Work on the outside of balconies and loggias is often carried out on a residual basis. This is the wrong approach. Often the exterior decoration of a balcony is no less important than the interior. With its help you can insulate, decorate and waterproof the parapet. When installed correctly, the outer cladding reliably protects the interior from street dirt, moisture, and wind. The choice of materials for exterior finishing depends on the requirements for the operational and aesthetic characteristics of the parapet.
When is the best time to do exterior finishing?
Work can be carried out all year round, regardless of other types of landscaping. It is advisable to combine measures for the external cladding of the parapet of a balcony or loggia with glazing. This sequence of actions has many advantages:
- unobstructed access to the outside of the parapet, allowing for high-quality waterproofing, insulation and cladding with decorative materials;
- the ability to protect the concrete base slab with additional cladding;
- freedom of action when installing a canopy if the balcony is located on the top floor.
If you combine the finishing of the balcony from the outside with glazing, it is easier to carry out preparatory work - strengthen or replace the parapet, repair the base if necessary. You can also reduce or increase the height of window units.
Installation of a new frame
To work with corrugated sheets or vinyl siding, a frame made up of wooden blocks is most often used. The cross-section of the material must correspond to the thickness of the insulation, which may be needed for further improvement of the balcony. The optimal size of a wooden block is 60 mm.
Before starting work, the material should be thoroughly treated with antiseptic substances. This will make it possible to obtain a reliable frame that is not subject to rot, which is very important for this section of the balcony on which the external cladding will be installed. This must be done before assembly begins in order to work with already dried wood.
Preparing the structure
To get a flat top surface, you need to start installation from the outer bars located at the corners of the parapet. When they are secured, you can stretch the lace between them and align the remaining frame parts along it. The bars should be secured using copper wire, tightening it around the metal rods of the old parapet. This allows you to get a stainless mount that firmly holds the wood.
The frame is attached to the walls using anchor bolts. Here you will need a hammer drill, but an electric drill with an impact mechanism will also cope with the task. It is important to remember that the optimal distance between the bars will be 40 cm. This way, you can achieve the strength of the cladding not only with siding, but also with corrugated sheets, which must withstand high wind loads, especially on the upper floors.
The frame work ends with the installation of a plastic corner profile. It will protect the ends of the bars from moisture and give the balcony an attractive appearance from the bottom. This element is attached directly to the frame, for which self-tapping screws with a press washer are used.
Why you shouldn’t cladding the outside of your balcony yourself
The main reason for refusing to implement the project on your own is that this activity is dangerous to health. Falling even from the second floor can cause serious injuries. In addition, unprofessionally executed balcony cladding is potentially dangerous to others. Gusts of wind can tear off poorly secured facing material, which, if dropped from a height, can injure people passing by. Finishing the outer part of the balcony on your own can create the opposite economic effect - instead of saving, you will have to incur losses. After all, the wrong choice of materials and violation of technology due to lack of experience are guaranteed to lead to unpleasant consequences:
- high heat loss;
- depressurization of the enclosing structure;
- excessive formation of condensation;
- the appearance of mold and mildew on the inside of the parapet.
The consequences are especially critical when the inside of the balcony is lined with expensive finishing materials or is even combined with a living room.
In this case, heat loss and losses will be especially great. Self-installation of a roof is also a potentially dangerous activity and requires practical skills in providing hydro, sound and thermal insulation. Exterior decoration of the balcony with your own hands is allowed in one case - when living on the first floor. In this situation, if there are no strict requirements for heat and sound insulation, you can cover the parapet with beautiful facing materials.
Why should you choose corrugated sheets?
Corrugated sheeting has a slightly higher cost than other materials, but differs from them in the following advantages:
To the listed advantages of this type of finishing, you can also add its absolute tightness. The production of corrugated sheets is carried out in the form of sheets, the length of which is sometimes 12 meters.
Therefore, when performing the outer cladding of the loggia, you will not have to deal with discrepancies in certain places. This eliminates the risk of water getting inside the structure, and the additional heat created by the insulating structures is not lost.
Finishing from corrugated sheets is much easier due to their light weight. People often ask what color metal profile to cover the loggia parapet with. For example, covering a loggia with corrugated board in a color reminiscent of wood will create the impression of the natural origin of the material.
During the installation of finishing elements, insulation of the balcony is carried out in parallel. Due to their high strength, profiled sheets provide reliable thermal insulation, and their surface provides the necessary ventilation. These features allow the use of thermal insulation materials containing basalt or mineral fibers. The listed insulation materials are highly sensitive to moisture, which can harm their thermal insulation properties.
Here are some recommendations on how to use profiled sheets for finishing loggias or balconies:
However, when a reliable sealing of the loggia is created, the penetration of noise into the apartment will be very weak. This disadvantage is covered by its low cost. In addition, using a profiled sheet, it becomes possible to design the exterior of the balcony according to your preferences. For example, an interesting option is when the cladding is installed, which consists of pieces of corrugated board of various shades in one balcony structure.
What activities are included in the exterior finishing service?
The idea that this activity consists solely of covering the parapet with decorative materials makes it difficult to appreciate the importance of professional services. In reality, the exterior finishing of balconies and loggias is a complex multi-stage process that includes the following types of work:
- installation of drainage systems of varying complexity;
- expansion of the balcony;
- fastening of external clothes dryers;
- performing insulation on the outside of the parapet;
- installation of a canopy, awning;
- fixing the outdoor unit of the air conditioner on the parapet or preparing a place for its installation.
Many of the listed activities are interrelated, so it is advisable to entrust the preparation of the project and its practical implementation to one contractor.
A question of cost
At the moment, the cost of 1 m² of the thinnest 0.4 mm profiled sheet starts at about 150 rubles. A more or less durable product, that is, with a thickness of 0.7 mm, will already cost about 250 rubles.
Attaching the outer corner.
If you like a “smart” polymer coating, then be prepared for the price to increase by about a third. Here, a sheet with a thickness of 0.4 mm will cost no less than 200 rubles, and the price for a thick profiled sheet starts from 300 rubles per 1 m².
Corrugated sheeting is approximately in the same price niche as corrugated sheets. As for metal tiles, they can be 20% or 120% more expensive than corrugated sheets. In this case, everything depends on the ambitions and appetites of the producers.
As for hiring a team, classically it has always been assumed that the labor of a hired worker costs the same as the material. But this principle is not always respected. The appetites of the craftsmen mainly depend on the region.
The difference between a self-tapping screw for wood and for metal.
More precisely, at first they may agree with you and tell you the approximate cost of the material. But then it turns out that you will need to pay extra for cleaning and preparing the balcony, garbage removal and other things that you did not think about, but the deposit has already been received, and you will still have to pay for the work. So when you draw up a contract, take these nuances into account.
So in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the cost of 1 m² of cladding based on galvanized profiles reaches 1,200 rubles. And in the vastness of our great homeland, the average price fluctuates around 500 - 700 rubles per 1 m².
As an example, I have compiled a small table for you with average prices for one of the popular brands.
| Marking | Sheet thickness | Weight of 1 linear meter of sheet | Cost of 1m/p including VAT |
| S10-1100 | 0.4 mm | 4.4 kg | 220 RUR |
| 0.5 mm | 5.4 kg | 248 RUR | |
| 0.7 mm | 7.4 kg | RUR 343 |
Original design of a balcony covered with corrugated sheets.
Is exterior finishing necessary for continuous (panoramic) glazing?
Recently, panoramic glazing of balconies has become popular.
This is not only an aesthetic, but also a practical way. Installing beautiful windows the full height of the opening also helps to solve the issue of improving insolation. However, after installing the portals, the problem of their safe operation arises. When designing a building envelope, it is necessary to provide protection for children and some adults from falling out. New GOST 23166-2021 requires the installation of additional protection for continuous glazing. In this case, we are not talking about the external decoration of the balcony with siding or corrugated sheeting. Indeed, in this case, the meaning of installing panoramic windows is lost. To ensure safety, it is necessary to install sides made of welded or forged gratings (analogous to a metal parapet). This requirement does not apply to continuous glazing with blind sashes in the lower zone.
Sides are needed only in cases where the owners of balconies decide to install active shutters at the full height of the balcony or loggia or their distance from the floor is less than 800 mm. It is also recommended, for safety reasons, to equip the inside of the lower double-glazed windows with triplex or heat-strengthened glass. They will not only insure against possible loss, but will also help to avoid cuts and other more serious injuries. Triplex and tempered glass increase protection against burglary. This should be taken into account by owners of balconies and loggias on the first, second and last floors.
Sequence of work for exterior finishing
The order of stages depends on the scale of the event. When external finishing is carried out together with glazing and internal cladding, the sequence of work is determined by the master. It depends on the choice of materials and technologies, but most often the exterior finishing is done first. Moreover, any type of work begins with an inspection of the parapet with the base and their strengthening.
If exterior finishing is planned after glazing and interior cladding, it is usually performed in the following sequence:
- inspection of the outside of the parapet, removal of rust, application of anti-corrosion protection;
- inspection of the internal lining and implementation of measures for additional hydro- and vapor barrier;
- installation of sheathing;
- filling internal cavities with insulation;
- fixation of decorative material;
- sealing corner joints and joints between the facing covering and the base slab and walls;
- installation of decorative corners.
At the last stage, additional elements are fixed - flower stands, fasteners for air conditioners and external clothes dryers. In this case, at the stage of installation of the sheathing, additional mortgages are installed under them to reduce the load on the sheathing.
What materials are used for exterior finishing - pros and cons
For exterior finishing of the balcony, the price of which partly depends on the choice of material, plastic, metal and composite coatings are used. These are ondulin, siding (metal or vinyl), corrugated sheets, ceramic plastic, PVC panels, aluminum facade systems. Not only the cost of the service, but also the characteristics of the balcony or loggia depend on the choice of facing material.
Profiled sheet
External finishing of a balcony with corrugated sheets is a simple and effective way to improve the parapet, as well as protect the entire structure from precipitation, wind, and dust. This facing material is made of steel sheets 0.3–1 mm thick and painted with enamel on the front side. High-quality profiled sheets are protected against corrosion - an inner layer of zinc oxide. The main advantages of this material:
- strength and wind resistance;
- durability - standard and premium category sheets last up to 50 years;
- a complete set of additional elements;
- tightness;
- easy installation.
Despite the practicality of this material, it should be taken into account that profiled sheets are used for cladding warehouses and industrial facilities.
The use of this material may negatively affect the aesthetics of balconies. If you are completely satisfied with the aesthetics of the profiled sheets, you need to pay attention to the thickness of the metal and the quality of the decorative coating. Durability, aesthetics, and load on the parapet depend on them. The thickness of the outer polymer layer (paint) should not be less than 20 microns. If the coating is too thin and low-quality enamel was used to apply it, it will quickly begin to fade and peel off.
Too much metal thickness also negatively affects the characteristics of the fence. Heavy corrugated sheets place excess load on the supporting structure. This can cause deformation of the sheathing and a decrease in the reliability of fastening. To exclude such a scenario, you need to either strengthen the sheathing or not use corrugated sheets thicker than 0.6 mm.
In addition to rolled steel, aluminum is used today for the production of profiled sheets. This metal has natural protection against corrosion - when interacting with oxygen, an oxide shell is formed on its surface. It reliably protects aluminum from destruction. This corrugated sheet is lighter than steel and does not rattle so much in the rain. Since the front side of profiled aluminum sheets is also covered with polymer enamel, both facing materials are almost the same.
Ondulin
For cladding parapets, another type of corrugated roofing material is sometimes used - ondulin. It differs from ceramoplast in composition. Ondulin is a bitumen roofing that weighs almost 2 times less than keramoplast. However, this characteristic can be attributed to both advantages and disadvantages. After all, ondulin is inferior to ceramic plastic in terms of strength. The backwater can withstand higher temperatures - up to 110 ⁰C. For ceramoplast this parameter does not exceed 80 ⁰C.
Siding
This decorative coating can reliably imitate natural wood, which is why it is often used for cladding parapets. Siding for exterior decoration of balconies can be vinyl or metal. Regardless of the material of manufacture, it consists of panels 120–300 mm wide, which are mounted on a pre-assembled sheathing. The popularity of siding is explained by a long list of its advantages:
- ease;
- versatility;
- corrosion resistance;
- durability;
- tightness;
- maintainability;
- heat resistance;
- easy care;
- chemical inertness;
- quick installation;
- a complete set of additional elements;
- wide choice of decors;
- flexibility;
- different options for the shape of the front plane - convex, flat (imitation of the texture of natural wood is possible).
Metal siding is stronger than vinyl and is not flammable. But it is heavier and can rattle when it rains, so its installation requires additional reinforcement of the supporting structure and improved sound insulation.
External finishing of the balcony with siding, the price of which depends on the material used to make the panels, can be done on convex or concave surfaces. For these purposes, it is best to use vinyl panels. They bend well and more accurately follow the contour of the parapet. During this event, it is important to adhere to the permissible radius, since any material has a flexibility limit.
It should be borne in mind that vinyl siding for the exterior of a balcony becomes fragile during severe frosts. As a result, even fairly light but hard objects can damage the casing. Also, static charges accumulate on its surface, which attract dust.
Keramoplast
This coating was developed for covering roofs, but its scope of application is much wider. It is used in the construction of fences and for cladding other vertical surfaces, including parapets of balconies or loggias. Important advantages of ceramoplast:
- environmental friendliness - made on the basis of white clay;
- lightness - sheet weight is 11.5 kg;
- fire safety;
- sound insulation – the material does not make noise in the rain;
- low load on supporting structures;
- possibility of quick dismantling.
When choosing this material, it is better to immediately imagine what the balcony will look like. From a distance, ceramic plastic looks like colored slate. When covering vertical surfaces with it, difficulties may arise with sealing joints. Keramoplast is vulnerable to UV radiation - it fades quite quickly in the sun.
Aluminum facade systems
This technology is actively used in the construction of new multi-storey buildings and the reconstruction of old residential, commercial and municipal buildings. It allows you to cover the outer side of the parapet with decorative aluminum panels. This cladding looks more modern and elegant than the external finishing of the balcony with corrugated sheeting. In addition to aesthetic appeal, aluminum facade systems have many other advantages:
- insignificant load on the base and parapet;
- possibility of ventilation of the internal space;
- color fastness;
- durability – facing materials can last more than 50 years;
- corrosion resistance;
- the ability to insulate the outer side of the parapet;
- immunity to chemical environments;
- heat resistance - tolerates heat and severe frosts well.
An additional advantage of aluminum facade systems is the presence of insulated panels. They allow you to significantly increase the energy efficiency and sound absorption of the outer cladding without additional work. This type of facade system is a three-layer sandwich panel with insulation inside. Instead of plastic, they are lined with aluminum on the outside. Such panels have a fixed width - they are cut to length.
Attaching vinyl siding
When the wooden frame is ready, installation work should begin. To make the outer skin “walk around” less, you should leave the siding on the balcony before installation. The material will react to air temperature and expand. This will reduce the warping of the skin and almost completely eliminate the harmful effects of temperature changes.
Next, the installation of corner profiles and the starting strip begins. They are fastened with zinc coated self-tapping screws. This allows you to obtain a durable connection that is not subject to corrosion. The corner elements and the starting strip must be accurately aligned using a building level. The quality of subsequent siding installation depends on this.
Siding installation
Vinyl siding goes up pretty quickly. But you should follow some rules, thanks to which the cladding will last as long as when working with corrugated sheets. The main “law” is to leave a gap at the junction of panels and additional elements. The distance should be within 1 cm, which will prevent swelling when the siding expands.
The next thing the master should remember is the process of tightening the screws. They are located exactly in the center of a special mounting hole to allow the vinyl panel to expand or contract. In addition, the caps should not be screwed tightly, otherwise the siding will not be able to move freely. You shouldn’t forget about this before covering your balcony with siding yourself. Otherwise, the process does not present any difficulty, since the panels have special locks with which they are connected to each other.
The set of each subsequent element must be accompanied by a mandatory check for horizontalness. If you allow a misalignment, this will be reflected in the final stage, when windows are installed at the top. The curvature can only be corrected by completely disassembling the entire casing, which will take some time.
The last panel should have a margin in width. This step is needed for more precise fitting and finishing of the parapet when glazing it. The reserve can reach three centimeters.
Options for finishing the roof on the balcony
When finishing the balcony from the outside, any roofing materials are suitable for canopies - corrugated sheets, metal and bitumen tiles, ceramic plastic, ondulin.
If the building envelope is not insulated and more light is needed, polycarbonate can be used. When choosing roofing coverings, it is recommended to take into account their weight, levels of sound and heat insulation, durability and practicality. Regardless of the type of roofing and canopy design (with the exception of polycarbonate), for insulated balconies you will need to perform several additional types of work:
- provide hydro- and sound insulation;
- insulate the under-roof space;
- create conditions for air circulation and eliminate condensation accumulation.
These standard measures are carried out during the installation of any roof, the balcony is no exception. If they are ignored, the risk of rainwater leakage, mold and ice build-up in winter will increase. After all, the visor is a mini-roof. The relevance of this recommendation increases when combining a balcony with a living room. To increase the level of safety, it is advisable to equip the new balcony roof with additional elements:
- snow guards - these elements will protect people passing below from possible injuries;
- drainage - such a system not only drains rain and melt water, but also reduces the likelihood of the formation of large icicles.
These precautions are needed not only for the sake of caring for the health and lives of pedestrians. Cars can be parked in the immediate vicinity of the house. Snow retainers and drainage systems will insure balcony owners against litigation with the owners of damaged cars.
Corrugated sheeting and metal tiles
These roofing coverings have no fundamental differences - the main difference is only in the relief of the sheets, so they can be considered together. They are made of sheet metal, have a decorative polymer coating and a galvanized protective layer. The advantages of these roofing materials:
- durability - from 20 to 60 years;
- strength and wind resistance;
- practicality - dirt does not accumulate, mold or mildew does not develop.
At the same time, corrugated sheets and metal tiles are loud coatings, which, with the maximum thickness of the sheets, place additional load on the base of the canopy. When installing them, additional sound insulation will be required. The use of these materials is advisable when corrugated sheeting is chosen for finishing the parapet.
Bituminous shingles
Despite its low weight, this roofing covering has high tensile strength, as it is made on the basis of reinforced fiberglass. Modified bitumen perfectly withstands severe frosts and heat in the sun. At low temperatures, shingles do not crack, and at high temperatures they do not leak. Other advantages of bitumen shingles:
- durability - service life can exceed 50 years (for premium collections - up to 80–100 years);
- reducing the heating rate of the roof - shingles with basalt chips reflect the sun's rays;
- reducing the load on the sheathing;
- high level of noise absorption;
- compatibility with visors of radius and complex shapes.
At the same time, bitumen shingles are vulnerable to directed impacts from hard objects. Microflora may develop on its surface over time. Therefore, when choosing this material, the angle of the slope is important - rain and melt water should freely remove plaque from the surface of the shingles.
Ondulin and ceramoplast
All the main properties of these roofing coverings are described in the section on parapet cladding. The use of these materials on the visor has no fundamental differences.
Polycarbonate
This type of fluoroplastic with high light transmittance is actively used in the construction of greenhouses, canopies and other covered structures. Polycarbonate is painted in different colors, which allows you to easily achieve the desired visual effect. The main advantages of this coating:
- light weight – from 650 g/m²;
- flexibility - compatibility with convex bases;
- simple installation;
- chemical inertness – does not react to aggressive environments (important for use in urban environments).
Polycarbonate also has a lot of disadvantages.
A fundamentally important disadvantage for roofing coverings is vulnerability to ultraviolet radiation. That is, under direct sunlight, polycarbonate gradually loses its properties, becomes cloudy and begins to deteriorate. This coating expands and contracts with changes in temperature. Such thermal fluctuations must be taken into account during installation. It is equally important to choose the thickness of the sheets. For a roof, this parameter should not be less than 12 mm, otherwise hail will break through the canopy.
Although polycarbonate manufacturers list its advantages as a high level of thermal insulation, this information should not be taken seriously. This type of roofing is not suitable for insulated balconies. It doesn't retain heat well.
There is one more unpleasant moment when using this material - you need to constantly care for the outside of the polycarbonate visor. A layer of dirt gradually accumulates on it, which reduces light transmission and worsens aesthetics. It is difficult to wash the visor in such a situation, and sometimes you have to hire special services.
Glass roof
If you plan to decorate the balcony with insulated panels and want more light, you can glaze the roof.
Such a project can be implemented at the stage of ordering windows. Indeed, in this case, the roof structure is part of the balcony glazing. Unlike a polycarbonate canopy, such a roof can retain heat perfectly. To do this, it is enough to install energy-efficient double-glazed windows with selective coating. Manufacturers of window units have the ability to produce sealed structures with a glass roof. Winter gardens and greenhouses are assembled using a similar technology. A double-glazed roof can:
- protect from overheating - for this purpose multifunctional reflective glasses are used;
- withstand snow loads provided that a thick-walled reinforced profile is used;
- reduce rain noise.
Like polycarbonate canopies, a balcony roof made of profiles and double-glazed windows has a serious drawback - dirt accumulates on it. It is difficult to get to its outside, so the problem must be solved in other ways. The most effective of them is the installation of self-cleaning double-glazed windows. This innovative development makes it easier to maintain windows with limited access to the outside.
When choosing a glass canopy for a balcony, you need to take care of its strength. This is necessary in case of large hail and accidental falling of solid heavy objects from the roof. To increase the shockproof properties of this design, it is recommended to use triplex or tempered glass.
How not to decorate balconies and loggias
It is prohibited to use tiles, decorative stone and porcelain tiles for external cladding of parapets if they are planned to be attached with glue.
This type of cladding is dangerous to the health and lives of others. After all, the tiles can peel off at any time. This is especially true for our climatic conditions, when up to 100 complete freezing and thawing cycles occur in one autumn-winter season. Theoretically, it is possible to install decorative stone or tiles using special facade systems. In this case, the facing material is fixed mechanically onto a lathing made of metal profiles. This technology is used to decorate the walls of multi-story buildings. It ensures reliable fastening of the facing covering and safe operation. It should be taken into account that the use of ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware, and decorative stone increases the load on the base of the balcony.
Which color should I choose?
If you have a private house, you can do contrasting cladding or finishing to match the facade. Both options look attractive.
Cities often have restrictions on the design of facades; you should adhere to them. We offer a wide range of coatings and colors; you are sure to choose an option for decorating your balcony in accordance with the overall style of the house.
The finish looks good, as in the photo below. Corrugated corrugated sheeting in RAL 1014 Ivory color is used here. It practically repeats the shade of brick.
The light color makes the facade visually “light” - the tall house in the photo does not look bulky.
When is insulation needed for exterior finishing?
If the balcony or loggia is well insulated from the inside, an outer layer of thermal insulation is not required. Also, performing this type of work is pointless when the glazing is cold. However, there are situations when the balcony needs to be insulated from the outside:
- it is necessary to increase the energy efficiency of the enclosing structure - most often such cases arise when combining a balcony with a living room or in the process of arranging a greenhouse, office, recreation area or games in this area.
- When performing interior decoration, the balcony was not insulated, which leads to an increase in the cost of heating the interior.
External finishing of the balcony, the price of which depends on the type of insulation, can be done without the use of corrugated sheets, siding, porcelain stoneware and ondulin. In this case, a rigid heat-insulating layer is rigidly fixed over the entire area of the parapet, covered with reinforcing mesh, plastered and painted.
To reduce heat loss, different materials are used - polyurethane foam, penoplex, polystyrene foam, mineral wool. The final choice depends on the requirements for the thermal insulation layer. Therefore, it makes sense to study the main characteristics of the materials used. Most often, polyurethane foam and polystyrene foam are used for external insulation with subsequent finishing.
When can you do without exterior decoration of a balcony?
External finishing of the balcony is not needed in the following situations:
- glazing is made using window blocks with low energy efficiency;
- there are no strict requirements for the aesthetics of the outer side of the parapet;
- the existing level of sound and waterproofing completely suits the owners;
- The base of the balcony does not require protection from precipitation.
You can also refuse to work on the outside if you have complete confidence in the reliability and efficiency of the interior finishing.
If the balcony is already reliably protected from cold, dampness and noise, then external cladding is needed only to improve its appearance. External finishing of the balcony, materials for which are selected depending on the requirements for heat, sound insulation and aesthetics, is optimally carried out together with the internal cladding. With such an organization of repair and construction work, it is possible to draw up a project that initially takes into account all the requirements for the enclosing structure. This will help to avoid alterations during operation and save a lot of money when landscaping a balcony or loggia.
