Balcony slab: 3 important nuances

Over time, any building deteriorates, wears out, and over the years becomes completely unusable. Whether we like it or not, the destructive effect of the second law of thermodynamics affects all things without exception, which is why balconies begin to need reconstruction. If you notice cracks appearing on your balcony or it begins to sway when there are several people on it or strong gusts of wind, then it is urgent to strengthen the balcony.

Who should do the repairs?

The balcony slab is a common property of the house; the management company is responsible for its condition. Everything that is inside the balcony is the property of the apartment owners, so the burden of responsibility for the repair and maintenance of these useful areas lies on your shoulders.

Emergency balcony, what to do?

If you notice:

that the balcony was tilted, and the normal slope to ensure the natural outflow of precipitation is 3% from the outer wall to the inner one;
cracks appeared in the joint between the slab and the load-bearing wall;
pieces of concrete fall off the slab or reinforcement is exposed;
The parapet is rusty and wobbly.

You should urgently write an application to the housing and communal services department with a request for repairs, which will reflect in detail all the problems. If you do not do this, then all responsibility for accidents will lie with you. The response to your complaint must follow within 4 weeks: a commission is created, an examination of the balcony is carried out, and a report on the emergency condition of the slab is drawn up.

After the examination, a conclusion is issued, as a result of which you will simply be prohibited from using this structure. Although all costs for repairing the stove should be borne by the management company, they will notify you in writing that they do not have funds for these purposes, and you will simply lose part of your usable space. Therefore, repairs will have to be done on your own and at your own expense. To get back the money spent, you need to collect all the receipts and demand reimbursement of expenses through the court.

Attention: If after a written ban you continue to use the emergency balcony, then in this case you will be held responsible for accidents.

Balcony repair, photo of the slab before reconstruction

In what cases is repair of a balcony slab required?

There are several types of repair of balcony slabs:

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 from the outside. If minor damage turns out to be shallow, then minor and medium repairs can be done independently.

The need for a major overhaul of the balcony slab is visible to the naked eye. This is indicated by the destructive appearance and large cracks throughout the slab. Major or emergency balcony repairs should only be carried out 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.

A balcony in this condition urgently needs major repairs.
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.

From our article “Difference between a balcony and a loggia” you will learn about the design features of these two elements of the building.

Where to start renovating a balcony

If you decide to do the balcony repair yourself, first of all you will need a project that can only be completed by a design organization that has permission for these types of work. Specialists go to the site, assess the condition of the extension, on the basis of which the necessary measures to restore the slab are determined and an estimate is drawn up. It is important to note here that work related to the reconstruction of the balcony is best carried out through an agreement with specialists. Only in this case will you delegate all responsibility to them, even if during the repair process something falls off and falls down, causing damage to property and health.

Of course, hiring professionals to carry out repairs entails significant costs, so many refuse the services and restore the stove themselves. And then we will analyze in detail how to repair a balcony with your own hands, step by step:

restore the slab;
strengthen the structure;
seal the cracks;
seal joints;
secure the parapet.

Repairing a balcony in a panel house by strengthening the console with a reinforced concrete beam

How to properly prepare a balcony slab for major repairs

Before making repairs on the balcony, you should clear the area and take out the trash. Then, with an ordinary hammer, with a handle about half a meter, we begin to knock on the concrete, the blows should be of medium strength. Such manipulations will allow you to remove all the weak solution. Listen to the sound of impacts, it should be dull, if there is a hum, it means there is a void inside, in this place we break the concrete in order to subsequently eliminate the defect.

When the entire surface of the slab is cleaned, we examine the cracks using a regular metal ruler. We push it into the joint; if it sticks, then the gap is superficial and does not pose a danger. And if, after increased pressure, it slips deeper, then a break is possible, so you will have to not only repair, but also strengthen the slab.

Advice: To make a major overhaul of all elements of the balcony, it is recommended to come to an agreement with the neighbors above and below, since the structures have common elements, and it is better to repair them together.

Repair of loggias and balconies, photo of how to increase the usable area when restoring the slab

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 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.

How to strengthen a balcony slab

If after the examination you are convinced that the slab does not have significant damage, it is enough to weld its perimeter with metal corners and strengthen the connection with the wall with anchors.

How to make repairs if the slab is tilted

If the slab is tilted by more than 3°, and most likely a crack has appeared at the wall/slab junction, reinforcement of the balconies is required:

Installation of supports is possible if the balcony is located on the lower floors. A concrete platform or columnar foundation is poured under the balcony. Metal pillars with a diameter of 100-150 mm are installed on it, a circular banding with a corner is made along the upper heads, this structure will support the slab.
If repairs to a balcony on the upper floors are required, you will have to install upper or lower brackets or mensols.
The upper reinforcement is a strand of metal cable with a diameter of 20-24 mm, which is attached using long anchors on the sides of the balcony. One end is fixed on the outside of the slab, and the other on the wall at a height of 900-1200 mm from the floor. The slab/wall joint is additionally tightened with a metal angle.
Lower reinforcing mensols are preferable, but they enter the neighbors' territory, so in order to install fastenings, you will need to obtain their consent. Rectangular corners are welded from a metal profile, which are secured to the wall with long anchors.

Ways to repair a balcony slab

How to repair a balcony if part of the slab is lost or completely destroyed

If it is necessary to restore a lost slab or in case of expanding the area of the balcony, the best solution would be to introduce channels into the body of the wall, which will become the basis of the extension. For this work it is necessary to involve specialists, since the integrity of the supporting structure is affected. 2-4 deep holes are made in the wall, a channel or high-strength reinforcement is inserted into them, then it is concreted, and a steel sheet is usually welded on top, which serves as the basis and at the same time the formwork for pouring a new concrete slab.

How to make a new reinforcing frame to repair a balcony

Types of destruction and their causes

The main reason for damage to balconies is failure to seal joints and waterproofing. This will cause moisture to enter the room. Because condensation occurs, which provokes the development of mold.

Moisture negatively affects reinforced concrete and leads to corrosion on the reinforcement. If the concrete is old, moisture can easily penetrate inside. Corroded reinforcement reduces the load-bearing functions of concrete.

The destruction is associated with strong pressure exerted on the slab, sudden changes in temperature, and lack of major repairs. This is often found in Khrushchev-era buildings.

The reasons may be errors made during installation.

Among them are:

reverse slope of slabs;
lack of drips, drains, protecting taps in the lower part of the slab;
poor quality of materials, defects.

Before repairing a balcony slab, it is important to determine the cause of its damage.

Experts distinguish 2 stages.

Destructions in which the structure is strengthened. Often found in houses that are 35-40 years old. Such work is carried out independently.
Destruction of the object's appearance. In this case, part of the balcony collapses, cracks appear, and peeling occurs.

Complex violations are difficult to resolve on your own, so you may need professional help.

Balcony repair technology if reinforcement is exposed in the slab

The destruction of a concrete slab is inevitably associated with exposure of the reinforcing frame. After the surface is cleaned, all signs of rust are removed with a stiff brush, and can be additionally treated with vinegar. After which the rods are treated with an anti-corrosion primer and filled with concrete.

If some of the rods are lost, you should especially pay attention to the strength of the reinforcement at the wall/slab junction, then the metal frame will have to be welded. To repair, remove the layer of concrete down to the reinforcement with a hammer drill, cut off all metal parts damaged by rust. Drill several holes in the wall. Then insert new rods into them, concrete them and weld them to the remains of the frame. Next, a concrete screed is made on top, and for strength, you can additionally lay a reinforcing mesh.

To hide the reinforcement along the edges of the slab, it is recommended to weld the perimeter with a corner, make formwork and fill the structure with concrete.

Preparing the slab for screed

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.

External balcony glazing design

Source

How to seal cracks on a balcony

It is better to seal the gap between the slab and the wall in a comprehensive manner, together with the neighbors below. And if you are repairing a balcony in a Khrushchev-era building, then the roof of your balcony is the floor of your neighbors above, so in this case you will have to use them too, so you can not only restore your own balcony, but also avoid leaks during precipitation.

The joint is well cleaned and embroidered in a V-shape, coated with liquid bitumen, onto which a fiberglass or roofing felt tape is glued, extending 100 mm onto the slab and wall. The patch is again coated with bitumen, a metal corner or a galvanized strip folded at an angle is placed on top, which is drilled onto the anchor for strength. Then you can do general waterproofing of the slab and further repairs.

Balcony repair, photo example of how to properly seal the cracks to ensure the structure is airtight

Strengthening the parapet on a balcony or loggia

Usually, on old balconies, not only the slab, but also the parapet needs to be strengthened. If it has not been repaired or painted for a long time, then most likely you will have to install a new one. For an open balcony, you can purchase a metal grille of an original design, with graceful curves, not similar to the previous standard designs with a piece of slate slab. It is welded to embedded parts built into the wall, and the welding areas are treated with an anti-corrosion compound and painted over with paint of a suitable color. If the balcony railing is still strong and can still be left, check the strength of its attachment to the wall, clean off the rust and paint it.

For a loggia with the prospect of glazing, it is better to make a closed parapet. It can be laid out from lightweight concrete materials, such as foam blocks or foam concrete. The strength of these materials allows you to safely install window blocks on such a base. The height of the parapet can be changed and depend on the size of the window frames.

It’s nice to go out onto the loggia and calmly go about your business, without worrying about the reliability of the slab under your feet. Once you have undergone a major renovation of your balcony, you may not return to this issue for several decades.

Parapet repair

If the parapet is dilapidated, and especially in front of the balcony glazing, it needs to be strengthened. As a rule, this is done using an equilateral metal angle:

scald around the perimeter of the stove;
attach several vertical posts to the bottom frame - be sure to secure 2 on the sides with anchors to the wall, and 2 on the outer corners of the slab;
scald the top of the vertical posts with the railings from the corner.

Balcony repair, option of parapet reconstruction with subsequent removal of glazing
To expand the balcony, the racks are welded not vertically, but at an angle. For glazing, it is recommended to make the top railings 100 mm or more wide. Below are instructions on how to repair a balcony; the video will help you understand the technology of strengthening the parapet.

Metal reinforcement

Metal reinforcement looks like this:

If the technical condition of the parapet is acceptable (does not require radical measures), then it can be strengthened by welding metal corners to the areas of old reinforcement necessary for this.
In case of severe wear and tear, the old metal parapet is carefully separated and then replaced with a new one.

Options for strengthening the balcony parapet before glazing Also, a good option for strengthening the parapet is the use of building foam blocks, the qualities of which perfectly strengthen the balcony parapet.

Strengthening the balcony structure

How to landscape a balcony with your own hands

To turn an open balcony into useful and comfortable spaces, after restoring the slab, you should sew up the outside of the parapet with corrugated sheets or siding, and hang protective curtains.

If you plan to have a closed and warm balcony, after glazing the extension is insulated inside with stone wool or polystyrene slabs. To make cosmetic repairs, it is enough to cover the thermal insulation layer with a vapor barrier membrane, make lathing, install light if necessary, and then line the inside of the room with clapboard or moisture-resistant plywood for subsequent finishing.

The photo shows an example of internal insulation of a balcony

For the most interesting ideas for design and modern renovation, see the photo gallery accompanying the article; there are photos of a balcony after renovation, which you can do yourself.

Preparing the slab for repair

All things are removed from the balcony and accumulated garbage is thrown away.
Using a hammer with an elongated handle, begin to tap the concrete slabs with blows of medium force. A weak solution immediately crumbles, and the locations of voids and peelings are determined by the booming sounds of impacts. To further eliminate these shortcomings, the concrete in such places is first broken. After the first stage of research and removal of unnecessary construction debris, they begin to examine the identified cracks. A good tool for this is a set of gap gauges. An alternative would be a narrow metal spatula or a metal ruler. The probe is needed to classify the crack. If the probe inserted into it sharply rests after 30-40 mm and does not go further, the crack is superficial. When, after a certain pressure, the probe moves more and more difficult and at the end it jams, the crack goes deep into the slab and this case can be qualified as a fault. This is much more serious than the first case. And now, in addition to repairs, the balcony slab will have to be strengthened.

Surface cracks in the slab and at the point of its connection with the wall (arising from shrinkage of the screed as a result of temperature deformations) can be repaired independently. It will also not be difficult to restore or level chipped corners and edges with a regular screed solution - the edges are not loaded. Before repairing cracks and edges, their surface is pre-treated with concrete contact.

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

And the range of finishing materials is expanding significantly - it’s 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 thicknesses of the balcony slab are associated with different series of Khrushchev-era buildings that were erected).

In addition, concrete slabs for balconies are produced 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 Flat solid beam type (PB). In the monolithic version, they are part of the ceiling;
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 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.

Assessing the condition of the slab and preparing it for repair

Before starting repairs, it is necessary to inspect the slab and find out how badly it is damaged. Based on this inspection, you can find out what type of repairs are required and create an estimate for future work. To independently explore the balcony, you only have access to visual inspection and tapping. A dull sound upon impact means that there are voids inside the body of the slab.

If desired, you can call a specialist who will conduct an examination and accurately determine the load-bearing capacity of the load-bearing slab. It is very important to know how much weight the balcony can support, because after glazing the load will increase significantly.

We assess the condition of the balcony

We examine the stove. Working condition: concrete defects are insignificant, without large areas of exposed reinforcement; when tapping, it is not possible to localize voids in the body of the slab. A limited working condition implies the presence of large exposed areas of reinforcement and significant destruction of concrete.

Repair of a balcony in Khrushchev. Assessment of the condition of the slab

The balcony is in disrepair if: the reinforcement is destroyed, the concrete falls into pieces. The body of the slab can be destroyed by 50-90%.

If the balcony roof is made of concrete, then we evaluate it according to the same criteria as the load-bearing slab. Additionally, we check whether the ceiling is leaking. And restoration work will have to be carried out according to the same principle.

Preparing the balcony for renovation

We clean the corroded reinforcement from concrete until whole rods become visible. Places where voids were discovered during tapping are broken up using a hammer drill. If this is not done, then in the future it will not be possible to properly seal all the cracks. In the picture below you see the result of such an error.

High-quality sealing of even small cracks increases the maximum load on the slab

Now we inspect the parapet. If the metal fence is rotten, we cut it off using a grinder. Next, we clean the reinforcement and metal parts of the parapet using a wire brush. Alternatively, you can use a drill with a special attachment.

Features of fastening plates

A balcony is not only a decoration for any home, but also a great place to relax; you can sit on it. In order to be safe from any incidents, it must be reliably repaired.

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support on attached (reinforced concrete, steel or wooden) structures;
use of cantilever floor slab;
clamping or pinching the outer wall of a building;
suspension of the slab to internal load-bearing transverse walls or to the ceiling.

In buildings built of bricks, the installation process is carried out using pinching. Builders embed reinforced concrete and backing elements into the outer wall, which forms a stop for the slabs. The edge that is adjacent to the outer wall thickens.

In panel houses, slabs are most often supported by reinforced concrete structures using floors. In frame objects, the strengthening process occurs using block technology. It has absolutely no load, because the material rests on the consoles.

It is necessary to take a decision from the relevant authorities. All independent work related to changing the appearance of the house entails administrative responsibility. It is worth knowing that if the fastenings are chosen incorrectly, the structure may collapse.

Once you have decided on the type of house, you can get to work.

It is very important to follow several rules that will give effective results. For example, when glazing the balcony part receives additional load, so it is important to strengthen it

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There is another option for fastening using T-beams. It is very suitable for updating old premises that are in danger of demolition, but you must know exactly the height of the ceiling:

First you need to cut off the old slab.
Drill out 1 m long recesses in the floor at 1.5-2 tee heights, if the ceiling allows. Don't forget that there are neighbors below you, and they need a ceiling. It is necessary to make 3-4 such grooves.
Next, holes are knocked out in the wall.

Important! The range of application of this unusual tool is the ability to use internal elements. Thanks to its versatility, the device is ready to cope with any difficult task.

Metal rails (brands) 3 m long are passed through them. 1 m remains in the apartment, and the remaining 2 in the outer part. Build formwork on the floor and on the protruding part of the rails and fill it with concrete mixture. The level of the slab and the load-bearing covering of the house must completely match. Then they weld from the corners. You can build a loggia, decorate and insulate it using special materials.

It is important to know how to properly strengthen it so as not to compromise the integrity of the building and not endanger those who go out onto the balcony. If you realize that you are unable to carry out repairs yourself, contact the experts for help.

During the operation of the housing stock, houses are exposed to external and internal influences of various natures. Atmospheric precipitation and temperature changes over time destroy facades, roofs, and balcony slabs of buildings. At the same time, the load on the balcony appears both from the inside and from the outside, since it represents a kind of border between the comfort of home and the aggressive outside world. An emergency balcony poses a potential threat to both homeowners and passers-by.

Because of this duality, there is a double responsibility for strengthening the balcony.

On the one hand, balcony slabs represent common household property. Housing and communal services or other management companies are required to maintain them in good condition.
On the other hand, the interior space of a loggia or balcony is a private territory, the condition of which represents the owner’s area of responsibility.

An emergency balcony poses a danger to both the owner and others

Signs of an emergency balcony:

mechanical destruction, which is expressed in the falling off of pieces of concrete, the protrusion of rusty frame reinforcement onto the surface;
the appearance of cracks and gaps between the wall of the house and the loggia slab;
deviation of the angle of inclination of balcony slabs outward from the norm;
corrosion and loosening of the loggia railings.

Emergency balcony repair

Here, a reinforcing screed alone is not enough. We are faced with the task of increasing the load-carrying capacity of the load-bearing slab, which means we will have to install a reinforcing structure. The following guide will be helpful to you.

Channel reinforcement

Strengthening a balcony slab using a channel is the most common method. For work we will need:

Several sections of channel length equal to the length of the balcony slab - two side and intermediate, if necessary.
Metal corner for strapping – 1 length + 2 widths.

We calculate the number of reinforcing elements based on the fact that the distance between them should be 70-80 cm. If the balcony is no more than a meter in length, then we do not make intermediate elements. The width of the balcony is the distance to which it protrudes outward, and the length is the length of the slab along the wall of the house.

We make markings for the sockets for the channels and hollow them out with a hammer drill. The nests should be recessed into the wall two-thirds of the wall thickness. Next, we bring the channels inside and weld them to the slab reinforcement. We concrete the reinforcement elements in the wall.

Restoring an emergency balcony: embedding channels into the wall of a house

After the concrete has hardened, we weld a corner piece around the perimeter of the slab. Don't forget to weld it to the ends of the channels. An example of the design that should be obtained is in the figure below.

Strengthening balconies with channel bars

Restoring lost parts of the slab

Here we need a piece of tin that covers the defect in size, boards, anchors and a metal corner. We insert a sheet of tin between the bottom of the slab and the roof of the lower balcony. On the sides we make formwork from boards and fill it with cement-sand mixture.

Important: topping up the slab can only be done on the condition that the reinforcement is preserved at the location of the defect. If it is also destroyed, then it is necessary to prepare a piece of reinforcing mesh and weld it to the balcony trim and the remains of the reinforcement protruding from the slab.

Restoration of a destroyed corner

After the concrete has hardened, remove the formwork. Next, we tie the slab with a corner along the bottom edge. We connect the upper and lower straps together with jumpers. In the photo below you can see what the slab looks like after such restoration.

Photo of the balcony after slab repair

Alternative ways to strengthen an emergency balcony

There are two more ways to repair emergency balconies. On the left side of the picture you can see that the reinforcement is carried out by installing a brace running from the wall of the house to the front edge of the slab and a metal corner supporting the base from below.

A diagram of another way to prevent a balcony from collapsing is on the right side of the figure. Square metal plates 10 mm thick are welded to the parapet railings. They, in turn, are attached to the wall of the house using anchors. Below the railings, guy wires are installed.

Strengthening the slab of a small balcony with braces Important: A few words about who should do the balcony repairs. The balcony is your property, but you have a chance to get help from the utilities. By law, the balcony slab continues to be considered community property, so you have the right to demand its repair from the state.

Balcony repair: video of restoring the load-bearing capacity of the slab.