With rare exception, in every apartment to the existing meters of living space you can add a couple more "square". Hidden resources in this case supports balcony. And if it is not glazed and insulated, full use of it in our climatic zone may be only 4 months a year - from May to September inclusive. The remaining 8 months of the balcony can serve only a platform for drying clothes, a refrigerator or a viewing platform. Also, open balcony promotes wasteful consumption of thermal energy, because about 40% of the heat in our homes goes to heating the surrounding atmosphere, rather than apartments. Thus, of 100 hryvnia paid on account of enterprise-service provider of heat, 40 hryvnia literally thrown to the wind. One of the places where you can minimize the loss of heat - this is a balcony. The easiest way to avoid heat loss - the cold glazed balcony, that is, the low cost sliding or rotating structures that protect the balcony from the snow and rain. Typically, they are made of aluminum. Even with such a simple warming the temperature inside the balcony will seek to "zero" or go to the "plus", despite the cold street. Another option for a cold glass - wood frame. Like any natural material, wood requires attention and care. Only with the annual painting of the spring and autumn can guarantee adequate sealing of wooden structures, as well as adverse weather conditions contributed to the emergence of cracks in the untreated wood. The second option is called a warm-glazing. It requires more investment, because, in addition to the cost of glazing, to invest in insulation materials and works, but this option has several advantages. Thus, insulated balcony: - Increases the useful area of the apartment; - Serves as a protective barrier against ingress of street dust and dirt in the apartment; - Reduces noise in the room; - Improves the aesthetic appearance of the house; - Heat insulation with very flat, reducing heat loss by 20-25%. The difference between the temperature on the balcony before and after the insulation depends on many factors, such as the number of cells in the double-glazed windows, the floor and the location of the building, the presence or absence of glazing on adjacent balconies, the material from which walls are built, etc. The easiest way to find specialists in insulation balconies on the company, which will have a balcony osteklyat. Heat insulation with balcony, equipped with a "strange" metal-plastic, these firms are usually not taken. In this case, you can search the building organizations that carry out internal finishing and construction work, or warmed balcony alone. The approach to insulation balcony or loggia should be comprehensive, but works with windows, floors, walls or roofs have their peculiarities. Windows. It is through the window is lost 30% of the apartment heat. In any case, start with the calculations. These calculations are best left to a specialist. It will measure the parameters of the balcony, and say whether you can expand the existing area at the expense of making glazing beyond existing boundaries of the balcony. Especially such a possibility is relevant in the case of old buildings, since the last century, fashion dictated by the minimalism and symbolism in the architectural decisions balconies. As a rule, the border removal are in the range from 10 to 35 cm, but even so, at first glance, inessential extension, can significantly improve the comfort balcony or loggia. Implementation of such decisions are best left to professionals, because in this case it is not just about comfort and beauty of the balcony, but also the structural strength, and ultimately - human security. Must be a waterproofing balcony. Do not just seal the seams with foam, and install low tide, which will send water from the exterior glass on the ground, and not under the frame, in the case of wooden window frames to cover the water-repellent impregnation, antifungal finish. It is also very important to provide for the expansion profile at the top and sides of the glazing (for laying insulation), profile - termokompensator (if loggia great length) and the reinforcing profile (in the case of a large size of the window). Wall. If the balcony railing, on which the glazing, morally and technically obsolete, it is also better to replace. To do this, "boil" an old frame and install a new, modern materials. For example, put the sandwich panels, the inner "filling" which consists of heat insulating material, and the outer layer is a solid and durable galvanized steel. The advantages of this material are durability, resistance to nature conservation aesthetic appearance for many years. Sandwich panels to avoid burdening the design, which sometimes is very important for old houses. But bunk for exterior use can not be - a strong gust of wind can "blow" part of the cladding. If the walls of the balcony or loggia in good condition, everything that they need to do - it is warmed. For example, if you can terrace area and strength of the building, the bricks or a light foam concrete (it can be done in monolithic and brick houses, but in the panel should not be). Further interior depends on the tastes and owners of housing opportunities - plastic panels, plastic or wood lining, moisture-resistant gypsum board, etc. Thus, a plastic lining is water resistant, durable, corrosion-resistant properties and has a great range of colors. Wooden lining has a few basic colors, but it is an environmentally friendly material and easier to repair. But in any case better to work with bunk class A or AB, that is, with the best varieties.