Balcony in "Khrushchev": features and design methods

The modern view of the rational use of a home implies the operation of every room in a house or apartment. When we talk about apartment buildings, this applies not only to loggias, but also to balconies. In the article we will consider the features and methods of decorating the balcony space in a small "Khrushchev".

It is no secret that the layout of the "Khrushchev" is considered one of the most unsuccessful. The balcony of such an apartment requires a full-fledged repair, while attention will have to be paid to everything - from glazing to interior decoration. There are such balconies in apartments with 1, 2 and 3 rooms, these are open-type options. The standard parameters are:

• the length of the slab itself is 220, 270 and 320 cm;
• slab width - 65-80 cm;
• wall height - from 250 to 270 cm;
• parapet height - from 100 to 110 cm;
• in square meters - from 1.43 to 5.7 m;
• the thickness of the slab is 15-22 cm.

The size of the balcony slab is not at all universal, it obeys the size of the balcony itself. The weight load on it, according to the existing regulations in houses made of bricks and panels, should not exceed 200 kg per 1 sq. m. Despite the fact that, on average, the slab must withstand half a ton on its surface, reconstruction, insulation and glazing can lead to collapse.

The right approach to renovation and creating a comfort zone on a small balcony will require preliminary design. The project should take into account a lot of nuances, and especially if the option of a remote balcony is planned. Expansion of the territory according to one of three types ("butterflies", floor lines or along the windowsill) to a distance of up to half a meter, and even on the floor is impossible here. However, the option with the removal of the window sill line up to 20 cm is quite appropriate.

You will need to get permission on reconstruction... So that the balcony can be used as one of the rooms of the dwelling, it will have to be glazed, insulated and landscaped. It is necessary to start by assessing the current state of the balcony. A visual inspection will show whether you need to create a new profile for installing glasses based on different raw materials. The fence can be originally metal and without a profile.

If the strength of the balcony slab is insufficient, it must be strengthened or changed. Replacement is expensive and time consuming. However, this step will protect household members from the destruction of the balcony slab. It is mounted deep into the wall and is the basis of all work. The essence of the work being carried out, the possibility of alteration, or even unification with the adjacent room of the apartment, depends on its condition.

If the project of the balcony in "Khrushchev" provides for the combination with the adjoining room, it is necessary to decide on the type of demolition of the walls. As a rule, they are only partially removed, since their complete dismantling leads to a decrease in the stability of the balcony slab.

In addition, when combining, it is often necessary to transfer radiators, because according to the regulations, they cannot be installed on the balcony. If the window sill is not removed, the radiators can be left in place. However, this is in the event that an impromptu table or bar counter is not created from this ledge. Depending on the design, they think over the floor level, it may be higher in the area of ​​the balcony itself.

If the slab is initially destroyed in different places, it is restored to its proper form. If necessary, the reinforcement mesh is built up, the existing cracks are closed using a cement screed. In order to increase the allowable pressure limit, struts are used. Considering that the strengthening cannot be performed by a non-professional, an experienced master is invited.

The windows of the balconies "Khrushchev" are their weak point. So that they do not let the cold, heat and wind pass through, they have to be replaced. An open balcony with railings requires more work. Conventionally, frame glazing can be divided into 2 types:

• warm;
• cold.

In the first case, wood or plastic is used in the work, in the second, the frames are made of aluminum.

In addition, glazing can be with or without a take-out.

The customer chooses his version based on the state of the balcony slab: with warm glazing, the balcony has every chance of becoming a full-fledged room in the apartment, but its weight increases significantly. Such work is more expensive, it is performed by professionals, as is the work of installing frameless glazing (inserting glasses into guides with the possibility of free movement). In the case of cold technology, it is not possible to obtain the required level of thermal protection.

Stained-glass glazing (French) does not imply the presence of sides. This balcony consists of a frame structure and glass. In this case, only the upper windows open: the lower ones remain motionless.

A panoramic balcony is a type of glazing in which windows are located to the full height of the walls. Often, ventilation is not provided here, and therefore you have to pay attention to the installation of a ventilation system.

Such projects look very attractive, but in operation they show themselves as "summer greenhouses" freezing in the cold season. Such glazing is expensive, inferior in practicality to traditional ones.

As for reducing heat loss in aluminum glazing, insulation is used during the installation process.

The transformation of the Khrushchev balcony into a full-fledged living room will require work on its insulation. It is necessary to create a comfortable temperature in the space, and therefore in the work you will have to use heat-insulating material, for example:

• penofol (foamed polyethylene);
• penoplex (extruded polystyrene foam);
• polyurethane foam (PPU);
• mineral wool.

In the work, you can also use the foil version of foamed polyethylene, when insulating the metal side, making out the inside of the balcony. Additional heating can be solved by installing a "warm floor" system.

The correct approach to finishing work on the balcony will allow, although not much, to increase its usable area. In the conditions of the balcony space of a small "Khrushchev", this is especially important. You need to start with outdoor work.

The outside balcony cladding is started only after its restoration and strengthening of the balcony slab. Today, one of the simplest and most practical ways to decorate a balcony outside is vinyl siding. First, preparatory work is performed, the frame is mounted and glazing is performed. Usually, welding is used in the work, a fence is prepared, and the end of the balcony slab is waterproofed.

For this, it is processed mastic or other liquid waterproofing material. To fix the siding, the lathing is performed using wooden slats with a section of 2x4 cm. The slats are impregnated with a special compound that prevents the lathing from rotting during long-term operation.

If glazing is not planned, and the balcony remains open according to the project, it can also be finished with polycarbonate. The innovative material is lightweight and is a lightweight roofing material. It is used in decoration when creating projects for balconies with a roof. In fact, it is a transparent plastic, which belongs to heat-resistant polymers.

The walls inside the balcony are sheathed at the final stage of the repair work. The materials used for this must meet certain requirements. For example, they must be moisture resistant, environmentally friendly, durable, easy to care for, with high sound and heat insulation characteristics... In addition, the choice is largely determined by the price category of the finishing material.

Among the most popular types of raw materials are lining made of wood, ceiling and wall drywall, plastic panels and lining, cork, as well as siding... Panel cork is expensive, but it is bacteria resistant, hypoallergenic and durable. Drywall is good because it allows repeated painting, wallpapering, the creation of different shapes and the trouble-free embedding of fixtures of different types and sizes. It does not melt, allows masking of contaminated areas.

Plastic panels are unique in their inertness to moisture and dampness. They are installed according to the locking technology on the prepared frame. Installation is extremely simple, which is why the head of the family himself can cope with this work. However, the creation of the frame “steals” a part of the priceless centimeters, which is very noticeable inside the limited space of a small balcony. If you don't feel like using panels, you can simply paint the walls.

Brick walls can be refined by painting. This will add a special flavor to the interior of the balcony space and will not reduce the width. The floor can be finished with linoleum, ceramic tiles, laminate or parquet.For the roof (ceiling) of the balcony, it is necessary to select a light material, for example, a stretch canvas or drywall.

It is no secret that without the right approach to the arrangement, the interior of the balcony will not be cozy and inviting. Considering that on average the area will be 1 meter wide and 3 m long, it will not be possible to walk around. And therefore it is necessary to select the elements of the arrangement in such a way that they perform several functions at once.

For example, you can initially brighten up the balcony space of "Khrushchev" with "correct" furniture. Sometimes it is better to use niches than to install a cabinet to the ceiling on a balcony with a lack of space. If other options are not available, you can also supply a cabinet, but you will have to order it for the specific dimensions of the side wall. In this case, you will have to take into account that the level of light entering the room may decrease due to the installation of the cabinet. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the fact that the depth of the cabinet will be minimal.

All elements of the arrangement on a small balcony should be as compact and ergonomic as possible. For example, if we are talking about lighting, then it is unacceptable to illuminate the space with a massive chandelier, a small panel lamp is enough.

An excellent option for a lighting device will be an LED strip: it takes up a minimum of space, is easy to install and is characterized by a wide range of shades. Depending on the purpose of the balcony, fittings are selected and lamps are placed. At the same time, various tricks are used to create the effect of spaciousness, for example:

• use the windowsill as a shelf or flower bed;

• a niche is built under the windowsill for storing things;

• the space is divided into 2 zones: recreation and storage system;

• constructing a podium with internal spacious drawers;

• constructing a storage rack instead of installing a cabinet;

• mount a wall table with a transformation function;

• instead of a sofa, a soft bench with an inner drawer is installed;

• install a bench, which is both a table and a pouf;

• instead of furniture, a mattress is laid on the floor, complementing the seating area with cushions.

You can add the lion's share of comfort through the right curtains. This is, first of all, a short length, minimum size and unity of the curtain composition. The best type of curtains will be: stained glass, Roman, pleated and roller. The latter are convenient in that they also imply installation inside the frame, thereby saving invaluable centimeters of usable area.

You can decorate the Khrushchev balcony in different ways. The most correct solution would be to link to a specific style of interior. As a rule, this is the same style in which the entire apartment is made. Given that the area is limited, this may be minimalism and striving for simplicity stylistic solutions. Interior design methods can be radically different: somewhere it is a stylization of a football field, in other cases it is a strict interior without any frills and decorative elements.

Modern ideas of a rational approach to the organization of design allow you to create a comfortable corner from the balcony where you can read a book, relax with a cup of tea, relax on a banquet or bench with upholstered furniture. A chic solution would be to create a sleeping podium where you can spend summer evenings. Someone will want to bring to life the idea of ​​creating a small hookah bar on the balcony.

The ideas for using a small balcony with the correct organization of the interior can be different. For example, here you can arrange a recreation area, a miniature study, a mini-greenhouse, a home library. Landscaping is considered one of the most successful techniques, moreover, it can be implemented not only on a closed, but also on an open balcony.

In the combined version of the project, it is quite appropriate to use the space for placing the bar, making the window-sill part of the partition between the balcony and the room adjacent to it as a bar counter. Women can organize their own craft work area on the balcony. There is simply not enough space for a man to equip a workshop here, just as it will not be possible to create a sports corner (sports exercises require space for swings).

A balcony with a take-out is easier to equip under a flower garden, using the window sill for placing flowers or living greenery. In addition, the take-out can replace the shelves, you can put a table lamp on it, put books. It can also be used as an impromptu table for eating or working on a laptop. To make the interior seem light, you can purchase a compact shelving up to the windowsill, removing the most necessary things on it. Here you can also use a narrow bench-bench with a soft back.

We offer 10 examples of successful arrangement of the Khrushchev balcony.

• Stylish interior with an emphasis on minimalism.

• Creation of a comfort zone in confined spaces.

• Landscaping of a closed balcony.

• Rational use of space.

• An example of a combined type interior with a bar.

• Balcony decoration in light colors.

• Use in the design of compact furniture.

• An interesting idea for creating a comfort zone.

• Balcony of a city apartment in a modern style.

• Arrangement of a resting corner in a confined space.