Houses of the P-44 series began to be built in 1975; this is one of the most successful projects, modifications of which are still being built. P-44 windows have standard sizes: double-leaf 1470x1420 mm, three-leaf 1760x1420 mm. The balcony door 700x2160 mm comes with a double-leaf window 1160x1420 mm. The wide distribution of the series and the standard size of windows are the key to the fact that you can purchase ready-made windows and not waste time waiting for your order to be made.
Distinctive features of balconies in houses p44t
Apartments in 44t buildings have several types of balconies:
- boat
- boot
- iron
A “boat” is an oblong loggia with an area of 2.9 square meters. Such balconies are part of one-room and two-room apartments, they have access to a large room, as well as a common wall with the “boot” loggia of the neighboring apartment.
The “boot” balcony got its name from its visual resemblance to this type of shoe. It is a corner part of two- and three-room apartments, connected to large rooms. The area of the loggia is 4.3 square meters.
“Iron” is a trapezoidal balcony adjacent to small rooms in two- and three-room apartments. Area 4.2 square meters.
Apartment plan with iron balconies
Tips for a beginner master
Insulating the floor on a loggia and balcony is a fascinating process that can be done with your own hands. An inexperienced craftsman will cope with this work even with a complete lack of construction skills, if he follows all technological recommendations.
It is very important to avoid common mistakes so as not to nullify all your efforts:
- To close gaps and seams, you need to use only polyurethane foam. The gypsum putty will crack, which will lead to condensation;
- It is advisable to insulate in two layers; there is no need to skimp on insulation;
- if possible, try to choose lighter options instead of concrete screed;
- Do not use substances containing a solvent;
- to increase the service life and efficiency of insulation, it is necessary to use hydrophobic agents;
- vapor barrier film cannot be laid on the cold side, as constant condensation will ruin it;
- when working with penoplex, do not use a metal profile for the frame;
- if insulation is installed, then you can move along the balcony or loggia only by stepping on the logs;
Insulating balconies and loggias allows you to retain more heat in your home, even if you do not plan to turn them into additional living space. Insulating the floor on the balcony is only one part of the work to reduce heat loss. However, it is very important and significant, since most of the heat escapes through the reinforced concrete floor slab. An insulated floor creates a cozy and comfortable atmosphere on a loggia or balcony.
Glazing of a balcony in a house P44T
Balcony glazing is an important stage in insulation, regardless of the use of the room as part of an apartment or an autonomous facility. You can choose warm or cold glazing type. For the first, sealed double-glazed windows with sound insulation for two or more chambers are suitable; for the second, a good aluminum profile or single-chamber double-glazed window is sufficient. With each option, it is worth paying attention to some of the nuances that accompany the glazing of balconies in houses of the p44t series.
Read more in the article “Which windows are better to install on the balcony: plastic or aluminum.”
The “boat” stretches across the width of the entire room, but the loggia itself is quite narrow. The minimum width is 0.4 meters, and the maximum is 0.9 meters. Such dimensions make the use of wide casement windows undesirable, since using them will not be convenient. It is better to use a sliding glazing mechanism in that part of the balcony where the wall runs parallel to the wall of the apartment room. Such wide windows with a minimum number of frames will let in a lot of light.
Also a good option would be small-width double-glazed windows with any opening mechanism. A large number of frames will limit the amount of sunlight entering the room.
To insulate the “Boot”, it is necessary to accurately calculate the glazing scheme. The part of the loggia where the “toe of the boot” is located is small in size and of non-standard shape. At its narrowest point, the wall reaches 40 cm, so wide windows can only be installed in the part where the balcony parapet is parallel to the wall of the main room.
It is possible to use a sliding mechanism in the long part of the parapet, but in the “toe of the boot” this will be difficult to do, so you should choose the option with a small hinged window.
“Iron” is the most successful field for imagination in glazing. Thanks to the large width and two simple lines of the parapet, it is possible to install any type of double-glazed windows and use all types of window opening mechanisms.
Balconies in P44T houses are designed for heavy loads, so you can safely choose any material for glazing. Wood, plastic, aluminum (for more details, see the article “aluminum glazing of loggias”) - the loggia can withstand any frame.
Increasing the amount of daylight indoors
The glazing of a “broken” balcony is made of several window sections, which are connected by special pipes. The disadvantage of this technology is that due to the width of the pipes, the light opening is reduced.
It is necessary to select connectors for window blocks with the optimal width, this will allow 20% more sunlight to pass through.
Attention! The measurement of such a balcony must be carried out especially carefully by a qualified craftsman, otherwise during installation the profile may not fit correctly into place, or large gaps may remain due to misalignment.
Insulation techniques
The insulation of a balcony depends on the quality in which it will be used. A loggia can serve as a stand-alone room, or it can become part of a room (for more details, see the article “combining a loggia with a room”). Be cool or warm.
Cold glazing, minimal insulation
In order for the loggia to serve as a winter garden, a summer greenhouse, a place for drying clothes (for more details, see the article “clothes dryer for the balcony”) and storing things, you don’t need a lot of materials. It is enough to make cosmetic repairs to the loggia, if necessary, and minimally insulate the loggia using penofol - this is an elastic, elastic material. In this case, the temperature on the balcony will only differ by 5-6 degrees from the temperature outside.
In order to constantly have a positive temperature on the balcony, it is necessary to foam all the joints of the slabs, walls, and floors. After this, enclose all surfaces with Izolon, an insulating material similar in properties to Penofol. You can finish with minimal decorative finishing - linoleum on the floor (details in the article “linoleum on the balcony”), plastic slabs on the walls and ceiling (details in the article “covering the balcony with plastic panels”).
This is the most budget-friendly method of insulation, which takes up the least amount of usable space, about 25 mm over the entire area. For a “boat” this option will be the best.
Maximum insulation
If you plan to store things on the loggia of the 44t series (read the article “storage system on the loggia”) that require a warmer room, then you should choose several types of insulation for finishing. This is necessary because not only the walls, but the ceiling and floor must be warm (more information on “floor insulation on the balcony”).
Such measures are necessary because heating can be removed to non-residential parts of the apartment only after agreement with the competent authorities, which leads not only to time costs, but also financial ones - ordering a project, accompanying documentation, permits. (
Features of operation
There are several points that need to be taken into account when installing heated floors on the balcony in order to extend the life of the system and its efficiency:
- do not install heated floors on an uninsulated balcony, insulate the floor tiles, walls and ceiling - this will allow you to avoid wasting heat;
- use lightweight thermal insulation material, install from inside the room;
- use a moisture-resistant topcoat.
Currently, in order to increase the usable area and increase the functionality of the balcony, it is not only glazed, but also insulated, and heating is installed - warm floors. With a well-chosen heating system, you can use the balcony room at any time of the year.
Options for transforming a balcony for houses of type 44t
Isolated room
The “boat” is suitable for stretching ropes for drying (for more details, see the article “clothes lines for the balcony”), the entire length of the loggia will fit sheets and duvet covers, even from a Euro set, which is 220 cm. The narrowest part of the loggia can be used for a cabinet and shelves for products or of things. A section of shelves can be found in any furniture store, but a small cabinet for a loggia will need to be ordered according to individual measurements.
The “boot” has an irregular shape, which seems like a disadvantage, but when arranging storage spaces, it can be turned into an advantage. This unique niche can be used for shelves on the balcony or a rack. With this option, you can save on double-glazed windows and replace the window with a plastic sealed plug.
Another option for turning an awkward shape into a useful space is a door. Thus, the niche is converted into a cabinet for storing large items.
In the toe of the “Boot” you can place a spacious cabinet, so you don’t have to give up part of the windows.
In the unused part of both “Boats” and “Iron” you can arrange a recreation area for one or two people.
The “Iron” balcony has the most space for alterations; its shape allows you to arrange a separate room on the balcony, such as a study. To do this, it is not necessary to combine the space with the living room; it is enough to install all the necessary furniture.
Combined space
If the loggia is warm enough, then it can be attached to the living room to increase the living space. This is often done in houses of the p44t series, because the rooms in them do not even reach 20 square meters, and some are 12, a large number of load-bearing walls does not allow remodeling the apartment in any other way. The layout of the “Iron” and the 44t boat will hardly allow you to arrange a comfortable extra bed on the balcony, but it is suitable as a work area or a place to relax.
A workshop or workplace on the balcony can now be arranged using the “Boat”. Its narrow part can be used for a non-standard desktop using window sills. Furniture will need to be made to order; standard furniture will not fit the small width of a small corner.
If the “Boat” is part of a children’s room, then for the little owner you can also arrange a study or an area for creativity, using the wide side. If the field is warm enough, you can also place a play area.
The attached “Iron” can also be used as a housekeeping area. Its dimensions are quite suitable for a drawer with things and an ironing board.
If the attached loggia is part of the bedroom, then pleasant twilight will provide additional comfort. In order not to steal precious space with cornices and thick curtains on the floor, you can use a special film when glazing the balcony, or roller blinds with a blackout system for each section of the double-glazed window. You can also hide the entire balcony behind a cornice and long curtains, dividing the space when necessary. Read more in the article “How to close windows on a balcony from the sun.”
Dimensions of the window unit (window + door)
The dimensions of the balcony block are shown below in real proportion. These dimensions may vary slightly. As a rule, measurers choose numbers larger than those on the drawing by 50 mm. The door dimensions are 2206 mm in height and 665 mm in width. The window dimensions are 4404 mm high and 1163 mm wide.
The area of the balcony block is 3.1 m2. Of these, the window surface is 1.63 m2, the door surface is 1.47 m2.
Color design
To visually increase space, pastel colors are usually used, among which white is the leader. If a recreation area is designed, then it is shaded with light yellow, pale green and shades of brown so that the eyes can rest in such a room. For the office use all shades of brown, gray or black. Warm colors are used for the dining area, promoting relaxation and increasing appetite. An entertainment or sports area is designed by combining bright, aggressive shades with soft colors for balance. You can create separate “blocks” of dark or flashy shades that will attract the attention of guests.
Important! It is worth considering which side the loggia windows face. If the side is sunny, then the use of cold and warm colors is allowed. If the side is north, then warm shades should prevail in the design.
Lighting
Properly installed lighting can become the saving grace for a small balcony room. With the help of light you can visually expand the space. There are no restrictions on the choice of lighting fixtures. These can be light bulbs, chandeliers, lamps, sconces, LEDs, floor lamps and entire lighting systems. They can be placed on walls, ceilings and even on the floor. In order not to spoil the aesthetic appearance of the room with electrical wires, you should take care of their installation at the finishing stage. Then the electrical wiring will be of a hidden type, which will avoid peeping wires. Exposed wiring is masked with decorative elements and special panels. The main advantage of open wiring is its accessibility during repair work, which cannot be said about hidden wiring.
When installing lighting fixtures, you need to pay attention to the direction of the light. Direct light from top to bottom greatly weighs down and reduces the space. Light from bottom to top, which is artificially scattered in the reflective surface of the stretch ceiling, photos and mirrors on the walls, expands the space. For dark rooms, it is better to use diffused light from powerful lamps with a large number of additional small bulbs. The play of shadows and light directly affects the human eye’s perception of the width, length and “depth” of space.
Furniture
Furniture for open balconies is more like garden furniture. The main principle when choosing it is the ability to quickly fold it and put it away in a storage room. It’s a completely different matter if we are talking about a full-fledged room in an apartment or a closed private house. The designers did their best here. Depending on the functional purpose of the room, you can choose furniture parts made of metal, glass, plastic or wood. If the room is used as a gym, it will be equipped with compact exercise equipment that will allow one person to train freely.
The loggia combined with the bedroom is used as a corner for evening preparations before bed. In this case, a dressing table, a couple of ottomans and a comfortable sofa are used as furniture. For the relaxation area, they limit themselves to a small table with a seating area: a folding sofa or a solid ottoman with a large number of soft pillows, where guests can climb with their feet. If the space is set up as a work area, then the emphasis is on cabinets and storage racks. Transformable furniture type ZM2 will help save space. A wide selection of such furniture elements at affordable prices in the Dutch Ikea stores.
Style
Provence is a light style of the French countryside. It is characterized by the use of natural materials, floral patterns and light colors. The presence of an abundance of indoor flowers and cute trinkets made of glass and porcelain is a must.
Art Nouveau is characterized by soft colors and curved shapes. He does not recognize strict geometric lines. Although the rooms are decorated in pastel colors, emphasis is artificially placed on individual elements of bright colors. Paintings and photographs on the walls, a small number of vases, lamps and souvenirs enliven the atmosphere. Stained glass windows will emphasize the sophistication of the interior of a balcony in an apartment in the Art Nouveau style.
Minimalism recognizes only the presence of functional interior details. It is characterized by simplicity and conciseness. The style is based on only two basic colors, which are played with shades in large interior details. Minimalism requires open spaces and plenty of natural light.
High-tech is considered a modern style close to minimalism. It recognizes only strict geometric shapes. The colors used are shades of black, white, and gray. It is possible to add red, blue or purple as a backlight. High-tech prefers an abundance of chrome, metal surfaces and glass. The emphasis is on artificial lighting, which diffuses and visually enlarges the space.
