Waterproofing a balcony in a wooden house. How to waterproof a wooden balcony

Wood is an excellent and versatile building material used by man for many thousands of years. Housing was built using wood even when stone tools were available, and this material has not lost its popularity to this day. Wooden houses are quickly erected, have excellent thermal insulation properties, and, with proper treatment, can be used for a very long time.

It is with processing and protection that wood retains its properties for a long time. But if the walls, roof and ceilings are also protected, what should you do if there are balconies in a wooden house? Naturally, one cannot do without such a complex of works as waterproofing. Waterproofing an open balcony in a country house is especially relevant, where it is not possible to constantly monitor the condition of the building.

Features of the construction of an open balcony in a private house

It is important to understand that a balcony is suitable for a house that has two or more floors or at least has an attic.

When building a balcony, you need to consider the following points:

Construction will require drawing up a project, which will contain data on the weight and dimensions of the building, load, amount of materials and waterproofing device for a wooden balcony.
It is necessary to build a balcony taking into account its location relative to the view from the window, the sunny or shady side.
It is important to take into account the fact that this room increases heat loss during the cold season due to the extensive glazing of the entrance area instead of the main wall.
It will be cheaper to create a balcony at the design stage of the house. If you build it as an extension, the cost will only increase.

In any case, consistent adherence to all stages of construction will significantly improve the performance of the building and its maintenance in the future.

Laminate

Laminate is a modern material with many positive characteristics. But it is only suitable for interior decoration in well-insulated and moisture-proof rooms. Laminate looks very aesthetically pleasing, easy to install and replace individual boards (in case of damage). It is only important to place the panels on a perfectly flat surface. This is often achieved using a concrete screed.

Another important advantage of laminate flooring is that it can be laid over underfloor heating. This is very important if the room is intended to be used as a recreation area or office. After all, only additional heating will allow you to maintain a comfortable temperature all year round. The range of laminate colors and textures is very large, so you can choose the right option for any type of interior.

Types of wooden balconies in a private house

For low-rise cottage buildings, the most suitable options for wooden balconies are:

with a load-bearing slab walled into the wall on which a wooden fence is built;
supported on reinforced concrete, wooden beams or metal brackets;
on supports;
above the bay window;
above the room.

Each of the above types of extensions has its own characteristics, the consideration of which is best left to specialists at the construction stage.

Waterproofing an open balcony in a private house

This type of work will depend on the design features of the room. In particular, waterproofing a balcony in a country house, if the extension structure rests on a load-bearing slab or concrete beams, should be carried out taking into account the selected materials. As a rule, with an open type of balcony, the floor is most susceptible to moisture due to precipitation. Moreover, in winter, the negative effects of moisture are even more destructive.

The following options are suitable for moisture protection of a concrete slab:

impregnation with liquid waterproofing compounds;
hot insulation based on bitumen;
coating with roll bitumen-polymer materials.

It is worth noting that all work to protect the load-bearing slab from moisture should be carried out in dry weather at positive air temperatures. It is best to apply liquid mixtures after preliminary priming of concrete. In this case, the slab should initially be thoroughly treated to remove dust and dirt, and cracks and potholes should be sealed with penetrating compounds.

The next stage of work will be the construction of the balcony structure itself. Using wood for these purposes has a number of advantages:

the material has pronounced aesthetic qualities;
the texture of natural wood creates a unique comfort;
ease of processing;
With proper waterproofing, a wooden balcony can last for decades.

To protect the railings and canopy from adverse environmental factors, fungi, mold and pests, all structural elements are treated with special compounds. As a waterproofing layer for wood, you can use various varnishes, stains and transparent mastics, which should be applied in several layers.

Garden parquet tiles

If the balcony is not glazed, which will serve as a terrace, for pleasant evenings, garden parquet is laid on the prepared waterproofing. When planning this coating, you will need a floor with a slight slope. Such manipulations are necessary to ensure that water flows to the drainage system and does not accumulate under the tiles. As a rule, when planning a regular balcony, this point must be taken into account.

Main functions and features of parquet tiles:

pleasant to the touch even when walking barefoot;
high level of water resistance, thanks to special heat treatment of wood slats;
water does not linger on the surface;
high resistance to temperature changes;
Dirt or dust does not accumulate on the floor surface, which makes cleaning much easier;
beautiful and attractive appearance, which is replete with warm shades and gives any room a special atmosphere of comfort and homeliness.

The cladding is made from natural wood or a material containing 80-85% wood raw materials, with an admixture of polymer additives for binding the substance. The upper layer of lamellas is fixed on a lattice base made of PVC, and has special locks that fasten different plates into an indivisible plane. Thanks to this, the masonry process is noticeably simplified and does not require special knowledge or skills, so installation can be done independently.

Before starting work, it is necessary to take measurements. The tiles are produced with parameters of 30x30 cm and 50x50 cm. If necessary, it is possible to reduce the tile along the edge by 1-2 lamellas. Lathing the floor on a balcony under a plywood covering is also perfect for a closed type balcony with an insulated floor.

Tiles of the presented type are also used when installing garden paths or platforms. It would also be a good option for gazebos or bathhouses.

The excellent quality and durability of the product results in a fairly high price for the material, but the result is undoubtedly worth it.

Waterproofing a balcony supported by beams

A common version of the balcony is a design where beams act as a base plate. The advantage of this type is the possibility of adding an extension to an existing building with minimal financial costs.

Waterproofing of an open balcony in a wooden house supported by beams is carried out after construction is completed. It is done where the support beams exit the structure. Common materials used for these purposes are self-adhesive roll membranes and mastics.

The subfloor is also covered with rolled materials or moisture-resistant plywood. Here it is better to use laminated formwork plywood. The advantages of this method are as follows:

self-adhesive waterproofing materials adhere perfectly to laminated plywood;
easy installation. You can easily do such waterproofing of a balcony in a private house with your own hands;
possibility of laying floors in rooms with complex configurations.

When building a balcony, it is important to make a slope and open the drains so that moisture and melt water do not collect on the floor. The joints between sheets of plywood are carefully coated with waterproof sealants. All places where plywood is cut should be primed before laying and then treated with bitumen mastic. This will prevent moisture absorption and swelling of the plywood. Insulating tape with reinforcement is glued over the putty joints. The tape should also be glued around the perimeter with a slight overlap on the walls. Once the subfloor has been laid, finishing can begin.

A balcony canopy in a wooden frame allows you to minimize the destructive effects of moisture on the structure. The canopy is mounted from standard roofing materials - there is a wide choice here, it is at the discretion of the owners. All wooden structures must be treated with compounds against fungus and mold. The final moisture-proof coating can be varnish, stain or special paint. A good effect can be achieved by burning wood. In addition, this method of processing structures is an excellent protection against adverse environmental factors.

Use of sprayed materials

This is a fairly effective waterproofing option. The material is applied to the subfloor.

The floor boards are first coated with mastics that have good adhesion to the wooden base. Spraying liquid rubber requires special equipment, but this obstacle can be avoided if you use special molds into which the rubber mixture is poured. After hardening, membrane sheets are obtained.

Next, they can be laid on the subfloor with an overlap.

For better insulation, the sheets are mounted in two rows and in a checkerboard pattern. All seams are spilled with a fresh solution of liquid rubber. The floor nailed on top additionally presses the rubber and compacts it.

Is floor waterproofing always necessary? Experts answer in the affirmative - waterproofing under the floor is necessary.

And mainly in wet rooms, for example, on the balcony, in the bathroom, bathhouse, etc. After all, waterproofing the subfloor protects the ceiling and flooring from moisture inside the room.

We will look at what types of floor waterproofing there are for different rooms in our article.

Waterproofing a balcony on supports

The easiest way to build a balcony on supports is if the country wooden house is already ready. Waterproofing such a room is no different from the above options; the main thing in this case is that special attention should be paid to protecting the supports themselves. In particular, a foundation is required for each pile. If this is a poured foundation, then rolled waterproofing material is laid around the perimeter of the formwork. Concrete blocks are pasted over or coated with special bitumen-polymer compounds.

It should be understood that before answering the question of how to waterproof a wooden balcony on supports, you should take care of high-quality waterproofing of the foundation, as this will prevent the destruction of the supports themselves.

Waterproofing a balcony over a bay window

A bay window is not only a decorative element, but also a platform protruding beyond the facade of the building, which allows you to significantly increase the interior space. Often, owners of private houses prefer to arrange their open balcony above it.

Waterproofing a balcony above a bay window in a wooden house is distinguished by the peculiarity of the floor structure, since additional insulation will be required. In addition, if the insulation is poorly carried out, the bay window can leak into the house, which is an extremely undesirable moment.

There are several options for waterproofing a balcony in a private house if it is built above a bay window:

A layer of insulation (for example, basalt wool, expanded polystyrene) is laid on the concrete base. Next comes roll insulation. About five centimeters of concrete screed with reinforcing mesh is placed on top. After drying, the screed is covered with coating compounds. The finishing coating can be tiles with special glue.
A simpler technology is the application of a special polymer material by layer spraying. Before this, the balcony floor (bay window roof) should be leveled with special putties or using a thin cement-sand screed. The polymer is applied to the floor in several layers and is both an insulation and a decorative coating.
You can waterproof the floor using self-leveling floors.

In all cases, when waterproofing a balcony above a bay window, it is necessary to carry out a full range of preliminary work to level the surface and seal seams and cracks. In some cases, a major repair of the bay window may even be required.

Base structure

The floor covering requires preliminary leveling of the underlying base.
The floor covering requires preliminary leveling of the underlying base. Most often, leveling the base is carried out using moisture-resistant plywood 10 mm thick. A waterproofing layer is laid under it. If necessary, plywood is attached to the logs with two layers of insulation and vapor barrier laid underneath. Of course, you can limit yourself to a waterproof plywood covering. But the variety of materials available in the market makes it beautiful and practical.

The surface of plywood for laying some coatings is primed.

Waterproofing a balcony above the room

Waterproofing a wooden balcony above the room is not required if this operation was carried out correctly when laying the roofing material. If you follow the technology for laying such a layer, no problems or difficulties will arise. It's worse when a leak appears. In this case, it is necessary to establish the location of the leak and the nature of its occurrence.

If the balcony above the room begins to leak due to the natural aging of the material, then it is best to do a major overhaul - remove the entire roof and carry out moisture protection of the balcony in stages, following the technology depending on the chosen material. As waterproofing, you can use special penetrating impregnations for concrete and masonry, liquid coating mixtures, bitumen-polymer compositions, and adhesive-based roll materials.

Expert advice

Waterproofing the balcony canopy helps prevent moisture from penetrating the glazing elements. Coating the top seam is especially important when choosing wooden frames, for which professional builders recommend the following materials:

impregnation - transparent modifications that preserve the texture of the wood, emphasizing the pattern favorably
paint – oil or enamel
varnish – applied to wooden elements pre-treated with drying oil after complete drying

Treating wooden structures with fire retardants, antiseptics, and combined compounds (for example, Fire and Bioprotection) dramatically increases the service life of structures. Waterproofing the balcony from the inside must be combined with external protection of the parapet, slabs, and canopy. Only in this case the service life will be maximum and there will be no need for operating costs or periodic repairs.