The balcony or loggia are additional spaces that not only increase the comfort of life of the inhabitants, but also increase the market value of the property. Along with the growing expectations of tenants in the so -called The new construction of the balcony has ceased to be a luxury, and has become a standard that it is difficult to imagine a modern apartment. In older buildings, such as blocks of large slab, where balconies were not always designed, housing communities are increasingly deciding to add them to meet modern needs. In this article, the experts of the Gethome.pl portal are looking at the importance of balconies in multi -family housing, their types, surfaces, estimated costs and formalities related to their addition.
Balcony as a necessary space in multi -family housing
The balcony in multi -family housing has many functions. It is a place of relaxation, an additional space for storing things, and even a workplace or social gatherings. In the Covid-19 pandemic era, especially during Lockdown in 2020, the importance of balconies became even more clear. Inhabitants of blocks of flats without access to the outside felt the inability to go out into fresh air, which increased the interest in flats with balconies or gardens. Today, the balcony, like the elevator in the building, is often a decisive factor when buying or renting real estate.
In modern primary construction, the balcony is a standard, just like an elevator or a storage room. Developers design flats with balconies of various sizes to meet customer expectations. On the secondary market, however, many apartments do not have balconies, which reduces their attractiveness. In response to these needs of the community and housing cooperatives, they are increasingly making decisions about the addition of balconies, which not only improves the comfort of life, but also increases the value of real estate by up to tens of thousands of zlotys.
The addition of balconies in older buildings
Older buildings, especially those erected during the PRL, often did not include balconies in their projects. Blocks made of large slab, which are a significant housing resource in Poland (it is estimated that about 12 million Poles live in such buildings), were built with a view to maximum cost efficiency, which resulted in the omission of such amenities. Contemporary housing communities, striving to increase the standard of living and the value of real estate, decide to add balconies. However, this process is complicated and requires a number of formalities.
As emphasized by Marcin Moneta, an expert of the Gethome.pl portal, the addition of the balcony in a multi -family building is treated as the expansion of real estate, which means the need to obtain a building permit or notification in the architecture department, depending on the scale of the project. It is key to obtaining the consent of all members of the community or housing cooperative, because the balcony, although belonging to a specific premises, interferes with the facade, which is the common part of the building. Even one voice of opposition can block the investment, which means that the addition of a single balcony is rare – it is more profitable to mount balconies for more apartments at the same time. In addition, additional permits are required for buildings covered by conservation protection, which complicates the process.
Types of balconies in multi -family housing
Balconies in multi -family housing can be divided into several main types, differing in structure, assembly method and materials. Each of them has its own advantages, disadvantages and specific technical requirements. Below are the most common types of balconies:
1. Monolithic (reinforced concrete) balconies – these are traditional balconies, the structure of which is based on a reinforced concrete plate attached in the ceiling. They dominate in multi -family housing due to the durability and simplicity of performance. The balcony plate, from 8 to 20 cm thick, is reinforced with steel bars, which ensures its stress strength. The disadvantage of this type of balcony is the risk of thermal bridges that can lead to heat loss if the insulation is not done correctly. Monolithic balconies are designed at the building construction stage and are not suitable for the addition in existing facilities.
2 They are characterized by faster assembly and less susceptibility to executive errors. The unit cost for 1 m² of such a balcony ranges from 800 to 1500 PLN, depending on the size and finish. Prefabricated elements are often chosen in new investments, and their additional advantage is the possibility of using thermal connectors that minimize heat loss.
3. Sleeping (self -supporting) balconies – Sleeping balconies are an ideal solution for older buildings where there are no balconies or existing constructions in poor technical condition. These constructions are independent of the building, based on poles and foundations, attached to the facade points. They form the so -called Balcony towers, where several balconies are arranged one above the other. They are most often made of galvanized steel or aluminum, with floors made of boards, stone or composite materials. Their versatility allows for installation in almost every building, and the lack of interference in the load -bearing structure of the building eliminates the problem of thermal bridges. The most common dimensions are about 3.5 x 1.7 m, which gives an area of about 6 m².
4. Suspended (adhesive) balconies – suspended balconies are fastened to the facade with hangers or beams, partly supported by columns or braces. They are less popular than supplies, but used in modernization of older buildings. Their design is lighter than monolithic, but requires precise assembly to ensure safety.
5. Loggia – is a niche in the body of the building, open to one side, often roofed. Unlike the balcony, it does not protrude beyond the outline of the building, which reduces the risk of thermal bridges. Loggies are popular in multi -family housing, especially in older blocks, although their surface is usually smaller, on average from 2 to 4 m².
6. Combined balconies – an innovative solution are complex balconies, using light composite plates, such as the Swiss Corfloor® album, originally designed for the European Space Agency. They are up to 10 times lighter than traditional reinforced concrete balconies and fastened with chemical anchors, which minimizes stress in the building structure. Such balconies are increasingly used in both new and older buildings.
Balcony surface
The surface of balconies in multi -family housing varies and depends on the type of structure and local urban regulations. Standard balconies in new buildings usually have from 4 to 12 m², with those with an area of about 6 m² (e.g. 3.5 x 1.7 m). Loggies are usually smaller, with a surface of 2 to 4 m², which limits their functionality, but makes them cheaper to make. In the case of supplier balconies, the size is flexible and depends on the development conditions and the local spatial development plan, although they are most often designed within 6 m² to ensure adequate comfort of use.
Polish construction standards determine the minimum use load of balconies at 2.0 kN/m², which corresponds to about 200 kg per square meter, which allows for safe use of space, e.g. to set garden furniture or pots. As Marcin Moneta, an expert of the Gethome.pl portal, reminds, it is worth remembering that with the addition of balconies in older buildings, a technical expertise is necessary to confirm the load capacity of the structure.
Estimated cost of the balcony.
The cost of adding a balcony in a multi -family building depend on many factors, such as the type of structure, materials, size, location and complexity of assembly. Below are approximate prices for different types of balconies:
- Sleeping balconies: costs range from PLN 5,000 for a simple construction with dimensions of 2 x 1.5 m (3 m²) to even PLN 50,000 for more advanced projects with additional elements, such as glass balustrades or flooring of composite materials. On average, for 1 m² of supply balcony, you pay from 4,000 to 10,000 PLN, with prices such as Warsaw or Krakow, prices can exceed 12,000 PLN/m². For example, a 6 m² balcony can cost from 24,000 to 60,000 PLN, depending on the materials (steel, aluminum, exotic wood) and location.
- Prefabricated balconies: the unit cost for 1 m² ranges from 800 to PLN 1,500, which means that the 6 m² balcony is an expense of 4,800-9,000 PLN, plus assembly and finish costs (e.g. balustrades, dehydration systems) that can increase the price by 15-30%.
- Monolithic balconies: the cost of a balcony plate is around PLN 140-230/m², insulation 30-80 PLN/m², and balustrades 8-15 PLN per current meter. Added to this are the costs of ceramic tiles (PLN 40-100/m²), which gives the total construction cost of PLN 10,000-30,000 for a standard balcony. However, this type of balconies are not used in addition, but only in new buildings.
- Balcony buildings: If the owner of the apartment wants to build an existing balcony (e.g. with glass or PVC), the cost in Warsaw ranges from 750 PLN/m² for frame development to PLN 1,500/m² for frameless. For a 6 m long balcony, the cost is from PLN 6,700 to 8,000 depending on the system and materials.
Additional costs may include obtaining permits, technical expertise, architectural projects and labor. In the case of multi -family buildings, the costs are often folded out of all residents, which reduces individual expenses, especially with more balconies added.
Formalities and challenges
The addition of the balcony requires complementing a number of formalities. It is key to obtaining the consent of the community or housing cooperative, which may be difficult in the absence of unanimity among residents. Then prepare a construction project and obtain a building permit or submit an application in the architecture department, especially if the investment interferes with the building structure. In the case of older buildings, a technical expertise is necessary to assess the load capacity of the structure and the safety of the addition. As the expert of the Gethome.pl portal emphasizes, it is also worth informing your neighbors about the planned investment to avoid conflicts, even if it is not formally required.
Summary
The balcony in multi -family housing is not only an additional space, but also an investment that increases the comfort of life and the value of real estate. In older buildings, such as blocks of large slab, the addition of balconies is becoming more and more popular, despite the fact that it is associated with high costs and complicated formalities. Types of balconies – from monolithic, to prefabricated to supplier and complex – offer various possibilities to adapt to the needs of residents and the specifics of the building. The cost of the addition range from several to tens of thousands of zlotys, depending on the type of structure, materials and locations. An investment in a balcony, however, is not only an expense, but also a way to increase the quality of life and attractiveness of the apartment on the real estate market.
Marcin Moneta
