Laminate flooring on the balcony: advantages, features and installation

Repairing a balcony is a simple process that, it would seem, does not require large investments. However, after you begin to evaluate the entire amount of work, you realize that not everything is so simple, because when finishing a balcony it is important to do everything so that the repair lasts a long time. In addition, it is worth paying great attention to the covering material, especially for the floor. Laminate balcony floors are considered to be of the highest quality, allowing you to create not only comfort, but also a stylish atmosphere.

Features of the material

Laminate is chipboard or fiberboard that has a paper coating. The surface of the paper usually has patterns on it, as well as a protective layer of resin with an acrylic structure. In this case, the design of the patterns can be almost any, but the most popular is the pattern of imitation wood, for this reason this material is often called laminate parquet.

On the back of the panels there is paper that has water-repellent properties. There are often multiple layers of acrylic-type resin present. The presence of this material ensures high resistance of the base to ultraviolet influences, moisture, and deformation. In addition, the flooring looks very stylish and modern. Floors made of this material give the room a beautiful, aesthetic appearance.

The positive qualities of laminate flooring include a number of advantages:

• a wide selection of colors allows you to choose the appropriate flooring design - imitation stone, wood, tile, parquet;
• various colors;
• It is resistant to moisture and does not collapse due to temperature changes. Therefore, this coating can be installed in rooms with low ventilation;
• does not collapse under the influence of ultraviolet radiation;
• has high wear resistance;
• easy and simple installation;
• has high thermal conductivity, so you can lay a warm floor covering;
• laminate flooring on the balcony can withstand heavy mechanical loads and does not deform under heavy weight;
• easy care - the floor can be easily washed from all contaminants, even the paint is washed off, but the coating fully retains all its properties;
• is highly resistant to fire.

However, there are also negative qualities:

• after installation, a strong acoustic effect is created;
• Before installation, careful preparation of the flooring base is required. The entire base must be perfectly level.

The main advantages of laminated coatings ↑

Laminate can be considered a truly innovative material, which is an excellent substitute for natural wood. Compared to parquet, it looks more impressive, is much stronger and more economical, and can withstand heavy loads. It is durable, environmentally friendly, not afraid of high temperatures, and has low thermal and sound conductivity.

In addition, installation of laminate flooring is quite simple , and caring for the floor will not be difficult. This coating does not form stains, does not accumulate dirt and bacteria, and does not require repeated polishing and scraping. Laminate flooring is easy to clean with a regular sponge or mop. The material is available in a wide color palette and has an original design. It can be laid on various materials: wood, PVC, linoleum, heated floors.

However, it is necessary to note some weaknesses of this material:

• Low moisture resistance
• Resonating effect when installing laminate flooring on a wooden floor
• High requirements for the foundation
• Using a synthetic base

Which laminate is suitable for a balcony?

When installing flooring on a balcony, it is worth considering what kind of laminate will be installed, because the service life and wear of the floor will depend on it. The laminate on the balcony must be durable, so many experts recommend buying material of class 31 and higher, but it is important that the balcony is glazed and insulated. Insulation means the installation of double-glazed windows, insulation of wall partitions, balcony or loggia railings.

If the loggia is not insulated enough, then a class 33 laminate is suitable, which is highly resistant to moisture and sudden changes in temperature in the room.

Panel classification

The strongest and most durable materials are from classes 31 to 33.
When choosing boards, you need to consider how exactly the laminate will be installed on the loggia.

If you plan to use it for floor finishing, it is recommended to pay attention to the classification of the material.

There are 6 different widows in total, differing in the density of the top protective coating:

• 21 - 23 class - has a small thickness, poor wear resistance and relatively low cost.
• 31 – 33 class – mainly used for floor finishing, characterized by greater density and high wear resistance.

In addition, each of them has its own specific production conditions. Thus, if the abbreviated term DLP is present on the packaging, it means that multiple layers of the panel were pressed, HPL means additional gluing of all levels.

If the use of material on the floor requires careful selection regarding the quality of the panels, then if you plan to finish the balcony walls with laminate, it is allowed to use even the thinnest and cheapest boards.

Features of choosing a substrate

When installing laminate floors on a balcony, it is worth remembering that there must be a backing. The main purpose of the substrate is that it removes all unevenness and protects the panels from exposure to increased moisture. Thanks to the substrate, excess noise that can come from the laminate flooring is eliminated. Footsteps will be quiet, sounds from objects falling on the floor will be muffled.

Types of substrates

Before you begin installing laminate flooring, you should choose a suitable underlay. The following types of material can be used as a substrate:

• made from cork material - this is a natural base. In its production, crushed oak bark is used. The cork base can withstand high pressure and does not deform under heavy loads. However, it can quickly collapse when exposed to moisture, so it should not be used for balconies and bathrooms;
• from isolon - isolon is an economical material. The base of this material can withstand high humidity, so it is often used for rooms with poor ventilation and a lot of moisture. But isolon has negative qualities - low strength, compaction occurs under the influence of increased loads, little wear;
• from expanded polystyrene - the base of this substrate usually consists of several layers: expanded polystyrene and foil. It has good qualities - can be used for rooms with heated floors, can easily hide floor unevenness, easy installation, heat and sound insulation.

Izolon Cork Extruded polystyrene foam

Is it possible to use laminate on walls and ceilings?

In addition to the floor, laminate can be installed on walls and ceilings. There are no restrictions in its use. It will look even better when the entire room is made in the same color, from the same material.

It is worth highlighting the main advantages of using laminate for walls and ceilings:

• Easy installation - even an inexperienced builder can handle the installation of laminate flooring. The panels are easy to assemble and quickly inserted. In a few hours you can completely assemble all the walls;
• affordable cost - due to the fact that laminate boards are quite cheap, they can easily replace expensive parquet or wood;
• high wear resistance - the base is not afraid of heavy loads or mechanical impacts;
• heat and sound insulation;
• easy care - everything can be easily washed off with a simple cloth or brush;
• Beautiful design.

Laying technology

Finishing a balcony with laminate should begin with preparatory work. Everything must be done correctly so that the laminate floor will serve for a long time, while retaining its original appearance for a long time. But first, you should prepare the necessary tools and the necessary materials to carry out all the work.

Tools and materials

To lay laminate flooring on a balcony with your own hands, you will need to prepare the necessary equipment, for this you will need:

• ruler for measurements;
• a simple pencil for notes;
• an electric jigsaw, a fine-toothed circular saw, or a fine-toothed wood saw;
• roulette;
• building type level;
• hammer.

Necessary tools
All these tools can be found in every home, so there is no need to purchase additional equipment, which is often quite expensive. Of course, in addition to these tools, you will need the material itself - laminate. Be sure to calculate its quantity.

Preparatory work

Before laying laminate flooring, you need to prepare the floor. You can watch a video on floor preparation in advance.

In preparation, you should do the following:

• removal of old floor covering;
• The base of the floor must be leveled. It is important that the laminate is laid on a perfectly flat surface, because in the future all irregularities and bumps will be visible on the surface, which will create additional inconvenience;
• It is advisable to clean everything from dirt and dust;
• If you plan to have a warm floor on the balcony, then insulation must be done.

It is worth remembering that if there are even small bumps or pits on the surface of the subfloor, this will affect the service life of the laminate flooring. For this reason, these defects must be eliminated without fail. The most suitable base for further installation of laminate flooring is considered to be a floor surface with a level of depth of possible differences in unevenness not exceeding 2 mm per 1 meter.

Preparation of the base Insulation with foam plastic

In addition, before you start laying, it’s worth remembering a few important rules that will allow you to make high-quality flooring:

• Laminate flooring should be laid on a carefully prepared subfloor. It must be leveled, it is necessary to lay a substrate, which in the future will provide warmth and good sound insulation;
• The boards should be laid in parallel to the sun's rays; they are installed in a checkerboard pattern;
• when installing the flooring, you should leave a gap of at least 1-1.5 cm between the walls and the material;
• the smallest dimension of the length of the laid lamella should be 60 cm.

Leveling the floor

After preparing the base, it is worth leveling the floor in the balcony. Ripping out the subfloor will ensure high wear and tear on the flooring. For this reason, this stage of work should be carried out correctly; it is necessary to strictly adhere to the technology of all work.

The most popular method of leveling a base made of concrete material is the use of a screed. Screeding can be done using several methods:

• use of concrete base mortar;
• use of self-leveling mixtures.

Concrete screed Self-leveling mixture

Additionally, concrete slabs can be insulated. For this, you can use expanded clay material with small and medium fractions, as well as extruded polystyrene foam panels.

If the floor base is made of wood, then leveling is done using floor joists. Raised floors made of plywood or chipboard are laid on them. These elements are stacked in a checkerboard pattern. You can watch the video in detail to see how to level the floor. You can also see how to level the threshold on the balcony.

Laying slabs

Laying slabs from a laminate base is not difficult, the main thing is to follow the technology. The laminate installation process is carried out according to the following scheme:

• after the surface has been prepared, leveled and insulated, a waterproofing film should be laid on it;
• the film is laid overlapping, leaving an overlap of 20-25 cm, fastened with tape;
• a substrate under the laminate should be laid on top of the waterproofing film;
• Next, the laminate material is installed;
• installation should be done from the far corner of the room;
• All joints must be sealed with a special sealant.

You can watch the detailed process of laying the flooring in the video with detailed instructions.

Measurements Adjusting the material to the required dimensions Laying the laminate on the substrate The panels must fit tightly to each other

Installation of skirting boards and thresholds

The final stage of laying the floor on the balcony is the installation of decorative components - skirting boards and thresholds. It is imperative to decorate the threshold for the balcony so that it does not stand out, but, on the contrary, complements the style of the flooring. The threshold to the balcony should also be covered with laminate panels; tiles are also suitable for it, the main thing is that it is combined with the overall design.

The final stage - installation of skirting boards

In addition, you definitely need to install skirting boards; they will cover all the gaps between the floor and the walls, and also give the room a neat, stylish appearance. Skirting boards must be chosen to match the color of the floor. They will protect the coating from dust, moisture, and dirt getting underneath it.

Installing a floor on a balcony is a simple process, the main thing is that you need to do everything correctly. Laminate is a durable material that is highly wear-resistant. In addition to the floor, it can be installed on walls and ceilings. As a result, you can get a high-quality coating that will last for a long time.

Preparing the sheathing

This is a very important stage. The reliability and quality of the entire finish depends on its correct execution. The simplest, lightest and most economical material is wooden beams. It is possible to use galvanized profiles - this design is more expensive and heavier, but much more durable. It is advisable to combine the installation of the sheathing with insulation of the balcony. Sequence of work:

1. Check the evenness of the walls.
2. If necessary, level the surfaces with plaster or moisture-resistant plasterboard with mandatory fastening with self-tapping screws.
3. Fill the cracks with polyurethane foam, trim off the excess.
4. Apply an antiseptic solution to the concrete base of the floor and lay a layer of foil insulation.
5. Lay the wooden beams on the floor in increments of 50-60 cm. Attach using anchor spacer dowels. Level.

6. Place thermal insulation material (expanded polystyrene, mineral wool) cut to size into the niches between the joists.
7. Mount the base on top for laying the laminate - end-to-end boards or fiberboard slabs.
8. Start installing the sheathing on the walls. Attach vertical posts to the wall at a distance of about 40 cm from each other. Attach horizontal bars to them - they will be the basis for fastening the panels in the vertical direction. If installation will be carried out horizontally, then it is necessary to construct a vertical sheathing.

9. Place thermal insulation material between the beams.

10. Treat the wooden sheathing with an antiseptic to prevent the growth of fungus.
11. Install the sheathing on the ceiling in the same way if you plan to cover it with laminate.