How best to insulate a balcony. Do-it-yourself internal insulation of balconies and loggias - step-by-step instructions with photos, videos and descriptions

Despite small sizes, comprehensive modernization of these parts of residential buildings is a complex task. To find out how to do it yourself, step by step photo should be supplemented with detailed descriptions of work operations. Information about modern materials will be useful. It is necessary to find out how the new premises will be equipped. Find the correct answers to these and others practical questions It will be easier after reading this article.

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Insulating a balcony with your own hands: step-by-step instructions for preparatory work

In domestic climatic conditions, open balconies can be fully used for no more than a few months a year. They are blown by cold winds, filled with rain and covered with snow. After the implementation of the project necessary protection will be created. Even when choosing economical option the insulation characteristics of the property will improve and costs will decrease. After deep modernization, you can actually increase your living space at relatively low cost.

Preventing Mistakes

Some important details should be noted at the beginning to exclude incorrect decisions:

• Excessive “frugality” can subsequently transform into additional expenses. If you install cheap frames without, or use insufficient quality and finishing materials, the desired result will not be obtained. Subsequent alterations are additional costs.
• The wrong choice of technology is also accompanied by troubles. It is necessary to carefully study the nuances of the techniques to ensure that they are realistically reproduced. on our own. To carry out the most complex work processes, you can invite specialized specialists.
• Standard ones cannot be installed on the balcony. Some municipal governments prohibit changing the color of exterior surfaces, installing frames, or other externally visible changes.

Important! It should be ensured that the project does not violate the requirements of applicable codes and regulations. If such a structure is not officially approved, it will have to be removed at your own expense and a fine will be paid.

Formulation of the problem

After a detailed study of thematic materials, final conclusions will be drawn. But already at the first stage it is necessary to formulate general requirements and note the following important details:

• Even a small modernization increases the weight of the structure. It is necessary to take into account the increase in loads on power frame, schedule a specialized inspection. In some situations, a separate engineering calculation will be required.
• If it remains door block, it is not necessary to make increased demands on the insulation characteristics of the balcony. Otherwise, they should be no worse than in .
• In the new premises they install, home computer network. We need to decide on the equipment of the balcony.
• It is advisable here to make the floor the same level as the room, without thresholds or steps.

This figure shows that if desired, you can increase the existing area. But we must remember that such structures significantly increase the load on the building. They must be approved in the manner prescribed by law, since significant changes to the initial design are expected.

Important! A simple freehand drawing is better than no documentation at all. Based on it, it is easier to prepare a list of components, materials, tools and other necessary products.

How to insulate the floor, walls and ceiling on a balcony: choice of materials

If appropriate opportunities exist, it is better to install insulation on the outside of the walls. This will help move the dew point towards the street. The likelihood of moisture penetrating into the main building structures will be reduced. This will prevent their destruction and mold. The available volume of the balcony will be rationally used.

It is easier to carry out installation operations inside yourself. Therefore, only relevant techniques will be discussed further. To find out how to insulate a balcony with your own hands with detailed step-by-step photos and instructions, you need to correctly decide on.

Image	Name	Advantages	Flaws
	Expanded clay	Low cost; good filling of complex shaped volumes with granules; maintaining integrity over a long service life; non-flammability.	High moisture permeability, which is accompanied by loss of insulating properties.
	Mineral wool	Durability of modern products; resistance to high temperatures; high quality butt connections.	Low strength; deterioration of the structure and increase in thermal conductivity when water enters. These materials must be additionally protected from mechanical damage and increased stress.
	Styrofoam	Reasonable prices; ease of processing; smooth outer surface; light weight.	Low strength, flammability. To improve resistance to open flame, special additives are used, but the corresponding materials are more expensive.
	Foamed polystyrene boards	High strength of products with a sufficiently high density; ease of installation; resistance to moisture; durability.	Relatively expensive factory-produced materials from famous manufacturers. Difficulty filling internal volumes without creating empty spaces.
	Polystyrene formed at a construction site from several liquid components	It has all the advantages of slabs, but in addition it fills all cavities of any shape.	The total cost is higher, since special equipment must be used.
	Foamed polyethylene with a layer of metal foil (penofol)	Small thickness; long-term preservation of good consumer characteristics; moisture resistance.	High price.

For your information! The insulation system will be effective if installed insulating materials on external wall, floor ceiling.

How to insulate a balcony with your own hands: step-by-step photos, window installation

Drawing	Description of actions
	Taking into account the characteristics of a particular balcony, they create reliable support for the frames. If necessary (as in the example picture), install additional metal supports. The production of such products is entrusted to a specialized enterprise.
	It's easier to work with assembled frames. They are installed sequentially. After precise leveling using a building level, the cracks are filled with construction foam.
	If it is necessary to install double-glazed windows directly on site, beads with seals are inserted carefully. To avoid damaging the fragile plastic, use a wooden hammer and damping pads.
	Next install Wooden frames deteriorate due to weather and natural influences Polymers are used to create swinging and sliding systems, curved and rectangular frames. If necessary, apply coloring and lamination. Article

Each owner of an apartment with a balcony can, to a certain extent, be considered happy man. Due to this part of the apartment, you can expand the area of ​​your home. The balcony can be used not only as a place to store old things. With some effort, you can arrange a study there.

However, to create a room on the balcony with comfortable conditions, in which one could be without outer clothing in winter time, it is necessary to take care of its additional insulation. There are quite a few options for thermal insulation of this structure. Which one to choose, each owner decides for himself. Let's look at the most common ways to insulate a balcony to turn it into a multifunctional room.

Basic concepts when working on balcony insulation

First, you need to separate the two closely related concepts of “balcony” and “loggia”. Many people confuse them, believing that there is no difference between them. However, there is a difference.

If we talk about a balcony, it is a remote-type structure that completely extends beyond the building. Acts as a floor on the balcony concrete slab which is built into the wall. Along its perimeter it has a metal lattice fence. In the process of insulating the balcony this the grille can be sheathed with any material, namely:

• plastic;
• plywood;
• steel sheets.

But a loggia is a room in which only one side is open. It can be fenced with a parapet made of:

• metal;
• bricks;
• concrete;
• plastic.

How to insulate a balcony yourself: insulation diagram and work plan

If you set out to insulate the balcony yourself, then you need to start work by creating a glazing structure. For the reason that the balcony is located on the street and when created it is not isolated in any way, therefore, when glazing it, it is best to use frames with double-glazed windows. For those people who live in regions with harsh climates, the optimal choice would be triple-glazed windows.

By using insulation on the balcony, a “thermos” effect should be created. For this need to create high-quality insulation for a future room. Usage modern materials will keep the loggia warm.

Work order

If we talk about the technology of insulating balconies in general, we note next steps which it includes.

When the glazing structure is installed, work is done to seal all the cracks. To do this, use polyurethane foam or resort to sealants. If the cracks are too wide, they are covered with pieces of plywood or polystyrene foam is used.

Further it is necessary to waterproof all surfaces balcony from the inside. The market offers a large selection of materials to effectively solve this problem. For example, you can use roofing felt, which is overlapped and glued to the base. Used for gluing joints gas-burner. In addition to roofing felt, liquid penetrating agents can also be used. One of the popular ones is Penetron. It is applied to the surface using a brush or roller. After this, it is necessary to secure the insulation.

When this is done, move on to the vapor barrier device. To create it, you can use polyethylene foam with a foil layer. This material is secured end-to-end. When it is laid, it is glued with aluminum tape.

Then they move on to finishing the ceiling and walls of the future room. The owner decides what materials to use for this work. After this, the floor is arranged. He can be:

• liquid;
• concrete;
• wooden.

Please note that the above insulation scheme for your new room is universal. It can be used for a balcony or loggia. The main thing is to adhere to all stages and complete them in correct sequence. Should not be used when thermal insulation works something inexpensive. In this case, the insulation will be of poor quality and will not last long.

How to insulate a balcony from the inside: the easiest ways

When the task is to perform high-quality insulation of a balcony, you can use one of several methods. The choice in favor of a particular one will depend on the further use of the insulated balcony.

It is necessary to focus on the technical properties of materials when choosing insulation for thermal insulation of a balcony. There are quite a lot of materials offered on the market, and they all differ in their characteristics. The most important of them are:

• coefficient of thermal conductivity;
• compound;
• structure.

Balcony insulation with penoplex

Penoplex is a material belonging to the group of extruded polystyrene foam. It has high thermal conductivity and excellent moisture protection. Besides this his positive quality is flexural and compressive strength. Manufacturers They offer it in the form of slabs, whose thickness can vary from 20 to 100 mm. Plates of this material can be smooth and with a surface on which there are protrusions in a tongue-and-groove pattern. The use of the latter ensures simple fastening of the material.

If severe winters are a common occurrence in your area of ​​residence, then in this case, when choosing penoplex, preference should be given to slabs with a large thickness. If you live in a region with a mild climate, then when insulating your balcony you should use a foam board up to 40 mm thick.

Methods for attaching penoplex largely depend on what finishing material the owner will use for insulation.

If you plan to cover your future room with plasterboard or use plastic panels, then in this case The insulation boards can be secured using plastic dowels, which are similar in appearance to a mushroom.

Experts recommend using dowels with a length of 8 to 10 cm when fixing such insulation. If the owner plans to finish the attached room with plaster, then in this case, in addition to fixing it with glue, it is necessary to additionally fix the penoplex with dowels.

The process of installing penoplex insulation

Work on fixing the insulation on the balcony begins with fixing the slabs on the surface with the preliminary installation of a waterproofing layer.

The slabs are assembled end-to-end or a tongue-and-groove pattern is used.

Let us note this point: to secure it on wooden sheathing Penoplex boards are not intended. The design of such a system does not provide heat retention in room. Therefore, if you plan to use plasterboard for covering the balcony, then in this case the insulation is installed according to the above method. Then a vapor barrier is installed. Next comes the sheathing, on top of which the finishing material is fixed.

At the moment, many experts call penoplex the most suitable material for thermal insulation of a balcony. The main reason is its high strength. If this material parameter is not so important for you, then you can save money on insulation, if you choose more affordable option- Styrofoam.

How warm will it be in your new room with thermal insulation, largely depends on the floor. Therefore, the task of insulating it should be approached with all seriousness. If the work is carried out incorrectly, then all finishing measures carried out in this part of the apartment will be nullified.

First of all, you need to decide what material to use to insulate the floor surface. Expanded clay is not recommended for this purpose, since it has low thermal insulation rates and to create good insulation a layer of considerable thickness will be required. But even in this case it will not be enough. Not the best option is also mineral wool. The use of this material requires the installation of a good vapor barrier layer. Therefore, most suitable choice is sheet foam.

Typically, the balcony floor is installed with a slight slope. This is done in order to ensure the drainage of water. But since the balcony will be completely isolated from the external environment, when creating it, you can make the floor strictly horizontal.

Stages of work

The first thing to start with is laying penofol on the slab. It should be positioned metal side up. Thanks to it, heat will be reflected on the balcony. After this, wooden blocks of 40x40 cm are fastened. When placing them, you should maintain a step of 50 cm.

Further between the bars It is necessary to insert the foam sheets tightly, and any cracks that arise should be sealed using polyurethane foam. Then the second layer of beams is laid perpendicular to the first. This will create an air cushion.

Next, they proceed to the installation of moisture-resistant plywood, which is located on the top layer of the timber. Once it's laid, all that remains is to install the flooring. It can be laminate or linoleum.

Using the same scheme, you can insulate the walls and ceiling.

Heating on the balcony

So that on your balcony, where you arrange living room, it was always warm, it is necessary to install an additional heating source. Previously, on the balcony this function was performed by heating radiators, which were connected to a centralized heating system. This is currently prohibited. However, there are other options for heating a balcony that will create a comfortable temperature on it.

If the balcony will not be used constantly as a room, then an electric heater may be a suitable heat source. To install such a device, You only need an extra outlet The apartment also has powerful electrical wiring, which must be able to withstand the additional load.

If there is not enough area in the apartment to arrange a study or winter garden, then you can add several square meters, if you insulate the balcony. In this part of the apartment, after thermal insulation, you can arrange a study or increase the area of ​​the existing room. Carrying out thermal insulation work is not that difficult. The main thing is to know the technology for creating insulation structures and use quality materials. In this case you can get an extra room, which will be warm regardless of the weather outside.

Many apartment owners use the loggia mainly for storing things that do not fit in the other rooms of the home. But those people who live in small apartments are increasingly thinking about arranging another room in this part of the apartment. But not everyone decides to do this.

Many consider the creation on the loggia additional room an expensive pleasure that requires complex work. Some of the owners of small apartments do not have enough Money to pay for the services of specialists who will be involved in the work. Therefore, they abandon the idea of ​​​​creating another room in their apartment. However, in reality, everything is not so difficult and expensive if you do all the work yourself.

Of course, in this case everything largely depends on the individual preferences of the person. If you want to turn your loggia into a full-fledged room in which you can not only store things, but also work, then in this case insulation is required. High-quality thermal insulation will help you implement various design solutions in this room.

By insulating your balcony, you will reduce heat loss from your home. Thanks to high-quality thermal insulation, not only the cold will not penetrate, but also noise, as well as harmful exhaust from cars. This is especially true for people whose loggias overlook central streets with large traffic flows.

Most often on the balcony arrange a work office. But other options are also possible. By equipping this part of the apartment appropriately, you can get a greenhouse. Also, a room arranged on the balcony can become small gym. It is enough just to install exercise equipment and sports equipment there. Using a balcony for this purpose requires high-quality insulation.

Thermal insulation must be provided for all surfaces of the balcony if you plan to combine this part of the apartment with another room. If this is not done, then outer wall during the cold season it will be constantly damp. It will begin to become moldy, and the room itself will have a low temperature, which will cause great discomfort to the owner.

Getting ready to insulate the loggia

In the design of the balcony the most the weak link is the parapet. The whole point is that it is in contact with the street. Its purpose:

• let light through;
• exclude the penetration of noise and moisture from the street;
• prevent cold and dust from entering your home.

Often a reinforced concrete slab acts as a parapet on a balcony. To reduce heat loss through it, it is necessary to lay wide cracks.

Some balconies may have a metal parapet. In terms of its level, it can coincide with the upper ceiling. Before starting thermal insulation work, it is necessary to lay the parapet and side walls. The following materials should be used to solve this problem:

• foam blocks;
• ceramic brick.

To finish the outer surface of the fence, you can choose plastic siding or finish with decorative panels. Their installation also increases the thermal insulation of the balcony.

Glazing is a mandatory step in insulating a loggia

Before you start insulating the loggia, you need to create a glazing structure on it. To perform this work efficiently, you will need plastic frames with double-glazed windows. It is better to entrust the work of installing them to specialists. Good glazing of a balcony is only possible if double-chamber packages with glass at least 32 mm thick are used to create the glazing structure. Work on their installation must be accompanied by the installation of additional profiles to the left, above and to the right of the double-glazed windows.

When the installation of the glazing structure is completed, it is necessary to eliminate the resulting seams using polyurethane foam. The same should be done with joints. The glazing structure must be free of defects and cracks. After foam polymerization it is hidden with the help of flashings from the outside. This eliminates the impact on it sun rays, which lead to the destruction of the installation composition.

What is needed for thermal insulation?

To perform thermal insulation of the loggia according to all the rules, The following materials are needed:

• insulation, most often foam or technoplex is used;
• polyurethane foam;
• vapor barrier material;
• plastic disc-type dowels, self-tapping screws;
• metallized tape;
• antiseptic;
• timber for installing logs, to create a lining under them to raise the floor level. Beam should be used chamber drying 45x60 mm or antiseptic-coated material with a cross-section of 50x70 mm;
• guides through which fastening will be carried out finishing materials on inside loggias;
• galvanized profile and crabs for installation work;
• galvanized hangers for fastening guides and profiles;
• wooden beams with the following section 50x20, 50x30, 40x50;
• tools: hammer drill, metal scissors. Also during work it is necessary to use a tape measure, a level, a pencil, and in addition a level with a tripod, a jigsaw, and a spray foam gun.

We insulate the loggia with our own hands

If you decide to carry out high-quality insulation of the loggia with your own hands, then before starting work, you need to carefully familiarize yourself with the technology for creating an insulation structure on the loggia. Having prepared all the tools and materials, you can proceed to work, following all the stages.

Construction of a thermal insulation system on the ceiling

The process of insulating the balcony must begin with thermal insulation ceiling surface . To do this, you should attach hangers, onto which the guides will then be fixed. When this is done, the polystyrene foam boards are mounted to the ceiling surface using mounting foam or disc dowels are used for fastening. When using the latter, you must first make slits for hanging. To seal the holes, pieces of insulation are usually used or foam is used.

After completing the thermal insulation work on the ceiling, they move on to insulating the balcony floor. To do this, it is necessary to fix it on the base plate. timber gaskets, treated with an antiseptic, the bars will act as supports. When laying, it is necessary to level them well, using building level. When installing the supports, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the height of the timber together with the logs is such that it exceeds the laid insulation by at least 5 mm. Self-tapping screws are used to attach the logs to the supports.

Between them it is necessary to place thermal insulation material. After this, the vapor barrier material is laid with the foil layer facing out. Its installation must be done in such a way that external corners there were no joints. In this case you can avoid the occurrence of “cold bridges”.

After laying the vapor barrier material, the joints must be taped. If the loggia is subsequently connected to the living room, then when insulating the floor, insulation is carried out to a height up to the inner plane of the wall. In this case, the floor level rises from the insulation embedded inside it.

We insulate the walls

Insulation must be used to thoroughly insulate the walls bordering the street, as well as those adjacent to them and adjacent to the room. After this, you need to decide on the height of the additional extensions. As a heat insulator when insulating walls, you should use polystyrene foam boards, having the selected quarter. Their use will prevent the occurrence of through holes at the junction points.

If you do not have these, then you should use ordinary slabs, which should be laid in two layers with the seam offset in such a way as to prevent the formation of through holes. To install the first layer of heat-insulating material, disc dowels are used as fasteners. The second layer is fixed using polyurethane foam.

Then you can move on to insulating the external walls under double-glazed windows. Further insulate the side walls, bordering the street, after them neighboring ones, and then adjacent to the neighboring cold loggias. When this is done, we insulate the vertical corners of the walls that adjoin the living spaces.

A vertical strip of heat-insulating material with a height equal to the side wall must be attached along plastic structures, to the side wall and along the parapet. The bandwidth should be as follows:

• For panel house- more than 300 mm;
• for brick - more than 500 mm.

To perform this job, you can use polyurethane foam. The corners are insulated with a 30 mm thick layer of heat insulation.

Runs to the ceiling installation according to the level of the guides. This will ensure the appearance of an air gap between the insulating layer and the finishing material. At this stage, it is necessary to install guides for lamps, clothes dryers and other equipment that will be used on the loggia. If you have any questions about this stage of loggia insulation, the video of the work will help you find the answers.

Loggia finishing

After completing the insulation work, you can proceed to finishing. The selected material is fixed to the sheathing. For interior decoration Most often plasterboard or plastic panels are used. If plasterboard was chosen for interior decoration, then it is necessary to prime its surface, then lay a layer of putty and only after that can the surface be painted or wallpaper applied. Under the windows that go from the room to the loggia, it is necessary to install plastic window sills, under the door there is a PVC threshold.

Heat Source Installation

To keep the loggia warm, you cannot do without heating. Install the radiator, connected to central system heating is not allowed on the loggia. Therefore you will have to use oil heaters or electric fireplace. There are no problems connecting them. One device will be enough to create a comfortable atmosphere on the loggia.

If the insulation of the balcony from the inside is done poorly with your own hands, then condensation may form on the surface of the walls. It occurs because warm air comes into contact with the cold surface of the wall facing the street. If moisture accumulates in the insulation in large quantities, this can lead to it losing its performance characteristics.

If the owner, when using an insulated loggia encounters leaks, then in this case it is necessary to seal all interpanel seams. To avoid mistakes, we advise you to watch a video about insulating balconies before work, which shows all the nuances.

Conclusion

Insulating the loggia at the moment is a good opportunity to get one more room in your small apartment. Many people believe that the work of insulating a balcony is quite complex and it is quite problematic to do it with your own hands. However, it is not.

If you carefully read the instructions for thermal insulation of the loggia and use quality materials, follow the sequence of work, then you can carry out proper insulation of this part of the apartment with a small investment of time and money. As a result, you will have another room that you can use as you wish.

September 4, 2016
Specialization: Capital construction works(laying a foundation, erecting walls, constructing a roof, etc.). Internal construction work (laying internal communications, rough and fine finishing). Hobbies: mobile communications, high technology, computer equipment, programming.

I have already talked many times about the internal insulation of balconies in city apartments and private houses, but I spent little time covering the question of how best to insulate a loggia from the inside. But right choice thermal insulation material is the key to the effectiveness of the measures taken.

And now is the time to fill this gap. The instructions I provide below will tell you how to choose yourself suitable material for insulation.

Requirements for insulation

Before I tell you how to insulate the inside of a loggia with my own hands, I want to devote a few words to the criteria by which I personally choose thermal insulation materials for such work.

So, what it is advisable to pay attention to:

1. Heat transfer coefficient. The lower this parameter is, the better. That is, to insulate a room (be it a separate loggia or combined with the main room) you will have to use a smaller layer of material. This means more will be saved. usable area rooms.
2. Easy to install. How more difficult order installation of the thermal insulation material you have chosen, the longer and more labor-intensive the repair process will be, especially if done independently. However, I have already written a lot about how to properly insulate a loggia from the inside. If you need it, you can find the relevant material or ask a question in the comments.
3. Strength. It is better to choose insulation that can withstand external mechanical stress (both static and dynamic). In this case, subsequent decorative finishing of the room is facilitated.
4. Antiseptic. Internal insulation shifts the dew point inside the insulating pie. In addition, air vapors that are formed as a result of human activity can penetrate through the walls. Therefore, I recommend paying attention to materials that are not subject to biocorrosion - mold, mildew and other microorganisms, rodents and insects do not appear in them.
5. Affordable price. Naturally, this factor is also very important, although I would not put it at the forefront. Below I will tell you about insulating materials that have the optimal ratio of cost and performance characteristics. And then you can choose for yourself which material is best for insulation.

Characteristics of individual types of insulation

So, let's get started with the story. Let's start with the most common and very inexpensive heat insulator - expanded polystyrene or, as it is popularly called, polystyrene foam.

Expanded polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene is a material consisting of 98% air, which is enclosed in closed polystyrene shells. The result is a kind of solid foam in sheets, which, after finishing the walls, floor and ceiling of the loggia, prevents unproductive heat loss.

Specifications

I’ll tell you briefly about the main technical characteristics of the material:

1. Thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity coefficient of expanded polystyrene is in the range of 0.028-0.034 W/(m*K), that is, lower than that of mineral wool. The specific value depends on how dense the foam you purchase for the job.

I'll warn you right away. Do not confuse polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam. Although they are related, their technical characteristics differ significantly. Therefore, we will talk about EPS separately in the next section.

1. Vapor permeability and water absorption. Conventional construction foam does not allow air to penetrate through the insulating layer.

Therefore, insulating a loggia from the inside with polystyrene foam requires taking additional measures to ventilate the room in order to remove excess moisture from it. Otherwise, the microclimate in the room will be far from comfortable.

The situation with water absorption is different. When in contact with liquid, foam absorbs approximately 4% of its volume. However, unlike mineral wool, its heat-retaining properties do not deteriorate significantly, so there is no need to waterproof the insulating layer very carefully.

1. Strength. Used for insulation construction foams, which meet the requirements of DIN number 7726 and are classified as “rigid”. That is, when a load is applied, the surface of the heat insulator reacts elastically. However, when dynamic or strong static force is applied, the integrity of the insulation may be compromised.

In other words, if you use polystyrene foam for the internal insulation of a loggia, you immediately need to decide how to finish the inside after insulation. You need to choose this method decorative finishing, which would simultaneously protect the insulating layer from mechanical damage.

The strength of polystyrene foam largely depends on its density. But as the density increases, the heat-retaining properties deteriorate. The optimal density of foam plastic for internal insulation is 25. You can buy 35, but this, in my opinion, is an unjustified waste of money.

1. Chemical resistance. Classically, expanded polystyrene perfectly withstands the effects of household chemicals, which include soap, soda, mineral fertilizers. It is chemically neutral in contact with bitumen resins, cement and lime mortars, and asphalts.

However, I myself saw how foam plastic “melts” when certain varnishes, drying oils and other similar substances come into contact with it. In addition, petroleum products with various alcohols are also dangerous.

All this once again suggests that if you are going to use this insulation for interior works, care should be taken to protect it thoroughly.

1. Sound absorption. If you want the insulating layer to simultaneously act as a sound insulator, then you will be disappointed with polystyrene foam. It can protect a little only from impact noise, and only if you lay 10-15 centimeters of insulation.

Foam plastic does not dampen other noises that are transmitted through the air. The fact is that the cells with air inside the material are rigidly fixed and completely isolated from the outside world. Therefore, sound waves are not absorbed.

1. Antiseptic and environmentally friendly. In 2004, research by scientists from the USA finally proved that biological life on the surface of polystyrene foam is impossible. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of the appearance of mold and mildew.

As for security issues environment(for some this is very important), then everything is fine here too, since in the production of insulation they abandoned the use of freon, which harms the ozone layer of the planet. In addition, the foam itself lasts quite a long time without losing its performance properties. Moreover, regardless of the number of freezing and thawing cycles.

However, the insulation in question is susceptible to oxidation. Moreover, the lower the density of the material, the faster this process occurs. Especially if the material is exposed to direct sunlight. And during oxidation it releases many harmful substances, which includes:

• benzene;
• toluene;
• formaldehyde;
• methyl alcohol;
• acetophenone and so on.

But during the construction of houses, wood is also treated with various chemicals, which also harm human health. So wood cannot be considered a completely environmentally friendly building material. However, I am only stating the facts, and you will have to make the final choice.

1. Fire safety. According to current Russian standards (GOST number 30224-94), foam plastics belong to the third and fourth classes of flammability. In other words, they are very dangerous if you look at them from this point of view.

When choosing insulation, pay attention to what standards the polystyrene foam is certified to. In Europe, the flammability class is determined by three factors (biological, chemical and complex). So, experts from the EU believe that the most flammable material is wood, but do not take into account the danger of combustion products formed when foam plastic is ignited.

Therefore, when purchasing material, pay attention to the certificates issued based on the results comprehensive research. And buy polystyrene foam that contains fire retardants (it is marked with the letter “C”). This does not mean that such material will burn worse. It just requires longer exposure to a more intense flame to ignite.

In any case, I can say that despite various fire retardants and other additives to foam, it continues to remain a fairly flammable material. Therefore, if you are going to set up a workshop on the loggia, it is better to choose other materials for insulation. Moreover, fire retardants disappear over time.

1. Lifetime. If you follow the technology for installing foam plastic (that is, laying it under plaster or other decorative material) he will keep his operational properties for at least 30 years. However, this is if you don’t make mistakes, which I want to talk about below.

First of all, this incorrect choice warming elk. Some, for example, believe that if you lay foam board 30 cm thick, the loggia will be insulated as efficiently as possible. This is not true, because thick insulation will warp and crack due to temperature fluctuations.

As a rule, 5 cm thick slabs or two such slabs stacked on top of each other are used to insulate a living space. Among other things, this installation method allows you to reduce the amount of smoke released during a fire and reduce the risk of poisoning people in the room.

Well, now I’ll summarize everything that’s been said and give some advice to those who have already decided to buy polystyrene foam to insulate their loggia:

1. For internal insulation, I recommend purchasing polystyrene foam labeled PSB-S with a density of 35-40. In any case, do not take insulation with a density of less than 25. It is only suitable for packaging household appliances, but not for construction.
2. Sometimes manufacturers mark foam plastic with the number “40,” which does not indicate its density. Therefore, pay attention not only to the numbers in the name, but also to the technical characteristics, which, according to the law, must be placed on the packaging or provided separately at the buyer’s request.
3. Buy polystyrene foam produced by extrusion (must be indicated in the accompanying documentation). This is the only way to give the material a density higher than 20 kg per cubic meter.
4. To check the quality of the material on the spot, break off a piece of it. If you see balls at the fracture site, which are also easy to separate, then you have packaging material in front of you. Polystyrene foam for insulation has cells in the form of polyhedra, along which fracture occurs.
5. If we talk about specific manufacturers, I recommend paying attention to the materials of TechnoNikol, BASF, Styrochem or Polimeri Europa. These materials are of excellent quality and are quite affordable.

Penoplex

Not long ago I used extruded polystyrene foam to insulate a balcony. And I chose a material from a domestic manufacturer for the work - penoplex. That’s why I’ll tell you about him in this section.

Specifications

The first extruded polystyrene foam was produced in the United States about half a century ago. The essence technological process is as follows: polystyrene foam granules are placed in a chamber where they melt under high temperature. Then this mass is foamed with the help of chemicals and squeezed out through rectangular nozzles onto a conveyor, where it cools.

For foaming, so-called foaming agents are used, that is, substances that, when heated, release gases: nitrogen or carbon dioxide.

After hardening, the extruded polystyrene strip is cut into slabs and packaged in polyethylene for transportation to construction sites.

As for penoplex, it consists of the following components:

• polystyrene;
• ground perlite;
• sodium bicarbonate;
• lemon acid;
• barium stearate;
• tetrabromoparaxylene.

The use of penophores in the production of penoplex gives the latter a porous structure, like polystyrene foam. But unlike the latter, the cells of this material are tightly connected to each other into a homogeneous structure, so the air is more evenly distributed inside the material.

The size of the air cells in the insulation is from 0.1 to 0.3 mm. They are insulated from each other, therefore they have good thermal resistance and low water absorption. In addition, this entire structure has greater strength than classic polystyrene foam (foam).

The exact technical characteristics of penoplex are shown in the illustration below:

As you can see, there are several varieties of this extruded polystyrene foam on the building materials market, which differ in the characteristics and sizes of the boards. Accordingly, they should be used to insulate various structures.

If you are not too versed in the above figures, I will decipher some parameters:

1. Coefficient of thermal conductivity. For penoplex this figure is approximately 0.03 W/(m*K). This is one of the lowest odds of them all. existing insulation materials. At the same time, what attracts me personally: this indicator does not change depending on humidity and temperature. That is, when using penoplex, there is no need to protect it with additional waterproofing membranes.
2. Hygroscopicity. In contact with water or moist air the foam board absorbs no more than 0.6% of its own volume. In this case, humidification continues only during the first 10 days after installation, and then stops. Only the top layers of insulation are impregnated, which has a positive effect on the integrity of the material.
3. Vapor permeability. The material does not allow moisture vapor dissolved in the air to pass through it well. Therefore, surfaces finished with penoplex are not covered with vapor barrier films. On the other hand, you will have to take measures to ventilate the room to remove excess water vapor.
4. Compression resistance. This parameter is excellent, which is achieved thanks to the homogeneous structure of the penoplex. Therefore, it can be used to insulate loggia floors (by laying insulation under a cement screed). If you apply significant force to the insulation, a dent no more than 1 mm deep may form on the surface.
5. Environmental friendliness. Although the manufacturer claims that the material is completely safe for the environment and humans, during operation it still releases a small amount of chemical compounds that can be hazardous to health.
6. Lifetime. Experiments carried out at the Penoplex plant show that the material is able to withstand more than 50 consecutive freezing and thawing cycles. Therefore, when operating on outdoors it will retain its technical characteristics for at least half a century. And inside the loggia there is even more.

To all of the above, I can also add that penoplex tolerates the effects of aggressive chemicals and solvents well. However, it is destroyed upon contact with petroleum products, benzene, formaldehyde, acetone, oil and some other materials. This must be taken into account when choosing a decorative finishing method.

Marking methods

There are several types of extruded polystyrene Penoplex on sale. To make it more convenient for you to choose the appropriate variety, I will provide the following table.

Marking	Scope of application
Penoplex 31	Used for insulation of industrial containers with various liquids and technical pipelines.
Penoplex 31C	A material that, like the previous one, is no different high strength, therefore can only be used for internal insulation. Unlike the previous one, it has the ability to self-extinguish upon fire.
Penoplex 35	A material of medium strength and density, which is ideal for internal insulation of a loggia. Moreover, it can be installed not only on walls and ceilings, but also on the floor under a cement screed.
Penoplex 45	Very durable and moisture-resistant insulation. Is used for external thermal insulation surfaces that experience large static and dynamic loads. On the loggia it can be used to insulate the floor.
Penoplex 45C	A self-extinguishing type of insulation described in the previous row of the table. It is mainly used for insulation of industrial and commercial facilities.

However, in addition to digital marking, penoplex also has proper names. Detailed description I will list each brand in the following table.

Name	Density, kg/cub.m.	Purpose
Wall	25-32	Used for internal and external insulation of enclosing walls, internal partitions and basement floors located above ground level.
Foundation	29-33	It is used for thermal insulation of structures buried in the ground. This type of penoplex is very durable and can withstand the load exerted by the soil after backfilling the pit.
Roof	28-33	Used for insulation attic spaces. Insulation has a low thermal conductivity coefficient, but is fragile, so it is better not to use it in places where it will be subject to constant load.
Comfort	25-35	A material ideal for internal insulation of balconies, loggias and other premises. It differs in that it can be used in rooms with high humidity air.

If you ask my opinion, I would recommend using Penoplex Comfort slabs 5 cm thick to insulate the loggia, laying them in one layer under the screed or in a pre-arranged sheathing.

Basalt wool

Another fairly common insulation for loggias and balconies is mineral wool. There are several varieties of this material, but I prefer the variety that is made from the volcanic mineral basalt. Exactly basalt wool most environmentally friendly material with excellent technical characteristics and performance properties.

This insulation was invented in Hawaii, when local residents after one of the volcanic eruptions, strong and thin fibers were discovered in the surrounding area.

Nowadays basalt wool is produced industrially. To do this, gabbro-basalt is collected and melted into melting furnace at a temperature of just over 1500 degrees Celsius. The mixture then falls onto the drum, where it is blown with a stream of air and rotates. The result is fibers 7 microns thick and about 5 cm long.

After this, a binder is added to the mass of fibers, after which the mixture is heated to 300 degrees Celsius and pressed into mats, which are used for insulation.

Specifications

I’ll tell you the most important things about this insulation:

1. Thermal conductivity. According to this indicator, although cotton wool does not outperform penoplex, it is not an outsider. The thermal conductivity coefficient ranges from 0.032 to 0.048 W/(K*m).

So that you understand what we are talking about, let me compare, for example, a 10-cm layer of basalt wool with a density of 100 kg per cubic meter with other building materials. To ensure the same level of thermal insulation, it is necessary to erect a wall of ceramic bricks 1 m 20 cm thick. Sand-lime brick You will need even more - 2 meters. As for the wooden wall, its thickness should be at least 25 cm.

1. Water absorption. Basalt wool has hydrophobic properties. That is, water does not penetrate into the fibers and does not linger in the insulation, changing its technical characteristics.

This, by the way, is the fundamental difference between basalt fiber and glass wool or slag wool. The last two varieties, after getting wet (from contact with water or moisture vapor), increase their thermal conductivity coefficient, that is, they retain heat indoors worse.

So if you are going to insulate the loggia from the inside, you need to take basalt wool, and not glass fibers. Don't be confused. Its water absorption is no more than 2% of its own volume.

1. Vapor permeability. The described insulation, unlike the previous ones, does not prevent air infiltration through the enclosing structures. Moisture, penetrating through the decorative material, is removed outside and does not condense in the insulation layer.

The vapor permeability of the material is about 0.3 mg/(m*h*Pa). That is, on the loggia where you use such insulation, a microclimate that is comfortable for living will independently form, if you look at it from the point of view of air humidity.

1. Fire safety. Due to the fact that basalt, being a volcanic rock, has a very high melting point, the thermal insulation material itself belongs to the class of completely non-combustible materials.

Moreover, it is able to stop the further spread of the flame. The thermal insulation layer loses its integrity at a temperature of at least 1100 degrees Celsius. Therefore, by the way, it is used for insulation of engineering systems and pipelines, the surface of which becomes very hot during operation.

The material fully complies with the requirements of GOST number 30244 and SNiP number 21-01-97. It has no restrictions when insulating residential premises.

1. Soundproofing properties. Unlike expanded polystyrene, basalt wool perfectly absorbs sound waves. This is due to the fact that the air contained inside the insulation is not closed inside the cells, and the fibers themselves are randomly located.

Moreover, cotton wool not only cuts off noise from the street, but also reduces reverberation time. That is, not only the loggia itself is soundproofed, but also the rooms located behind it.

1. Strength. As in all other cases, this parameter depends on the density of basalt wool. Although it is smaller than that of polystyrenes, it is still sufficient for construction work, since some basalt fibers are arranged vertically when forming mats.

As a result, when the insulation layer is deformed by 10%, it shows a compressive strength of 5 to 80 kilopascals. And this figure does not decrease depending on the operating time.

However, you cannot install basalt mats under the floor screed. For insulation, I recommend installing a sheathing, onto which decorative material is then mounted. Although there are some varieties (for example, Dan Floor from Danova) that are specifically designed for insulating floors under cement screed.

1. Biological and chemical activity. The material does not react with chemicals and does not cause corrosion metal parts. In addition, mold and mildew do not grow inside the insulation layer and on its surface, and insects and rodents do not live.

So you can insulate the loggia at your dacha. Unlike polystyrene foam, which mice love to chew on.

1. Environmental Safety. The insulation is completely safe for the environment and humans, as it is made from a natural mineral. However, the fibers are glued together using phenol, which can be hazardous to health.

But I hasten to reassure the skeptics. All hazardous substances are neutralized when heated at the stage of basalt wool production. But even at the stage of manufacturing the material, the emission is no more than 0.05 mg per cubic meter per hour.

In addition, during operation, mineral fibers do not irritate the skin, mucous membranes and respiratory organs of humans.

Disadvantages of the material

So that you don’t get the impression that basalt wool is just a gift of fate for insulating a loggia, I will list the main disadvantages of the material:

• high cost of insulation;
• the presence of seams in the insulating layer, which make it leaky;
• the possibility of formation of basalt dust, which causes inconvenience to installers when working with it;
• high coefficient of vapor permeability, which in some cases is simply not needed.

Summary

Now you have all the necessary information to choose the appropriate insulation for thermal insulation of the loggia. Those who are interested in how to lay the selected insulation with their own hands can watch the video in this article.

In city apartments, the presence of a balcony means the opportunity to expand the usable area of ​​the entire housing. But without proper repairs, which includes insulating the entire balcony, such an area can only be used as a terrace or a cold storage room. The technology for insulating a balcony includes a set of repair measures aimed at creating a special design that will provide comfort and warmth in the room being repaired.

Features of loggia insulation

On the one hand, do-it-yourself insulation should not present any difficulties. It is enough to purchase material with the required parameters and install it on your balcony. The difficulty is that the appearance of ease of repair leads to further disappointment. This is when, during the cold season, an unpleasant draft, mold, water accumulates and the walls freeze on an insulated and lovingly renovated loggia. The culprit is condensation. When warm air comes into contact with a cold surface, the vapor reaches such a saturated state, scientifically called the “dew point”, where it easily turns into water. This leads to an uncomfortable state inside the balcony, destruction of the thermal insulation system and other unpleasant sanitary and hygienic consequences.

The most reliable method of insulation is a multi-layer enclosing structure on the outside. This option promotes the free movement of heat outside the internal walls. This leads to the joint different temperatures, or rather, the contact of cold and warm air occurs outside the walls interior space, which means that such unpleasant phenomena as condensation, steam, mold and dampness do not threaten. The outer layer will prevent the penetration of cold from the street.

The result is an almost ideal atmosphere inside the balcony. The whole difficulty is that it is not always possible to do the external insulation of the walls and roof with your own hands. The only way out is a well-constructed internal insulation structure.

Installation of a window unit has double meaning: firstly, protection from precipitation getting inside, secondly, maintaining heat on the loggia. But doing glazing yourself is not always a justifiable risk; it is better to invite professionals for this. When installing windows, check how carefully the cracks are sealed, whether the parapet (base) is reliable, what the frame is made of, and whether the height of the expanders corresponds to the thickness of the intended insulation. It is better to clarify all these questions before window works.

Before starting work, decide on the choice of material for interior decoration. For this purpose, polystyrene foam, mineral wool, penoplex, penofol, etc. are used. To prevent condensation subsequently, they choose vapor barrier materials.

You will need:

• polystyrene foam or its equivalent, layer thickness 3-6 cm;
• foil penofol or regular foil, polyethylene film for paraisolation;
• screed materials (dry floor mix or antiseptic boards);
• bars for sheathing;
• moisture-resistant panels for finishing;
• glue, double-sided tape;
• polyurethane foam;
• screws, dowels.

Insulating a loggia involves thermal insulation of walls, ceilings and floors. Any material, especially walls and ceilings, should be securely fastened. Two methods are used for this: glue or dowels. Peculiarity glue method– this is the application technology and the accuracy of the choice of composition. Important point is that the glue must match the insulation material. To apply the glue, use a notched trowel. The first step is to apply an adhesive solution along the perimeter of the heat-insulating material. In order to avoid leakage of glue at the joints, it is laid back a couple of centimeters from the edge. The remaining usable area is evenly covered with glue in the form of dots.

Another method for do-it-yourself repairs involves fastening with the help of “fungi” - special dowels. They are released different sizes, and when purchasing insulation, you should immediately look for fasteners that are suitable in size and properties. For comparison, when attaching insulation 4 cm thick, you will need about 7 dowels with a diameter of 1 cm and a length of 9 cm.

In order to protect yourself from unforeseen embarrassment in the event of unsuccessful fastening with your own hands, it is permissible to use two methods simultaneously: first, glue is applied and the insulation is installed in place, and then the structure lends itself to the doweling process.

If everything is fine with the floor, then there is no need to repair it. But if you are particularly scrupulous and do everything according to the rules, then insulating the floor will not take much time and will ultimately help you avoid unpleasant surprises. A well-installed do-it-yourself floor covering will help you make a balcony cozy room for living at any time of the year. The first step is to achieve a perfectly even coating. Before installing a thermal insulator with your own hands, give the floor surface smooth appearance. Mineral wool, foam plastic are used as floor insulation, or a “warm floor” structure is installed.

The first layer of insulation is laid in a checkerboard pattern. The first step, as in the case of the floor, is to level the entire surface of the walls and seal holes and cracks. The next step is to seal the joints formed between the insulation and the wall using polyurethane foam.

Insulation methods

Loggia insulation technology involves two possible ways to create a comfortable, warm environment with your own hands.

1. This method is designed for the property of polyethylene or foil to retain moisture and not allow it to penetrate into the internal layers of the insulation. In this technology, it is quite possible to use mineral wool, because in other cases it is not recommended to use it as a thermal insulation material.

In this case, the design will look like:

• balcony fencing;
• insulation, for example, mineral wool;
• vapor barrier (foil or polyethylene);
• MDF or PVC panels;
• wooden beams or plastic panels.

The entire technology is carried out “dry”, which facilitates construction work. The only drawback can be considered the lack of air permeability. This problem is solved through functional ventilation.

2. In this option, a protective barrier is not used, and thermal insulation is carried out using materials with low vapor permeability.

In this case, the DIY design will be as follows:

• fencing;
• glue;
• insulation;
• glue;
• reinforcing fiberglass mesh;
• glue;
• finishing layer;
• dowel fastening.

With this method, you can use putty as a finish, followed by wallpaper. The design takes up some of the usable space, is more labor-intensive than the first, but has good breathability with proper heat retention.

Standard procedure for insulation work

1st step– laying and fastening of insulation on the floor, front and side walls and ceiling. In this case, all cracks and joints are sealed with polyurethane foam.

2nd step– vapor barrier. For this purpose, foil or polyethylene is placed on the surface of the insulation and secured with tape or glue. The fastening is completed by mounting the vapor barrier into the joint with metal tape.

3rd step– floor screed. There are different ways to finish the floor with your own hands.

Bond and thickness. Its height reaches 4 cm. Before pouring the screed, a 1 cm gap of foam foam is laid around the perimeter of the floor near the wall. After the screed has hardened, it is laid ceramic tile using appropriate glue.
Electrically heated screed. This is work for specialists or craftsmen skilled in DIY repairs.
Wood flooring. Wooden rods are laid across the entire area of ​​the loggia, which are fixed using polyurethane foam. Tongue and groove boards are mounted on them to form the flooring.

4th step- sheathing. Horizontal and vertical lathing is laid on the ceiling and walls wooden beams. For mounting in concrete wall use self-tapping screws and dowels.

5th step– final finishing. The decoration of the loggia largely depends on financial capabilities and preferences in external design.

The last final step is finishing plastic panels, drywall or wooden clapboard. The main thing is to follow technology repair work in the apartment.

Some subtleties in this matter will help avoid further disappointments. The vapor barrier is placed on the dark side of the insulation, the foil should face the inside of the warm room. The use of mineral wool as insulation is not always justified. If water leaks into it, you will have to change the entire insulation system. When using mineral wool, you need to take care of waterproofing measures. Wooden rods cannot be installed through the thickness of the insulation, since this will create places where cold and water accumulate, the so-called “cold bridge”. To completely improve the repair of the loggia, consider an additional ventilation system that will significantly enhance the climate control of the entire living space.