How to sheathe a balcony?

Any balcony or loggia requires external and internal finishing. Today, manufacturers offer a wide variety of building materials for cladding balcony blocks. They have different colors, textures and quality characteristics.

If you want to turn your balcony into a full-fledged living space, then you cannot do without interior and exterior decoration. Today in stores you can find a huge variety of materials for interior and exterior cladding of balconies and loggias.

It is impossible not to mention the stunning design that can be achieved with the help of interior and exterior finishes. Correctly selected materials of a suitable color will make it possible to create a very beautiful and cozy interior, suitable for work, relaxation or gatherings with friends over a cup of tea.

Most finishing materials are moisture resistant - this characteristic plays a very important role. Over time, the balcony will not get damp, and mold will not appear on its territory and an unpleasant specific smell will not stand.

Another feature of high-quality finishing materials is their durability. For example, if we are talking about plastic panels or siding, then these skins are not afraid of bad weather and any other negative environmental factors. The only exceptions are cases when the panels are painted in different colors.

Exterior and interior decoration rarely requires special and regular maintenance. If you have decorated your balcony block with good facing materials, then you do not have to worry about the fact that you will have to regularly carry out repair work and spend money on a variety of paints and varnishes.

A high-quality and beautiful cladding has a lot of advantages. It extends the life of any surface of the balcony room and retains the base material on which it is installed for a long time. The interior decoration protects the premises from freezing, winds, drafts and many other negative factors.

You can decorate a balcony using lining, siding, plastic panels, corrugated board, etc. It all depends on your preferences and budget.

But all materials must have a number of properties that you should be aware of before buying:

• They should be lightweight. Light weight is required in order to subject the balcony block to additional loads. This is especially important if the apartment is located in an old house or Khrushchev.

• The cladding must be resistant to moisture and dampness. This is due to the fact that it will not be protected from rain and snow (if we are talking about external decoration), and the appearance of condensation on it is completely inevitable.

• Facing materials should not be afraid of ultraviolet radiation. Otherwise, over time, they will lose their attractiveness and even deform.

• It is recommended to choose only high quality claddings. It is not worth saving money, as raw materials that are too cheap will not last long enough. Good materials are durable.

• The cladding must be environmentally friendly and fireproof. These qualities are very important, since toxic and harmful materials can have an adverse effect on the health of all residents of the apartment.

Many apartment owners today are turning to laminate finishing. It is worth referring to such options for decorating the inside of the balcony, since they are made of wood. Modern manufacturers offer consumers a wide variety of laminate flooring in different styles.

Such cladding is used both for flooring and for walls. She is not afraid of temperature changes and exposure to sunlight.

Laminate flooring does not require much maintenance. It is easy to clean and does not accumulate dust on itself. It is worth noting the fact that today such a cladding can be selected for any wallet.

Wood cladding is very common. The most widespread and demanded materials are lining, euro lining, terrace board or panels imitating timber and block house. They differ from each other not only in external design, but also in the method of attachment.

The lining has a long service life. Provided it is properly cared for, it will serve you for decades. But it is worth remembering that about once every 3-5 years, you will have to restore and update its surfaces.

Lining is a practical material. This property directly depends on the type of surface. For example, the presence of a special dirt-protecting film makes it easier to maintain the cladding. It is not so easy to clean dirt from simple panels.

For external cladding, wood should be used only if you are decorating a balcony of a private house made of wood.

MDF panels are also made of wood. They are in many ways similar to clapboard and are more advanced fiberboard. A distinctive characteristic of MDF panels is the presence of a special laminating film - it makes the material moisture resistant.

Modern manufacturers offer several options for fiberboard. They are flat with a protective polymer layer on the front side and panels with embossed patterns.

The main advantages of MDF panels are their low cost and ease of installation. The installation of such a finish will take you a minimum amount of time and effort. No preparatory work is required for such material.

The block house decoration looks expensive and original. This material appeared on the Russian market not so long ago, but it has already gained enormous popularity. Its production is based on wood. The block house is considered another type of classic wall paneling, but it has a slightly different shape.

One side of such a panel is flat and the other is cylindrical. The flat half has special fastening grooves and spikes. With the help of these parts, the cladding material is installed. Also, on this side there are grooves intended for additional ventilation and eliminating the stress received from unnecessary loads.

Today, on the streets of the city, you can find a large number of balconies decorated with corrugated board. This option is more suitable for external cladding:

• It has high wear resistance.
• Decking is not afraid of bad weather and temperature differences.
• It is very lightweight and does not create additional loads for the balcony.
• Installation of such material is simple and quick. For installation, you do not need additional fasteners or special tools. Often, insulation is laid under the corrugated board.

The professional list can be different. Most often, galvanized flooring, aluzinc coatings or polymer coating are found. This material does not corrode. Today you can pick up sheets of a wide variety of colors. Paints are applied to profiled sheets at high temperatures and last as long as possible.

The most common material for facing balcony rooms is plastic. He not only has an affordable cost, but also an attractive appearance.

The most common is the traditional white plastic. Visually, such a cladding is able to make the balcony more spacious and bright. Against the background of such a design, absolutely any glazing looks great, from panoramic to stained glass.

Today in stores you can find panels in a variety of colors. But it is worth noting that they are prone to fading when exposed to sunlight.

For exterior design, it is recommended to choose more wear-resistant materials that do not require special care during their operation:

• You can turn to such popular material as siding. It can be metallic or vinyl. People very often choose this particular cladding because of its durability and resistance to adverse conditions.

• Decking would be a good option. Thin metal (or plastic) sheets with a corrugated surface are highly durable. Over time, they will not lose their attractiveness. The paint on them will not break or crack.

• Wooden lining will also be appropriate. But having such a covering, you will have to process it from time to time with special impregnations, which ensure the durability of the material. If you do not do this, then mold and dampness may form on the surface of the balcony block and in its interior.

• Often, plastic panels and PVC lining are used for the external cladding of the balcony. The main advantage of these materials is their lightness and ease of installation. You can install such a cladding with your own hands. The disadvantage of these options is their susceptibility to mechanical damage.

You can start the inner cladding only after you have insulated the balcony room. The options can be as follows:

• Most often, balconies are decorated with plastic panels. This material is suitable for both interior and exterior decoration. It is resistant to moisture or moisture. Recently, decorative panels with imitation of natural wood of different tones have been in great demand. Such solutions look very expensive and stylish.
• Often, MDF panels are used for interior cladding. They not only have an excellent appearance, but also environmental friendliness. In many ways, these materials are similar to natural wood and differ only in their plasticity. With the help of MDF panels, you can level the walls on the balcony, but they do not tolerate dampness and moisture well.
• Siding is an excellent solution. It is not only suitable for external cladding. Today, many apartment owners turn to this cladding for interior decoration of their balconies. Any of the options will work: be it metal, vinyl or wood panels.
• For interior cladding, drywall is suitable. It is fireproof and not subject to the negative effects of sunlight, therefore it is suitable for a balcony, both on the shady and on the sunny side.
• Another versatile option is a block house. It is installed very simply and so it can be made of wood, metal and vinyl.
• An inexpensive facing material is lining. Installation of such a cladding can be done by hand, without experience in a similar field of activity. It is worth noting the durability of high-quality lining.

It is necessary to decide in advance on the ceiling sheathing. It cannot be left unattended, since an unfinished ceiling will spoil the overall view of the balcony:

• Many people turn to drywall planking. With the help of this simple and affordable material, you can make a perfectly flat surface and integrate lamps into it.

• Very often, plastic panels are used for ceiling cladding. Visually, they are able to make the room longer and more spacious. You can also install lamps in such a ceiling.

• Often the ceiling is finished with laminate. Also, this option is suitable for wall and floor decoration. Recently, many owners have been turning to such an unusual solution. Such popularity of the material is due to the simplicity of its installation and the absence of the need for constant maintenance.

• Another suitable material is euro lining and traditional wood lining. The second option is less convenient to use, as it requires regular maintenance.

You can learn how to sheathe a balcony with clapboard from the following video.

Competent selection of external and internal cladding will allow you to form a very beautiful and cozy room on the balcony. Let's take a closer look at several interesting design options for a balcony block:

• You can decorate the walls with light plastic panels, lay brown or burgundy tiles on the floor and select classic white window frames with flaps. You will get a simple but very cozy room in which you can equip a winter garden or organize a small recreation area.

• Siding panels are ideal for exterior cladding. With the help of this lemon-colored material, you can arrange a small balcony block with sliding plastic doors.

• External cladding with clapboard. It will look harmoniously in tandem with wooden windows of a suitable shade.

• An excellent solution for decorating the interior of the balcony will be a block house, resembling a cylindrical blockhouse. With such beautiful panels, wood flooring and glazing with wood or white plastic frames will look great. It will be very pleasant and calm to be in such a room.

• Against the background of a balcony block sheathed with blue corrugated board, white plastic frames always look great. Glazing can be absolutely anything.

• A small, neat balcony with light panels will look very nice. It is lined on the outside with white plastic PVC and complemented by light flower pots with flowers at the edges.

• Lay a dark laminate on the balcony floor, the walls are treated with decorative plaster of a pale yellow color, and the ceiling is trimmed with narrow white panels. Against such a contrasting background, you can equip a bar counter or a recreation area with a bookcase.

• Large balconies look good, sheathed with burgundy or dark red metal profile. They are striking and expensive. This effect is achieved through the contrast between the exterior cladding and the white glazing frames.

• A professional sheet can be used to decorate not only closed, but also open balconies. For example, for cladding a small open area, you can pick up contrasting black, dark green or dark gray sheets.