penofol and penoplex;
- insulation of side walls with penofol and penoplex;
- insulation of a parapet or a parapet wall with penofol and penoplex;
- installation of electric infrared floor heating systems and installation of the convector on the parapet.
For the insulation of the balcony and loggia, we use various heat-insulating materials, the choice of which is carried out depending on the purpose of the room.
For example, if a loggia or balcony is not supposed to be used in the cold season, then one of the options would be a thin one-sided foil insulation penofol.
For better thermal insulation, the widespread and inexpensive Polyfoam or Penoplex is often used - a relatively new and very efficient heat-saving material, the small thickness of which is combined with high heat-saving properties.
To achieve maximum efficiency, the insulation of the loggia includes a combination of various materials and an additional range of services. This will lead to a slight increase in the cost of insulation, but due to the high heat saving, it will be possible to significantly save on heating.
Thermal insulation
Not only the air temperature and comfort in the apartment, but also the ability to effectively use its area in the winter season, depends on how well the balcony is insulated.
Floor
The first stage is laying a waterproofing layer on the concrete base of the balcony. If the balcony is already glazed, plastic wrap is fine.
We mount the lags on top of the film. They must be leveled with support bars.Control the process with a building level. Further, insulation is laid between the lags. It should be cut in such a way that there are no gaps between the pieces of the material itself, as well as between it and the lags.
The insulation is covered with a vapor barrier membrane, and then a sub-floor is erected from OSB panels or plywood. The rough cover is attached to the logs with self-tapping screws.
Before the installation of the finishing flooring begins, finish all the work on insulation and finishing of the walls and ceiling of the balcony, otherwise you risk severely staining or even damaging the finished floor.
Ceiling
The ceiling of the balcony must be pre-cleaned of old paint, plaster and other finishing materials, primed with an antifungal agent and thoroughly dried. Only after that, you can begin to glue foil penofol on it. This is done with PVA glue or polyurethane foam. Sometimes they do without glue at all: they attach penofol to self-tapping screws with large caps.
On top of the penofol, a sheathing bar is mounted. Before laying the finishing finishing material, take care of installing electrical wiring for lamps and other communications that will run along the ceiling.
Walls
Warming the walls of the balcony is the most laborious process. First, we attach a lathing of 40x40 mm or 50x50 mm timber to the walls. If the thickness of the insulation is greater than that of the timber, installation along the crate of the support blocks is allowed. The step between the vertical elements of the crate is no more than a meter, and between the horizontal ones - about 50 cm. When choosing the level of installation of horizontal bars, you can focus on your own knee, belt and shoulder. It is at these levels, according to statistics, that the internal sheathing of the balcony is most often pushed through.
Further, in the niches of the crate, we glue the foam, tightly adjusting it to size. We use glue for expanded polystyrene or glue-foam in cans.
The foam must be covered with a vapor barrier film, which will protect the insulation from waterlogging with condensate.
How to make interior decoration
Finishing should be approached consciously. Attention is drawn not only not to the external characteristics, but also to the technical properties of the materials.
Replacing a profile
When replacing the frame, the following work procedure should be followed:
- Wall markings. You will need to note the location of the bars in a fixed state. Parts can be mounted vertically and horizontally. You should adhere to a step of 50 cm. The position directly depends on the selected type of covering. Plastic and lining are attached perpendicular to the frame.
- Drawing lines of future suspensions.
- Installation of suspensions on dowels or nails.
- Fastening hangers on wooden beams. The distance directly depends on the selected type of insulation. The correct location can only be achieved with the use of beacons. Thanks to this, it will be possible to obtain a flat plane.
Bars for insulation are attached only vertically
- Insulation is placed in the resulting space. The protruding suspensions will need to be bent. This will allow the material to be fixed to the frame as firmly as possible.
If you want to use the balcony all year round, you should first insulate it.
The frame near the fence is mounted according to the following scheme:
- Securing the vapor barrier film. It can also be replaced with penofol.
- A bar is mounted on the floor along the entire perimeter of the frame. For this, self-tapping screws or dowels are used.
- Securing the timber under the windowsill.
- Connection of the two obtained elements with vertical posts.
- Insulation is placed in the resulting space, then everything needs to be sheathed with chipboard panels.
The frame must also be erected on the ceiling. For this, a scheme similar to the two data is used.
Balcony glazing scheme
Glazing
There are two glazing options:
- When using the cold version, an aluminum profile is mounted.
- A warm look is obtained through wood or PVC materials.
The chosen option should not lose its properties in very difficult weather conditions. Glazing can also be panoramic or classic.
Panoramic glazing of the "Khrushchev" balcony
Warming
If the space is planned to be operated throughout the year, then it should be comfortable inside even in winter.
Due to the balcony, you can expand the area of the room
However, you will need to pay attention to careful insulation. For this, heat insulators will be used: polystyrene, penofol, penoplex, polyurethane foam, mineral wool and penofol. An innovative heating option is the installation of a warm floor.
Finishing (walls, floor, ceiling)
The final stage is finishing from the inside. When choosing materials, it is recommended to pay attention to the following criteria:
- In the process of leaving, you do not need to use special products.
- Service life is not less than 30 years.
- The ability to keep warm inside.
- Soundproofing.
- Naturalness.
- Cost.
The surface of the walls should not react to high humidity
Balconies are most often sheathed with clapboard. Additionally, you will need to purchase the following materials:
- Drywall quickly aligns walls. You can glue wallpaper, artificial stone or decorative plaster on it.
- PVC panels are presented in a wide range of textures and colors.
- Cork covering. The most expensive coating option. It does not create an optimal breeding ground for bacteria. The cork does not cause allergies.
- Plastic panels.
- Siding.
Carpets, tiles, parquet or laminate can be used as flooring. The material should be lightweight.
You can make a "green area" on the balcony by covering the floor with artificial lawn or green carpet
You can quickly align and decorate the ceiling with a stretch coating. The canvas requires minimal costs and will not deteriorate from a sharp drop in temperature. The stretch ceiling can be used even in rooms without heating.
From the outside, corrugated board is most often used. It is lightweight and has an affordable price.
Finishing plating
It all depends only on your imagination and, of course, financial capabilities. If you use lining, then it should be mounted on nails or with a construction stapler. If you prefer plastic panels, attach them with liquid nails. MDF panels are also a good choice, but keep in mind: they absorb moisture very much! MDF panels are mounted to the crate using special clearing plates.
And only at the very end, the installation of window sills, platbands and other decorative elements is carried out. As a result, we get a spacious, beautiful, cozy, and most importantly, a warm balcony!
Design ideas for a balcony in Khrushchev
Even from a small Khrushchev balcony, you can use an area useful for life and recreation. For example, create a winter garden or vegetable garden on the balcony.
Recently, all people have increasingly begun to work from home. The workplace can also be equipped on the balcony, even in the Khrushchev.
A man-made garden on the balcony - space for your imagination!
An office on the balcony is a good gain in apartment space
The balcony can become a favorite place to relax
And if you don't have a heart for botany on the balcony, and you don't need an office at home either, then just turn your small balcony into a corner for relaxation. Place a wicker chair in there - its standard size is 63 cm - and a narrow tea table.
How good it is in the evening, before sunset, to sit with a book in your personally organized space after the repair of the balcony, and not in a stuffy room where everything is filled with furniture!
