Construction of a balcony in a private house: pros and cons, varieties, construction nuances

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.

Pros and cons of a balcony

Among the positive aspects are:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Balcony extension is an emergency exit during a fire.
4. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Documenting

Before proceeding with calculation and construction work, it is necessary to obtain permission to build a loggia.

Documents for installing a balcony in a country house with your own hands include:

• permission from the company on whose balance sheet the house is listed;
• official written agreement of the residents of the house for construction;
• a finished loggia project from an architectural agency;
• construction agreement from supervisory and municipal services of the city;
• ownership of the house;
• BTI certificate;
• owner's application for redevelopment;
• photo of the cottage.

For advice and a detailed list of documents for the construction of a balcony room in your home, contact the planning inspection in your city.

Types of balconies

Based on the type of design of the structure, there are two main types: open and closed balconies.

Open design

Open balconies occupy a leading position compared to closed views. This facade structure is used as a decorative element, so much attention is paid to the choice of finishing materials and its decoration. Forged metal fences, which are the main components of decor, have become widespread.

When installing wrought iron fencing, the following points must be taken into account:

• the size of the fence should not exceed the size of the load-bearing slab and the balcony opening;
• when carrying out work to determine permissible loads, it is necessary to take into account the fact that it is planned to install a metal fence;
• The installation of the fence can be carried out only after the reinforced concrete slab has been completely restored and leveled: all chips and cracks must be eliminated on its surface.

Closed design

Glazing the balcony structure allows you to increase the functionality of this space and use the balcony as widely as possible: as a room for relaxation, creativity, or even as a bedroom. And those who love home flowers can breed here species that prefer large amounts of sunlight.

The glazed area is protected from bad weather, extraneous noise and annoying insects. For an unusual, aesthetic and original design of facade structures, various types of glazing can be used: panoramic, stained glass, partial.

Balconies can be made of concrete or wood.

Concrete balcony

Concrete is very often used as a base material for the construction of balconies due to its unique properties and extended service life.

This architectural structure has individual characteristics.

1. The reliability of such a structure directly depends on the thickness of the house wall, since the load-bearing structures are recessed into the wall. In the case where the wall is not particularly strong, it is necessary to install additional supports.
2. The length of the balcony overhang should not be less than one meter.
3. The foundation slab is inserted into the wall along its entire length if the residential building was built of brick.
4. The top level of the slab should be at a distance of 5 to 8 cm below the planned level of the floor covering.
5. The base of the structure must be waterproofed.
6. The height of the parapet cannot be less than one meter.

Wooden balcony

A wooden balcony is somewhat inferior in reliability, but superior in decorative characteristics to a concrete one. This is due to the fact that wood is a unique material, thanks to which you can easily and simply create an atmosphere of comfort, sophistication and splendor. The wood has a unique smell and is distinguished by excellent aesthetic properties.

The installation of a wooden facade structure has its own distinctive features that must be taken into account.

1. For installation, you need to use beams with a cross section of 10x20 centimeters.
2. The depth of the beams in the facade is at least 25 centimeters.
3. The main fastening elements are metal angles and bolts.
4. The vertical and longitudinal posts mounted on the console have the following dimensions: 4 by 10 cm and 5 by 10 cm, respectively.
5. After installing the boards, handrails are installed and the flooring is laid.
6. Wooden elements must be treated with oil paint, and handrails and gratings are additionally coated with waterproof varnish that is resistant to low temperatures.

Basic materials

A loggia in a private cottage is built from natural, artificial materials with high strength, load-bearing capacity, and long service life:

• tree;
• metal;
• concrete;
• glass.

Balcony with concrete floor

The design, type, and choice of material for the balcony room depend on the type of decoration of the house and its material. It should fit into the overall design, without standing out or resonating.

How to make a balcony in wooden houses

You can install a balcony in a wooden house with your own hands.
First of all, the home owner needs to decide on the type of future structure. Often balconies are installed directly in the roof. If the owner wishes to install a pediment balcony, then this wish should be taken into account already at the construction stage of the building, since it is necessary to make one of the fronts deeper, taking into account the planned width of the future façade structure. The base slab must be covered with insulation, on top of which a layer of waterproofing is laid, after which a screed is made. At the final stage, a fence is installed, the material for which is selected according to the customer’s wishes: wood, metal, brick.

Bottom line

Installing a balcony in private buildings is a good solution. Residents will feel the lack of this space very quickly, especially if they previously lived in a house or apartment with a balcony. But such construction procedures require experience and certain knowledge, therefore, both at the planning stage and at the construction stage it is worth using the help of specialists. First of all, out of security interests. As for functionality and design, a large number of designs and designs for such extensions will allow you to choose the most suitable solution.

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.

Preparation for construction

The first stage of the start of construction work is the selection of material, its purchase, the design of the future extension, and the preparation of tools. The material for the loggia is selected taking into account the design of the entire house. The material should fit into the overall style of the cottage, not stand out, not resonate against the general background.

Necessary construction tools include:

• metal fittings;
• wire;
• plywood, boards, metal profile;
• concrete solution;
• hammer;
• putty knife;
• channels for the frame;
• metal pipes.

The type of equipment varies depending on the type of balcony, material, and main construction project.

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.

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.

Tips for finishing a porch

Porch design ideas can be seen in the photo. There are a lot of design options for the entrance group.

Finishing materials for cladding the porch

The porch to a wooden house is most often made from the same material. It is impregnated or painted with special compounds to protect against pests and adverse conditions.

A concrete porch can be lined with ceramic tiles or decorative stone (brick).

The metal porch is decorated with forged elements.

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:

1. The surface area of ​​the roof should be slightly larger than the surface area of ​​the load-bearing slab and balcony railing.
2. 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.

Siding

You can improve the quality characteristics of your balcony by covering it with siding. Siding is often used in multi-story buildings, but it can also be adapted to a private home. Advantages of cladding:

• installation can be carried out on any surface of the fence;
• ease and durability of installation;
• resistance to changes in moisture and temperature;
• the material is not afraid of ultraviolet rays;
• does not corrode and rot;
• long service life;
• easy to care for;
• has a nice look.

How to make a balcony in a private house: sequence of actions

Construction of a balcony requires the following work.

1. Frame installation. For the base of the frame, it is recommended to use interfloor beams, which were provided at the design stage to extend beyond the boundaries of the house wall. The cross-section of such beams must be at least 15 cm by 8 cm. If you plan to install a balcony whose width is over 20 dm, or if a balcony is being added to an already finished building, the construction of additional supports becomes a prerequisite. For this purpose, an additional beam is fixed to the house, the cross-section of which corresponds to the cross-section of the interfloor floor beams. For wooden columns, beams with a cross-section of 100 by 100 are best suited. It is advisable that they be installed at the time of pouring the foundation using box-shaped consoles. After this, another transverse beam is laid on the already installed columns, 1.5 cm (± 0.5 cm) below the fixed beam. The remaining beams (size 150 by 50) are fastened to these parallel beams. The fastening pitch is 5 dm.
2. Installation of brackets. The installation of these elements entirely depends on the wishes of the owner of the residential building. So, triangular-shaped wooden struts can be installed. With the help of anchors, the legs of these triangles are fastened to the wall of the house and the beams of the balcony, and the hypotenuse acts as an additional support. It is permissible to decorate a wooden balcony with forged metal elements that harmoniously complement the overall appearance of the structure.
3. Laying the floor. For the floor, it is recommended to give preference to wooden boards whose thickness is greater than or equal to 40 mm. The boards are installed at right angles to the load-bearing beams with a gap of up to 2 mm.
4. Installation of fencing. At this stage, the following points must be taken into account: the height of the railing is at least 1 meter, and the distance between the elements is no more than 11 dm.
5. Canopy installation. This stage is not mandatory, but it will help emphasize the individuality and peculiarity of the structure.
6. Glazing of balconies in a wooden or brick house.
7. Processing and finishing. At the final stage, wooden structures are treated with special impregnations, which allow preserving the original appearance and extending the life of the structure.

Do not forget about the decorative elements of the balcony, lighting and arrangement, because these moments play a significant role in creating conditions for an ideal holiday.

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.

Beautiful ideas

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. The semicircular unglazed balcony simply amazes with its magnificence. An interesting solution in this case would be the use of forged fences.

Developing a plan

During the construction process, you must strictly follow the work plan, technical documentation, and nothing else, because any arbitrariness threatens you with serious consequences, at a minimum - the indignation of your neighbors, at a maximum - you may lose your new building, and you will be held administratively liable. What should be included in the plan:

• collect all the necessary documents for official registration,
• consider options for existing balcony designs,
• draw up a room plan,
• calculate the estimate.

Let's start with the most time-consuming procedure. Only after assessing the scope of work on official registration, you can understand whether you have a chance to obtain permission for an extension.