Perhaps many people think that a loggia is a glazed balcony. In terms of design, the loggia and the balcony have one main difference. Often, you have to figure out what the difference is only when buying and selling an apartment.
A balcony, in a professional language, is a concrete slab coming out of the wall of the house. A fence is installed on the slab, additional glazing, insulation and finishing are carried out.
Loggia is a completely different matter. Unlike the balcony, the loggia has two side walls and is located in the niche of the house. If you look from the outside of the house, the loggias look like cubes stacked on top of each other, and from the inside - like the continuation of the apartment.
The French balcony can be located in a niche of the house, or have a base indent of no more than half a meter. In Russia, they do not build houses with balconies of this size. Therefore, a French balcony is either a decoratively decorated window or an author's reconstruction of a classic balcony. By its design, it does not belong to loggias or classical balconies.
The balcony has three free sides, along the edges of the glazed balcony there are windows. And along the edges of the loggia there are walls. That is why it becomes possible to combine the loggia with the room. You can remove or expand the doorway to create additional space in the room, or carry out other work in the redevelopment and design of the apartment.
At the same time, the loggia remains a classic balcony, an addition to the main living space, and is used for the same purposes.
And the goals can be different … Loggia can be:
- An additional pantry where you can put the things you need.
- A resting place, like a gazebo, where you can breathe fresh air and have a cup of coffee.
- A place for growing flowers and plants, creating a greenhouse.
- A place for any other activity that can be organized in a small space.
For example, a loggia can become a cozy place for a smoker, a small gym, a workshop, for doing small jobs, etc. In the case of a redevelopment of an apartment and a separate design of the loggia, the question arises: how and with what materials to finish?
Features of the
Plastic panels are a versatile finishing material. They can have any design: imitate stone, wood, metal and other textures, have a pattern or pattern. Such material is chosen by many apartment owners due to its justified quality and at the same time low price.
Panel characteristics:
- Low price with good quality. Thanks to this material, you can create a wonderful renovation.
- Long service life. You can carry out inexpensive repairs and know that for the next 10 to 15 years you don't have to worry about a new one.
- Plastic products can easily withstand seasonal temperature changes. Certain species are resistant to frost and precipitation. Therefore, the choice of material must take into account the climate of the environment.
- The panels are not afraid of moisture. They can be easily wiped off with a damp cloth.
How to choose a quality material?
Before you buy panels, you need to check the quality of the material. Pay attention to the following points:
- the color of the panels should be even, without scuffs and scratches.
- there should be no cracks, dents or other mechanical damage in the texture.
- the details must match each other in color and texture.
- when connecting parts, a characteristic click should be heard.
- PVC is an inexpensive material. But when choosing the cheapest option among them, you need to consider the value for money. Plastic is easily damaged by impact, so it is better to choose a more durable material for integrity and durability. The more ribs a panel has, the stronger it is.
- To be sure of the reliability of the panels, you need to consider their appearance. High-quality panels do not contain dark spots and black dots on the back.
After the choice is made and the panels are available, you can start finishing the loggia.
Training
If repairs have already been carried out on the loggia, then the walls must be cleaned of old material, since there may be cracks and voids under it.
If a fungus appears on the walls, you need to remove it, and then treat it with antifungal agents and cover the cracks and empty spaces with foam or cement, and level the walls
Frame
The frame can be made of metal or wood. If the loggia is finished in an unheated room, it is better not to use wood, as it will collect moisture.
Before starting the installation of the frame, the surface of the loggia must be covered with foil.
After that, start fixing the frame from the ceiling.
Wooden beams or metal profiles are fastened with a self-tapping screw parallel to each other at a distance of 40 cm, first horizontal and then vertical. For accuracy, you need to use a level.
After the ceiling, the frame is attached to the walls in the same way. The first profile is fixed in the corner.
Warming
After the frame is installed, you can proceed to insulation. It is produced with foam or fiber, which is installed in the empty openings of the frame structure.
Now a vapor-tight membrane can be attached to the insulated structure, which will be the last layer of insulation.
Even if sheathing is planned without insulation, it is still worth installing the frame. You need to glue the panels on a perfectly flat surface, and the frame can eliminate its slightest errors.
Fastening
The panels are first attached to the ceiling and then to the walls. Starting from the corner profile, the panel tongue is snapped to the PVC mounting plate, then another panel is inserted next to it, and so on each subsequent one.
Opening decoration
After fixing the plastic panels to the ceiling and walls, the openings of windows and doors are made. The material is attached to the top and bottom of the opening, and then to the sides. The corners and cuts are closed with f-shaped panels and corners included in the kit. Now that the cladding is complete, you can create a suitable environment and enjoy your new loggia.
EXTERIOR FINISH
Along with internal repairs, you can decorate the outer part of the loggia with your own hands.
As a rule, external cladding is made for balconies, not loggias. But the owner of an apartment in such a house may wish to change the appearance of the loggia. In addition, the exterior finish is additional heat and sound insulation.
Exterior decoration is carried out in the same way as interior:
The old material is dismantled, if any
The parapet is being repaired
The frame is installed. In the case of external cladding, it is better to use a metal frame. If you use a tree, then it must be processed with special means
Insulation is being carried out
Finally, the plastic panels are attached. PVC panels are fixed vertically with a construction stapler. Plastic corners are superimposed on the corners
Plastic panels for exterior cladding must withstand weather and UV rays. For external cladding, panels with reinforced properties are used. The choice of a specific type of panel will depend on its service life.
It is best to use wide products, since the stripes at the junction are invisible in this case.
DESIGN
Which panel design to choose for renovation?
Plastic panels are monochrome, textured and artistic in appearance.
Thanks to the wide selection, it becomes possible to experiment with room design options, come up with something new, or improve existing ideas.
Colored
The choice of colors of plastic panels is simply huge. The most popular single color panels are white, beige and gray. Monochrome panels are in harmony with any interior. This is the easiest way to get a good result. A contrasting balcony will look great - for example, a white glass unit in combination with black laminated plastic. This option will look aesthetically pleasing and luxurious.
With texture
If you choose plastic that imitates another material, then you need to imagine how it will look in interior design
- How do metal, wooden or stone walls look on loggias?
- What texture material will look best?
- Do they match curtains, colors, furniture and other items?
When choosing a texture, you need to take into account the frequency and size of its elements.
In one interior, a large texture looks better, and in another - a small one.
For example, a large contrasting texture is ideal for a minimalist loggia. And for a room with a large number of colors, walls with a small texture are suitable.
With drawing
Decorated panels are chosen less frequently than monochrome and textured ones. This is due to the narrow focus of the pattern. The drawing sets the thematic mood, for example, Japanese motives, Slavic patterns, tea and coffee, images of water, fire, etc.
To choose the right picture, you need to consider the following points:
mood. In what mood do you want to arrive at the loggias?
environment. In what style is the interior of the loggia made, what items are on it?
personal preferences… If a person does not like the image, or the style of the image, then it is unlikely that he will like it in interior design. Even if the drawing is in fashion and matches the environment
Before buying, you need to check the specific ratio of the plastic panels to the environment
You can take several products in the store or print their image and "try on" on the walls. Then it will immediately become clear whether the selected panels fit into your interior or not.