Converting your balcony into a comfortable haven is a fulfilling project that can raise the value and comfort of your house. The flooring is one of the most important components of renovating a balcony because it adds aesthetic value and is also very important for durability and insulation. By becoming proficient in balcony flooring installation, you can save money on labor costs and tailor the area to your tastes. This guide will examine different kinds of balcony floor cladding, go over their benefits and drawbacks, and offer detailed instructions accompanied by practical videos.
There are a number of things to take into account when selecting flooring for your balcony, such as your climate, financial situation, and personal taste. Interlocking deck tiles, composite decking, and conventional wood or stone tiles are some of the most widely used choices. Every material has distinct qualities of its own, such as resistance to weather, ease of installation, and maintenance needs. You can choose wisely depending on your own needs if you know how these options differ from one another.
Interlocking deck tiles are a flexible option for balcony flooring because they are simple to install and come in a variety of styles. These tiles are perfect for do-it-yourselfers because they usually have a snap-together mechanism that doesn’t require adhesives or special tools. Conversely, composite decking creates a long-lasting, low-maintenance surface by fusing recycled plastic with wood fibers. Composite decking has excellent longevity and insect and moisture resistance, but it may take a little longer to install than deck tiles.
Wood or stone tiles can give your balcony a touch of elegance if you prefer a more traditional style. Acacia and teak wood tiles have a cozy, organic appearance, but they need to be sealed frequently to guard against UV rays and moisture. Stone tiles, like porcelain or granite, are incredibly durable and stain- and scratch-resistant. Careful planning is necessary because they might be heavier and more difficult to install than other options.
Whichever kind of flooring you decide on, lasting results depend on careful installation. Make sure the balcony surface is completely clean and ready before beginning the project, taking care to remove any debris or uneven areas. Next, ensure correct spacing and alignment by following the manufacturer’s instructions when laying out the tiles or decking. Use the proper instruments, like a saw or rubber mallet, to secure the materials in place and trim them as necessary. Ultimately, use a weatherproof finish or sealant to shield the flooring from the weather and maintain its aesthetic over time.
We have put together a list of educational videos that walk you through each step of the installation process to make it easier for you to see it. It’s now simpler than ever to take on this DIY project with confidence thanks to these tutorials, which cover everything from preparing the balcony substrate to adding the finishing touches. With the correct supplies, equipment, and advice, you can turn your balcony into a chic and useful outdoor area that you’ll love for many years to come.
Types of Cladding | Work Order, Video |
1. Wooden Decking | Prepare surface, lay joists, install decking boards – Watch video tutorial |
2. Ceramic Tiles | Clean surface, apply adhesive, lay tiles – Step-by-step guide available in video format |
- Penoplex insulation
- How to paint a plywood on the balcony. Preparation for painting
- What I had to encounter and what our loggia looked like before insulation
- Raise the floor level correctly
- Prices for chipboard plates
- Video – how to make a floor on the balcony
- Plywood thickness on the floor. Features of the plywood thickness elections
- Floor insulation on the balcony using foam
- Insulation of the concrete floor on the balcony with a second layer of foam
- Independent flooring of a boardworm
- Choosing materials for insulation.
- DSP on the floor of the balcony. Paul on the loggia and a plywood balcony
- Plywood – simple and comfortable
- Plywood flooring procedure
- To avoid unpleasant surprises
- Video on the topic
- Paul on the balcony with your own hands. Lags+polystyrene
- Paul on the balcony/loggia/vestibule with your own hands. A budget option.
- The technology of the integrated repair of the six-meter loggia P-68 turnkey
Penoplex insulation
One type of heat-insulating material associated with the new insulation generation is foam and extruded polystyrene foam. In actuality, it is a more sophisticated foam with improved strength properties that is also less likely to catch fire and more stable. This explains why the material used to install the ceilings of loggias and balconies is becoming more and more popular.
- low vapor permeability that prevents the material from absorb moisture;
- small thermal conductivity;
- the ability to withstand heavy loads;
- ease of installation;
- long service life;
- good combination of price and quality.
The following are the foamyplex’s drawbacks:
- sufficiently high fire hazard;
- exposure to attacks of rodents;
- The cost is higher than that of the foam.
Extruded polystyrene foam insulation of the loggia/balcony ceiling is done in a manner akin to foam warming; the only distinction is that two fungi-dowels, rather than five, are used to mount the foam for putty along the panel’s edges.
Owing to its density, which ranges from 35 kg/cube.m to 45 kg/cube.m, foam offers superior thermal insulation, allowing for the use of 20 mm thick panels. Therefore, the only disadvantage of extruded polystyrene foam is its high cost, despite its clear advantages over polystyrene.
How to paint a plywood on the balcony. Preparation for painting
It is best to carry out a few procedures prior to painting plywood on the floor, as this will extend the plywood’s lifespan:
The plywood needs to be polished before being laid.
- Pass the surface with sandpaper No. 80.
- Cover with acrylic soil.
- Dry.
- Treat the acrylic putty on wood.
- Dry.
- Pour with sandpaper No. 80-120.
- Propket.
- Dry.
- Color.
All of these steps are unnecessary, but the plywood floor needs to be opened up with acrylic soil to ensure that it is consistently shielded from moisture and mold.
After using a roller to apply the alkyd primer, the surface can be painted with either acrylic or alkyd paint, though alkyd paint takes longer to dry. You can decrease the number of stages if it does not bother you when a structural relief appears on the painted surface. There are times when you can only use a primer and paint.
Coarse-grained sandpaper is needed to grind plywood.
It is imperative that the plywood be replaced before staining begins. For this, you can use sandpaper with coarse grains, No. 80-120. By doing this, imperfections will be eliminated, leaving the surface smooth and prepared for further processing. grinding vertically in relation to the material’s texture direction. Using fine-grained paper, a plywood sheet will need to be placed along the material’s structure in order to achieve an exact even surface.
The polished plywood sheet is then coated with an acrylic primer layer. Continuous putty and grunning are needed in order to:
What I had to encounter and what our loggia looked like before insulation
Everyone laughed at me at first when I told my loved ones about my idea. They started complaining about how small the space was and how unheated the room was; after all, our loggia was essentially a street room. They were also afraid of the cold. I’ve attached a balcony plan so you can see what I had to deal with. I had to convert a three and a half square of usable space into a functional office big enough to accommodate two of my sewing machines along with a cutting board, table, and ironing board.
The first window provides access to the kitchen and a balcony door. The primary wall cannot be sheathed because it is already heated. As a result, we declined to plaster it over because the brick still looks pretty good inside. We merely used a skin to clean the dirt off its surface.
The second window, which is on the loggia wall, needed to be completely replaced because it touched the stained-glass windows. Following the installation of a new double-glazed window, a picture was taken.
Raise the floor level correctly
There will undoubtedly be gaps where your balcony is adjacent to the floor, even if it has a capital parapet. Therefore, joints need to be cleaned and sealed with mounting foam before any installation work is done. The best place to install insulation is in between the lags when using the frame method of flooring.
However, the primary concern remains accurately determining the height to which the floor must be raised, taking into account both the safe height of the parapet and the doorway mark. This portion of the work is done in the same manner regardless of the finish coating.
Table 1: How can the balcony floor be raised?
Joint sealing is step two.
Step 3: Establishing the clean floor’s mark
Step 4: Be mindful of the fence’s height
Step 5: Determine how many layers make up the floor
Cutting the transverse bars is step six.
Step 7: Selecting an anchor
Step 8: Drill bars in preparation
Step 9: Pierce holes in the concrete
Step 10: repeating the cleaning
Installing the longitudinal lag is step eleven.
Leveling in step twelve
Fixing the longitudinal bars to the crossbars is step thirteen.
Step 14: Use mineral wool to fill in the floor’s contours
Installing the Black Paul material is step fifteen.
Step 16: Damping contours
Prices for chipboard plates
On this, the draft floor installation is finished, and you can move on to the finishing coat arrangement. Since the draft base in this instance was going to be laminated, it was constructed of chipboard. For instance, moisture-resistant OSB or TsSP plates must be used if you wish to glue ceramic tiles.
The article "How to Place Laminate" contains comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for installing laminate. We discuss the finer points, substrate selection and types, hole-cutting techniques, and laying procedures.
On top of the skin, a thin layer of self-leveling screed is applied, allowing tiles to be installed beforehand. The best option for all other materials is the floor device we showed you above.
Video – how to make a floor on the balcony
Plywood thickness on the floor. Features of the plywood thickness elections
Generally speaking, I like the standard thickness. It is between 3 and 30 mm. However, based on the intended use, you must select a particular value. This is significant because plywood affects certain performance attributes as well. Among these, the following stand out:
- The quality of alignment. The thinner the plywood sheets, the smaller the level of leveling will be, and the price will be available. This can lead to the presence of defects of the main coating.
- Additional isolation. For any home, the presence of insulation and sound insulation is important. Based on the fact that wood is characterized by low thermal conductivity, it becomes possible to exclude additional laying of thermal insulation materials. That is why they prefer thick slabs.
- Rigidity. It, as well as strength increases with the thickening of plywood sheets. An important advantage is the opportunity to maintain the elasticity of the draft floor. But the price in this case will increase.
- Height from floor to ceiling. The height of the room can be slightly reduced when choosing the thickest plywood sheets. Most often this dimensions do not exceed 3-4 cm.
You should also consider the kind and quality of any coating that will be used as decoration when determining the thickness of plywood sheets.
For carpet or linoleum, the plywood thickness should be 8–12 mm when organizing a black wooden floor. To align the wooden floor, this is permissible. Even though thicker plywood sheets are more expensive, you must select them if there are evident flaws.
It is best to choose a thickness of 12–15 mm if you intend to install laminate or parquet flooring. These values will be sufficient for leveling the base. This will also give the floor in a wooden house its high depreciation and insulating qualities.
A large board is used to ensure that the traditional wooden floor is properly organized. They decide on a plywood for her that is up to 15 mm thick.
The type and material of the base are additional parameters. You have the following options to select from:
The load for plywood on the concrete structure is essentially eliminated, and there is also no observation of deflection. In this instance, plywood sheets of any thickness will be reasonably priced. It is the smallest size and is dependent on the decorative coating.
Two-component glue, parquet mastic, or boostilate are used as fasteners to obtain the right strength. Additionally, self-tapping screws can be used to secure the design. This will result in something massive and monolithic.
Plywood sheets are the best option if you need to align the wooden floor, and their price is reasonable. Their superior operational and insulating qualities define them. One significant benefit is that condensate formation will not occur and air exchange will be monitored. Dimensions are not particularly important.
Keep in mind that the condition of the supporting lag affects both the boards’ safety and the coating’s quality. Only when the wooden boards are free of cracks and relaxations can plywood be installed. You must take care of restoration or repair, choosing preferred sizes, if they are available.
In the unlikely event that reconstruction is rendered unfeasible, the organization of the draft floor on lags is the optimal option, given its reasonable cost. This calls for the base to be installed and the sheets to be attached afterward. This will also prevent variations in height.
The dimensions do not account for the plywood’s thickness, which should be 20 mm or more. As a result, there will be a chance to lessen both humid and thermal deformations and all associated effects. There is a damping seam made between the panels. Make sure there is a retreat from the wall—it should be more than 1 centimeter.
Floor insulation on the balcony using foam
Insulation is the next step after the lags are laid lengthwise. We achieved this by slicing the foam into equal, 7-8 cm-long stripes. The best tool for cutting foam is a standard construction knife. As seen in the picture, we place the foam between wooden lags after it has been cut. Ѕол приобретет вот такой вид (фото ниже), если полоски пенопласта будут полностью уложены.
For the balcony’s floor insulation, we place the foam in between the lags.
The second layer’s mounting will be our next task. We calculate the width of the lag we require by measuring its size using roulette.
The foam has been laid.
We transfer the rail to a wooden plane after measuring the required size. An electrician then walks in. We are able to drink the necessary beam size with its assistance. It’s time to grab a screwdriver now. Test the bar and the locations of the fastening screws. By the way, we use wood screws measuring 3.5 x 35 mm for fastening.
The method for setting up a horizontal crate
At this point, we fasten the lag to the screw-samers.
Screw-mounted lag mount
There is a species of lag that can be fixed with screws and a screwdriver.
The next rail is a component of the formwork and will be attached in length. It needs to be adjusted with a small "overlap," or protrusion that is closer to the balcony frame. It has self-tapping screws holding it in place.
The last kind of side lag
The next step involves pouring the formwork after the second layer has been fixed. To accomplish this, make a Portland-M500 brand cement or tile adhesive solution that is resistant to frost. When the solution is prepared, insert it into the formwork’s interior using a spatula. The entire interior circumference of the formwork is coated with the solution.
Formwork cement pouring procedure
We proceed to the stage once the interior of the formwork is fully filled.
Horizontal bar installation
Using screwdrivers and self-tapping screws, we tighten the lags. As seen in the picture, scrolls tighten the screws using the "board on the board" technique. We mount each and every additional lag that we add width to in the same manner. It’s crucial to keep a step of 15 cm between the rails in mind at the same time.
We proceed to the strait of all remaining cracks once the subsequent layer of rails is mounted. We use a frost-resistant tile glue solution to seal the cracks. We let the solution harden after processing and filling every crack. This usually takes a single day. The solution ought to solidify and freeze entirely in a day. In this instance, the formwork needs to get the same view as the picture.
We use frost-resistant tile adhesive to spread it over the floor’s fissures.
Examine the strength of the formwork. Simply test it with your fingers to make sure everything is in order. If it is dry and hard, you can proceed to the next step without risk.
Insulation of the concrete floor on the balcony with a second layer of foam
The following is the order of events:
- Cut the foam into parts of 15 cm in width.
- Cut the chopped foam is stacked in the distance between the wooden rails.
- We seal the cracks in the floor with small pieces of foam to form a surface without gaps and cracks.
Foam floor insulation for the balcony
A DIY balcony floor makeover can be a satisfying project that improves the comfort and appearance of your outdoor area. There are many options available when it comes to materials: from contemporary composite materials or even tiles, to classic wood decking. Every option has advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to consider things like maintenance requirements, aesthetic appeal, and durability. A successful installation depends on your ability to follow the detailed instructions. Fortunately, there are a ton of online resources available to help you with this process, such as comprehensive guides and instructional videos, so you can make sure your balcony floor looks amazing and lasts for a long time.
Independent flooring of a boardworm
Thanks to the unique "Ship-Paz" locks at the flooring of the floorboard at the edges, home craftsmen will find it easy to install a wooden floor nowadays. This kind of innovation guarantees that installing the floorboards won’t be difficult. In the direction away from the wall, boards are laid on the lags. A castle spike is cut off from the first plank canvas before mounting it, and the board is then strictly laid perpendicular to the vertical wall.
A crucial aspect. Make sure there is a maximum 1.5 cm retreat before using self-tapping screws to secure the floorboards to the lags. The first board needs to be spaced out from the walls by up to 15 mm on three sides, and the screws need to be inserted at a 45-degree angle.
Similar to the beams that are already fixed to the floor, planking flooring components also require an initial antiseptic treatment. The ends and the wrong side need special attention because it will be impossible to reach them once the wooden floor is installed. The following is the schedule for future actions:
- At a distance equal to the width of the board (you can a little more), install the auxiliary rail, fixing it with self -tapping screws.
- Starting to fasten the second coating element, insert its spike into the groove of the previous panel.
- To guarantee the density of the fit of the boards to each other, drive a couple of wedges between the rail and the second board.
- In a similar way, mount the remaining parts of the floor, additionally fixing each board with self -tapping boards at an angle (in the groove).
- Find the first and last element of the plank flooring longitudinally, fixing with the help of self -tapping screws to the lags.
Skirting boards are used to fill in the spaces created along the walls after the wooden floor is fully installed. Experts recommend applying varnish or paint before finishing the floor structure to prevent wood from absorbing moisture. Applying two to three layers of the composition is advised, and drying the surface completely after each processing step is required.
Choosing materials for insulation.
Mineral wool is a time-tested, low-cost material. There are various kinds of mineral wool, but basalt cotton wool that resists fire should be given special consideration. The melting point is 1000C.
Two of the drawbacks of mineral wool are its high air permeability and short service life. It causes a shrinkage over time, which causes blowing in the areas where cotton wool joints with crate components are located. It has a 1 air conductivity. In other words, it releases all of the heated air into the street.
Furthermore, installing mineral wool can be quite challenging. Its wetting and abrupt loss of thermal insulation properties can result from improper installation done without the use of specialized vapor barrier films.
Wool with minerals.
Foam is also an inexpensive, somewhat "old" material. The foam is easy to install, has a long operating life, is environmentally friendly, and has a relatively low thermal conductivity coefficient. However, in spite of its advantages, it is fairly good and has a weak resistance to chemical products based on alcohols and oil products. Additionally, a variety of insects and birds enjoy organizing their nests. You must select foam for the balcony or loggia that has a minimum density of 25 kg/m3.
Extruded polystyrene foam (foam) is a modern material with high density and low heat transfer coefficient. Has high vapor barrier characteristics, low waterwork. There are several types of this material. Foam “Comfort” is suitable for insulation of the balcony. This material is an improved version of the foam. It is environmentally friendly and more durable than foam. This material withstands pressure in 20 t/m2. The service life of the foamyplex is 50 years, it is easily cut by an ordinary stationery knife, they are not interested in birds and insects, and it, unlike mineral heaters, does not lose its properties when getting wet. The disadvantage of this material is its combustibility, although it is slightly lower than that of the foam.
Extruded foam made of polystyrene
Penophol (foamed polyethylene with a foil layer) has a low vapor permeability and the ability to reflect heat in the infrared spectrum, which are its key advantages. This material retains its properties even after it gets wet, making it entirely eco-friendly. Penophone is made into mats and rolls. This material comes in three different varieties: one with a single adhesive side, one with a bilateral reflection, and one with a single sided reflective layer.
A roll of penophol.
Polyurethane foam sprayed on. Like mounting foam, this insulation is also sold in cylinders. It is easy to install and offers seamless thermal protection with a low thermal conductivity coefficient. The sole drawback of this material is its exorbitant cost.
One major benefit of seamless heaters is that they don’t have any joints or cracks with the structural components of the house. They fill all gaps and fissures, swell more than 100 times when applied to the insulated wall, and solve the cold bridge issue.
Polyurethane foam sprayed on.
DSP on the floor of the balcony. Paul on the loggia and a plywood balcony
After deciding to set up a comfortable space for unwinding from the apartment loggia, the problem of selecting a sexual coating will eventually need to be resolved.
Paul’s method of installing a screed on a plywood balcony is fantastic as it addresses alignment, insulation, and comfort issues simultaneously.
Plywood – simple and comfortable
A room with natural wooden flooring is always comfortable. Additionally, sheet plywood is quite easy to work with and reasonably priced. Furthermore, this material is superior to chipboard due to its exceptional strength and flexibility.
Plywood flooring procedure
The floor needs to be insulated before plywood is installed.
Make sure a black concrete floor is ready for styling by applying an appropriate primer and using cement mortar to fill in all of the joints, seams, and cracks. It is best to disassemble any old floors that may be present on the balcony. You can arrange for a fresh layer of plywood to be applied over the old if the floors are sturdy.
Next, place an isolon made of foil with the silver side inside the room on the floor and walls. The room’s temperature will be maintained and the thermos effect will be produced by this layer. The covers are placed on top.
The lag’s bar needs to be robust, flawless, and impregnated with an antiseptic.
Fire solution and antiseptic impregnation must be applied to bars that are going to be used as lags.
Verify that the lags are smooth and error-free. Along the balcony line, a beam is installed that is at least 70 cm high and at least 30 cm thick.
The beam’s lines are spaced 0.5 to 0.6 meters apart; the first line is positioned 5 to 6 centimeters from the main wall.
The highest floor level is where lags start to get fixed. Finding it with the building level is simple. Prior to use, drill technical holes in the beam. Pile the lags so that the anchor is 6–7 cm inside the concrete base. Placing wooden pieces beneath the beam, firmly position it horizontally, and fasten it firmly with anchor bolts.
Place the construction insulation in the area where the long lags and jumpers meet. You can use mineral wool or foam sheets for this.
Plywood shouldn’t be pressed up against the wall. Remember that the gap should be between five and seven millimeters when cutting the sheet parts. Secure the sheets to the crate, leaving no more than 25 centimeters between screws. Self-tapping screws with flat hats wind one millimeter into the plywood. See this for additional information on how to install plywood on a balcony.
To avoid unpleasant surprises
Before placing the plywood on the floor, let it dry completely, and then apply a protective coating.
As previously stated, plywood is made of natural materials. In order to prevent her from changing her dimensions over time and to enhance her properties, the following straightforward actions will be helpful:
- Before laying, the sheets are best kept in conditions of further operation. Having taken the goods from the warehouse, leave the material in the room. Ideally, the acclimatization period is a week. If the warehouse was heated, then the time can be reduced. At the same time, keep the sheets exclusively horizontally.
- Having decided to use plywood on an unheated balcony, it is worth improving its moisture resistance. To do this, soak the sheets with a solution based on polyvinyl acetate. Impregnation is carried out in several tricks until the spots appear on the back side. The procedure must be done from both planes. We also dry horizontally for 4 days.
- If you wish, create a drawing from parts of plywood, do not join the pieces from the cut. In order not to confuse when laying, fold the black option and numb the parts in the order of placement.
This material can be fixed with liquid nails and will fall nicely on a level surface. You can arrange a plywood parquet for yourself with a little creativity.
Installing a new floor is an essential step in turning your balcony into a comfortable area. When it comes to cladding materials, there are several options available, each with advantages and disadvantages of their own. Considerations like durability, aesthetics, and maintenance needs must be made regardless of the material you choose—tiles, decking, or something else entirely.
It is imperative that the balcony surface be appropriately prepared before beginning the installation process. This include giving the area a thorough cleaning, making sure it’s level, and clearing out any debris or obstacles. An installation that is seamless and long-lasting is ensured by proper preparation, which reduces the possibility of problems later.
Choosing the cladding type that best fits your needs and preferences comes after the surface has been prepped. Available in a variety of materials like stone, porcelain, or ceramic, tiles provide a robust and adaptable choice. Conversely, decking offers a warm, natural aesthetic that’s ideal for establishing a comfortable outdoor setting. For a more unusual appearance, consider laminate flooring or even artificial turf as additional options.
Whichever cladding material is selected, a methodical approach is essential to guaranteeing a successful do-it-yourself installation. This usually entails beginning in one corner of the balcony and moving across it while making sure every tile or plank is firmly in place and aligned. The process can be streamlined and professional results can be obtained by using the appropriate tools and techniques, such as adhesive or clips.
There are many resources available to walk beginners through the process step-by-step when they embark on DIY projects. Visual demonstrations of every step of the installation process are provided by online tutorials and instructional videos, which can be very helpful resources. Consulting with professionals or seasoned do-it-yourselfers can also provide insightful advice and helpful hints to help you get through any obstacles you may encounter.
Finally, remodeling the floor of your balcony can greatly improve the usability and appeal of your outdoor area. You can build a long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing floor that increases the value of your house by carefully choosing the appropriate cladding material and adhering to a methodical installation procedure. Whether you’re more drawn to the organic allure of decking or the classic elegance of tiles, you can have a gorgeous balcony floor that you made yourself with the correct method.