5 materials for decorating the balcony outside

One of the most important stages in arranging a balcony is its exterior finish, thanks to which it acquires a harmonious appearance. The purpose of such decoration is not only a pleasant appearance, but also additional protection of the balcony from the negative environmental influences. The material for cladding must be resistant to temperature extremes, precipitation, ultraviolet radiation, wind loads, and also in harmony with the exterior design of the building. What materials for balcony trim outside today are the most popular?

No. 1. Plastic lining

One of the most demanded materials - plastic, due to its affordable price. It is made of polyvinyl chloride with or without seams. Besides attractive cost, material advantages are as follows:

• good appearance;
• huge selection and availability in any construction store;
• simplicity and speed of installation;
• heat and sound insulating qualities;
• does not change color and shape over time;
• if one lamella is damaged, only it can be replaced without touching other elements.

Sheathing with plastic lining can even be done independently - working with the material is quite simple. In addition to standard colors, a lining imitating the structure of a tree is on sale. Among the shortcomings of the material:

• low durability, which is determined by about 15 years of service;
• instability to mechanical damage. Lining can be deformed with careless installation and operation, so you need to be very careful with it. It is good that replacing a damaged element is not so difficult;
• the light weight of the material is not only ease of installation, but also the likelihood that gusts of wind on the upper floors can simply tear sheets of plastic lining, so it is not recommended to use it above 3-4 floors.

No. 2. Vinyl siding

At the heart of vinyl siding polyvinyl chloride also lies, but it obtains more durable performance due to the use of special additives in the production. The result is a material that is perfectly balanced in quality and price, which makes it one of the leaders in the modern market for outdoor decoration of a balcony.

Main advantages:

• long service life (about 25 years), during which the basic performance is not changed;
• ease of installation and maintenance;
• low flammability;
• burn resistance;
• resistance to low and high temperatures, to temperature differences;
• not susceptible to the development of mold, fungus, corrosion;
• huge selection of different colors.

The material allows you to quickly and attractively equip a balcony and not worry about its appearance for the next decades. Among the disadvantages an overpriced price can be distinguished, although it cannot be called too high. In addition, there are a lot of unscrupulous manufacturers on the market who offer low-quality material.

No. 3. Metal siding

Metal siding - one of the most durable materials for facing the balcony. It has a multilayer structure. The basis is a sheet of steel 0.35-0.65 mm thick, it is galvanized on both sides, coated with a conversion layer, a primer layer and a polymer material. It can be with or without perforation, have a different relief and even imitate the structure of a stone, log or ship beam.

Metal siding today is very popular in the lining of balconies of apartment buildings, which is due to its numerous advantages:

• attractive appearance;
• resistance to environmental factors. Since the outer layer is not a paint, but a polymer coating, periodically tinting the material is unnecessary;
• excellent performance, including resistance to temperature extremes, precipitation, sun rays, mechanical damage. The material is fireproof, not susceptible to the development of fungus and mold, resistant to corrosion;
• thanks to the locks, installation is easier.

This material is almost perfect.. You can only find fault to a low degree of thermal insulation, because it is metal, and the weight of the structure will be higher than when using plastic, so you need to think about whether the balcony can withstand the additional load.

Number 4. Decking

Decking - These are sheets of galvanized steel, additionally protected by a polymer coating. The corrugated structure provides additional strength to the sheets of corrugated board, which differ from metal siding in large size and the absence of locking joints in most cases.

Material Advantages:

• durability (about 40 years);
• attractive appearance, a huge selection of colors;
• tightness, fire resistance, anticorrosion properties, high strength;
• resistance to sunshine;
• affordable price. Corrugated board costs less than metal siding, and the operational properties of materials are very similar;
• simple and quick installation.

The material has high thermal conductivity, so you can not do without a thermal insulation layer. However, corrugated board does not have significant shortcomings, therefore it is often used for external decoration of balconies. Of course, it costs more than a plastic lining, but frequent repair of such a skin will certainly not be needed.

No. 5. Wooden lining

Natural wood is not the most popular material for lining balconies, which is associated with its low resistance to numerous negative environmental factors. This fact is the main disadvantage of woodbut modern technology allows for production wooden lining use special impregnations that protect the wood from moisture, rot, damage by pests and make it more resistant to fire. Nevertheless, owners of balconies with such casing will have to regularly look after the material so that it remains in its original form for as long as possible.

Among the main advantages of wooden lining:

• beautiful appearance, which is able to ennoble any balcony;
• environmental friendliness;
• heat and sound insulating properties.

Such cladding is unlikely to be appropriate for the arrangement of a balcony in a typical apartment building, but it is very suitable for a small private house.

Finally

With the wide variety of each of the materials, it is not difficult to design your own balcony exactly as the imagination draws. Do not forget to consider not only your own preferences, but also features building facade, floor of residence and climatic conditions in the region.