How to insulate a loggia
In the old days, this room turned into a "warehouse of forgotten things," and the question of how to insulate the balcony did not arise. Moreover, in the cold season, it turned into a kind of cellar - it was loaded with preserves that were actively consumed in the winter. However, now, having decided how and with what to insulate a balcony or loggia, it can be used throughout the year as a compact gym, study or cozy lounge area with a beautiful view outside the window.
But what is more effective - to insulate the balcony from the inside or the outside? It all depends on the quality of the materials and workmanship: if everything is done to a high standard, then insulation from the inside, which can be done without the involvement of specialists, will maintain the optimum temperature.
How to insulate balcony walls inside
When deciding how best to insulate a balcony from the inside, you should remember that the main indicator of insulation efficiency is thermal conductivity. The lower this value is, the higher the temperature will be. In addition, such material characteristics as
- environmental friendliness;
- durability;
- strength;
- ease of use.
What do you need to insulate a balcony? The materials can be different.
Mineral wool
It is perhaps the most popular raw material. It is environmentally friendly and fireproof, has low thermal conductivity (0.035-0.039 W/m.K) and good sound insulation. It is easy to work with and can be shaped into almost any shape. It has a low cost.
Disadvantages:
- easily absorbs moisture, losing its operational properties. Therefore, waterproofing is required;
- insulate a balcony/ loggia with mineral wool only in dry weather;
- its tangible volume "steals" the room area.
Polyurethane foam
How to insulate the walls on the balcony with this material and what are its characteristics? It is very lightweight due to its composition: 2% are antiprenes, which ensure its fire resistance, styrene and various fillers. The other 98% is air!
The advantages of this material are significant:
- strength;
- low thermal conductivity (0.037-0.043W/m.K);
- light weight;
- moisture resistance;
- environmental friendliness;
- fire safety;
- ease of operation (blocks can be easily cut).
A significant drawback is the low sound insulation.
Usually, to insulate and sheathe a balcony with your own hands, choose a layer 100 mm thick (or 2x50 mm).
Extruded polystyrene foam
The composition of the material is similar to that of polystyrene, but the manufacturing technology is different. EPS is manufactured under high pressure, which gives the material great strength. Its performance characteristics:
- high level of strength;
- low weight;
- moisture resistance;
- low thermal conductivity (0.029 - 0.043W/m.K);
- fire safety;
- environmental friendliness;
- ease of use.
A significant drawback is the high price.
Polyurethane foam (liquid insulation)
It is very convenient to insulate the balcony inside: thanks to its liquid state, the substance gets into all the cavities. It is
- environmental;
- refractory;
- durable;
- has low thermal conductivity (0.021 W/m.K);
- no joints during application;
- moisture-repellent;
- soundproofing.
Disadvantages:
- the need for special equipment for its application;
- sensitive to sunlight;
- installation is possible only in warm, dry weather;
- high price.
Penofol
It is polyethylene foam covered with aluminum foil on one or both sides. Its advantages are as follows:
- fire resistance;
- plasticity;
- small thickness;
- environmental friendliness;
- low thermal conductivity (0.037-0.051 W/m.K);
- ability to reflect heat;
- ease of installation;
- ability to repel moisture;
- soundproofing properties.
The material has specific disadvantages: its softness makes it difficult to apply a topcoat. It requires plasterboard covering, which will allow you to plaster the walls.
It's up to you to decide how to insulate the walls on your balcony or loggia, depending on your own technical needs and financial capabilities.
How to insulate the floor on the balcony
Having decided to insulate the floor on the balcony, you must first lay down some kind of waterproofing material:
- foam (the reflective side should be up);
- polyethylene;
- bitumen-based mastic.
To insulate a balcony with polystyrene foam or pinolex, remember that it is advisable to glue the joints between the sheets with foil tape. If you choose mastic, it will take a day for it to harden.
When insulating the floor on a balcony, the waterproofing agent can also be fixed to the walls.
After that, the lags are installed, which can be metal beams or wooden beams.
When deciding how to insulate the floor on the balcony, listen to experts who recommend opting for wooden logs with a moisture content of less than 12%. They must be treated with a primer or antiseptic.
To insulate the floor on the balcony with your own hands, you need to remember that the optimal height of the joists should be 100-150 mm, and the distance between them should be equal to the width of the selected insulation. To fix the bars in the required position, as well as to close the gaps between the joists and the wall, use polyurethane foam.
After that, a heat-insulating layer is laid - fiber or in the form of plates. It is up to you to decide how best to insulate the floor on the balcony, but remember that if the insulation is laid in several layers, each subsequent layer should be offset so that the seams between the plates do not match. Make sure that there are no gaps between the joists and the insulation layer. Otherwise, the question of whether to insulate the floor on the balcony will sound pointless, as heat will escape through these "cold conductors."
A vapor barrier layer is required to protect against condensation.
The substrate for the finish coating (laminate, carpet or linoleum) is fastened with screws. These can be chipboard or fiberboard sheets, plywood or boards.
How and with what to insulate the ceiling on the balcony?
Whether to insulate the ceiling on a balcony is an ambiguous question, especially when it comes to a loggia. After all, there is a closed room above - the neighbor's loggia (unless we are talking about the upper floors). But if you want to create a "thermos effect", you should still think about how to insulate the ceiling on the balcony with maximum efficiency.
One of two technologies is used:
- without a frame;
- with a frame.
Regardless of the method chosen, it is necessary to apply a layer of antiseptic to the surface to protect the ceiling from mold.
How to insulate the ceiling on the balcony? Due to their light weight, the following materials are considered optimal:
- mineral wool;
- foam;
- foam.
To insulate the ceiling on a balcony without a crate, the working surface is cleaned of dirt and treated with a primer. Glue is applied around the perimeter and in the center of the foam sheets (it should not contain toluene). The sheets are glued to the ceiling and fastened with dowel mushrooms. The joints are sealed with a mounting film.
If you decide to make a frame, you will need dowels and wooden blocks. A heat-insulating layer, such as foam or mineral wool, is laid in the crate, which must be fixed with a mounting film. The foam holds without additional fixation.
The final finish can be plastic panels, lining or drywall.
The work of insulating a loggia/balcony should start from the ceiling, move on to the walls and finish with the floor. Before you start, you need to accurately measure all surfaces and prepare the insulation: cut it into pieces of appropriate sizes.
As an additional source of heat, you can use a floor heating system or an electric heater.