A balcony in a private household is beauty, convenience, luxury.
The facades of private houses are full of variety. You won’t see any kind of architectural delights on city streets and on the Internet.
Houses are decorated with small porches, massive terraces and verandas, sometimes even around the entire perimeter of the building, columns, statues and much, much more. Today we will talk about a balcony in a private house above the porch. Let's consider what it can be like, and whether it is possible to make it yourself.
Balcony in a private house above the porch: features of the design and its construction
The facades of private houses are full of variety. You won’t see any kind of architectural delights on city streets and on the Internet.
Houses are decorated with small porches, massive terraces and verandas, sometimes even around the entire perimeter of the building, columns, statues and much, much more. Today we will talk about a balcony in a private house above the porch. Let's consider what it can be like, and whether it is possible to make it yourself.
What does the law say?
It is impossible to block access to the stairs.
The legislative framework clearly explains why a fire escape is needed on the balcony. In particular, the law states: high-rise buildings are required to have an emergency descent, a staircase running through the balconies or along the outer part of the wall of the house, through a special shaft. It is impossible to predict an emergency, but it is advisable to prepare as much as possible for any scenario. Therefore, there are emergency exits, escape stairs, hatches, and firefighting equipment for prompt fire fighting. In case of fire, it is easy to evacuate dozens of people through the loggias.
According to the rules of fire legislation, in buildings with a living space of more than 500 sq. m. there must be at least 2 emergency exits on the floor. Smaller area - hatches and stairs on each loggia, starting from a 15-meter height. The same rules prohibit:
- reconstruct the balcony (worsens evacuation possibilities);
- cover fire exits with furniture.
Balcony theory
And we will talk according to tradition - about the types of balconies, design, materials from which they can be made, not forgetting to remember what difficulties a person will face when undertaking such construction.
Advantages and disadvantages
So, it is important to know that building a balcony is only possible if the main building has at least two floors or at least has an attic. In addition to the aesthetic component, a balcony is also needed for exercise or entertainment. The balcony is an excellent place for house plants, which also decorate it further.
Now a little about the disadvantages of balconies:
This seems to be all; other aspects are either not worth attention or can be solved with a timely and competent approach.
Balcony designs
The balcony can be monolithically connected to the house or adjacent to it as an independent structure.
Both options include the following elements:
It follows that the design of the supports and balcony slab can be done as follows:
Very often, the listed construction techniques can be combined with each other, which makes the structure more durable and original.
Concrete
Most often, it is these structures that are used in our area, since preference in construction is given to brick rather than frame houses. The weight of the concrete module will be significant, which must be taken into account before the construction of the house begins. The foundation and walls must be designed to support the additional weight. In some cases, additional supports are required to support the structure. To fix the load-bearing slab of a balcony, builders use several methods. One of them is the partial integration of the slab into the wall. This type of balcony is only suitable for buildings with thick brick walls. Its maximum reach is no more than a meter without additional supports.
The slab can be laid on beams integrated into the wall. In this case, the distance between the supports should be no more than 0.8 meters, and the overhang of the structure is only 1.2 meters. The width can be increased to 1.5 meters if a solution is used in which the slab is supported on brackets. Cantilever supports at the edge of the slab further expand the usable area. If there is a need to install a balcony after completion of construction, then four separate supports are provided for it, on which the slab is located. In this case, it does not exert pressure on the walls.
What can a balcony be built from?
The type of material from which you will build a balcony mainly depends on the facade of the house to which it is attached. Most often, materials of the same type are used, which, in harmony with each other, create a feeling of solidity and completeness of the overall composition.
Although many people prefer to combine different types of materials, making both the balcony and the porch a bright contrasting spot on the overall facade of the building.
Concrete
If your house is built of brick and concrete, then the best solution would be to use reinforced concrete as the main material for the balcony.
Here are the main features associated with the use of this material:
Like any other balcony, a concrete one is equipped with railings. To make the structure monumental, they can also be made of reinforced concrete. Wooden, forged and simple metal fences are also suitable - the main thing is to maintain the general architectural style and avoid conspicuous mistakes.
Advice! Let us repeat again that such work without the proper experience and knowledge is carried out at great risk. Without imagining the final look in your head in advance, you are doing everything at random.
Tree
Wood is a lightweight material that is used mainly for attached balconies. However, if the house itself is made of timber, logs or a wooden frame, then consoles can be immediately provided in its design.
The following requirements and recommendations apply to wooden balconies:
We'll talk about the railings a little later.
It is very important to remember that wood suffers greatly from exposure to ultraviolet radiation and precipitation. Over time, it loses not only its visual appeal, but also its strength, which is unacceptable for hanging structures. Therefore, you must protect the wood flooring as much as possible.
Instructions for processing with all of these compounds are indicated on the manufacturer's label. Doing it yourself will not be difficult.
Metal
The frame for a balcony can be made not only of wood, but also of metal. Although this material is heavier, it is still significantly inferior in this parameter to reinforced concrete structures.
As you understand, balconies structurally differ little from each other, but when constructing one, it is necessary to know exactly the maximum permissible dimensions and loads. All these values are calculated by a professional designer.
Attention! By refusing to comply with the required standards, you take full responsibility for the collapse of the structure upon yourself. You should not save on such a dangerous element of the building as a balcony.
conclusions
Restoring a fire exit will cost you much less than bringing you to administrative liability and paying a fine. Moving the stairs can be done independently, without the help of specialists. Thus, you can either increase the space on the balcony or loggia by moving it to the wall or installing a folding version, or use it for your own purposes. Based on the above methods for solving the problem, folding options will have the highest efficiency.
Other details of balconies
What else have we not mentioned when discussing the design of balconies? These are, of course, fencing and roofing.
Parapets
The balcony parapets are a looped series of balustrades. This element is installed to ensure the safety of people on the balcony, but this does not mean that it cannot be beautiful and decorate the facade of the building. Since our balcony is located above the porch, that is, in plain sight, this applies to it to a greater extent.
The following requirements apply to the parapet:
Externally, you are free to design the parapet as you please, using any materials you like. Do not forget to take into account that the weight of the fence and other elements, together with the people on the balcony, should not exceed the maximum permissible values.
The roof of your house
Above the porch, the balcony is often equipped with an additional canopy. Although this element is not mandatory, like a parapet, its presence will definitely decorate the structure and increase its service life.
The canopy is designed to protect you and your home from the vagaries of the weather. They are made mainly from slate, polycarbonate, ondulin, corrugated sheets and metal tiles. Each material has its own installation features and price, which determines the design budget.
Polycarbonate is considered the simplest to make, as it is lightweight, easy to cut and bend. Anyone who knows how to hold a screwdriver can install such a canopy.
Canopies over the balcony can be of the following type:
When installing a canopy, it is important to accurately calculate the angle of its slope and securely fasten it to the wall of the house so that it can easily withstand the weight of the snow that accumulates on it in winter.
Balcony design
Well, in conclusion, here is a small photo selection with beautiful original facades with balconies. After the presented gallery, you will also find a video in this article, where you can also learn a lot of interesting information on the topic.
Let's finish our story here. As you can see, a porch with a balcony in a private house is convenient, safe, beautiful and practical. We wish you flights of fancy when decorating your homes, but do not forget about the safety of this façade element.
Source
Fire safety requirements
If the total area of apartments on one floor exceeds 500 sq.m., it is necessary to provide the building with at least two emergency exits. This requirement also applies to sectional buildings.
If the total area is not higher than 500 sq.m. on one floor it will be enough to have one additional exit. However, each apartment located at a height of more than 15 m must be equipped with a separate emergency exit. This includes access to a loggia, which is equipped with an external staircase, or to a balcony equipped with staircases connected by floors.
Making corrections to the structures of residential buildings can lead to a violation of safety conditions, for example, making it difficult to evacuate people, making fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, and other means intended to ensure safety in the event of a fire difficult to access. In such cases, modifications are strictly prohibited.
In places with emergency exits, it is also prohibited to pile up pieces of furniture and other things. The ban applies to hatches located on loggias and balconies, to transitions between adjacent sections, as well as to exits to external emergency descents.
What types of porch are there?
Depending on the design of the house and the style in which the site is designed, the design of the porch is also determined. The material from which the porch to the house is built, the shape of the porch, its height, the presence or absence of accompanying elements (canopy, mesh, railings) vary.
Depending on the complexity of the work, you can make a porch for your home yourself or invite specialists.
Wooden porch
When choosing the material from which to make a porch in a private house, many choose wood. It is practical, relatively cheap, easy to process and lasts quite a long time. For wooden private houses, this choice is obvious. But you can also attach a wooden porch to concrete and panel houses.
To make the entrance structure, dry edged boards (preferably softwood), sawn logs or timber are suitable. Even beginners can do the job.
The simplest porch does not even require a platform - flooring, just a few steps are enough.
If there is an area on the porch for decoration (for example, flower pots) or chairs, then this design is called a patio.
In the case when the porch is combined with a room under a canopy, we are talking about a porch - a veranda.
At the dacha, the simplest option is most often found, where the height of the stairs is slightly higher than the height of the foundation. The presence or absence of railings is a matter of convenience and taste.
It must be remembered that even the most primitive porch made of wood, with or without railings, needs protection from mold, insect parasites, and moisture. Wood must be treated with a protective compound or paint during the construction phase and the coating must be renewed regularly. In this case, the entrance group will last a long time.
Concrete porch
A concrete porch and entrance staircase to a private house is a monumental structure, it requires a lot of effort and labor, and it is very difficult, almost impossible, to cope with its construction on your own without special devices, equipment and skills.
For construction, it is necessary to build a frame from reinforcement, install it and gradually fill it with concrete.
The concrete porch in front of the entrance to the house is poured into wooden formwork. It becomes an extension of the house, the height is equal to the height of the foundation, but it is recommended to put a layer of mineral wool between the wall and the porch.
The construction of such a porch can be carried out in stages, pouring the steps one by one (each tier dries for about a week), or entirely (drying will take about 10 days, but such work is more difficult, more painstaking and requires a concrete mixer).
Decorative finishing is carried out using building mixture or cement. If desired, tiles are laid on them. The final design of the porch for a country house is different for everyone.
Metal porch
A house with a metal porch looks impressive; this material is strong and durable, but working with it requires not only tools, but also skills.
In some cases, only the supporting frame is made of metal, in others the metal porch for the dacha is similar to the wooden one, in others they build a monumental structure on the foundation, decorating it with beautiful forged parts.
To make the steps of stairs, corrugated metal sheets are often used, which adhere well to shoes and do not slip in rainy weather.
In addition, steps can be made of wood or porcelain stoneware. The upper platform in front of the door is also made from the same material.
It must be remembered that metal hardens in cold weather, becomes slippery in rain and ice, and therefore can pose a danger to residents of the house.
Brick porch
The design of a brick porch is, of course, attractive, but in terms of performance characteristics this material is far from the best. What is a porch? This is a place that is walked on very often, it can withstand heavy loads, so it must be strong and reliable.
A porch for a private house made of brick is beautiful; next to a brick house it looks appropriate and organic. But brick is expensive to use. Working with it requires skills and a scrupulous approach. In addition, you only need to take red burnt brick, other types will quickly become unusable.
If the country house is built of brick and the design requires the same porch, you can trim the wooden, metal or concrete frame with tiles that imitate bricks, or lay bricks in one row on the outside.
Pedimental
A gable balcony is also called an attic balcony. Its production must be planned, since such a block cannot be completed separately. It is a small recess in the pediment of the attic. In this case, the useful internal area of the room is partially reduced, but there is no need to build a separate roof for the balcony, since its role is played by the roof of the building. When using this option, the rafter system must be mounted in a hanging type so that rigidity is not lost. The side supports for the roof also require proper planning. Due to the fact that the wall is moved back, it cannot act as a load-bearing wall, so the structure is made as light as possible.
Related article: Who should repair an emergency balcony?
Porch foundation: when you need it
Strictly speaking, a foundation is needed when constructing a porch from heavy building materials: concrete, metal, massive wooden elements. The foundation is necessary on soft soils, when facing the porch with decorative stone or brick. It is recommended, at a minimum, to pour concrete and “drown” the wooden structure in it; in other cases, a foundation poured in accordance with all the rules is required. A covered porch is built on the foundation of the house.
Canopy over the porch
A porch with a canopy is much more practical than an open one. If in a one-story house the porch can cover the roof slope, then in a cottage a canopy is necessary. The frame for it can be made of wood, welded from metal tubes or a corner.
The materials used for the canopy are tiles, corrugated sheets, slate, and polycarbonate sheets. The canopy can be flat or sloping (preferable, since water does not retain) - single or gable, arched.
Tips for finishing a porch
Porch design ideas can be seen in the photo. There are a lot of design options for the entrance group.
Finishing materials for cladding the porch
The porch to a wooden house is most often made from the same material. It is impregnated or painted with special compounds to protect against pests and adverse conditions.
A concrete porch can be lined with ceramic tiles or decorative stone (brick).
The metal porch is decorated with forged elements.
How to decorate a porch: design and decor ideas
The choice of decor depends on the style in which the house and site are designed. Plants will always be appropriate: flowers in pots or tall vases, in flower pots on the railing or at the entrance. On the porch-terrace you can put furniture: wicker or leather chairs (rocking chair), chaise lounge, small table, decorative dishes or candlesticks, napkins, blankets.
Classic
It assumes strict lines and moderation in decoration. Wood and natural stone are used as materials. Columns, massive railings, and a gable canopy are appropriate. Classic style is harsh, serious, monumental, durable. It creates the feeling of being built to last.
Russian style
Antique stylization assumes wood as the main material: with elaborate, thin, lace-like carvings, platbands, and columns decorated with a pattern. If you look at any Russian folk tale, you can see many examples of entrance groups in the Russian style. The wood is not painted with colored paints, but is coated with a colorless protective compound that does not hide the structure of the wood.
Country
Country - rustic style. He welcomes bright colors and decorative elements - fruits in baskets, flowers in bright flowerpots, bouquets, blankets and armchairs.
High tech
High tech is austerity and minimalism: clear lines, metal, glass, nothing superfluous. This style welcomes artificial materials; polycarbonate and plastic would be appropriate here, but everything should be kept in the same (minimalist) color scheme.
This style is characterized by a closed entrance group, protected from external conditions and built on a common foundation with the house.
Floral decor
With the help of properly selected plants, you can amazingly transform any porch. Climbing plants have proven themselves to be excellent, from which, if desired, you can create a “wall” near the porch.
Wooden boxes or deep ceramic pots with flowers planted in them will bring bright colors. Decorative greenery gives coolness and freshness.
Bouquets can be collected in vases, flowers look great in pots and on stands, it is important to select buds according to color and flowering time.
