Ceilings on the balcony

Any owner of the apartment above the ground floor sooner or later thinks about what to make ceilings on the balcony, how to arrange them better and is the result worth the effort and money invested? To answer these questions definitely can not - much will depend on the type of house, materials, climate and the ultimate goal of repair.

Let us consider in detail all the methods and stages of such repairs.

Before proceeding to the decorative part of the work, any balcony is waiting for a painstaking and very important stage - waterproofing and insulation. It can be simplified only in one case: when the neighbors have top quality trim and glazing, which is not always the case, and the factor of rain and other moisture will have to be taken into account and reduced to a minimum.

Concrete has a porous structure that is particularly vulnerable to moisture, and is particularly badly damaged in winter, when the accumulated droplets expand in size, contributing to the formation of cracks. Therefore, before starting work it will be nice to invite a specialist who will assess the general condition of the balcony and give the green light to waterproofing.

Today, there are several popular and relatively inexpensive ways:

1. Penetrating compounds (for concrete only);
2. Coating compositions (for bricks and wood);
3. Roll materials on polymeric compounds;
4. Sealants (for crevices and cracks).
5. Heaters suitable for most Russian balconies, only two, are:
6. Mineral wool;
7. Polyurethane foam plate.

The use of each of these materials is permissible only when it is probably known that it is suitable in specific conditions. Otherwise, the consequences could lead to costly overhaul.

Contrary to the well-known opinion that such systems are used only in rooms with a large area, otherwise - “it does not look” is a long-time delusion. Even on 1-1.5 m2 it’s quite realistic to make those tiers that so brightly paint designer brochures.Convenience for installation and that all aluminum bases will be small, not 5 meters, as in a spacious living room or bedroom with improved planning.

The advantages that some types of suspended ceilings have:

1. Gloss increases the space and smooths out all the irregularities;
2. The polyester is moisture resistant, non-combustible and not prone to fading in the sun;
3. The coating tolerates severe frosts and temperature drops;
4. The material does not mold and repels pathogens.

How does this type differ from the previous one? In short, to everyone, because the main material used is not polyester fabric, but PVC panels or any other material, at the request of the customer. The installation process is accelerated several times.

The key advantage of such a system is saving of height, which is especially important for typical high-rise buildings of the sample of the 80-90s, where the ceilings are not too high. The hollow structure of the panels and their specific arrangement makes the entire system light, flexible and durable.

Is it possible to do, and generally consider this option? Yes you can, but with a number of reservationsThe first of which states that the balcony, like the apartment itself, should not be located in a region with high humidity, since it is the main enemy of fragile material.

You should not believe the manufacturer, who will tell you that it is his plasterboard ceilings that have exceptional moisture resistance and enhanced strength characteristics. All this applies only to moments with a random hit of a small amount of water, and “in the long” perspective, you still have to think about maintaining a dry balcony.

From unconditional advantages - a reliable frame of aluminum strips, under which the wiring is quietly mounted, and lighting is made, even though with decorative LED lights, even a full-fledged chandelier, depending on the desire and means.

There are a few more minuses, and they are not limited to sensitivity to moisture:

• The need for regular painting;
• Vulnerability to low temperatures;
• Reducing the height due to the frame;
• The need for plastering, reinforcement and installation of baseboards.

Eliminating these disadvantages, it is drywall that is considered the most affordable and at the same time reliable materialthe correct installation of which will provide many years of service.

As a joke, it is called the bath style, or retro-style finish. Both names have the right to be, if only because the principle of installation of wooden slats, or lining, is similar to the development of the interior of a sauna or a bath.

A very important moment is forgotten - slats come not only from wood, but also from any suitable or desired material, including the same aluminum or PVC. The only difference is in the further installation process - open or closed type.

The first option is familiar to most - the slats are installed at a distance from each other, and the hollow areas create a characteristic “striped” pattern, within which LED illumination, including multi-colored, is often held. Some craftsmen prefer to cover the cavities with decorative strips, and then holes are cut out for lighting.

The closed installation method implies a “smooth” ceiling, but it is not suitable for non-standard forms because of the laboriousness and unjustified use of a large amount of materials.

It also happens,that none of the options do not like the landlord or for some other reason the installation is not possible. What to do in this situation?

The cheapest way is painting. Yes, it will require a long preparatory stage with priming, putty and waterproofing, but the use of facade paint will allow for a few years to forget about how the ceiling of the balcony looked like before the repair. True, then everything will have to be done anew.

A more expensive option is MDF panels, which in recent years have been actively entering the market as a versatile material with unprecedented strength, moisture and frost resistance. But not everyone can afford this kind of decoration.

As you can see, there are many possibilities for decorating ceilings, and the choice of a particular method will make the balcony cozy, beautiful, warm and unique in its own way.