Waterproofing of the balcony: features and methods

A balcony or a loggia can be a great place to relax both in a private house and in an apartment of a multi-storey building. And to make the room comfortable, you need to provide not only an external comfort, but also a reliable waterproofing, which will be able to withstand a significant amount of precipitation. After all, the concrete or wooden base of the balcony itself allows moisture, and as a result, dampness or even fungus appears. And this, you must agree, does not have any to the family parties in the fresh air or arrangement of a magnificent winter garden.

In this case, even if the balcony in your house is open( not glazed) - this does not mean that the waterproofing of the floor, ceiling and roof is not needed.

Why there are leaks on the balcony

Most of all is at risk of leaking during rains and melting snow, of course, the ceiling of the balcony( even glazed).If there is a dry ceiling, then the floor will remain comfortable.

Why does the ceiling of the balcony or loggia become wet:

1. On the roof of the balcony, the waterproofing coating has become leaky. Especially such a problem is relevant for residents of old buildings, which have not been subjected to major repairs for a long time by the municipal services.
2. Even if the house is quite new, leakage may occur due to violation of waterproofing rules during glazing work. Therefore, even a balcony after a recent repair can soon become damp.
3. Often the cause of leaks is the lack of an upper drain system.
4. If during the installation of frames on the balcony the waterproofing between the windows and the ceiling is not considered, the puddles and dampness will not take long to wait.
5. If the house is old, then the reason for the leakage may be the deterioration of the balcony ceiling plate itself.

What is the waterproofing of the balcony

The owner of the balcony without waterproofing risks first of all by the fact that the walls and ceiling of the structure will be covered with mold or fungus. The most dangerous is the appearance of black mold: its spores, spreading through the air, enter the respiratory system of a person, provoking various diseases. Other types of mold can cause a persistent unpleasant odor. And even on the aesthetic side of the question, one does not even have to speak.

By being saturated with moisture, the interior trim elements of the balcony exfoliate and lose their original appearance. It may turn out that you have wasted a large sum of money for a cosmetic repair of the balcony.

Under the constant influence of dampness, the fastenings and metal structures of the balcony are slowly, but surely destroyed. Thus, after a decade, the design will simply become an emergency - it will lose its supporting functions.

What is waterproofing

Waterproofing is the creation of a special layer that will protect the balcony from the penetration of moisture and its destructive effect on other elements of the structure. With properly installed waterproofing, the service life, as well as the comfort of the room, increases many times.

In measures of waterproofing not only the roof of a balcony or a loggia needs. Moisture can come from below( from the floor), if the balcony or terrace is located on the first floor - from the basement or the ground. Actually, the balconies and balconies on the ground floor require particularly carefully thought-out measures of waterproofing, as well as warming and ventilation. And if your apartment is on the middle floor, the waterproofing will protect you from leaks from the neighboring balconies. The walls are prone to the destruction of moisture from the air, so the moisture repellent layer must protect the entire surface of the structure.

So, waterproofing is a dense and durable layer of special composition that has waterproof and water-repellent properties to protect the floor, ceiling and walls of rooms where there is a risk of moisture penetration from outside.

Preparing for the waterproofing of the balcony

First of all you should know that the construction norms assume the presence on the balconies, terraces and loggias of the minimum slope for the natural drain of water outside. But in order to protect themselves from stagnant water is not enough.

The area of ​​the balcony is small, and modern waterproofing materials are so simple to handle, then every homeowner who decided to repair this repair can cope with the repair. The main thing is to follow the instructions, competently and carefully handle the materials and not make any technological changes to the process if you are not completely sure of the success of your ideas.

The choice of material will also depend on how much you have the means and time to carry out repairs.

• first remove the old cover;
• inspect the base of the balcony: if it is concrete - then remove the puncher those parts that have become unusable;
• clean the surface of dirt( use a hard brush), as well as the remnants of assembly foam, glue or cement;
• treat and cover all cracks;
• from metal surfaces remove rust( it is better to use special chemical compounds);
• cover metal elements with anti-corrosive agent;
• level and rebuild the concrete base;
• identify the places on the roof of the balcony, through which moisture penetrates, and conduct their additional sealing;
• when all the preparatory work is done, you can cover the balcony with waterproofing materials.

Materials for balcony waterproofing

To solve the leakage problems in the construction market, there are a lot of materials that differ in the way they are applied: liquid( capable of forming an even and reliable seamless coating throughout the surface) and roll materials( membranes and films).

Please note that different types of waterproofing are used for different surfaces.

1. Oily waterproofing. It is a coating of paints based on bitumen. It is applied in several layers. It is used for metal structures in order to protect them from corrosion.
2. Plastered waterproofing. Also applied in several layers on a reinforced concrete surface.
3. Oak waterproofing. Installation consists in gluing surfaces with a special material.
4. Cast waterproofing. It is a layer 5 cm thick from mastic and asphalt mortar. By right it is considered the most reliable way to protect against moisture penetration.
5. Mountable waterproofing. Special sheets( metal or plastic) are attached directly to the walls of the building. This method is used when other materials can not be used for some reason.
6. Impregnated waterproofing. Special organic compounds are covered with porous or prefabricated structures, such as pipes, blocks or slabs.
7. Injection waterproofing. This method is chosen to seal joints or to repair the finished waterproofing layer. To do this, furan resins are introduced into the junctions or in the slots.

Secrets of successful waterproofing application

Primer. Before applying the liquid for waterproofing, it is necessary to primed the base. This will reduce its moisture-absorbing properties. Experts recommend the mineral formulations for the primer, which should be applied in 2 layers.

It is better to additionally secure joints of balcony slabs with sealing tapes or special flexible profiles. This will allow you to insure the most vulnerable areas of the structure.

Use liquid polyurethane compounds or two-component mineral mixtures for balconies( both open and closed).A huge plus of these modern materials in their elasticity: the layer is able to expand or contract with temperature fluctuations and at the same time not to give cracks.

For repair on a balcony, terrace or loggia, choose a clear day when the air temperature is between + 5 ° C and +25 ° C.Neither too much heat, nor frost will allow you to perform high-quality application of waterproofing products.

Liquid formulations should be applied in 2 coats. In this case, the first is allowed to dry and soak for 5-8 hours, and then the second is applied. After the composition is distributed over the surface, protect it from rain or direct sunlight for at least 2 hours.

Within 24 hours it will be possible to start installing the top cover, which will protect the waterproofing layer from mechanical damage.

Cast waterproofing of the balcony with your own hands

This is an equally reliable and rather expensive way of waterproofing. It is suitable for those who do not want to constantly return to the question of repairing the balcony, and is ready once and for a long time to make the construction dry, warm and suitable for family rest.

There are 2 methods for creating a cast moisture repellent layer: hot and cold. The work is quite simple. If you want, you can do it yourself, following the instructions.

"Hot" way:

• thoroughly clean the floor of the balcony: remove debris, dust and dirt;
• if you find cracks, be sure to cover them and allow the solution to dry;
• then dry the surface to be treated with hot air( you can use a building hair dryer for this);
• dilute the bitumen to a liquid state and well primetuntu prepared surface;
• set around the perimeter of the processing area of ​​the edge, the height of which is 30-40 cm;
• heat the mastic to + 135-145 ° C and pour it on the floor;
• using scrapers, level a layer of mastic, spreading it over the entire surface;
• to create a reliable waterproofing layer it is necessary to apply 2-3 layers of mass - the total thickness of the layer is 2.5 cm;
• if you want to impart additional strength to the coating, especially at the joints of the balcony slabs, use a metal mesh, with a mesh size of 5 mm, as the frame for the application.

"Cold" way. The principle of the work remains the same: cleaning, removal of cracks, priming, applying mastic. However, the mixture in this case is not heated, but applied in a cold form.

Soaking self-sealing waterproofing

As mentioned, this method is suitable for protecting metal, reinforced concrete surfaces, as well as polyurethane and brick. A thin( about 2 mm) two-layer coating is applied in one of the ways:

• is cold( a mixture based on rubber resin is used);
• is hot( a mixture based on bitumen and polymer varnishes is used).

Before proceeding with the application of a protective compound, clean the surface of the dust, remove corrosion marks, treat with degreasing solution, apply a primer of bitumen and mastic.

The very process of applying a lubricating waterproofing is very simple: with a roller or brush( as you prefer) spread the composition over the surface so that a thin but even layer is obtained.

Lining( or as it is called painting) waterproofing is very popular: each owner can easily apply the composition. In addition, the price of the material is low, and the service life will be 5-6 years, depending on the intensity of exposure to moisture. However, it is worthwhile to know that bitumen is destroyed when exposed to minus temperatures. Therefore, for exterior work, the painting waterproofing material is unlikely to work. The mixtures with inclusion of rubber and polymer components will be more reliable and reliable.

How to independently carry a waterproofing balcony

Such a proven method is suitable for both waterproofing wooden and concrete balcony. Perhaps, the technique is familiar to everyone who has ever been engaged in repair: special materials( sheet or roll) are glued to the surface in several layers.

However, the adhesive waterproofing is used less and less: it gives way to more advanced technologies. Among the shortcomings that you must know about:

• the surface is to be painstakingly treated before laying the material;
• the process of laying is rather labor-intensive: the material is heavy, its dimensions do not allow it to turn freely in a small area;
• material has a fairly strong and persistent odor that will persist for a while on your balcony;
• in the junction of material fragments, seams inevitably form, which eventually cause leakage;
• material is unstable to temperature fluctuations and begins to lose its qualities, besides it will not protect microorganisms from development either.

If the shortcomings of this method did not scare you and you decided to use it for waterproofing a balcony or a loggia, then first of all choose the kind of material:

1. Bitumen-polymer waterproofing( this kind includes the phylol and isoplast, bicroplast, and also ecarbite).
2. Bitumen-rolled waterproofing( for example, roofing material or insula).
3. Polymeric waterproofing( polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene or synthetic rubber).

Remember that such a waterproofing layer should be protected from loads, for example, using a concrete screed.

Plastered waterproofing of the balcony with their own hands

Special cement mortars and polymer mixtures are used as materials. Use this method of protection against moisture can be on any surface.

• clean the surface of the dust and seal seams and cracks;
• apply a primer and allow it to dry completely;
• prepare the plaster solution;
• apply the first layer of waterproofing composition( layer thickness 1-1.5 cm);
• pay special attention to the angles and joints during machining;
• wait for 30 minutes;
• when the first layer dries - apply a second one;
• need to make 3-4 layers;
• allow the solution to dry for several days, at this time avoid any mechanical effects on it;
• it is very important that during the hardening process the waterproofing layer does not dry out - moisten it with water from the spray gun every 3 hours for a day, and then 2-3 times a day for another 14 days.

Work on laying of roll material:

• on the prepared surface, it is necessary to distribute a layer( 1 mm) of bitumen mastic;
• to decompose the waterproofing material and fix it;
• to create multiple layers - repeat the procedure 2-3 times;The joints and edges of the
• should be treated.

Subtleties of the ceiling waterproofing and the roof of the balcony

The protection against leaks from above is carried out in the following order:

1. The roof is insulated with a roofing material( the material is necessarily overlapped).
2. Waterproof mastics are applied.
3. Installation of an additional roof( this is most often done on the upper floors).
4. Processing of joints.
5. Installation of a rainwater drainage system.
6. Internal waterproofing( ceiling treatment) in two layers - especially at the joints of slabs, ceiling and window frames, slabs and tile system. However, it is worthwhile to know that if the outer part of the roof is badly protected. That internal finishing works will not save you from leaking.

Waterproofing the balcony with your own hands: video