How to properly insulate a loggia from the inside: instructions with illustrations for insulating a loggia with your own hands. The better to insulate the balcony inside: what materials to choose Insulation of a loggia in a multi-storey building

September 4, 2016
Specialization: Capital construction works (laying of foundations, erection of walls, construction of a roof, etc.). Internal construction work (laying of internal communications, rough and final finishing). Hobbies: mobile communications, high technologies, computer technology, programming.

I have already talked many times about the internal insulation of balconies in city apartments and private houses, but I did not dwell on the coverage of the question of how best to insulate the loggia from the inside. But the correct choice of heat-insulating material is the key to the effectiveness of the measures taken.

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

Requirements for heaters

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

So, what is advisable to pay attention to:

Heat transfer coefficient. The lower this parameter is, the better. That is, for thermal insulation of the room (be it a separate loggia or combined with the main room), you will have to use a smaller layer of material. This means that more usable area of the room will be saved.
Ease of installation. The more complicated the procedure for installing the heat-insulating material you have chosen, the more time-consuming and laborious the repair process, especially independent one, will be. However, I have already written a lot on how to properly insulate the loggia from the inside. If you need it, you can find the relevant material or ask a question in the comments.
Strength. It is better to choose insulation that tolerates external mechanical stress (both static and dynamic) well. In this case, the subsequent decorative finishing of the room is facilitated.
Antiseptic. Internal insulation shifts the dew point towards the inside of the thermal insulation cake. In addition, air vapor, which is formed as a result of human activity, can penetrate through the walls. Therefore, I recommend paying attention to materials that are not susceptible to biocorrosion - mold, fungus and other microorganisms, rodents and insects do not appear in them.
Affordable price. Naturally, this factor is also very important, although I would not put it at the forefront. Below I will tell you about insulation materials that have an optimal ratio of cost and performance. And then you yourself choose what material is better for insulation.

Characteristics of certain types of insulation

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

Expanded polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene is a material composed of 98% air, which is enclosed in closed polystyrene shells. It turns out a kind of solid foam in the sheets, which, after finishing the walls, floor and ceiling of the loggia with it, prevents unproductive heat loss.

Specifications

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

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

I will immediately warn you. Do not confuse foam and extruded polystyrene foam. Although they are related, their specifications differ significantly. Therefore, we will talk about EPS separately in the next section.

Water vapor permeability and water absorption. Regular construction foam does not allow air to penetrate the insulation layer.

Therefore, the insulation of the loggia with foam from the inside requires 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 is different with water absorption. On contact with liquid, the foam absorbs approximately 4% of its volume. However, unlike mineral wool, its heat-retaining properties do not deteriorate much from this, therefore, it is not necessary to very carefully waterproof the insulating layer.

Strength. For insulation, construction foams are used that meet the requirements of DIN under number 7726 and are classified as "hard". That is, when a load is applied, the surface of the heat insulator reacts elastically. However, when a dynamic or strong static force is applied, the integrity of the insulation may be compromised.

In other words, if you use polystyrene for internal insulation of a loggia, you immediately need to decide what to decorate inside after insulation. You need to choose such a method of decorative finishing, which would at the same time protect the insulating layer from mechanical damage.

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

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

However, I myself saw how the foam "melts" when some varnishes, drying oils and other similar substances hit 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 work, you should take care of its careful protection.

Sound absorption. If you want the insulating layer to play the role of a sound insulator at the same time, then with foam you will be disappointed. It is able to protect a little only from impact noise, and even then, if you put 10-15 centimeters of insulation.

Other noises that are transmitted through the air are not muffled by foam. 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.

Antiseptic and environmental friendliness. In 2004, research by scientists from the United States finally proved that biological life on the surface of expanded polystyrene is impossible. Therefore, you do not need to be afraid of the appearance of mold and mildew.

As for the issues of environmental protection (for some, this is very important), everything is fine here too, since the use of freon, which is harmful to the ozone layer of the planet, was abandoned in the production of insulation. In addition, the foam itself serves for a long time without losing its operational 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 is. Especially if the material is exposed to direct sunlight. And during oxidation, it releases many harmful substances, which include:

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

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

Fire safety. According to the current Russian standards (GOST under the number 30224-94), foam plastics are classified as third and fourth flammability classes. In other words, they are very dangerous when viewed from this point of view.

When choosing a heater, pay attention to what standards the expanded polystyrene is certified by. 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 they do not take into account the danger of combustion products formed when the foam is ignited.

Therefore, when purchasing material, pay attention to the certificates issued based on the results of complex studies. And buy polystyrene, which contains fire retardants (it is marked with the letter "C"). This does not mean that such material will burn worse. It just takes a longer exposure to a more intense flame to ignite it.

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

Lifetime. Subject to the technology of installation of polystyrene (that is, laying it under plaster or other decorative material), it will retain its operational properties for at least 30 years. However, this is if you do not make the mistakes that I want to talk about below.

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

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

Well, now I kind of summarize everything that has been said and give some advice to those who have already decided to buy foam plastic to insulate their loggia:

For internal insulation, I advise you to purchase polystyrene foam marked PSB-S with a density of 35-40. In any case, do not take insulation with a density of less than 25. It is suitable only for packaging household appliances, but not for construction.
Sometimes manufacturers mark the foam with the number "40", which does not indicate its density. Therefore, pay attention not only to the numbers in the title, but also to the technical characteristics, which, according to the legislation, must be placed on the packaging or provided separately at the request of the buyer.
Buy foam made by extrusion (should be indicated in the accompanying documentation). This is the only way to give the material a density higher than 20 kg per cubic meter.
To check the quality of the material on the spot, break off a piece from it. If in the place of the break you see balls, which, moreover, are easily separated, then you are in front of the packaging material. Polyfoam for insulation has cells in the form of polyhedrons, along which a break occurs.
If we talk about specific manufacturers, then I recommend paying attention to the materials of TechnoNicol, BASF, Styrochem or Polimeri Europa. These materials are of excellent quality and are quite affordable.

Penoplex

I recently used extruded polystyrene foam to insulate a balcony. And I chose for work the material of a domestic manufacturer - penoplex. Therefore, I will tell you about him in this section.

Specifications

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

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

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

As for the penoplex, it consists of the following components:

polystyrene;
ground perlite;
sodium bicarbonate;
lemon acid;
barium stearate;
tetrabromparaxylene.

The use of foam foams in the production of foam gives the latter a porous structure, like that of foam. But unlike the latter, the cells of this material are tightly interconnected 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 isolated from each other, therefore they have good thermal resistance and low water absorption. In addition, this entire structure has greater strength than classic expanded polystyrene (foam).

The exact technical characteristics of the 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 characteristics and dimensions of the plates. Accordingly, they must be used to insulate various structures.

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

Coefficient of thermal conductivity. For penoplex, this indicator is approximately 0.03 W / (m * K). This is one of the lowest coefficients of all existing heaters. At the same time, what attracts me personally: this indicator does not change depending on humidity and temperature. That is, when using foam, it is not necessary to protect it with additional waterproofing membranes.
Hygroscopicity. In contact with water or humid 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 upper layers of the insulation are impregnated, which has a positive effect on the integrity of the material.
Water vapor permeability. The material does not allow moisture vapor dissolved in the air to pass through itself well. Therefore, surfaces finished with foam 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.
Compression resistance. This parameter is at a height, which is achieved due to the homogeneous structure of the foam. Therefore, it can be used to insulate floors on a loggia (laying insulation under a cement screed). If you apply significant force to the insulation, a dent of no more than 1 mm deep can form on the surface.
Environmental friendliness. Although the manufacturer claims that the material is completely safe for the environment and humans, during operation it emits a small amount of chemical compounds that can be hazardous to health.
Lifetime. Experiments carried out at the Penoplex plant show that the material is able to withstand more than 50 consecutive freeze-thaw cycles. Therefore, when used outdoors, it will retain its technical characteristics for at least half a century. And even more inside the loggia.

To all of the above, I can also add that penoplex tolerates exposure to aggressive chemicals and solvents well. However, it breaks down on contact with petroleum products, benzene, formaldehydes, 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 Penoplex extruded polystyrene foam on sale. To make it easier for you to choose a suitable variety, I will give the following table.

Marking	Scope of application
Penoplex 31	It is used for insulating industrial containers with various liquids and technical pipelines.
Penoplex 31S	The material, which, like the previous one, is not highly durable, therefore it can only be used for internal insulation. Unlike the previous one, it has the ability to self-extinguish when ignited.
Penoplex 35	Material of medium strength and density, which is ideal for internal insulation of a loggia. Moreover, it can be installed not only on the walls and ceiling, but also on the floor under the cement screed.
Penoplex 45	Very durable and moisture resistant insulation. It is used for external thermal insulation of surfaces that are subject to high static and dynamic loads. On the loggia, it can be used for floor insulation.
Penoplex 45C	Self-extinguishing type of insulation described in the previous line of the table. It is mainly used for thermal insulation of industrial and commercial buildings.

However, in addition to digital marking, Penoplex also has its own names. I will give a detailed description of each brand in the following table.

Name	Density, kg / cubic meter	Appointment
Wall	25-32	It is used for internal and external insulation of enclosing walls, internal partitions and basements located above the ground level.
Foundation	29-33	It is used for thermal insulation of structures buried in the ground. This type of foam is very durable and is able to withstand the load exerted by the soil after backfilling the excavation.
Roof	28-33	It is used for insulation of attic rooms. The insulation has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity, but is fragile, so it is better not to use it in those places where it will be subject to a constant load.
Comfort	25-35	The material is ideal for internal insulation of balconies, loggias and other premises. It differs in that it can be operated in rooms with high air humidity.

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

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 a volcanic mineral - basalt. It is basalt wool that is the 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, discovered strong and thin fibers in the vicinity.

Nowadays basalt wool is produced industrially. For this, gabbro-basalt is collected and melted in a smelting furnace at a temperature of just over 1500 degrees Celsius. Then the mixture enters 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 that, 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 thing about this insulation:

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

So that you understand what this is about, I will 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 build a wall of ceramic bricks 1 m 20 cm thick. You will need even more silicate bricks - 2 meters. As for the wall made of wood, then its thickness should be at least 25 cm.

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 coefficient of thermal conductivity, that is, they retain heat indoors worse.

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

Water 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 discharged 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 a heater, a microclimate that is comfortable for living will independently form, if you look at it from the point of view of air humidity.

Fire safety. Due to the fact that basalt, being a volcanic rock, has a very high melting point, the heat-insulating 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 to insulate engineering systems and pipelines, the surface of which is very hot during operation.

The material fully complies with the requirements of GOST under the number 30244 and SNiP under the number 21-01-97. It does not have any restrictions on the insulation of residential premises.

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 located chaotically.

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

Strength. As in all other cases, this parameter depends on the density of the basalt wool. Although it is less than that of polystyrene, it is still sufficient for construction work, since some basalt fibers are placed vertically during the formation of mats.

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

Nevertheless, it is impossible to install basalt mats under the floor screed. For insulation, I recommend equipping a crate, on which decorative material is then mounted. Although there are some varieties (for example, Dan Floor by Danova), which are specifically designed for floor insulation under cement screed.

Biological and chemical activity. The material does not react with chemicals and does not corrode metal parts. In addition, mold and fungus do not start inside the insulation layer and on its surface, insects and rodents do not live.

So you can insulate the loggia in the country. Unlike foam, which mice love to gnaw.

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

But I hasten to assure the skeptics. All hazardous substances are neutralized when heated at the stage of basalt wool production. But even at the stage of material production, 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 human respiratory organs.

Material disadvantages

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 the formation of basalt dust, which causes inconvenience to installers in the process of working with it;
high vapor permeability coefficient, which in some cases is simply not needed.

Summary

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

September 4, 2016

If you want to express gratitude, add clarification or objection, ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!

Having carried out the insulation of the balcony, you can achieve 2 goals at once: to expand the living space and improve the degree of thermal insulation of the apartment. It is most correct to make external insulation, but here you cannot do without the services of industrial climbers and the corresponding costs. Insulating a balcony from the inside will be much cheaper, especially if you do it yourself.

How to insulate the balcony inside

An equally comfortable temperature inside the room and the adjacent balcony is considered a positive result of the work performed. It makes no sense to invest effort and money in insulation that does not protect against the penetration of cold onto the balcony and forcing you to tightly close the doors leading to the loggia in winter.

As a rule, for internal insulation of balconies it is used:

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

Note! For additional thermal insulation, thin foil insulation made of polyethylene foam - Izolon or Penofol is often laid on the main 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 are the same as with basalt wool. Ecowool is not very popular due to its high cost.

Brief characteristics of heaters

Polyfoam is the cheapest material for insulation, produced in the form of plates of various thicknesses.

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

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

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

The heat transfer resistance of the mineral wool is not too high, therefore it is pointless to use material less than 80 mm thick. Insulation is offered in rolls and plates, and at a price it will cost more than polystyrene.

Advice! Do not insulate the balcony with fiberglass wool (glass wool) intended for outdoor or roofing work. The use of such materials inside residential premises is unacceptable.

The best option for internal insulation of the 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 in thickness, 50 mm of foam is enough.

In addition, the polymer is absolutely impervious to moisture and is so durable that the plate 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.

Balcony insulation technology from the inside

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

Reliable parapet device. There are 2 types of structures in practice: a welded metal frame with attachment to the wall or a masonry made of foam blocks. How to strengthen the parapet -.
... Sometimes the balcony is made panoramic by installing metal-plastic blocks to the full height, without a parapet. Then it will be necessary to insulate only the floors and the ceiling.
Elimination of all cracks and leaks leading to the street, removal of excess polyurethane foam.
pad electrical wiring for lighting, as well as drainage and highways with freon k (if any).

Before insulating the balcony inside, you need to level all surfaces by removing obvious influxes or filling up cavities and cracks with a solution.

Interior wall decoration

Do-it-yourself balcony wall insulation technology depends on the design of the parapet and the thermal insulation material used. A metal frame, finished with plastic on the outside, or, it is better to sheathe it with 2 layers of thermal insulation so that the second row of insulation overlaps all metal racks, which are cold bridges. Moreover, from 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 wind protection. It will let out moisture that occurs in the thickness of the cotton wool, but will not let it get wet from precipitation or fog outside. For polystyrene and polystyrene foam, the use of a membrane is not necessary, an ordinary film is also suitable.

To fasten the mineral wool, you will need to assemble an additional wooden frame made of beams with your own hands, whose width is equal to the thickness of the insulation. The step between the bars is selected according to the width of the material, the last one is inserted between them by a swath. At the last stage, the thermal insulation layer is covered with a vapor barrier film, after which the frame is sewn up with clapboard or drywall.

Ceiling sheathing

And the balcony ceiling can be insulated in 3 ways:

If you plan to do at the end or wallpapering, then the method of gluing the slab insulation with a building mixture is suitable. Warming, accompanied by "wet" processes, is carried out only in the warm season at positive temperatures.
For or a similar finish, you will have to attach wooden blocks to the walls and ceiling, and lay the roll or slab material between them.
When insulating with expanded polystyrene, the plates can be directly attached to the walls and ceiling with dowels. After that, the surfaces are leveled with putty and painted, or a crate is placed by fixing the bars to the foam blocks or concrete through the insulation. Lining, plastic, drywall and other finishes to choose from are easily attached to the crate.

Note! For fastening the battens to the concrete ceiling through expanded polystyrene, it is necessary to use special screws for concrete - frame pins.

When insulating a balcony with mineral wool, a wooden frame is indispensable. Cotton wool can be glued, but it is quite difficult. The best option is to insert it between the beams attached to the wall and ceiling, protect it with a vapor barrier and revet it with a suitable material.

The method of gluing is convenient when working with polystyrene, but after 2 days it is necessary to additionally fix it with dowel-umbrellas and apply a plaster layer over the fiberglass mesh.

Video:

Floor insulation

The technology of thermal insulation of balcony floors differs from walls and ceilings, since the “cake” of insulation must bear certain dynamic loads and have a flat surface. Alignment 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:

Cut the wooden beam into crossbars along the width of the balcony and fix them to the floor with anchors or self-tapping screws and dowels using steel corners.
Fasten 3 longitudinal lugs to the crossbars with self-tapping screws. In the process, they must be aligned horizontally, starting from the highest point. Using the building level, the beams at the intersections with the crossbars should be raised and plastic or wooden wedges should be placed.
Place the insulation tightly between the crossbars and the lag. In the case of mineral wool, laying a vapor barrier on top of it is mandatory.
Install the floor covering with fixing to the joists.

It is characteristic that the length of the crossbars and the lag does not need to be adjusted to the dimensions of the balcony. It would be more correct to make them shorter by 10-20 mm, so that the ends do not rest against the walls. Wood tends to "breathe" and deform a little; with a tight fit, the floor surface can later bend into an arc.

Moreover, walking on such floors will be accompanied by an annoying creak. The resulting gaps near the walls will hide under the flooring and will not be visible.

When using slab insulation, it is worth choosing the right step of the crossbars so that you do not have to cut the slabs again. The standard width is 600 mm, and you need to be guided by it. After laying the polystyrene or expanded polystyrene, all joints and cracks must be filled with polyurethane foam.

Helpful instructional video:

Mineral wool is protected with a vapor barrier as tightly as possible so that moisture from inside the room cannot seep into it. Here, too, you can use polyethylene foam like Penofol, but pay special attention to gluing the joints.

If you seriously and scrupulously approach the procedure for the internal insulation of the 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 to complete 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.

Those who have an apartment in an apartment building understand the need to insulate a balcony. This question remains relevant at any time, since the basic, "draft" option, which is installed by default in most homes, has no advantages. In summer it is unbearably hot on such balconies, in winter it is very cold. Accordingly, the microclimate in the adjacent premises is also violated. In this case, the owners come to the conclusion about the need for insulation and insulation. So how to properly insulate the balcony from the inside and what is needed for such work?

It all depends on the location of the apartment in which it is planned to insulate the balcony. As a rule, the owner himself can answer this question. But if the apartment was purchased recently, and the owner did not face similar questions, you need to pay attention to the following nuances:

The apartment is located on the top floor. In summer, on the last floors, as a result of heating of the roof, a greenhouse effect occurs, which leads to overheating of the premises. In particular, the balcony gets hotter.
The balcony faces either the sunny side or the shady side. When you are on the sunny side, there will be strong overheating; when you are on the shady side, it will be very cold on the balcony in winter.
The balcony is of poor quality, the main slabs are cracked and do not provide reliable weather protection.

It should be noted that the thermal insulation of the balcony implies the implementation of indirect, but no less useful functions - when installing slabs noise and moisture insulation increases.

The conclusion is as follows: the balcony must be insulated as soon as possible. There are no disadvantages with proper installation, but the advantages are obvious.

We prepare the balcony before insulation

Before you insulate the balcony from the inside with your own hands, first of all it is necessary to carry out preparatory work. The entire surface, from the floors to the ceiling, is carefully cleaned of large and small debris, the floor covering (if any) is dismantled and all decorative elements (shelves, cabinets, fixtures, etc.) are removed.

The next step is to check the integrity of the structure. Very often, balcony slabs have a large number of chips and cracks. If any are found, it is necessary to remove the deformed areas (if the damage is extensive), after which with the help of cement mortar close all cracks and holes... The result is a rough floor and walls that are ready for insulation work.

Some masters, before carrying out insulation work, carry out finishing plastering of surfaces. This procedure should be performed in cases where the surfaces are uneven and interfere with the correct installation of the insulating material.

Balcony insulation: detailed instructions

Is the balcony ready? In this case, you can start answering the question of how to properly insulate the balcony. First of all, it is necessary to install high-quality double-glazed windows. It is recommended to use double structures, ideally with argon filling. If the reader lives in a region where average winter temperatures drop to -30 degrees, then you need to think about installing three-chamber double-glazed windows.

The balcony insulation technology can be roughly divided into the following stages:

After installation of plastic bags it is necessary to eliminate all cracks and gaps. For this, you can use any sealant or polyurethane foam. In the event that the slots and gaps are large, available materials are used to reduce their size.
Waterproofing the inner surface of the balcony... You can use various materials - bituminous mastics, roofing felt, liquid penetrating materials (like "Penetron"), etc.
Insulation is attached... We will dwell on this point in a little more detail below.
Is laid on the insulation vapor barrier material.
The inner surface is being finished.
Floors are installed (depending on the preferences of the master).

Insulation of the balcony with Penoplex

Penoplex belongs to the group of expanded polystyrene, has excellent moisture resistance and resistance to mechanical deformation. The side surface of the slabs can be either smooth or ribbed for better fixation of the layers to each other.

The methods of fastening the material depend on what kind of finishing will be done. If clapboard or drywall will be used as finishing materials, then you can use mushroom-shaped plastic dowels... If, after the walls are insulated, plaster will be applied, then it is recommended to use adhesive materials for additional fixation.

Penoplex insulation technology is as follows:

Penoplex slabs are attached to the prepared primed surface, which are connected to each other joint to joint or according to the "spike in groove" system.
Each slab of insulating material is fixed to the wall with special dowels.
The joints of the sheets should be glued with adhesive tape, while the joints with other structures should be glued with polyurethane foam without toluene impurities.
Next comes the vapor barrier, lathing and trim.

Important: It is possible to carry out the insulation of the balcony with Penoplex with the preliminary installation of the lathing. Then the material is laid between its bars.

Penoplex is considered one of the best materials for thermal insulation work. First of all, this is due to its strength. If this indicator is not important, you can use regular foam.

Insulation with foam

This material is known to all ordinary people. As a rule, insulating foam is produced in the form of sheets, the thickness of which ranges from 5-15 cm.To insulate a balcony, it is enough to use slabs with a thickness of 10 cm.

The process of insulating a balcony or loggia is as follows:

The surface is treated with a deep penetration primer;
With the help of special glue, the foam sheets are attached to the treated surface;
For additional fixation, plastic dowels can be used;
The joints between the sheets are glued with polyurethane foam. After drying, the seams on top are additionally glued with tape;
A reinforced fiberglass mesh is mounted on the surface of the installed insulation using a special adhesive solution;
After installing the mesh, finishing work can be carried out.

Also common is the option with the pre-installation of the lathing, as we discussed earlier, talking about Penoplex.

Warming with lining

Of course, wooden planks cannot be quality insulation. Lining as insulation can only be used if the balcony is a well-heated room. In the opposite case, before installing the lining, it is necessary to install the base insulation.

The balcony is insulated with clapboard as follows:

A wooden lathing is installed on which the lining will be attached. Usually the lathing is installed horizontally.
In the intervals, foam sheets are installed by analogy with the previous version of insulation.
After installing the foam, you can install the lining, which is attached to the surface of the walls on a wooden crate.

Note that such work should be carried out only if the structure of the balcony is strong enough. That is why, before installing it, it is necessary to carry out calculations for the strength of the surface.

Thermal insulation with mineral wool

Mineral wool is often used as insulation for balconies due to its structural features. Benefits of mineral wool obvious - high-quality thermal protection, low cost and vapor permeability. But there are also disadvantages. So, if improperly installed, mineral wool loses about 40% of its properties, and the sheets of material are fragile.

We will provide our reader with a mineral wool insulation option:

Mineral wool slabs are glued to a previously waterproofed surface, on which there is already a crate, and additionally fixed with dowels.
The material is tightly and carefully fixed in the spaces between the wooden battens of the sheathing - mineral wool is fragile.
The last step is to install a vapor barrier, after which you can start laying the finishing material.

Note that it is very easy to insulate a balcony with your own hands - this does not require special knowledge and skills. If you have detailed instructions that allow you to properly glaze, you can do it yourself - it all depends on your desire.

Insulated balcony photo

Here you can see various options for insulated balconies. All photos are clickable.

Balcony insulation video

We invite you to watch videos on how to properly insulate a balcony. In the video, penoplex is used as insulation and the entire sequence of work with this material is shown.

Loggia is a part of the apartment that requires high-quality insulation. If you leave it in its original state, then in winter the cold will penetrate into the rest of the premises, and this is an extra cash cost for heating. The owners, who do not know how and how to insulate the balcony on their own, invite workers, whose services cost a lot of money. And it's good if the hired foremen turn out to be professionals, because contractors with no qualifications often come to the call.

Show all

If we take the professionals as an example, they first visually assess the condition of the balcony and take into account the year in which the apartment building was built. Then they pay attention to the frame (whether it is metal or wooden) and assess the decay of the cladding. Last but not least, experienced workers compare neighboring loggias and can offer the owner to make a design in the same style as them.

Because of the old-style balconies, the whole work becomes more complicated, especially if this building is not closed, but open. In this case, the craftsmen are engaged in additional strengthening of the structure and replacing rotten parts: they cut off the rusted metal elements of the frame and reconstruct the concrete platform. The upper and lower parts of the balcony must be reinforced without fail.

how to insulate a balcony with your own hands

It is after the measures to restore the structure that the specialists are engaged in the facing and internal thermal insulation of the premises. Often, the owners prefer to equip their balconies with foam blocks and double-glazed windows. The stones are laid out at half the total height of the loggia, and the open space is closed with windows. As a result, not only an attractive appearance of the building is created, but also its strength is significantly increased. By the way, a double-glazed window will significantly insulate the room.

If the owner of the apartment changes the windows to plastic, then it is advisable for him to purchase products with double glass, since single ones retain heat by only 30% in the cold season.

Without preparing the balcony, you cannot approach the subsequent drastic actions. Before purchasing materials for insulating a loggia, inside the premises, specialists carry out the following work:

The interior arrangement of the loggia concerns not only the ceiling and walls. It is equally important to insulate the floor, for example, with penofol.

For internal insulation of almost all structures, expanded polystyrene is very widely used. Its low cost does not affect quality. It is sold in the form of plates with a thickness of 5 cm or more. If the apartment is located in the north, then it is better to use sheets of 15 cm in thickness. For the installation of foam, they make a crate with the same cells. Expanded polystyrene is convenient in that it can be easily cut with an ordinary knife.

The positive aspects of this insulation are that it is odorless, does not emit harmful substances, is environmentally friendly and does not affect human health. Sheets, as a rule, are fixed on special "umbrellas" or construction glue. As an economy, it is better to insulate the balcony inside with it.

Mineral wool is also quite popular. Such insulation is slightly more expensive than polystyrene, but this is due to the additional sound insulation that the material possesses. Therefore, using mineral wool, you can not only insulate the structure with high quality, but also eliminate street noise. It is sold in the form of yellow rolls.

Warming the loggia Secrets of craftsmanship from Alexey Zemskov

The fire safety of this insulation is at a high level, and the absence of a specific smell makes the mineral wool one of the most demanded. The material begins to melt at a temperature of 1000 degrees. For such rolls, it is also necessary to tinker with a crate. Another plus is easy cutting. The disadvantage is due to the composition, which includes powdered glass, which bites into the skin during work and causes itching and redness.

Penoplex is a new insulation that has appeared on the building materials market relatively recently and has already become popular. It has a low weight, due to which it is convenient to work with it. Penoplex is produced in the form of rectangular sheets, which can be cut even with a clerical knife. By the method of fastening, it is similar to polystyrene, which is glued or fixed with fasteners. The surface of the material is rough, so it does not slip in your hands.

Granular expanded clay is often laid on the floor. Such insulation for the balcony inside has a porous structure and consists of fired clay, so it is environmentally friendly. Builders use it for floor and ceiling insulation.

The process of work is simple, it is enough to create a layer of expanded clay and spill it with liquid cement so that the granules are held together. But it must be borne in mind that such material will take 15-20 cm of height from floor to ceiling. In addition, a thin-layer screed will have to be poured over the expanded clay, because the embossed surface will not be suitable for laying, for example, the same parquet or laminate.

Another option for insulation is penofol... It is made of polyethylene foam. The material is especially suitable for water-heated floors, as it has a foil covering with a heat-reflecting effect. This insulation has 4 advantages: it does not let the wind through, retains heat, prevents water penetration and has vapor barrier properties. Penofol is flexible and easy to cut, and environmentally friendly substances do not harm human health. Insulation is produced in the form of rolls, therefore, it is convenient to work with it. The installation process takes no more than 1 hour.

Insulation of balconies and loggias: eight mistakes of decorators

As mentioned earlier, Styrofoam is cheap, but nevertheless practical and is used by many builders. What is the best way to insulate the balcony from the inside with expanded polystyrene:

The thickness of the wall from the edge of the interior finish to the outside, taking into account the foam block, should be 30 cm. This is enough to retain heat and prevent the penetration of cold into the room.

Pouring concrete, expanded clay layer and similar methods cost a lot of money. You can make a similar insulation, but at the same time save money. An option for cheap wood and foam finishes can be as follows:

How to insulate the balcony? The choice of insulation.

Specialists always start finishing with walls and ceilings, and at the end they work on the floor. If you do the opposite, the base will be damaged and the front surface will be scratched.

It is very difficult to calculate the total amount because many factors influence this. First, you must first decide whether the loggia will be a living room. If so, you will have to spend money on double-glazed windows. Secondly, prices for heaters change almost every day. Thirdly, you need to decide what kind of furniture the room will be furnished with. Therefore, you should not allocate a strictly fixed amount for such an event; it is better to prepare additional finances, just in case, in case unforeseen expenses arise.

It is also recommended to prepare an estimate in advance and find a source of sale of the material cheaper, for example, not through intermediaries, but directly buy building materials at the base. If you turn to specialists for help, they will take into account the following points:

You may also have to spend money on furniture and other home furnishings.

Arrangement of a loggia with the help of specialists will cost a large amount, which will significantly hit the wallet. But if you insulate the balcony inside with your own hands, then the total expense will be about 10 thousand rubles.

Owners of city apartments often wonder how to insulate a balcony inside with their own hands. This procedure is actually simple. However, it is nevertheless necessary to observe the established technologies during its implementation. First of all, of course, you will need to decide on how to insulate the balcony inside with your own hands. The method of covering the parapet, walls and ceiling will largely depend on the type of material chosen.

Styrofoam or mineral wool?

These two materials are most often chosen for insulating balconies and loggias. Expanded polystyrene costs a little more than mineral wool. However, at the same time, he is also the best answer to the question of how to insulate the balcony inside. The fact is that when sheathing the loggia from the side of residential premises, the so-called is inside the insulating "pie". Therefore, it is much better to use a moisture-resistant material for insulation. Inexpensive mineral wool, unfortunately, does not differ in such properties. She picks up moisture very quickly. You can, of course, use it. However, in this case, you will have to pay maximum attention to waterproofing. So the best answer to the question of how to insulate the balcony inside with your own hands is still expanded polystyrene.

Material characteristics

When choosing sheets for balcony insulation, you should pay attention to the following factors:

density,

Expanded polystyrene sheets produced by modern manufacturers have standard sizes: 2x1, 0.5x1 or 1x1. Those who wondered how to sheathe the balcony from the inside should think about purchasing smaller sheets. Too large slabs to mount in the limited space of the loggia will be very inconvenient. For a balcony, the best option is 0.5x1 or, in extreme cases, 1x1.

As for the thickness, you can buy absolutely any expanded polystyrene for the balcony. The only thing that should be guided in this case is such an indicator as the area of the loggia. After assembling the insulating cake, there should be enough free space on the balcony for a comfortable pastime. Most often, the owners of loggias of typical Soviet-built houses choose polystyrene foam with a thickness of 40-50 mm.

The density of this type of insulation can be found by looking at the markings. The best answer to the question of how to sheathe the balcony from the inside is to use 15-25 grade expanded polystyrene. The higher the numbers, the less thermal conductivity the material has, and the more brittle it is. If the expanded polystyrene is supposed to be covered with decorative plaster or wallpaper in the future, it is worth purchasing thicker plates. If lining or panels will be used as the quality, you can take loose sheets that retain heat well.

Where to begin?

So, you now know how to insulate the balcony inside with your own hands. Next, let's figure out how to do it right. Before proceeding with the installation of the insulating "pie", it is necessary to carefully prepare the loggia itself. First of all, the wooden floors are dismantled. Then they begin to repair the parapet. If there are through slots in it, they must be sealed with a sealant. Chips are sealed with cement mortar or moisture resistant putty. The walls, floor and ceiling are prepared in the same way.

Loggia waterproofing

Asking the question of how to properly insulate the balcony with their own hands inside, the owners of the apartment must first of all make sure that this small room is always dry. Waterproofing during this operation is considered mandatory (especially when using mineral wool as insulation). In its absence:

the service life of the balcony finish will be reduced;

all metal structures will quickly rust;

due to high humidity, various kinds of fungi will begin to develop, as a result of which an unpleasant odor will appear on the loggia.

Sometimes on balconies uninsulated in this way, even support structures begin to collapse, which, of course, is very dangerous.

The easiest way is to waterproof the balcony using bitumen-polymer mastic. It is heated to a liquid state, the floor is poured over it and the parapet is coated in 2-3 layers. Sometimes roll materials are also used to waterproof the balcony.

What glue is needed

Those who wondered how to insulate a balcony inside with polystyrene or expanded polystyrene should, among other things, take care of using suitable glue to fix the sheets. It is allowed to mount this material directly on the mastic (on polymer-bitumen - immediately, on bitumen - after complete drying). In this case, a special glue should be used. It's called Bitumast.

What else do you have to buy

Thus, you now know how to insulate the balcony inside with your own hands. A photo of expanded polystyrene sheets - the most suitable material for this purpose - can be seen on the page. However, in addition to them and glue, to insulate the balcony, you will also need to prepare:

reinforcing mesh,

dowels-fungi,

polyurethane foam (toluene-free),

decorative plaster or wallpaper.

Pasting technology

So, next, let's see how to insulate the loggia from the inside. Installation of sheets should start from the corner. This rule is true both when pasting a parapet and walls or ceilings. Actually, the installation operation itself is carried out as follows:

Roughness is given to expanded polystyrene sheets. To do this, they are passed with a special needle roller. Treated in this way, they will hold up much better.

A support rail is attached to the bottom of the parapet.

The adhesive solution is evenly applied to the surface of the wall, ceiling or parapet.

Press the polystyrene foam tightly to the surface.

The material for insulating the balcony from the inside should be mounted in such a way that the joints between the sheets have a T-shaped appearance (as when laying bricks). After the plate is glued, it should be additionally secured with mushroom dowels (5 per sheet). Holes for them can be drilled directly through the sheets. At the final stage, the joints are processed. In this case, construction foam is used.

Reinforcing mesh gluing

Expanded polystyrene is an excellent answer to the question of what is the best way to insulate a balcony inside. However, decorative plaster does not hold well on this material. To remedy the situation, use a special reinforcing mesh. Mount it as follows:

Previously, the expanded polystyrene surface of the ceiling, parapet and walls is completely coated with glue (for foam).

Another layer of glue is applied on top of it. Its thickness should be such that the joints of the mesh do not protrude above the surface plane.

Fine finishing

So, we have figured out how to insulate a balcony with our own hands. A step-by-step photo of this process is presented above. As you can see, this procedure is relatively simple. At the final stage, the dried adhesive surface is passed with a special float to roughen it. Next, they start applying decorative plaster. You can also wallpaper the balcony.

Second way

The loggia insulation technique discussed above is suitable when using dense polystyrene foam. And if the owners decided to buy mineral wool as an insulator? How to insulate a balcony with your own hands? A step-by-step (photo of the process is presented below) guidance for performing work in this case will look like this:

A frame made of wooden beams is attached to the parapet, walls, floor and ceiling. The step between its elements should be equal to the width of the plates of the selected insulation. The timber can be fixed to the concrete parapet with self-tapping screws. For balconies with a metal fence, an independent paving structure is assembled.

Further, the insulation itself is inserted between the elements of the frame. The material is attached to the concrete parapet with "fungi" (expanded polystyrene can be additionally glued). If the fence is metal, it is better to use cotton wool and insert it into a rasp. If expanded polystyrene is chosen for insulation, you can, for example, fix plywood on the back of the frame and glue the material to it.

It is stretched over the insulation. It is better to fasten it with thin rails (two on each side of the timber).

the balcony is finished with clapboard, plastic panels, plasterboard or plywood. Attach the material to the frame bars.

How to insulate the floor

The base of the balcony is insulated last. The floor is pre-waterproofed, and then logs are installed on it. The answer to the question of what to insulate inside is simple. Most often, expanded polystyrene or mineral wool is placed between the beams. You can also use expanded clay. A vapor barrier is attached on top of the insulation, and then a floor or edged board is stuffed. Then the floor is covered with linoleum or any other suitable material.

Heated balcony

Whatever the answer to the question of how to insulate the balcony inside, the owners of the house have chosen for themselves, subject to the installation technology, in the future it will be possible to have a good time here, including in winter. However, on very cold days, even on an isolated loggia, additional heating may be required. It is strictly forbidden to carry out central heating by the regulations. Therefore, the best solution would be to install a conventional electric heater here. It should be placed against the wall separating the balcony and the apartment. It is not recommended to install heating devices near the parapet. The fact is that in this case, due to the rising warm air on the balcony, the glass will start to fog up strongly.

You can also arrange on the loggia

Warm floor

This work is done as follows:

Heat-insulating material is laid on the floor.

Installed metal

The heating cable is being laid.

A thermostat is hung on the wall.

A concrete screed with a thickness of 30-40 mm is poured.

The floor covering is laid.

Well, we hope we have quite extensively answered the question of how to insulate the balcony inside with our own hands and how to do it correctly. The most important thing when assembling a "pie" is not to violate the established technology. In this case, the balcony will turn out to be cozy and warm.