Balcony in a private house: open, under the roof, above the first floor, design

When planning their own cottage, many owners design a balcony space where they can relax or work. Therefore, before starting construction, each developer carefully plans what kind of balcony he will design in a private house.

A balcony in a private house can have different shapes, sizes and locations

Advantages and disadvantages of construction

A balcony in a private house provides a number of advantages to its owner:

Additional area. The main advantage is the expansion of space, which can be used at your discretion. In summer it is a place for entertainment and relaxation, in winter it is for storage.
Facade decoration. Now you can find models of balconies that take into account not only its usefulness, but also its beauty.
Spare emergency exit. We cannot avoid a random emergency, but we can prepare for it. It can serve the housemates as an additional evacuation option, in particular when they are on the second floor.
Access to the street. Few people like to go out into nature in bad weather. Equipping it with a canopy and furniture, you can sit here and enjoy fresh air in any situation.
Lighting. If there is not enough light entering the house, a balcony will help create a corner that will be well lit. To avoid direct exposure to ultraviolet rays, you can install a roof or canopy.

But there are several points that may cast doubt on the need to install a balcony in a private house:

Difficult to install. Along with high costs, you will face difficulties in planning, calculations, and construction work, especially for finished buildings. It is advisable to deal with this issue before building a house.
Designing with your own hands can be dangerous: defects in the design or installation can result in an accident.
Heat loss in living rooms. If the loggia is not fully insulated, the thermal insulation of the room may be significantly reduced due to the balcony door.

Balcony theory

And we will talk according to tradition - about the types of balconies, design, materials from which they can be made, not forgetting to remember what difficulties a person will face when undertaking such construction.

Advantages and disadvantages

Construction of a balcony over a small closed porch

So, it is important to know that building a balcony is only possible if the main building has at least two floors or at least has an attic. In addition to the aesthetic component, a balcony is also needed for exercise or entertainment. The balcony is an excellent place for house plants, which also decorate it further.

“Blooming balcony” - joy for a housewife

This is the first advantage of this design - the opportunity to decorate the facade and create a unique individual appearance of the building. A balcony above the porch in a private house gives it completeness.
Among the functional features, we note that the balcony is an additional emergency exit from the building in case of fire. Since there is a porch underneath, you can always carefully climb down the supports and beams if it is no longer possible to go through the main exit. Perhaps the people who come to your aid will be able to extend a ladder to you. Plus, if the room is heavily smoky, the balcony will allow you to get away from carbon monoxide and breathe oxygen.

Evacuation of a person through a balcony conveniently located above the porch

The balcony is also a great place for smoking. Helps out when household members cannot stand the smell of tobacco. This aspect can also be considered an additional enhancement of fire safety at home.
Access to fresh air - if people with disabilities live in the house and find it very difficult to get outside, a balcony may be the only way out.

The design of a house with a balcony above the porch is best done by a professional

Now a little about the disadvantages of balconies:

The construction of such a structure will require you to have a project that will contain complex calculations on weight, dimensions, maximum load, amount of material, etc. Only a qualified specialist can perform such work, and it is better to do it at the design stage of the main structure.
It is important to choose the optimal location for the balcony and decide on the rationality of its construction so that it does not become useless and inconvenient.
The presence of a balcony greatly affects the heat loss of the building during the heating season, due to the fact that solid walls are partially replaced by thin doorways. This problem especially affects cantilever extensions, which also transfer heat through the floors.
It is better to budget for a balcony at the design stage of the building, since the price of work will increase if you start attaching a balcony to an already erected building.

This seems to be all; other aspects are either not worth attention or can be solved with a timely and competent approach.

Balcony designs

The balcony can be monolithically connected to the house or adjacent to it as an independent structure.

Both options include the following elements:

Balcony slab - made of reinforced concrete, metal or wood, is the main part;
Supports – additional load-bearing elements for long-distance flights;
Fencing is a parapet mounted for security purposes along the entire perimeter of the balcony;
The visor is, although not a mandatory detail, but very necessary and useful. The balcony itself and the people on it protect from precipitation.

It follows that the design of the supports and balcony slab can be done as follows:

Reinforced concrete cantilever slab

A balcony with a cantilever slab embedded in the wall - as many have already guessed, such a slab is installed during the laying of the walls. It is embedded into the wall to a certain depth. It is important to know that the maximum reach of such a structure, due to its considerable weight, cannot exceed 1 meter.

Cantilever beams

Balcony supported by beams - in this case, the scheme is similar to the previous one, but the slab is replaced by two massive beams, on top of which boards or a concrete slab can be laid. The maximum width of such a structure does not exceed 1m 20 cm.

Balcony on triangular supports

Balcony supported by triangular brackets - most often this scheme is used when adding a balcony over an open porch without a canopy. Wood or metal is used as the material for the supports; the frame of the platform is attached to the house and filled. Sometimes you can see that old cantilever balconies are strengthened in this way.

Decorative supports for the balcony

Triangular metal brackets can be beautifully decorated with figures cast from concrete. The width of the balcony is up to 150 centimeters.

Supports under the balcony

A balcony on supports is another option for an attached balcony. The structure rests on columns that are firmly connected to a separate foundation. The size of such a balcony is limited only by the space for it and the designer’s imagination, since it does not increase the load on the walls and foundation of the house.

Very often, the listed construction techniques can be combined with each other, which makes the structure more durable and original.

Classification by material

The first step to creating a balcony layout for a private area is to choose what to make the base from. You can use three materials that are resistant to wear: wood, concrete or metal.

Concrete

This option can be installed if the house is built either concrete or brick. The material is quite heavy and can be a special burden for the home. The reliability of the structure is determined by the massiveness of the walls. Therefore, before installation, make sure that the façade is strong: if in doubt, you can equip it with additional supports.

Equipping a house with a concrete balcony has a number of other features:

First, one of the load-bearing sides is secured to the wall of the building by electric welding with anchors.
The foundation slab is deepened into the load-bearing wall along its entire length so that approximately 10-12 cm remains from the floor level.
The slab is installed at a two percent slope to the surface of the walls (so that during precipitation, liquid and debris do not accumulate, but drain).
Waterproofing in the form of water-repellent coatings is placed on top and filled with concrete screed.
Door thresholds are 10 cm above the floor surface.
Parapets are formed from metal gratings at least one meter high.

Wooden

It would not look entirely appropriate on concrete buildings. It is advisable to choose this type, respectively, for houses made of wooden frames.

Primary requirements:

Beams are made from wooden beams with a cross-section of at least 10x20 cm, which are pushed into the load-bearing wall to a depth of 25 cm at a distance of 80 cm.
All joints must be covered with a water-repellent mixture - bitumen mastic.
Metal corners or strips can be used for fastening to walls.
Install racks measuring 40x100 mm to the beams using M12 bolts or studs.
The space is filled with lags 50x100 mm at a distance of about 30 cm.
The flooring is constructed from boards at least four centimeters thick. It is necessary to provide a durable covering so that the floor does not sag.

To make the wooden structure less subject to wear, protect the surface from various influences: moisture and mold, fire, insects. To do this, cover the frame with special products and additionally install a visor.

Forged

The metal type of balcony is a cross between wood and concrete. The weight of the structure is not very light, but it is definitely inferior to the concrete version. They can be adapted to any home: you just need to choose a beautiful sketch. But more often it can be found on brick facades.

Material Features:

Has high strength. With timely treatment against corrosion, it can last for a very long period (more than a hundred years).
The monolithic structure is welded from individual parts before being attached to the base. The finished product should not be larger than the slab and the doorway, so as not to subject it to forced changes.
Install only on a strong, level slab. If there are holes or damage, it must be restored using cement-sand mortar.
To secure the fence, iron mortgages are used.

The shape of the forged product is selected independently based on the style of the house. You can use a variety of ornaments or make a laconic fence.

Truncated arch between columns

As noted above, there will be a truncated arch above the passage between the columns. The windows and entrance doors of the house also have arches, which corresponds to a single stylistic decision. The radius of all arches should be the same, the only difference being the height - this will allow you to create a single façade design.

Monastic tightening between the columns

The difficulty is that a truncated arch, supported by columns, the distance between which is 3 m, creates significant loads on the supports, not only vertical, but also lateral. Despite the fact that the columns are quite strong with a reinforced concrete core inside, lateral loads will push them apart and bend them. The entire arch will be about 350 kg, 175 kg for each column. The supports will withstand such a load in the vertical direction without problems, but additional measures are needed to protect against deformation created by lateral loads. For this purpose, the so-called “monastic tightening” between the columns is used. This additional structure, which resembles a large brace, will pull the columns together, acting in the opposite direction to the loads from the arch. Also, the tightening will take on the weight of the higher building.

When the height of the columns reaches the level of the arch, a thick-walled pipe is inserted into them and filled with grade 200 concrete. The pipe should extend 250-300 mm inside the column, its outer part should be 200-250 mm high.

Heels are built along the top of the columns - supports for the future arch. A pre-prepared wooden template for a truncated arch - a circle - is installed on the finished heels. You can read about how to make it in the article about making arches.

The pipes protruding from the columns—mortgages for “monastery tightening”—are connected to each other by three reinforcement bars using electric welding.

For this purpose, ribbed reinforcement with a diameter of 12 mm is selected.

The height of the reinforcement at the top point of the arch should be 130-140 mm, so as not to interfere with the laying of bricks when building the arch.

Thus, the upper parts of the columns are securely fixed with a “monastery tie”, which will prevent them from moving apart under the influence of the weight of the arch.

Types of structures

Based on the principle of glazing a balcony in a private house, two types can be distinguished: closed and open.

Open

An open balcony consists of only two elements - a base plate and a fence. The option is adapted more as a recreation area rather than a storage area, since the area is protected from the environment only by the roof and cornice.

A beautiful and modern decorative element for the façade of cottages, which can easily be converted into a terrace. Then a simple extension will become part of the residential area. Interesting decoration and designer fencing will add more sophistication.

Before installation, take into account the specific nuances of installing an open balcony. You can get acquainted with them in the video of a construction specialist:

Of course, the open balcony area has a number of disadvantages. However, with the right finishing and selection of design and canopy equipment, it looks as advantageous as possible. With such a loggia you can be closer to nature.

Closed

A closed balcony involves full glazing of the room, which increases its functionality. It is protected from wind, precipitation, dirt and dust, excess noise and insects. Can become another living room or a place for heat-loving plants.

If you want to make this option more visually attractive, you can equip the loggia with an interesting design or decoration. You can liken it to an open type with the help of panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows.

French balconies

French balconies also attract special attention. This is one of the types of structures - closed, completely glazed. In fact, it is only a frame for a window opening, but its installation must be provided for at the planning stage of the balcony room.

Installation of the French type of building occurs according to the following scenario:

Anchor plates are screwed to the box at intervals of 80 cm.
The junction of the block and the opening is sealed with sealing tape, then proceed to the installation of the outer blocks on the supporting blocks.
The remaining blocks are brought in one by one using screws at a distance of 40 cm, then secure the resulting structure together with dowels.
Fill the gaps with polyurethane foam, trim them and apply a special vapor barrier tape.

Cantilever beams with supports are an option for cases where they want to install the structure next to a finished, lived-in home. You should choose wooden or reinforced concrete racks depending on the appearance of the cottage. If you are purchasing a tree, pay attention to the type - only a strong and rot-resistant option (larch, oak) will do.

You determine the foundation yourself: it can be part of a finished house or a separate area.

We dig holes under the pillars, calculating an additional 10 cm, and form the base:

for wooden pillars - sand cushions;
for concrete - formwork in the form of a truncated cone.

Install the supports, fill them with concrete and wait for them to dry. Next, fill it with soil and compact it.

The frame of the balcony surface is formed from beams from 5x25 cm. All beams are laid edgewise; we use self-tapping screws or dowels as fastenings. Then cantilever beams are placed, pre-treated with antiseptic and roofing felt.

The walls are sealed with membrane insulation. The holes in the concrete wall are concreted, the joints are also filled with sealant. Cantilever beams are covered with a lattice structure and continuous flooring.

Location in two-story houses

It is possible to equip a balcony in a private house only if there are at least two floors. The structure can be placed in different areas of the cottage.

A popular solution is to place it above a veranda, porch or bay window. So the superstructure plays the role of a roof, which is required to protect open areas. The loggia looks stylish and at the same time is a practical room.

They prefer to install private balconies in the center of the facade. The building is located under a common roof. Construction costs will be significantly reduced: no additional cornice is needed. The most interesting solutions are obtained in the chalet style - the roofs are made in the shape of a log triangle.

Basic conditions:

spacious veranda, close to the size of the living rooms;
panoramic windows;
beautiful decoration and furniture in alpine style.

You can place a balcony on the roof itself:

On the roof slope. At the selected location, the rafter legs are cut off and a frame is installed on which the balcony is attached.
Window-balcony. Outwardly it looks like a roof window in a slope, but if desired, you can open the handrail and expand the area.

Roof balcony

Interesting solutions

You can be inspired by interesting design solutions of various designs:

Under the roof of a "chalet".

Above the veranda.

Installation of purlins for floor slabs

Since from the inside the balcony is a continuation of the living space on the second floor, it breaks the load-bearing external wall to a length of 3050 mm, as a result of which it turns out that there is no support for the floor slab on the second floor. To fill the gap in the wall, a purlin is made - a large load-bearing lintel.

You can make a purlin by connecting two I-beams with a height of 160 mm. They are connected to each other by electric welding.

To avoid tearing the reinforced belt around the perimeter of the building during installation, the I-beams have different lengths. To strengthen the purlin, a reinforcing frame made of ribbed rods with a diameter of 12 mm is installed in its middle; formwork is attached to the I-beams below, into which grade 200 concrete is poured. Concrete must be poured into the purlin in parallel with the pouring of the main reinforced concrete belt.

This type of girder is smaller in size compared to reinforced concrete. Its height is only 160 mm, whereas the height of the reinforced concrete purlin would be 300-400 mm. The height determines whether the purlin will protrude from the wall in the room and how much. If extra protrusions are not included in your plans, it is better to replace the purlin with a two-shelf crossbar - the same purlin, only with shelves on the sides, on which the ceiling rests.

Wooden houses: design options

Balcony areas for wooden private houses are mainly built on as an integral element of the roof. For example, front and roof structures. Moreover, they can be located either in a recess or protrude beyond the façade.

It is important at the stage of building a house to place one pediment deeper in accordance with the design of the loggia. A hanging rafter system can be used as a frame.

In the front balcony, the base slab is insulated with a special coating, then waterproofing is applied, and a cement-sand screed is poured on top. Next, the fence is installed. For wooden cottages it is better to make it from wood or metal.

For your reference, here are a few photo examples of the construction and finishing of balconies in wooden houses:

Deciding on the design

Even if the balcony does not carry a special functional load, it is always perceived as a decoration of the facade. In the old days, balconies were used precisely for this.

Classic style

Classic implies the presence of clear shapes, strict geometric compositions and the absence of unnecessary details. A classic balcony is decorated with rounded arches and two supporting columns.

As a rule, such a balcony is not overloaded with furniture and is decorated with flowering plants.

Modern style

Modern trends in design inspire owners to build a house in the Art Nouveau style. Such buildings look minimalistic and functional. They are characterized by decorating the façade with a spacious terrace.

To have access to this room in winter, the area is glazed. Panoramic glazing looks impressive and allows you to contemplate the beauty of the environment without leaving your comfort zone.

On the Art Nouveau style terrace you can place a set of upholstered furniture, a table and other interior details. the open area can be located either on the ground floor or above.

Scandinavian style

Balconies are often found in Scandinavian style. These are cozy rooms with a focus on minimalism. This design features a large glass area on the walls in front of the balcony. To ensure that less noise from the street enters the house, additional insulation is used during construction.

The use of natural wood and stone makes such balconies very comfortable and warm. Glazing is generally not practiced.

This type of design is best suited for wooden houses in the Scandinavian, Finnish, and Canadian styles. It is allowed to add additional eco-design elements to the balcony design to emphasize individuality.

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.