Continuous glazing of the loggia provides a lot of natural light in the room, creates a stylish interior design, as well as an attractive view from the window. But there is one drawback - large heat loss through the glazing plane. Therefore, before starting repair work, you need to think about how to insulate a balcony with panoramic glazing so that it is comfortable to be on it.
Heat loss on a balcony with panoramic glazing
The loss of heat energy in the cold season occurs through continuous glazing. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to choose the right method for installing light-transmitting structures. For example, single or so-called cold glazing is not suitable. Due to the lack of an air chamber, heat loss will be colossal, which is unacceptable when the loggia is part of the room adjacent to it.
It should also be noted that the glazing cannot be airtight, the room must be ventilated. If the sash can be opened in the summer, then in the winter there will be a significant loss of heat. But there is a way out. Modern MPO systems on the sash are equipped with an inlet valve, which provides fresh air from the street to the room without opening the sash.
In addition to installing a modern glazing system, it is necessary to carry out a comprehensive insulation of the panoramic loggia, which includes measures for waterproofing and warming the main surfaces - walls, floor and ceiling of the room. In the process of carrying out the work, take into account the following:
- Thermal insulation properties of the window system. Multi-chamber profiles and special glasses in double-glazed windows allow to save heat energy.
- Thermal insulation properties of insulation for walls, floors and ceilings, as well as its weight.
- Strict control of the permissible load that can be applied to the base plate.
In many ways, the comfort of staying in the loggia depends on the correct insulation.
Warm glazing technology
Glazing can be "cold" and "warm". The first category includes structures in an aluminum or wooden frame with one glass, as well as frameless structures. The latter look stylish, but do not provide reliable protection from the external environment, therefore they are used in countries with a warm climate.
"Warm" glazing is performed using metal-plastic or aluminum multi-chamber profiles with double-glazed windows. A double-glazed unit consists of two or three glasses with one or two air chambers between them 1.6 cm wide. Glasses can have an energy-saving effect - in the warm season they do not let the cool in the room, and in winter they prevent heat loss.
Solid glazing, in addition to heat loss, can lead to the opposite problem - overheating of the room. Therefore, if the loggia faces the sunny side, the glass can be tinted with a reflective effect.
The profile can be made of plastic or aluminum. It serves as a framework. Since the base plate does not imply a high load, it is preferable to choose a warm aluminum profile - it weighs less. Also, the metal profile assumes a sliding opening system, which is especially important for a small balcony.
Floor insulation
Correctly selected energy efficient glazing will be useless without insulating other surfaces. Heat loss occurs through the floor of the loggia, which is an ordinary slab. Especially large losses will occur if the balcony below is not insulated.
Multi-layer construction of the balcony floor:
- First you need to repair and level the slab itself. Locally repairing damage - cracks and chips - can be done using ordinary cement mortar. It is not recommended to level the base with a traditional screed, as it will put a significant load on the slab. It is better to use self-leveling compounds that form an even thin layer.
- The flat base is insulated. It is better to use the coating method with a special mastic or bitumen.
- Next, you need to insulate the base. For this, wooden logs are laid, between which a heater is placed - mineral wool, polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam or expanded clay. The main advantage of all these materials is their low weight.
- Plywood sheets are nailed on top of the logs, forming an even boardwalk, on which the finishing material will subsequently be laid.
The material of a clean floor in a high-quality insulated loggia can be linoleum, laminate, parquet or carpet.
Using underfloor heating
One of the ways to compensate for heat loss in a loggia is to install a "warm floor" system. Water heating cannot be used, moreover, it is not advisable in such a small area. Cable electronic or infrared flooring is fine.
The electric floor is laid on a flat insulated base. Therefore, you first need to repair and level the slab, treat it with a waterproofing compound, and lay it with a slab insulation. A substrate with a front foil layer is laid on top, which will reflect thermal energy and direct it upward.
Then the electrical cable is laid. The thermostat is removed, the system is checked and a thin layer of screed is poured.
The infrared floor is laid on the insulation, but does not need to be poured with the screed - the final coating can be laid directly on the mats.
Insulation of walls and ceilings
It is equally important to insulate the walls and ceiling on the balcony. The heat-insulating material is laid on the crate, mounted on the wall. The frame can be wooden or metal. When laying logs and installing the lathing, wood treated with antiseptic and moisture-proof impregnations is used.
For wall insulation, the same materials are used as for the floor, except for backfill. Subsequently, the lathing serves as the basis for filing plastic or wood panels, drywall or lining.
The ceiling also needs to be insulated, especially if there is an unglazed balcony or street on top. A wooden or metal crate is also mounted on the ceiling, along which insulation is laid. Then the ceiling is hemmed with a slatted finishing material - wood or metal, sewn up with plasterboard or stretch PVC canvas. If the balcony is warm, the PVC film can be pulled boldly.
The frame can be sewn up with plasterboard sheets, which are putty, sanded and finished with plaster or paint.
Popular materials
When choosing which insulation to use on a closed loggia, take into account its thermal insulation properties. The thickness of the material is also an important factor, especially if it is to be laid on the glazed balcony.
Penoplex
With the help of extruded or extrusive polystyrene foam, produced in the form of slabs, it is possible to insulate and level the floor surface. This material is characterized by high strength, deformation resistance and low weight.
It is superior to traditional polystyrene in terms of thermal insulation qualities and density.One of the advantages is the incombustibility of the material due to the addition of flame retardants during the manufacturing process. The downside is the high cost, but a lot of material is not required on the balcony. Styrofoam is easy to cut. Smooth monolithic laying without joints and cracks is ensured by the presence of a groove-ridge system at the ends of the slabs.
Mineral wool
One of the inexpensive and easy-to-use thermal insulation materials is mineral wool. When insulating the floor, you can use the slab and roll version. Lay the mineral wool between the lags. When using plates, their width is made several millimeters larger than the distance between the lags, so that the insulation fits snugly in the cell.
Mineral wool is glass, slag and stone. It is easy to cut. The material has excellent heat and sound insulation qualities, but it is afraid of moisture. Therefore, it must be laid on high-quality waterproofing.
When working with mineral wool, it is required to use personal protective equipment - gloves, goggles and a respirator.
Styrofoam
The cheapest and lightest, easy to handle and install is polystyrene. Can be used as slabs or as backfill. The cellular structure contributes to high-quality insulation of a closed panoramic balcony and soundproofing of the slab.
Styrofoam is easy to cut with an ordinary clerical knife and lay in the gap between the crate or lags.
Oh. The advantage of a suspended ceiling lies not only in the possibility of its insulation, but also in the installation of spotlights for uniform illumination of the balcony.
High-quality insulation of the balcony will provide a comfortable temperature and a favorable microclimate throughout the apartment.
