Floor finishes on the balcony

How to properly equip the sub-floor on the balcony? What materials are best used for subsequent finishing: parquet or laminate, linoleum or carpet? What are the pros and cons of each type of surface?

Let us dwell in more detail on each of these issues in order to choose the optimal technique for arranging a balcony, taking into account the technical capabilities of the premises and the estimated budget for repairs.

The decoration of the balconies is directly related to the peculiarities of this element of the architecture of a residential building, because it imposes significant restrictions on the structure of the floors and the methods of covering them.

The slab of the balcony is connected with the building ceilings only on one side, the other three are literally "hanging", so the technical capabilities of this architectural element are far from limitless. Any overload is fraught with collapse, therefore the number of possible options for finishing the balcony is significantly limited. Carry out any reconstruction on the balcony, including flooring, preferably after careful technical expertise and engineering calculations.

In most publications on arranging a balcony, there is advice level the floors with a concrete screed. However, this recommendation is good only for loggias, the screed on them will allow you to create an even and wear-resistant base. But whether such a number with balconies will work is a big question. Let's estimate what kind of load the stove will experience:

• the minimum permissible screed thickness is 20-25 mm;
• waterproofing layer - at least 35 mm with the condition of mandatory reinforcement;
• cable, electric or water floor heating with a heat-insulating layer - 45-50 mm.

The total is 100-115 mm, and this is only if we are talking about a screed of minimum thickness, that is, at the highest point of the balcony slab. In practice, most often there are significant distortions and deviations of the surface horizontally, therefore the screed assumes additional leveling of the surface, in this case the thickness of the coating will increase, and the total load on the floor will reach far from ridiculous values.

And this is without taking into account the facing material. For example, if you use ceramic tiles, they will give a significant weight load. But do not forget about the pieces of furniture and the weight of households who plan to relax on the balcony.

That's why professionals propose to abandon the use of a screed for finishing floors on the balcony, since there are many other options for aligning and finishing them. Of course, in the overwhelming majority of cases, they involve use on glazed balconies, protected from rain and snow, but on the other hand, is it really necessary to level the surface on an open balcony?

It will be much more efficient and practical to restrict oneself to repairing the surface of the slab, if, of course, its technical condition is satisfactory. If the slab sags and cracks, the decorative finish, in principle, will not make any sense. In this case, the creation of a reinforcing structure and a serious overhaul will be required.

Very often, the owners of balconies think about its insulation. There is no unequivocal recommendation about the need for such work - it all depends on what functionality the owner of the premises assigns to the fenced area. If he needs it as an unheated space for drying clothes and occasionally going out into the fresh air, it is pointless to do insulation, and if you plan to use the room as an additional room - as an office, a meeting place with friends and a children's playroom, then, without a doubt, you will need insulation of the existing room.

The fact is that concrete itself is a powerful accumulator of cold, and going out on it in the frosty season in house slippers, you run the risk of getting a severe cold. The situation is not the best on hot summer days - then the plates get hot and begin to emit a stream of hot air, which will make staying on the balcony extremely uncomfortable.

It's obvious that it will not make any sense to insulate the parapet if the floor remains icy.

There is an opinion that the qualitatively insulated balcony of the neighbors from below does not allow low temperatures to penetrate to you, but this is far from the case. The specificity of the slab open on three sides is precisely that it will remain cold regardless of whether the bottom is thermally insulated or not.

The best option for a balcony would be the subfloor design using a wooden frame. It is a simple and relatively inexpensive construction that consists of several layers:

• directly frame;
• insulation - Penoplex, expanded clay or mineral wool are most often used;
• flooring - experts recommend using plywood or chipboards.

For the installation of the lathing, timber logs are used. They are fixed to the base of the balcony slab with anchors and form small cells for the subsequent laying of heat-insulating material.

Please be aware that if you use mineral wool as an insulating layer, then in addition you will have to take care of waterproofing - this material, unlike foam, loses its technical and operational properties when wet. When choosing a topcoat, one should take into account the fact that chipboard has a lower linear expansion parameter. This means that the slab is less susceptible to deformation and loses its shape only if it is in water for a long time.

Insulating materials minimize heat loss in the room, but they themselves do not emit heat, therefore if the balcony is in a satisfactory condition, you can install a floor heating system.

Of course, such work will cost an order of magnitude more expensive than an ordinary wooden frame with insulation, but as a result you can get a full-fledged additional functional space that you can use as an office or as a resting place.

Usually use an electric cable or infrared film - their choice directly depends on the geometric features of the base. If the balcony is irregular in shape, then the best option would be a cable that can be fixed to any base without prior alignment. But for infrared film, a flat surface and a strict rectangular shape of the plate are of fundamental importance. The main advantage of the film is that the floor finish can be laid directly on it, while the use of a cable will inevitably require a screed.

For finishing the floor on the balcony, you can use a variety of materials. Let's dwell on the pros and cons of each of them.

Linoleum presented in retail outlets in the widest range, it can be rubber, as well as glyphthalic, colloxylin, natural or PVC. The most resistant coatings are rubber-based materials - for balconies, preference should be given to just such a coating, since it is not afraid of water and temperature fluctuations, it is fire-resistant and can withstand loads.

Linoleum resists moisture, is not subject to decay, has noise and thermal insulation properties, is easy to clean and at the same time is cheap. At the same time, it is distinguished by increased sensitivity to chemically active solutions and fats, and at temperatures below -20 degrees, the coating may crack. The cheapest products will not be the best choice.... As a rule, they are made from synthetic non-environmentally friendly materials.

Carpet is another option for a budget covering, but when using it on a balcony, all the pros and cons should be weighed. On the one hand, this coating is warm and pleasant to the body in any season, therefore it is optimal for a vacation spot, however, due to its low fire resistance, this material is not recommended if you plan to use the balcony as a “smoking room” or storage room.

The carpet quickly absorbs dust, odors, including cigarette odors, which means you will have to clean it regularly, especially if small children have access to the room. If you plan to use the balcony as a place for drying clothes or as a winter garden, rubber-based models should be preferred.

Laminate is a material based on wood and polymers. The top layer is made of patterned paper covered with several layers of acrylic resin, and the more there are, the more resistant the surface will withstand moisture and pressure. Currently on sale you can find materials with a wide variety of colors and textures. Imitation of wood or natural stone is in the highest demand.

Laminate is more expensive than carpet and linoleum, but its appearance is much more aesthetic and effective.... The material excludes the occurrence of fungus and dangerous mold. At the same time, the coating is difficult in terms of installation - this work requires a perfectly leveled surface and skills in finishing. In addition, the laminate does not withstand temperature fluctuations and lingering frosts, so inside the balcony, even in winter, it should not be colder than -5 degrees.

Parquet board is a natural, environmentally friendly and exceptionally beautiful flooring. Nevertheless, most types of wood are not particularly resistant to water, therefore, the installation of such floors is allowed only in the case of high-quality heat and waterproofing and general insulation of the balcony. If it is damp and cold there, the parquet will quickly deteriorate - it will begin to deform and crack.

If you are a stand in your desire to arrange a floor from environmentally friendly coatings, then preference should be given wood varieties that are weakly susceptible to cold and water, and after installing the floor, the panels must be covered with moisture-resistant varnish several times for effective protection from external adverse factors.

Ceramic tiles are a practical material that is best suited for open spaces, as they are not afraid of ultraviolet rays, precipitation and can withstand temperature extremes... It is easy and simple to clean such a surface from dirt, even with the use of abrasive products. When choosing, give preference to coatings with a rough surface, otherwise there is a high risk of slipping after wet cleaning on the balcony. High-quality ceramics can withstand temperatures up to -50 degrees, so the tiles do not lose their performance either in winter or in summer.

However, ceramics are cold materials, and therefore it is unpleasant to walk on such a surface.

Well, the most budgetary option is paint, wood and concrete floors can always be simply covered with enamel. It is best to take acrylic compounds for this, which are resistant to direct sunlight, do not lose their physical properties under the influence of high and low temperatures, and are not afraid of moisture. For wood floors, alkyd varnish is a good option - it will preserve the spectacular texture of the wood. Polyurethane paint can also be a good option.

If you are not on a budget, you can finish your balcony floor using filling technologies.

Regardless of which version of the subfloor and decorative coating you prefer, first you need to thoroughly seal all chips, as well as cracks and crevices on the surface of the balcony slab with construction foam, only after that it will be possible to move on. Special attention will have to be paid waterproofing, which will protect the material from condensation and capillary moisture.

Most often used in the decoration of floors wooden logs, which are beams on top of which boards are laid. Usually, for balcony spaces, bars of 50x70 mm or 50x100 mm are used.Before installation, each of them must be carefully treated with an antiseptic, which will protect the subfloor from rot.

In order to make the floors resistant to pressure, it is advisable to place the bars on the ribs. parallel to any of the walls. Usually one lag is fixed in the center and a couple of three on the sides. They should be fastened as firmly as possible, directly to the concrete slab through and through; this will require metal corners or anchor screws.

The thermal insulation material is placed between the logs, while it is not necessary to bring it to the top - a small gap between the insulation and the flooring requires floor ventilation. In order to protect the insulation from moisture, it is better to cover it with polyethylene, fixing it to the logs with an ordinary construction stapler.

Which coating to use depends on the purpose of the object and your capabilities. If budget constraints are at the forefront, feel free to choose linoleum. If finances allow you to consider options, proceed from functional criteria. For example, in a recreation or playground, it is better to choose environmentally friendly surfaces. Cheap linoleum is inappropriate here - it smells bad, moreover, it often releases toxic substances. It is better to give preference to coatings on a natural basis - as an option, you can choose a laminate or parquet board.

For meetings with friends or for sports training, carpet is suitable - such a covering will allow you to relax your legs after a tiring day at work, and in addition, will exclude the possibility of slipping.

Many people use the balcony as a flower garden. It's no secret that plants need to be watered and sprayed, because the room is usually humid. Ceramic tiles "get along" best with it.

See the next video for a master class on finishing the floor on the balcony.