Insulation and cladding of the balcony is a great way, albeit not by much, but to expand the living area of the apartment. Of course, the glazing of the loggia is usually trusted by specialists, since the procedure is quite complicated. However, insulation and sheathing are just those activities that you can do yourself. Very often, PVC panels are used for finishing balconies. They are beautiful, inexpensive and easy to install. This article will be devoted to how to sheathe a balcony with plastic panels, as well as how to insulate it.
Advantages and disadvantages of plastic panels
To begin with, let's see what advantages and disadvantages PVC panels differ in and whether it is worth using them for cladding a balcony at all. The advantages of this material include the following:
- aesthetic appeal. Panel colors may vary. Some models imitate natural materials, such as wood or stone.
- Durability. Plastic does not rot or corrode. In addition, even if water gets on the loggia, such panels will never deform like a tree.
- Since the individual elements are connected by means of a special lock, the surface finished with them looks uniform.
- Ease of installation. If the walls on the loggia are even, they can be sheathed even without the use of crates. It is quite easy to sheathe a balcony with plastic with your own hands.
- Cheapness. PVC panels are one of the most inexpensive finishing materials.
The disadvantages of PVC panels include, first of all, not too high resistance to low temperatures. In frost, cracks may appear on the elements. In addition, this finishing material does not tolerate mechanical stress. A strong impact may leave a dent or break on the surface of the panel.
How to choose material
Before you start figuring out how to sheathe a balcony with plastic panels, let's figure out how to choose them correctly. The size of the elements is a very important indicator in terms of the durability of the skin. In the event that you are not going to insulate the balcony, it is better to choose narrow panels, since they are somewhat more resistant to cracking in the cold. The insulated loggia can be sheathed with material of any width.
As for the colors, here, of course, everything depends primarily on the personal preferences of the owners of the apartment. However, experts advise decorating north-facing loggias using warm shades. Cold ones are best suited for the south balcony.
Loggia preparation
It is possible to sheathe a balcony with PVC panels only after its thorough preparation. Be sure to inspect all joints between the structural elements of the loggia. In the event that there are gaps here, they must be sealed. It is best to use cement mortar for this, since gypsum putty does not tolerate moisture very well. Clean the walls of dust and dirt. Take measurements. If the corners on the loggia are not straight, it will be necessary to use a crate for sheathing.
Material calculation
To calculate the required amount of material, you should measure the area of \u200b\u200ball the walls of the loggia. Next, the area of one selected panel is calculated. Then the first digit is divided by the second. The resulting amount must be rounded up. It is best to purchase panels with a margin. The fact is that in the future, if necessary, it will be problematic to select an element of the same shade.
Do I need to insulate the balcony
Insulating a balcony with your own hands before paneling means getting not only a beautiful, but also a cozy room. Of course, the procedure is optional. However, it will be simply impossible to use a cold loggia in winter. It is better to spend a little time and money and still insulate it. Usually expanded polystyrene is used for this purpose. The fact is that mineral wool is afraid of moisture. When wet, this material simply loses its heat-shielding qualities.
Lathing installation
So, how to insulate a balcony with your own hands? After all the seams have been passed through with cement mortar, it is also desirable to glue them with a special waterproofing tape. For fidelity, floors, parapets and walls can be smeared with bituminous mortar in two layers. But this procedure is optional. The next step is to install the crate. Under PVC panels, both wood and metal can be used. However, in the event that the loggia is insulated, the first option is preferable. The fact is that the metal profile in this case will be a kind of bridge through which cold will penetrate into the resulting room.
The crate is mounted horizontally in increments of about 30 cm. The slats are taken according to the thickness of the insulation. They are mounted on the walls using screws and plastic dowels. Holes are pre-drilled in the concrete. To do this, you can use a drill with a hammer function.
Loggia insulation
Insulation plates are installed between the purlins. They can be additionally attached to the wall with special dowels - "fungi". The joints between the crate and the panels are made with mounting foam or construction tape.
Vapor barrier installation
The question of how to sheathe a balcony with plastic comes down not only to installing the actual panels, but also to high-quality vapor barrier of the loggia. The fact is that in a warm room, the humidity of the air is always higher than in the street. As a result, condensation may begin to settle on the insulation.
For the vapor barrier of the balcony, you can use a regular plastic film. But its modern foil counterparts are somewhat more effective. In addition to protecting the insulation from moisture, they also perform one more function - they reflect heat back into the room. You can, for example, use a popular vapor barrier - foil on kraft paper. It costs a little more than polyethylene. Mount the vapor barrier directly on the crate inside the balcony. The strips are fixed in the horizontal direction by means of slats 2-3 cm thick. On the ceiling, the crate is fixed parallel to the wall.
Panel installation
So, how to sheathe a balcony with plastic panels? You can see a photo of this wonderful material, with which you can make a balcony stylish and beautiful, on this page. Of course, when installing it, you should strictly adhere to the established technology and do everything carefully and slowly. At the first stage, all fittings are attached - external and internal corners, as well as the final element and the ceiling plinth.
The panels can be nailed into the bottom ledge of the groove with small nails. However, in this case, it will be impossible to dismantle them without violating the integrity of the plastic. Therefore, it is better to use special clips for fastening. The first panel is fixed strictly according to the level. The second is inserted into the groove of the first and also nailed. Thus, all the following panels are mounted. They should be installed as tightly as possible. When installing the last panel, you will have to make some effort in order to insert it simultaneously into the groove of the previous one and into the final element.
The location of the panels should be planned in such a way that the latter is in a not too noticeable place. Cutting plastic is best with a hacksaw. Under the windows, measurements should first be taken in order to perform the most accurate cutting. Panels can be cut both lengthwise and across. Usually, the last element is cut vertically.
In this way, using the crate, you can sheathe the balcony with PVC panels. A video of this process will help to consider all the nuances. Be sure to check out a couple.
How to decorate a balcony with PVC panels without using a crate
To sheathe the balcony with plastic in the event that its insulation is still not planned, and the corners are even, it is possible without using the crate. In this case, the installation is carried out on liquid nails. This method, among other things, is also convenient in that it saves some space. For a balcony, this can be important.
So, how to sheathe a balcony with plastic panels without using a crate? In this case, it is important to prepare the surface as carefully as possible. Walls and ceiling should be pre-cleaned of dirt and grease stains. Then, if necessary, they are trimmed and necessarily primed. Coat surfaces with a primer should be plentiful. After the primer has dried, you can proceed to the installation of panels.
The back side of the panels must be wiped from dust with a damp cloth. Next is cutting. In the event that the walls are perfectly even, the panels should be coated with liquid nails along the perimeter and crosswise. When mounting on not very even walls, it is better to use the spot application method. The panel lubricated with glue is pressed tightly against the surface of the wall and, after holding for a few seconds, is torn off. For better adhesion, liquid nails should be allowed to weather for 5 minutes.
As you can see, the sheathing of a loggia or balcony is nothing complicated. It is quite possible to perform such an event on your own.
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