A balcony is not only a decoration for any home and comfortable area rest, but also perfect place for storing small household items. Repairing a balcony slab or strengthening it requires knowledge of the structure of the wall of the building itself, and also depends on the material that was used in the construction of the house.

The main types of slabs used for balconies and their features

A balcony is a slab that protrudes some distance from the wall of the building. For security purposes, it is fenced with railings along the entire perimeter. A balcony is a structure that includes a horizontal base plate, fastenings and fencing.

Today there are several types balcony slabs, which differ in design:

Many people believe that all slabs are a continuation of the floor, but this is not entirely true. When building a balcony, a wide variety of fastening methods are used:

• Use of additional support. It is mounted on the ground floor, as it requires the presence of external steel, reinforced concrete or wooden support, fixed on the ground;
• Pinching in the structure of the wall of the house. A cantilever plate is used;
• Suspension to load-bearing walls balcony platform;
• In frame buildings, the support rests on the consoles interior walls or columns. In this case, there is no load on the wall.
• In panel-type houses, for example, in Khrushchev, balcony slabs are used with floors and supported on reinforced concrete structures.
• Installation in a brick building is carried out by pinching it into the facade of the house. Overhead and underlay elements made of reinforced concrete are walled into it. They make up a niche for the stove. The edge that is adjacent to the wall is thickened. A fairly large entry into the wall of the building is required. It must be welded using steel anchors to reinforced concrete elements.

The main reasons for the destruction of the balcony

As practice shows, the main reason why balconies collapse is depressurization of joints and violation of waterproofing. As a result, moisture enters the room, forming condensation, from which mold appears.

In addition, moisture can act on reinforced concrete, penetrating into it and causing corrosion on the reinforcement. The age of concrete directly depends on the penetrating ability of water – the older it is, the easier it is for moisture to penetrate inside. Corroded reinforcement loses its load-bearing capacity and expands, which causes a deterioration in the load-bearing capacity of concrete.

Also, the destruction of the base of the balcony is caused by high pressure on the slab, sudden changes in temperature and a long absence of capital and current repairs, as for example, in Khrushchev.

The reasons for the destruction of balconies can be errors made during installation. These include: the presence of a reverse slope of the slabs, the absence of drips and drains in the lower part of the concrete slab and the absence of protective screens protecting the slab from moisture penetration.

There are 2 stages of destruction of the base of the balcony:

• The first includes minor destruction when it is necessary to strengthen the slab. Such destruction occurs in houses whose age is approaching 40 years. You can do it yourself, as this is a minor repair. For example, in cases of crumbling corners.
• The second stage is the destructive appearance of the object. These include the collapse of part of the balcony, the appearance of cracks at the junction with the wall, open sections of reinforcement, destruction is observed in the upper layer of the platform or detachment in its lower part.

Who should repair the stove?

Due to the fact that in regulations it is not stated what the balcony is (living area or part load-bearing structure), it is impossible to clearly answer the question of who to contact and who is responsible for the repairs. IN ideal the balcony slab must be replaced and strengthened Management Company, but the railings and parapet are the owner of the apartment himself. However, it is impossible to accurately answer the question at whose expense the repairs are being carried out. On this basis, disagreements very often arise between apartment residents and the management organization.

If the fact of destruction of the integrity of the slab has been noticed, then you should write a statement to the management company. This document is signed by a specialist and recorded in the appropriate journal. A good reinforcement of your words would be an application in the form of several photographs of a destroyed balcony. Neighbors who live on the floor below must leave their signatures on the corresponding application. The next step will be a decision on further actions. You can wait for utilities, or you can carry out repairs with your own hands or with the help of construction crews. In the latter case, an estimate is needed in order to receive a recalculation of the rent in the future. If none of the options are suitable, you can safely go to court.

Balcony restoration stages

In order to carry out repairs with your own hands, for example, in a Khrushchev building, you need to know in what sequence and what to do.

• The first stage will be preparation for repairs - clear the balcony of debris, remove everything extra items, remove crumbled concrete.
• Exposed parts of the fittings must be cleaned of rust. The first layer is easy to remove, but the lower ones need to be processed special means.
• The mesh of reinforcement is attached to the slab with dowels. So that it lies in the concrete screed, leave a small gap between the mesh and the plate. Formwork boards are fixed around the entire perimeter of the board.
• Next, you need to prepare a solution consisting of cement and sand, which will be poured onto the reinforcement. Subsequently, the screed is covered with cement and rubbed, that is, “ironized.” It is important to remember that the thickness of the screed is twice or more times the thickness of the mesh.
• The surface located below should be treated with a primer and plastered a little later.

If the reinforcement cage is more corroded, the best solution would be to strengthen the slab. Here it is necessary to carry out a set of preparatory measures.

• The first step is to install steel beams on the sides of the platform and secure them to the wall with a console. Weld the mesh to them and begin pouring concrete, the process of which was described above.
• Finishing repair work the surface should be waterproofed. Coating or roll-type materials are suitable for this purpose.

Conclusion

So, if you do the repairs yourself, you should remember that this is not an easy task. This largely depends on the degree of destruction of the balcony. Some things you can do yourself, but others you can entrust to professionals. construction crews. To avoid mistakes, it is recommended to carefully check the degree of wear of a certain element. If you have no experience in this matter, then it is better to contact an appraiser.

A balcony is a decoration for any home, as well as an excellent area for relaxation and performing small chores. Strengthening and repairing a balcony slab on the wall structure of a building has its own characteristics and depends on the material of the building itself.

Features of fastening balcony slabs

People ignorant of construction believe that a balcony slab is a protrusion of a floor slab. This is far from true. In construction, a wide variety of methods for attaching balcony slabs are used:

• clamping or pinching in a structure outer wall building;
• use of cantilever floor slab;
• resting on consoles of columns or consoles of internal walls (in frame buildings);
• hanging a balcony slab from internal load-bearing transverse walls or from the ceiling;
• resting on attached reinforced concrete, steel or wooden structures.

In brick buildings, the balcony slab is strengthened using the pinching method. Reinforced concrete overhead and underlay elements are walled into the outer wall of the building, which form a niche for the balcony slab. The edge of the slab adjacent to the outer wall must be thickened. In cases with brick houses, the entry of the balcony slab into the wall is quite large. The slab must be welded to reinforced concrete elements using steel anchors.

In panel-type houses, balcony slabs rest on reinforced concrete structures using ceilings. Strengthening the balcony slab in frame buildings is carried out using beam technology. In this case, there is no load on the building wall, since the balcony slab rests on column consoles.

Why not a solid slab?

It would seem that it is really impossible to make floor slabs with a projection for the balcony? After all, a whole product is always stronger. But this method will shorten the lifespan of not only the balcony, but the entire house. Corrosion of the reinforcement will penetrate deep into the slab, and the ceiling will lose strength. This threatens emergency conditions and demolition of the house.

What if you pass the balcony slab through the wall?

It seems that the support area in this case will be larger. But building construction cannot withstand long-term multidirectional loads. If a balcony slab is passed through a wall, its inner edge will press on the wall, trying to lift it. This situation threatens sudden catastrophic destruction.

In what cases is repair of a balcony slab required?

There are several types of repair of balcony slabs:

• small;
• average;
• emergency;
• capital.

Important: Remember, it is difficult for an ignorant person to determine how damaged the balcony slab is. Defect assessments should be carried out by professionals.

If cracks appear on the surface of the balcony slab, do not cover them with mortar. In this case, it is necessary to determine the degree of corrosion damage to the reinforcement. The cracks may be very deep, which will not be noticeable with outside. If minor damage turns out to be shallow, then minor and medium repairs can be done independently.

Necessity overhaul balcony slab is visible to the naked eye. This is indicated by the destructive appearance and large cracks throughout the slab. Capital or emergency repair Balcony work should only be done by professionals.

The following signs indicate the emergency condition of the balcony and its slab:

• exposed reinforcement;
• the appearance of deep cracks at the junction of the slab and the wall;
• destruction of concrete on top of the slab and its peeling off from below the slab;
• collapse of slab fragments.

In this case, to repair an emergency balcony you will need more than one piece of special equipment and a team of qualified installers. Such a slab will most likely have to be broken out of the load-bearing wall.

Who is responsible for repairing balconies?

Not a single regulatory document or law clearly states: is a balcony part of a supporting structure or a living space? In this regard, the question may arise: if the balcony is in disrepair, where to go and what to do? In theory, the balcony slab should be repaired by the management company, and the parapet, railings, and gratings should be repaired by the owner of the apartment. But some confusion in the legislation does not provide an exact answer to this question. On this basis, between homeowners and utility companies disagreements often arise.

Conclusion: Do not let the balcony fall into disrepair. Any search for the truth will not restore the balcony slab. To avoid emergency situations, repair the balcony slab yourself.

If you notice signs of destruction of the balcony slab, you must inform the utility service about this fact in writing as soon as possible. The document is certified by a housing office specialist and registered in the appropriate journal. It makes sense to attach several photographs of the collapsing balcony slab to the document. Your neighbors below must put their signatures on this document.

Then you can do the following: restore the balcony slab yourself, but with guarantees of recalculation of the rent. Or wait patiently for utility services to take over the repairs. If none of the options suits you, feel free to go to court.

How to repair balconies

The main cause of damage to balcony slabs is moisture. Penetrating inside the slab, water can activate corrosion of the reinforcement. In old houses, the protection of concrete from moisture is reduced; water easily penetrates to the reinforcement. Corroded reinforcement loses bearing capacity, expands and destroys concrete.

Restoring a balcony slab involves several working steps:

1. The repair begins with cleaning the balcony: everything unnecessary is taken out, garbage is removed, and crumbled concrete is carefully removed.
2. Exposed fittings are cleaned of rust. The top layer of rust is easy to clean off. Next, the reinforcement bars must be treated with a special anti-rust agent.
3. Welded reinforcing mesh is laid on the surface of the slab and fixed with special dowels. It must be completely recessed into the concrete screed. To do this, a gap is left between the plate and the mesh.
4. Formwork boards are attached around the perimeter.
5. A solution of sand and cement is poured onto the reinforcing mesh and “ferruginized” (the screed is covered with dry cement and rubbed down).
6. The lower surface of the balcony slab must be plastered, having previously treated the surface with a primer.

Remember that the thickness of the concrete screed must exceed the thickness of the reinforcing mesh by two or even more times.

For severe corrosion reinforcement cage reinforcement of the balcony slab will be required - this is a larger-scale job:

1. Rolled steel beams are installed on the sides of the balcony slab and cantilevered to the wall.
2. The reinforcing mesh is welded to the beams.
3. Then the work of pouring concrete described above begins.

When the reconstruction of the balcony slab is completed, it the surface needs to be waterproofed, which is mandatory if the balcony is open. Various are suitable for this waterproofing materials roll or coating type. In particular, penetrating waterproofing Penetron has proven itself well. It is applied to a pre-wetted surface in two layers, after which the surface must remain moistened for three days, and mechanical stress and temperatures below 0 degrees are not allowed.

Installation of balcony railings

Of course, the old fence may still be quite strong. But a major overhaul of the balcony slab already implies the installation of a new enclosing structure. In addition, if in the future you plan to glaze the balcony and insulate it, then it won’t hurt to think through a high-quality base in advance.

When installing fences without welding work not enough. On a compact inventory welding machine, which works from the network, even a beginner can work. But there are two more options:

• invite a qualified welder;
• secure the balcony railing using anchors; in this case, welding is not required.

The frame of the new fence is made of a rectangular profile pipe. This fence is easy to install and will have an attractive appearance. Next, a galvanized steel ebb is attached along the entire perimeter of the balcony slab. This will protect the edge of the slab from precipitation. screed on the balcony and what you will need for this.

Removable balconies

Residents of city apartments with balconies have a unique opportunity not only to insulate and glaze this area, but also to increase the area of ​​their housing. Now you can install a fence under the glazing with removal. What does it mean?

When installing the fence frame, using a professional trick, you can move the glazing beyond the parapet by about 30 cm. Considering that this action is performed on three sides of the balcony slab, the increase in space will be significant. This option is especially ideal for owners of very small balconies.

Advantages of remote balconies:

• Increasing space by expanding the area of ​​the balcony slab.
• Getting a wide window sill.
• Strengthening the load-bearing structures of the balcony slab.

Still have questions? Ask them in the comments!

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

In typical houses they used for balconies 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 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.

According to SNiP, the height must be at least a meter.

What types of balconies are there?

Depending on the design features The following types are distinguished:

• The balcony is open.
• Balcony equipped with a wind screen.
• Built-in loggia.
• External loggia.

Balcony design

The balcony consists of the following elements:

• Horizontal reinforced concrete slab,
• Fencing.
• Waterproofing.

In some cases, the design includes fastening elements: racks, pendants, cantilever beams, etc.

For the construction of external structures (loggias, balconies), special parts are used - balcony slabs - GOST regulates the quality of the materials used. For the manufacture of slabs, concrete is used that meets the requirement of class B10 for compressive strength.

Requirements for concrete frost resistance may vary depending on the climate in the construction area, but not less than class F5. The section of the part must be solid, and the thickness of the balcony slab must be at least 100 mm.

Installation stages

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. The installation of slabs must be preceded by careful marking of their location.

The installation process takes place in several stages:

• First, the 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.
• When detecting a slope in longitudinal direction, you have to raise the slab and lower it again, replacing the mortar bed first. If a slope to the inside is detected, the situation can be corrected by installing temporary rods.
• Usually, concrete plates 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.
• The slope of the slab relative to the 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. by lenght.

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 temporary factor, the following moments can have a destructive effect on 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 the penetration of atmospheric moisture.

Who is responsible for repairing balconies?

Some confusion in the legislation makes it difficult 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 make a new concrete screed; in complex cases, major repairs are required.

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 be entrusted only 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:

• Fights back old concrete(if it is fragile and crumbles).
• It is supplied under the bottom of the slab load-bearing frame made of metal that 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 is represented by 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 accurate 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.

Repair of a balcony slab can be done either with the help of construction organizations, so on our own. Depending on the degree of destruction, the need for cosmetic or major repairs is determined.

Over time, the balcony slab becomes unusable. Its destruction occurs mainly from the effect of moisture on concrete and reinforcement, gravity of balcony elements and people, sudden temperature changes, and lack of repair work as needed.

Do-it-yourself repair or major repair?

If your house belongs to the category of “Khrushchev”, most likely the balcony slab is no longer in the best condition

If a house is more than 40 years old, its balconies gradually deteriorate. The question arises of how to strengthen the balcony so that it lasts for many years and ensures the complete safety of the people on it.

In Khrushchev-era buildings, the destroyed bases of balconies are noticeable even without an examination. If repair work is not carried out, the entire structure may break off and fall down.

You can repair and strengthen the structure yourself if the corners are slightly crumbling or cracks appear in the concrete, provided that the reinforcement is in proper condition.

Major repairs are required if cracks appear at the junction of the balcony with the wall, if the concrete has crumbled and the reinforcement damaged by rust is visible.

Strengthening a balcony slab with your own hands is a very responsible task, requiring sufficient skills and knowledge in the field of construction. It is difficult for a non-professional to determine the degree of destruction. It is better to invite an expert to assess the condition of the balcony.

DIY balcony repair

Clean and remove anything that is crumbling or rusty.

Sequence of actions when independent recovery balcony slab is as follows.

To carry out repair work, you do not need any special materials; it is enough to purchase a channel, beams and metal corners.

Balcony extension

Place the balcony slab no more than 30-40 cm

In brick houses, the slab must be repaired.

The stages of work to remove the slab and strengthen the balcony are as follows:

1. Removing the old fence. A grinder is used for these works. Workers must wear seat belts.
2. Cooking metal carcass, which is fixed on the slab and under it on the wall, along the entire height and width of the structure. Used as frame material profile pipe or metal corner.
3. When the metal “cabin” is ready, you can install the metal-plastic frame.

For repair work, we choose lighter materials to minimize the load on the slab. To learn how to move a balcony across the floor by welding the frame, watch this useful video:

The load on the slab is calculated taking into account the weight of all building materials, people who may be on the balcony, masses of snow or water falling on the balcony from rain. Removal of more than 45 cm is not recommended.

Major repairs are carried out by specialists construction companies, who have already replaced deteriorated balcony slabs in brick houses built in the 60s.

When carrying out major repairs, it is often necessary to carry out such type of work as strengthening the balcony slab. For more information about the overhaul of the loggia, watch this video:

The technology of work of specialists from construction organizations is as follows:

When repairing a worn-out balcony slab in old buildings, you need to take into account that not only the slab, but also the walls may be in disrepair. Therefore, you should pay Special attention to the places where the balcony is attached to the wall.

To avoid a major overhaul, it is necessary to regularly carry out scheduled repairs.

Features of fastening balcony slabs

Types of fastening of balcony slabs

Methods of fastening plates can be different:

• pinching in the wall of a building;
• using a cantilevered supporting floor slab;
• in frame buildings, the support is the consoles of internal walls or columns;
• the slab is suspended from the internal load-bearing walls;
• suspended from the ceiling;
• rests on attached metal structures, less often on wooden ones.

Pinching is used in brick houses. Overlays or underlays are mounted into the wall reinforced concrete elements, forming a niche into which the plate is welded. The thickness of the edge that is attached to the wall is increased.

Replacing the plate

A worn-out balcony slab is replaced if the frame is hopelessly damaged by rust. The work is carried out in stages:

• replace unusable fittings, be sure to prime them and treat them against corrosion;
• holes 200 mm wide are drilled in the wall at a distance of 100 mm, metal rods are inserted perpendicular to the wall. Their length should correspond to the width of the balcony;
• formwork is made, the reinforcing base is filled with concrete;
• The channels are attached to the wall like consoles on both sides of the base. About general works For slab replacement and balcony overhaul, watch this video:

Why can't you do it? balcony structure solid with the floor slab of the house? If the balcony is made a continuation of the building's floors, then the service life of the entire building will be reduced. Corrosion of the reinforcement will penetrate into the building. Also inner side will exert gravity on the wall, trying to lift it.

Balcony slabs wear out due to natural reasons

Factors affecting the wear of balcony slabs

For all my many years of experience In the field of repair services, most often I had to deal with the repair of balconies in old buildings. Dealing with the problem of painting a wall or windows is not difficult, but balcony slabs will cause much more trouble. I can say that the rapid wear and destruction of balcony slabs is primarily affected by improper operation, natural precipitation and temperature fluctuations, as well as their combination with questionable installation and materials poor quality. You should not leave noticed cracks or other damage to chance, as this may lead to damage in the future. complete destruction balcony

Open balconies require more attention to care

At the first “bell”, it is better to do minor repairs with your own hands than to do major repairs later with the involvement of professionals, various equipment and large financial investments.

Open balconies require more attention to care, because they are more exposed to destructive factors.

Actions upon detection of damage

Do not leave noticed cracks or other damage to chance.

If you find serious damage on the balcony slab from the outside or back, I advise you to immediately write a corresponding statement to the management company, housing and communal services and involve specialists for a qualified inspection of the external and internal structural elements. The expert opinion is the basis (document) for repairs, and will also show how serious the wear of the slab and the balcony as a whole is.

This is the first thing to do, while attaching a photo of the destruction of the slab and signatures of the neighbors. This primarily relieves you of responsibility for property damage or personal injury in the event of falling parts concrete structure. But this is only if you do not continue to use the balcony, after a special commission has concluded and banned the use of the emergency balcony. Although the housing and communal services or management company should repair the stove, I don’t recommend that you put too much hope into it. Due to inaccuracies in regulatory documents these organizations will simply refuse you this, citing lack of funds. So don’t waste precious time waiting idlely, but repair your balcony slab using your own efforts, because it’s faster and of better quality.

At the first “bell”, it is better to do minor repairs yourself

Collect all receipts for purchased materials, and if you used the repair services of a third-party organization, then the contract with them. By providing these documents in court, you will have a chance to receive compensation for the money spent.

Balcony slabs are very difficult to determine the extent of damage. Under the outer small crack, I repeatedly had to deal with voids or through cracks. Therefore, take the preliminary inspection very seriously. First, clear the balcony of objects, debris and dust stored there, and inspect the cracks. Using a metal probe, you can check the depth of the cracks, and using a hammer, the presence of voids inside can be removed. upper layer weak solution. Look carefully for the presence of fungus and exposed rusting parts of metal structures. After the inspection, you can already conclude which type of repair is right for you.

Types of repair of balcony slabs

There are three main types of repair of balcony slabs:

1. Small;
2. Average;
3. Capital.

Repairs vary

Minor repairs

If during the inspection of the balcony slabs you notice minor cracks and gouges, then to eliminate such defects you will only need to carry out minor repairs. To do this, thoroughly clean the balcony from dust and dirt, apply a primer, and then cement screed, prepared with your own hands. For these purposes you can also use mortar on an adhesive basis, applied depending on the damage in 2-3 layers. Also for minor repairs suitable styling ceramic tiles.

Concrete screed for balcony slab

Medium renovation

An average repair will be more costly in terms of time and material investments. It consists of dismantling the top layer and waterproofing, full recovery unsuitable layers. When pouring a new screed, it is necessary to ensure that the slab slopes by 2-3% to allow water to drain. To do this, make a thicker layer near the wall, and use a level to control the desired degree of inclination. We make a screed of approximately 4-4.5 cm from cement and sand in a ratio of 3:2, it should be thick enough and not spread. After the screed has dried, waterproofing can be done, for example, you can use liquid or dry compounds on a polymer-cement or cement based. At the same time, it would be a good idea to check the metal frame; if there are no signs of damage or rust on it, then no action needs to be taken on it.

An average repair will be more expensive in terms of time and material investments

In order to make minor or medium repairs, you must have a minimum set of tools and materials:

• Master OK,
• level,
• grater,
• slats,
• formwork boards,
• primer,
• construction mixer,
• sand and cement,
• waterproofing materials,
• hammer,
• metal probe.

Major renovation

Major repairs are necessary when the slab is in poor condition

The need to overhaul a balcony arises when all components of the balcony structure are brought to an emergency condition, namely: ​

• The balcony tilted noticeably (more permissible norm 3%);
• The top layer of concrete is destroyed or crumbled;
• The rusted reinforced mesh is visible;
• Collapse of concrete parts of the slab;
• Deep cracks in the slab at the junction with the wall;
• The balcony railing is loose.

To be able to overhaul the slab, in addition to tools and materials for small and medium-sized repairs, I also recommend, depending on the work being carried out: metal cable and angles, electric welding, electrodes, electric drill, fittings and reinforcing mesh, shovel, iron brush, anti-corrosion primer, etc.

Ways to strengthen balcony slabs

If the balcony is tilted more than the permissible norm, then it must first be strengthened. To strengthen balconies on the lower floors you can use columnar foundation. To do this, a concrete platform is poured under the balcony, and metal pillars 10-15 cm in diameter are installed on it, each of them must support the slab. If the balcony is on the top floor or it is impossible to install a columnar foundation for some other reason, then brackets or mensols will have to be installed to strengthen the slab. Top reinforcement slabs can also be made using metal cable, which is attached to the sides of the balcony using anchors, the joint between the slab and the wall in this case is further tightened with corners.

Emergency balcony repair

If the top layer of concrete is destroyed, and the metal frame is exposed and succumbs to corrosion, then I advise you to clean such parts of the rods using metal brush, and treat with anti-corrosion primer. You can also weld some of the damaged metal rods. If the corrosion damage is more extensive, then the metal frame should be completely re-welded. You need to secure it with special dowels, leaving small space between the slab and the mortar frame. Next, formwork is made from boards so that the solution does not leak outside the balcony. It should be remembered that the concrete layer should be 2-3 times thicker than the metal frame.

Slab insulation

After the screed has dried, it is necessary to carry out waterproofing and sealing; this can be done using the following materials:

• Coating elastic – made on the basis of bitumen and used for roll roofing;
• Rolled - on a bitumen basis, such as glassine and roofing felt;
• Polymer - based on polyurethane, are mounting foams and sealing compounds.

DIY balcony sealing

It is also necessary to take into account that a specialist in this field must overhaul the balcony slab.

The best option would be to conclude an agreement for major repairs with an organization that has the rights to these types of work.

This way, you will have a guarantee for the work performed and relieve yourself of responsibility.

If you still want to do the repairs yourself, be sure to invite a specialist to professionally assess the extent of damage; this will end up being cheaper than eliminating the consequences of accidents.