Having a balcony or loggia in an apartment is considered a great plus, and for good reason. This place can be arranged as you wish, or used as an additional room for a specific purpose. But let’s clarify, together with the editors of the online magazine HomeMyHome.ru, what we are talking about: a balcony and a loggia, what the difference is and whether it is significant.
Balcony and loggia - what is it in terms of design and decorative functions?
If a thing or object has two names, then this most likely means that there are some features and differences in their structure or design. So it is with such concepts as balcony and loggia. In simple terms, a balcony is a slab with railings protruding beyond the perimeter of a building, and a loggia is a direct part of the building.
The balcony got its name from the word “beam”. Previously, the beam was a small protrusion near the window, by fencing it people were able to go outside without leaving their home
Loggia is translated from Italian as “gazebo” and has been used since the 16th century. Architects of hot, sunny Florence have found a way to give citizens a break from the sun, while being both in the building and on the street at the same time
The number of floors of houses increased, as did the number of balconies and loggias, depending on the wishes of the architects and the type of construction.
The decorative effect of balconies is determined by the architectural style
Loggias in modern houses are not as interesting as balconies, but, again, it all depends on the approach of building designers in different parts of the world
Still, the difference is undeniable. The photo shows the difference between a loggia and a balcony.
Externally, balconies can look much more interesting
What is better: a balcony or a loggia?
| Balcony | Loggia |
| It is not heated, it is difficult to install heating, since the structure will have to be completely glazed | Not heated, it is possible to install heating |
| No side walls | There are side walls |
| No ceiling | There is a ceiling |
| Less stable | Very stable |
Advantages
They are obvious here:
- Increased natural light during daylight hours. This is not only savings (you don’t have to turn on the electricity until dusk), but also increases the activity of your household, because people often reduce activity in the dark and even under artificial lighting.
- Visual increase in space. Light-transmitting structures and mirrors are the best ways to visually make a room larger and more spacious.
- Real (physical) increase in space. The fence, the wall, is thicker than the windows, because it consists of several layers (concrete, brick, thermal insulation).
- Saving on construction and finishing materials. The cost of such glazing is no higher than that of a traditional wall. Moreover, it will remain unchanged throughout the entire period of operation. The only maintenance is to periodically wipe the glass. If a room or façade is renovated, that part of the building will remain intact.
- Panoramic view. The French balcony allows people in the apartment to see the entire street. This can be useful if a child is walking on the street, and parents will easily see what exactly he is doing. Panoramic visibility also gives you more opportunities to see your parked car.
- Huge variety of decor. The facade of a classic window is almost impossible to decorate. By choosing the French version of window glazing, you can give this part of the house individuality. Forged gratings cost a lot; sometimes they attract attention much more than the façade of the building itself. Various ornaments, monograms, curls, figures - all this will decorate the future fence and will last for a very long time. Forged gratings can be bought in specialized stores or made to order, choosing a pattern to suit your taste
You should not be afraid that after the renovation, all sounds from the room will be heard on the street, or vice versa - noise from outside will disturb the people in the apartment. The sound insulation of such glazing is usually no worse than that of a traditional wall. Modern technologies can further reduce the permeability of sounds. For example, PVC profiles with different distances between chambers are used for these purposes. This means that sound does not pass through them evenly and therefore loses strength.
Don't forget about the decor. A French balcony is always beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. The building immediately takes on the features of a medieval castle, albeit in a modern manner. Perhaps this is the most accessible way to get closer to the architecture of mansions of past centuries.
Beautiful French balcony forged
Main types of balconies and their modifications
How can you characterize a balcony extension? What is a large balcony called? If the platform protrudes from the front of the house for some distance and is fenced with railings on all sides, then it is a balcony. The depth of the structure ranges from 1 to 6 meters. Externally, it is a horizontal reinforced concrete slab with fasteners.
Modifications of balcony structures:
- on cantilever beams - this is mainly typical for old housing stock. Cantilever beams support the base;
- on a reinforced concrete base - a clamped slab is installed as a base in brick buildings;
- on a cantilever base - no support is provided;
- with external supports - they are used in the construction of a large balcony structure. This modification is provided only for the second floor.
French version: there is nowhere to walk, but you can admire the beauty while standing on a narrow base
Typical and modern types of loggias
What is the name of the balcony inside the house? The beautiful word loggia, which has roots in the Italian language (“loggia”).
Part of a room that can be open on one or more sides
Typically there are two sides and a slightly open facade
Semicircular modern building has no sides
Since this is not a remote structure, it can be turned into a full-fledged part of the room or you can make a concrete screed on the floor and place furniture on it. The loggia space is either left open or glazed.
It is easy to insulate such a room
Full connection to residential premises possible
What is the difference between a balcony and a loggia in an apartment in terms of design parameters?
Let's take a closer look at all the nuances and differences of the mentioned architectural structures.
According to the method of adjoining the main room
To understand the difference between a balcony structure and a Florentine architectural solution, it is enough to look at how they are adjacent to the facade of the building. The balcony will always protrude from the wall of the house, and the loggia is in harmonious relationship with the facade, being its built-in part.
By the number of sides open to view and size
If you look from the geometry side, the balcony is open to three sides of the street and has a standard size of 3275x800 mm. Basically, the width of the balcony is standard.
Rectangular base
Triangular shape as part of modern architectural design
The photo shows the difference between a loggia and a balcony
The loggia is open to the street on only one side, rarely on both sides (in a corner location). The base is always slabs, most often with a size of 1200x5800 mm.
Nuance! Most often, there is one slab for two loggias.
According to possible loads on the structure and methods of arrangement
The safety of the loggia will be higher in any case, since it is not a suspended structure, but part of the building, and the load is distributed evenly on three sides. Due to the way it is connected to the facade, the balcony has restrictions on load and arrangement possibilities.
How to choose a sofa for a miniature balcony
Soft and cozy sofas contribute to the creation of coziness like no other, and their variety of shapes, sizes and designs allows you to use such a piece of furniture even for arranging a small balcony.
A mini-sofa is usually installed in one of the corners of the balcony and can have any configuration - round, square, corner, with a back, armrests or a built-in storage compartment.
What is the difference between a loggia and a balcony according to the law?
The differences between a loggia or balcony by type of structure have been clarified; all that remains is to find out what the difference is between them according to the letter of the law.
SNiP standards will tell you whether the difference is significant legally and how to accurately determine whether it is a loggia or a balcony
The entire territory from a load-bearing wall to another of the same kind, slabs and fencing of the summer area of housing is classified as private property. It turns out that from the point of view of the law, both structures are equal.
Additional information on arranging balconies and loggias
In Soviet times, loggias were glazed and used as a place for hanging laundry, a smoking room, and even as a warehouse for unnecessary things. But why waste precious meters today if you can arrange both the loggia and the balcony so that this will be the most favorite place in the apartment?
Interesting ideas for decorating a loggia with photo examples
Let's plunge into the world of other people's ideas and solutions: if you already have additional space, you can convert it into part of the room, insulate it, glaze it, turn it into a cozy veranda or study.
Breakfasts, lunches, dinners will become more interesting: from such a place it is interesting to survey the city, feeling as if you were in the most cozy cafe
A bright, small, cozy office - you don’t need a lot of effort to decorate it, but there’s more than enough benefit
Glazing on the floor opens up the opportunity to fully admire the view
Design of balconies in a private house with photo examples
To design balcony structures in modern construction, plastic, glass, wood and metal are used. Artistic forged patterns become a wonderful architectural decoration. Plastic is the least beautiful, but this finish will cost the least. Most owners of balconies try to glaze them, thus turning them into a space protected from the weather.
Wide structures can easily be converted into summer verandas
Open designs evoke romantic thoughts and moods
Glazing solves the problem of being on a balcony during bad weather conditions
Related article:
Decorating a balcony with your own hands: step-by-step instructions. A step-by-step guide to finishing balconies with various materials in a separate review.
Balcony with extension along the window sill and floor line - features
The remote design does not increase the balcony area several times, but by a maximum of 35 cm. You also need to take into account the base area, the condition of the facade and the deterioration of the house.
Removal along the window sill is not approved if it is carried out less than 35 cm. For removal, metal structures, channels and corners are used. With this method, the floor area does not increase, and a person’s sense of self on it is much freer.
Removal along the floor increases the area of the balcony
Such work is based on strengthening the base and side railings.
Attention! Complete safety can only be guaranteed when the structure is installed by experienced professionals.
Related article:
Interesting ideas for decorating balconies with photos. Original and practical examples of balcony design, as well as useful tips, are in a special publication on our portal.
The nuances of attaching a balcony or loggia to a room
It’s worth clarifying right away: balcony structures are not attached to the room, but loggias are. Although, you can make an attempt to glaze the balcony, insulate it, and then just start trying to redevelop it, but the price of all the work will be high. It is much easier to add a loggia, especially if you save part of the wall and window opening.
In any case, such a procedure to increase the total area of the room will be considered a redevelopment and requires coordination of such a serious issue with different organizations!
Connection while preserving the window opening
Architectural solution with almost complete dismantling of the wall
The engineering project must first be taken to the BTI, from there you will have to move on with a new list of documents. The documentation will include an application for redevelopment, a certificate of ownership of the apartment, the consent of Rospotrebnadzor, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and even capable family members and closest neighbors.
We wish you great ideas in arranging your nests!
Flaws
There are not many disadvantages to the French balcony:
- Price. Here we are usually talking about remodeling an existing facade, which means that all work will be carried out exclusively at the expense of the owner. If you add to this fashionable “bells and whistles” (heat-preserving film or lamination of frames for a special effect), then the price can increase many times over.
- Cold. Still, the heat transmittance of glass is higher than that of a monumental fence made of concrete, brick and other building materials.
- Hot during the summer months. A wide French balcony will not save you from extreme heat, and this must be understood before remodeling.
- If you build a French balcony “from scratch” next to an already built house, you need to additionally equip it with reinforcing elements. It is advisable to involve specialists in this rather than carry out the work yourself, otherwise the structure may turn out to be unsafe.
- No window sill. For some people, a window sill is also a useful area where you can put household items. This structural part of a traditional window will not be here.
