Balcony lining is an excellent choice for interior cladding

Balcony clapboard is one of the best choices when it comes to balcony renovation. Often, people take the last thing to repair the balcony, since this is not the most used place in the apartment, whatever one may say. However, in the desire to acquire a cozy and beautiful place in their apartment, the owners take on the decoration of the balcony - the room is sunny, well-lit, and you can also admire the view from the window.

Getting down to business, apartment owners are faced with the first and most important question - how to sheathe the walls. In this case, the simplest solution would be to sheathe the balcony with clapboard, since the material is not too whimsical, easy to use and repair of such a plan does not require large-scale cash costs or efforts. Everything can be done quite calmly with your own hands, which is described in the article today.

Which lining to use

In 90% of cases, clapboard means a product made of wood, since it looks more aesthetically pleasing and more expensive, often clients prefer this type of balcony cladding. However, there is also a similar option in PVC, that is, in plastic. Therefore, in the common people it acquired the name "plastic lining".

In fact, the question is not in the material, but in principle, the editing algorithm. That is, the lining should be, roughly speaking, an oblong board with a spike on one side and a groove on the other.

This is how the collection of our parts takes place, thanks to which this method of cladding becomes easy even for those who are making repairs at home for the first time themselves. You don't need a lot of effort - you can assemble the lining like a large puzzle with huge details.

In fact, the choice of lining for repair depends not only on the aesthetic preferences of the owners, that is, it is not just a choice between tree and PVC, but also in the financial capabilities of the apartment owners, since the pricing policy directly depends on the material that will decide on finishing the balcony with clapboard.

The cost of wood depends on the area in which the purchase is made, as in some parts of the country its production is higher than in others. You should not read online sources about experiences and price comparisons by other people from other fields. You need to go to the store yourself and compare the prices of wood and PVC.

If we talk about the aesthetic component, then there will be photos showing the view of the room, sheathed with plastic and wooden clapboard. Further, it is up to the owners of the apartment in which lining to choose for the balcony.

Aesthetic and practical choice

The aesthetic choice of wood often does not align with practical thinking. Wood is "harder" to use. And the point is not at all the difficulty of performing repair work in the case of choosing wood materials, but in further use. Since the wood becomes dirty faster, dust particles settle on the varnished surface, which are almost impossible to wash off from the small cracks of the wood, and accordingly, over time, it will still darken and look sloppy. While plastic is easy to clean and retains its appearance definitely longer than wood.

We also clarify that the choice of wood is often reinforced by thinking "it is more natural", because plastic is "a child of chemical reactions."However, this also does not converge with practice, because if the lathing of the balcony under the lining is completely made of unprepared material, that is, untreated wood, such repairs will last no more than a couple of years, if you are lucky. The tree will begin to loosen, rot, and there is no need to talk about its aesthetic appearance.

Decorating the balcony with wooden clapboard is finishing it with wood pre-soaked with chemicals for preservation and opened varnish. Of course, all this does not smell natural. However, only in this form, the wooden wall covering can serve a long service: wood will not be of interest to a variety of bugs, which could eat or live in it, and due to varnish it is not afraid of moisture and heat, so often found different temperature regimes on the balcony.

Before using the wood, you must treat it yourself with an antiseptic.

It should be noted that the difficulty of using wooden lining can be offset by the ability to change the color design of the balcony. The fact is that the lining is covered with a protective impregnation. It also resembles varnishing. Unfortunately, such a coating cracks over time and it is necessary to re-cover the walls with new ones. Impregnations give a color shade that can be selected depending on the wishes of the owners and the required color scheme in the interior of the apartment.

Coating with impregnations is not done on individual parts, but on a wall already finished with clapboard.

Which lining is better

Summing up the above, we can say that in practice the use of PVC is much better than wood. The subsection "which lining is better" will help you choose the type of wood lining. As it was stated earlier, the lining means wood-based materials, but PVC acquired the name "plastic lining".

So, if a wooden lining was chosen for the apartment, then what kind of tree to choose. Of course, in this aspect, the issues of practicality in use and the cost of materials converge.

The cost of the tree as a whole, as previously indicated, depends on the area in which the purchase is made. However, there are types of wood that, regardless of the place of purchase, will be more expensive or cheaper than others. Therefore, you can decide on the type of tree in advance, without even visiting the shops and markets of your city.

So, the cheapest varieties of wood are conifers:

• Pine;
• spruce.

Let's understand the indicators of each tree in order to understand the advantages and disadvantages of its practical application.

Conifers

Material advantages:

• resistance to temperatures - low;
• to humidity - weak;
• coating with antiseptics and protective impregnations is necessary;
• heat capacity - average;
• low material cost.

By far the main advantage of conifers is their low cost. Because otherwise they are "average". Most often, it is with them that the balcony is trimmed, since they serve quite well in practice, if they are properly looked after. It is necessary to constantly cover them with protective substances, but the high temperature allows the conifers to emit both pleasant smelling and useful essential oils, as well as many substances harmful to the body. Therefore, in areas with hot summers, such a balcony finish can be a mistake.

There are also a number of more expensive tree species, including:

• larch;
• cedar;
• oak.

Cedar

Characteristics:

• temperature resistance - high;
• to humidity - high;
• additional processing is required;
• heat capacity - average.

Cedar is certainly beneficial for cladding both balconies and rooms with high humidity - baths, steam rooms. In fact, it is resistant to the sun, and also releases many useful elements when heated. It also often produces a pleasant red color.

Larch

Characteristics:

• high temperature resistance - moderate;
• to humidity - high;
• wood processing is required with antiseptics and impregnations;
• heat capacity - average;
• not subject to decay.

The definition of "larch" fits:

• Linden;
• aspen;
• alder.

All these breeds are more durable. They are not afraid of moisture, and therefore they are not afraid to use them when decorating a bath. The resin content in them is minimal, and therefore they are not afraid of high temperatures. Moisture is only good for these breeds.

To maintain the color, it is necessary to treat with special chemicals. And before installation, you should not give in to mechanical stress, because of its density, the wood can easily crack.

In general, such durability is almost not needed for finishing the balcony and these types of wood are chosen solely for aesthetic reasons, the color of these types of trees is very beautiful.

Classification

These classes differ in the presence of mechanical defects in the wood (knots, roughness), as well as the accuracy and uniformity of the pattern on the wood. Accordingly, the following rating is maintained: extra class, A, B, C.

Classes B and C are not advised by the pros in planking, since cracks, tar pockets and other defects in addition to the banal roughness or knots are possible here. You should not buy into the cheapness of such material.

Class A is actually not much different from the Extra class. Only the smallest errors in the mechanical processing of wood before sale are possible in it. Therefore, in the desire to save a little money, while buying a good material for finishing, you should choose class A wood.

Types of lining

The types of lining can differ in the method of making the bar itself, as well as in its appearance, which can change the interior of the balcony.

Nowadays, balcony cladding with eurolining has become in vogue. In practice, however, such material does not justify itself. Of course, the first associations of buyers are high quality, that is, good wood, correct processing, standard and precise dimensions. However, this is not the case, and often wood processing leaves much to be desired, and the size is far from standard, but depends on the manufacturers of the purchased product. The lining is distinguished only by the presence of several stripes on the back wall of the bar. This is done for a kind of "ventilation". These strips improve air circulation, extending the life of the material.

The rest of the types are extremely similar to the Euro-lining by design, but differ in appearance. These are the main types, the parties of which are in warehouses in stores and in construction markets.

However, the listed types of lining do not end there. There is always an opportunity to resort to an individual order and ask to cut out the shape of a bar that will fit the interior of the apartment or just like the household. The next photo shows the most common options, in general there are up to three dozen of them and it is worth discussing this with the company from which the order is being made.

Prices for an individual order, of course, will exceed the cost of purchasing a conventional clapboard, since the company will have to reconfigure the equipment.

Varieties and moisture

The grades of the lining have already been indicated by us earlier, these are extra classes, A, B, C. In the event that it is urgently necessary to sheathe a balcony, and there is no money at all, it is better to choose class B, because in this case you will save yourself from material bending and resin in large quantities.

Roughness is not so terrible, someone even prefers to see it in their interior, in this case, the "defect" refers only to aesthetic preferences, because if such a lack of mechanical processing of wood does not bother, and the price is reduced, mainly because of this, you can buy without hesitation. But the knots should be given more attention.

The presence of knots can "infect the tree" and it will start to rot. If the knots are dry and light, then everything is in order. But if they are darkened, then over time this will happen with the whole bar. You shouldn't buy such wood.

The moisture content of the tree is an extremely important parameter that needs to be paid attention to.On the market and in building materials stores, you can find lining at an impressively reduced price due to the high level of humidity. The moisture content in the boards is more expensive, no more than 7-10%.

If you buy wood with a higher moisture level, you should be prepared for the fact that you will have to shift it twice, or even three times. If you immediately sheathe the balcony with such wood, then over time it will begin to dry out, gaps will appear, the boards will bend, some of them may crack. We'll have to redo the repair. This can happen two or three times before the moisture level reaches normal.

Actually, even if you do not immediately sheathe the tree, but leave it to dry, the same thing can happen to it. Many boards will bend, they deform, crack. It is because the manufacturer himself dries the boards and removes unsuitable ones from the batches, and the price of a product with a low moisture level rises.

Sheathe the balcony with clapboard with your own hands

After choosing the material, as well as clarifying all the details, the next question of the apartment owners is how to sheathe the balcony with clapboard. After that, there is an appeal to the Internet resources, a search for companies performing such repairs. Perhaps such services are even provided by a store that sells building materials, because there are stores that install for a fee.

However, the cost of such services is often very high and therefore the owners begin to look for a cheaper way to make their balcony aesthetic and comfortable for household members. Then the question arises of how to sheathe a balcony with clapboard with your own hands. The process, in fact, is not so complicated, but it is worthwhile to delve into the specifics of performing this work, and before starting it, ask yourself another question that is extremely important for planning - whether the room will be insulated.

Of course, with this question comes a number of questions about what material it will be insulated with, which walls to insulate and how this will affect the clapboard cladding of the balcony, whether it is important in this case whether it is plastic or wooden.

In fact, the process of wall insulation does not greatly affect the process of finishing the balcony with wood or plastic. The most important thing in reality is to choose the material and walls that you insulate. This will change the work by only a couple of points. Installation work for insulation will be added, and the layout will also change slightly.

Instructions for work

If the question - how to sheathe the balcony with clapboard yourself - was raised, then after that it is necessary to clearly describe the sequence of actions for this event. Use the sequence below to save time. So, step-by-step instructions for finishing balconies with clapboard:

1. The first step is to remove all old finishes. Whatever is on the old walls - paint, plaster, tiles - you need to get rid of everything in order to leave even, clean walls.
2. The second stage is the well-known priming procedure. Walls, floors, ceilings must be treated with a special compound. This will prevent the appearance of fungus, which is especially possible if the walls were completely "bare".
3. The next steps are installation work. The third is filling the lathing on the walls. The lathing is made from wooden blocks. The width of the gaps between such bars is called the pitch. The step is calculated in accordance with the dimensions of the insulation material. If it is not there, it is set by the decision of the owners.
4. Stages 4 and 6 are relevant only for those who decided to insulate the balcony. Accordingly, at the fourth stage, the insulation is installed and fixed.
5. At the fifth stage, it is necessary to do a similar procedure with the floor as it was done with the walls.
6. Accordingly, at the sixth stage, the insulation in the floor is installed and fixed.
7. On top of everything, moisture-resistant plywood is laid. Its thickness should not be less than 10 cm.
8. Only at the eighth stage, the lining is mounted on the walls.
9. On the ninth, you need to do the installation of the ceiling.
10. Only on the tenth skirting boards are installed, corners and slopes are added.

For a deeper understanding of each stage, as well as the whole process, it is recommended to watch how to sheathe a balcony with clapboard with your own hands video.

Balcony insulation options

In general, any material that can be found in building materials stores or on the market is suitable for insulation. However, again there is a classification according to the level of insulation and the cost of insulation. The following are the main commercially available insulation materials.

• Styrofoam;
• mineral wool;
• extruded polystyrene foam;
• foil-clad polyethylene foam;
• foam glass;
• foam block.

Styrofoam

The cheapest insulation option. The disadvantages of such a heater are the possibility of mechanical damage, unnaturalness and the release of harmful chemicals. It is worth understanding all of them. Polyfoam can really be easily crushed, but it does not matter much under the clapboard. In this case, in order to damage the insulation, it will be necessary to completely break through the lining. With plastic it is not too difficult, but with a wooden one will have to try.

It is difficult to refute the unnaturalness of the foam. He is indeed a "child of chemical reactions", but it is completely safe. Chemical elements harmful to health are released by foam only if it burns. Otherwise, he is neutral. But this material insulates no worse than others. Therefore, in this case, the ratio of price to quality is the most optimal.

Mineral wool

This material is of the middle price category, however, it also has a number of disadvantages and, in a certain sense, is even inferior to foam. It is made of rocks, glass wool and slag, which is why it is completely natural. However, there are two types of such material. The first is that resin-based chemicals are used for the binding, which just leads to the conclusion that the material releases harmful chemicals. The second is quilted mats. There is no binder used, and therefore it is safe. Such material insulates well, however, it also absorbs moisture very well. It should be used only if it is possible to completely protect it from moisture.

Extruded polystyrene foam

Slightly above the average price category. However, the most optimal and profitable of all insulation materials. In addition, it has the makings of sound insulation. Has a system of locks, which eliminates the presence of cracks. Resistant to mechanical damage.

Foil polyethylene foam

It is rarely used as an insulating substance itself. However, it is suitable in such a role for southern countries where there are no severe frosts. Otherwise, it is an additional layer, for example, when using mineral wool.

Foam glass

There are several variations of this material. Manufactured in China, Belarus and Europe. The lowest quality is China, then Belarus and the highest quality is from the European manufacturer. Price accordingly. However, it is the best insulation you can find. Keeps temperature both in frost up to 250 degrees, and in appropriate heat, lightweight, does not deform and is not picky when laying it. Price is the only drawback.

Foam block

For insulation, you can use foam blocks, however, in order for them to insulate, their thickness should be from 30 cm. Given the small area of ​​the balcony in standard apartments, making such an insulation means simply taking half the area of ​​the room.

All of the above insulation can be used on any surface. If we draw conclusions about them, then foam plastic will be the budgetary and effective version, and foam glass will become the more expensive, but maximum effective version of the insulation.

How to do everything without mistakes

The most common question during repairs is how to properly sheathe a balcony with clapboard.After all, having finished, you can stumble upon curved walls, gaps, cracks and other shortcomings that were worth calculating when performing all stages.

In fact, if there is experience in the repair of other premises, then the balcony will not cause difficulties. The main thing is to understand the algorithm - first the frame is built, and then the lining is applied. The frame must be flat. The most important thing is to get the correct horizontal lines on each wall. That is, the first board. Since it is from her that the rest will be exhibited.

If the rules are followed, the frame is displayed as evenly as possible, it is possible to make a balcony without a single mistake.

Lathing

There are several important rules to remember about the crate. In fact, the crate is the installation of a frame for repair. In fact, this is the most important stage, in the presence of an error in which everything will go downhill.

The frame is made of wooden blocks. The height of such a bar depends on the thickness of the insulation, if any. That is, you need a block in the height of the insulation from the wall and another two centimeters more. This is to ensure sufficient air circulation. This "layer" of air allows you to keep both the insulation itself and the lining. These two materials require insulation from fungus and moisture. This clearance provides it.

The second secret of successful repairs is the correct direction of the lining and frame bars. If the lining is laid horizontally, then the frame bars must be laid vertically. If the lining is laid vertically, then it is necessary to lay the frame horizontally. That is, in any case, the frame and the skin itself must be strictly perpendicular to each other.

Installation

There are also a couple of important points for the installation of the lining itself. The lining is attached to the frame boards. That is why the sheathing and the frame are strictly perpendicular. Can be attached with nails, screws, using a construction stapler. Any option that is convenient for you will do. The main thing is not with glue.

The second point - the boards are attached to the frame through one. The second is inserted into the grooves of the first, thus fixing itself on the required surface. That is, you do not need to nail all the lining boards to the frame.

Lining processing

It is necessary to process not only the lining itself, but also the entire frame. For this, special antiseptic agents for wood are bought in building materials stores.

On such funds, instructions for their use are written immediately, since it can differ depending on the manufacturer of these funds.

It is recommended to process the lining itself with tonic antiseptics. Now most of the manufacturers of such tools present a huge range of colors. It is enough to choose one that suits the design of the apartment or the idea of ​​the household. Accordingly, the opening with an antiseptic occurs according to the instructions indicated on the purchased product.

Many are wondering which color is best to choose. It depends, among other things, on whether the balcony is on the sunny side of the house or not, that is, how much time per day the lining will succumb to the influence of sunlight.

For the darkened side, for a balcony that does not warm up for a long time in the sun, you can take dark shades, since they will not be afraid of fading, they will retain their color. And a dark chocolate color or dark burgundy has long been considered noble, especially if these are shades of wood paneling.

If the side of the house is sunny and the cladding will have to be under the sun for a long time, it is worth choosing antiseptics that slightly bleach the wood, that is, in general, choose light shades. Their advantage is that, unlike dark ones, they do not fade. And they look no less impressive than dark shades. So the interior of the balcony in a palette of colors should be thought out not only for reasons of your own preferences and the favorite colors of the household.

Balcony cladding clapboard - video