The difference between a balcony and a loggia. Definition according to SNiP.
A person decorates his life in all aspects - from his appearance to the facade of his home. The latter looks more expensive and more comfortable with a summer area where you can relax in the warm season with a cup of aromatic coffee, your favorite book or a pleasant company of friends.
People who are far from construction topics believe that balcony and loggia are synonymous words. It's a delusion. They have a lot of differences both in design and functionality. Let's take a closer look at their features.
How to determine whether an apartment has a balcony or a loggia?
photo of a balcony and loggia after renovation
Open the door leading outside the room and see whether this architectural area is part of the apartment, surrounded on 3 sides by walls or not.
If not, you will end up with a balcony because it extends beyond the load-bearing wall and has no wall support on the sides. If yes - loggia. It forms part of the room/rooms, separated by a thin wall with windows.
Loggias for plants
The loggia is an excellent place for plants, where they have enough sunlight and air. Choose a beautiful pot for each flower and let the plants be the main focus of the loggia.
What is a loggia and balcony, what do they look like?
photo of the loggia and balcony from the outside, view of the facade of the house.
A balcony is an area protruding beyond the plane of the facade, overhanging the ground. It is attached to the building with a slab or beams that hold its lower part. It has a fence in the form of a lattice or concrete strip 1 m high.
A loggia is a separate room enclosed on 3 sides by walls and having an open area. In the case of a corner type, there will be two such walls.
If you look at the façade of the house, the balcony protrudes, overhangs, and protrudes beyond its boundaries. The loggia seems to be recessed into the façade of the building.
Brief conclusions
For clarity, the main differences are placed in the table.
| Evaluation criterion | Balcony | Loggia |
| External differences | Protrudes from the wall | Hidden in a niche |
| Permissible load | Up to 200 kg per 1 m2 | Up to 400 kg per 1 m2 |
| Possible glazing | Lightweight designs only | Almost all glazing and insulation options are acceptable |
| Functionality | Can only be used for recreation | Many applications |
| Price | Higher | Below |
| Number of closed sides | One | Two or three |
What is the difference between a balcony and a loggia in an apartment: comparison, difference
view from the facade of houses to the balcony and loggia
- The balcony is connected to the apartment only by a slab that holds its floor. Loggia - three walls.
- The balcony does not have a ceiling, unlike a loggia.
- It is easier to make repairs, insulate and glaze a loggia, since it can withstand greater loads than a balcony. For the latter, make additional calculations so that the holding plate is able to withstand the weight of materials and glass.
- The area is overwhelmingly larger near the loggia.
- Unlike a balcony, it can be insulated by installing a battery. True, according to the law it will be necessary to include its area in the heated area.
- The balcony does not shade the room it is adjacent to. The wider the loggia, the less intense daylight penetrates the room.
- The loggia can easily be used as an additional room or extension of the room. The balcony is a decorative or utility extension.
Glazing of structures
Glazing has become very popular recently. This is correct, because if there is a lot of space in the room, you can make an office or even a relaxation area out of it. But if you need to redevelop the premises, you will need insulation. With a veranda everything is simpler, because we already have the base, just cover it with foam, make the cladding and you're done.
It’s more difficult with a balcony, because there are no walls and nowhere to attach a layer of insulation. We first have to make a concrete base, but a problem arises - the slab, which is the floor, is not always able to withstand a heavy load. It needs to be strengthened. And there is no ceiling, you have to create one.
Afterwards you can start glazing. It is done to protect the space from dirt and noise; in addition, a layer of glass will help retain more heat in the house. Another reason is to create additional living space.
The cost of glazing is not always known in advance. It will depend on what exactly you have. But this will not give an accurate answer.
Typically, the cost of work depends on two criteria:
- strengthening the base fencing;
- glazing area.
And since the first criterion concerns only protruding rooms, the cost of glazing a loggia is usually cheaper.
Balcony glazing
In addition, there are additional criteria:
- frames;
- low tides;
- window sills;
- visors;
- low tides
Therefore, it is impossible to determine the price in advance. First, a group of workers should come to you to evaluate the area and other criteria.
What is better, bigger: a balcony or a loggia?
More definitely a loggia. It also wins in terms of safety, functionality, and variety of ideas for renovating the space. Relatively better - it all depends on the preferences and goals of the owners. If space is important to you and the use of space as an extension of the room, then a loggia is preferable for you.
If you sometimes just want to go outside the apartment and admire the landscape or plant seedlings before going to the country, then choose housing options with a balcony.
Hobby loggias
I also want to allocate a separate place for my favorite hobby and do it without interference. The loggia can even be turned into a miniature sewing workshop, not forgetting to leave a corner for relaxing and thinking about creative ideas. In order to combine several different zones, use a neutral color scheme: shades of beige, brown and gray.
Instagram: @interi_design_studio
Instagram: @interi_design_studio
- Workplace
How to decorate a workplace on the balcony: 40 ideas with photos
What is the difference between a loggia and a balcony according to the law, SNiP standards, in a new building?
The sketch of the location of the balcony and loggia relative to the facade of the building
of the RF Residential Complex clearly indicated that the area between the load-bearing walls, slabs and fences of the summer areas (balcony) of the apartment is private property. That is, in terms of the rights to use the space of a balcony and loggia, it should be said that they are the same for homeowners in both cases.
SNiP standards give a clear interpretation of the concepts of “balcony” and “loggia”. Check them out in the picture below.
definition of a balcony and loggia according to SNiP
In modern new buildings you can find balconies and loggias. True, future apartment owners prefer either loggias or the absence of summer areas. However, fire safety requirements indicate the mandatory presence of an emergency exit from the premises in a building higher than 5 floors.
Loggias in new buildings are more spacious, sometimes turning into a veranda, the length of the entire wall or walls, if the structure is corner. The balconies of a house above economy class can be glazed.
So, we looked at the design features of balconies and loggias, their location in the apartment, and their definition according to SNiP.
History of the balcony
It first appeared as an element of architecture in the East. In Europe, the first construction of balconies began in the 13th century, using them as hinged loopholes on fortress walls for pouring tar onto the heads of attackers. Later they began to be used as architectural decoration.
Many people remember the famous scene with Romeo's declaration of love to Juliet. The girl was on the balcony. This is a confirmation of the fact that in Shakespeare's time such an element of buildings was common in the houses of nobles and wealthy merchants.
In different countries, their own types of balconies appeared, different from others, the features of which depended primarily on the weather conditions in a particular area:
- In regions with warm climates there are open areas.
- In areas where it is hot - structures with a canopy.
- In areas with frequent rain and cool winters, use bay windows (semicircular enclosed spaces).
In Russia, structures of this type began to spread widely in the 19th century, when construction was already carried out using metal and concrete. Cast iron prefabricated platforms appeared and became very popular. Subsequently, technologies only improved and led to the creation of modern balcony design. Thus, with the advent of reinforced concrete slabs, fastening on beams became a thing of history, which made it possible to increase the size of the site.
Decorating loggias inside – photo of design ideas
For finishing glazed and insulated loggias, the same materials are used as for finishing other rooms, but the most popular method is finishing with wooden or plastic lining. Decorating the inside of the loggia with wooden clapboard creates a more comfortable environment, and plastic is easier to care for and does not need to be painted regularly.
Loggia design with panoramic glazing
Panoramic glazing looks beautiful and makes the room filled with light. Loggias can be designed in any shape, size and style. Basically, the forms of loggias are divided into types:
- rectangular;
- square;
- semicircular;
- in the form of a trapezoid.
Attractive potted plants, light curtains and paintings are modern ideas that will decorate outdoor living spaces with panoramic glazing, turning them into elegant retreats.
Panoramic glazing requires a powerful stream of natural light, so choose fading-resistant finishing materials, especially if you have a sunny side.
Buy comfortable and compact seating furniture. Corner furniture will help maximize space and create a beautiful environment. Decorative accessories, plants in floor and hanging pots, curtains or blinds, pillows will help you fully experience the romance of your new vacation spot.
