Since recently there has been a widespread trend of using a balcony as a living space, their owners are often faced with the question of how to make this room comfortable and cozy. This is especially important when the owners want to either set up a relaxation area for the whole family or a study on the balcony, organize their own mini-vegetable garden or small winter garden in this space, or attach it to a living room or kitchen. Not only the aesthetic side of the issue, but also practicality plays a great role in this matter. After all, the material must be environmentally friendly, meet sanitary and fire safety standards, and also durable.
To achieve a feeling of warmth and aesthetics on the balcony, it is not enough to simply insulate it and replace old and unnecessary trash with new furniture. Interior decoration is of great importance. Construction markets offer a huge selection of materials for finishing both externally and internally. But in this article we will talk about the block house, one of the most popular options for wall cladding.
Block house on the balcony - how did we come up with this material?
The very concept of “block house” came into our language recently from the distant West and translated from English means “block house”. In principle, abroad this term refers to frame buildings that can be assembled in a matter of weeks. However, in our case it is applicable only to the incredibly popular finishing material.
Russia has long been famous for its wooden houses, which have always been, are and will be a symbol of prosperity and excellent taste. True, not everyone can build such housing for themselves, and it is not always appropriate due to the weather conditions of the region or other factors. Therefore, it is necessary to erect brick buildings and cover them on the outside with materials that imitate wood. One of the options is a block house.
Facade surface preparation
Preliminary preparation is the most important stage of work, the thoroughness of which determines the durability and quality of service of the wall pie and cladding.
Procedure:
- Removal of all foreign objects, dismantling of air conditioners, drains, brackets, etc.
- Inspection and detection of all existing deficiencies.
- Removing old paint, peeling or crumbling areas. The surface must be completely monolithic and durable, all weak areas must be removed as much as possible.
- Filling potholes or dents caused by removing problem areas. Putty is used. If there are a large number of dents or their depth, continuous plastering of the surface is recommended.
- The last stage of the preparatory work is to apply a double layer of primer with intermediate drying according to the user instructions.
NOTE!
Under no circumstances should preparatory work be neglected. The condition of the walls should be as close to ideal as possible. After installation of the sheathing, there will be no access, control or change of the condition of the walls. All possible actions should be carried out in advance.
Decorating a balcony with a block house - all the pros and cons
This cladding material is one of the types of lining. Its inner surface is flat, and its outer surface is convex, thanks to which the appearance of a log house is created . The elements are connected to each other by means of tenons and grooves located on their edges. And thanks to the air ducts, the thermal insulation characteristics are improved and the voltage is reduced, which contributes to a longer service life. Basically, this construction and finishing material is obtained from coniferous species (larch, cedar, pine, spruce).
And regardless of what wood the block house is made from, the previously raw material undergoes deep drying until it reaches a moisture level of 15%. Thus, the boards become more resistant to cracking, rotting, twisting, and they are also absolutely not afraid of fungus. And thanks to its light weight and ease of installation, the material has found its application in various areas, both interior and exterior finishing work. Our attention in this article was drawn to the cladding of the balcony with a block house.
Installation technology for imitation timber panels
Practice shows that finishing with imitation timber can be done quite well by a person who does not have special skills and does not work in the construction industry. You can understand the installation technology simply by carefully reading the instructions or watching several video tutorials on the Internet. However, it should be remembered: in the process of cladding with imitation timber, it is very important to follow the technology. Only this will ensure the durability of the finish.
The process of installing block house panels includes the following steps:
- Protection against condensation . In order to avoid this problem, the surface of the walls facing the street is covered with a layer of film, a vapor barrier. Sheets can be secured with tape.
- Frame installation . This is an extremely important stage in the installation of imitation timber panels, which allows you to create a perfectly flat surface. To make the sheathing, use 2x5cm timber. It is mounted on the wall vertically. You need to make a border around the windows and doors, to which the board will be attached. Self-tapping screws or dowels are used to secure the frame.
- During the installation of the bars, you need to ensure that they correspond to the level . If one of the frame elements is uneven, it can be leveled by placing a plastic backing or a small board. Also, when installing imitation timber, it is important to remember that all frame parts must be in the same plane, only this will allow you to obtain a flat surface after finishing.
- Thermal insulation . Thermal insulation materials (expanded polystyrene, mineral or glass wool) should be installed between the frame parts (sheathing). This method of insulation is good because it allows you to preserve the internal area of the room as much as possible. Moreover, if the installation of imitation timber takes place in an open area (porch, terrace, loggia), then the owner can do without installing thermal insulation.
- Installation of panels . When starting to cover the surface, you should remember the main rule: the boards are installed with the tenon facing up. The first panel to be mounted is aligned strictly horizontally. Then the panels are joined to each other by placing the top panel on the bottom panel. Moreover, in order for the groove and tenon to connect well, the board can be slightly beaten with a rubber hammer. The blows should be applied carefully (you can put a beam on top) to avoid a tenon strip. The last board is often too wide and therefore it is cut with a saw or grinder.
You need to attach the imitation timber to the sheathing using special parts. They have a clamp that allows you to press the element to the frame. The fasteners must be installed carefully so that they are not visible after installation. For this you can use both nails and screws.
In some cases, the block house is attached to the frame directly without gluers. However, for this you will need special self-tapping screws, the heads of which will be easy to recess into the wood. In extreme cases, they can be covered with wood putty.
5.Joints. When installing imitation timber, joints are usually finished in two ways. The first involves accurately cutting down the boards and joining them; the second option allows you to seal the joint using a special plinth.
Covering the balcony of a block house - is it of great benefit?
When we hear this term, we immediately imagine panels that imitate a log house. And not everyone knows that there is a block house built under timber, both sides of which are equally flat. In addition, you can find such material made for eurolining. However, all these types differ from each other only in appearance, but the manufacturing technology and, accordingly, their characteristics are absolutely the same.
Even in the most “stone” building, using a block house on the balcony, you will get a corner of natural warmth. With its help, you can give even a nondescript room a unique design and create a wonderful interior, be it a large hall or a small hallway. The resin that coniferous trees are saturated with will be destructive to various insects, and the smell of pine needles will not only be good for health, but will also add comfort to the room.
Where to begin
A start has been made in solving theoretical issues, so let’s move on to practice.
- Remove all unnecessary trash from the balcony or loggia. It would be ideal to endure absolutely everything, because then you will be able to move around the entire plane without any problems.
- Clean the surface to be finished from unnecessary elements. This could be old sheathing, nails, hangers, or something similar.
- Seal all the cracks and holes so that the insulation process makes at least some sense. To do this, use ordinary glue-sealant. It will easily seal holes and prevent cold air from entering the room.
These three points are mandatory. Following them will save you time and effort when working.
Also, before purchasing materials, do not forget to carry out measuring and computational actions, the correctness of which will help save the contents of your wallet.
How to cover a balcony with a block house - instructions
From all of the above, it becomes clear why this building material is so incredibly popular. At the same time, installation is quite simple, and almost anyone can carry it out, even a person who has never dealt with construction before. To cover your balcony with a block house yourself, you should follow the instructions below.
Room decoration ideas
Today there are many ideas for using a block house in the interior. This material is often used in combination with bright paint or decorative plaster and wallpaper. Cladding with natural stone and finishing with panels will allow you to make high-quality repairs that you won’t have to think about for many years.
Wooden panels placed on one of the walls in the bedroom look especially beautiful. Thus, the sleeping area acquires an interesting design, combining style and utility at the same time. Wood fills the room with a pleasant aroma and creates an excellent environment for relaxation. A corner covered with a block house looks unusual in the bedroom interior. In order not to disturb the unity of the image, it is recommended to decorate the ceiling with boards. An interesting decor option can be obtained by decorating one of the bedroom walls with a block house and the other with clapboard.
If you need to create a Provence style, then it is best to use natural wood panels for interior decoration in the apartment, giving preference to light shades. In this case, the installation location for them can be not only a wall, but also ceilings or furniture. Thanks to the play of colors and the use of boards of different textures in the rooms, it is possible to create an environment that will resemble a merchant or noble house.
The living room is considered the face of the owners, so its design should be appropriate. To fill this room with chic and beauty, it is enough to cover the walls and ceiling with expensive wood. It is advisable to choose panels that imitate the natural pattern of an array in the form of knots. At the same time, one wall looks good covered with wooden panels, while the others are decorated with decorative plaster. This idea allows you to avoid monotony in the interior and fill the space with natural motifs.
The design of the corridor or hallway also occupies a special place in the interior. For these rooms, you can combine a block house with lining for wall cladding. The result will be an interesting transition in lines and colors. If the corridor and hallway are small, then you need to choose light shades of panels. Both brown and gray colors are suitable for this. If the area of these premises is large, then it is recommended to decorate them in a country style and try to use the maximum number of colors in the cladding. A combination of wooden panels with metal, stone and glass is also allowed for cladding the walls of the corridor.
The block house has also found its place in kitchen decor. For this room, you can choose boards of different colors. Kitchens in Provence and Catri styles look especially elegant. The block house is installed on walls, ceilings, partitions are made from it and all surfaces are painted with warm colors. An original solution would be to treat the boards in an antiqued manner, after which they will become rough and cracked. If the kitchen is decorated in the “Russian hut” style, then its interior can be diluted with artistic painting.
In the interior of the bathroom, it is important to create a feeling of coziness and comfort, therefore, when covering the walls and ceiling, you need to choose the right color of the block house. Chocolate, white, gray, beige and tar-black shades of wood will look good in the bathroom
In this case, the decorative finish should be supplemented with carvings and patterns. In addition, cool or neutral shades can be used in the bathroom interior. It is best to install the block house in this room on one of the walls, and also decorate the washbasin area with paneling
It is worth paying attention to the fact that the color of the furniture, ceiling and flooring should be in harmony with the wooden panels
You can learn more about the block house for interior decoration from the following video.
Popular ideas for organizing space
Combined layout
If the room area is sufficient, you can organize a multifunctional space - combining a recreation area and storage area.
Two functional areas on one area (storage and rest).
The bed design is equipped with a special place for storing items.
The main requirement of the layout is to arrange spacious cabinets in such a way that it is convenient to move.
An original solution for the interior is the installation of a hanging chair model. The number of chairs depends on personal preferences and the size of the loggia.
Interior for relaxation
When arranging a room for the purpose of relaxation, create an additional sleeping place, install a sofa or purchase wicker chairs. Not only an ottoman or a bed is suitable for organizing a place to sleep. A hammock or hanging bed structure would also be a good solution.
A comfortable chair in which you can relax and read a book.
The main condition: the choice of furniture should take into account the availability of free space and not clutter up the space.
Greenhouse in the balcony space
To properly organize a flower garden, various designs, stands and shelves are needed.
If you carefully insulate your balcony, you can grow and breed flowers all year round. At the initial stage, you should consider arranging the plants in such a way as to create an effective composition.
In order for plants to grow and develop well, sunlight must penetrate unhindered, shadow from neighboring flowers should be excluded as much as possible.
Storage area on the loggia
In order to make the most of the space, you need to purchase roomy but compact furniture.
Often the area of balconies is small, so when arranging it, it is advisable to choose built-in furniture. Basically, niches, racks, shelves, cabinets and cabinets are used to fill space. Thanks to the built-in models, you can use every corner. As a rule, such designs are created according to specific sizes (to order).
The space under the window sill is used for storage.
Spacious wardrobe made to order according to individual sizes.
Office or workplace
Sewing workstation.
A mini-office that does not take up space in the main part of the apartment.
The most important point is to properly organize the lighting in the office. In the evening, artificial light sources are needed. For comfortable work, you should also block the sun's rays with blinds.
If the room is small, pay attention to a light range of shades when decorating the interior. Artist's workshop
Artist's workshop.
Bar
The bar counter with chairs can be placed on the loggia. This option will allow you to enjoy the view from the window while enjoying a cup of tea. This layout does not depend on the size of the room. Most often, the bar countertop is a continuation of the window sill.
A bar counter overlooking the city at night is an ideal option for evening leisure.
Photo from onliner.by
Sports section
Gym on the loggia.
Equipment for sports training.
In order to organize sports activities at home, the balcony area is quite suitable. Here you can place an exercise bike or treadmill. If the room is spacious, you can make a full-fledged gym if you wish, equipping the area with the necessary equipment.
Flooring options for exercise equipment: carpet with high-stiffness pile, linoleum, laminate slats.
