How to insulate a balcony from the inside on your own
The balcony is one of the main components of the apartment and can perform a variety of functions for the owners. Everyone chooses what role the balcony will play during operation. For some, it will become just a warehouse for old things or stocks of vegetables. In another case, the balcony is equipped for a personal office, for quiet work in a cozy atmosphere. And some people will make a playroom for children out of the balcony or an excellent tea room where you can spend time with a cup of tea or just chat.
What is the need for warmth?
Based on what functions your balcony will perform, proper insulation should be carried out. It is necessary to choose the right insulation materials, to do the installation with your own hands in accordance with the technologies. If you do everything right and approach the issue of insulation with due responsibility, then you will be able to make the loggia better and more comfortable.
Not only will it make it possible to spend time on the loggia, but it will also help keep the heat in the apartment.
Insulating materials will serve as an additional level of protection against the penetration of cold air and low temperatures, which will significantly increase the temperature in adjacent rooms and the overall heat index throughout the apartment.
With this article, we will help you figure out how to insulate a balcony from the inside with your own hands. Let's talk about the features of the insulation process, describe what materials are available and which are better to use for a loggia. We will give some tips on insulation from experts.
Properly insulate your loggia
A very important rule of competent insulation is that everything or nothing should be insulated, since there will be little sense from partial insulation. General insulation refers to the insulation of both walls, floors and windows. If one of the components is left unattended, you will not be able to completely protect yourself from the penetration of cold into your territory and will not achieve the necessary level of comfort.
Various insulation options
The easiest solution for windows are plastic, they can solve this problem instantly. But you still need to figure out how to properly insulate the floor and walls, let's look at this issue.
When insulating the floor and walls, the following sequence of installation of materials should be followed:
- Hydro or vapor barrier materials.
- layer of insulating material.
- Finishing material.
An insulating layer is required, as it will block the penetration of moisture, and maintain the thermal insulation properties of the insulation. Since the thermal conductivity of all heaters deteriorates with increasing moisture.
Depending on the finishing material, the insulation will be installed either in whole pieces or in a crate. The same applies to the floor, in the case of a wooden floor, insulating materials will fit into the formed frame cells.
How to place a heater Do not forget to pay due attention to cracks and joints. It is through them that most of the cold flow passes. Before starting all work, they should be properly repaired with their own hands. Then the effectiveness of the use of insulation will be much higher, and the materials will be able to perform their function one hundred percent. Very often, when doing the insulation of the loggia with their own hands, they do not pay attention to such details.
What materials to use for insulation
Let's figure out how to insulate the balcony inside and choose the materials that will work best. Let's dwell on three heaters: foam plastic, mineral wool and foam plastic. Depending on the method of finishing the walls and floor, the material of insulation should also be selected. It is better to think over everything in advance and do the work with your own hands as efficiently as possible.
The best and most economical solution for wall insulation is foam plastic, at least 5 centimeters thick. It will provide the necessary level of thermal insulation, significantly save your money and install it yourself very easily and quickly. The only exception is when you need good sound insulation, then it is better to use mineral wool. But it will cost you much more.
We compare various heaters, foam plastic is better for external insulation, and polyurethane foam for internal thermal insulation If the flooring will be made of wood, then ordinary foam can be laid in the crates, as well as on the walls. But if a bulk or cement-sand mortar is used to create the floor, then the foam will not work.
In this case, penoplex should be used, it will be better able to heat the floor and has a higher density. If the house is quite old, then the load-bearing balcony slab has lost its original strength.
It is better to use lighter materials such as wood, foam, plastic. Do not make a self-leveling floor, which will produce a very large load on the structure.
Carrying out the insulation with your own hands, try to pay due attention to any little things. Then the work will be done with the highest quality and the effect will not keep you waiting. Starting from sealing the seams and ending with the selection of lighter materials so as not to produce an additional load on the supporting structure of the room.
When choosing plastic windows, we advise you to give preference to double-glazed windows.
They are able to withstand fairly low temperatures and make the balcony more comfortable. An additional insulation effect can be created using glass insulation, such as thermal film or woolen blinds.
When installing polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam in the frame, try to cut them a little with a margin so that you can install them as tightly as possible, then the quality of the insulation will be somewhat better and more efficient.
To fix such materials, use a special foam, it has additional insulating properties. Of course, ordinary polyurethane foam is able to perform this function just as well.
Scheme of installation with polystyrene foam If there is a deficit in the width of the balcony, then when insulating the walls, it is better to use penoplex. It has a smaller thickness, while maintaining the same thermal insulation performance as a thicker foam. So, you will save the missing centimeters of space. For a wooden floor, it is better to take a thicker foam, 5-10 centimeters thick, then your feet will feel comfortable.
Summarize
Having figured out what function the balcony room should perform, you should start choosing materials for insulation and installing them yourself. To create a comfortable and suitable place to relax, an office or a playroom, insulation should be carried out to the maximum, using all possible materials.
