The better way to insulate a balcony inside. How to insulate the inside of a balcony? Choosing the best insulation! Personal example of Pavel Kuren

If your apartment or house has a balcony, then you should definitely use it, since it is an additional, and sometimes simply necessary, area. If you approach the issue with imagination and think through all the nuances, you can end up with a small but very cozy room. In order for a balcony to serve as a room, it must be insulated. How to insulate the balcony inside is decided by each owner independently, taking into account his financial capabilities and pressing needs. But a few words should be said about the nuances of the process and the materials used to insulate the balcony. You need to choose these materials very carefully and pay attention to all the characteristics.

You need to start mastering any balcony with an objective assessment of its condition. If the apartment is located in a new building that has recently been handed over to residents, then you need to pay attention to the material from which the balcony structure is made. Also, in new houses, you need to pay attention to what the neighbors’ balconies are decorated with. Often in such houses neighbors try to adhere to the same style.

We make masonry from foam blocks

But if the balcony is far from new apartment and it has always been used as an open space, then the work will have to start with strengthening the balcony. Strengthening includes both the reconstruction of the concrete balcony platform and the strengthening of the metal handrail. Also, this process may include such an event as strengthening the lower part of the upper balcony; this must also be taken into account. After addressing all these issues and choosing the material for external cladding loggia (balcony), you can go to interior decoration. To simplify this stage, you can lay a wall of bricks or foam blocks up to half of the balcony, directly to the double-glazed windows. This will save on insulation.

Advice: If all stages of insulation are carried out at the same time, then it is better to immediately install double glass in the windows, since one glass gives 70% more heat loss in cold weather.

Preparing for insulation

To begin insulating the inside of the balcony with any materials, you need to make preparations. Having chosen the material for insulation, you need to create a special one for it. wooden sheathing, onto which it will then be attached. The exception is roll materials, which can be mounted under the sheathing. This frame is made from beams with a cross-section of about 4-5 cm. Transverse and perpendicular beams must be fastened so that squares of 50 by 50 cm are obtained. The sheathing can also be made from metal profile, but this material is somewhat more expensive than wooden blocks. Main advantages metal frame is ease of design and ease of use.

Note: When calculating the required insulation for a balcony inside, you need to take into account not only the dimensions of the walls, but the floor and ceiling, since these two positions also need insulation.

Material selection

In the crate with inside Insulation is installed on the balcony, which can be:

Styrofoam. The cheapest of these materials is simple white foam, 5 cm thick. If you are insulating a room in cold latitudes, you can take thicker polystyrene foam; it can reach a thickness of up to 10 cm. It can be easily cut into required amount parts, and you can not additionally strengthen them with anything, but immediately lay the lathing in the cells for finishing Decoration Materials. The material is absolutely safe both when working with it and during subsequent use. The insulation is completely odorless, does not emit toxic substances, and styrene fumes in small quantities do not affect human health. Installation of the material occurs without the formation of dust.

Mineral wool. Mineral wool is a little more expensive, but its sound insulation properties are much higher, so if you need to get rid of extraneous sounds, it is better to use it. This material is completely natural and completely fireproof. The combustion temperature of mineral wool starts from a thousand degrees. The inconvenience of laying mineral wool briquettes lies in the mandatory compliance with safety precautions. The material contains small glass particles that cause itching of the skin. Installation must be carried out in protected special clothing, safety glasses and a respirator.

Expanded clay. The material is an environmentally friendly insulation. The word "expanded clay" is translated from Greek language like "baked clay". The material is often used for insulation of floors and ceilings. It is not entirely profitable for them to insulate the walls, since they additionally need to prepare a metal mesh as a support.

Installation of high-quality double-glazed windows plays a big role in insulating a balcony or loggia. - you will find the answer here.

Penofol. This material is one of the thermal insulation products that has a reflective effect. It is a layer of foamed self-extinguishing polyethylene with closed air pores. Aluminum coated High Quality, 14 microns thick and 99.4% pure on one or both sides. Penofol is a universal material with steam, hydro, wind, soundproofing properties. The material has the appearance of a thin, flexible, light and environmentally friendly structure. It can be used as an additional vapor barrier; it is very convenient to work with, since it is sold in rolls and is easy to cut even with ordinary scissors. This material protects the room from external moisture and eliminates condensation from the room.

Penoplex. It is a new material specially designed for room insulation. The material is very convenient to install due to its light weight, so its use on the balcony is now relevant. It is produced in the form of rectangular slabs different thicknesses, which can be easily cut with a stationery knife. It is also possible to produce “sandwich panels” using the casting method. Insulation with a rough surface allows them to be easily attached and glued to other materials.

Izolon

Izolon. Also is universal material in terms of use. Confirmed safety for use as insulation and vapor barrier element. Excellent soundproofing characteristics.

The degree of thermal conductivity compares:

• with 15 cm brickwork
• with 4.5 cm wood
• with 4.5 cm mineral wool
• with 1.2 cm polystyrene foam

Reduces noise by at least 18 dB.

These are the main materials for creating an insulating layer, which are now easy to find in any hardware store. We hope you now have more information about How can you insulate a balcony from the inside?, and then we’ll look at how to do this.

How to insulate

One of optimal methods laying of insulation is layer-by-layer laying:

• First, the surface is waterproofed
• The next layer is the selected insulating material, which is also secured with appropriate fasteners. These can be nails, screws, plastic fasteners with wide heads.
• Then a vapor barrier is laid, which is secured with a construction stapler.
• At the final stage, finishing material is attached to the sheathing using special fastening materials.

Sheets of foam plastic are installed in the sheathing, and the joints are covered with polyurethane foam

The result should be a layer approximately 60 - 70 mm thick, this is the distance from the outer layer to the finishing layer. Depending on climatic conditions, this size may vary. You must understand that any layer of insulation requires financial costs and labor, so it is better to immediately build a balcony conscientiously and not try to save on trifles.

In a situation with insulating the floor on the balcony the sequence is also the same. If it is decided to fill the floor with concrete, then expanded clay is laid first and the solution is distributed on top of it. Concrete mortar you need to carefully distribute it using a special rule and try to make the surface as smooth as possible. Then on such a surface you can lay ceramic tiles or other finishing materials. Under finishing you can lay rolled heated floors, and this will give additional insulation premises.

Video instructions for self-installation plasterboard ceiling available at this address

If you choose the option of a wooden floor, then guide logs are first laid, between which the insulation is laid. Then a finishing board or chipboard is laid on the logs. Laying chipboard is necessary if laminate or linoleum will be installed further. It is also worth noting that under the laminate it is necessary to lay special substrate which will provide additional thermal insulation. When the finishing of the walls and floors is completed, skirting boards are installed to hide the joints of the finishing.

In the complex of works on insulating a balcony, it is necessary to pay attention to the ceiling. The insulation process is carried out according to the same scheme as walls and floors. The task will be complicated when the balcony or loggia is on top floor And ceiling absent. In this case, you need to take into account the additional costs of installing the ceiling and roof.

When working on insulating a balcony, you should not fuss and rush, this can lead to unreasonably high consumption material. If you approach the matter carefully and carry out constant calculations, you can acquire a full-fledged additional room for little money.

How to insulate a balcony from the inside video

We invite you to watch a video on the topic of our article “Insulation for a balcony inside - choosing materials,” which shows in detail the entire process of insulating a balcony using penoplex and penofol.

When planning to renovate a loggia or balcony, the question often arises as to what material is best to use as insulation; in this article we will consider in detail each type of insulation, its characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

Balcony insulation with mineral wool.

Mineral wool is the most common insulation material; it is a synthetic material consisting of the finest fibers of glass or rocks, slag.

Exist the following types mineral wool:

Glass wool– made by melting glass and drawing it into a thin fiber. Typically used as insulation in industry. When installing glass wool, in order to avoid injury from microscopic glass particles, you need to work in a respirator and rubber gloves.

Slag wool– made from molten slag, which remains after processing iron ore, and is also used as industrial insulation.

Stone wool– made from molten rocks of basalt, dolomite, limestone, diobase. Most often, stone wool is used as insulation for residential premises, since it has the most high performance compared to slag and glass wool.

Mineral wool It is manufactured in the form of felt, semi-rigid and rigid slabs, mats, segments, in shapeless form; as insulation for residential premises, it is usually used in rolls and slabs.

Mineral wool in rolls 1000 - 1200 mm wide, rolls can be 10 m² and 15 m².

In slabs of various sizes, usually 1250 x 610 mm.

The thickness of mineral wool in rolls and slabs ranges from 50 to 100 mm. For insulation of balconies and loggias, stone wool 100 mm thick is used.

An important indicator of mineral wool is density; the higher it is, the higher its characteristics and, accordingly, the price; density can be from 75 to 150 kg/m3.

Mineral wool is a heat-resistant, fire-resistant material that can withstand up to 600°C, creates good sound insulation but is afraid of moisture, so during installation it requires the use of additional vapor barrier.

It should be remembered that during production stone wool phenol-formaldehyde resins are also used, so this material cannot be called completely environmentally friendly.

Balcony insulation with polystyrene foam.

Expanded polystyrene (foam plastic) is the most popular thermal insulation material, consisting of voluminous granules filled with gas, produced by foaming polystyrene granules with vapors of low-boiling liquids. Expanded polystyrene differs from polystyrene foam in its denser structure and, accordingly, higher thermal insulation characteristics.

Expanded polystyrene is available in the form of sheets of various sizes, standard size sheet 1000 x 2000 mm, the size 1200 x 600 is often used, sheet thickness can be from 20 to 100 mm.

Based on thermal conductivity, polystyrene foam is divided into the following grades:

15 – thermal conductivity 0.043 W/(m K);

25 – 0.041 W/(m K);

35 – 0.038 W/(m K).

For insulation of balconies and loggias, sheets with a thickness of 50 to 100 mm and a density of 25 kg/m³ are used.

Expanded polystyrene gradually deteriorates when exposed to direct sunlight, and therefore requires additional protection.

The main disadvantage of polystyrene foam is that it tends to oxidize when the temperature rises, even at a temperature of + 30 degrees, polystyrene foam already releases harmful substances - benzene, ethylbenzene, formaldehyde, toluene, acetophenone, methyl alcohol, and when polystyrene foam burns, the concentration of these hazardous substances in the air increases sharply.

Insulation of the balcony with penofol.

Penofol is a flexible thermal insulation material with a reflective thermal effect, consisting of a layer of foamed self-extinguishing polyethylene with closed air pores, and a heat-reflecting layer aluminum coating. It has hydro, steam, wind and sound insulation properties.

Penofol can be of three types:

A - with one-sided aluminum coating.

B with double-sided aluminum coating.

C - with one-sided coating and a self-adhesive layer.

Penofol is produced in rolls, is easy to install and has high thermal insulation characteristics. Another important advantage of penofol is its environmental friendliness; it does not contain harmful substances.

Penofol works as a heat reflector and is used as additional insulation, for example brickwork. Using penofol to insulate a balcony will not be enough.

Comparison of thermal insulation materials.

The better way to insulate a balcony from the inside.

To insulate balconies and loggias, it is more practical to use expanded polystyrene or mineral wool; each insulation has its own advantages and disadvantages. In each case, you need to individually select insulation based on the conditions of its use.

The comparative characteristics of these materials are shown in the table.

There is no clear answer to the question of what is the best way to insulate a balcony - no, polystyrene foam and mineral wool will cope with this task perfectly, you can use any of these materials, the difference lies only in the installation features and the conditions in which the insulation will be used.

The loggia could well be called extra room in the apartment, but, unfortunately, many people use it only in the summer, since it initially does not have insulation, and there are no heating radiators installed there.

Polyurethane foam is sprayed onto the walls using special equipment, and specialized companies are engaged in such insulation.

However, before inviting them to spray such insulation, the walls need to be prepared by lathing them. It will be a kind of frame for the sprayed and expanding heat insulator, as well as for securing decorative finishing material.

The advantage of this method of insulation is that when sprayed, the material, expanding, closes all the cracks, making the surface absolutely not blown, without cold bridges. Polyurethane foam covers not only the walls, but also the ceiling and floor.

Video - How polyurethane foam is sprayed

Loggia design solutions

I would like to show several options. Perhaps, having started the process of turning a cold room into a usable area, someone will be inspired by one of the ideas developed by the designers.

In this case, a standard loggia with a small footage is presented, transformed into cozy room recreation. Here you can retire with a book or laptop and delve into reading. If a large family lives in an apartment, usually each member is doing what they love, and sometimes it is difficult to find a cozy place to sit in silence. An insulated loggia will be an ideal option for this.

In such a room you can place a small TV and enjoy your favorite programs or sit with handicrafts, comfortably choosing comfortable armchair legs. The main thing is that there is extra space that can serve all family members in turn to do what they love.

Such option will do for apartments in which the door to the loggia is located in the kitchen. In this case, it can become a dining room, especially since most kitchens in apartments are quite small.

If apartment owners like to frequently host parties, a loggia window sill can easily replace a bar counter.

You can also have a romantic dinner here. The evening city, which offers a wonderful view, and the pleasant summer air will create the necessary mood for this. In winter, it’s nice to sit at the counter, sipping coffee and looking at the opening wide panorama outside the window.

Glass sliding doors installed between the kitchen and the loggia will help to unite or separate the rooms, depending on the need.

In this version, it was combined with the living room, and the wall, which previously served as a dividing element between the two rooms, became a unifying one, as it was transformed into a comfortable table.

The area of ​​the former loggia in this layout can be used as an office with a comfortable desk, as well as hobbies when you don’t want anyone to interfere.

And, of course, combining the loggia and the room will increase the total space, opening big window. The room will be more illuminated, which will help save on electricity.

Additional living space can be adapted for various activities, for example, on a loggia winter Garden, workshop or computer room. Therefore, if the apartment is equipped with a loggia, but it is not yet insulated, you need to urgently get down to business and expand the area of ​​​​your home by using a room that is not used functionally.

Video - How a loggia is insulated

Insulation of the loggia with polystyrene foam

These materials also do not have the best soundproofing properties.

Penofol is good for everyone: easy to install (there are self-adhesive varieties), non-flammable, a good sound insulator, but expensive.

Materials based on mineral fibers are just as good, but, for example, mineral wool requires sheathing, which means money, materials, labor, and balcony space. And it is not known what will be cheaper: buy a roll of penofol or install mineral wool insulation.

Fiberglass also has good insulating properties, but it literally melts in a fire and does not prevent the spread of fire.

Another visible leader is penoizol. Also, at first glance, it’s impossible to think of anything better: cheap, retains heat well, is nonflammable, and an excellent sound insulator. But it is quite difficult for the average person to work with it: insulation with foam insulation is carried out by pouring liquid material into pre-prepared cavities in the walls, into formwork and the like. That is, it is almost impossible to use this material to insulate a balcony in an already inhabited building.

Mineral wool for insulating balconies

True, variations of this material have now appeared in the form of sheets and panels. On the market, these varieties are also known as “mettemplast”. Experts consider this material very promising, but nuances remain.

In the production of penoizol, formaldehyde resins are used. Therefore, there are environmental issues. When penoizol hardens, toxic substances are released, and it itself shrinks significantly. Although, I repeat, much depends on the manufacturer.

Personal example of Pavel Kuren

The use of penofol as insulation on the balcony

– I have my own balcony. The critical parameter for me was not the price, but the ease of installation, so that you could do everything yourself, quickly, without unnecessary waste, and without annoying your household. I think the game was worth the candle.

Well, let each balcony owner decide for himself what is more important to him - price, quality, ecology, and some other parameters. We have given cost and other characteristics, but everyone should have their own head on their shoulders!

I just want to note that the materials that are used to insulate the walls of a balcony are also suitable for insulating the ceiling.

Since you will still have to make a powerful sheathing for the flooring, it is better to insulate it with mineral wool: obviously, this will be the most energy-saving, noise-insulating and fireproof option at an affordable price.

What materials for insulating a balcony or loggia will effectively cope with the task? I suggest you consider 5 heat insulators that I have worked with. I will tell you by what qualities they were selected and why they are considered the best.

Types of thermal insulation materials

Balcony insulation can be done with the following thermal insulation materials:

Option 1: mineral wool

Mineral wool is a roll or slab material, which consists of thin mineral fibers. The latter are obtained by melting and spraying rocks or blast furnace slag.

Characteristics:

To insulate a balcony from the inside frame method you can use glass wool, which is cheaper than basalt wool. In this case, during its installation it is necessary to carefully protect the respiratory organs, eyes and hands.

Advantages:

1. Versatility. Basalt wool can be used to insulate a balcony inside and outside. Moreover, insulation of surfaces can be carried out either by frame method or by wet method:

• Let me remind you that when frame insulation panel or sheet finishing materials are used - plasterboard, plastic panels, lining, siding, etc.;
• When finishing wet method the surface of the insulation is plastered;
• High-density slabs can even be laid under a screed to insulate the floor;

1. Environmentally friendly. Basalt wool does not contain harmful substances, and even during the installation process, unlike glass wool, it practically does not cause irritation to the skin;
2. Vapor permeability. The insulation allows the walls to “breathe”, thereby creating a favorable microclimate in the room;
3. Fire safety. Mineral wool does not burn and can withstand high temperatures.

Flaws:

• Absorbs moisture. When performing insulation work, it is necessary to ensure high-quality vapor and waterproofing;
• Price. The price of basalt wool is higher than some other insulation materials.

Price:

Expanded polystyrene is a lightweight polymer insulation material, one of the most common thermal insulation materials thanks to low price

Option 2: polystyrene foam

Expanded polystyrene, or simply polystyrene foam, is a polymer insulation in the form of slabs formed by small granules.

Characteristics:

Advantages:

• Light weight. Foam plastic is the lightest slab insulation;
• Low price. The cost is significantly lower than the price of basalt wool;
• Versatility. Like basalt wool, it can be used for insulation in any way, both from the inside and outside;
• Moisture resistant. The material absorbs moisture to a lesser extent than mineral wool.

Flaws:

• Zero vapor permeability. This deficiency can lead to increased humidity inside the room, the formation of mold on the walls, etc. High-quality ventilation will help eliminate it;

• Fire hazard. Polystyrene foam manufacturers, especially little-known ones, rarely add fire retardants to polystyrene foam. Therefore, it ignites quite easily and burns well;
• Low strength and fragility. This drawback is important if the insulation boards are plastered after installation. Surfaces insulated in this way are not resistant to impact loads;
• Low environmental friendliness. Polystyrene foam itself does not threaten health in any way, but during the combustion process it releases toxins. Inhalation of these substances leads to severe poisoning.

Price:

Option 3: extruded polystyrene foam

Extruded polystyrene foam, also known as penoplex, is made from the same raw materials as regular polystyrene foam. However, thanks to a special insulation technology, it has higher characteristics.

Characteristics:

Advantages. From the data in the table it can be seen that penoplex has low thermal conductivity and high strength. In addition, it has some other advantages:

• Moisture resistance: Penoplex does not absorb water at all, so it does not need waterproofing;
• Fire safety. All well-known manufacturers add fire retardants to this material, which makes the insulation for the balcony low-flammable.

Flaws:

• High price. For this reason, it makes sense to use penoplex only in cases where a large load will be placed on it, for example, in the case of insulating walls and ceilings using a wet method. You can also use it to insulate the floor under the screed;
• Low vapor permeability. The vapor permeability coefficient of penoplex is slightly higher than that of polystyrene foam, however, the material is still not “breathable”.

Price:

Option 4: polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam is another type of polymer insulation. His main feature is that it is applied to the surface in the form of foam.

Characteristics:

Polyurethane foam is also used for insulating balconies in the form of polyurethane foam. It is used to insulate all kinds of cracks.

Advantages:

• Low thermal conductivity. As can be seen from the table, polyurethane foam has the lowest thermal conductivity. In addition, it is applied to the surface in a continuous layer, due to which it retains heat in the room more effectively;
• Moisture resistant. Thanks to this quality, it does not require the use of waterproofing;
• Good adhesion. This allows you to apply insulation to any surface.

Flaws.

• Requires special equipment. You cannot apply polyurethane foam with your own hands. This procedure should be carried out exclusively by highly qualified specialists with special equipment;

• Zero vapor permeability. Like other polymer insulation, the material does not breathe;
• Increase in thermal conductivity over time. The gas that fills the polyurethane foam structure gradually leaves the shell. As a result, its thermal conductivity increases slightly;
• High price. In addition to the cost of the material itself, the cost of insulation work is added to its price;

• Impossibility of plastering. If polyurethane foam is used, finishing a balcony from the inside or outside can only be done using a frame method;
• Toxic in liquid form. When working with polyurethane, it is necessary to use products personal protection because it is toxic. After hardening, the material is safe for health.

Price. Different manufacturers have different prices for polyurethane foam insulation. On average, the cost, including work, is about 500 rubles. for 1m2

Option 5: penofol

Penofol is a thin roll insulation, which consists of two layers:

• Foamed polyethylene - serves as a heat-insulating material;
• Foil - reflects heat from insulated surfaces into the room.

Thus, this material is used only for internal insulation balcony and loggia.

Characteristics:

Advantages:

• Little weight. The material is easily attached to any structure;

• Moisture resistant. This allows you to use penofol as waterproofing material if, for example, you are insulating a balcony or loggia with mineral wool;
• Small thickness. Thanks to this, the material does not take away extra space in room.

The instructions for using penofol require its location during installation with the foil side facing the room. Otherwise, the material will not reflect heat from surfaces.

Flaws:

• Zero vapor permeability. I have already spoken about the consequences of this deficiency above;
• High thermal conductivity. Penofol is thin material, accordingly, it is not enough to fully insulate the room. Therefore, it is usually used as additional thermal insulation.

Price. The price starts from 50-80 rubles per 1m2.

That's all the insulation I wanted to introduce you to. Well, now you have to decide for yourself what and how best to insulate the balcony.

Conclusion

Now you know all the basic qualities of the most common thermal insulation materials, and you can make your own right choice. I recommend watching the video in this article. If you have any questions, write comments and I will answer as soon as possible.