Finishing a balcony or loggia with drywall

Using drywall to transform a balcony or loggia can significantly improve the comfort and usefulness of your home. With the correct strategy, these frequently underutilized spaces can be transformed into useful additions to your living area. For finishing these outdoor spaces, drywall—also referred to as plasterboard or gypsum board—offers a flexible and affordable option. It provides structural support, insulation, and a smooth surface for a variety of decorative treatments.

Improving insulation is one of the main advantages of using drywall for finishing a balcony or loggia. Temperature changes are common in these areas, particularly in inclement weather. You can make your home more climate-controlled by adding drywall, which will keep it warmer in the winter and colder in the summer. In addition to improving comfort, this additional insulation helps save energy and may lower heating and cooling expenses.

Furthermore, drywall provides structural support, fortifying the walls of your loggia or balcony and offering assistance for extra fixtures or furniture. Drywall can provide a strong base for any installation you have planned, including shelving units, lighting fixtures, or even a small seating area. This structural integrity guarantees that your completed area is safe, long-lasting, and aesthetically pleasing for regular use.

Finishing your balcony or loggia with drywall also offers the benefit of a uniformly smooth surface. Unlike brick or raw concrete walls, drywall provides a blank surface for a variety of decorative accents. Drywall can be painted, wallpapered, or embellished with decorative finishes to fit your style preferences, whether you’re more into a cozy rustic vibe or a minimalist modern look. Because of its adaptability, you can customize your outdoor area and create a smooth transition between your indoor and outdoor living spaces.

Apart from its pragmatic advantages, installing drywall is comparatively easy and affordable in comparison to alternative remodeling choices. You can quickly change your balcony or loggia with the assistance of expert contractors or do-it-yourself guides, causing the least amount of disturbance to your everyday schedule. Drywall is a cost-effective and efficient material that appeals to homeowners who want to make the most of their outdoor spaces without going over budget.

Materials needed:

Drywall sheets, screws, joint compound, joint tape, sandpaper

Steps:

1. Measure the area of the balcony or loggia. 2. Purchase enough drywall sheets to cover the measured area. 3. Attach the drywall sheets to the balcony or loggia walls using screws. 4. Apply joint tape to cover the seams between the drywall sheets. 5. Use joint compound to fill in the gaps and smooth out the surface. 6. Let the compound dry completely. 7. Sand the surface until it"s smooth. 8. Apply paint or wallpaper as desired.

Adding drywall to a balcony or loggia can dramatically improve the space’s appearance and usability. Drywall gives a clean, smooth surface for finishing touches and allows for design flexibility. Drywall is an affordable option if you want to expand your living space or build a comfortable outdoor lounge. Installing it is made easier by its lightweight design, and when combined with appropriate insulation and heating methods, its insulating qualities can help improve temperature regulation. By choosing drywall, you can customize your balcony or loggia to fit your tastes and way of life, which will ultimately increase the comfort and value of your house.

Sequence of work when cladding a balcony with plasterboard

If you work on installation projects with a partner, they are not too tough. Additionally, it won’t be unnecessary to research the action plan beforehand to ensure that the repair’s quality outcome is satisfactory.

Preparatory work

It’s imperative to finish installing all required communications before adding drywall to the loggia. If at all feasible, replace the windows with double glazing, and make sure the walls are ready for finishing.

Examine the wall’s surface where the gypsum board construction will be attached for any cracks or potential places where fungus or mold could grow. It will be very difficult to fix such flaws in the future if this opportunity is lost.

The balcony’s ceiling and walls need to be cleaned and primed. It is preferable to select the primer that contains PVA glue among the range available. Following application, a very stable film forms on the surface that has the potential to last for many years as a trustworthy seal.

Selecting materials and tools

It is preferable to have everything ready in advance so that you don’t have to waste time searching for the tools you need when installing drywall. What you might need to install drywall structures is:

• water or laser level;
• waterproofing, thermal insulation and vapor barrier material;
• tape measure, ruler;
• fasteners (dowel – screw or dowel – nail);
• Metal hacksaw, electric jigsaw;
• hammer;
• Guides and metal profile;
• perforator;
• screwdriver;
• assembly foam;
• putty;
• drywall.

Installation of the guide profiles and the framework

Installing the frame, to which the finishing material will eventually be attached, is the first step in finishing a balcony or loggia with sheets of gypsum board. This procedure is labor-intensive, intricate, and needs careful consideration. However, the final outcome of the repair and the future course of the finishing will determine the quality of the work completed. For the frame, you can use metal profiles or wooden laths.

Cut profiles or laths to the appropriate size after determining the area of the surface that needs to be finished. In addition to marking the walls and ceiling, the centerline is marked in the middle. There are additional lines drawn perpendicular to the axis. The marks occur every 30 to 40 centimeters. The surface of the walls is fastened with wooden laths or guide profiles. To accomplish this, use a perforator to create holes, then use dowels to fasten the profile to the wall or ceiling.

The strips are not completely fixed at first. Use a level to check the frame’s horizontal and vertical alignment before rigidly fastening any of the rails. Only then should all of the rails be fixed.

Insulating the balcony or loggia

Polystyrene foam is the best choice for balcony insulation. This heat-insulating material holds heat well despite its thinness. Its inexpensive price is also noteworthy. Polystyrene foam will give way to Styrofoam. This material is easily cut into sheets that fit into the battens. Insulation is fastened using "umbrellas," which are unique plastic dowels. The corners of the sheet is where the fasteners should be placed. Assembled foam is blown out to create a tiny space between the insulation and the frame rails.

The entire construction is covered with foil vapor barrier once the heat-insulating material installation is complete. A stapler is used to secure it to the frame. The use of vapor barrier roll foil is crucial for balcony arrangement because it shields the walls from the damaging effects of steam and moisture.

Fixing plasterboard sheets

Getting the content ready. Trim the sheets to the desired dimensions. Drill holes for light fixtures in the plasterboard if needed. Make an angled cut in the plasterboard sheets’ chamfer. By doing this, the sheets will not continue to distort and the finish will be of higher quality.

Self-tapping screws are used to secure the plasterboard sheets to the frame. The fixing elements are secured in 20 cm increments. It is best to conceal self-tapping screws within the gypsum board sheet’s thickness.

Final finishing works

The gypsum board structure is put together and ready to be painted. Primers are applied to the surface and putty is used to seal the joints between the panels for this reason. Starting putty is applied first to all drywall finishing, followed by finishing putty.

After carefully researching the steps involved in installing drywall on a balcony and the characteristics of the material, you can quickly and easily build a lovely, comfortable space for relaxation with your own hands—all while saving money.

Selection of gypsum board

For covering a loggia or balcony, only moisture-resistant gypsum plasterboard is appropriate. Any other will quickly become damp. Plasterboard treated with a moisture-resistant coating is treated with chemicals that inhibit the growth of fungi and is far more resistant to moisture.

Is it feasible to use subpar drywall to cover the balcony? Like any other finishing material, this one can be produced using subpar technology, so a novice master may not always be able to select a material of the highest caliber. Usually, after the work is finished, such finishing will need to be redone very soon. It is important to obtain thorough information about selecting the appropriate drywall for finishing a balcony or loggia before purchasing drywall from a store. What type of plasterboard is ideal for a balcony or loggia is very easy to understand.

The following considerations should be made when selecting this material:

• If there is an opportunity to buy gypsum board in a large retail outlet, then it should definitely be done. Such trade organizations value their reputation and take for sale goods in large batches from trusted manufacturers
• It is advisable to inspect each sheet of plasterboard for scuffs, scratches and warping. In the presence of even minor mechanical damage, the drywall sheet should be set aside and choose a perfectly flat one
• Do not buy gypsum board, the price of which differs significantly downward from the average indicator. Trying to save money, you can lose a lot more money by buying low-quality goods, which may not differ from the good material, but in the process of operation of the wall of gypsum board can sag or begin to crumble gypsum between the cardboard layers. The easiest way to protect yourself from a poor-quality purchase is to purchase material from reputable manufacturers. Among the manufacturers of plasterboard the most famous and popular are "Knauf", "Rigips" and "Lafarge". The products of these companies will cost much more, but the quality of the drywall material can not worry about

Pros and cons of gypsum board

Gypsum is layered with cardboard and covered externally to form plasterboard. In the home, it is used to line the walls and ceiling. You can perform nearly any complexity of wall and ceiling structures on the basis of the material’s flexibility. The following benefits come with using drywall to cover the balcony:

• Leveling of the surface of any degree of curvature. While plaster (the main "competitor" of drywall) can be leveled at most a wall with 1.5-centimeter thick curvature;
• Cleanliness of work, because of which this material is also called "dry plaster";
• Ability to hide small pipes and electrical wiring under the interior plasterboard;
• Soundproofing;
• Simplicity and speed of work, the possibility of creating tiered suspended ceilings;
• The possibility of placing on the balcony under the plasterboard paneling vapor and thermal insulation;
• Hygroscopicity, thanks to which between the wall and the balcony is preserved air exchange;
• Availability due to low price;
• Multivariant lighting: use of built-in luminaires, ice illumination.

The use of plasterboard for balcony cladding has numerous benefits.

However, plasterboard is not immune to drawbacks, much like any other material. Low resistance to mechanical impact is one of them.

Additionally, the lining is positioned at a specific distance from the wall, which lowers the room’s already tiny volume. and regular drywall is not moisture resistant. However, this drawback is simple to address. Selecting waterproof gypsum plasterboard is sufficient for balcony cladding. How does it vary from the norm? Let’s investigate now.

Work order

To ensure the best possible balcony finishing, follow these guidelines:

• remove old peeling finishes;
• fill all gaps well with assembly foam;
• if necessary, remove any fungal infestations and prime the walls;
• make a marking for the frame. Do not forget about level control and the need to install a sufficient number of fasteners (profile or bar on the edge of the sheet under the ceiling and near the floor);
• Fix the frame elements on the walls. It is recommended to make purlins with horizontal laths with a spacing of 40 – 60 cm to securely fasten the thermal insulation inside the frame;
• Lay the insulation so that it tightly fit into the frame, not creating voids, but also not protruding outside;
• cover the frame with a layer of vapor barrier, glue the joints with tape (the foil side should be directed inside the room);
• Fix the plasterboard as tightly as possible at the joints with the window sill, wall, in the corners, etc.д., leaving about 1 mm for possible movement of the sheets due to temperature differences;
• Screw through the GPB self-tapping screws every 15 – 20 cm, it is also necessary to monitor the depth of their screwing in. The durability of the gypsum board construction largely depends on this;
• caulk the joints, self-tapping screws and corners of the structure;
• After applying the primer and its complete drying, you can proceed to finishing.

The plasterboard on the balcony is laid with a heat and sound insulator and is mounted on a wooden or metal frame.

Resistance to damp environments

Installing plasterboard walls in moist rooms has advantages and disadvantages as well.

Selecting the appropriate material is crucial in this case. Depending on the potential uses, at least three different types of plasterboard are available for purchase:

Plasterboard that resists moisture

• moisture resistant;
• fireproof;
• conventional.

Each has advantages of its own, and so do the designs created with it. Should the sheet not catch fire, it will eventually deteriorate completely due to exposure to water and GKLV. However, this will only occur to a lesser degree than with the typical dry room material. Hardeners and hydrophobic substances can be added to gypsum, but they won’t alter its primary characteristic—hygroscopicity, which causes it to swell.

One of the few drawbacks of gypsum board and structures made of it is this. Therefore, it is not advised to build ceilings or partitions made of regular gypsum board due to the potential for flooding caused by above-ground neighbors. It may result in further financial and psychological costs. It is preferable to use materials that are more moisture resistant, like foam block, and to make tension or suspend the ceiling rather than use plasterboard.

Regarding adaptability and practicality, drywall walls also have advantages and disadvantages. This material is used to create the frame technology construction, which allows you to easily and perfectly conceal the communication elements. vent ducts, wiring, and pipes. Again, though, using GKLV sheets is preferable if waterlogging is a possibility. One of their distinguishing characteristics is the green cardboard.

Gypsum board partitions used for decoration

However, the primary benefit of drywall is that it is the only material that can be used to create complete artworks and original compositions:

• arches;
• bar racks;
• decorative constructions in the modern style;
• huge massive columns.

Finishing of the loggia with moisture-resistant gypsum board with your own hands

Have you decided to install drywall on the balcony yourself? Observe the gypsum board that is resistant to moisture. The best material to use on the balcony

You won’t be afraid of fire, and there won’t be any mold or fungus.

The light green sheet is made up of two cardboard layers with gypsum filler between them. impregnated with a moisture-repelling substance.

Want to avoid paying too much money? Let’s figure out how much drywall is needed. Take measurements of every wall and deduct the space above the railing; however, you can leave the window and balcony door in the computations. However, the required level of insulation does not include windows or doors.

Seventy self-tapping screws and five pieces of dowel nails per bar are needed for every sheet of drywall.

Check what you’ll need to fix the balcony yourself. You could borrow some from a neighbor or use some you already have.

Green gypsum board that can withstand moisture

The following supplies are what we buy from the store:

1. Plasterboard;
2. A profile or lumber for the purlins;
3. drywall screws;
4. insulator;
5. putty;
6. priming;
7. paint.

You’ll require the following tools:

Remove the outdated plaster first, then fill in any cracks with water-resistant putty. If you apply primer to the balcony walls a few times, you won’t recall mold for a very long time. Now that the preparatory work is done, you can begin the purlin installation.

Although wooden battens are also good and easier to work with, metal battens will last you a very long time.

Keep a 60-centimeter space between the horizontally installed purlins and the dowels holding them in place. Utilize a bolt cutter to eliminate extraneous material.

Since the insulation has already been chosen, spread it out evenly and completely. The insulating layer is covered with roll foil. This won’t be hard and is required for the vapor barrier. The most exciting part is about to begin: plasterboarding the balcony. Secure with a stapler.

Starting with the largest wall will allow you to cut less and save more material. Plasterboard is easily cut with a knife; simply place a level or other hard, level object on the cutting line.

Plastering will be simpler if the sheets are fastened with self-tapping screws every 20 centimeters and the flats are sunk into the sheet. Form the wall, bringing it up to the second sheet’s level.

Though the main work on the balcony is finished, it’s still too early to celebrate. caulked joints and well primed walls. Putty the surface now, and then move on to the grout. primed and released once more. The most enjoyable task remains: applying paint in the selected shade. You can get help with this from this article.

Put simply, it required more time to prepare than to make. Only you now have a balcony this comfortable, with smooth walls and unique design.

Types of gypsum board and frame profile

Nowadays, there are many distinct varieties of gypsum plasterboard sheets and frame profiles available in the finishing materials market.

Drywall labeling

The areas of application and technical characteristics of each type of GPB vary.

Consequently, when selecting the necessary material, you should be mindful of the sheet labels:

• GKL – ordinary gypsum plasterboard sheet, consisting of a layer of gypsum, on both sides pasted with layers of cardboard;
• GKLV – moisture resistant sheet. It includes hydrophobic additives that repel moisture, and is designed specifically for finishing works in rooms with high humidity – bathrooms and restrooms, kitchens, etc.п.;
• GKLO – fire-resistant sheet. It consists of a mixture of gypsum and asbestos, for bonding which instead of cardboard is used fiberglass mesh;
• laminated GKL – differs from the usual sheet of PVC film coating. Such plasterboard, installed on the wall or ceiling, does not require additional finishing with putty – it is already ready for painting with any compositions, for wallpapering or for applying decorative plaster;
• arched GPB – a thin and flexible sheet specially designed to create curved structures (arches, niches and multi-level ceilings of semicircular shape); ;.

Gypsum plasterboard sheets vary not only in area of application but also in thickness. The largest of them, with a thickness of up to 50 mm, can be used to finish floors as well as serve as load-bearing wall panels. The thinnest modifications, referred to as "ceiling" gypsum board, are only 4 mm thick. It is used to build structures—such as suspended ceilings and other aesthetically pleasing interior elements—that do not encounter heavy physical loads while in use. The sheets come in widths ranging from 60 to 120 cm and lengths ranging from 2 to 4 m.

Types of frame profile

The simplicity and quickness of GPB installation contribute significantly to their popularity. Metal profiles, which are standardized frame elements, are used to accomplish this. A framework made of these profiles is installed before the balcony is covered with drywall.

Walls and partition walls are the two main varieties available. Every one of these categories has directing and auxiliary components:

1. Wall profile. It is used in the cladding of load-bearing elements – walls and ceilings, to which it is fixed by means of standard fixing fittings (hangers, "crags", etc.).д.). Guide wall elements (marking UD) should be installed along the perimeter of the future structure. Along the walls, when installing suspended ceiling structures; or along the ceiling and floor, when lining the walls. Bearing elements of the wall profile (marking CD) are designed for direct attachment to them sheets of GKL. They are inserted into the guide elements and fixed to the walls with frame fittings.
2. Partition profile. It is designed to create load-bearing frameworks for wall partitions. In the finishing of the loggia with gypsum, this profile is used relatively rarely, since it is not reasonable to divide the limited balcony space with partitions. It is only possible to install a partition here if there are two separate entrances to the loggia, say from the hall and kitchen.

Finishing balconies and loggias with gypsum board

Drywall covering for balconies is typically applied after the surface has been painted, as paints adhere well to GKL’s paper coating and provide extra defense against moisture infiltration and mechanical stresses. Gypsum board is not designed for other types of finishing such as tiles, decorative plaster, and natural and artificial stone, which are easier and less expensive to install directly on walls.

Gypsum plasterboard sheets can be mounted on any surface using one of two methods: either by screwing the sheet to a specific profile or by gluing the sheet.

Ordinary balconies and loggias are small overall, so it is preferable to glue GKL to the walls when insulation is not needed. This will not only free up usable space but also cut expenses (you won’t need to purchase fastening hardware and a mounting profile) and labor hours.

Gluing gypsum board on the walls or ceiling

You can utilize a variety of adhesive compositions if you need to level the balcony wall with drywall by hand. Knauf Perlfix, Polimin polyurethane glue, and Fugenfüller putty are well-known. if the disparity in the walls is less than 10 mm. If there are deep holes, you can cover them with glue solution and smooth down or trim off any protruding hillocks before applying the glue with a toothed trowel.

Fig. 5 Plasterboard balconies are finished with glue

The sheets should be adhered to the wall in the following order:

1. Prepare the surface. Scrape the wall from the build-up and then prime with Ceresit ST17 using a roller.
2. Dilute the adhesive in a container of water according to the instructions and spread it on the surface of the sheet with a toothed comb.
3. Fix the sheet by leaning it vertically against the wall (length 2500 mm). should be enough for the whole height of the ceiling) and press with a level bar or a rule.

Fig. 6: Penolplex insulation of the loggia

Insulation and cladding of the balcony parapet plasterboard

When using rigid foam, such as Styrofoam or Poly-Penoplex, for parapet wall insulation, it is easiest to adhere gypsum board sheets to the insulation using the above technology.

When deciding whether to insulate the loggia with safer materials, a lot of people go with basalt wool, which is an eco-friendly choice. Plasterboard cladding is installed in this instance in the following manner:

1. Fix self-adhesive foil foil foil on the wall for vapor barrier with foil facing outward. Screw PU rails to the floor and under the window sill using dowels and self-tapping screws.
2. Cut out vertical posts from PS by 5 – 10 mm. less than the height, install them vertically on the level with a step of up to 60 cm. without fixing into horizontal rails, on the floor and window sill mark the location of the profiles.
3. Insert the insulation between the profiles and screw the sheets cut to size with self-tapping screws along the vertical marks.

Figure 7: Using mineral wool to insulate the balcony under GKLB

Loggia drywall finishing is primarily utilized in situations where additional decorative coating, such as painting, is required. It makes more sense to install gypsum plasterboard on glue for the walls of the balcony; mineral wool can be used to insulate the parapet; and GKL frames can be installed on fixed profiles. A less expensive option for insulating a loggia with plasterboard cladding is to attach foam, such as Foam-Plex, to dowels or glue, then cover the surface with glued gypsum plasterboard sheets.

Material calculation

For the balcony, it is preferable to use gypsum plasterboard that is resistant to moisture. Usually, it has the label GKLV on it, and the back is green.

Calculating the appropriate materials will help you save money by covering the walls with gypsum. The plasterboard is measured based on the entire wall area; doors and windows are not typically subtracted from this measurement. Consequently, the required material stock is created. When it comes to a balcony, it makes sense to subtract the space above the railing, but leave the room’s door and window intact.

All windows and doors are subtracted when calculating the insulation.

The fixing pitch determines how many fixings are counted. For every sheet of plasterboard, 60–70 self-tapping screws with a 40 cm grid spacing are typically needed.

Dowel nails are bought in sets of five or ten, depending on the profile.

For each profile, ten self-tapping metal screws with a press washer are required.

Even though the calculation is straightforward, care should be taken when handling it.

Drywall finishing on a balcony or loggia can greatly improve these areas’ usability and comfort. A smoother, more aesthetically pleasing surface that can readily accept a variety of design choices, from paint colors to decorative elements, is produced by installing drywall.

The versatility of drywall is one of its main advantages when it comes to finishing balconies or loggias. Drywall integrates seamlessly with existing structures and features because it is easily customizable to fit the precise dimensions and shape of your space. Drywall can be made to fit your needs regardless of how big or small, oddly shaped or regular your balcony is.

Furthermore, drywall has great insulation qualities that can help your home’s energy efficiency and temperature control. You can reduce heat loss during the winter and maintain a cooler temperature in the summer by using drywall to effectively seal off the balcony or loggia. This will make the space more comfortable all year round.

Drywall finishing also has the benefit of being a relatively simple and quick installation process. For homeowners wishing to update their outdoor living spaces without going over budget, drywall is a cost-effective option because it requires less time and labor to install than other construction materials like brick or stone.

In summary, drywall finishing a balcony or loggia has several advantages, such as adaptability, insulation, and simplicity of installation. Drywall offers a useful and fashionable way to expand your living area or create a comfortable outdoor retreat, both of which can improve the appearance and usability of your house overall.

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