Balcony in a private house: device, types and properties, tools and installation

The balcony is not only a decorative decoration, but also a place where you can relax, smoke, relax with friends or family. In urban buildings, such structures are found almost constantly, but in dachas, not everyone wants to spend time and money on its construction. An open balcony in a private house will allow you to diversify the design of the entire territory; its construction is not particularly complicated, but has a number of nuances that will definitely need to be taken into account.

Private house with a balcony Source balconycentr.ru

How to make a balcony correctly: features of making a platform

There are two options for installing a balcony platform on the wall of a house - the first of them involves the installation of additional supports (slopes), and the second allows you to do without them. The first option is a little simpler, while the second is more complicated and at the same time more reliable. Let's look at these options in more detail.

Balcony area with slopes. The essence of this installation technology is that the channel frame is simply attached to the outer wall of the house with anchors, and its front edge is supported by inclined supports that transfer the pressure of the slab directly to the wall of the house. The option for such a platform is very reliable, but has some limitations - you cannot build a balcony that is too wide (or deep) this way. The risk of its collapse is very high. Using this technology, in most cases, balconies are made of lightweight construction, which does not involve the use of concrete - the floor here is made of wood. As for the immediate technology for solving the question of how to make a balcony yourself, it looks like this. To begin with, a horizontal channel is fastened to the wall of the house using anchor screws. Then, along its edges, recesses of about 20-30 cm are made in the wall, into which outrigger beams are inserted - they are welded to a horizontal channel and reinforced with bevels installed from the outer edge of the beams to the wall of the house at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. Next, the front channel is mounted, after which the platform frame can be considered ready. Then as your heart desires - if the width of such a balcony does not exceed 800mm, then the platform can be safely reinforced and concreted. If we are talking about a wide balcony, then it is best to make the floor on it wooden.
Balcony without slopes. Unlike the previous option, load-bearing beams of this design are installed through the wall, that is, at the level of the floor slab, a through hole is punched in the wall, through which a channel is inserted into the house. Not just one, but at least three of them - two at the edges of the balcony and one in the middle. It should be noted here that there must be at least two lengths of exposed beams inside the house. That is, if there is 1 m of channel on the street, then it should go inside 2 m. These beams are aligned in a clear horizontal plane, after which they are attached to the floor slabs using any available, and most importantly, reliable methods. As a rule, these are the same anchors or studs - as an option, welding, if, of course, you find something to weld the beams to. For every 400mm channel you will need to install one reliable fastener. Then everything is very simple - first, jumpers (the same channel) are welded between the outrigger beams of the balcony, directly next to the wall. They must be fastened to the wall - holes are drilled through which the channel is pressed against the house using powerful anchors. The fastener pitch is still the same - 400mm. Well, then the front channel, reinforcement, concrete and parapet.

It should be noted right away that in both situations, the solution to the question of how to make a balcony with your own hands is made according to the standard scheme for assembling metal structures. That is, first the site is assembled, as welders say, using tacks (the metal is not thoroughly welded to each other), and then, after carefully checking the dimensions, diagonals, levels and planes, everything is thoroughly connected to each other. Otherwise, there is a great risk that everything will turn out crooked and askew.

In what cases is repair of a balcony slab required?

If there are cracks on the surface of the balcony, then this is a serious reason to turn to professionals. There is no point in delaying this matter, as the destruction of the balcony that has begun will progress. Only a specialist can determine the degree of destruction. Even seemingly small cracks can turn out to be quite deep.

Signs of an emergency condition of a balcony:

part of the concrete structure fell off
reinforcement exposed
cracks have appeared (cracks are especially dangerous where the canvas is fixed to the wall)
the concrete covering above or below the canvas has been damaged (you can’t just pour concrete, as this will not strengthen the concrete structure in any way, but will only add extra weight)

How to make a balcony from scratch

Let us immediately focus our attention on the issue - the manufacture of balconies without obtaining permission from the relevant authorities ends in major troubles and a decree on the demolition of the constructed loggia. Unauthorized extension of this structure to a multi-storey building is prohibited

Therefore, it is not worth starting the extension without completed documents.

How to obtain permission to build a balcony or loggia

It is better to contact specialists on this issue. They will coordinate with the necessary authorities. If you nevertheless added a balcony without permission, experts will explain how to legalize this extension.

List of documents required to obtain permission to build a balcony:

About the ownership of the apartment.
BTI certificate with floor plan.
Housing and communal services permit.
Consent of residents (neighbors) to the extension in writing.
Redevelopment project.
Coordination with utility services.
Coordination with the Department of Architecture.
Application to the district administration.

We do not advise you to obtain documents on your own - it will take a lot of time and may end unsuccessfully, and you will not be able to build anything.

Project preparation

Construction cannot begin without preliminary design. First, make sketches of the future building. Remember that your balcony should be harmoniously attached to the facade of the house. Then you make a competent drawing of the balcony, according to which you make all the necessary calculations, taking into account the materials used.

If you don’t know how to correctly calculate your future construction, entrust this important task to specialist builders.

Remember: you must build not only a beautiful, but also durable structure.

Balcony design options

Let's look at what type of balcony there is and how it is attached to the wall. In the diagram below, we see five structural types of fastening the load-bearing plate:

With a cantilevered plate. The most common fastening in multi-storey buildings.
With a slab on cantilever beams. Often used in the construction of private cottages.
With slab on brackets. With proper calculations, such a fastening can withstand a large load.
With support on the wall of the house and a column. Mainly used for fastening base plates with long overhangs.
Attached (attached) option. A structure attached to a building and not directly attached to the wall.

Balcony design diagram

When building independently, two types of fastening are used - on brackets (or hinged) and attached (attached). They can be built within 1-2 months.

Let's consider one by one these options for installing a balcony or loggia with your own hands.

Advantages and disadvantages of construction

The advantages include the following:

It is possible to add a balcony to a private house only if the house has already had at least two floors, including an attic. Most often, this extension is used for entertainment and relaxation, although some home owners are thinking about expanding the existing space.
Beautiful types of extensions, the design of which is tasteful, create a presentable appearance and serve as decoration for private homes.
In many cases, such extensions serve not only as a way to expand the space of the house, but also act as a roof, terrace or porch, serving as a base for them.
You create an additional escape route that will be useful to you and your family in case of an emergency.

However, there are a number of disadvantages:

It is best to consider financing the construction of a balcony immediately, when planning and building a house. An extension to an existing building can be very costly and complex in terms of construction work.
Before you start building a new building, you need accurate calculations. For this, it is recommended to contact specialists who will study your question in detail and calculate the required amount of suitable materials, as well as draw up an individual project. Balconies are extensions with increased danger; construction at random usually ends in an accident.
The presence of a balcony door can cause large heat losses; this problem is very common in cantilever structures. A building on independent supports will help you prevent heat from escaping.
Carefully study the question of the rationality of these works. Building in a location that is not suitable for your needs may end up being useless.

Main stages of construction

After obtaining permission for construction and planning work, choosing the type of structure, preparing tools, you can begin work. The construction of a balcony includes several stages.

Stage 1 - installation of struts, foundation

Base frames and struts are the basis on which the entire structure is supported. They are made by hand from galvanized metal, or purchased in a specialized store. The size of the struts is 50x50 mm.

There are a number of requirements for the installation of struts:

one side of the slope protrudes up and down by 50 mm;
the distance between the struts corresponds to 100 cm;
Anchors are used for fastening;
tying the struts with metallurgical angles;
mandatory jumpers are created across the triangles;
Additional anchors are attached to the adjacent wall.

A metal frame made of struts is a reliable basis for a hanging or attic balcony.

Stage 2 - installation of floor, frame

The floor of the future loggia is laid on the base frames. Due to the limited load-bearing capacity of the frame, casting a concrete base is excluded.

The floor of the structure is performed in two ways:

Fastening metal sheets under base frames. A layer of expanded clay is poured inside, a reinforcing mesh up to 5 mm thick is attached with wire, and welded around the perimeter. A layer of cement mortar is poured on top.
Sheets of rigid material are laid on the base frame, a waterproofing layer is laid, and covered with wooden boards secured with self-tapping screws. Logs are attached to the top, an insulating layer with a vapor barrier is laid, and a subfloor is laid.

The metal frame is welded on the ground, then placed on the prepared base. The side edges of the frame and the top lintel are secured to the wall with anchors. This increases the durability of the structure and reduces the load on the base.

Stage 3 – insulation, finishing

The finished balcony frame is sheathed with profiled sheet material. The type of finishing material depends on the type of construction and design of the house. After cladding, an additional insulating layer and sealing are laid to prevent moisture from penetrating into the room.

Stage 4 - roof construction

A support-cantilever roof is mounted on the finished frame. Attached to the wall with metal corners with lathing. The roofing material must be strong, reliable, withstand heavy loads, resistant to temperature fluctuations, and have a high reflection coefficient. Corrugated sheeting, seam roofing, and metal tiles are suitable for this.

Stage 5 – glazing, cladding, wiring

The final stage of construction and planning work is interior decoration, cladding, glazing of the balcony (in most cases, laminated plastic windows with a wood look are used). Finishing material is laid on top of the insulation for additional comfort indoors.

For internal lining use:

clapboard (for more details, see the article “lining a balcony with clapboard“);
drywall;
plastic panels (discussed in detail in the article “finishing a balcony with plastic panels”);
MDF, chipboard, plywood;
Tiles (we recommend the article “tiles for the balcony”);
PVC.

At the stage of covering the loggia, electrical wiring is installed, electricity is supplied, and heating is connected inside the room.

Common problems during construction

When building a loggia yourself, a number of problems often arise that interfere with the progress of construction. Most problems arise due to lack of experience and knowledge of performing such work. Therefore, before starting construction and planning work, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the installation technology of various balcony structures and recommendations for them.

How to attach a loggia to a wall?

Connecting the extension to the load-bearing wall is carried out in two ways:

fastening beams with support on support boards - the construction principle is similar to the cantilever structure; the beams are supported on support boards, and not on the wall;
mounting the second support row close to the wall is done by installing wooden slopes with an additional transverse beam.

An extension supported by support beams is not reliable and cannot withstand heavy loads, so installing furniture on such a loggia is not recommended.

How to install a fence?

Balcony railings are made of metal, wood or sheet materials manually, or purchased at a hardware store.

Installation of the fence is carried out according to the following scheme:

Marking the future building.
Installation of fence supports according to the project plan.
Applying markings for fastening railings;
Fastening reference points along the markings using anchors;
Assemble and secure the fence.
Final painting, decoration.

The installation method differs depending on the selected type of fencing and material.

Construction of balconies on the first floor

As a rule, residents of the first floors are deprived of such additional convenience as a loggia. Therefore, we will consider the process of manufacturing structures suitable for extensions on the lower floors.

Extension of a suspended balcony

The considered balcony project on the first floor involves a suspended mounting structure. What a suspended balcony looks like is shown in the photo below.

This is how you can build a suspended balcony on the first floor

The structure we are considering consists of a metal frame attached to the wall of the building.

Note: an extension to the building of a suspended balcony is possible not only on the 1st floor, but also on the 2nd floor (with high-quality welding of the structure and reliable fastening).

We begin construction by making a frame from metal corners. Corners of 60x60 mm are used for the base, and 45x45 mm for the parapet. The base is an isosceles right triangle.

Construction of a suspended structure frame

After completing the welding work, we fasten the base to the wall with anchor bolts. A metal frame is welded onto the upper shelves of the base - a support for the balcony floor. Next you need to attach the parapet.

We dismantle the window block and select an opening for the door block; it is necessary to install pre-prepared blocks in them (how to make an opening in the wall can be found on the Internet).

The construction of the base of the suspended structure is completed. The following works remain:

Flooring - we lay wooden logs that serve as the basis for the floor covering, for example, an OSB board. We insulate the floors and lay out decorative coverings.

We weld a metal sheet under the base, which serves as protection against arson and penetration.

Attaching decorative exterior cladding. You can use a professional sheet.
Glazing of the constructed balcony, its insulation. This work is carried out as on ordinary balconies.

In addition to the standard form, a balcony can be built with an extension - an extension of the balcony room.

Also, during construction, one should not forget about the aesthetic side. Your building will look more complete when you decorate its supporting frame.

Suspended (or curtained) balcony on the ground floor

Extension of an attached balcony with a foundation

The most common option for building a balcony with your own hands is an extension. In this case, the entire constructed structure rests on the foundation and is attached to the facade wall of the building.

What does such a balcony built with your own hands look like? The photo below shows one of the options.

Extension balcony on the first floor

We start the extension from the foundation. We make the markings and check their correctness along the diagonals. We dig a pit and install foundation blocks there. The load on them will be small, so we use the standard 2400x60x30 cm.

Attention: the depth of the foundation pit must exceed the freezing depth of the soil. The height of the balcony foundation should be at the level of the house foundation

Decorative finishing of the foundation of the extension should be made in the style of the building - lined with stone or plastered.

Further construction consists of erecting brickwork that forms the walls of the balcony. Its height should not be lower than the height of the building’s balcony board. The optimal thickness of brickwork is 250 mm. It needs to be attached as tightly as possible to the wall of the building.

We make sure to carry out waterproofing work - it will protect the balcony walls from destruction by groundwater. When building a cellar, you need to provide double waterproofing.

The second floor balcony slab can be used as a roof. If the structure you build exceeds the standard dimensions, you will have to attach an independent roof.

Now the completion consists of cutting a doorway, installing a new window and door, glazing and insulating the constructed balcony.

When equipping the exit, it is necessary to provide for the option of moving heating radiators - they need to be attached to a previously prepared place.

Remember: regardless of the type of balcony built, its doors must open into the room.

The time to build a balcony of this type is at least a month.

Detailed design and calculations

The preparatory stage of construction work begins with the development of a detailed design of the future loggia and calculation of the dimensions of the material.

The working draft includes the following details of the balcony:

marking the installation of supports on the ground;
marks for the depth of entry of support pillars into the ground;
marking the future frame of the loggia;
marking the location of sheets of material on the sheathing;
layout of the balcony room relative to the living rooms;
type of cladding;
location of window opening, door;
glazing decision;
type of roof and its fastening;
detailed diagram of fastening corners.

Correctly carried out, detailed calculations eliminate the risk of irreparable errors during construction, damage to the material, and additional payments due to incorrect calculation of materials.

Installation features

Before constructing a balcony railing, special fastenings are always installed. They are mounted into the wall, and after that the fence itself is installed. Such fastenings firmly fix the railings and consist of metal strips and steel reinforcement. According to GOST they must be double.

The methods for installing fences are as follows.

Made. A prefabricated structure is assembled from various parts at the construction site. The parts are delivered directly from the factory, after which the frame is constructed from them, and then all the other elements are attached to it.
Welded. In production, a one-piece fence is manufactured using welding, which is then installed using anchor bolts.

The above methods are relevant for all balconies except wooden ones.

You should also not forget about the legal side of construction. Installation work must be carried out in strict accordance with the rules for installing balconies. Otherwise, you may receive a large fine or complaint.

Moreover, installation work must be approved by the building management company. And if the house is included in the list of state-protected property, even the change of railings will have to be approved by the entire council of residents.

About building a balcony with your own hands, see below.

How to paint brick?

The simplest solution is to use an original brick wall. You just need to open it with paint or varnish, after cleaning it with a brush. After this, sand the surface with sandpaper. If the wall is uneven and has dents, it needs to be puttied. Next, all that remains is to paint the wall or varnish it. Modern water-dispersion paints have antifungal protection. You can do the same for the ceiling by using a lighter color paint; white is also suitable.

Finishing the loggia yourself: simple instructions

A loggia or balcony is another room that must be carefully finished and decorated. Upholstering an interior can cost a lot of money, but doing it yourself can help you save money.

Step-by-step instruction:

The entire perimeter is covered with a frame made of metal or wood. The interior upholstery will be attached to these elements in the future. They are selected individually depending on what materials will be used later at the finishing stage.
The next stage is glazing the balcony. This will be discussed in more detail in a separate paragraph.
The third step is the interior upholstery of the room.
The final step is the final decorative work.

Do-it-yourself balcony finishing is done from the following materials:

Siding - this material is used for interior and exterior decoration. It is durable, reliable, and has a wide color palette. But it can fade quickly in the sun, and it doesn’t always smell nice in a closed space.
Plastic panels - they look neat and beautiful on the walls, but create a sealed effect of the room. Also available in different colors - from shades of color to rich textures.
Wood – wooden lining is the most common material for cladding loggias. It looks neat and beautiful, and if properly treated with varnish, it does not fade in the sun, does not break, or crack. The material is also simple and convenient to work with. The only negative is that it is quite expensive.
Drywall - a moisture-resistant material is installed on the sheathing. The top of the slabs can be covered with paint or wallpaper. An inexpensive and easy-to-work material, but it looks less impressive than wooden lining.

You can trim the inside of the balcony yourself.

First, make sure that you have all the necessary tools and materials for the work:

facing material;
insulation;
dowel nails;
wooden slats;
jigsaw;
self-tapping screws;
waterproofing material;
polyurethane foam;
drill;
screwdriver

Do-it-yourself balcony finishing: step-by-step instructions:

Preparatory stage - at this step it is necessary to clear the room of unnecessary things, remove the old covering if any, inspect the walls for cracks, seal them, and also carry out cleaning.
Installation of the sheathing - the final material will be attached to it. The frame is made from durable wood beams, then mounted on the walls.
Insulation - after installing the sheathing, the free cells are filled with insulating material, which allows you to keep the room warm and comfortable even in cold weather. Penoplex is the most commonly used insulation, which is attached to cells and has the form of slabs. It is fixed with glue or foam, and the material must fit very tightly in the cells. Mineral wool is also used for insulation, but when installing it, waterproofing films must be used.
Waterproofing is a very important stage that comes immediately after insulation. Moisture penetrating onto the balcony leads to gradual deterioration of the material, constant leaks from the ceiling and the appearance of mold. Repeated repairs will require large time and financial investments. Waterproofing is done using polyethylene film, roofing felt or other membranes.
Installation of cladding - the lining begins to be attached to pre-installed plastic elements. The panels are fastened using self-tapping screws or staples.
Ceiling repair – without ceiling cladding, the room will have an unfinished look. You can make the same coating on top as on the walls, whitewash it, cover it with decorative plaster, or even install a suspended ceiling. Before starting cladding, it is necessary to make good waterproofing so that moisture does not penetrate from neighbors or from the roof and spoil the view.
Lighting is the final, but not mandatory, stage. You can provide light to a balcony or loggia using insulating channels made of white plastic or buy battery-powered lamps.

Balcony finishing with plastic panels

How to make a brick imitation?

If there is uncertainty about how much weight a balcony can support, the best solution is to decorate the balcony with decorative bricks: laying clinker tiles, facing tiles, brick-look wallpaper or PVC panels. Tiles can be smooth or rough, like brick, but they are used only inside a glazed balcony.

Tiles "Bricks"

Install the material in a row, inserting plastic crosses between the tiles. Afterwards, immediately remove the glue that comes to the surface during installation, since frozen glue is difficult to remove, and smeared glue can be easily wiped off with a damp cloth. After a day, when the material sticks well, you need to remove all the plastic crosses and clean the seams in order to fill them with grout later.

Soft tiles

Installation is carried out using PVA construction adhesive, which is applied to the walls. Then the material is attached monolithically. You need to know its structure: the base is plasterboard, the softness regulator is foam rubber and decorative material in the form of leather, suede or textiles. If the tile is damaged, all the decorative brick on the balcony does not need to be demolished, since the damaged part can be removed easily and quickly - you just need to lay a new one in its place.

Insulation

When building a closed balcony, the main problem may be its insulation, since a cold room will only be functional in the warm season. Let's take a closer look at how to insulate a balcony and its main stages.

The first step is to install insulated double-glazed windows, since with ordinary thin windows the heat is unlikely to linger indoors for long. A necessity is waterproofing from the inside of the room, which is done to protect the room from moisture.

If desired and necessary, after waterproofing, you can cover the balcony floor with insulating electric mats, which are commonly called “warm floors.” This is exactly the idea that will help heat the room and regulate the temperature in it.

In addition, if finances allow, you can insulate the walls during the construction process using special foam blocks. The material perfectly retains heat indoors and controls its gradual rather than sudden cooling.

We build columns for a brick balcony

First you need to decide on the thickness of the columns. They must be strong enough to withstand the load from the structure, as well as be in harmony with the overall appearance of the house. Thin columns look more elegant, but may not withstand the load from the weight of the balcony. In our case, we choose the thickness of the columns of two bricks - 510 mm. As for the material, it is best to choose the same as for the house - shaped dark brick with a rounded corner and an ordinary straight brick of a lighter shade to create a pattern on the columns and arch. When laying bricks, it is important that the seams on the columns coincide in height with the seams on the walls. Since the wall masonry has a cornice at the bottom - a brick laid on edge - the first row of masonry columns must be trimmed by 15 mm.

The foundation for the columns should be as level as possible, which can be easily checked by measuring its diagonals, which should be the same. Otherwise, the columns will hang unevenly over the base. If there are slight deviations in the length of the diagonals, boards can be attached to the plinth during construction using “quick installation”. When hanging on the base of the column, additional loads are applied. To reduce them, a masonry mesh is laid from the first to the third row of brickwork.

Between the foundation and the brickwork there must be a layer of waterproofing: two layers of roofing felt or a layer of aquaizol. To fix the columns, a metal pipe is produced from the laid foundation.

The order of laying the columns is 720 mm or 10 rows, like the walls of the house, the seams are thin horizontal.

After laying the 15th row, a reinforcement frame is installed in the resulting frame of columns, connected from rods with a diameter of 12 mm. A day later, the frame is filled with concrete.

Then the laying of bricks continues, and the reinforcement frame is tied in as construction progresses.

Construction safety requirements

A balcony room in a country house is subject to a number of technical requirements that guarantee the safety of the structure. The loggia must withstand the assigned load, not sag, or deform.

To do this, it is built in accordance with the following requirements:

the base plate is designed for a minimum of 200 kg, the outer strip - 400 kg;
permissible vertical load on the balcony parapet – 100 kg;
permissible horizontal load on the parapet – 40 kg;
standard parapet height is 1 m;
ensure that the structure is adjacent to a load-bearing wall without a window, with a minimum length of 1.2 m;
laying a drainage system;
the minimum slope angle of the base slab is 3 degrees;
length/height parameters of the structure in accordance with the housing design;
installation of additional racks, supports, columns for a large loggia area.

After studying the basic requirements for a balcony room, they move on to choosing the type of structure, materials, and measurements.

Make brick a decorative element

To prevent the balcony from looking monotonous and uninteresting, preference is given to brick rather than panels or lining. There is a concept of balcony slabs, which are the basis. In old houses, brickwork is not recommended as decoration, since the load on the loggia increases several times, and the permissible load is 210 kg/m2 over the entire area (standard dimensions), while the thickness of the balcony slab varies from 150 to 220 mm. Despite the fact that the balcony can withstand a lot of weight, it is worth considering that over time, the condition of the houses deteriorates and the heavy structure may collapse. Another solution is to strengthen the balcony slab in a brick house or make a brick parapet with your own hands. Laying a brick parapet is a short and not difficult process, but the material must be laid correctly. The structure is fastened to the side walls using metal rods; a metal mesh is placed every 3 layers of brick.

Arrangement of the balcony base

These works require special care, since the reliability, attractiveness and longevity of the balcony structure largely depend on them.

Connecting the balcony frame to the wall

As a rule, the frame of a wooden balcony is made of wooden elements.

Firstly, wood has high thermal insulation qualities, and secondly, it goes well with various architectural styles.

Typically, the balcony frame is connected to the wall using bars fixed vertically to the wall at the ends of the balcony base. The height of the bars determines the size of the fence. The wall is most often covered with clapboard.

The lining made of pine and larch looks good and is durable. If the balcony frame is large, then round profile boards are installed (block house). This wall has a distinct log look.

Floor installation

The floor is mounted on the prepared sheathing. Forty-millimeter planed boards are chosen as the material. To prevent water from accumulating, they are laid with a gap of up to 2 mm.

Terrace boards have worked well for decking on balconies. They are durable, but at the same time easy to process. The corrugated surface of the boards is suitable for open balconies.

Fencing installation

A good fence not only has an attractive appearance that matches the architectural style of the building, but is also durable and reliable. Turned or carved balusters give a wooden balcony an attractive look.

Railings are made from different materials:

Forged railings turn the balcony into a work of art. The number of possible ornament options is practically unlimited. Such fencing combines elegance with high strength.
Wooden railings provide high safety and reliability. They are easy to manufacture and install. However, such railings have a short service life due to rotting under the influence of moisture.

There are certain rules that fencing wooden balconies must comply with:

the height of the railing is not less than 1.0 m;
the distance between balusters is no more than 0.1 m;
permissible horizontal load on the railing is not less than 100 kg/m;
There should be no nicks or roughness on the surface of the railing.

Creating a canopy

Not every wooden balcony requires a canopy. It is equipped to create comfort and protect the balcony from the destructive effects of natural conditions.

It is easy to construct a canopy as an extension of the roof slope. In this case, it is enough to have longer rafters.

The simplest design is tying the top of the pillars to support the balcony base. After this, a sheathing is made on which the roofing covering is laid.

There are polycarbonate canopies mounted on the wall. Light materials that can withstand snow and wind loads are suitable for the canopy.

Processing of wooden elements

A mandatory requirement for all wooden balconies is protection from insects and weather conditions.

Protection will be effective if it is carried out comprehensively:

applying primers;
impregnation with antiseptics;
coating with fade-resistant varnish.

Special requirements for processing cladding material on open balconies without awnings. Therefore, before installation work begins, the reverse side of the floorboards is coated with VISASOL antiseptic primer. It contains substances that prevent the formation of mold.

For wooden railings, an elastic, hard and weather-resistant varnish is selected. The best option is alkyd-urethane varnish. It is not afraid of mechanical influences, temperature fluctuations, or direct sunlight.

The outside of a wooden balcony must be coated with paint that matches the color of the house facade.

The neighbor is almost invisible

There have always been enough people wanting to improve, and in the understanding of the majority, this means expanding their balcony. The current ones are no exception. Therefore, many multi-storey buildings amaze with the variety of frames, awnings, and other bells and whistles on the balconies, which greatly disfigure the appearance of the houses.

The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation made this clarification when reviewing the results of one “balcony” dispute. The point was that one of the owners of an apartment in an apartment building had remodeled her balcony.

Her reconstruction was, in fact, standard - this is what those who want to improve their balcony often do; the lady combined it with the kitchen, and at the same time increased its size. In addition to this, the owner installed a canopy over the balcony of such a length that it blocked the view of the neighbors above.

Neighbors, outraged by this inconvenience, contacted local authorities. Those who did not like the alteration either, and the authorities demanded that the apartment be returned to its previous state, claiming that the defendant started the redevelopment without permission from the competent authorities and without the consent of the neighbors. For their part, the residents of the house filed their own lawsuit. According to the neighbors, the balcony canopy extends approximately 1.5 meters beyond the balcony slab, which spoils both the view from the balcony and the image of the house.

The lady did not give up and responded with a counterclaim. In it, she wrote that she had collected a bunch of permits from all authorities and asked not to interfere with her enjoying life with a new and safe balcony.

talk about legal issues of managing an apartment building in the “Legal Consultation” section.
Judging by the documents obtained by the court, the reconstruction of the balcony meets both sanitary and fire safety requirements. And according to experts, there were no violations of the load-bearing structures during the redevelopment. During the trial, it turned out that the upcoming renovation of the balcony was approved by 49 neighbors and the owner of the non-residential premises of the house.

Local courts sided with the apartment owner.

In their opinion, the reconstruction of the balcony was carried out taking into account the requirements of construction and sanitary standards and regulations, does not in any way violate the rights and interests of the owners of other apartments, does not create a threat to their life and health and does not change the “purpose of the premises.”

But the city authorities and other neighbors did not agree with this decision and challenged it to the highest authority. The city authorities considered that such a decision was dangerous primarily because now everyone will be able to rebuild the balconies according to their taste and desires. It’s hard to imagine what the face of the city will turn into.

The Judicial Collegium for Civil Cases of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation carefully studied the “balcony” dispute and did not agree with the opinion of its colleagues. The Supreme Court said that the citizen carried out the redevelopment without permission, she did not receive permits, and did not obtain approvals from the authorities and neighbors. The highest authority explained that the balcony slabs are part of the common property, and, therefore, any redevelopment of them must be agreed upon with all owners of the premises in the house.

If you open the main document in such cases - the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, then paragraph 3 of part 1 of Article 36 says the following: all owners of premises in an apartment building own common property: roofs, enclosing load-bearing and non-load-bearing structures of a given house, mechanical, electrical equipment and other equipment .

The Supreme Court specifically emphasized that balcony slabs belong to common property. This is stated in the document called “Rules for the maintenance of common property in an apartment building.” These Rules were approved by government decree No. 491 of August 13, 2006.

These Rules contain paragraph 2 of Section I “Determination of the composition of common property”. The following is written there verbatim: “The common property includes, inter alia, the enclosing load-bearing structures of an apartment building (including foundations, load-bearing walls, floor slabs, balcony and other slabs, load-bearing columns and other enclosing load-bearing structures),” it says. .

Thus, the Judicial Collegium for Civil Cases of the Supreme Court emphasized, a balcony also refers to enclosing and load-bearing structures, the definition says.

The court in its decision stated that the tenant can reduce the size of the common property during the reconstruction of the premises, but such redevelopment is possible only with the consent of all owners of the premises in the house (Part 3 of Article 36 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation). The same provision is enshrined in Part 2 of Article 40 of the same code - “if reconstruction, reorganization or redevelopment of premises is impossible without adding part of the common property to them, the consent of all owners of premises in an apartment building must be obtained.”

This is the conclusion that the Supreme Court summed up in its reasoning - in case of serious redevelopment of a balcony in one individual apartment, the consent of all owners is a prerequisite.

And the local courts considered the consent of four dozen neighbors quite sufficient. But local courts did not take into account that there were more opponents to the reconstruction of the balcony. Meanwhile, neighbors who categorically object to the expansion of the balcony filed a collective appeal to the court, and it is available in the case materials.

“The Judicial Collegium for Civil Cases of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation finds that the violations of substantive law committed by the courts of the first and appellate instances are significant, they influenced the outcome of the case and without their elimination it is impossible to restore and protect the violated rights,” the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation says.

The court overturned all decisions made in the case and sent it for a new trial, ordering that the position of the RF Armed Forces be taken into account.

What to do with snow on the canopy?

So, the canopy protects the balcony from precipitation. But what will protect the roof itself? After all, winters in Russia are mostly snowy, and even in the southern regions the winter can be quite severe.

There is no panacea for this, and given that the balcony does not belong to the category of common property, it will not be possible to involve a management company in clearing it of snow. That is, this is entirely a headache for the apartment owners.

A whole snowdrift on the roof creates considerable loads on it. Therefore, it is better not to make cantilever-type visors, which do not rest on anything on the front side, in cold regions. The most win-win option is a dependent type of construction, when the roof is supported by metal racks on four sides.

Accumulation of snow and icicles on the visor

But the problem is not only that the roof can withstand the weight of the snow. When it begins to thaw, ice and huge icicles form, which can be dangerous for people on the lower balconies or walking around the yard. If an accident occurs, the owner of the apartment will be responsible for it.

Climbing onto the roof of a house to use something like a mop to clean the canopy of your balcony is not the best solution and is very dangerous. Moreover, not every apartment has its own hero capable of such actions.

The easiest way is to contact a specialized company, whose employees, either using lifting equipment or using industrial mountaineering, will safely climb up and carry out the cleaning. For a one-time trip you will be charged about 550-600 rubles.

Such heroism is extremely dangerous

But if you live in an area where winter lasts six months, it is better to think about how to prevent snow from accumulating on the roof and preventing it from falling uncontrollably. To do this, you can provide snow retainers on the balcony canopy, as well as on a regular roof, and consider installing an anti-icing system from an electric cable.

Beautiful ideas

Open arched balcony. This attractive structure acts as a canopy over the entrance to the house. The semicircular shape prevents the accumulation of snow and water during rain, and the spacious area allows you to organize a good rest.
Wooden attached balcony. Using this design, you can simultaneously organize two cozy corners for relaxation. The base platform here will act as protection for the terrace from precipitation.
The semicircular unglazed balcony simply amazes with its magnificence. An interesting solution in this case would be the use of forged fences.

Do you need a balcony in a private house: all the pros and cons

First, you need to decide what kind of structure is a balcony. So, regardless of the type of construction and material of manufacture, a balcony is a hanging structure on the facade of a building that allows you to access the open air directly from the room without leaving the house itself. As a rule, closed balconies are not installed in a private house.

Thus, from the definition itself it follows that a balcony can be built in a building with at least 2 floors.

As a rule, there is no particular need to build a balcony in a private house, because if you want to breathe fresh air, you just need to go out into the courtyard of your home, where you can provide a place to relax, benches, sun loungers, etc.

But, in fairness, it must be said that in some cases the construction of a balcony has proper justification and, in addition to numerous disadvantages, this idea also has its advantages.

The advantages of building a balcony in your home include:

The opportunity to create an exquisite and unique design, giving your home individuality and maximum comfort. Indeed, in fact, the presence of a thoughtful and beautiful balcony or loggia gives the architectural design of the building completeness and aesthetic advantage.
Free access to the street. Sometimes having a balcony is an objective necessity, for example, if an elderly or disabled person lives in the house, for whom leaving the house is difficult or even impossible.
Problem solution for smokers. If a smoker lives in the house, then a balcony is simply a necessary thing that will allow you to quickly go outside and not pollute the atmosphere of the entire house with tobacco smoke.
Improving the fire safety of the building. In the event of a fire in the house and it is impossible or difficult to get to the stairs and go down to the exit, the balcony will allow you to quickly get out of the smoke zone and hide from the fire, and, depending on the circumstances, either go down the structural elements of the building, or gain time and wait for outside help .

Now it’s worth mentioning the disadvantages, which include:

Increasing complexity of design and construction work;
Additional significant financial costs;
Significant heat loss through the balcony door and, in the case of cantilever balconies, through long linear thermal bridges;
It is difficult at the design stage to determine the most optimal location for the balcony, which often makes the use of the balcony uncomfortable and impractical (for example, the balcony was intended as a place to relax, but over time, a garage or a noisy workshop appeared on the property of a neighboring household directly opposite the balcony, etc.) P.).

At the same time, the design and construction of suspended structures on the facade of a building are the most complex and expensive activities in the construction of a house.

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.

Balcony or loggia?

When it comes to cottage development, the terms “balcony” and “loggia” are often confused, since the definitions given by building regulations apply to multi-storey buildings. In general, it is generally accepted that, unlike a balcony, it does not protrude beyond the plane of the wall of the floor below. The base of the loggia floor, as a rule, is the interfloor ceiling, and the lower frame of the balcony rests on pillars (columns) and/or consoles - specially designed outlets of slabs or floor beams.

The absence of a balcony in a private house may cause the entire structure to be perceived as an unfinished building. It decorates the façade and is an ideal place to spend time outdoors. But this is not an easy structure, the construction of which is subject to a certain number of requirements, and the most important among them are: ensuring the integrity and unity of the entire structure.

Among the positive aspects are:

A balcony is a great opportunity to give your home a unique, inimitable look. Beautiful, individual and unusual designs will decorate any private home and give it a complete look.
A balcony extension is an additional area that can be used as a place for relaxation, entertainment or even a work space. If the balcony is installed above the terrace, this will help to visually divide the house into two parts, which will visually increase the volume of the entire building.
Balcony extension is an emergency exit during a fire.
A balcony is not a cheap pleasure, but in some cases its installation can be profitable. Installing a balcony in a country house with a terrace or bay window will help save on the roof: its role will be played by the base of this structure. The balcony also acts as a roof over the entrance to the house, which becomes reliable protection from bad weather.

But, despite a fairly large number of positive aspects, there are also negative factors.

The presence of a balcony is the cause of heat loss. Very often this happens due to the door installed on the balcony and the thermal bridges inherent in the cantilever structure. Exceptions in this case may include structures that have autonomous supports, but their installation requires significant financial costs and significant space.
The construction of this structure is characterized by the complexity of developing design documentation and carrying out installation work. Before erecting such a facade structure, it is necessary to carry out a fairly large number of calculations related to determining the loads that it will experience, and the installation process itself requires certain knowledge and skills in this construction field.
Installing a balcony requires considerable financial costs, so you need to be prepared for the fact that this pleasure will cost the home owner quite a lot.
A question about the placement of a balcony that has not been fully thought through may result in the structure not being used for its intended purpose. This often happens in cases where the balcony faces the road or faces a neighbor's yard. That is why it is necessary, already at the project approval stage, to carefully plan the visibility of the structure with the features of the environment and construction sites present nearby.

What to give preference: roof or visor?

The roof is not included in the list of mandatory components of a balcony, but it can significantly expand its functionality. Instead of a roof, a canopy can also be installed, which will also act as protection from bad weather and direct sunlight.

Roof requirements:

The surface area of the roof should be slightly larger than the surface area of the load-bearing slab and balcony railing.
The roof must be installed at an angle to prevent accumulation of snow mass.

The roof can be single-pitch or gable. The first option is the simplest and most budget-friendly, the second is ideal for corner balconies.

A special Marquise canopy will help give your balcony an unusual and stylish look. This metal structure is covered with a special fabric, which allows it not only to act as a protective element, but also to emphasize the individual style of the entire structure.

Dome-type visors are less popular. This is due to certain difficulties in its manufacture, but many owners of individual buildings prefer this method of decorating the facade structure.

The arched visor, which is practical and highly functional, looks stylish and elegant.

Features of creating a veranda with a balcony

Many owners of country houses decide to create a veranda, because it can be attached to both a new and an old house. It is worth noting that it is possible to create a balcony over the veranda even if the beams were not designed for such a structure.

Before creating an extension, it is necessary to accurately calculate the load on the ground and find out the weight of the future structure. This is necessary to create a reliable foundation. The supporting columns of the veranda can be made of concrete, brick and wood. The choice of a particular option depends on the design style of the house and the load on the supports.

When creating a balcony, the ceiling above the veranda is created from roofing material and rests on beams located on columns. Creating a summer veranda with a balcony is quite simple, which is why home owners choose this option.

Types of structures

Any balcony, regardless of appearance, decorative elements and size, has three main structural elements:

base plate;
parapet or fence;
visor (roof), wind screen.

The slab is the main structural element. It can be made of either wood or reinforced concrete. The advantage of a wooden slab is its light weight, thanks to which this structure can be installed on the facade of any house.

How to make a visor?

The canopy is part of a closed balcony, and its functional role is to cover the glass from raindrops and reduce the flow of sunlight entering the room. The first step is to decide on the size of the visor. It is best that its length is slightly longer than the length of the balcony, and the free edge extends slightly beyond the railing. This way the canopy will be most functional, protecting the balcony from raindrops.

The next step will be the construction of fastenings. They can be completely different: straight, slightly inclined or even in the shape of a small arc. The main thing is that all fastenings are made of high-quality metal profiles and corners, since when building a balcony yourself, reliability and safety are valued above all else.

The construction of the roof canopy is completed. You will need to select the following materials:

for a straight surface, tiles or slate are suitable, which are often used to cover the roofs of houses;
for an inclined surface, the most reliable and lightweight option would be metal sheets, which are also called corrugated sheets, as well as durable ondulin;
Bendable metal sheets or polycarbonate are suitable for the arc.

Design placement options

Usually the balcony is located on the central part of the house and shares a roof with it. This location option is best suited for low-rise buildings. This placement allows you to best arrange a recreation area, protected from bad weather and scorching sun rays. A fairly spacious space allows you to install folding or plastic furniture here: tables, chairs.

Please note: We are building a balcony on the ground floor: how to do it correctly

A small triangular-shaped balcony located under the roof of the building looks unusual and attractive. Such a room can be successfully used to organize a flower corner.

Formwork for constructing a reinforced concrete balcony belt

Next, formwork is placed on the sides of the balcony between the walls of the facing masonry, where there are no arches, into which the reinforcing mesh will be laid and concrete will be poured. The mesh is knitted with knitting wire from rods with a diameter of 12 mm; for transverse reinforcement, rods of 10 mm are selected.

The formwork, cut from chipboard, is secured from below with binding wire, which is tied to pieces of reinforcement from above.

For better fixation, the wire is tensioned with a nail, then the formwork will be pressed tightly against the masonry and will not deform under the weight of the poured concrete.

The reinforcing mesh is placed in the formwork, supported by fragments of bricks, so that when pouring concrete it is completely in the solution, without contacting the bottom and without looking out, which can cause rust on the metal.

To create a frame above the arch, three strands of “monastic tightening” reinforcement are tied with reinforcement 10 mm thick. The result should be a triangular-shaped frame.

Minor repairs

Minor balcony repairs boil down to sealing cracks and crumbled edges, replacing rusted railings and rotten balcony blocks. Installing a PVC balcony block to replace an old wooden one is window work, not balcony work, so we won’t dwell on it. The maximum that will need to be done on the balcony is plastering the external slopes, installing a low tide if the balcony is open, cleaning, and restoring the finishing of the outer wall on the insulated balcony.

Cracks and edges

Repairing cracks in the base floor of a balcony can easily be done independently using “floor” technology if the cracks are superficial. The balcony slab is covered with a screed, and in the corner between it and the wall a fillet (rounding) is placed with a cement-sand mortar so that water does not penetrate into the joint of the load-bearing slabs. Surface cracks are formed due to thermal deformation and shrinkage of screeds with fillets and do not pose a danger, although they can look scary if they stretch in a chain along the wall.

Set of gap gauges

You can preliminarily determine the nature of the crack using a thin feeler gauge from a set for measuring gaps, see fig. The probe is inserted into the crack. If it moves more or less freely, but after 20-40 mm it sharply rests, the crack is superficial. If, under pressure, it gets tighter and tighter and then jams, a crack has penetrated into the slab, and an inspection by a specialist with an expert opinion is needed. It is quite possible that a seemingly strong balcony requires major repairs.

It is advisable to confirm your own conclusion about the superficiality of cracks with the opinion of a specialist. Calling him to a specialized balcony company costs no more than 1,500 rubles. The cost of a mistake is much higher, but you can work calmly.

The expert will also tell you what to do with chipped edges. If the reinforcement is not exposed, you can certainly get by with sealing it yourself with a floor screed mortar - the edges do not bear the load. They are closed using the sliding formwork method of two boards knocked into a corner. Before sealing, the restored surface is treated with concrete contact. In attached balconies and loggias, minor repairs most often come down to restoring the edges.

Note: on balconies without ebb, when restoring the edges, you need to install it on the upper surface of the slab. To do this, the screed is knocked down to the railing risers, catching its pieces in a suspended tray and bringing the edge to the corner. After the concrete has hardened, a flashing is applied, attached in any way to the railing posts, and the screed is restored.

Railing

The difficulty in replacing railings lies in the fact that they are welded to the reinforcement frame of the slab, and the fastening points on which water flows corrode first. Therefore, you cannot simply cut off the railings and weld new ones: they will not hold on, which may turn out to be the last thought of anyone leaning on it.

A specialist should replace the railings on the balcony. The technology is as follows: in place of the old fastenings, holes are knocked out to the reinforcement, in the slab and in the wall, then new railings are welded in, and the slab and wall are restored with “balcony” concrete. If a comprehensive renovation of the balcony is planned for insulation/attachment (see below), then instead of railings a frame for a parapet or extension is installed.

Let's move on to repairs: emergency and major

If the balcony is completely rotten and crumbling, then, of course, there is no time for glazing and finishing. First of all, the balcony needs to be strengthened. But it’s easy to say, but to do... The problem of worn-out housing stock is one of the most important in the country.

Dilapidated balconies in varying degrees of wear and tear

Take a look at the pictures. In appearance, both balconies are “completely destroyed,” but the one on the left definitely needs emergency repairs, with the replacement of the slab, but the one on the right needs to be shown to a specialist. It may well turn out that it is possible to restore it, although a tree has grown on it: the destruction of the slab has not yet reached the wall. If it turns out that the reinforcement is eaten away by corrosion by less than 10%, the matter will cost a major overhaul, and it is much simpler and cheaper than an emergency one.

Emergency balcony repairs are absolutely terrifying. You need at least two pieces of special equipment - a crane and a tower or a manipulator with a cradle - and a truck. It is necessary to pay for the work of a team of highly qualified installers and their insurance. In addition, organizations that undertake major repairs of balconies are not available in all large cities, and the paperwork is so complicated that it is easier to repair the house right away. And this is not bureaucratic red tape: the dead balconies do not stick out from new buildings. Most likely, the whole house is in a deplorable state, but the emergency slab will have to be broken out of the load-bearing wall.

Conclusion No. 1 for apartment owners and tenants: do not let the balcony become a disaster, relying on the authorities. Any search for the truth later, in the legislative field or outside it, will not correct the unusable slab. It’s better to push yourself, or let go of the world one by one, and put things in order, where we live and what we walk on.

Overhauling a balcony is also not an activity for DIYers, but it will cost much less. The essence of the work is to thoroughly clean the worn-out slab, straighten and possibly weld the reinforcement, weld new railings to it, treat the rest of the body of the slab with concrete contact, then tie the frame with formwork and concrete it. But why, in this case, can’t you do it yourself? It doesn't seem to be very difficult.

Firstly, it is impossible to start cleaning without an expert assessment, and here there is little theory, you need enormous construction experience to accurately indicate where the old should be knocked down and cut off, what can be left, and what needs to be replaced with a new one. Then - concreting. Concrete needs classes of at least B10 for strength and F32 for frost resistance. Let us remember that the slab is only embedded into the wall at the edge.

You cannot mix a solution of the required quality in a bucket with a mixer; Concrete of the grade required for the balcony slab is prepared using industrial equipment. And, finally, the concrete must be laid by a highly qualified concrete worker who knows all the intricacies of the work and understands the properties of the material with an accuracy not even down to the brand - to the individual batch.

Without all these measures, the new concrete will not merge with the old into one, but will only overload the already weak remainder of the slab.

In general, the overhaul of a balcony slab is not a cheap undertaking, but the slab shown in the right figure can be brought to a state of suitability for insulation within 16-18 thousand rubles. Therefore, we repeat once again: do not let the balcony become dangerous. The best way to save yourself from drowning is to learn to swim.

And at whose expense?

Several thousand are not lying around on the road, and if the balcony is in disrepair, then the amount of repairs will make an oligarch groan. Can balcony repairs be attributed to the homeowner? They say there is something in the law about this.

That’s right, in rental apartments, the balcony should, in theory, be repaired by the management organization (MA). Remember, it is the manager, not the exploiter, i.e. the owner of the house or a legal entity acting on his behalf. But in laws and regulations it is NOWHERE AND NOT clearly stated whether a balcony should be considered a living area or part of a supporting structure. And it’s not the stupid legislators who are to blame here, but, don’t be offended, dear readers, probably the residents themselves.

If the balcony is load-bearing (and according to construction mechanics it is), then it belongs to the building management, and residents can only serve tea and dry laundry on it. There can be no question of any insulation connections, and everything that is fenced up must be demolished, and even fines must be imposed for this. By analogy: even in the most elite residential complexes, no one sets up a personal solarium on a common roof or fences off a living space in the stairwell for their beloved Rottweiler Bucks.

But people need to live, and there is a clear shortage of living space, and even the most ardent communists are now prudently keeping mum about the sunny cities of the future. Therefore, legislators quietly came to a compromise that is quite reasonable in the current conditions: to charge for balconies as for living space, and to turn a blind eye to the squatter construction of balconies, as long as they can pass through according to the strength calculations. Refined funds are at least enough to repair balconies, which are completely falling apart if local authorities do not steal them, but this is no longer a construction issue.

Conclusion No. 2 for apartment owners and tenants: do not look for the truth on balconies in courts and offices. Even the most honest and conscientious boss, with a sincere and ardent desire to help people, is powerless without a legislative framework, and there is none as such. The maximum that the MA can help you with is a report on the emergency condition of the balcony, or a conclusion on its suitability for further use subject to major repairs, or a permit for additional strengthening, see below. These are not “excuses”, these are necessary papers. If they are available, the development and approval of a reconstruction or redevelopment project is significantly simplified. You might even be able to get some of your renovation costs reimbursed through a local housing redevelopment program. The development of such programs should be achieved by all acceptable means.