Floor on the balcony: what to make of, what to lay

Possible ways to repair the floor

The floor on the balcony can be made of ceramic tiles. It meets almost all modern consumer requirements. Ceramics do not cause problems during operation. It looks aesthetically pleasing and is offered for sale in a wide range of colors and textures. Another important factor when choosing for housewives is the ease of care of the coating. The tiles can withstand any impact of the most aggressive detergent. This finishing material can decorate the floor on an open balcony or glazed loggia. The material copes well with the effects of heat and cold, as well as changes in temperature and humidity.

The floor on the balcony can be made using porcelain stoneware. This finishing material is durable and strong, it does not wear out as intensively and has low susceptibility to mechanical stress. It is almost impossible to leave a scratch on porcelain stoneware using household items. This building material is moisture resistant and able to withstand frequent temperature changes. All these qualities are complemented by the ability to implement any design solutions. This coating is easy to care for and can be used on a balcony of any degree of security.

The floor on the balcony is often covered with solid boards. It can act as an additional heat insulator. The massive board looks quite attractive. If you install it according to all the rules, then it will be ready to serve for a long period of time, and you will be faced with the need for replacement if you get tired of the design of the coating. The only requirement when laying solid boards is the need for a glazed space.

Details

Varieties

Standard tiles for a loggia (that is, a balcony) are divided into main types, and each type has certain advantages:

Quartz vinyl tiles.
Porcelain tiles.
Cotto slabs.
Clinker tiles.
Tile.

In order to make ceramic products, sand, clay and related finishing materials are used under the influence of high temperatures. After preliminary shaping, the tiles are fired in a kiln and then covered with a glazed mass (the last component determines the future texture and color). Conventional clinker tiles are highly resistant to low temperatures and have increased resistance to wear, which makes them far superior to other types of cladding material. The cost is cheaper than porcelain stoneware. The unusual tiles on the balcony, the photo of which is just below, are called Cotto tiles. At first it was made exclusively without glaze and has a brown or yellow tint.

Now glaze is used in its production, which affects the range of materials. Porcelain tiles for cladding are made in this way:
It is given its original shape in special containers.
Next will be processing of the mold under pressure.
After pressure there will be firing at high temperature.

After completing all the procedures, the finished material not only looks like natural stone, but also has similar qualities, or rather an increased degree of strength, resistance to frost, sudden temperature changes and excellent resistance to a humid environment. The product is made both without admixtures of the glazed mass and together with it. The latter type of porcelain tile has a huge selection of colors and textures, which is preferable from an artistic design point of view. The only drawback of porcelain tiles is their price. A tiled floor made from quartz vinyl has very high performance that competes with other building materials.

The tiled floor on the balcony is practically not subject to wear and tear, and also has excellent strength. This is due to the specific creation process, including components made from 80% quartz sand. But resistance to wear will be provided not by decorative material, as is commonly believed, but by a special protective film on top of the product.

How to choose a tile

The most important factor when choosing any floor covering is to take into account the weight of the overall balcony structure, because the larger it is, the greater the pressure on the supporting slab. For this reason, you definitely shouldn’t overload it. For finishing, lighter options are quite suitable, for example, PEI 3 tiles. In order not to reduce the already small balcony space, it is better not to lay a product with a size larger than 0.4 * 0.4 meters for the floor. It is also better to choose light shades for a balcony or loggia (a dark color helps to visually reduce the area).

Please note that a one-time purchase of material (ideally with a small supply) helps ensure an ideal floor covering.

It is recommended to cover an unglazed balcony with relief tiles (rough) to avoid possible injuries. Don’t forget to prepare in advance the tools you will need for quality installation:

Excellent glass cutter.
Tape measure, pliers and hammer.
Putty spatula (spatula).
Building level.

Additional items you will need are a regular pencil, a sponge and a clean cloth.

Preparatory stage of the surface

Before broaching the issue of laying tiles on the balcony, you should understand the preparatory stage of the floor:
If you are not going to lay tiles on the old surface, then you will need to dismantle the balcony floor.
If dismantling was not part of the plans, then you can increase the pressure on the load-bearing slab (taking into account not the heaviest glazing and other things) up to 400 kg per m2 (for new buildings) or exactly 2 times less for older buildings.

For uneven surfaces of the balcony floor, it is better to use a “wet” screed or joists.

Wet screed is a simple building mixture of concrete or sand.
Logs are wooden blocks with a cross section of 5*5 cm, or 5*7 cm, which will be fixed to the load-bearing slabs using dowels.

In the spaces between the joists, lay construction insulation, namely polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene foam or penoplex, on top of which I attach sheets of moisture-resistant plywood (fixed to the sheathing using simple self-tapping screws). Finish the process with gypsum fiber boards that can be easily laid on the balcony floor.

Reviews about laminate and linoleum

You can cover the floor on the balcony with laminate. This material is usually installed in a warm space, because it does not tolerate sudden changes in humidity. The surface must be prepared and leveled before installation work. Laminate panels are easily adjusted to each other, which is one of the positive qualities.

Another advantage, according to consumers, is the presence of a latching mechanism on the products. Thanks to this, the joints between the panels are practically invisible. According to home craftsmen, linoleum is one of the affordable floor coverings offered by the modern construction market. The coating can imitate natural materials such as wood and stone. If you consider that installation is a simple procedure, then the choice becomes clear. Buyers also like the fact that the material is inexpensive compared to other solutions described above.

Additional heating source

If there is a question about an additional heat source, we recommend installing infrared strip heated floors. This type of heated floor has many positive qualities, such as:

Quick installation;
There is no need to make a special base for such a floor. It fits on almost any surface;
Not a high price;
Ease of replacement in case of malfunction;
High level of security.

Based on this article, you can make a conclusion for yourself which floor is best to install on the balcony, and which flooring to choose. But our experts recommend using a structure based on a frame floor with insulation.

Popular: French balcony | Balcony with take-out | Turnkey balcony | Interior decoration of the balcony | Warm balcony

Reviews about carpet

The floors on the glazed balcony can be improved with carpet. If your plans include renovating the loggia, then it can be turned into a relaxation and recreation area. Currently, carpet can have any quality of pile. Consumers, in their words, like that the basis can be yarn from different materials, namely:

artificial;
natural;
combined.

This affects the cost, but also expands the possibilities of choice. Natural materials include animal wool. Among the artificial ones we can distinguish:

polyester;
nylon;
polyacrylic;
olefin

Combined materials in the basis of carpet include those to which natural wool is added in a volume of 10 to 30%.

Preparation of tools and materials

Quite often, novice home craftsmen wonder what is best to lay on the floor on the balcony. Regardless of what decision you make, you must prepare the following materials and tools:

insulation;
waterproofing;
sealant;
metal corners;
beam;
level;
chisel;
putty knife;
a rag;
cement;
floor levelers;
lighthouses;
hardboard;
roulette;
hammer;
Master OK.

To paint you will need a primer, brushes and a roller. If you decide to lay linoleum, you should ensure that you have:

glue;
baseboards;
fasteners;
knitted roller;
metal scissors;
linoleum;
accessories for connecting skirting boards;
glue brushes;
knife for cutting linoleum;
square

We make the floor on the balcony from ceramic tiles. To do this you should prepare:

glue;
primer;
tiles;
wooden block;
tile cutter;
tile drill;
glass cutter;
trowel for laying tiles;
tile tongs;
porous sponge;
grout composition;
distance crosses;
metal corners;
grinder;
electric drill;
dowels;
hammer or mallet;
putty knife; comb;
scraper.

If you are deciding what to make the floor from on the balcony, you can choose a self-leveling coating. It will require a special mixture, pigments and fillers.

But to lay wood flooring, you should make sure you have a wider list of tools and materials:

polyurethane foam;
baseboards;
electric drill;
self-tapping screws;
flooring;
varnish;
fire retardant composition;
sheets of plywood;
Bulgarians;
dowel-nails;
screwdriver or screwdriver;
glue.

Plywood sheets can be replaced with one of the following materials:

MDF;
OSB.

Surface preparation

Repairing a balcony floor always begins with preparing the base. The complex of works for all types of coating will include cleaning the rough surface from dirt and objects. If necessary, existing coatings can be removed. If there is a screed, it is removed from the supporting slab. The next step is to clear the floor of debris. The slab should be leveled.

The operation is carried out during the installation of the screed. To do this, you will need beacons, which are strips of metal. Alignment of the position of the beacons is carried out by placing pieces of hardboard. On an open balcony, the floor is sloped towards the street, which will ensure water drainage from melting snow and rain. The lighthouses are fixed. To do this, cement mortar is applied with a trowel in the area where the hardboard is laid. After 2 hours, the horizontal position of the beacons must be checked and they must be completely fixed with a solution.

The next day you can start making the formwork. It will consist of bars that are fixed on the outside of the railing. Before pouring the screed, the gaps between the beams and the base are filled with sealant. The solution is prepared from a dry mixture for leveling the floor, which is mixed according to the instructions. The consistency of the mixture should resemble semolina porridge. Add 3 kg of cement per bag of mixture.

Before pouring, the base is primed with a deep penetration compound to increase adhesion. The finished mixture is poured over the entire volume of the formwork. The surface is leveled with a trowel and then smoothed with a rule. He is pressed against the ribs of the beacons. Typically, special mixtures do not require additional leveling work. After pouring, the screed is left for two days or more until it dries. The formwork can be carefully removed after this and the blemishes on the edges can be corrected with a solution. After drying, metal corners are fixed along the entire length of the screed.

The sequence of work on painting or laying linoleum

The floor screed on an open-type balcony can be painted with concrete paint. It must be designed for outdoor use, which indicates that it is weather resistant. The dyeing process is standard. The base must be primed and then paint applied in several layers. You can choose acrylic.

The coating will not withstand loads from furniture and heavy interior items, but the layer will remain intact for 5 years, despite sudden fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Linoleum can be used on an open or glazed balcony. Its modern types can withstand any atmospheric conditions.

The material is fire resistant, highly durable and environmentally friendly. But it wears out quickly and can look quite cheap. To lay it on a primed screed, lay a sheet of linoleum and leave it for a couple of days for the material to stretch and level out. When this happens, the canvas is cut around the perimeter. After this, it is wrapped to the middle, and glue is applied to the reverse side. The cloth is rolled out and pressed to the floor. It should be rolled with a roller. The operation is also carried out on the second half.

It is most convenient to lay linoleum on plywood, which is laid when installing a wooden floor. It makes sense to stick sheets only if you plan to turn the balcony into a full-fledged living space. Installation of linoleum-based tiles is carried out using glue. It is necessary to proceed according to the same principle as for seamless laying of porcelain stoneware. A plinth is fixed between the edges of the covering and the wall.

Laying ceramic tiles

If you decide to lay tiles on the floor on the balcony, you can use this coating in an open or closed loggia. If the balcony is planned to be used as a living space, then it is advisable to organize a warm floor in its space. It is extremely risky to do it with a water-heated system. Therefore, it is recommended to use electric underfloor heating.

Before laying tiles on the floor on the balcony, you should make sure that they meet safety requirements. The finishing surface should be rough or have a textured pattern. Glossy coating is dangerous, because due to the entry of a minimal amount of water, the products become slippery.

The tiles are glued onto a primed screed, which is pre-cleaned. The composition is applied to the reverse side of the products. Installation is carried out starting from the far corner. The first product is cut at an angle of 45˚. The layer is leveled using a spatula comb. This will remove any excess. A small amount of glue must also be applied to the screed. The tiles are laid and pressed.

Spacer crosses should be installed to maintain a constant seam width. Constantly monitoring the horizontal position of the products using a level, you must place all rows according to the described principle. If necessary, the tiles are trimmed using a wooden block and a mallet. The edge tiles are cut with a tile cutter. Once the glue has dried, you can attach the metal corners using dowels. The fasteners are inserted into holes drilled with a tile drill.

Subfloor options

In order for the balcony to look beautiful and provide the necessary comfort, preparing the base should not be limited to leveling it with a screed. It is necessary to further insulate it by installing a wooden frame with insulation. And for maximum comfort in the cold season, you can install a “warm floor” electrical system.

Wooden frame with insulation

The most popular subfloor design, due to its simplicity and relatively low costs, consists of:

wooden frame;
insulation (mineral wool, expanded polystyrene);
flooring (chipboard, plywood).

Wooden logs are used as lathing, which are attached to the base of the balcony with anchors and form cells for laying insulation. Both mineral wool and expanded polystyrene (foam plastic) can serve as insulation material, since their thermal insulation properties are comparable.

Note! If you will insulate the floor on the balcony with mineral wool, take care of reliable waterproofing. Unlike expanded polystyrene, mineral wool completely loses its thermal insulation properties when wet.

When choosing between chipboard and plywood, keep in mind that the first option has a lower coefficient of linear expansion. Chipboard retains its shape much better and deforms only if it stays in water for a long time.

Combination “wooden logs + mineral wool + chipboard”

Warm floor system

Insulating materials reduce heat loss indoors, but do not emit heat themselves. To maintain a comfortable temperature in any weather, it is better to install an electric heated floor on the balcony. Such a system costs an order of magnitude more than a conventional wooden frame with insulation. But thanks to it, you will get additional living space where you can arrange a relaxation area or a study.

To install the system, use an electrical cable or infrared film. The choice of a specific option primarily depends on the geometry of the base. If the room is of irregular shape, it is better to use a cable, which can also be easily laid on an uneven surface, so leveling the base is not required. For infrared film, it is critical to install it on a perfectly flat surface, and the geometry of the balcony or loggia must be rectangular. The advantage of the film is that the floor covering can be laid directly on it, whereas the use of cable requires a finishing screed.

The smaller the cable laying step, the greater the power of the “warm floor”

The cable and film in the “warm floor” system must be laid on a heat insulator, which will prevent heat from escaping downwards.

You will have to pay for the comfort provided. It's not just about expensive materials. The system operates from the electrical network, which means it is an additional consumer of electricity. The consumption of “warm floor” depends on the external air temperature, on average it ranges from 100-200 W per 1 m².

Water heated floor installation

Water floors on the balcony can be installed on a concrete screed. It is first cleared of debris and large potholes are filled with solution. In those places where the screed will be adjacent to the walls, damper tape should be placed. It will prevent damage to the material due to thermal expansion. The surface is spread or filled with waterproofing, then you can start insulating it. For this purpose, foamed polymer boards are used. It could be polystyrene foam.

There is a reinforcing mesh on the insulation layer, which will prevent the pipes from moving during the pouring of the leveling layer. The heated floor on the balcony at the next stage involves laying a pipeline system. You can use a double snail as a circuit. Flexible pipes are placed on the reinforcing mesh, which should be strengthened with clamps. There is no need to tighten them tightly. A distance of 1 m should be maintained between the clamps. The pipes should not be allowed to be close to each other near the wall. A distance of 10 cm should be maintained between them.

The outlet sections of pipelines that approach the collector should be protected from a corrugated hose. If you are thinking about the question of how to make a warm floor on the balcony, then the next step is to connect the pipeline to the water collector. Next, you should start the coolant, setting the pressure 1.5 times higher than normal. The system is left in working condition for a day. After testing is completed, you can start filling. In this case, normal operating pressure must be applied to the pipes. Then the final floor covering is formed.

Installation of electric heated floors and insulation

The electric floor on the balcony can be based on a heating cable. This system is complemented by a concrete screed, due to which the height of the room is reduced by approximately 12 cm. You must follow the following instructions: first, the old coating is dismantled, and then the surface is leveled. If you want to know how to insulate the floor on a balcony, you can use polyethylene foam. It may have a foil coating. The joints between the canvases are taped with metal tape. In this case, a damper tape is laid along the perimeter, which eliminates deformation.

A mesh or mounting tape is fixed to the insulation layer for further installation of the electric heated floor. The heating cable is attached with the same pitch. It is calculated based on the area of the room and the recommended heating power. It reaches 250 W per square meter. If you are wondering how to make a heated floor on a balcony, then you should read the instructions. At the next stage, you need to install the temperature sensor and thermostat, placing them in a place suitable for use.

The circuit needs to be tested to make sure everything is connected and working. The finished system is photographed so that if repairs are needed, you know where everything is. Next, the cement-sand mortar is mixed and a 5-cm screed is poured. As soon as it hardens, you can proceed to laying tiles or linoleum flooring.

Insulating the floor on the balcony before laying the covering

Regardless of whether the balcony is glazed or remains open, it is important to think about insulating the floor so that staying on it during the cold season does not cause discomfort.

Insulation of the floor on the balcony with penoplex

It is best to use the following to insulate the floor on the balcony:

Penoplex is a moisture-resistant slab insulation material that has different thicknesses and densities. It has high fire resistance and thermal conductivity characteristics. Strong and reliable, but quite expensive.
Penofol is a roll insulation based on polyethylene with a metallized coating on one or both sides. It is steam resistant and can simultaneously be used as hydro- and sound insulation.
Mineral wool is distinguished by its versatility and mobility during installation. Has high thermal insulation properties. But this material is easily wrinkled and not moisture resistant. When working, it causes discomfort due to excessive flowability and causticity.
Polyurethane foam is a modern and versatile liquid insulation material. It combines all the advantages of other types of thermal insulation, but is the most expensive; in addition, its spraying requires special skills and equipment.
Foam plastic is easy to use, has a low price and good performance characteristics: light weight, low thermal conductivity, moisture resistant, but allows steam to pass through. But it is fire hazardous and toxic if ignited, so it is not recommended for use.
Expanded clay is a cheap and environmentally friendly material. It is not afraid of water, but has high thermal conductivity, so a large layer thickness is required to insulate the balcony.
Warm floors are the best solution for insulating indoor spaces. Can be used under almost any surface except wood. Quite expensive to install and operate, since it runs on mains power. A more economical option is to install a water heated floor.

Wooden floor installation

Before laying a wooden floor on the balcony, you must dismantle the old covering and remove debris. The work will require logs, which are beams made of hard wood. Flooring is easier to make from floorboards. The coating elements have the necessary impregnation, they are equalized in thickness and have embossed ends for connection using the tongue-and-groove principle. An edged board requires sanding; a sanded board has a leveled surface on all sides. Thanks to this, the boards adhere well to each other.

If you are faced with the task of how to insulate the floor on the balcony, then for this you can use waterproof plaster. It will also serve as a waterproofing agent. If the hole is large, then foam can be used to fill it. You will also need a waterproof film. For the heat-insulating layer, mineral wool, polystyrene foam, penoplex or other solutions with a low thermal conductivity coefficient are additionally used.

To make a wooden floor you should prepare:

screwdriver;
electric jigsaw;
hammer;
knife for cutting insulation;
drill;
construction stapler;
level.

The sequence of work is as follows: to protect the material from moisture, it should be sealed. Film is used for this. At the next stage, it is necessary to install longitudinal logs along the balcony. The structure will become more reliable if it is formed from longitudinal and transverse elements. The distance between the latter will be 50 cm.

The insulation is placed in the space between the joists. Then you can proceed to installation of the coating. Boards are used for this. They are checked with a level or square. Having retreated some distance from the wall, it is necessary to lay the first element. With the help of end fastening, all boards will be attached to each other. In order to ensure tighter pressing, several wedges should be installed between the second board and the batten. When they are hammered in, the gap should decrease.

Cork covering

The cork coating looks attractive, and the surface itself is very pleasant to the touch. The construction of such a floor is quite simple. It is advisable to purchase the material in panels with self-latching locks. Adhesive tiles create difficulties in work and require care. Do not forget about the substrate, which is laid first.

Laying the cork surface starts from the corner. The first row should be set at a distance of 5 mm from the walls. Afterwards the rows are joined to each other. To ensure an even indentation, panels of the required thickness can be laid along the wall. Subsequent rows are joined so that there is an offset of at least 30 cm. The panels can be hammered as necessary, but to protect the ends, a stand is used (a wooden block will do). After installation, the plinth is attached.

Source

Which heated floor to choose for laminate

If you decide to lay a heated floor on the balcony under laminate, then you should seriously consider the issue of choosing a system. In this case, its power is taken into account. It should be approximately 190 W per square meter. Infrared film has a maximum power level of 160 W per square meter. There will be no benefit from such a design on the balcony.

If you want to lay laminate flooring on a heated floor on a balcony, it is better to use a cable system, which will effectively heat the surface. The main thing is to comply with the recommended power. According to experts, the choice of system comes down to the electric cable floor. It should cover approximately 70% of the total area. The heated floor on the balcony under the laminate should be provided with an electrical cable system. It is inexpensive, and you can install it yourself.

Tips for choosing

When planning repairs to the loggia, you should decide on the purposes of use. You can set up a gym, a library there, and for some people the room will serve as a storage room. Materials for surface insulation and coating installation should be selected based on this. When purchasing goods, the following criteria are taken into account:

loggia design and size;
glazing type;
degree of insulation;
expected temperature;
possible cost.

READ MORE: What is better to use for heating in a private house - radiators or heated floors
The weight of the floor covering is taken into account when repairing a protruding balcony. Floors must be able to withstand increasing loads. When purchasing, they give preference to durable, moisture-resistant materials that will not crack over time and will not begin to peel off.

The type of room must also be taken into account. For open loggias, it is recommended to use materials that are resistant to changeable weather conditions, temperature changes, and high humidity. Expanded clay, tiles, ceramics, natural or artificial stone are suitable. A self-leveling floor would also be appropriate.

Any floor covering is suitable for installing glazed loggias. They use laminate, lining, thick linoleum. Ceramic tiles will be good if you plan to make a heated surface. Usually, when repairing, the compatibility of materials with “warm floor” systems is taken into account.

Loggia design is another criterion taken into account. The flooring is chosen taking into account the color of the walls, furniture and decorative elements. You can use similar shades or use contrasting colors as the basis for the interior.

Manufacturers offer a wide selection of artificial materials that imitate natural coatings: stone, metals. Today you can buy linoleum or laminate at a low price, which cannot be distinguished at first glance from marble or mahogany. At the same time, building materials have excellent performance characteristics.

When choosing a heated floor, take into account the structural features of the balcony. It is a reinforced concrete slab, which is placed behind the facade of the house. The balcony is highly durable. A typical design is approximately three square meters, so the load should not exceed six hundred kilograms. That is why it is prohibited to install water heating on the balcony.

Film infrared heated floor

The best option is to lay infrared film. It does not affect the load of the structure, is easy to install and convenient to use. It can be used regardless of the floor covering. Installation is carried out in stages, carried out by a specialist or independently.

Prepare the base, lay thermal insulation material with a layer that will reflect heat. For these purposes, special foil is used.
The next step is to install the infrared film and connect the structure to the power supply. Don't forget to check the heated floor for functionality.
The last stage is laying the finishing layer.

Which heated floor for ceramic tiles to choose

Warm floors on the balcony can also be laid under tiles. Heating mats are great for this. They have the form of a fiberglass mesh onto which shielded heating sections are fixed. They are manufactured by connecting the hot and cold parts using the couplingless method. Thanks to this, the system has high reliability.

It makes sense to lay a warm floor on a balcony under tiles if the space is well insulated. Floor installation is carried out in a certain sequence. First, you need to draw up a diagram of the location of the heating mats, then you need to prepare the floor surface and lay thermal insulation. The next step is to create a cement screed and lay heating mats. Electrical wires are connected to the network, and then you can proceed to laying ceramic tiles with special glue. The layer thickness should not exceed 7 mm.