What is lining?
If you look at the photo of finishing the balcony with clapboard, then this type of finishing cannot be confused with any other type of finishing material.
In appearance, the lining is very similar to plastic panels, only they are made of natural wood. The best types have locks at the ends to connect the panels together.
Range of materials for interior decoration
Finishing materials must meet general quality requirements, such as: - high resistance to environmental factors; — the presence of good thermal insulation and noise absorption properties; — environmental friendliness; — convenient, simple operation; - aesthetic appearance. Now we should consider materials for interior decoration in more detail.
Lining
Wood is ideal for finishing the inside of a loggia. Lining is thin wooden boards that have a special treatment.
— long service life; — support for a balancing microclimate, that is, the ability to release moisture in the presence of dry air, and vice versa; - specific aroma of wood; - ease of care.
You should pay attention to such a property of the material as its tendency to dry out. To avoid problems with changing the width of the board, you need to attach the lining to the Europrofile. European standard lining is best suited for interior decoration of a balcony. The choice of material is quite wide, as it is made from spruce, pine, larch, oak, linden, alder and fir.
Please note: Covering a balcony or loggia with MDF panels
If you are decorating a loggia with clapboards yourself, you need to take into account several nuances: - for vertical upholstery, the frame is attached horizontally, and for horizontal upholstery, the frame is installed vertically; — frame slats are located at a distance of no more than one meter; — the lining is fastened with special small nails to avoid splitting the wood; — at the final stage of finishing the balcony with clapboard, it is necessary to apply a varnish coating as a protective layer.
In addition to the walls of the balcony, you can also decorate the ceiling with clapboard. The material is attached to a special hanging frame.
Plastic panels
This material is cheaper than others, so plastic panels are widely used as a material for interior work.
— high resistance to moisture; — convenient installation; — ease of operation; - variety of material choices in texture and color.
Using a wide range of plastic panels, you can create an individual interior that will look stylish and original. You can choose plastic to suit every taste: wood, wallpaper or ceramic, plain or multi-colored panels. Installation work using plastic will not be difficult to do with your own hands. The ceiling can be finished with plastic panels by attaching it to a wooden or metal frame. The work requires the use of a ceiling profile, self-tapping screws, hangers, and dowels.
Stone finishing
Stone material is divided into two types: natural and artificial. The latter is produced as tiles or panels. Since artificial stone is a cheaper option, it is more common as a finishing material.
— ease of installation; — variety of choice; — high thermal insulation properties; — resistance to rotting and fungal corrosion; - durability.
If you will be laying stone yourself without the presence of specialists, you need to remember:
— when laying stone tiles, a perfectly flat surface is required, and when laying stone that imitates natural, slight deviations of the surface are allowed;
- stone finishing is not recommended for the wooden covering of a loggia or balcony;
— before laying on drywall, the surface must be pre-treated with a special anti-fungal agent, and then coated with a primer.
Drywall
This material is considered quite practical. Finishing with plasterboard is suitable for those who like to frequently change their environment, as it will be possible to repaint the walls in any color and at any time.
- profitable, economical material; — simple installation; — high noise absorption properties; - lack of toxins; - fire-fighting properties.
Installation is carried out by attaching sheets of material of a certain size to the frame. Self-tapping screws are used for this.
Next, the surface is treated with a primer and puttying begins. After puttying work, you can glue wallpaper or paint the walls. Before you start finishing the balcony ceiling with plasterboard, you should check the wiring and hide the wires using flexible corrugated pipes. Then the sheets of drywall are fastened along the edges and in the center with special self-tapping screws.
What types of lining are there?
If we talk about the types of modern lining, then according to their quality they are divided into three large classes, these are:
- Class A is panels without blue stains and resin pockets; the presence of knots is allowed, but provided that they do not fall out during drying.
- Class B panels have both resin pockets and unfused knots that can fall out.
- Class C may allow for blue staining, loose knots and wane on the back of the panel
Of course, there are extra-class panels, but their cost is much higher than class A, but at the same time, these panels have practically no disadvantages.
The type of wood from which the panels are made is important.
- Spruce and pine are the cheapest materials for lining.
- Linden will cost a little more.
- Larch lining will cost even more.
- Oak and cedar are already considered elite finishing materials and are even more expensive.
Design of double-glazed windows on the balcony
If the balcony does not have high-quality double-glazed windows, then the cladding has only a decorative function. But with proper glazing and insulation, a balcony can be turned into a full-fledged recreation room or dressing room, where a comfortable above-zero temperature will be maintained at any time of the year.
Recently, sliding double-glazed windows have become popular, allowing you to open the doors without taking up the cramped space of the balcony.
Types of double-glazed windows and their purpose:
- Single-chamber. They are used for decorative cladding of loggias when there is no need for additional insulation. Double-glazed windows protect the interior walls from rain and snow. This glazing is lightweight, which allows it to be mounted on any structure.
- Two-chamber. For such double-glazed windows, a monolithic or brick loggia structure is required. It partially retains heat if the walls are well insulated, but you are unlikely to be able to remove intermediate windows and doors from the apartment to the loggia.
- Three-chamber. The use of such double-glazed windows makes it possible to remove doors and windows and connect the common living area of the apartment and loggia. Double-glazed windows are very heavy and are not permissible for installation on old and dilapidated structures. It is worth noting that the use of such glazing reduces the access of sunlight to the room.
Manufacturers produce double-glazed windows of different colors, stylized as wood, and you can easily choose the color of the glazing frames in the overall design of the loggia.
Double-glazed windows with wood-look lamination are slightly more expensive, but have a completely different appearance
Advantages of lining
Finishing a balcony with wooden paneling begins with assessing the advantages and disadvantages of the material and its purchase. The advantages of lining include, as stated above, its environmental friendliness.
Also, the cost is relatively low, if you do not take elite types of lining.
Many note the simplicity and speed of installation of the lining, as well as the beauty of natural wood. In addition, many types of lining easily tolerate moisture and have poor thermal conductivity.
Tips for choosing an antiseptic
Wood lining must be treated with high-quality impregnation. It belongs to natural facing materials, which means it needs additional processing, this will protect it from insects settling in it and the formation of fungal colonies. If the sheathing is made of wooden beams, then it will also need to be processed. Suitable for this manipulation:
- Senezh Aquadecor. Serves as an excellent antiseptic impregnation, tints lining, has 16 shades;
- Aquatex. Refers to the starting type of coating; the top must be varnished;
- Tikkurila Valti. Can be used as a primer before painting;
- U-409. Estate U-409 is applied on top of the surface of the lining in order to protect it from damage and absorption of dirt (it forms a special barrier layer that protects the material from damage).
Practice shows that lining for balconies should be treated with tinted antiseptics. Even one layer of these products can protect the material from harmful microorganisms, insects and ultraviolet radiation.
Advice! If the balcony is located in the sunny side, then it is advisable to use tinting with a whitening effect. To give the wood a natural shine, it is coated with varnish on top.
Disadvantages of the material
Of course, covering a balcony with clapboard also has its own disadvantages. It reduces the already small area of the balcony.
This material must be regularly treated with a special varnish, otherwise the lining will lose its appearance. Nevertheless, this finishing method has many more advantages, which leads to its popularity.
Furniture selection
It is important to choose the right decorative elements. And furniture is the most complex and central detail. You should get rid of unnecessary things. There should be a minimum of items here. In the case of cold rooms, it is worth taking into account temperature changes and high humidity. Based on these factors, the appropriate furniture is selected.
Each piece of furniture must meet the following requirements:
- Compactness. For the balcony, select chairs, tables, cabinets that take up little space. The modern product market offers the use of transformable furniture. It is easy to fold and change its purpose.
- Light. It is necessary to leave it the opportunity to illuminate the space and not block the windows with furniture. So, cabinets are replaced with transparent shelves.
- Ease. All decorative elements should weigh little and be easy to move.
- Appearance. It depends on the overall style of the room. You need to try to maintain a single design.
Article on the topic: Converting a balcony into a comfortable room (+35 photos)
If it is permissible to use any materials in closed spaces, then for open balconies it is worth resorting to metal and wooden parts.
- We recommend reading: How to easily make a cabinet for a balcony yourself
Features of lining a balcony with clapboard
If it is necessary to cover the balcony with clapboard, then it is necessary to follow the sequence of work.
The priority works include the following:
- Installation of double-glazed windows
- Removing and sealing cracks and seams of the balcony
- Balcony insulation and floor waterproofing
- Installing insulation on the ceiling and walls of the balcony
- Installation of sheathing for fastening lining
- Installing insulation between the sheathing
- Installation of lining
If you look at the list of jobs, there is no particularly qualified work among them. This means that a person with a little bit of installation skills can perform it.
Installation instructions for sheathing
To organize it, you will need wooden beams with a section of 40 by 40 or 50 by 50 mm.
It is very important to understand before installation that when choosing horizontal wall cladding with clapboard, the sheathing is fastened in a horizontal position, and when vertical, it is attached vertically.
You can take a metal profile rather than a wooden beam, but this option will cost more. As for quality, this option is noticeably superior to wooden ones.
It is recommended to start installing the sheathing not from the middle of the wall, but from one of the 4 corners. The first corner posts need to be installed in them.
Vertically installed profiles must be checked for correct installation using a building or laser level.
After all the profiles have been installed and double-checked, you can begin installing the longitudinal bars. The distance between the bars must be equal and correct (from 50 to 70 cm from each other).
Advice from experienced professionals! The correct marking and installation of the bars should look something like this: the first - at the level of the knee line, the second - opposite the line of the hips, the third - at the shoulders. It is in these places, after installation, that during operation the greatest pressure (mechanical load) will be exerted. This trick is considered indispensable when using plastic lining. It is also effective for wooden materials.
After the sheathing is completely installed, the insulation should be carefully and carefully placed into the resulting squares (cells).
The top layer (on top of the heat insulator) should consist of a heat-insulating film.
What tools are needed for installation?
If the owner of the apartment is faced with the task of covering the balcony with clapboard with his own hands, then a minimum set of tools is required.
This set may include the following tools:
- Rotary hammer with a set of drills of the appropriate diameter
- Screwdriver with bit set
- Electric jigsaw, with saw set
- Roulette
- Drywall knife with a set of blades
- hammer
- Pliers
- Pencil
How to varnish lining
Water-based, polyurethane, alkyd or acrylic-based varnishes are used for finishing. In addition to its protective functions, the varnish well emphasizes the natural texture of the wooden lining. Rules for applying varnish to the surface of the lining:
- First, it should be sanded well using fine-grained sandpaper;
- After removing dust and other debris, prime with a special compound;
- After this, you can cover the surface with the first layer of varnish;
- Allow the product to dry thoroughly and apply a secondary layer.
- The drying time of the composition is indicated on the packaging label.
Summarize
If we are solving the problem of how to cover a balcony with clapboards with our own hands, then before starting the work we need to prepare all the necessary materials and tools in order to then quickly and efficiently complete all the necessary work.
In this case, you should first study the drawings and make a list of work to be performed.
How to cover a balcony with your own hands
Any person with a minimal understanding of repairs can decorate a balcony or loggia on their own. Correctly made calculations and step-by-step implementation of all stages of work will help you quickly and efficiently complete the covering of the room. At the planning stage and when choosing the base material, many homeowners in apartment buildings try to find a cheaper option by considering PVC panels. But such a finish will not be durable or as aesthetically pleasing as natural wood. Therefore, there is no point in saving, but it is better to allocate a little time and money and make a beautiful, unique finish.
Necessary tools and auxiliary materials
In addition to the main sheathing material, the work will require wooden blocks. The sheathing will be made from them. In conditions of high humidity, it is better to use auxiliary elements made of plastic or with the addition of plasticizers. You will also need a metal profile. If insulation is necessary, then you should purchase rolled foil, mineral wool or polystyrene foam in advance.
A vapor barrier film, polyurethane foam, or masking tape will help ensure good sealing. At the surface preparation stage, you cannot do without materials for wall finishing. You can use a primer or PVA-based putty. For the finishing coat you will need varnish. Painted lining will have a more aesthetic appearance. To secure foam plastic, sheathing and wooden panels, anchor bolts, self-tapping screws, nails, and clamps are used. Finishing work is carried out using the following tools:
- Drill, hammer drill;
- Screwdriver;
- Drill bits for augers and wood;
- Jigsaw, hacksaw;
- Measuring tools (level, cord, tape measure);
- Hammer, axe.
Calculation of the required amount of material
After choosing the type of wood and lining profile, you need to correctly calculate the required number of panels for the job. Experts recommend giving preference to linden or pine, as they are more resistant to temperature changes. You can calculate the required amount of material using an online calculator on the website of the manufacturer, supplier, or make the calculations yourself.
The standard parameters of lamellas according to GOST are length - 6 m, width - 15 cm. By multiplication we can determine the quadrature. The area of one such board will be 0.9 m2. Since there are many types and sizes of lining, in this way you need to calculate the area for your board. If we divide the area of the balcony by the area of one board, we will find out the required number of panels.
When calculating the number of boards, you should take into account the sizes of windows and doors, and you also need to take into account the features of fastening the lining. As a result of installation, the width of each board will be reduced.
Preparing the premises
Before starting work and even before purchasing materials, you should prepare the balcony surfaces for finishing. All elements of the old cladding are removed from the walls, the whitewash is washed off, and the paint is washed off. You should also remove the ebb, window slopes, and baseboards. Work can only be carried out in a bare box.
Lathing for wooden panels can only be installed on perfectly flat walls. Only in this case will it be durable and visually attractive. Waves and bumps must be leveled with special mixtures, and cracks must be filled with putty.
On a glazed balcony, you need to carefully inspect the frames. Elements that have become unusable must be repaired or replaced. Rotten areas must be treated with antiseptic drugs. If this is not done, the lining will immediately begin to deteriorate after installation. We carefully fill all the cracks with polyurethane foam.
If the balcony fence is made of metal, then it should be covered with foam blocks installed on cement mortar. In regions with cold climates, walls and protective edges are covered with waterproofing film.
Preparation and processing of lining
Despite the many positive characteristics, wooden slats need reliable protection from external factors - exposure to the sun, moisture, and pests. Special compounds - varnishes, impregnations, primers, paints - will help improve the appearance and increase the durability of the material.
Preparing the lining for installation should begin with a thorough inspection. If moldy spots or dark areas are found, they must be bleached with special solutions. The composition is chosen based on the type of wood and its class. For birch, beech, and walnut, hydrogen peroxide is suitable. Ash is treated with a solution of peroxide and ammonia in a ratio of 10:1. Oak, linden, maple are wiped with oxalic acid. Any bleaching agent must be washed off with water after application.
If irregularities are detected and simply for prevention, the new lining is cleaned with fine-grained sandpaper. Then the boards are washed, dried and coated with an antiseptic composition. Then it is left to dry in a horizontal position for 24 hours.
Choice of insulation
Any available material is suitable for insulating a balcony. You should choose taking into account the level of insulation of each, cost, form of sale, and ease of installation. Each of the options on the market has individual characteristics and performance indicators. Before choosing, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of each type:
- Styrofoam. The affordable material fully fulfills its insulation functions. Hidden under the lining, it does not come into contact with the external environment, so it will serve for a long time.
- Mineral wool. In addition to its good ability to insulate, it strongly absorbs moisture. Belongs to the middle price category. Release form: rolls and skeins. Can only be used if it is possible to completely avoid getting wet.
- Extruded polystyrene foam. The optimal insulation option. Has good sound insulation. The locking installation system completely eliminates the appearance of cracks. The price is above average.
- Foil polyethylene foam. Suitable for southern regions, where the greatest danger to the lining is not cold, but moisture. Can be used as an additional layer.
- Foam glass. Lightweight, durable material retains heat well indoors at -50°C outside. Quality characteristics vary depending on the manufacturer. It has the highest cost of all presented.
- Foam block. Suitable only for spacious balconies. The minimum width of the parts is 30 cm. Lightweight, durable material can be installed on any surface.
Installation of sheathing
The wooden frame for the lining is mounted on top of the already installed insulation and waterproofing layers. To make it, you will need bars at least 3 cm thick. Thin planks can split when hammering nails. The best option for lathing is a 5x5 cm block. All additional wood materials must be treated with anti-rotting impregnations before installation.
If the lining is laid horizontally, the load-bearing sheathing is filled vertically. The diagonal, transverse arrangement of the lamellas requires a horizontal direction of the frame. The distance between the planks in both cases must be at least 0.5 m. If the bars do not adhere tightly to the wall, wooden wedges must be placed under them. In some cases, it is possible to grind down sections of the planks to level the base.
The first two slats are screwed to the ceiling. Then the distance of subsequent parts is marked, and the bars are nailed. Using the same scheme, according to the instructions, the sheathing is installed on all surfaces. At the stage of installing the sheathing, the location of the cabinet, shelves, and other furniture is determined.
Cladding
Once the preparatory work has been done, the process of covering the balcony with clapboard will seem very simple. The planks are assembled using special locks using the tongue-and-groove method and nailed to the sheathing. Installation work should be carried out very carefully, since natural wood can easily split if the nail is directed in the wrong direction. It is better to connect the parts through a block.
Installation of the lining begins from the corner, gradually moving along the walls. The first panel is applied to the guide bar and leveled. Drive the nails into the groove and ridge, trying to choose the optimal distance from the edge. Take the next element and connect the locks. To ensure a tight fit, you can gently hit the panel with a mallet and secure with nails at the top and bottom. Such manipulations must be done with all the details. It is necessary to leave small gaps in the corners for free air circulation and prevent the formation of mold.
Using nails, you can attach the lining to the wall in several ways - in a groove, in a tenon, through. They also use the clamping method. One board is applied to the surface and loosely nailed at the bottom and top. The clamp is attached to the lamella and to the sheathing, and the initial fixation is removed. After finishing is completed, they begin to slope and lay out the floor. The final touch is the trim and baseboards.
Protective and decorative coating of lining
Wood has low resistance to atmospheric conditions, is a breeding ground for insects and bacteria, and burns well. To avoid negative aspects during operation and extend the service life of the cladding, the lining must be treated and a protective coating applied.
Processing wooden panels significantly improves their characteristics, protective and decorative properties. To do this, various mixtures are applied to the element in layers, each of which performs its own function. Coating solutions are divided into several groups:
- Lucky. The characteristics of the compositions for the lining are determined by the main component. Water base is safe and non-toxic, no unpleasant odor. Panels can only be painted on a glazed balcony. Alkyd, acrylic base is suitable for any climatic conditions, protects well from ultraviolet radiation.
- Paints. They are used less often than varnishes, if necessary to mask defects. Any mixture will completely hide the unique wood pattern. Thick alkyd, facade, and oil paints are suitable for balconies.
- Impregnations. They create reliable protection for the cladding on the balcony due to deep penetration into the wood structure. Wood stains and wax impregnations are most often used.
First things first
Innovative technologies make it possible to create repair materials that are extremely resistant to aggressive environments, lightweight, durable, and have a long service life. The leader for finishing both open and closed balconies is a combination of decorative bark beetle plaster and natural or artificial stone. These materials can withstand heavy mechanical loads, are wear-resistant, easy to care for, and they are an excellent basis for interior design in a wide variety of styles.
But finishing balconies with these materials requires certain skills in work; if you plan to do the finishing yourself, you will have to practice; in addition, to apply decorative plaster and stone, you must first level the walls.
Finishing of balconies and loggias, photo combination of finishing stone and plaster
MDF wall panels are often used to decorate warm balconies. Budget panels, decorated and protected with laminated film, are ideal for cladding.
For expensive interiors, they produce elite MDF panels lined with natural veneer of valuable wood, but due to their high cost they are rarely used in balcony decoration. Sheathing with MDF panels is an economical way to make renovations, since the panels can be attached directly to the walls, whether plaster or drywall. Interior decoration of a balcony with MDF panels is
- beautiful, since the lamination very closely imitates natural wood;
- hygienic, because the panels are easy to clean, you can also use household chemicals;
- durable, the service life of the panels is calculated in decades:
- environmentally friendly, no phenol or resins are used in their production;
- convenient because the panels do not require finishing.
But they should absolutely not be used to cover rooms with high humidity.
Balcony finishing, photo of a parapet covered with MDF panels with natural veneer
Decorating balconies is, first of all, a creative question that requires your imagination and, of course, economic costs. Materials for finishing balconies, thanks to innovative technologies, are adapted to almost any conditions, be it high humidity or destructive ultraviolet radiation. The main thing is to prepare the balcony correctly for the material you have chosen, and then the interior will retain its original appearance for a long time.
Decorative finishing of the balcony with plaster
Decorative plaster is great for decorating a balcony. It has little structural effect as the purpose of the material is to decorate or add dignity to a room in a strong and durable way. Decorative plaster on walls has been used for centuries to add texture to flat surfaces, with the option of being painted in matching or contrasting colors to the wall itself, depending on the desired visual effect. There are many decorative plastering finishes and techniques. Some of them go back to the distant past. Other methods, such as traditional plaster stucco, have a tradition of almost 200 years. Finally, there are many modern techniques, such as adding metallic pigments or textured applications, that can produce very impressive results when decorating a balcony.
Maximum naturalness
Full balcony cladding with light-colored lining may look rustic. You get the feeling that you are in an old train carriage, a bathhouse or a storage room. However, this design is the most budget-friendly and can be achieved with proper modification. To give the interior a more attractive look, you can use a few simple moves:
- Add relief to the space. Built-in cabinets, niches, and ledges under the window, used as a small sofa, are both functional and visually interesting.
- Use color accents. A bright floor carpet, a colored window sill or a floor lamp will go perfectly with the walls and ceiling made of wood.
- Add plants. The best company for wood is greenery. Pots, boxes, and floor vases with flowers will transform your balcony from an uncomfortable utility room into a real greenhouse.
Colored walls
One of the advantages of lining is the ease of painting. Almost any dye for interior decoration is suitable for the job: water-based emulsion, stain, tinting varnish, etc. To make the coating bright, you need to paint the wood in 2-3 layers. It will be possible to completely cover the texture of the wood and achieve a bright, rich color.
As in residential premises, a color accent can highlight only one wall or the entire perimeter. In the latter case, so as not to tire your eyes, you should leave the window sills, frames, doors white, or choose furniture that is as simple in shape and shade as possible.
Balcony decoration: photo ideas in a modern design
A balcony is an ideal option for those who dream of walking in the fresh air without leaving home. After all, everyone wants a place where they can enjoy the outdoors in good weather. Some homeowners decide not to glass the balcony in order to have constant access to open air. However, if you have little space in your apartment, then a glassed-in balcony, reminiscent of an additional mini-room at home, is the ideal solution. Although this is a small space, it can accommodate grandiose projects. There are many balcony design ideas for every apartment owner.
Scandinavian style
The hallmark of the Scandinavian style is white walls, natural materials, maximum simplicity and comfort. The lining fits into such an interior perfectly: it looks environmentally friendly, is inexpensive, and goes well with light colors. The board can be painted solid white, slightly tinted, or left unchanged.
The interior ensemble will be completed by textiles, several posters in black and white, a comfortable couch and a couple of fresh flowers, flowerpots for which can also be made from clapboard.
Different purposes of a balcony: choose your option
It's no secret that quite often a balcony has domestic functions. In other words, you can store old and unnecessary things. It is worth thinking about whether it is necessary to build a warehouse where it is possible to expand the living space? The right balcony design will help you get even a small but comfortable room. What can you do on the balcony? Consider several options.
Cabinet
If it is difficult to find a place to work in a small apartment, then a balcony is the ideal solution for you. Here you will not be distracted, but will be able to fully engage in your work. This idea is very easy to implement. For finishing, use regular wallpaper or decorative plaster. Naturally, you need furniture: a small table, a comfortable chair or armchair, shelves for documents that should hang above the table. Be sure to provide good lighting for your work when choosing a desk lamp or sconce.
Game room
Suffice it to say that this version is not suitable for very small balconies. If the area allows, then immediately start designing a balcony. Place wallpaper with a bright and clear pattern on the pre-plastered wall. You can draw them with your child. On the floor, if it is not insulated, you need a warm and soft carpet.
Greenhouse
Many women will like the mini-greenhouse. A beautiful greenhouse at home will delight you with a variety of flowers and wonderful aromas, so the room will become a favorite resting place for all household members. It is important to choose the right plants with the right flowering time, and then your balcony can become a container of beautiful flowers throughout the year. The greenhouse design is more suitable for bright flowers as they will blend in with the green plants. You will also need furniture. These can be wicker chairs and a small table.
Resting-place
The balcony is ideal for relaxation. It is enough to make a simple renovation, equipping the place with a comfortable chair and a table, so that you can drink tea in comfort and watch the street during private hours.