Dismantling the balcony block and glazing frame
A major redevelopment of this kind can be carried out in two cases: with a complete replacement of the type of glazing of a balcony or loggia, or in the case of a decision to build a warm balcony and thus increase the area of one of the rooms. In the latter case, the partition is load-bearing, so a special permit from the city architectural inspectorate will be required. Therefore, the dismantling of the balcony block will begin with coordinating procedures. See more at Screen Door Repair Kit with Rolling Tool
What is forbidden to do when dismantling a balcony block
In addition to purely organizational, homeowners will have to solve a number of technical problems and restrictions:
It is impossible to install central heating batteries on a new balcony or loggia, as this violates the heat balance of the internal network. Therefore, when planning to dismantle the balcony, it is necessary either to install an autonomous heating system, or to transfer the battery to one of the walls in the room (having coordinated this issue with the utilities), and carefully insulate the balcony space.
It is also unacceptable to completely combine the balcony with the room, therefore, before starting to dismantle the loggia or balcony, it is necessary to provide a place for the installation of a sliding partition.
It is allowed to completely disassemble the balcony wall only in monolithic houses, in other cases a wide opening should be provided, usually in the form of an arch, in this case a number of stress concentrators are removed.
All resulting voids, cracks and seams must be carefully repaired. And since it is technologically impossible to perform this process instantly, dismantling must be planned in the warm season.
Important! If it is planned to increase the width of the balcony or loggia, then, for technical reasons, this increase should not be more than 600 mm.
Dismantling technology
The dismantling of the block begins with an assessment of the condition of the sub-balcony slab - whether it will bear higher loads. To do this, it is better to invite specialists who will check this part with a portable flaw detector. Before starting work, you must comply with all safety measures related to work at the height of the balcony or loggia. Since when performing such dismantling, a large amount of construction waste is generated, you should also think about what and where it will have to be taken out.
Dismantling the balcony is carried out in the following sequence:
1Dismantle the heating battery, which is usually located under the window.
2Dismantle the window frames and the opening itself.
3When dismantling the frame, carefully remove the glass panes from it. The point is not only that broken glass can be injured, but also that such glass is perfectly acceptable to keep, for example, for glazing a country house.
4 In the same way, the glass on the balcony door is dismantled, and then the door itself. In order to remove heavy structures of doors and windows (for example, three-leaf frames), it is worth inviting an assistant.
5The hardest and dirtiest stage is dismantling the opening between the loggia and the room. First, it is necessary to dismantle the window sill and platbands, and then use a puncher to bring down the old building structures. If the wall is brick, then it is quite possible to do with a sledgehammer.
Advice! Dismantling the balcony is a job during which a large amount of dust is generated, so you should take care of the presence of a gauze bandage, and even better - a respirator.
Dismantling the balcony glazing
Quite often, dismantling works are associated with replacing the existing glazing of a balcony or loggia with a more modern one. First, it is worth assessing the condition of the balcony parapet and making a decision whether it should be dismantled or not. The following sequence of work is recommended:
1Prepare balcony frames for dismantling, as well as completely clean the balcony from foreign objects;
2If the frames are wooden, it is advisable to remove them in the same way and in the same sequence as the window frames, but taking into account the mandatory fencing on the ground of the space under the work site;
3If the construction of the window glazing of the balcony is of a welded type, you cannot do without a grinder, and the cut fragments should be divided into even smaller parts for more convenient removal from the apartment;
4After dismantling the glass, the parts of the balcony frame are carefully removed and taken out.