The idea of ​​bringing the loggia into a decent appearance often visits many apartment owners. But this idea can end disastrously, especially if you trust bad specialists or do the repairs yourself without preparation. It's all about the maximum permissible load on the balcony slab. If you do not correctly calculate the weight of building materials, the slab may collapse.

This is especially true for owners of old Khrushchev-era apartment buildings with an open balcony. Age and atmospheric influences have taken their toll, reducing the permissible load by half.

What determines the permissible weight for a balcony?

Permissible load on reinforced concrete structures determined by SNiP standards. According to the standards - for a loggia it is 400 kg/m2, and for open balconies- 200 kg/m2. But according to the current law, permissible weight per slab should not exceed 112 kg/m2

And this does not take into account the decrease in concrete strength during operation. For example, experts estimate the load that a Khrushchev-era balcony can withstand at 50 kg/m2.

You can, of course, not take these numbers at face value, but there are plenty of examples of collapses. Especially in old residential buildings. Therefore, you should not start remodeling the balcony without calculations and consultation with a specialist.

In order to determine how much weight a balcony can support, you need to consider the following factors:

• Type of plate and its dimensions.
• Type of connection to the wall.
• The degree of destruction of the slab.
• Condition of the reinforcement in the slab.
• Type of balcony, presence of reinforcement.
• Age of construction.
• Quality of materials and work.

The difference between a loggia and a balcony

The owners of apartments with loggias were much more fortunate. Due to the fact that they have a higher permissible load on the slab, it is much easier to do DIY repairs on it than on the balcony.

The design of the loggia assumes that it has three enclosing walls, while the balcony has only one - the back one and hangs above the ground. And the loggia is located in a niche of the building and rests on the lower floors, so it is easier to turn it into a full-fledged room.

Even when calculating the area of ​​an apartment, the loggia is valued more - a coefficient of 0.5 is applied to it, and 0.3 to balconies.

If the loggia has a size of 300*140 cm, then the maximum permissible load will be 1700 kg. True, SNiP does not take into account the aging of the material, so it is not recommended to load the slab to the maximum. It's better to take away from limit value about 30%.

Types of balconies and their fastenings

There are three types of balconies:

• Console. His only support is front wall house in which the balcony slab is fixed.
• Added. Very reliable design, supported on the sides by racks. A foundation is made for them on the ground.
• Balcony-loggia. Relatively new look balconies, used in new buildings. Allows you to create large loggias.

Methods for attaching a balcony to a house

Depending on the design of the house, there are several options for attaching balcony slabs:

• End fastening. Applicable in panel house. The slab extends 300 mm inside the wall. This provides it with sufficient strength. In the case of combining a loggia with a living room, you cannot touch the common wall - if it is removed, the slab will collapse over time.
• Groove fastening. Balconies in Khrushchev buildings are attached to the groove. The size of the slab's entry into the wall is 226 mm. This is the minimum acceptable value. Therefore, combining a balcony with a living room in a Khrushchev building is out of the question. Even simple repairs should be started after consultation with specialists, because... These slabs can withstand light loads.
• Into the massive wall. Used in a brick house. Due to the specifics brickwork, the slab widens towards the base and narrows towards the edge. By the way, this design creates additional support on the wall, so the slabs brick houses they sag less and withstand greater loads compared to panel ones.

Balcony repair

The most common problems with loggias and balconies are roof leaks and slab destruction. All this can be easily fixed with your own hands. But there are times when specialist intervention is required. According to the degree of complexity, loggia repairs are divided into:

• Cosmetic repairs. Includes finishing and preventive work, not affecting structural elements. It is quite possible to do it yourself.
• Major renovation. May require documentation approval. Includes changing fences, strengthening the structure, increasing the size of the loggia.
• Emergency. Done when there is a risk of collapse. Needs replacement load-bearing structure. Such repairs must be carried out management company or a specialized organization.

Any balcony requires periodic light repairs. If you don’t do it, sooner or later you will need an emergency one.

To overhaul a balcony with your own hands, it is advisable to choose lightweight, moisture-resistant materials. And it’s better not to save on them, since the small size of the room will not require large investments. It is very important to take into account specific gravity materials during prolonged exposure to a humid environment. Otherwise, 1 kg of a wall at the beginning of repairs can turn into 2 kg after six months of its use.

Suitable option for parapet light metal or wooden frame, with foam insulation. It’s easy to make a wooden one with your own hands, and a metal one can be a good way to strengthen the balcony.

SIP panels are also a good choice:

• Moisture resistant.
• Warm.
• Smooth - they are easy to finish.
• Weight of 1 m2 is about 15 kg.

For floor repair, one of best options There will be a construction of expanded clay concrete screed with reinforcement without additional reinforcement. But such option will do, if corrosion of reinforcement does not exceed 10%.

If the slab is old and without reinforcement, it is better to use for finishing:

• Plastic panels - weigh 0.5 −1.5 kg/m2.
• Siding - 1-2 kg/m2
• Wooden lining - 6-10 kg/m2.
• Corrugated sheeting - 5-10 kg/m2

The plate will withstand such materials without problems.

Strengthening the balcony

If the loggia is in disrepair, you can do without replacing the balcony slab; you can strengthen it. You can do this yourself, and there are several options:

• Use of supports. Suitable for lower floors. At the outer corners of the slab, stands are placed that rest against the ground. Typically, this option makes it possible to increase the size of the loggia. Requires a reliable foundation for supports. The downside is that the foundation can sag, so it must be strong enough.
• Bottom cuts. Metal brackets are attached under the slab, resting against the walls. If you add additional channel lining and reinforcement to the slab, you can increase its size.
• Upper cuts. A groove is made along the perimeter of the slab, the slopes are welded to the reinforcement and attached to the wall. To seal the grooves, frost-resistant concrete must be used.

If the slab is still strong, you can get by with making piping around the perimeter and additional reinforcement. A steel angle or channel is used for strapping.

Carrying out such work does not simply restore the structure. Thanks to the increased load capacity, the balcony can be turned into a full-fledged room. Yes and a circle finishing materials expands significantly - it is no longer so important what their weight is.

You need to understand that repairing a loggia is much more important than repairing any other living room. Making any changes requires engineering precision - the cost of error can be enormous. This is the very case when it is very useful to remember the rule - “Measure seven times - cut once.” Better yet, consult a specialist. It’s simply impossible to do otherwise.

Balconies in Khrushchev-era houses, which were designed for a service life of 15–20 years, after this time often become dangerous for further use. Therefore, repairing a balcony slab is the only way to ensure safety, not only for yourself, but also for your neighbors below, if the balcony is located in a panel house on the second floor or higher. Such repairs involve either a complete replacement of the slab or its high-quality strengthening. Sometimes it is possible to make the necessary changes in the design yourself.

Standard dimensions of balcony slabs:

• Length, mm – 3275;
• Width, mm – 800;
• Thickness, mm 150…220 ( different thickness balcony slab is associated with different series of Khrushchev-era buildings that were erected).

In addition, they produce concrete slabs for balconies with a length range from 1200 mm to 7200 mm, with a width of 1200...1800 mm.

Loggia slabs have the same characteristics. The parameters of these products are regulated by GOST 25697-83, according to which they are divided into three groups:

1. 1 Flat solid beam type (PB). In the monolithic version, they are part of the ceiling;
2. 2 Flat solid cantilever type (PBK). They are used only in Khrushchev-era buildings with heavy walls that can withstand a load of at least 110 kg/m2;
3. 3 Ribbed cantilever type (PBR).

If you do a basic calculation of a balcony slab, you can come to the conclusion that in the latter version, the presence of stiffeners in the design of the product increases the permissible loads. However, over time, strengthening the balcony slab becomes relevant for these cases.

Installation of balcony slabs in a panel house

The installation technology is determined by the material from which the walls of the building are constructed. For brick walls, embedding is carried out in a niche limited by reinforced concrete backing elements to a depth of at least 300 mm. In Khrushchev-era buildings, balcony slabs were clamped between blocks and then connected to them by welding. For this purpose, special anchor bolts are provided in the reinforcement frame.

You can strengthen the balcony in the following ways:

• Extending the balcony along the base of the slab without replacing it;
• Strengthening a balcony slab by reinforcing it;
• Complete replacement of a product that has become unusable when deadline the product has expired and reinforcement of the balcony is impossible;
• Strengthening the balcony parapet, for which its design is changed - the thickness of the rod, or its cross-section.

It is worth noting that it is theoretically possible to repair a balcony slab in a Khrushchev building with your own hands, but it is very dangerous, since it should be done exact calculation all arising loads and overturning moments. Not only the structure itself, for example, the dimensions of the console to be embedded, but also the attachment point for the console to the wall must be calculated. Most affordable option structures - embedding support slopes into the wall, which are welded to the lower plane of the balcony slab. From the point of view of structural mechanics, installing substitution struts from below is considered a more reliable option.

Important! It is mandatory to have the written consent of the neighbors below in the case of installing a strut when restoring a concrete slab.

Installation of new balcony slabs is carried out only after the walls have been erected and the ceiling of the next floor has been installed. The product to be installed is lifted by a crane, a so-called mortar bed is placed in the groove, after which the part is laid by the installers strictly according to the markings, with a slight (no more than 1 0) slope in the opposite direction. The horizontal position of the installation is checked by a couple building levels, and the presence of a longitudinal slope is unacceptable. Next, the steel parts of the slab and the embedded parts are welded, the slab is anchored, and only after that the slings that held the balcony slab during installation are removed. This is done in the case when the width of the existing, still functional balcony is insufficient.

How to strengthen a balcony without replacing the balcony slab

Repair and strengthening of the balcony structure in Khrushchev is carried out in several ways:

• To reinforce a slab that is partially destroyed from below in order to extend its service life, the product is treated with concrete contact along the lower plane. However, the width cannot be changed. This restoration method is suitable only when no more than 10% of the main size of the reinforcement is affected by corrosion. This kind of work can be done with your own hands, not forgetting the safety rules.
• Strengthening balconies by installing an additional plate end-to-end with the bottom one, followed by welding the elements steel reinforcement among themselves. This option is only possible for concrete walls.
• Do-it-yourself installation of additional side slopes. In this way, you can repair a balcony if the load on it is expected to increase, for example, as a result of glazing. The attachment point for balcony slabs in this case is the diameter of the jibs, the size of the anchors, and the method of installing them in the wall must be agreed upon with specialists. For buildings that are communally owned, an expert opinion will be required.
• Strengthening the balcony by replacing the parapet and/or railings. This method is often used when installing a glazing frame, especially if it is made of metal. This also needs to be done in case of obvious loss of parapet stability, and the process is quite accessible to do it yourself.

Advice! It is safer to do any restoration of the slab with your own hands from below, being in the cradle of the lift, and not on a safety rope attached to the balcony itself.

The base of any balcony is a slab, in old houses it is stone, and in more modern houses it is reinforced concrete. There are projects that use prefabricated balcony slabs - the size of the loggia is determined by the area of ​​the installed slabs.

Like everyone else building materials, the slabs at the base of the balcony are susceptible to destruction. This material will discuss the stages of repairing a slab or its complete replacement in case of complete wear.

IN standard houses For the balconies they used standard slabs six meters long and twenty meters wide. As a rule, there are two loggias on one slab, separated by a partition. At the base of a corner balcony, most often, there are two slabs resting on two adjacent walls.

In modern new buildings you can see balconies of unusual shapes that differ from standard shapes and dimensions. When implementing such projects, it is necessary to use slabs made according to special “patterns”.

Types of balconies and features of installation of slabs

A balcony is usually called an open area that is adjacent to the wall on only one side, and is closed on the other sides by a fence.

As a rule, the installation of balcony slabs is carried out after the construction of the walls of the house has been completed and the ceiling has been laid above the floor below. Installation of slabs must be preceded by careful marking of their location.

The installation process takes place in several stages:

• First, so-called lighthouse slabs are installed, placing them along the edges of the building.
• Between the lighthouse slabs along their upper edge, the mooring tension is carried out.
• The prepared balcony slab is lifted by crane to the installation site.
• The mortar bed for laying the slab is leveled using a trowel.
• The slab is laid in place by two installers, constantly monitoring the correctness of its lowering, focusing on the mooring cord.
• The slab is laid strictly horizontally or with a slight (1 - 1.5%) slope in outer side.
• The horizontality of the slab is checked by two levels laid perpendicular to each other.
• If a slope is detected in the longitudinal direction, you have to raise the slab and lower it again, replacing the mortar bed first. When detecting a slope in inner side The situation can be corrected by installing temporary rods.
• As a rule, concrete slabs are strengthened by welding steel rods of floor slabs and balconies.
• The slings with which the balcony slab was lifted may be removed only after its position has been finally verified and the embedded parts have been welded to the anchors.

Technical requirements for the installation of balcony slabs

Control installation work is maintained in accordance with SNiP series 3.03.01-87, namely:

• The difference between the floor level in the room and the plane of the balcony slab should not exceed 80-100 mm.
• Slab slope relative to outer wall should not exceed two percent.

For the construction of balconies it is allowed to use the following materials:

• Reinforced concrete slabs complying with GOST 25697-83*.
• Reinforced concrete lintels (used in the construction of balconies in brick houses), corresponding to GOST 948-84.

It is allowed to use jumpers that have a technological slope along the side and end faces, the dimensions of the permissible slopes are:

• Up to 8 mm. in width.
• Up to 20 mm. in length.

Installation of balcony slabs

Over time, the balcony slab may begin to deteriorate, which means it will need to be repaired.

In addition to the time factor destructive effect The following moments can affect the balcony slab:

• The presence of a reverse slope of the slab, that is, errors made during installation.
• Absence of drains and drips at the bottom of the slab.
• Excessive load on the balcony slab, which causes cracks to form.

Particularly dangerous are cracks located perpendicular to the reinforcement bars located inside the slab.

• Lack of enclosing screens protecting the slab from penetration of atmospheric moisture.

Who is responsible for repairing balconies?

Some confusion in the legislation does not allow us to accurately answer the question of who should repair collapsing balconies. The fact is that in privatized apartments the owner is responsible for the safety of the property, while the property classified as common property is repaired at the expense of the management company.

Since there is no clear definition of whether balcony slabs belong to one or another category of property, disagreements often arise between utility companies and homeowners.

What repairs of loggias and balconies should be performed depends on the degree of destruction of the balcony slab. In simple cases, it is enough to perform a new concrete screed, in complex cases – required major renovation.

Major reconstruction of the balcony

In case of significant damage, it is necessary to replace the balcony slab or strengthen it. As a rule, such repairs are required in houses that have been in use for 40 years or more.

It is extremely difficult for an ignorant person to determine the degree of destruction of a balcony slab.

Therefore, assessing defects and carrying out repairs should only be entrusted to professionals, because the safety of residents depends on how competently the repair of a balcony slab is carried out.

If cracks have formed on the slab, you should not try to correct the situation by covering them with mortar, since the degree of corrosion destruction of the reinforcement located inside the slab remains unknown.

In this case, a major overhaul is required, during which the attachment point for the balcony slab will be additionally strengthened by installing additional metal elements.

The work goes like this:

• Old concrete is knocked off (if it is weak and crumbles).
• A supporting metal frame is placed under the bottom of the slab, which is attached to the walls of the building.
• The slab is restored by pouring a new concrete screed.

Strengthening the slab

If the slab is slightly damaged (for example, if only the corners have crumbled), the slab can be reinforced. This process involves installing a metal frame around the perimeter of the existing slab. The frame is fixed to the load-bearing wall.

Reconstruction of fences

Another type of repair is replacing the fence. In old houses this element appears as metal structures that have severe corrosion at the point of attachment to the slab. Therefore, if there are plans to implement, for example), you will need to completely replace the fence.

If desired, when replacing the fence, you can slightly expand the balcony by tilting the fence panel by 30 cm. This technique allows you to install a window sill on the balcony after glazing, which can be used as an additional shelf, for example, to place boxes and flower pots .

However, work to expand the balcony space should only be carried out by professionals, since it requires precise calculations and adherence to technology.

Conclusions

So, in order to ensure complete safety of used balconies, it is necessary to competently carry out repairs and install balcony slabs - GOST and SNiP regulate all stages of work and requirements for the quality of materials used. Carrying out capital work is a serious task that should only be trusted to professional builders.

Contents of the issue
Explanatory note
Options common types balconies. Marking of parts
Installation diagram of a balcony (single). Marking of parts
Installation diagram of a balcony made of two or more slabs. Marking of parts
Installation diagram for attaching balcony slabs to lintel anchors in brick walls. Marking of parts
Mounting in brick wall balcony slab located along the axis of the opening. Detail 1
Fastening a balcony slab located along the axis of the opening into a brick wall. Detail 2
Fastening a balcony slab into a brick wall, shifted relative to the axis of the opening. Detail 3
Fastening a balcony slab into a brick wall, shifted relative to the axis of the opening. Detail 4
Fastening a balcony slab to a wall made of large lightweight concrete blocks. Detail 5
Joint of balcony slabs. Detail 6
Joint of balcony slabs with installation of floor-high dividing walls. Detail 7
Options for attaching fence posts to a balcony slab. Details 8, 8a, 9
Corner fastening of a conventional balcony railing. Detail 10
Corner fastening of a reinforced balcony railing. Detail 11
Joint of reinforced handrails of balcony railings. Part 12
The junction of the usual handrails of the fences of two balconies with the installation of a dividing wall. Detail 13
The junction of reinforced handrails of the fences of two balconies with the installation of a dividing wall. Part 14
Attaching a dividing wall or side screen to a brick wall. Part 15
Attaching a balcony railing to a brick wall. Detail 16
Attaching a dividing wall or side screen to a wall made of large lightweight concrete blocks. Detail 17
Fastening a balcony fencing to a wall made of large lightweight concrete blocks. Detail 18
Fastening screens made of sheet materials to a metal balcony fence. Marking of parts. Part 19, 20
Fastening a lowered screen made of sheet materials to a metal balcony fence. Detail 21
Scheme of fastening the armored glass screen (in a frame of corners) to the metal balcony railing. Marking of parts
Tying a reinforced glass screen to the outer post of a metal balcony fence Detail 22
Joint of armored glass screens. Detail 23
Attaching a reinforced glass screen to a metal balcony railing. Top knot. Part 24
Attaching a reinforced glass screen to a metal balcony railing. Bottom node. Part 25
Fastening armored glass to the frame. Part 26, 27
Installation diagram for attaching the side screen to the slab and balcony railing. Marking of parts
Attaching the side screen to the slab and balcony railing. Parts 28, 29, 30, 31
Attaching the side screen to the balcony slab. Parts 32, 33, 34
Attaching a wooden decorative lattice to the crowning balcony slab. Parts 35, 36
Decorative fastening wooden lattice to the balcony railing. Details 37
Joint of decorative wooden gratings in height. Part 38
Attaching the bottom link of a decorative wooden lattice to the fence. Part 39
Installation diagram of metal flower beds on the fence. Marking of parts
Attaching a metal flower bowl to a fence. Part 40, 41
Attaching a metal flower bowl to a fence. Part 42, 43
Installation of the block balcony door(separate carpentry) in a brick wall. Details 44
Installation of a balcony door block (paired joinery) in a brick wall. Details 45
Installation of a balcony door block (separate carpentry) in a wall made of large lightweight concrete blocks. Details 46
Installation of a balcony door block (paired joinery) in a wall made of large lightweight concrete blocks. Details 47
Installation of floors and sealing of waterproofing on balcony slabs. Parts 48, 49, 50, 51, 52
Options for general types of loggias. Part Markings
Installation diagram of loggias. Part Markings
Cuts 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4. Marking of parts
Attaching loggia fencing. Part 53
Fastening loggia fencing to a brick wall. Part 54
Brick fencing for loggias. Cuts 1-1; 2-2. Marking of parts
Brick fencing for loggias. Fastening the frame and plaster mesh. Parts 55, 56, 57
Installation diagram of a symmetrical bay window. Marking of parts
Fastening the expanded clay concrete slab of a symmetrical bay window to the floor panels. Parts 58, 59
Installation of a balcony door block (paired joinery) on a bay window slab. Parts 60, 61, 62
Installation diagram of an asymmetric bay window. Marking of parts
Fastening an expanded clay concrete slab of an asymmetric bay window to the floor panels. Details 63
Fastening the bay window slab above the 1st floor. Part 64
Cut in 3-3. Installation of a balcony door block (paired joinery) on a bay window slab. Parts 65, 66, 67

The installation of balcony slabs begins along the entire length of the section after the walls have been erected and the ceiling has been laid above the floor. Installation begins with the installation of lighthouse plates along the edges of the grip. To do this, mark the position of the balcony slab on the ceiling and fix it with marks. On subsequent floors, the position of the marks is additionally controlled along the balcony of the underlying floor, using a plumb line for this. After installing the lighthouse slabs, pull the wire mooring cord along their outer upper edge to the length of the entire grip and install the remaining slabs along it. The slabs are usually slung with a four-leg sling. The mortar bed is leveled with a trowel, not bringing it 20...30 mm to the edge of the wall.

Balcony slabs are laid by two installers, monitoring the correct lowering of the slab along the risks and the mooring cord. The slab should be laid horizontally or with a slight slope towards the free end. The horizontality of the slab is checked by laying a rule with a level in two mutually perpendicular directions. When sloped in the longitudinal direction, the slab is raised and lowered again, replacing the mortar bed. The slope towards the building is eliminated when installing temporary racks or rods.

Rice. 120. Temporary fastening of the balcony slab with a strut:
1 - balcony slab, 2 - stand

Temporary fastenings (Fig. 120) are installed immediately after laying the slab. To do this, the racks 2 are placed on the balcony of the underlying floor and, using a screw spacer, they support the mounted slab 1. The position of the slab is adjusted by changing the length of the rack with a tension coupling 2. The slab remains suspended on the hook of the mounting mechanism until complete installation temporary fastening until the position of the slab is finally verified and the embedded parts are welded to the anchors.

Balcony slabs are usually secured by welding steel rods to the mounting loops of the floor and balcony slabs.