Everyone dreams of a large bright apartment, where there would be a lot of free space, enough for living and storing things. Unfortunately, not all apartments have sufficient square meters, especially residents of old houses feel the lack of space. In order to somehow increase the usable area, many people pick up construction tools, a hammer, nails, a puncher, network wrenches and begin to convert their balcony or loggia into a place to relax, study or winter garden.
Given that the balcony is not a heated room, when re-equipping it, special attention should be paid to the issue of insulating floors, parapets and walls.
Balcony floor insulation
When installing the floor on the balcony, it is necessary to lay a heater. In order to prevent moisture from entering the insulation, do not forget about the waterproofing of the floor, which must be done between the upper wooden floor and the insulation, as well as between the insulation and the walls. As a heater, you can use:
Styrofoam;
Penoplex;
mineral wool.
After the floor is ready, it is necessary to cover it with paint or varnish, for convenience using spray guns.
Harppet insulation balcony
The main requirement for parapet (fencing) of the balcony is the strength to withstand the weight of glazing and a small weight so as not to overload the balcony. For the construction of the parapet of the insulated balcony, foam concrete or gas-silicate blocks are usually used. They are much easier bricks, durable, have reduced thermal conductivity, but moisture perfectly absorb. To protect these blocks from water, they can be soaked with special water repellent means, or to see the facade of the balcony with plastic panels or siding.
What would have been made parapet, it is quite thin and cold design. Therefore, according to SNiP, a layer of insulation in this part of the balcony should be at least 15 cm. It is most convenient to use thermal insulation materials in the form of plates or in the form of thin rolls, which at the same time have excellent thermal insulation properties and high moisture resistance.