Hanging balcony on the 2nd floor. Balcony on the first floor - everything you need to know about construction. Doors, frames, shelves - which options to choose?

02.11.2019

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Do you live on the 1st floor of an apartment building? Congratulations to you! After all, this floor has a number of advantages. You won’t drown the neighbors below with your own hands, they won’t complain about your noisy party. And for the future, to open a private business, you have ready-made office space. But there is another side to the coin.

Dale Carnegie said, “If you get a lemon, make lemonade.”

You can do the same. If the balconies of the upper floors are the same and of the same type, then residents of the first floor can create unique and unique loggias and balconies with their own hands. After all, this is not only an area fenced with railings where you can go out to get some air. This is perspective! Let's look at how to make a balcony with your own hands and use the extension as efficiently as possible.

A self-built balcony, the photo clearly demonstrates the good taste of the owner. The facing masonry of the building is a real decoration.

How can you use the attached balcony?

combine the balcony and the room, thereby expanding the area of the apartment;
make an extension in the form of, although not large, but a room;
construct a summer veranda;
construction together with a cellar;
place cabinets on a makeshift balcony and free up space in the apartment.

Where are balconies built?

On the first floor.
On the second floor.
On floors above the second.

Installing a balcony above the first floor is permissible only if there is a project for reconstruction or construction. The design of a balcony on the ground floor is also mandatory for at least two reasons: this is the only way to legitimize the square meters of the extension, and also to guarantee the safety of the balcony or loggia.

DIY balcony design.

Construction on an independent foundation.
Slab on cantilever beams.
A slab cantilevered into a wall.
Plate on brackets.
Balcony supported by a wall and columns.
Extended balcony.

Let's take a closer look at how to make a balcony with your own hands on a foundation.

When the design work is completed and permission has been received, the construction of a balcony on the first floor must begin with some technological research. If we are building a balcony with our own hands from scratch on a strip foundation, then we should clarify two aspects:

Soil freezing depth.
Ground water level.

The first aspect must be known to determine the depth of the foundation. Although the extension is a relatively light structure and shallow strip foundations are used for it, the foundation must be below the freezing level of the soil. Otherwise, when the soil freezes, it will move the foundation and the entire balcony, which will lead to cracks in the extension. Believe me, frost heaving of the soil has enormous power!

The second aspect comes from the first. Knowing the required depth for laying the foundation of the extension, we compare it with the groundwater level. If the foundation extends into a humid environment, it is necessary to make high-quality waterproofing.

The extension of the balcony on the first floor begins with the construction of the foundation. And the first thing we do is markup. For this we need:

pegs;
cord;
square;
nails;
boards;
dye.

Sequence of work on marking the foundation.

We mark the location of the foundation using a square and a cord.
We mark the axes of the extension foundations with pegs.
We fix the boards in the alignment of the walls and pull the cord of the foundation dimensions.
On the base of the house we mark with paint the axis and dimensions of the foundation of the extension.
We remove the cord and begin excavation work.

The foundation of the balcony can be made monolithic, but this requires the construction of formwork. Or you can use standard foundation blocks of minimal cross-section. Their dimensions are 2400×600×300 mm. The blocks do not contain reinforcement and are easily cut to the desired size using a grinder with a diamond wheel.

Advice: measure the diagonals of the building's foundation rectangle along the axes. If the diagonals are equal, right angles are constructed accurately.

Another option is a suspended balcony on the first floor. The supporting structure is the brackets. Particular attention should be paid to attaching the extension frame to the wall of an apartment building.

Important! The frame of suspended or curtained balconies must be welded into a solid structure and secured to the house with metal anchors of at least 20 cm over the entire height. Secure the top of the frame with studs through the wall.

The advantage of this project is that it is cheaper than the option on a foundation and is suitable for construction on any floor. Disadvantage - there is no possibility to make a cellar under a balcony or loggia.

Canopy balcony on the first floor in the process of being manufactured. Next, vertical posts will connect it to the roof.

The addition of a balcony on the first floor is radically different from the one on the 2nd floor. In the previous version, the building stands on a foundation. It is now a cantilevered extension that hangs in the space. Therefore, the reliability of the design and adherence to the technology of making a balcony with your own hands is, without exaggeration, of vital importance.

Installation of a balcony above the first floor

Material for making the extension:

channel No. 10 or No. 12;
fittings Ø 12mm;
knitting wire;
concrete (cement, crushed stone, coarse sand);
boards or plywood panels for formwork;
pipes or logs for supports;
brick for racks;
spatulas, trowels;
welding machine;
vibrator for concrete.

Extension of a balcony on load-bearing channels. The entire frame is tied into a single structure.

1. We insert the load-bearing elements of the building - channels into the wall with a pitch of no more than 2 m. The channels, at least two, must be positioned so that the walls are the side edges of the balcony slab.

Note: channel - a metal profile that represents the letter “P” in cross-section. Consists of a wall and two shelves directed in one direction. It is necessary to install with a vertical wall position. In this position, the channel has the greatest rigidity and load-bearing capacity.

2. We make a reinforcing mesh from reinforcement bars Ø 12 mm and a pitch of 100 mm. We fix the mesh rods with knitting wire. We lay the finished mesh on top of the channels.

3. The same mesh must be attached below. You can fix it with the same knitting wire to the top mesh and channels.

Note: fastening the mesh reinforcement with wire is the best quality option. The use of welding is allowed, but only on the condition that there is no reduction in the cross-section of the reinforcement during the welding process.

4. Install the formwork for the bottom of the building slab using boards or plywood panels.

Important! The formwork should not directly touch the reinforcing mesh. A protective layer of concrete of at least 20 mm should be formed between them. Otherwise, due to the influence of moisture and air, corrosion will actively destroy the reinforcement.

5. We strengthen the formwork with racks made of pipes or wooden logs.

6. Pour concrete into the formwork. We lay concrete using a vibrator. Otherwise, air cavities may remain in the concrete, which will significantly weaken the slab. Tapping the formwork and tamping concrete manually does not give such a high-quality result as vibrolaying.

7. When the concrete hardens, we make permanent supports for the balcony from the ground or diagonal supports on the wall.

You can also build a balcony in place of the old one. The photo shows how you can increase the area by making a balcony with an extension.

This is how to properly build an extension with a gas pipe with your own hands.

How to legalize a balcony?

Making balconies with your own hands, regardless of the floor, is allowed only on the basis of the project. Therefore, we will consider the necessary steps that must be taken before starting construction.

First, to clarify the situation, contact the city architectural department. Perhaps your house is an architectural monument and the issue of approving the construction of a balcony will no longer be necessary. There are also restrictions that are individual for each city and they should be clarified.

Next, you need to submit an application to an organization that has a license for the appropriate type of design work with an application to design a balcony. As a result of visiting these two authorities, you will have a list of documents that should be prepared before construction begins.

We invite you to watch how to build a balcony with your own hands; the video shows many important points. You can start making an extension only by following the advice of the specialists shown in the video.

If you have planned to renovate and glaze your balcony, then it’s time to think about increasing its usable area by removing it. To do this, you can use the following techniques:

Increasing the floor area along the slab (usually up to 50 cm).
Carrying out removal along the windowsill (usually up to 40-50 cm). In this case, the installed glazing frame is moved this distance outside the balcony.
Simultaneously increasing the floor area and carrying out the removal along the window sill.

Having certain knowledge and skills, it is quite possible to arrange a balcony with a take-out with your own hands.

Advantages of remote balconies

Significant expansion of the balcony space by increasing the area of the existing floor.
Getting a wide window sill, without compromising the original area of the balcony.
Giving an original and unique appearance.
Providing good illumination due to the large glass area.
Strengthening the power structures of the balcony.

Work order

Project preparation

At this stage, the necessary calculations are made, all space-planning solutions and design features of the balcony with extension are determined:

dimensions;
floor and roof structure;
number and type of window blocks;
insulation methods;
lighting and heating solutions (if necessary);
methods of interior decoration.

Welding work

The main purpose of this stage is to create and strengthen the frame. For the first floors, removing the balcony is much easier. At the same time, piles are installed to strengthen the reconstructed balcony. For the upper floors, with the help of welding and special additional metal structures, it is necessary to transfer the weight of the balcony slab to the supporting (load-bearing) wall of the house. This will be done with the help of additional reinforcement fixed to the load-bearing wall of the house.

To obtain a reliable and durable structure, welding work on the frame of the reconstructed balcony should be entrusted to professional welders. You should also take care of the anti-corrosion protection of metal structures.

Next, you should install the roof in accordance with the design solutions. It is preferable to use quieter roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles. This will allow, taking into account the significant increase in roof area, to avoid excessive noise produced by raindrops. Otherwise, for example, when using metal tiles, in addition to insulating the roof, you will have to solve issues of its sound insulation.

Glazing

During glazing, custom-made windows are installed with the installation of additional elements: canopy and drip sill. Using a canopy installed at an angle from the outside helps protect the space above the window from moisture. The drip sill is mounted outside at the bottom of the window and performs a similar function.

The most popular solution is the use of metal-plastic windows. If necessary, sliding windows can be installed.

The use of multi-chamber profiles (for example, 5-chamber) and double-glazed windows will reduce noise, reduce heat loss and obtain the so-called “warm glazing”.

Insulation and ventilation

After completing the installation of windows, you can begin sealing and insulating the balcony. It is important to provide for ventilation. Insulating the balcony allows you to improve the microclimate and turn it into an additional room. Depending on preferences, polystyrene foam or mineral wool are usually used as insulation.

In order for the balcony to be used year-round, it is necessary to provide heating. Due to the current ban in many countries on placing central heating radiators on balconies (according to building codes), you will have to install an electric radiator or heated floors.

Making the floor

Creating a warm and reliable floor is an important element in creating a comfortable atmosphere on your balcony. If you decide to install a “warm floor” system, you will need to consult with a specialist to choose the right implementation option: cable heating, heating mats or infrared film floors.

The selected flooring should be easy to maintain and harmoniously combine with all other design elements.

Interior decoration

At the interior finishing stage, the installation of electrical wiring and selected lamps is carried out, as well as the installation of electrical switches and sockets (if necessary). In addition, the walls are finished in accordance with the color scheme that you prefer.

A well-implemented reconstruction of a balcony with an extension will allow you not only to significantly increase the area, but also to make it more functional, convenient and aesthetically pleasing. Selection of high-quality materials and adherence to the technology of their use will help extend the useful life of your balcony until the next repair.

Video

Below you can see instructions for making your own balcony extension:

Photo

Residents of the first floors of typical high-rise buildings face two problems: the small area of the apartment and the lack of a balcony. You can deal with both by building a balcony extension yourself.

Recently, the addition of balconies on the first or second floor is rapidly gaining popularity. Of course, this will not only increase the area of the apartment, but will also increase the value of the property. How to make such a balcony with your own hands will be discussed in this article.

Methods for extending a balcony

There are two main ways to add a balcony from scratch:

Hanging type - suitable for construction not only on the first, but also on the second floors.
Adjacent type - a do-it-yourself extension is possible only on the 1st floor, as it requires the construction of a separate foundation.

You can make an extension of such a balcony on stilts with your own hands

How the extension and installation of the balcony will be carried out is something everyone chooses based on their personal capabilities, but any expansion of living space, including the construction of a balcony with their own hands, must be agreed upon by the relevant authorities. Permission to build balconies with your own hands on the ground floor and above can be obtained after submitting an official, technically competent project for the future balcony to the architectural department and the district administration.

Important: To draw up drawings and calculations for adding a balcony, it is better to contact a qualified specialist, providing him with your sketches. And the relevant authorities will accept the project the first time and issue a work permit.

Unauthorized extension of a balcony on the 1st and 2nd floors without approval may entail not only fines and difficulties with the sale of the apartment, but also a requirement for the demolition of an expensive structure.

Extension of a hanging balcony

This type of extension is actively used on the 1st floor. Extension of a balcony with your own hands, the photo below shows it, even higher is possible.

Hinged type of balcony extension on the 2nd floor

As a rule, a new balcony installed with your own hands exceeds the dimensions of standard structures, since it is often mounted with an extension, and this requires the installation of a suspended roof. Metal corners should be attached to the wall - their pitch and size are smaller than those lying at the base. A layer of hydro- and vapor barrier is applied to them, and then a wooden sheathing is attached. The finished frame is covered with roofing material.

Using welding, we attach metal vertical posts and a horizontal beam (at the height of the future glazing) at the corners of the frame; it should be connected to the base with vertical elements, observing a step of 40-60 cm.

This is what the frame for a do-it-yourself extension looks like

Exterior decoration

When the frame is ready, you can begin glazing and cladding it. Do-it-yourself exterior finishing is done with corrugated sheets or PVC siding.

Built and siding-lined hanging balcony on the first floor

Interior decoration

If the balcony will be used in the cold season, then it is necessary to carry out thermal insulation work: insulate the floor, walls, ceiling.

It is better not to make the structure of a suspended balcony heavier, so light materials should be used for finishing: plasterboard, plastic panels, linoleum, laminate, etc.

Extension of a balcony on the first floor with your own hands

This option allows you to make a balcony of almost any size with your own hands: you can extend it to a sufficiently large width, and stretch it along the length along the entire apartment without affecting the neighbors. The result is a unique glazed terrace.

The construction of a balcony begins with a diagram and subsequent design. Such a balcony is erected on a separate foundation, therefore, in addition to the sketch, it is necessary to calculate the depth of its foundation. To do this, it is better to contact specialists who will determine the type of soil and the depth of its freezing, the groundwater level, etc.

Important: Extension of a balcony on a separate foundation, in contrast to a suspended structure, requires registration of ownership of the site under the building site; without this, a building permit cannot be obtained.

Do-it-yourself foundation construction for an extension

You cannot simply attach a balcony by erecting walls on the ground; you need to prepare a reliable foundation. To do this:

Marking. The foundation of the building must be tightly adjacent to the foundation of the house. An area of the required dimensions is marked, and the correctness of the markings is checked. When the diagonals of the rectangle coincide, pegs are driven into its corners through which the cord is pulled.
Excavation. When digging a pit with your own hands, it is advisable to immediately remove the soil so that the embankment does not interfere with the work, and the place where the work is taking place should be fenced off for safety.
Assembly. Since the load will be relatively small, you can use the narrowest blocks (2400x60x30 cm). The heights of the foundations of the house and the extension must match.
Waterproofing - installed in 2 layers before covering the base. If you plan to build a cellar or basement, then it is necessary to install waterproofing at a height of about 10 cm from ground level and before the ceiling.
Installation of the extension ceiling. Reinforced concrete slabs: length 3-6 m, width 120-180 cm - installed along the wall, resting on the side walls of the foundation. They simultaneously serve as the floor of the future balcony.

Construction of extension walls

You can use brick or aerated concrete as a material for building walls with your own hands. The side walls are laid out to the full height of the extension, and the front part - to the level of the window sill. Laying is carried out in one row.

The balcony project on the first floor can be large-scale

Roof

A wooden frame and sheathing are installed, on which a layer of hydro- and vapor barrier is installed, and then the roofing material is laid. When assembling the roof with your own hands, it is advisable to maintain a slight slope from the wall so that water can drain smoothly.

Preparing the opening

The old window block and window sill are dismantled, and an opening of the appropriate width is made in the wall for the future door.

Important: When dismantling part of the wall with your own hands, do not damage the heating system, which is usually located under the windows in an apartment building. If the radiator is located at the site of the future opening, it should be moved in advance.

The window block must fit tightly into the opening; large gaps are unacceptable. All junction points are carefully filled with polyurethane foam. Then new window sills and drains are installed.

It is better to use two-chamber or three-chamber double-glazed windows. Aluminum sliding structures are suitable for cold balconies.

How to make a balcony in a private house, how to properly arrange its fencing, floor and canopy - you will learn about all this from our article.

Many people like balconies; they give the facade a complete and harmonious look. But besides aesthetics, such an architectural design increases the comfort of living in the house. It gives you the opportunity to go outside, into the fresh air, without leaving the cottage. Often cozy corners for relaxing with the whole family are set up on balconies. If desired, you can make a small winter garden there. Balconies are also used to store some things that do not fit in the house or need to be stored in a cool place.

A balcony can increase the natural light in a room many times over. That is why they are often made in houses with an attic. This architectural structure can be placed on top of the terrace or veranda, which are located on the ground floor. This is also an excellent cost savings, since in this case the floor of the balcony will also serve as a roof for the veranda.

What should a balcony be like and where should it be located?

DIY balcony in a private house It is quite possible to do, but it will require quite a lot of time and money. Remember that this design should not only be beautiful, but also safe, so that it can withstand the weight of several people who will stand on it. So that financial costs and labor are not wasted, you need to think very carefully about where to place the balcony so that you really used it. There are often cases when such a design turns out to be unnecessary simply because it was made in the wrong place. For example, residents only after the construction of a house and its intro for exploitation We realized that the balcony, for example, is located on the side of the neighbor’s yard, and you don’t really want to relax there with your family so that all the neighbors can see you. There are cases when a balcony is located on the front side of the cottage, which faces a noisy road. Therefore, residents practically do not use it, since they do not want to relax while sitting above the highway.

In a word, you need to think very carefully about where a balcony would be appropriate in your home, on which side to place it, so that it really becomes a cozy relaxation corner, and not just an additional place for storing things. A balcony can be made between two walls of the house, which form right angle. In this case, you will get a really very cozy corner; if such a balcony is glazed and heated, you can relax on it even in winter.

Think about what exactly you want to do DIY balcony in a private house. If it will be used, for example, as a place for smoking, so as not to go out into the yard every time, or it will primarily be just a decorative element of the building, it can be made small with a protrusion from the wall of 70-100 cm. If you want a balcony to do for relaxation, keep in mind that you will need to place a small table and chairs there. The projection of such a balcony must be at least 1.5 meters. In this case, it must be supported from below by racks; without this, the structure will be dangerous.

Be sure to consider what material your home is built from. Wooden balconies look amazing, the weight of the wood is very light, it will not add significant load to the cottage foundation. But not always a balcony made of such building material will be appropriate, for example, if the building is built of brick or modern aerated concrete blocks in some fashionable loft, hi-tech or techno style. In this case, the balcony must be made of reinforced concrete with metal railings.

How to make a frame for a future balcony?

Do-it-yourself balconies in private houses are most often made of wood. Heavy reinforced concrete structures require special equipment for their installation. If a wooden balcony is made during the construction of the cottage, then the interfloor beams will become an excellent basis for it. In the place where the balcony is planned, the beams are made long and extended outside the wall to the distance that the future balcony structure should be. To prevent the frame from deforming and collapsing, it is necessary to use beams with a section of 150x80 mm for these purposes. The width of such a wooden balcony can be up to 2 meters.

If the interfloor ceilings in the house are made of reinforced concrete, it will not be possible to move such beams outside. In this case, the balcony structure is made on special supports. To do this, it is necessary to fix a beam on the wall, the cross-section of which must be at least 150x50 mm. It is secured with galvanized metal anchors or consoles. The method of installing the timber is selected depending on what the walls of the house are made of.

After this, a cross beam is attached to the wooden balcony posts. It is on this that all load-bearing beams will rest. The design will be reliable and strong if the cross beam rests on top of the columns; you should not screw it onto the cover. Please note that it should be installed slightly lower than the wall support beam. This is done in order to create a slope of 2-3 degrees from the wall of the house, this will prevent the accumulation of moisture. The balcony area should be located 50 cm lower than the floor in the second floor room. This will prevent moisture from melting snow from entering the house. After this, it is necessary to attach the balcony beams, the cross-section of which is 150x50 mm, to the support beams using corner consoles made of galvanized metal. In this case, the step should be within 500-700 mm.

How to make struts and columns for a balcony?

If desired DIY balconies in private houses You can make not only small ones, but also large ones that can accommodate a table and chairs. But such a structure must be secured with the help of special struts that strengthen the base. We are talking about balconies that will protrude significantly from the wall. Such a brace can be made from a strong beam, which must be cut into the outer beams and made to rest against the embedded elements of the wall. The wooden brace is made in the form of a right triangle. In this case, one of its legs will be located on the facade of the house, it is attached with anchors, and the other must be securely screwed to the beams of the balcony platform. Forged metal struts are very durable and beautiful. They are perfect for almost any wooden balcony structure.

If you want to make a large balcony using a beam-and-post system, its outer part must be supported with pillars. Like struts, there must be at least two such pillars. But if the balcony structure is large, they are made even larger to make it safe and strong. Columns supporting a large balcony must be placed on a columnar foundation. Only in this case can their subsidence be prevented. The ideal option is if such a base for the columns is poured simultaneously with the foundation structure of the entire building. She must be one with her. Only in this case will any distortions be completely eliminated.

If you want to learn how to make a balcony in a private house built of wood, remember that the best option is to simultaneously build a balcony structure and the entire cottage. Wood shrinks significantly; if you first remove the walls and roof, and then begin to attach a balcony to the house, which rests on columns, there is a high probability that the entire structure will warp due to shrinkage, and gaps will form between the wall and the balcony.

To make strong wooden columns, you need dry timber with a cross-section of 100x100 mm. They are fixed strictly vertically. To do this, you can use auxiliary struts, which are removed after the balcony frame is fully assembled. You can attach wooden columns to the foundation using box-shaped consoles for mounting racks, which were previously walled up in concrete. You can also use corners for secure fastening. But the best way is still box-shaped consoles; their size is chosen depending on the cross-section of the beam. To completely eliminate the lateral vibrations of the columns, you can make inclined braces that will support them. Such additional fastenings are necessary if the balcony is very large and heavy.

What to make a durable balcony floor from?

Terrace boards are very popular now. This modern material is made from wood fiber and plastic. It looks exactly the same as wood. This board is easy and quick to cut and process. The surface of this material is polished and imitates beautiful wood species. It is best to purchase a decking board that has hidden fasteners, in which case the floor will be perfectly smooth and aesthetically pleasing.

This board is good because it is not afraid of moisture at all, it will never crack, bark beetles or mold will not grow in it. It does not need to be hidden with varnish, paints or antifungal treatment. But it is quite possible to make the flooring from ordinary wooden boards. In order for them to serve for a long time, they must be pre-treated with antifungal impregnations and then hidden with varnish or paint. Please note that these materials must be designed for outdoor use and for use in high humidity conditions.

How to make a balcony fence?

Balcony railings are not just decoration, they must be very reliable and strong so that you can lean on them without fear of falling. If the entire balcony is made of wood, then the fencing is most often also made of wood, but in some cases wrought iron is quite suitable. Remember that the balcony railings must be combined with the overall architecture of the building. For example, a wooden carved fence will look out of place in a house whose facade is covered with plastic panels, or in the case where the cottage is built in a modern minimalist, hi-tech or the like style. The best option for such houses would be fences made of metal.

If you are interested in how to make a balcony in a private house with wooden railings, you will learn more about this in our article. The fence posts are attached to the load-bearing beams using a tenon connection. You can also use self-tapping studs. To securely attach all the balustrade posts, corners, metal struts, and brackets are used. Safety standards require that the balcony railings can withstand a horizontal load of 100 kg/m. To do this, the distance between the posts and other elements of the railing is made at least 10-12 cm, so that even small children cannot get through them. Regardless of the material from which the balcony railing is made, its height should be at least 1 meter, and even better though would be 1.2 meters. Only such railings will be truly reliable.

How to make a good canopy for a balcony?

This design is not required; some customers when developing individual house project on the contrary, they ask that the balcony be made completely open without a canopy. But if you want to relax there in any weather, even on a hot summer day, it is better to make a canopy. In this case, you will be able to be on the balcony, even if there is light rain outside without strong wind. The canopy will protect the furniture you place on the balcony from rain, snow, and scorching rays of the sun. Thanks to this design, it will be possible to dry things there on a rainy day, when this cannot be done in the yard. In a word, the canopy will make the balcony even more comfortable and functional.

Often a balcony is made directly under the roof of the house, in which case it will act as a canopy. If you are wondering how to make just such a balcony with your own hands in a private house, the photo will help you figure it out.

But it is quite possible to make a canopy independent of the roof. To do this, a support board is attached to the load-bearing wall, to which the rafters are mounted. The front part of the canopy must be supported by struts that extend from the wall. You can also make a support on pillars, which can be balcony columns protruding beyond the level of the platform.

It is advisable to cover the balcony canopy with the same roofing material as the roof of the building. In this case, the overall look will be truly harmonious. It is quite possible to do without installing a durable canopy. There are fabric or PVC awnings, they require a lightweight frame. There are summer models of such canopies; they need to be removed for the winter so that they do not tear from strong winds and the weight of snow.

How to choose a protective coating for balcony structures?

In order for all the structural elements of your balcony to serve for many years and maintain its aesthetic appearance, they must be protected from the effects of climatic factors. Remember that the balcony is located outside, so it must withstand heavy rain, hail, snowfall, strong winds and scorching sun, while remaining durable, reliable and beautiful. Alkyd-urethane varnishes are currently considered the best for outdoor work. When they harden, an elastic, heavy-duty film is obtained that is resistant to absolutely any atmospheric influences.

Remember that varnish or paint, as well as impregnation and primer, must be selected from the same manufacturer so that their composition is compatible with each other. Wooden balcony structures are treated with putty, sealing all cracks. After it dries, the layer is sanded, making it perfectly smooth. After this, a special primer is applied, which will ensure excellent adhesion of the subsequent layer of material. There are tinting impregnations that can make wood darker and emphasize its beauty. They are used if a special varnish is applied on top instead of paint.

The finishing process of all wooden balcony structures is carried out in several stages. To begin, apply the first layer of paint or varnish using a sprayer or brush. After it dries, you need to sand it using a fine abrasive. After this, a second layer is applied, which, thanks to sanding, will look perfectly smooth and the color will be rich. Metal structures also need to be coated with special paint, which is intended specifically for this material and for outdoor use. They are pre-treated with primers, which prevent the formation of rust and ensure excellent adhesion of the paint layer and metal.

Many homeowners, soon after purchasing or building their homes, have a desire to make their home even more convenient and comfortable. For example, equip a balcony on the second floor.

In general, the work plan will be as follows:

Consideration and selection of possible design solutions;
Design;
Construction works;
Preparation of documentation for the house.

There can be several options for equipping a balcony on the second floor of a detached house:

Installation of a balcony on a platform fixed to the wall on the second floor with brackets;
Extension of a balcony on the extensions of the interfloor floor beams;
Extension of a balcony on separate supports (pillars) not connected to the walls of the house;
Extension of a balcony as an upper room on the outbuilding. This option includes double balconies - simultaneously on the first and second floors.

The choice of possible solutions depends on the characteristics of the building structures of the house and the preferences of the owner.

To determine the capabilities of the load-bearing walls of a house, it is best to contact specialists from construction companies. But you can make a preliminary assessment yourself. The evaluation criteria will be:

Material and thickness of load-bearing walls;
Age of construction;
Condition of building elements.

After inspecting the house, studying the design documentation, if any, and the technical passport, one can draw one of the following conclusions:

1 If the house is built of brick, the wall thickness is at least 50 cm (two standard bricks), there is no destruction of the masonry, the foundation is without damage, then on the second floor you can attach a balcony of any of the above structures;
2 If the walls of the house are built from timber measuring at least 20x20 cm, the house is no more than 15-20 years old, the timber is not damaged by grinding insects, the interfloor ceilings are in excellent condition, made of beams or boards, with a cross-section of at least 20x10 cm, foundation is not damaged, then an extension is possible on the extensions of the interfloor beams. Options with separate support pillars and an outbuilding are also relevant. It is advisable to make the same decision if the house is built from foam concrete or aerated concrete blocks;
3 In a house with lightweight frame walls, as well as in the case of walls made of slag-cast (expanded clay concrete) blocks, it is possible to add a balcony on the second floor only using schemes with separate support pillars or additional rooms on their own foundation (outbuildings or verandas).

After choosing an option, you need to make a drawing of the future balcony or the entire structure and calculate the required amount of materials. If there is no construction experience, then it is better to order a project from a specialized organization.

To facilitate further arrangement of access to the balcony, it is necessary to design its location where there is already a window opening on the second floor. Another excellent solution would be to add a porch and install a balcony supported by its roof.

Important! Before starting construction or installation work, you need to coordinate the redevelopment of the house with control authorities, such as the city architectural department or the housing inspection. It is possible that additional requirements for appearance will be imposed if the house is located with a facade on the red line of the street. In the future, the approval procedure will help to avoid difficulties with registering changes in documents for the house.

Tools, accessories and materials

General list of basic tools required for installation of an additional balcony on the second floor:

Standard carpenter's set: hacksaws, axes, plane, hammer, chisels, pliers;
Measuring and marking tools: building level, plumb line, squares, tape measure, metal rulers of different sizes, markers and pencils;
Power tools: drill with drills for metal, wood and concrete, screwdriver, angle grinder (grinder) with a set of cutting wheels for metal;
Wrenches for working with threaded connections.

If the project involves the installation of metal brackets or working with metal, then you will need a welding inverter, electrodes and welding tools - a mask, clamps, brushes with metal bristles.

To construct structures with separate support pillars or a separate foundation, a concrete mixer and excavation tools should be included in the list of required tools.

The list and quantity of required materials depends on the chosen option and will approximately include:

Lumber, quantity and type depend on the size of the balcony;
Metal profiles - corners, channels, rectangular pipes;
Wooden, concrete or metal poles (pipes) for support;
Screws (self-tapping screws), connecting threaded rods, nails;
Electrodes for welding metal structures;
Cement, construction sand and small crushed stone for installing support pillars;
Paints and varnishes.

General installation procedure

For a balcony on brackets:

For a balcony on supporting pillars:

Important! A balcony can only be built against a wall perpendicular to the interfloor beams;

For a balcony on the continuation of the floor beams:

Balconies on the roofs of outbuildings and porches are easier to install; it is enough to dismantle the roof, replace the rafters with stronger ones if necessary, and attach the subfloor of the balcony to them. After these steps, the installation of fencing, finishing and installation of the balcony door on the second floor is carried out.