How to make a balcony with your own hands

When planning to start building a balcony, you first need to determine which room it will be adjacent to, what size it will be and what materials will be used.

According to the law, hanging structures should not protrude beyond the edges of the building by more than 1 meter.
This way you can immediately determine the width of the future loggia.
1 meter will be enough to fully turn around in space and at the same time place some objects.

The length of the structure is limited only by the living space belonging to the owner.

It is quite possible to make a balcony for one room, or you can make one large loggia that will combine 2 or more rooms.

Design styles

By glazing a 6-meter loggia, you can turn it into a functional room with additional storage space for various things.

In this case, the following design styles are widely used:

modern;
minimalism;
loft;
high tech;
Japanese.

With their help, it will be possible to visually expand and fill the room with light. Their main feature is the use of a minimum of furniture and decorative details.

Electrical installation

Electric lighting is a necessary element of modern comfort. It’s not out of place on the balcony either. It is not difficult to install electricity there. For example, a sleeve is mounted in the corner of the door frame and a wire from the nearest outlet is pulled through it. If the arrangement coincides with renovations in the adjacent room, the corrugated wire is laid in a groove along concrete and brick walls, and a groove is also made in the slope of the balcony door. Without any problems, the wire can be placed in a cable channel or in a special plinth with a cable channel.

The wiring is carried out taking into account the finishing: on a cold balcony without insulation, the easiest option is to use a cable channel; if the balcony is insulated, then it makes sense to hide all the wiring in a groove under the cladding.

Sockets may also be needed on a cold balcony, but on an insulated one they will definitely be needed, not only for a TV or floor lamp, but also for heating the room, to connect heated floors or electric radiators. The effect is achieved when using both heating options. The controls of the devices are sometimes moved to the next room - whatever is more convenient for you. If there is no special need, it is better to mount all installation products on the main wall rather than on the cladding.

Getting permission

First of all, a work plan is drawn up. It is not recommended to compile it yourself if you do not have a construction education and skills in drawing up documentation in this area.

The plan must indicate the dimensions of the structure, the materials that are planned to be used, as well as the safety margin for them.

The photo of a balcony made with your own hands shows that not concrete slabs are used, as is done in planned construction, but analogues are used. This is due to the fact that concrete slabs are very heavy for a suspended structure, which greatly affects reliability for the worse.

The drawn up plan and drawings must be taken to the administration, to the department that oversees changes in the layout of the premises.
There, specialists will study the received plan, make adjustments, and if it meets all the requirements, it will be approved and construction will begin.

Only after obtaining permission can construction begin, otherwise the extension will be illegal and the administration will demand its demolition, which will lead to a loss of financial resources.

Thermal insulation

Laying thermal insulation is advisable if the loggia is glazed. The most common thermal insulation materials are penofol and penoplex (for more details, see the article “Insulating a balcony with penoplex”). You can also use mineral wool, but it will have to be covered with film on top and sheathed with hardboard. Only in this case, small particles of mineral wool will not fly around the room, irritating the lungs.

If there are double-glazed windows or aluminum windows, the room must be insulated. Only in this case condensation does not settle on the glass.

Finishing

Finishing work on the balcony consists of decorating the walls, ceiling and floor. The choice of materials will depend on the existing design:

if it is a brick balcony, you should not spend money on finishing materials; it is better to wash and thoroughly clean the brickwork, maintaining a harmonious combination with the rest of the facade. Afterwards, the surface can be treated with antifungal and other protective (dirt-repellent) compounds that will help maintain a presentable appearance longer;
if the walls are made of concrete slabs (including plastered), the natural shade of concrete can also be preserved by diluting the interior with decor, or changed by painting with acrylic or latex compounds. First you need to put a primer under them;
It will be too expensive to redo tiled walls, so it is recommended to simply clean them thoroughly from dirt.

In our material you can find out how to renovate a kitchen on a limited budget.

Tip: when choosing finishing materials in construction stores, ask about discounted products. Usually they come in limited quantities, but this volume should be just enough to decorate a small balcony or loggia.

Some of the cheapest finishing materials are whitewashing, painting and wallpapering. These materials may not be the most practical (especially from the lower price segment) and often require replacement, but they will allow you to improve the interior space of the balcony without much expense.

To finish the floor you can also use one of the options:

flooring made of wooden boards (slats), for example from old pallets;

Wooden floor on the balcony made of slats.

carpet (a very simple way to finish the floor, especially if glue-free installation of one solid piece is used);

Budget carpet flooring.

self-adhesive plastic tiles (tiles can only be glued beautifully onto a perfectly flat floor!).

Floor tiles for balconies.

Important! The wooden temporary coating will need to be treated with a protective agent. However, during precipitation and in the winter (in the case of an open balcony), it will still have to be removed.

Facing

The finished metal frame is sheathed before installing double-glazed windows. Typically, when performing façade work today, consumers give preference to reliable and durable siding, corrugated sheeting or other lightweight materials, the construction of which can include layers of insulation, hydro- and vapor barriers.

In order to sheathe the balcony frame, sheathing is made with a minimum pitch of 500 mm.

Note!
All elements of the sheathing, which can be made of wooden beams or metal profiles, are tightly attached to the metal structure to increase the rigidity and strength of the structure.

The siding from the facade of the house is first attached to the finished base, then, after laying the insulating materials, the sheathing is closed from the inside.

Before installing windows, to facilitate installation work, the double-glazed windows are removed from the supporting profile. Window frames are inserted into prepared openings and secured with special screws and fastening plastics. Next, all window elements are adjusted, and installation of the ebb and window sill begins. Having inserted the double-glazed windows into place, all installation seams and cracks are sealed with special foam.

At the final stage, all internal elements of the balcony are finished, a lighting system is installed and the heating of the room is organized.

Design

Once the necessary permits have been obtained, you can begin planning the interior decoration and overall design of the balcony.

First of all, you need to take into account that the balcony is not a full-fledged room; its walls are much thinner.

In connection with this, there is a need for additional insulation of this space.
It’s easy to make the floor on the balcony with your own hands; this is actually the easiest part of the interior decoration of this extension. However, it is worth taking into account the climate.
The floor should be additionally insulated so that it can be used at any time of the year.
The walls also need to be insulated, but with them it is much easier, since the majority of them will be occupied by double-glazed windows.
It is recommended to install plastic windows; they provide excellent protection from cold and noise from the street, while looking aesthetically pleasing with virtually any design.

When considering the question of how to insulate a balcony with your own hands, you need to first of all pay attention to insulating insulation materials. They will prevent the accumulation of moisture inside the structure, which can cause corrosion on metal elements.

Lighting and socket connections

If the householder decides to connect the balcony to the electrical network, then this stage of work is carried out at the same time as the installation of the sheathing. Inside the balcony, electrical cables and other communications are laid, and the points where sockets and switches will be located are also determined.

Even before performing all operations, you need to decide how many lighting fixtures will be located on the balcony. You need to know, preferably accurately, about the total illumination power. Taking into account this value, the method of power supply is selected. It could be:

Socket in the apartment, which is located at the shortest distance from the balcony;
Junction box;
Electrical panel

To protect these communications from any accidents, it is necessary to take the electrical wires into special metal sleeves, which will significantly complicate access to them.

Insulating a balcony with mineral wool

You should work with mineral wool very carefully and wear gloves.

The correct sequence of actions when independently insulating a balcony with mineral wool from the inside will provide reliable protection for a long time. Installation includes the following steps:

Waterproofing surfaces.
Wooden logs are installed on the floor. The height of the boards should be equal to the thickness of the insulation.
Mineral wool sheets are glued with special glue. The material should not be pressed too hard so as not to push it through. The material is joined as tightly as possible; large gaps should be avoided.
After the glue has dried, the insulation is secured with dowels.
Laying vapor barrier.
Installation of reinforcing mesh or wooden sheathing for subsequent finishing.

To insulate a balcony, it is important to follow the order of layers during installation.

Insulating a balcony with your own hands, as the video clearly shows, is not difficult, the main thing is to follow the instructions and follow the installation technology:

Laying lags

Often the balcony floor has an uneven surface because the house is not new. During operation, many cracks, potholes and irregularities form in it. Also, the floor is often not completely horizontal; it runs with a slight slope in the outer direction, designed to divert precipitation that gets inside.

If the unevenness on the floor is very pronounced, then leveling it with a cement screed means that the mass of the entire structure will increase noticeably. Also, after the screed is completed, the cement will dry, which will take a certain period; during this time, work will not be possible, so the repair will be delayed.

There is another option, leveling using logs made of natural wood (light wood species). Floor joists are wooden blocks with a square cross-section of 50x50 millimeters; you will also need plastic spacer wedges and anchor dowels.

Before laying the logs, you need to make sure that they do not rot. For this purpose, the workpieces are treated with impregnation or an antiseptic, then dried.

Before laying the logs on the balcony floor, it is covered with a layer of waterproofing film. Alternative methods are laying roofing felt or mastic with a bitumen base.

Style

If you plan to make a loggia combined with any of the rooms, then it is quite likely best to make the same design inside it as in the room. This will create a feeling of a single whole, which will have a positive effect on the appearance.

If you need to make a separate area out of the balcony, then it is best to use the same style, but in different shades.
In this way, the loggia will contrast, highlighting a separate area from the room, but at the same time it will be harmoniously combined with it.

For example, if the main shade of the bedroom is a soothing cream, then for a separate area you need to choose something invigorating, such as mint green. It will allow you to concentrate on your work, and at the same time it will not strain your eyes too much when working. Citrus shades are not recommended because they will be distracting.

Siding

The wide range of colors, ease of installation and durability of the siding have done their job. And now siding is a popular and convenient material for exterior cladding of balconies.

The fact is that siding installation proceeds from the bottom up, the boards engage with each other. But if the flashing is installed, it will be impossible to install the top siding board.

It is impossible to consider all the nuances of expanding a balcony in one article. But remember the main principles: measure seven times, cut once, be logical and do not violate safety precautions.

Ceramic tile

The simplest, most affordable, and never outdated type of wall material is ceramic tiles. It truly is a panacea in many situations. As in the case of artificial stone, tiles are usually used to cover surfaces most susceptible to contamination, and the upper part of the walls is painted or wallpapered. If the design of the balcony allows, it can be completely tiled with ceramic tiles, choosing different shades of tiles for the panels and top.

Unlike many finishing materials, tiles can be used to cover not only walls, but also floors, harmoniously combining colors. A warm floor with electric heating is installed under the tiles, and then the room can be used comfortably even in winter. This is especially convenient when the balcony is adapted as a study or attached to a living room or kitchen.

In addition to those already listed, we can name some more advantages of ceramic tile cladding:

Unlimited service life;
Easy to clean, not afraid of aggressive agents;
Does not fade under the sun;
The widest range of colors, sizes, textures.

Waterproofing walls

The process of waterproofing the surface of the walls of a completed balcony can be done using the following methods:

Painting. The most common, but expensive option. Protective agents are applied to the surface: varnishes with rubber additives, which must be renewed regularly.
Pasting. Such materials can stick due to exposure to high temperatures or self-adhesive. The more common material is roofing felt. But the process of working with this material is labor-intensive.
Powder. It includes a regular cement mixture to which liquid rubber, some types of plaster or tile adhesive are added. The disadvantage of this method is its low strength and resistance to mechanical damage.
Water repellents. They are ready-made mixtures that have excellent water-repellent properties and provide protection from high humidity. The disadvantage is the rapid destruction from direct sunlight.

This method should only be used for hydraulic internal insulation.

Room heating

When considering the question of how to cover a balcony with your own hands, you must also take into account the need to heat this room.

The exterior decoration of the balcony can be literally anything, from plastic panels to plaster and paint on top.
The inside of the walls should be filled with dense insulation, which will not let cold air and moisture into the loggia.

When decorating a balcony from the inside with your own hands, it is important to follow the technology.

After the completion of construction, a commission may come that will evaluate the correctness of the construction, whether the structure threatens the safety of the apartments of other residents or not.

It is also worth considering the possibilities of heating this small room. There are several possible solutions to this problem.

Warm floor. Heated floors are a very popular option that is in wide demand. The system uses a network of channels through which hot water flows, thereby heating the floor. Compared to electrical methods, this one is safer, especially if the floor is lined with wooden materials. The underfloor heating system can easily be extended to the walls, if necessary.
Heater. The easiest way to solve the problem of heating a loggia is to install a heater. All that is necessary is to install an outlet on the loggia itself, or use an extension cord to connect the device to an outlet in an adjacent room. The heater itself may well be styled to match the interior.
Battery branch. This method is a little simpler than underfloor heating, however, creating a new battery will reduce the pressure in the rest, which will generally affect the decrease in temperature in other rooms. This will also increase the cost of this service.

Glazing installation

For balconies, it is best to use PVC glazing or sliding systems. Extending the balcony with PVC glazing has better thermal insulation, but the inward opening doors block the window sill. This prevents it from being used to its full potential.

Sliding systems do not cover the window sill, since the sashes move along the plane of the window. But these windows have less thermal insulation compared to PVC windows.

Having installed the glazing frames, we install an external ebb and an internal window sill according to the extension design. Then we install double-glazed windows or sliding sashes, depending on the type of glazing.

Design

The project must be drawn up taking into account SNiP standards. To create it, you need to think through all the elements of the future design.

First of all, it is necessary to select the type of foundation on which the structure will rest:

The foundation is strip or columnar.
Concrete slab supported by brackets.
Metal carcass.

Next, the design of the structure, the material of the walls and roof are selected. It’s worth considering in advance whether glazing is needed. When the balcony is open all year round, you can go out onto it and breathe fresh air. But in winter, the balcony space is practically not used. If you do not clear the concrete slab of snow, it will melt and seep into the room in the spring.

Installing glazing will make the microclimate more comfortable, as well as protect the area from unauthorized persons.

It is better to entrust the drafting to specialists. It’s easy to make a mistake when designing; the slightest flaw can cause a failure when preparing the layout. Contacting a specialized company will free you from the need to take measurements and think through the design yourself.

Balcony on the foundation

Such buildings are often called attached buildings, and they are erected on the ground floor (for more details, see the article “extension of a balcony on the ground floor”). According to the requirements, the foundation must be no lower than the base of the house. A permanent structure is erected with walls made of bricks, blocks, or made using frame technology. If there is glazing, thermal and waterproofing, the balcony is suitable for permanent residence.

Construction begins with laying the strip foundation. A concrete foundation can easily withstand the heavy weight of a heavy balcony structure and constant loads. The only disadvantage of this technology is the high cost of foundation work.

Balcony with metal frame

The structure is installed on the ground floor and rests on a columnar foundation. The basis of the building is a metal frame consisting of racks, crossbars and fencing. The frame is covered with corrugated sheets or plastic, and a roof is placed on top of the balcony. Instead of a window block, a grille is often installed. This lightweight structure is easy to install and does not create a load on the façade. But a comfortable microclimate will be maintained only in the warm season.

To protect yourself from bad weather, you can make balcony glazing with an aluminum profile. They will protect against insects, street dust and moisture. But the room will remain cold, the temperature inside will be several degrees higher than outside.

Hanging balcony

For installation, metal brackets are selected that can support the weight of a heavy slab. This type of fastening is a suitable option for the second floor, but is also suitable for a high first floor. It is better to entrust the installation to specialists who will correctly calculate the load so that the structure does not fall in the future.

The main difficulty is obtaining permission from regulatory authorities. It will be necessary to check the load-bearing capacity of the building wall, which should not be in disrepair.

After installing the brackets, it is easier to order a finished slab, which will be installed using a crane. Typically, the length of the ceiling is 3-6 meters, and the average width is 130-140 cm. When there is no convenient access for equipment, many begin to ask familiar builders how to make a balcony with their own hands without using a ready-made slab.

In this case, you will have to make formwork, lay reinforcement and pour concrete. The result is a strong concrete base that can withstand high loads.

The owner decides whether the room will be used in winter. To create a winter garden or a warm room, you can install warm double-glazed windows and make thermal insulation. If there is no need, the room is not insulated and is used for storing things or relaxing in the fresh air in the summer.

You can build

The design and appearance of a new building largely depend on the appearance and decoration of the house, as well as on the material from which it is made. An important condition is the harmonious selection of the type of balcony in such a style that it does not stand out in design from the general image of the building.

Concrete balconies

The most common option is with a concrete floor. There are several features:

The load-bearing elements of one of the sides are fixed in the wall of the house. Using electric welding, they are connected to pre-installed and carefully secured anchors. The reliability of the entire structure will depend on how massive the wall is. If the walls of the house, which will help distribute the weight and pressure of the new building, are not strong enough, it is necessary to attach additional supports.
Dimensions in reach and depth should not exceed one meter.
In brick buildings, concrete slabs are inserted into the load-bearing wall of the house along its entire length. They are welded to the lintel reinforcement, which is placed above the floor below.
Console elements are laid into the masonry in houses with stone walls.
The top level of the main support slab should ultimately be set 100-120mm below the final floor level.
The floor of the structure being created must have a slope of 2% from the main building.
The concrete slab should be waterproofed. To do this, a water-repellent coating is installed on the surface of the installed slab, on which a sand-cement screed is then poured.
Parapets must be at least one meter. For this purpose, metal gratings are used, which consist of handrails and racks. The racks are attached by electric welding to the embedded elements of the slab, and the edges of the handrails are inserted into the load-bearing wall of the building.
The balcony door threshold must be positioned 100 mm above the floor level.

How to make a visor?

The canopy is part of a closed balcony, and its functional role is to cover the glass from raindrops and reduce the flow of sunlight entering the room. The first step is to decide on the size of the visor. It is best that its length is slightly longer than the length of the balcony, and the free edge extends slightly beyond the railing. This way the canopy will be most functional, protecting the balcony from raindrops.

The next step will be the construction of fastenings. They can be completely different: straight, slightly inclined or even in the shape of a small arc. The main thing is that all fastenings are made of high-quality metal profiles and corners, since when building a balcony yourself, reliability and safety are valued above all else.

The construction of the roof canopy is completed. You will need to select the following materials:

for a straight surface, tiles or slate are suitable, which are often used to cover the roofs of houses;
for an inclined surface, the most reliable and lightweight option would be metal sheets, which are also called corrugated sheets, as well as durable ondulin;
Bendable metal sheets or polycarbonate are suitable for the arc.

Preparatory work

Before equipping a balcony, you should draw a drawing of the future structure in advance, on the basis of which you can easily calculate the required amount of consumables, construction and decorative materials, draw up a work schedule and order translucent structures. Experts advise deciding in advance on the balcony glazing area and the set of double-glazed windows. The choice of window model directly depends on the further operating conditions of the room, its location relative to the cardinal directions, area and heating capabilities. At the preparatory stage, the following tools and equipment should be prepared:

a welding machine, which, if necessary, can be rented for a couple of days or asked from friends;
hammer;
mount;
drill and set of drills;
grinder;
construction ruler and level.

To manufacture the metal structure of the balcony base, profile pipes with a cross section of 40x40 mm, steel corners and anchors of 200x250 mm are used. To protect the metal from the negative effects of the environment, it is primed and painted with facade paint.

Roof on the top floor

If everything is clear with the middle floors - the roof of the lower balcony is the concrete base of another one, located on the floor above, then regarding the balconies on the last, upper floor, many questions arise, because not everyone knows how to make a roof with their own hands.

There are two options for building a roof on the balconies of the top floors:

Construction of a dependent structure - a system of fastenings is manufactured, which are the basis and load-bearing part of the structure. This option is more reliable, since the roof rests on the structure and is firmly fixed to it.
The construction is an independent structure - supports and racks are not used, and the roof is attached only to the outer part of the wall.

To equip both structures, you will need metal profiles and corners, mounting foam and large screws equipped with waterproofing gaskets. And for the roof itself, a material such as polycarbonate, tiles or any other roofing materials, as well as various types of steel sheets, is perfect.

It is worth noting that after constructing the structure, it will be necessary to carefully seal all the cracks in order to prevent moisture from entering during rain.

Frame making

Two blanks of the same length are measured from the profile pipe for the base of the frame. The distance between the window lintels is left taking into account the thickness of the double-glazed windows (at least 400 mm). The old metal profile is cut off with a grinder, leaving the supporting pillars. New pipes are placed at the fastening point and the connecting sections are fixed by welding. The remaining elements are installed similarly along the entire perimeter of the structure.

Note!
When carrying out work, be sure to use a building level to monitor the horizontal and vertical position of all elements. If any deviations arise, they should be removed at the initial stage using a pry bar or blows with a hammer. After checking and adjusting the pre-welded structure, it is firmly secured by welding.

All welds must be performed in compliance with welding technology and safety regulations.

At the next stage, jumpers are prepared, the width of which must match the dimensions of the profile. Having determined the installation locations of the jumpers on a real object, they begin to weld them on all sides, not forgetting to constantly check the level of the structure and the correct connection of the elements. The installation of the structure continues with the formation of the outer frame. The balcony structure adjacent to the wall is secured with special anchors. After the installation of metal structures is completed, they are thoroughly cleaned of rust and welding residues, and primed with a special compound for external use.

Is it possible to make a cellar?

Unfortunately, not every person has a suitable place to store vegetables grown at their dacha, and going out of town to pick them up every time is not a very reasonable waste of time and effort. There is a way out of this situation - you can build a cellar on the first floor balcony, which will allow you to store a certain amount of garden provisions.

The cellar can be made either built-in or as an independent structure - an insulated wooden box. To make both options, you will need various wood parts - boards, beams, corners, which will be arranged in two layers - outside and inside.

In the spaces between the two wooden layers there is insulation, which allows you to retain heat inside the structure. Foam blocks or expanded polystyrene boards are usually used as insulation. Both options have excellent thermal insulation properties.

In addition, some small heating element is installed at the bottom of the structure, which will help keep the temperature inside above zero degrees.

It is best to store vegetables and fruits in separate plastic containers - this will promote good air circulation and help keep the crop fresh longer.

Preparatory work

Before you begin work on removing the balcony, you should thoroughly prepare, think through and calculate everything. Thus, we will save time, money and nerves during the restructuring process.

Before starting expansion work, you need to answer two questions:

In other words, plan the end result and figure out which balcony extension design will be able to implement our expansion plans. After this, we select materials, tools, devices, and an assistant for practical work on removal.

Before you begin, you should draw a drawing or a detailed diagram of the installation of a balcony with an extension. It would be even better to order an expansion project. This way we can accurately calculate the type and quantity of materials needed to remove the balcony.

Tools and equipment:

welding machine;
mount;
hammer;
hammer drill (drill) and set of drills;
angle grinder (grinder);
building level and tape measure.

As a material for the manufacture of the expansion frame, we use a rectangular pipe of 100×50 mm.