Insulation of the balcony from the inside. Insulation of a balcony with cold glazing Technology of insulating a loggia from the inside

With the help of insulation, you can turn your balcony into a cozy living space, but this step is mandatory. There are several types of materials for insulating a balcony from the inside. Each of them has its own application features. Knowing the nuances will help you choose the optimal type of insulation for each specific case.

Criterias of choice

Basic specifications, which you need to pay attention to when choosing thermal insulation materials for balconies and loggias:


It is also worth considering the installation features - the simplicity of the process is especially important if the work is planned to be carried out independently without the involvement of specialists.

Foam plastic (expanded polystyrene)

The most common sheet material for insulation of balconies. Its composition is a frozen foam, the closed pores of which contain air. For insulation, foam plastic with a thickness of 5 cm, for more severe climates it is recommended to choose thicker sheets up to 10 cm.

The material has a number of advantages that determined its popularity:

  • low thermal conductivity coefficient, which ensures high thermal insulation of the room even without the use of other materials;
  • high water absorption rate, which makes it possible not to lay an additional layer of waterproofing;
  • sufficient strength makes it possible to use dense and heavy finishing materials;
  • environmental friendliness - no dust is generated during operation, and no emissions are emitted during further operation harmful substances;
  • hygiene – mold and mildew cannot form in polystyrene foam;
  • ease of use and ease of installation - the sheet can be cut into parts of any size;
  • low cost compared to other insulation materials;
  • service life up to 30 years, subject to compliance with installation technology.


The main disadvantages of polystyrene foam:

  • low air permeability – when insulating a loggia with this material, it is necessary to provide additional methods of ventilation, otherwise it will not be possible to ensure a comfortable microclimate in the room;
  • poor sound insulation properties;
  • insufficient resistance to some types of drying oils, varnishes and others chemicals based on petroleum products and alcohols - this requires special care when choosing finishing materials;
  • high flammability and, accordingly, fire hazard.

To insulate a balcony, you must choose construction foam made by extrusion, with a density 35-40 kg/m3. Species with an indicator less 25 kg/m3 are packaging materials and are not suitable for construction work. To determine the quality of the material, break off a piece from the sheet and look at the structure. Construction foam has cells in the form of polygons, packaging foam consists of easily detachable balls.


Penoplex (extruded polystyrene foam)

Penoplex – close relative polystyrene foam, but with much better properties and characteristics. The special production technology of this material makes it possible to obtain a porous, almost uniform structure with uniform distribution of air in isolated cells. Thanks to this structure, the material has more low rate thermal conductivity compared to conventional foam and other insulation materials. This is the main advantage of penoplex; in other respects, the material is close to polystyrene foam.

There are several types of penoplex on the market, which are labeled according to their purpose:

  • “Foundation” - designed for insulation of structures buried in the ground building structures; is particularly durable and able to withstand high pressure soil after backfilling;
  • “Wall” - used for insulation of external walls, partitions located above ground level;
  • "Roof" - special type For attic spaces; with a high thermal insulation rate it is sufficient fragile material, therefore not intended for areas with increased load;
  • “Comfort” is the optimal variety for insulating the walls of balconies and loggias; differs in balanced technical indicators for internal use.


Mineral wool

There are several types of this insulating material. It is better to choose for a balcony basalt mineral wool as the most environmentally friendly type with the best technical and operational characteristics.

The material has an impressive list of advantages:

  • low thermal conductivity coefficient (only slightly higher than that of penoplex);
  • hydrophobicity - basalt mineral wool does not absorb moisture, other varieties (glass wool and slag wool) get wet and change their characteristics;
  • good air and vapor permeability - unlike foam plastic and penoplex, this insulation does not interfere with the natural movement of air, due to which a comfortable and healthy microclimate is formed on a closed balcony;
  • fire resistance – the melting point of basalt mineral wool is about 1100 degrees; such thermal insulation can stop the spread of fire;
  • good sound insulation - mineral wool has a chaotic structure, effectively absorbs air between the fibers sound waves and significantly reduces noise penetration into the room;
  • sufficient strength of the sheet allows the use of any finishing materials; some types of mineral wool are suitable for floor insulation;
  • resistance to chemicals;
  • environmental friendliness and hygiene - no harmful substances are released during use, no biological life in the form of fungi, mold, insects or rodents arises inside the thermal insulation.

Mineral wool also has its disadvantages:

  • work must be carried out in protective clothing - when cutting sheets, dust is generated, which causes skin irritation;
  • high cost of material.

Penofol

This is a universal material with moisture, sound and heat insulation properties. It is a thin layer of polyurethane foam with an aluminum coating that has the ability to reflect heat. Available in roll form, it is easy to install.

Usually used in combination with other materials.

To ensure the level of thermal insulation required for residential premises, the use of penofol alone is not enough! Depending on the purpose, several varieties are available:

  • type "A"– has a one-sided reflective layer, used for internal combined insulation;
  • type "B"– material with two reflective surfaces for arranging a substrate for a screed or;
  • type "C"– self-adhesive appearance, characterized by ease of installation and minimal requirements for surfaces; enough to concrete walls were smooth and clean.


Izolon

Its composition is polyethylene foam with a foil layer. Lightweight universal material, most often produced in roll form and is excellent choice for insulating a balcony:

  • service life – more than 100 years;
  • does not support combustion in contact with open flame decomposes into water and carbon dioxide;
  • resistance to temperature changes without changing properties;
  • high rates of heat and sound insulation;
  • flexible roll material allows you to effectively and easily insulate the most inaccessible places;
  • It is used not only as an insulating layer, but also as a protective layer against leaks when pouring floors.


Main disadvantages:

  • high price;
  • it is necessary to strictly follow the installation technology;
  • thin material breaks easily, and damage to the structure leads to loss of characteristics.

Preparation and styling

Warming is preceded by a series preparatory stages, the sequence of which depends on general condition balcony, the chosen technology of work and the type of materials used:


Roll materials (penofol, isolon) are attached directly to the wall. Laying tile insulation (foam plastic, penoplex or mineral wool) can be done in two ways:


Conclusion

The optimal choice for insulating a balcony or loggia is penoplex. Mineral wool will allow you to get a comfortable room in terms of heat and sound insulation, but it is a more expensive material. If the balcony is not presented high requirements for sound insulation, you can use cheap polystyrene foam to insulate it. The use of penofol and isofol in the combined insulation of a loggia will achieve the best results.

The right choice of thermal insulation materials is the key high-quality insulation and long service life of the balcony room as an additional living room.

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The process of insulating a room itself is very important, since with the help of such repairs drafts and cold are removed, and the space of the connected room expands. But it’s not enough to just install double-glazed windows and cover the cracks and holes with polyurethane foam. It needs to be insulated. To save money in your wallet, it is better to insulate the loggia with your own hands, step-by-step photo instructions presented in the article will help you do the work.

Amazing balcony with ecological materials

Initially, you need to select building materials. It is important to remember that not only thermal performance, but also may depend on the selected components. If the building material is too thick, it will steal the usable area.

Note! Any material for heat preservation must be environmentally friendly and also meet thermal and steam characteristics.

The room can be insulated with the following materials:

  • Penofol . Great substitute mineral wool. It has a multi-layer coating, which also has a reflective effect.
  • Polyurethane foam . Ideally suited for balconies. It ignites very poorly and is made from environmentally friendly materials. Installation is done by pouring.



  • Expanded polystyrene . A fairly economical choice of material and also very effective for a balcony.

  • Izover . Available in sheet form. Made from mineral wool with fiberglass particles.


As a rule, polystyrene foam is mounted on the walls and ceiling. It is good to use because its properties have a high thermal conductivity coefficient, as well as a small thickness. It cuts great kitchen knife. Alternative option can be considered polystyrene. For cold winters, sheets 10 cm thick are suitable; for mild weather it is better to use 5 cm.

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Do-it-yourself preparatory work and insulation of the loggia: step-by-step photo instructions

Before the main process, preparatory work should be done. Only then will you be able to insulate the loggia yourself, and step-by-step photo instructions will help with this. To do this you will need:

  • Select those places that will be precisely processed. In any case, you should definitely treat the parapet. The walls can be treated as needed. If there are no neighbors on the sides, then they also need to be covered with building material. Often all walls are insulated.
  • Before repairs, you need to take everything out and clean the surfaces.
  • It is recommended to replace the windows and install double-glazed windows if there are none.
  • Next, you need to lay the wiring for sockets, lamps and switches.
  • The next step is to select a material.
  • After selecting the material, you can move on to working with the floor, walls, and then the ceiling.
  • Upon completion, finishing work should be carried out.

Fastening for thermal insulation, can serve as adhesive composition, and dowels. If an adhesive composition is used, then during the work you will need to glue the gluing area and the material itself.

Helpful advice! The resulting seams, which are obtained directly during the insulation process, should be filled with polyurethane foam.

Penoplex and how to insulate a loggia with it

Many people dream of converting a balcony into a full-fledged room. But in order for the use of such a room to be comfortable, it will need to be insulated. As a rule, parapets in apartments have thin walls. In this regard, on initial stage You will need to demolish it and lay it out again. Thus, the wall will be thicker, and therefore warmer. It is recommended to use a brick, which is placed on the adhesive composition with an edge. Sand-lime brick is ideal for such masonry.

After the fresh masonry has shrunk, you can begin installing the windows. To do this, it is recommended to use the services of professionals. Next, you can move on to insulation. will be installed on the ceiling, walls and floor. By following the instructions you can get started:

  • The prepared pieces should be placed in a frame. You can also not create a frame, but mount the slabs directly on the walls using special mounting mushrooms.

Helpful advice! The slabs should be adjusted so that they fit tightly one to one. This will get rid of the cracks, which means the loggia will be much warmer. It is recommended to apply polyurethane foam or sealant at the joints.
  • Reflective insulation should be placed on the walls, ceiling, and floor. Penofol is ideal. It is recommended to seal the joints with foil tape.

  • After this, the balcony will be ready for final finishing. To do this, you can use wood or plastic lining or install other panels.

We do it ourselves. How to insulate the floor on a loggia?

The floor should be treated first, and then all other surfaces. The work process looks like this:

  • It is necessary to thoroughly clean the floor from debris and dust.
  • Next, you need to seal all holes or cracks with foam.
  • Now you should use a thin one and place it on the entire floor. Lay it in such a way that there are no joints or there is a minimum number of them.
  • When the first layer is laid, you need to walk around its perimeter construction foam, including joints and seams. Then the second layer is laid in the same way.

  • Now you can mount the wooden beam frame. The distance between the bars should be about 50 cm.
  • The resulting gap should be filled with polystyrene. The thickness of the insulation will depend on the thickness of the timber. Ideal when they are flush.
  • Next, you need to cut the penofol to the size of the balcony and lay it with the foil side up, but so that it looks out about 20 cm onto each wall.
  • Now you can attach the floor boards to the beams and install the decorative covering.

As an option, the floor can be installed with a heated floor or the loggias can be made of penoplex.

Insulation of the ceiling and walls of the loggia

For almost all types of rooms, insulation of walls and ceilings occurs in the same way. Thus, the walls are insulated as follows:

For, polystyrene foam is best suited. The process is carried out by analogy with walls and floors.

Insulating a loggia from the inside: what is the best way to do it?

For selection the right material, there are some important factors to consider:

  • Purpose of the room.
    • If the balcony will be used as a storage room, then you can use any building material, installing it in 1 layer.
    • When the balcony turns into one room, it is necessary to use different building materials, which are laid in 2 layers over the entire area.
    • If it is combined with a room, then you need to use two-layer insulation. The walls can be made in one layer, and special attention can be paid to the parapet.
  • Using insulation for interior decoration, the usable area will be smaller, so this factor should be taken into account.

The choice directly depends on the described factors and tastes of the owner of the premises.

Finishing work

Finishing work is needed. This is not only due to aesthetic appearance, but also affects protective factors. If we're talking about O exterior decoration, then the parapet can be covered with corrugated sheets or siding.

Internal work can be anything. It all depends on preferences and imagination. But it is worth noting that decorating the inside of the loggia with your own hands will bring more pleasure and joy. Often the work is done using PVC panels. You can also wallpaper or simply paint the walls. The loggia looks very good when decorated with wood. It will not only be beautiful, but also environmentally friendly.

Article

By insulating the balcony, you can achieve two goals at once: expand the living space and improve the degree of thermal insulation of the apartment. It is best to carry out external insulation, but this cannot be done without the services of industrial climbers and the corresponding costs. Insulating a balcony from the inside will cost much less, especially if you do it yourself.

How to insulate a balcony inside

The positive result of the work performed is considered equally comfortable temperature inside the room and the adjacent balcony. There is no point in investing effort and money in insulation that does not protect against the penetration of cold onto the balcony and forces you to tightly close the doors leading to the loggia in winter.

As a rule, for internal insulation balconies are used:

  • foamed polystyrene with a density of 25-35 kg/m 3, otherwise - polystyrene foam;
  • based on basalt fiber 80-110 kg/m 3 density;
  • extruded polystyrene foam (one of its varieties is).

Note! For additional thermal insulation, thin foil polyethylene foam insulation - Izolon or Penofol - is often laid on the base layer.

In addition to the listed insulators, there is another insulating material - ecowool, made from cellulose waste. Simply put, waste paper. The rules for handling it and the installation technology used are the same as with basalt wool. Ecowool is not very popular due to its high cost.

Brief characteristics of insulation

Foam plastic is the most cheap material for insulation, produced in the form of slabs of various thicknesses.

Like all foamed polymers, it repels moisture well and has sufficient strength (at the specified density). It is characterized by high resistance to heat transfer and flammability, which is why it requires protection from an accidental spark.

The thickness of the foam for insulating a balcony in the northern regions should be at least 100 mm; in the southern regions, 50 mm may be enough.

Unlike polystyrene foam, mineral wool does not burn at all, but it is capable of absorbing moisture, after which its thermal conductivity increases sharply. The problem is solved with the help of protective layers of special films, which will be discussed below.

The heat transfer resistance of mineral wool is not very high, so it makes no sense to use material less than 80 mm thick. The insulation is offered in rolls and slabs, and is more expensive than polystyrene.

Advice! You should not insulate your balcony with fiberglass wool (glass wool) intended for outdoor or roofing works. The use of such materials inside residential premises is unacceptable.

The best option for internal insulation of a balcony is extruded polystyrene foam, sold in slabs.

Expanded polystyrene is durable, lightweight and has the best thermal insulation properties.

Where you need to lay mineral wool 100 mm thick, 50 mm of penoplex is enough.

In addition, the polymer does not allow moisture to pass through at all and is so strong that the slab can be screwed on with self-tapping screws if necessary. There is only one drawback - the high price of the material, which is compensated by the long service life of the material - up to 50 years.

Technology for insulating a balcony from the inside

It is necessary to carefully prepare for thermal insulation on the balcony. This includes not only the acquisition of materials and preparation of tools, but also the performance of a number of preliminary works:

  1. Construction of a reliable parapet. There are 2 types of structures in practice: a welded metal frame with fastening to the wall or masonry made of foam blocks. How to strengthen a parapet - .
  2. . Sometimes the balcony is made panoramic by installing metal-plastic blocks to the full height, without a parapet. Then all that remains is to insulate the floors and ceiling.
  3. Elimination of all cracks and leaks leading to the street, removal of excess polyurethane foam.
  4. Pad electrical wiring for lighting, as well as drainage and lines with freon to (if available).

Before insulating the inside of the balcony, you need to level all surfaces, removing obvious sagging or filling in depressions and cracks with mortar.

Interior wall decoration

The technology for insulating balcony walls, done by yourself, depends on the design of the parapet and the heat-insulating material used. Metal carcass, trimmed on the outside with plastic or, it is better to sheathe it with 2 layers of thermal insulation so that the second row of insulation covers everything metal racks, which are cold bridges. Moreover, on the outside, between the cladding and the insulation, a windproof film should be laid.

When insulating a balcony with mineral wool, it is necessary to use not an ordinary film, but a diffusion membrane as a wind barrier. It will let out the moisture that arises in the thickness of the cotton wool, but will not allow it to get wet from precipitation or fog on the street. For polystyrene foam and expanded polystyrene, the use of a membrane is not necessary; ordinary film will do.

To attach the mineral wool, you will need to assemble with your own hands an additional wooden frame from beams, the width of which is equal to the thickness of the insulation. The pitch between the bars is selected according to the width of the material, the latter is placed between them at random. On last stage the thermal insulation layer is covered with a vapor barrier film, after which the frame is covered with clapboard or plasterboard.

Headlining

And the balcony ceiling can be insulated in 3 ways:

  1. If you plan to do wallpapering at the end, then the method of gluing slab insulation with a building mixture is suitable. Insulation, accompanied by “wet” processes, is carried out only in the warm period of the year at above-zero temperatures.
  2. For or similar finishing will have to be attached to the walls and ceiling wooden blocks, and rolled or slab material lay between them.
  3. When insulated with polystyrene foam, the slabs can be directly attached to the walls and ceiling with dowels. After which the surfaces are leveled with putty and painted, or lathing is installed by attaching the bars to foam blocks or concrete through the insulation. Cladding, plastic, plasterboard and other finishes of your choice are easily attached to the sheathing.

Note! For fastening the sheathing to concrete ceiling through polystyrene foam you need to use special concrete screws - frame dowels.

When insulating a balcony with mineral wool without wooden frame not enough. You can glue cotton wool, but it is quite difficult. The best option– insert it between the beams attached to the wall and ceiling, protect it with a vapor barrier and cover it with a suitable material.

The gluing method is convenient when working with polystyrene foam, but after 2 days it must be additionally secured with dowel umbrellas and a layer of plaster applied over the fiberglass mesh.

Video:

Floor insulation

The technology for thermal insulation of balcony floors differs from walls and ceilings, since the insulation “pie” must bear certain dynamic loads and have a flat surface. Leveling is carried out by laying wooden logs, between which insulation is laid, and a finishing coating is laid on top. The sequence of actions is as follows:

  1. cut wooden beam onto the crossbars along the width of the balcony and secure them to the floor with anchors or self-tapping screws and dowels using steel corners.
  2. Attach 3 longitudinal logs to the crossbars with self-tapping screws. During the process, they must be aligned horizontally, starting from the highest point. Using a building level, the beams at the intersections with the crossbars should be raised and plastic or wooden wedges placed.
  3. Place insulation tightly between the crossbars and the joist. In the case of mineral wool, a vapor barrier must be laid on top of it.
  4. Lay the flooring with fastening to the joists.

It is typical that the length of the crossbars and joists do not need to be adjusted to the dimensions of the balcony. It would be more correct to make them 10-20 mm shorter so that the ends do not rest against the walls. Wood has the ability to “breathe” and deform slightly; if the fit is tight, the floor surface may later bend in an arc.

Moreover, walking on such floors will be accompanied by an annoying squeak. The resulting gaps near the walls will hide under flooring and will become invisible.

When using slab insulation, it is worth choosing the correct spacing of the crossbars so that you do not have to cut the slabs again. Standard width– 600 mm, this is what you need to focus on. After laying polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene, all joints and cracks must be filled with polyurethane foam.

Useful training video:

The mineral wool is protected with a vapor barrier as tightly as possible so that moisture from inside the room cannot seep into it. Here you can also use foamed polyethylenes such as Penofol, but pay special attention to gluing the joints.

If you take a serious and scrupulous approach to the procedure for internal insulation of a balcony, then it is not at all necessary to hire craftsmen and pay them money, which is never superfluous. You will spend twice as much time on completing the work, but you will do everything efficiently and in accordance with your personal wishes. In addition, you will save money on your family budget.

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If there is a need to expand the area of ​​the room due to the structure on the front side of the building, then insulating balconies and loggias is a primary task. If you insulate this part of the apartment from the inside, you can achieve the best results and avoid heat loss in winter.

Differences between a balcony and a loggia

Although these structures have the same purpose, they differ in structure, and their insulation scheme will be different because of this. The balcony has a parapet; it protrudes beyond the façade. This element can be covered with plastic panels, have lattice fencing, concrete, or wood. The loggia does not protrude beyond the building. It is fenced with a parapet made of brick or concrete, looks like a recess in the facade structure, and has adjacent walls with the premises of apartments or other loggias. Compared to a balcony, a loggia is more convenient for glazing and can withstand a lot of weight.

Insulated loggia

Features of the work

Insulation and quite a complex process. Problems arise due to the lack of walls connected to warm room. If you want to get high-quality thermal insulation for your balcony, you need to start with its glazing. It is recommended to use three-chamber double-glazed windows. They retain heat less well, especially if the frames are old. Using them will waste your energy and money. After the glazing is completed, you can move on to insulating the remaining parts of the structure: the floor, walls, parapet.

Installation of a loggia glazing structure

Use of aluminum

Seam sealed and sheathing installed

Starts without insulation . The goal is to close all gaps from which cold air can penetrate. When it comes to double-glazed windows, polyurethane foam or sealant is used.

If the gap is large, you can cover it with plywood, use polystyrene foam, and then cover it with foam. Excess foam is cut off with a knife. After this, you need to take care of waterproofing. Both roll and liquid materials. If you use roofing felt, it needs to be laid overlapping. It is advisable to seal the seams with a special torch. If the materials are liquid, use a roller or brush and cover the entire area of ​​the floor and walls with them sequentially.

Insulation and finishing of a balcony or loggia occurs after the manipulations with waterproofing are completed. To do this you need to use insulation. Most often, polystyrene foam or mineral wool are used. The insulation must be covered with a layer that does not allow air to pass through. You can use regular plastic film, special vapor barrier in rolls or. The last option is the most reliable. You need to use a material that has a metallized side. You need to lay penofol end to end.

The seams must be taped using aluminum tape. This will ensure heat retention inside the room. Penofol is placed with foil relative to the room. This is done so that the heat is reflected and does not go beyond the balcony. Finishing and insulation of balconies and loggias with this material follows the same principle.

Ways to insulate a loggia

There are different options for insulating a loggia. You need to choose a method based on your plans for using this room. If supplies of vegetables, seams, and food will be stored on the loggia, a thick layer of insulation is not needed. If you plan to turn the loggia into a small office, greenhouse, living room, you will need double layer insulation, high-quality closure of all cracks.

You can save a little by insulating the parapet from the ceiling, walls and floor in one layer.

There are also universal ways to insulate a loggia: for example, you can use. It is extruded polystyrene foam. The material does not absorb liquid, is highly wear-resistant, and is able to retain heat well inside the room. It is convenient to install, since the material is produced in the form of plates with tongues and grooves that are attached to each other.

The thickness of the slab may vary. They produce products from 2 to 10 cm. The plates can have various sizes, be smooth, have recesses and protrusions. If you live in an area where winters are cold, it is recommended to use a slab with a thickness of at least 5 cm. For milder climates, products with a thickness of up to 4 cm are suitable.

How to fix?

Insulating balconies and loggias with your own hands requires knowledge of the sequence of actions. installation is not difficult, but the installation method depends on how the finishing will be done. If you plan to use plastic, the boards can be secured with dowels. It is best to use fasteners that are at least 8 cm long. If you plan to plaster the slab, you can glue it and secure it with a dowel.

It is worth remembering that first the insulation is carried out and then the finishing of the loggia. After you have done the waterproofing, you can proceed to installing the insulation. If you use penoplex, it is not necessary: ​​the slabs will hold well without it, and the presence of wood will not only increase the weight of the structure, but will also make it colder, since wood has the ability to freeze. If finishing If you plan to do it with plasterboard, then the sheathing needs to be installed on top of the penoplex.

The material can be replaced with polystyrene foam if you do not have enough funds for repairs, but it is not an analogue and is inferior to foam plastic in terms of thermal insulation quality.

What to sheathe with?

Sheathing and insulation of the balcony can occur different materials. For example, you can use clapboard. It will not only give the balcony or loggia an attractive appearance, but will also act as an additional layer of thermal insulation. It is recommended to place polystyrene foam under the lining; You can use other types of insulation.

To install the material, you will need a lathing: it will need to be installed after applying a layer of waterproofing. The size of the lathing cells must match the size of the foam sheets. They will need to be inserted inside and secured, after which you can fill the cracks with polyurethane foam, insulate the floor, and install joists. You can begin installing the lining. After finishing the work, it is recommended to varnish the boards. Finishing and insulating a balcony with your own hands using these materials is the simplest and most inexpensive means make the loggia warm.

For tight fixation, you can use dowels. Before using them, you must wait until the glue has completely dried; This usually takes about a day. A layer of vapor barrier must be placed on top of the mineral wool. After this, you can perform the lathing and proceed to finishing.

Options for insulating a balcony can be very diverse. They depend on how you plan to use the balcony, your financial capabilities, and imagination.

In this article we will talk about how to protect the walls of the loggia from the penetration of cold, and also give advice on what tools and materials will be useful to you for this purpose. But first I would like to dwell on the problems that will have to be overcome in the process of work.

Common mistakes

A serious problem is created by condensation that forms from the inside on the cold surface of the walls and ceiling. As a result, damp areas appear, which very quickly become covered with a layer of mold. This happens due to poor ventilation, improper insulation and heating systems.

When the ventilation of a room does not work correctly, the air quickly moves from the warm part of the apartment to the cold part, i.e. to the loggia. There, excess moisture settles on the coldest surfaces. Avoid this negative effect ordinary doors that separate rooms with different temperature conditions, and, consequently, with different humidity.

Insulation systems also cause a lot of trouble. If, for example, the insulation of walls and floors was done incorrectly, then moisture will certainly leave its traces on problem areas of the loggia.


If you decide to save on foam and instead seal the seams between the slabs with a putty mixture, then in these places condensation is very likely to settle with all the ensuing consequences. It is better not to make such mistakes at all, since eliminating them will be very difficult. Therefore, it is very important to adhere to the technology of all insulation processes.

Often the problem is a poor-quality loggia heating system. If this process occurs only due to warm air from the next room, then mold will certainly form in the cold corners of the outer room. Therefore, it is advisable to start insulating the wall with insulating the floor on the loggia.

This is also important for compliance purposes building codes, because installing water heating on balconies is prohibited. A properly equipped heated floor reacts sensitively to temperature changes in its various areas and automatically eliminates this imbalance.

Silence

In addition to its main purpose, wall insulation also has other positive effects. It becomes much quieter on the loggia, which means the noise level is significantly reduced in the remaining rooms of the room.

After all, it is the loggia that is exposed to numerous noise impacts from the outside.

Material selection

The modern market of thermal insulation materials provides buyers with a huge selection, which is quite difficult for a beginner to understand, so it is better to seek advice from specialists. Many of them advise choosing extruded polystyrene foam or, as it is popularly called, penoplex.


This material has excellent heat-saving properties, high strength and low hygroscopicity. In addition, it is easy to process, boasting high environmental standards and chemical neutrality.

Other types of polystyrene foam are widely used as insulation, however, unlike penoplex, they have more modest thermal insulation characteristics. Penofol and mineral wool are often used to insulate balconies and loggias.

Wall insulation

Insulation of balcony walls consists of several stages. Let's look at each of them in detail.

It is possible to successfully insulate a wall only if the appropriate preparatory work. Take the time to prepare, this will ensure excellent results.


First of all, thoroughly clean the walls of the old coating. It’s good if, before insulation, you replace outdated window structures with double-glazed windows, and also remove old mounting foam from the frames.

To do this, it is best to use a stationery knife. If there are significant mold formations on the walls from the inside, you must get rid of them. In this case, a fungicidal spray will do.
Then you should carefully mark the lines for fixing the foam sheets.

Laying the insulating layer

Direct insulation of the walls of the loggia begins with laying a layer of foil-coated polystyrene foam. The sheets must be cut in advance and then securely fixed with special dowels and polyurethane glue.

Metal hangers are attached on top of the heat-reflecting layer, which act as an additional retainer. All seams and holes should be carefully insulated using special aluminum tape.

Laying the main insulation layer

At the next stage, the main layer of foam insulation is laid. Remember that you must first make holes in the sheets for aluminum hangers. The gaps between the plates should be minimal.

Penoplex boards should be securely fastened with glue and fastening materials, and each joint should be carefully sealed with polyurethane foam. Also pay attention to the pendants. For better sealing, after removing excess foam, you can use the same metal tape.
Next you should insulate outer wall loggias with a layer of foil foam. Try to carefully seal all seams and holes with metal tape.


Should all walls be insulated?

The fact is that the walls of the loggia are insulated from the inside quite well warm air next room. However, many experts believe that interior walls also require insulation. True, from the inside you can limit yourself to only two layers of foil foam and extruded thick polystyrene foam.

Insulation around windows

Insulating walls near windows is a rather labor-intensive process. In this area, sealing of all cracks, joints and seams should be done especially carefully and accurately.


We recommend using polyurethane foam and metal tape without fail. Do not forget that the foam should be given some time to dry. After this, be sure to remove any excess with a utility knife and then seal the seams with aluminum tape.

At the final stage of applying polyurethane foam, you will need a special solvent, which is designed to instantly remove its residues. This is an important procedure, because if the foam has time to harden, it will be quite difficult to remove.

Finishing

After completing the thermal insulation of the loggia, you should think about finishing works, which also affect the degree of thermal insulation in the room. When all layers are laid and sealed, the metal hangers must be returned to their original position, and then the aluminum profiles must be attached to them.

It is convenient to attach almost any of the materials available on the modern construction market to these profiles. As finishing material Wooden, cork and metal slatted panels, PVC structures, siding and many other options are perfect for loggia walls.

Has proven itself quite well moisture resistant drywall. The advantages of this material are its lightweight structure, which “breathes” well. Drywall is very affordable in terms of price, and it is also easy to process, paint, fix, and stick wallpaper on its surface.

At first, insulating a loggia may seem like a rather complicated and time-consuming process. However, if you decide to try, you will quickly realize that there are no particular difficulties here. All operations are quickly mastered and do not require special construction skills.

The balcony can also be used to make a comfortable and utility room. For example, equip it with an office, a workshop, a small sports section or a comfortable lounge.