Increasing the living space of an apartment due to a balcony or loggia is increasingly gaining momentum, so you need to know for which types of work it is necessary to obtain permission and approvals, and for which it is unnecessary.
In this article, we will look at what redevelopment is and how to obtain permission to redevelop a balcony or loggia.
Is it possible to make a balcony if there is none?
A balcony is an additional room that can be used for your own purposes. Unfortunately, not everyone has one. Some residential buildings do not have balconies on the first and second floors. This fact is quite confusing for residents, since a loggia or balcony is an additional usable area. On its territory you can store canned goods, bicycles, tools and much more that the household should have at hand; it is not accepted on a code day. Some even set up a gym, office or winter garden. Is it possible to make a balcony if there is none?
It should be noted that for the manufacture of a balcony you will need permission from the relevant authorities.
If you do not get it, then quite serious problems may arise, the least of which is the demolition of the entire structure. Unauthorized extensions to these structures in multi-story buildings are prohibited.
Before adding a balcony to your apartment, you must obtain permission from the relevant organizations
In order to make a balcony, you will need the following documents and permits:
Ownership of the apartment; Plan of the apartment and adjacent area (BTI); Permit document from housing and communal services; Written consent of residents who live next door; Redevelopment project; Permission from the utility service, department of architecture.
If possible, it is better to contact a notary who will be able to collect all the documentation in a short period of time. An independent procedure will take a lot of time.
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Balcony door for my friend
Friends and acquaintances often turn to me for advice on glazing apartments and houses. This time I was selecting glazing options for my friend’s apartment. And if everything with the windows was clear and simple, then we didn’t manage to choose a balcony door right away.
The stereotype of “transparent top, white bottom” turned out to be so tenacious that I had to spend a lot of effort to convince her to consider different options. In the end, a completely glass door without lintels was chosen. Her friend now admires her, and her guests are surprised, “Was it really possible?” There is much more light, and the small kitchen looks more spacious!
But I would like to start not with door options, but with the legal side of the issue, which apartment owners forget about. When replacing balcony doors, there is often a temptation to change their shape and/or size. Make the opening wider, remove the window sill block and combine the balcony with the room. So, this is all considered a redevelopment and it is far from a fact that it will be allowed.
So, what not to do:
You can, if you can get permission:
You can without permission:
The friend did not want to deal with permission for redevelopment and immediately refused the sliding door. But, for the sake of completeness, I will tell you about all possible configurations of balcony doors.
How to make a balcony in an apartment: real photos
The easiest way is to contact notaries; they will quickly collect all the necessary documents, not forgetting about the little things.
How to create a project
Without a project, you will not succeed in any construction. First of all, draw a sketch of the future extension. You can already calculate materials using it. It is important to fit the design in such a way as not to disfigure the appearance of the building and take into account all the needs. It is better if you contact an architect or builder, since mistakes in this matter can be quite expensive, both in terms of materials and time. But now there are excellent programs that give an idea of the construction in full. What is important is the appearance, the strength of the selected materials, and well-chosen dimensions.
Selecting materials for finishing walls, floors and ceilings
Now there are a lot of materials that are used to cover walls during the repair of balconies and loggias. It is not difficult to decorate the inside of a balcony with your own hands using any of them; the owner of the house can purchase any of the materials mentioned below.
Fiberboard or PVC panels are common, as are oriented strand board and plasterboard.
Among natural materials, it is worth mentioning wooden lining.
The lining has excellent environmental characteristics, it is easy to work with, and this finish will retain its appearance for a long time. And, of course, she looks great.
You can start installing it from any selected corner of the loggia, with the very first element being installed using a level. Following this, subsequent panels are placed so that they fit into the groove of the previous ones, so finishing the balcony with clapboards with your own hands is done simply.
There are also a lot of materials on the market for flooring. You can build a plank floor, cover it with laminate or linoleum, or lay ceramic tiles. The choice depends on the financial capabilities and design requirements of the homeowner.
The ceiling can be finished with PVC panels or the natural material described above - clapboard. In addition, you can install a suspended ceiling. Standard whitewashing is also a completely acceptable option.
The use of PVC panels is a very practical option, which at the same time leaves room for design delights, since these elements can not only be given any color, but also products similar in appearance to marble, stone or wood can be purchased.
When installing the covering on the ceiling, it is important to ensure that in its finished form it does not interfere with opening the balcony window.
Balcony options
Methods for attaching a balcony:
If you decide to build a balcony yourself, it is best to use extensions or brackets.
There are already ready-made and made balcony frames; they just need to be welded to the wall. Be sure to decorate your balcony with aesthetic decorative elements.
You can make a foundation under an attached balcony, this can really expand the area (the structure is safer than a suspended one).
First, the foundation itself is built. A pit is dug under it, into which blocks for the foundation will then be installed. The depth of the pit is best calculated by a professional; it is important to calculate the level of soil freezing. The depth of the foundation itself should not exceed this parameter. The height of the foundation and the future balcony must correspond to each other. From a decorative point of view, you need to combine the balcony and the building.
Then the brickwork is erected, which will be the main walls of the extension. Try to do this as close to the facade as possible. The extension must comply with waterproofing standards. It is better to carry out double waterproofing. It is important to protect the extension from groundwater and high humidity levels. The roof usually coincides with the slab of the upper floor, or is made independent. The entire structure must be insulated and glazed. It is very fashionable now to use panoramic glazing. Cold and warm glazing is suitable for such a balcony; for additional comfort, you can install radiators or electric heaters. Don't forget to tidy up your balcony externally. Think over the design and additional elements.
Window-balcony
This is a new design trend, quite attractive and simple. This design has several provisions. For example, an ordinary-looking window can easily be converted into a small balcony with handrails. Well suited for a country house. Can be used as an emergency exit.
how to change floors in a room with furniture
But, unfortunately, this Danish development has not yet caught on with us.
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When buying an apartment, buyers usually pay the least attention to the balcony. However, an apartment without a balcony is much less attractive than an apartment with a balcony. Almost all prestigious apartments are designed with a balcony or loggia. In new buildings from FSK Leader, the loggias are also glazed. As a result, the facade of the house looks much more beautiful and neater than in houses where each apartment owner does the glazing of balconies independently.
If you decide to buy an apartment in Tushino from FSK Leader, you won’t have to worry about glazing the loggia.
But there are quite a large number of apartments without balconies. Mainly in Khrushchev-era, Stalin-era, residential buildings, which were originally built as dormitories. There may not be a balcony in a private house.
Tips for choosing balcony doors
A few more recommendations to help make a comfortable and safe balcony door:
Photo: for your balcony door, choose a double-sided handle with a key-locking hardware, for example, Roto NT. Double-sided handles, unlike external opening handles, are available in different colors, © Roto Often, small children, while playing, cover their mother, who is hanging up the laundry. It will be very difficult to break into a closed door to get into the apartment. A simple balcony handle, which is recommended by managers of window companies, in this situation is not a helper, but a pest.
If you feel sorry for 2000 rubles when buying a door, imagine that you are locked on the balcony, and your one-year-old baby is alone in the apartment. Believe me, if you ever find yourself in such a situation, you won’t mind 10,000, but you won’t be able to make a beautiful handle on both sides, so order it right away. Please note that this option is not provided in economy accessories.
Balcony door with Roto* fittings
Balcony – budget square meters
For residents of private houses, the easiest way to resolve the issue is with a balcony. True, it’s the lack of a balcony that usually worries them the least. But apartment owners are usually very partial to the balcony issue. Most older apartments are modest in size, and even a few extra square meters can be a welcome addition.
The area of the apartment can be increased in two ways:
Adding a balcony is the most budget option. At least that's what it seems like. In fact, in some cases it is quite simple to add a balcony, but in others it is impossible.
Types of sliding doors
Photo: parallel-sliding model Patio Alversa PS – it does not have a folding sash position, but there is slot ventilation, © Roto
Photo: it does not have a folding position for ventilation, but the Inowa has a flat threshold, unlike the Alversa - it will not be difficult to roll out, for example, a baby stroller onto the balcony, © Roto
In Roto Patio Fold accordion doors, one or two leaves work like a regular door - they can open or fold back for ventilation. And if necessary, the doors can easily be folded and parked against one wall, completely opening the opening.
Photo: add a flat threshold and get the perfect balcony door, © Roto
How to add a balcony and is it worth it?
If you want to add a balcony, you will have to start by collecting documents and developing a project. You will need:
If the house is located in the historical part of the city or is of historical value, it will most likely not be possible to obtain the necessary permits. But with high-rise buildings in residential areas, there are usually no special problems.
You need to be prepared for the fact that adding a balcony is a rather lengthy process and quite complex from a technical point of view.
The design of a balcony should be carried out by a competent specialist. The attached balcony does not create a load on the building's load-bearing structure. But, like any extension, it can provoke improper shrinkage of the foundation.
Balconies are not always supported by a foundation or even columns. Firstly, important communications may be located under the balcony; in this case, permission to construct the foundation will not be obtained. Secondly, the balcony can be located not only at the level of the first or second floor, and there can be no question of any supports. There are several ways to attach a balcony, but they all create a significant additional load on the structure of the house.
Typically, an attached balcony is a metal frame covered with metal profiles or sandwich panels. This is a relatively lightweight and reliable design. A properly designed balcony does not interfere with the construction of balconies on the floor above or below. This is an important nuance, because without the consent of these same neighbors it will not be possible to obtain permission to build a balcony.
When deciding whether to add a balcony to an apartment, it is worth assessing not only the final cost of additional square meters, but also longer-term prospects. This applies to old houses. Is it even worth investing in increasing the living space in a house whose useful life is already coming to an end? Let's say the house will stand for another 30-40 years. This is not so much, and its operation will definitely not be problem-free. A > monolithic new building, for example, from FSK Leader, is designed to operate for at least 150-200 years. And if we are not talking about solving immediate problems, but about investing in the future, for children and grandchildren, then buying an apartment in a new building is a much more promising option for increasing living space than adding a balcony.
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Where to contact
Redevelopment begins with the owner of the premises entering into an agreement with a contractor or individual entrepreneur who is a member of the SRO to develop a redevelopment project.
After the project is ready, the contractor must coordinate it with the authorized government bodies exercising control. We are talking about Rospotrebnadzor, SES, fire supervision, architectural and planning department. If we are talking about a cultural heritage site, then permission from the authorized body (for example, the Department of Urban Planning and Architecture) will be required.
The next step is submitting documents to the local government authority, which deals with redevelopment issues. For example, in Moscow this is the Moszhilinspektsiya. The owner or tenant (if we are talking about a social tenancy agreement) can contact either the authority itself (at the location of the apartment) or the MFC. There is an option to use the government services portal; but in this case only the applicant can submit documents; the representative is prohibited from doing this.
Gym, office and beauty area. How Belarusians arrange their balconies and loggias
Many of us were taught by our parents from childhood that we need to store all our supplies of seams, car tires, boxes of old equipment on the balcony... All this will come in handy someday, right? True, there is not much real evidence of this: usually this pile of useless rubbish simply suffocates in the dust. The question involuntarily arises: wouldn’t it be better to redo everything and turn this tiny space into something much more functional, for example, a lounge area, a study or even a mini-gym? Do you think this is too difficult and generally unrealistic? Together with the head of the Dia design studio, Dmitry Voyunkov, we will try to dissuade you from this and show you a couple of good options on how to coolly arrange your balcony or loggia.
white paint for bathroom walls
— Nowadays in new buildings loggias and balconies are made quite large - in some apartments their size reaches 18 square meters. According to the law, it is impossible to increase living space at the expense of unheated premises. Some people still neglect this and combine the loggia, for example, with the kitchen, and place a dining area there. But, I repeat, from the point of view of the law this is wrong. There are other ways to effectively use extra meters, and not just to store bicycles. However, it would be good to think through this point before starting renovations in the apartment, says Dmitry.
Before providing you with a dose of creativity, the specialist draws attention to much more boring, but very important things that are worth considering if you decide to arrange your loggia or balcony.
Let’s make a reservation right away: further we will only talk about loggias. But you can use all these tips on your balcony.
The final touch
After renovation, the balcony must be furnished, and curtains must be selected for the windows. For each room, according to its purpose, you will need furniture that matches the style:
For a small room, install folding chairs, a table and cabinets.
In a narrow space, folding, wicker, and plastic furniture are suitable. Transformable furniture (two in one) will come in handy.
For a Provence-style balcony, a rocking chair, an antique-style chest of drawers and a round table will look good.
In the greenhouse you can install a rattan bench made by yourself. You can also make furniture from various materials, such as pallets.
The balcony, finished with wood or plastic, is furnished with wicker furniture; it is also suitable for non-glazed balconies.
When choosing furniture with upholstery, you should pay attention to the quality and shade of the material; light colors will quickly get dirty. The strength of the fabric is also important.
Replace double-glazed windows
— Developers usually install the cheapest single-glazed windows. They are not enough to keep the room warm. It happens that companies give preference to aluminum sliding systems. An attempt to insulate the loggia in this case can result in a serious problem: due to the temperature difference in winter, the windows can freeze. So it's better to reinstall them. Another option used by developers is solid aluminum stained glass windows on the facade. They are quite difficult to replace. The second glazing circuit can save the situation, but, quite likely, another problem will arise - how to clean it all later?
Insulate the loggia
Of course, ensuring the temperature on the loggia in winter is the same as in the apartment itself is not an easy task, but reaching 18 °C, at which it will be comfortable to spend time, is quite possible. To do this, you need to take the insulation process seriously: carefully select materials (penoplex panels are most often used), calculate the thickness and other engineering aspects. Otherwise, you risk getting mold and other unpleasant things like condensation. If everything is done correctly, it will be pleasant to be on the loggia not only in winter, but also in summer, because insulation allows you not only to contain the cold in winter, but also not to overheat the room in summer.
However, you shouldn’t get carried away here either. Dmitry reminds you: you cannot install radiators or warm water floors on loggias.
— Designers calculate the amount of coolant for the entire house. If someone takes batteries into unheated spaces, the load on the entire system increases. If one person does this, the rest of the occupants may not notice the difference, but if there are 20 such people, the overall temperature in the house may decrease.
At the same time, you can’t do without a warm floor: if the neighbors below or to the side are not insulated, you will feel it.
— I advise you to resort to an electric heating system, not only for the floors, but also for the walls. To improve thermal conductivity at the surface, lay tiles on top.
Another point that needs to be taken into account when insulating is the presence of an air conditioner on the loggia: in new houses, developers often offer to place it there. In this case, alas, you will have to forget about the cozy seating area: firstly, it will be noisy, and secondly, it will be hot (all the hot air from the apartment will fall on the loggia). The only possible option is to equip a convenient storage place there.
Design styles
By glazing a 6-meter loggia, you can turn it into a functional room with additional storage space for various things.
In this case, the following design styles are widely used:
- modern;
- minimalism;
- loft;
- high tech;
- Japanese.
With their help, it will be possible to visually expand and fill the room with light. Their main feature is the use of a minimum of furniture and decorative details.
What finishing materials should you take a closer look at?
To decorate the loggia, the designer recommends choosing façade materials. For walls, for example, the simplest option would be decorative plaster. Or wooden slats. You can also use tiles - wood or clinker brick, and perhaps even quartz vinyl. The tiles can also be laid on the floor. It is better to plaster the ceiling or make it from moisture-resistant plasterboard. But do not forget that its height will be limited by the thickness of the insulation and the height of the window sash.
Laying lags
Often the balcony floor has an uneven surface because the house is not new. During operation, many cracks, potholes and irregularities form in it. Also, the floor is often not completely horizontal; it runs with a slight slope in the outer direction, designed to divert precipitation that gets inside.
If the unevenness on the floor is very pronounced, then leveling it with a cement screed means that the mass of the entire structure will increase noticeably. Also, after the screed is completed, the cement will dry, which will take a certain period; during this time, work will not be possible, so the repair will be delayed.
There is another option, leveling using logs made of natural wood (light wood species). Floor joists are wooden blocks with a square cross-section of 50x50 millimeters; you will also need plastic spacer wedges and anchor dowels.
Before laying the logs, you need to make sure that they do not rot. For this purpose, the workpieces are treated with impregnation or an antiseptic, then dried.
Before laying the logs on the balcony floor, it is covered with a layer of waterproofing film. Alternative methods are laying roofing felt or mastic with a bitumen base.
