The Choice Of Materials And Technologies For Decorating Walls On The Balcony With Your Own Hands

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 22:24

• How to get started?
• Do you need waterproofing?
• What is usually used to decorate a balcony?
• Drywall
• Plastic or vinyl panels
• Siding
• MDF panels
• Lining
• Decorative rock
• Fake diamond

Decorating the walls on the balcony is a topical issue if you are going to improve, insulate, make it comfortable and beautiful. There are many ways to refine your curtain wall, especially if you are going to glaze it. You will have a choice not only between design solutions, but also the question of what material to pay attention to in terms of practicality and price.

How to get started?

Decorating the walls of the balcony is not a primary task: the fact is that until the structure is glazed, it can only be painted, since the finishing materials that are not insulated from moisture will quickly become covered with fungus and become unusable. In order for the balcony to become useful and pleasing to the eye, it is worth starting with glazing.

There are many options for this: for example, you can use inexpensive cold glazing, which will not allow you to make the structure warm, but can give it a pleasant appearance and protect it from wind and precipitation. You can install more expensive warm glazing, which will make the balcony or loggia suitable for permanent residence, it will be possible to conduct heating on them. It all depends on how you are going to use the structure and how much money you are willing to spend on its improvement.

Do you need waterproofing?

The finishing of the walls of the balcony cannot be done if the structure is not reliably waterproofed. To do this, you will need to eliminate all the cracks, as well as seal all joints and small cracks with a sealant. If there are large gaps, polyurethane foam is used against them. However, the foam needs protection, as it is afraid of ultraviolet radiation; it will not hurt to use plastic shields or sealant.

Decorating the walls of a loggia or balcony not only gives the structure a decorative look, but also hides the insulation under it. Without insulation, the walls will be cold, the heat will begin to pass into the street, the sound insulation will become worse. Therefore, if you decide to start finishing the hinged structure, then you should think in advance about its insulation.

Advice: inexpensive and easy-to-install insulation when decorating a balcony - the use of foam: the material insulates heat well, practically does not allow air to pass through, it is easily cut and fixed in the right place. Its only drawback is the release of harmful gas during combustion, but this should be feared only in case of fire.

Other options for insulation can also be applied: for example, it can be mineral or glass wool. Such materials are produced in a soft form, so they are more difficult to install, but they do not burn, do not smoke in a fire. The downside is the fear of moisture.

Materials for decorating the walls of the loggia, suitable as insulation, are not limited to this. One of the highest quality, but also expensive solutions is the use of penoplex. Outwardly, it looks like polystyrene, but it does not have its disadvantages: its thickness is less, while the insulating properties are higher.

What is usually used to decorate a balcony?

After the insulation and glazing have been completed, you can proceed to finishing the balcony from the inside: for this, the construction market offers a large number of different materials. They all have different technical properties, external characteristics, differ in cost. Thinking about how to decorate the walls of the balcony, you should familiarize yourself with the most popular options that are used for these purposes.

Drywall

Drywall sheets require wood or metal sheathing. As a rule, it is also needed to fasten the insulation, so you will already have a frame. The advantages of such a material lie in its affordability, a smooth, flat surface that is easy to fine-tune. Drywall is an environmentally friendly material, it does not burn, does not emit harmful substances, is easy to install, and is lightweight.

The downside of this material is its fragility: it does not tolerate noticeable mechanical stress, from which it breaks or crumbles. In addition, the material does not like moisture, it is capable of destroying the drywall sheet. If the balcony is not insulated from moisture or poorly insulated, it is not recommended to use even moisture-resistant drywall, as it will be destroyed by low temperatures.

Plastic or vinyl panels

This is a convenient solution for those who need quick wall finishing on a loggia or balcony. The material is very quickly and easily mounted, for this you first need to make a crate. The panels easily endure both high and low temperatures and have an attractive appearance. The buyer will be able to choose among a large number of patterns and patterns, but it is worth remembering that the pattern on the panels does not tolerate ultraviolet radiation well, so you should not choose this type of finish if your balcony faces the south side. Vinyl, like plastic, is easy to saw, this material is flexible enough, so it does not break under mechanical stress, in addition, it is not afraid of moisture, does not rot, does not undergo fungal attacks, but melts at high temperatures, emitting an unpleasant odor.

Siding

It is one of the most expensive but practical materials. It is durable, has high mechanical resistance, does not burn, is not afraid of moisture, temperature changes, has a rich color gamut, but it should be protected from direct sunlight. Installation of siding is quite simple, does not require complex actions, therefore it is quite available for independent implementation.

MDF panels

Choosing the best way to finish the balcony, you can pay attention to the MDF panels: this is an analogue of fiberboard, only more durable and of higher quality. The material can have a different design, which makes the appearance quite attractive. It is easy to install, the surface is flat, but the material does not tolerate moisture and low temperatures, in addition, it has the ability to burn.

Lining

Wall decoration on the balcony with clapboard is highly popular. This material is not the most expensive, it has an attractive appearance, like any natural wood. The lining does not need to be processed additionally, that is, you will no longer need a finishing finish: the room will have a peculiar appearance. Boards keep heat well and can become additional insulation.

It's easy to mount this material. Most often, for the manufacture of lining, conifers are used as the most affordable, attractive in appearance. Larch lining is more expensive, but it is much superior to coniferous in terms of technical characteristics.

Decorative rock

Such materials for decorating the walls of the loggia are quite original and are rarely used. It is not the cheapest material, but it is practically devoid of disadvantages. The stone has a strong structure, tolerates mechanical stress without problems, does not fade, is not afraid of moisture, temperature changes and other negative environmental influences. External appeal will turn the balcony into a work of art. The disadvantages include only the high price and a decent mass of material.

Tip: if you want to decorate the balcony with stone, but natural material does not suit you due to its high cost and large mass, you can get out of the situation using an artificial analogue. It will cost much less, while it will weigh less, it is more convenient to work with it, and the price will pleasantly please.

Fake diamond

It is well suited for finishing hinged structures, in contrast to natural, as it has a low weight. The outer side of such a material is embossed and completely repeats the structure of natural stone, the back is smooth, like that of a tile, which makes it easy to install; installation does not require insulating the structure, since the stone does not freeze.

A cladding of such a plan helps to hide the unevenness of the wall, you do not have to level it, and the same shape of the tiles will save time, you do not have to select stones of suitable shape to assemble the mosaic. Therefore, when deciding what is the best way to decorate the balcony with artificial or natural stone, it is better to make the choice towards an artificial analogue. Natural stone is best used for finishing the basement of a building or steps.

Conclusion: when studying what kind of balcony decoration is, which is better, it is quite difficult to decide right away. First of all, you need to understand what exactly you want in terms of design, and then select the material according to the technical characteristics and cost available to you.

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