Ways to make the balcony warm. Do-it-yourself warm balcony: equip walls, floor How to make warm walls on the balcony

A balcony or loggia can be turned into a full-fledged room for various purposes. Insulating these elements of the building will create additional usable space for your apartment, as well as reduce the noise coming from the street. How to make a loggia or balcony a warm room? It is necessary to produce a series construction works, the main of which is to improve thermal insulation properties structures.

In construction terminology, a balcony is a platform with a fence protruding from the plane of the facade of the building. A loggia is a room built into facade wall and, unlike a balcony, having capital enclosing structures.

Heat a balcony or loggia with means central heating prohibit building and operating regulations. Therefore, it is necessary to thoroughly insulate the walls, floor and ceiling of the room, and organize its heating in an autonomous version.

To do this, you need to do the following list of works:

Install a parapet for a reliable base under the glazing.
Glaze the room in a way that most effectively counteracts the penetration of cold.
Seal existing seams and cracks with sealant or foam.
Equip structures with waterproofing. This will help prevent the formation of moisture and mold in certain areas of the room.
Mount the heat-insulating surface on all concrete elements. Thermal insulation will become the main protection against external temperature influences.
Cover the walls and floor with a layer of internal waterproofing, which will become an additional obstacle to the penetration of moisture.
Form a frame for sheathing.
Make the finishing touches.
If it is planned to heat the balcony, an electric floor heating system is installed before finishing.

Under the glazing of the balcony, a rigid and durable base is required. In old houses, the parapets are made of rods and corners. Outside, they are sheathed with thin plastic, asbestos-cement sheets, etc. These structures are not suitable for installing glazing on them. Under the windows made of PVC or sliders, a parapet of foam block or light brick is laid out. When glazing with aluminum frames - a foam block or a frame made of antiseptic massive timber.

Foam blocks with a thickness of at least 100 mm are laid on a special solution, similar in composition to tile adhesive. This solution allows you to make seams minimum thickness, which enhances the thermal insulation properties of the fence. To mate the main wall and masonry, long self-tapping screws are screwed into the plastic dowel pre-hammered into the wall as reinforcement. Similar reinforcement is inserted through two rows of masonry.

Glazing of a balcony or loggia

The use of modern high-tech metal-plastic structures, double-glazed windows (one- and two-chamber) most increases the thermal insulation qualities of the room

The use of modern high-tech metal-plastic structures, double-glazed windows (one- and two-chamber) most enhances the thermal insulation qualities of the room. Apply and wooden frames. The wood is covered with an antiseptic and moisture resistant paint.

The main frame structures are equipped with extensions (expansion profiles). They extend the distance from glass to ceiling and wall. This will facilitate the subsequent insulating finishing of these areas. Their size is selected taking into account the thickness of the finishing layer, which must be at least 7 cm. There is a way to install a second row of glazing for loggias. An additional profile is mounted in which single- or double-glazed windows are installed.

Sealing gaps in balcony structures

For sealing structures, you can use any materials for this purpose that are on the market. Preference is given to polyurethane mastics, foams and sealants that have the required setting time.

For sealing structures, you can use any materials for this purpose that are on the market. Preference is given to polyurethane mastics, foams and sealants that have the required setting time. Germaflex, germatubil and other materials are used. Large holes are pre-sealed with improvised means, for example, foam. Eliminates gaps in double-glazed windows.

An open foam joint on the street side is not allowed.

Polyurethane foam breaks down under the influence of sunlight, gets wet and freezes. The seams are closed with sealant or special "flashings".

Waterproofing. Materials and methods of laying

Traditionally, a time-tested and affordable roofing material is used as a waterproofing material. Of the modern insulators, foil isolone is widely used. Its thickness is only 4 mm, but it acts as an additional insulation. The materials are overlapped. A torch is used to seal the seams. With its help, the roofing material is also glued to the ceilings.

To fix such protective materials, special adhesive compositions. The selected adhesive should not contain toluene. It is contraindicated for these types of heaters. Seams are sealed with self-adhesive tape or sealant. Internal waterproofing fixed together with insulation with dowels or glued to it. Penetrating and coating compositions enhance the waterproofing properties of structures. Measures to protect against moisture penetration also include the installation of a low tide that blocks the access of water under frame structure window.

Installation of a heat-insulating layer

When choosing a heater, they are guided by the coefficient of its thermal conductivity. With its increase, the thermal insulation properties of the material deteriorate. The average value of this indicator for such premises is 0.03-0.04 W / m ° C. Materials with improved thermal insulation properties are more expensive, but due to their smaller thickness, they save usable space balcony.

Increasingly, extruded polystyrene foam is used for room insulation, in particular Penoplex and Technoplex. These materials are light weight, 5 cm thick, do not crumble and are cut with an ordinary knife. Traditional mineral wool is used, but a thicker layer of insulation is required. It will be inexpensive to install foam sheets.

Modern high-tech materials are isolon, tepofol, penofol and others. They are reflective types of insulation and are made on the basis of polyethylene foam, placed in an impermeable foil sheath.

Styrofoam and polystyrene sheets are mounted on glue or using plastic dowels. The glue is applied with a notched trowel over the entire surface of the base and in several places of the insulation plate. Fastening with dowels is carried out along the perimeter of the sheet with the calculation of 8-10 fasteners per 1 m 2. The seams are sealed with mounting foam. Mineral wool is usually installed using plastic dowels.

Finishing a loggia or balcony

The ceiling is finished in the same way. Plasterboard sheets subsequently painted or pasted over with wallpaper. You can improve the design of the room by using PVC panels of various colors.

A cozy loggia or balcony should be finished in accordance with the interior of other rooms. After high-quality insulation measures, you can apply different kinds materials. To attach the finishing material to the walls, frames are formed from wooden bars (30 x 30 mm) or from a profile used for installing drywall. Sheathing is made with drywall or clapboard. The ceiling is finished in the same way. Gypsum boards are subsequently painted or wallpapered. You can improve the design of the room by using PVC panels of various colors.

As a log for the floor, bars of 50 x 50 mm are used. The floor is sheathed with a board 30 mm thick, covered with laminate or chipboard. When equipping the floor heating elements wooden coverings do not apply.

Installation of underfloor heating on the balcony

To make the balcony warmer, you can use electrical devices heating. There are the following main floor heating systems for a loggia or balcony:

cable heating device;
heating mats;
film infrared floor.

If it is possible to do it on the floor of the balcony cement screed, two- or single-core cable sections are laid in it to a depth of 30 mm. The screed itself must be at least 45 mm thick. As coating is suitable sexual tile or porcelain stoneware.

If the floor slab is not designed for the load from concrete screed, for floor heating, heating mats or film infrared systems. If you use this high-tech equipment for underfloor heating, having previously carried out all heat protection work, instead of a cold pad, you will have cozy loggia or balcony.

Making a warm loggia with your own hands is not difficult. Work on creating a warm loggia can be divided into three stages: glazing, insulation, decoration and heating. It should be noted that the second and third stages of work are interconnected. Since from the selected option interior decoration depends on the technology of work on insulation.

It is impossible to make a warm loggia without good glazing. Glazing itself is not only a protection against atmospheric precipitation, as in the case of a non-insulated loggia, but also should not allow heat from the loggia to penetrate into the street. Therefore, glazing should be similar to that used in the apartment.

Fig.1.

For the loggia, two points are very important. Firstly, it is the need to use an expansion profile that will compensate for the thickness of the heat insulator and interior trim.

Fig.2.

Secondly, since there is no quarter on the loggia, it is necessary to provide special pads between the wall and the window frame.

Fig.3.

Installing sealed windows ventilation should be considered. The solution to the problems of ventilation of the loggia can be of three types.

When ordering windows, provide a window, this part of the window has not lost its relevance over the years. However, given the height of the window opening on the loggia, as well as the increase in the cost of glazing, this option is not the most successful.

Another solution is to install special ventilation valves on the frames.

Fig.4.

If windows are already installed on the loggia and are not provided ventilation valves, then you can install the valve supply ventilation, it will solve many problems.

Fig.5.

Loggia insulation

Good windows will not allow you to make the loggia warm, this requires additional insulation. You can insulate the loggia from the outside and from the inside. In most cases, the loggia is insulated from the inside, as it is easier to do it yourself. To insulate the loggia, three types of heat insulators can be used: mats based on basalt wool, polystyrene foam and expanded polystyrene.

All of them perfectly cope with their functions, but differ in their thermal insulation characteristics and cost. For warming the loggia, two main factors are important: reducing the area of \u200b\u200bthe loggia due to the insulation and dampening the insulation due to the penetration of warm humid air from the loggia, and as a result, the loss thermal insulation characteristics insulation.

Fig.6.

You can give the following characteristics of heaters. For complete insulation of the loggia for basalt or mineral wool, a layer 70 mm thick is required, for polystyrene 50 mm for polystyrene foam 30-35 mm. Expanded polystyrene and polystyrene do not absorb moisture, therefore, there will be no loss of thermal insulation properties. Mineral wool absorbs moisture well, therefore, additional vapor barrier is necessary.

Fig.7.

Which insulation to choose is up to you, however, from the above description we can say that the best option is expanded polystyrene, as it minimally reduces the area of \u200b\u200bthe room and does not require additional protection.

With the help of heaters, the problem of thermal insulation due to heat transfer is solved, but the problem of heat transfer by radiation remains. To solve this problem, folgoizol or analogues are used. With its help, the transfer of heat by radiation is blocked, and at the same time vapor barrier is performed.

Fig.8.

Loggia decoration

Finishing the loggia can be done by any building materials from lining to drywall. However, as mentioned earlier, the insulation work also depends on the method of finishing the loggia. This is due to the fact that, regardless of the material, a pre-assembled frame is required for finishing. At the same time, depending on the method of finishing, the design of the frame will be different.

Fig.9.

There are also two options for the possible assembly of the frame: on top of the insulation or in the body of the insulation. Naturally, this in turn affects the insulation gasket.

Fig.10.

Without going into details, we can say that when finishing the loggia PVC panels or clapboard frame as a frame apply wooden bars that are installed horizontally. If the loggia is finished with drywall, then the frame is also assembled from bars, however, by analogy with the frame for drywall from metal profiles.

Fig.11.

Fig.12.

Depending on the type of insulation, the frame can be assembled on top of it or in the body of the insulation. If heaters such as polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene are used, then the frame can be fixed to the wall directly, through the insulation. If mineral wool is used, then it is more expedient to first make a frame, and then lay a heat insulator into it.

Fig.13.

Loggia heating

By by and large if the loggia is well insulated, then heating is not required on it. As practice shows open door on the loggia, the temperature difference between the loggia and the room is 2-5 degrees. However, if the loggia will be used as, for example, an office, then additional heating is still necessary.

Balcony insulation is always a topical issue, especially for people who value comfort above all else. Who would not like to go barefoot on a warm balcony in the cold seasons to breathe fresh air without experiencing discomfort and cold. In this article, we’ll just talk about how to make a balcony warm, turning it into a comfortable corner.

There are such ways insulation of loggias and balconies, as usual glazing of balconies of a house, double-glazed windows in combination with special insulation, installation of heating systems - including floor heating. Let's take a look at each option below.

1. GENERAL SOLUTION. This method involves the installation of a frame from different material– metal, wood or plastic. Glasses are inserted into the frames, which can be plain or tinted. With the help of such a double-glazed window, you can slightly reduce street noise and increase the temperature by 3-4 ° C. As a result, you will get an ordinary veranda - a closed cold space. Estimated price such glazing: wood - from $ 230 (3-meter balcony | loggia) to $ 400 (for 6 meters), aluminum - from $ 340 to $ 800 (respectively, for 3-6 meters of balcony), plastic frame(PVC) - from $570 to $900. The price includes - frame, canopy, window sill, installation. Takeaway | the roof is paid extra.

2 . PARTIAL WARMING. This option includes the installation window profile, the room is sealed with mounting foam or other sealant. Sealing will increase thermal insulation and resist water ingress. On aluminum profile applied powder paint, which is not only decoration, but also additional protection. The room is sheathed from the inside, for which, as a rule, lining, plastic panels or other materials are used. But still it is better to do wood trim balcony. Such a decision will make it more comfortable and modern, but it will not add much heat.

In this case price question will increase by the cost of your chosen thermal insulation and finishing materials, plus payment for the work of a hired specialist. In total (material and work) you will get about 20-35 dollars per m2, depending on the materials.

3 . FULL WARMING. In addition to the frames, in this case it is necessary to carry out waterproofing, lay insulation on the floor, ceiling and around the entire perimeter, sheathe the walls and ceiling with special material, make lighting.

To make the balcony even warmer, you can equip it with a heating system and build additional internal walls. Remember that it is impossible to take out steam heating pipes to the balcony, but you can use an electric fireplace and other heating appliances.

Most often, tiles or porcelain tiles are laid on the floor of the loggias. Such a solution will make the room even more comfortable and beautiful. And by installing an electric underfloor heating, you can completely heat the balcony. basis of work underfloor heating is a heating cable, and temperature regime supported by a special thermostat. Note that in this method of insulation, a heating cable is installed under the screed in such a way that the power square meter was at least 180 watts.

"Heating floor"- the current modern trend. There are CALEO film systems (price from $35/sq.m.) and electric cable systems (about $60/sq.m., a thermostat is purchased separately - from $20). There are also other brands. The total cost of organizing a warm floor ( heating system, flooring and work of a specialist) – from $100 per sq. m.

When choosing a full balcony heating system, you can use a thermostat with an air temperature sensor (usually located in the thermostat itself), it will allow you to maintain a more comfortable temperature in the room, and the floor temperature sensor will prevent the heating cable from overheating.

Owners of apartments with a loggia get an additional opportunity to make their home comfortable and cozy. well-maintained warm loggia can be used for various purposes by all family members. It can become a real living room.

Whatever you decide to place on the loggia - an office, winter Garden, dining area or dressing room, this can be a great opportunity to apply your design talent. All stages of improvement can be easily done with your own hands.

Preparation for landscaping

The transformation of an ordinary loggia into functional space The apartment consists of several stages. First of all, you need to take out everything unnecessary, free the floor and walls, remove the old coating (if any) and check the condition of all surfaces.

In older houses, it is very important that the subfloor is strong. When insulating, glazing and finishing the loggia, the load on it will increase significantly, so it may be necessary to strengthen the structure. Walls and ceiling must be smooth, dry without cracks. Damaged areas can be repaired with your own hands using cement mortar.

The parapet and walls of the loggia usually have a small thickness. For good thermal insulation, you need to make additional masonry of brick or aerated concrete. After that, you should install reliable windows that can protect the room from the penetration of cold, dust and noise. Metal-plastic constructions perfectly cope with this task.

You need to choose them, taking into account the peculiarities of the local climate. Window plastic profile may have a different number of chambers and additional insulation. He is resistant to external influences, durable and does not require special care. Double-glazed windows with two chambers retain heat better.

Loggia insulation

In order for the loggia to become one of the living quarters of the apartment, it is necessary to create appropriate temperature conditions on it. To do this, it is necessary to minimize heat loss through surfaces bordering the street, and ensure air heating to a comfortable level.

Thermal insulation of surfaces

To insulate the concrete base of the floor, perform the following sequence of actions:

After the preparation that was described above, the floor surface and lower part walls are treated with liquid waterproofing. This can be done by hand using a brush or roller.
Slabs of insulating material are laid close to the concrete base. Some brands of extruded polystyrene foam have a special groove that provides a tight fit.
All cracks are filled with mounting foam.

The surface of the insulation is covered with a plastic film.
Perform a screed, on top of which will be made finishing. If you plan to make a wooden floor, the logs can be laid directly on the insulation boards.

Advice! If you have chosen an electric floor heating system as a heat source, it can be placed under the screed over a layer of insulation and foil material. The infrared film can be laid under a laminate or even carpet covering. Installation of a warm floor can be done by yourself, following the instructions on the package.

The surfaces of the ceiling, walls and parapet are insulated as follows:

Extruded polystyrene foam boards are glued to surfaces with polyurethane adhesive. Additionally, dish-shaped dowels can be used.
They cover the surfaces with foiled polyethylene foam (for example, penofol), connecting the joints with construction tape.
Produce finishing, depending on the selected material. It could be moisture resistant drywall, decorative plaster, wallpaper, lining or other material.

You can make the loggia cozy and comfortable with your own hands, providing high-quality thermal insulation and heating. Using modern materials, which are available in all hardware stores, this can be done quickly and at no significant cost.

Zealous owners prefer not to clutter up the balcony with things that have served their time, but to use its area with maximum benefit. rational decision for apartments with rather limited space, it becomes the transformation of a balcony or loggia into a living space. Here you can equip a rest room, an office for work, even a small library or a mini-gym. But first, of course, you need to make the balcony warm.

The sequence of work on the insulation of the balcony

The first step is work on the glazing of the balcony. The question arises: window systems what materials are best used to save heat, the loss of which, by the way, through windows, can reach 40%?

In this case, it is most expedient to use PVC (polyvinyl chloride) windows, consisting of multi-chamber profiles with reinforcing metal inserts, which perfectly retain heat, are unpretentious in maintenance and are durable. Besides plastic windows have an aesthetic appearance. Aluminum and wooden frames are unlikely to provide decent thermal insulation.

To save time, money and obtain a quality result, it is important to adhere to a certain sequence of work.

High-quality glazing is the first step in arranging a warm balcony. It begins with the dismantling of old frames and cleaning the openings. The choice of double-glazed windows depends on the design of the balcony and the preferences of the owner. Solid windows are distinguished by high rates of noise and heat insulation.
The first stage of warming will be work with the floor. The old coating is dismantled and the floor is cleaned of construction debris. Make a cement-sand screed.
Styrofoam sheets are most suitable for floor insulation. A material that has strength and sufficient rigidity will do the job perfectly. Further actions depend on whether the floor will be equipped with heating or not.
It is very desirable to insulate the ceiling, especially if it is last floor. More often, penofol is used for this purpose - a rolled foil insulation.
Next, proceed to the insulation of the wall under the windows. It is worth noting that it will not work to achieve a comfortable temperature on the balcony in winter if the parapet, ceiling and floor are not insulated. You can lay out the parapet with bricks, or make a crate and insulate it with mineral wool or polystyrene foam, having previously laid a waterproofing film.
Then insulate side walls. After laying the heat-insulating material, all cracks must be carefully filled with mounting foam.
Having finished the insulation work, proceed to the decoration. different in texture, color, performance facing materials so many choose the most suitable option decorating a balcony is quite easy.

Now about all the stages in more detail, missing the glazing, which is best left to professionals.

Balcony insulation materials

The most important requirement for heaters that are used on balconies is the low weight of materials in order to prevent excessive load on the floors. In addition, the insulation must have low thermal conductivity. The thickness of the heat-insulating layer largely depends on this indicator. Not less than important point consists in sealing all seams, joints and cracks that have arisen in the process of glazing the balcony. They must be filled with mounting foam or other sealant. This will serve as protection against the penetration of moisture through the gaps and generally improve the thermal insulation of the balcony. And if you do not take care of waterproofing, then soon condensation will begin to form on the balcony, which is fraught with the appearance of mold and fungus.

The material for insulation of the ceiling, floor, sides and facade must be of high quality. The most economical option is foam-based insulation. They are light weight and relatively cheap. There are also disadvantages - fragility and fragility. Good results can be achieved using mineral wool for thermal insulation.

Folgoizolon perfectly copes with the task - a hydro-vapor barrier material, which is a porous polyethylene with a lavsan or metallized polypropylene film. It does not accumulate moisture, prevents condensation, retains heat, reflecting it into the room. Folgoizolon 4 mm thick is able to keep heat in the same way as a layer of mineral wool of 80 mm or a wall of 1.5 bricks.

What needs to be done before warming

Before insulating the balcony, it is necessary to restore all weak and damaged sections of the structure. Special attention should be given to places where reinforcement protrudes to the surface. Identified cracks and destroyed areas are repaired using a cement mortar. If this is neglected, then the corrosion processes developing under the layer of thermal insulation will simply destroy the base of the balcony.

All surfaces, i.e. ceiling, walls, floor, which are planned to be insulated, must be treated with an antiseptic. This will serve as a barrier to mold, often developing in a warm and humid environment.

We warm the floor

Waterproofing is laid on the leveled concrete base. That it must be of high quality is beyond doubt. After all, moisture can penetrate from below. Materials such as waterproofing, isospan, etc. are suitable as waterproofing.
Laid on top of it wooden logs(beam 60x100 mm).
A heater is placed between the lags. Usually it's foam. It is possible to lay a thinner material, which is laid in several layers, up to the height of the bars. Thermal insulation should lie very tightly. It is advisable to avoid gaps between sheets. If there are still gaps, apply mounting foam.
A layer of vapor barrier is laid on top of the insulation, then a subfloor is laid.
You can lay the floor covering only after completing all the work on the thermal insulation of the ceiling and walls. If the sequence of work is violated, there is a high probability of damage to it.

Ceiling insulation

Ceiling insulation can be done using fairly common and practical materials: foam plastic, polystyrene foam, mineral wool, foil polyethylene foam (foam foam). Styrofoam is attached to the ceiling with special glue (this can be glue for ceramic tiles), and is fixed with fungi-dowels at five points - in the corners and in the center. When using penoplex, which retains heat better, you can work with thinner panels - from 20 mm. Styrofoam in many technical specifications inferior to foam. But the latter has a serious disadvantage - high cost.

If penofol (rolled foil material) is chosen as a heater, then it should be glued to the ceiling surface treated with an antiseptic and cleaned. For this purpose, PVA wood glue is sometimes used. You can prevent the formation of bubbles if you use a roller and roll the material. Penofol is also glued to the mounting foam. Such a heater is well suited for hard lining: drywall, MDF, PVC panels, rack ceiling, lining.

In case of insulation mineral wool, it can be tightly laid in the ceiling sinus, on the constructed suspended frame. Working with any kind of this heater, it is recommended to use protective equipment: glasses, closed clothing, gloves, it is advisable to wear a respirator. Starting the process of thermal insulation of the ceiling, it is important to make sure that there are no places for moisture penetration.

Wall insulation

The thermal insulation of the walls begins with the installation of the crate, which can be made using wooden beam(40x40 or 50x50 mm). But, if the insulation has a greater thickness, then it should be mounted on support blocks, moving the crate away from the wall to the required distance in this way.

First install the vertical parts (racks). They are placed in the corners of the balcony and on the walls. The optimal distance between adjacent bars is about 50 cm. Fastening to the wall is carried out using dowels. Then the racks are connected by crossbars. Often, the crate is made using the following rule: horizontal bars are fixed at the level of the shoulder, belt and knee. This method helps to avoid punching the cladding. The step is more than 50 cm, but the efficiency of this design is higher.

Insulation (usually polystyrene) is closely placed in the formed cells. Fix it to the wall using foam glue or styrofoam glue. A vapor barrier is laid on top - a membrane or polyethylene. Do not neglect the vapor barrier, trying to save money. Otherwise, condensation cannot be avoided and, as a result, wetting of the insulation. Which, in turn, significantly reduces the effectiveness of thermal insulation.

Next, the balcony is finished with selected materials. But before you start it, you should resolve all issues with electrical wiring in order to arrange lighting and sockets. As a floor finish, almost all materials that are available in the rest of the apartment can be used. For wall cladding, plastic or wooden lining, MDF, drywall.

Heating methods

In our climatic conditions, without heating the balcony in winter period can not be dispensed with, but since the central heating outlet to this room is not provided and is prohibited building codes should consider other options. At least two of them. One is the arrangement of the floor with a heating system, which is mounted under the floor covering. This method of heating, compared to radiators, is the most profitable option, in which less electricity is consumed and heat is distributed more evenly.

To the surface concrete base fix the electrical elements of the heating system. Coating required upon completion of installation cement-sand screed on the installed electrical element. Then the finishing work is done.

An alternative heating method can be, for example, an electric fireplace or other heating devices (radiator, heater, air conditioner). In conditions of small dimensions of this room, it is better to use oil coolers. The power of the device should be approximately 1.5-2 kW. You should prepare for the fact that the figures in electricity bills will increase significantly.

The balcony can be heated using infrared heaters ceiling type, which is very convenient and practical. They are fixed on the ceiling, therefore, they do not occupy an already small area. The principle of operation of such heaters is curious. They heat the surfaces of the floor, walls, furniture and objects on the balcony themselves with heat rays. Further, already heated surfaces begin to return the received heat to the surrounding space. As a result, a few minutes are enough to warm the air in the room to a comfortable room temperature.

And, perhaps, the most important thing that needs to be done even before the start of all work on warming and turning the balcony into a living space. It is necessary to obtain a special permit, so to speak, to legalize the conduct of such work. It is especially important to do this if there is an intention to combine a room with a balcony. Compliance with the formalities will allow you to avoid many problems in the future.

To create a cozy and warm balcony, you need to carry out quite large-scale work. But it's still worth doing - after all, the advantages are obvious. The living space increases, and the apartment acquires reliable insulation from noise, drafts and dust. The source of significant heat loss disappears when through balcony door heat leaves the apartment. With a glazed and insulated balcony, the very likelihood of this disappears.