Balcony decoration with siding

Siding is a popular and reliable material. With its help, you can decorate a balcony or loggia. Outwardly, this design looks neat and attractive. You can pick up panels in any color that suits your taste.

For outdoor use, siding is ideal. It is made from high quality and durable materials. The result is wear-resistant and durable panels that do not require special and regular maintenance. Siding is not afraid of adverse external influences. He is not afraid of rains, snowfalls and strong gusts of wind. It retains its original shape under all circumstances. Such material is not subject to deformation due to temperature extremes. It will not crack or swell.

This finishing material can be cleaned with common detergents. You do not need to purchase special compounds to rid the surface of the panels from dust and dirt. It should be noted that such panels are very easy to clean.

The popularity of this finishing material is due not only to its quality characteristics, but also to its democratic cost. Most consumers can afford siding panels.

Your balcony can be sunny and exposed to direct sunlight. Siding will not be affected in any way in such conditions. It will not fade or lose its attractive appearance. Correct installation of such a facing material will produce an additional sound and heat insulation effect.

Siding has good rigidity, so you don't need to design a rigid frame for it. In such panels, there are special locks that allow you to create a continuous coating that does not have gaps and cracks.

Today, different manufacturers offer customers multi-colored panels. Their color scheme can be very diverse, from dark to very bright options.

It is not necessary to hire a specialist to install siding panels. You can do this work yourself. Special knowledge and skills are not required for this. It is worth familiarizing yourself with the main stages of installation of this finishing material, and you will succeed!

There are few disadvantages of this material:

• It is not suitable for hot countries, as it burns out and fades under the influence of high temperatures (more than 50 degrees);
• If the panel has been damaged, it cannot be repaired. A damaged or deformed part can only be removed and replaced with a new one;
• Siding is non-combustible, but it melts very easily.

There are several types of siding. There are different materials in their compositions that affect the performance of the panels and their appearance. For example, there are spectacular options, the surface of which imitates brickwork of different colors, stone or natural wood. Often people turn to an interesting combination of such a finish with multi-colored corrugated board. Let's take a closer look at the types of siding panels:

• Basement siding is distinguished by a high cost. Despite the price, it is popular and often purchased. This finishing material is used not only for covering balcony blocks, but also for decorating the walls of houses.

• Vinyl siding has a more affordable price. It is made from polyvinyl chloride and has excellent performance characteristics. Many consumers note the beautiful and neat appearance of vinyl panels. This material has one unpleasant drawback: its surface is susceptible to mechanical damage. One strong blow is enough, and a trace will remain on the panel, from which you cannot get rid of. The damaged area will have to be changed.

• For the design of a balcony in an apartment building, durable metal siding is often used. Such cladding provides excellent protection of the base of the structure from natural wear and tear. It is impossible not to note the wonderful appearance that is obtained as a result of the installation of metal panels. Metal siding panels do not require any special maintenance. They perfectly tolerate any atmospheric conditions. They are not afraid of frost, ultraviolet rays and even fire.

The texture of the panels can be different. In building materials stores, you can find specimens with smooth or rough surfaces. Options, the texture of which repeats natural wood, are in great demand.

If you decide to finish the balcony block with siding, then you need to stock up on some tools:

• To check the evenness of the surface, a level is useful;
• Be sure to have pliers, screwdriver and magnetic drill ready;
• You will also need wire brackets, fasteners and anchor bolts;
• To design the frame, you need to purchase wooden beams;
• During the installation process, you will need internal and external corners, a 10-meter fishing line, a metal brush and strips (starting and window sills).

A hacksaw for metal and a special assembly knife will not be superfluous. The need for these tools depends on the type of finishing material.

Before installing the siding panels, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work in the following order:

• First you need to dismantle the railings and old balcony coverings;
• After that, you can start trimming the holders of the concrete floors using a grinder;
• Examine the rods. They must be restored by welding, if the technical condition requires it. If you find rusty metal in a certain area, then it should be strengthened with galvanized tape;
• The next step will be to whisk the cement down to the very foundation. Before that, you need to attach a pallet to the balcony block. This is necessary for safety reasons, as falling pieces of concrete and stone may fall on people passing by;

• Install a brush in the drill and process the top metal layer from the surface of the rods with this tool;
• Next, a primer and paint are applied to the metal surfaces. The importance of this process should not be underestimated, since such processing protects the metal from corrosion;
• Using a level, you need to check the edges of the balcony outside the fence. Explore the entire perimeter. If irregularities are found somewhere, then they should be eliminated using a cement-sand mortar. If the structure is too overwhelmed, then the work should be stopped for a while and specialists should be called. Too large irregularities can indicate the emergency state of the balcony block;

• After that, you need to make the lower belt of the lathing from wood. Before that, the bars are sawn at an angle of 45 degrees. This is necessary so that they can be fixed in the joint;
• In the corners, nails should be hammered in to secure the belt more firmly. The mounted crate should be covered with several layers of drying oil;
• The lower belt is attached to the concrete with construction or silicone glue.Simple clamps or strong wire can be used to connect to the rods;
• The final stage of the preparatory work will be the blowing of the lower belt with polyurethane foam.

The process is as follows:

• The first thing to do is to design the wireframes. The starting wooden beams must be attached to the corners of the balcony with anchors. If there are no concrete panels on the sides, then the strips can be attached to the metal base with bolts;
• After that, below and above, you need to install horizontal slats, forming a box;
• You need to attach (step not more than 60 cm) vertical jumpers to them using self-tapping screws;
• Finally, it is necessary to treat the crate with linseed oil and antiseptic compounds. Such products can extend the life of wooden structures and make them more resistant to moisture and moisture;

• Then you can start installing the panels. Corners are mounted at the corners of the crate. Siding will be inserted into them with end sections;

• The first panel is mounted at the bottom and attached to the lower horizontal bar with self-tapping screws. Further, the following parts of the coating will be attached to this part;

• The first strip is installed in the keyway. You can fix it with self-tapping screws. The fasteners should be located in the center of the ellipse. In the process of connecting, the panels will emit clicks, which will indicate their correct installation.

After completing work with the frontal part, you can proceed to the end structures. In these areas, the panels are installed in a similar way.

To make the whole process of external finishing of the balcony with siding panels more visual and understandable for you, watch the video below:

As a rule, siding panels are installed horizontally, but there are also vertical structures. There are no significant drawbacks in this design. The main thing is to correctly measure the width and height of the entire surface to select suitable siding dimensions.

In vertical installations, special attention should be paid to the reliability and correctness of the fixings. This is necessary in order to avoid the appearance of backlash and cracks, which will allow strong winds to pass through, loading the finish and violating the thermal insulation.

Siding can also be used for interior decoration, but you should start installing it only after glazing the balcony.

• Clean and seal walls to keep out harmful microorganisms and insects. A high-quality primer strengthens the structure of the walls and prevents their destruction;
• Install the battens with longitudinal battens. They should be treated with an antiseptic;
• If necessary, engage in electrical wiring;
• Start siding installation from the top panels. They will be fixed to the ceiling. For fasteners, you can choose dowels or liquid nails;
• Install special mounting angles, window openings, bumpers and other necessary parts.

During the installation of the panels, it is necessary to constantly monitor the surface level.

You can sheathe a balcony block (both inside and outside) with siding panels yourself. But it is always recommended to take into account the advice of specialists in this matter. Let's take a look at some of them:

• Take your time to start installing siding. Previously, it should be held for several hours on the street, because the outer side of the balcony will be sheathed with this material, and it will always be in similar conditions;
• After that, the panels will take on their natural dimensions and will be much easier to install. After all the work, such a finish will not undergo deformation;
• Many people are faced with the problem of the wrong amount of purchased material. Experts recommend making preliminary measurements with maximum accuracy;
• If windy weather often persists at the location of the house, then it is worth reducing the step between the fasteners for the panels;
• A step that does not exceed 5 cm in length will be ideal;
• It is recommended to start the installation of siding from the side sections, since it is much easier to build in short panels, and at the same time you can practice on them before more complex work in the front part;
• In no case should you insert fasteners in the area of ​​the panels that are not designed for this. This can lead to deformation of the material;
• Do not pull on the siding during installation. The material must be in a free state so that temperature drops do not lead to its destruction;
• Independent work is allowed at the height of the second and third floors. If your balcony is located higher, then you can start work only if you already have a similar experience;
• To ensure the safety of work at height, use a safety belt. Industrial climbers have such a thing. You can buy it in a special clothing and equipment store;
• The installation of siding should be started after you place warning signs, bright ribbons or flags under the balcony.