Is it better to seal the balcony or not? What are the advantages and disadvantages of sealing the balcony?

We all know that the balcony is a special place in the home and a key decoration location. Most people will decorate the balcony according to their own preferences and needs. Some people will seal the balcony, while others will not. So is it better to seal the balcony or not? Let's take a closer look!

Should the balcony be sealed or not?

Balconies are divided into closed balconies and open balconies. When decorating a house, many people will consider whether to close the balcony. Different people have different opinions on this issue. In fact, this mainly depends on personal preference and actual situation.

1. Consider safety

Some people live on higher floors and have children at home, so they prefer to enclose the balcony for safety reasons. Although safety is not determined by the balcony, psychologically speaking, an extra layer of glass means an extra layer of protection.

2. Depends on the number of balconies

If you have multiple balconies at home, you have a variety of options, including enclosing some or all of them.

3. Lifestyle

Some people like open balconies because they like to plant flowers. Open balconies have better air circulation and more sunshine than closed balconies. Some people feel that they can dry clothes more freely on open balconies. Therefore, whether the balcony is closed or not depends on personal living habits.

4. The number and function of rooms determine

There are relatively few rooms, and sometimes the balcony is also used as a room with other functions, such as a balcony and study. In this case, the balcony must be closed.

5. Environmental reasons

My house is located on the roadside. When I renovated it, I closed the balcony. The first reason was to prevent noise from affecting my sleep. The second reason was to effectively reduce dust from entering the room. After closing the balcony, these two benefits are obvious.

What are the advantages of enclosing a balcony?

1. Block out distractions

When the balcony is enclosed, most of the dust and noise can be blocked, making the indoor environment cleaner and quieter. In addition, the enclosed balcony also has a certain insulation effect, which prevents it from being too cold in winter and too hot in summer.

2. Expand living area

When the balcony is enclosed, a complete functional space is created, which can be transformed into a leisure area or storage room to achieve more functions.

3. Anti-theft

After the balcony is enclosed, the anti-theft factor is naturally improved and the safety of the room is better guaranteed.

What are the disadvantages of enclosing a balcony?

1. High cost and risk

The price of enclosing a balcony is not low, ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of yuan. In many areas, urban management is relatively strict, and enclosing a balcony is considered illegal construction, which may be demolished and punished. There are also construction safety risks, such as falling or being blown down by the wind, and the resulting damages.

2. Affect lighting and ventilation

For fully open balconies, closing them will affect the lighting and ventilation of the room. For semi-closed balconies, closing them will mainly affect the ventilation effect. Closing the balcony with fiberglass structure will have little effect on lighting, but will affect the ventilation effect. Opening windows after closing will not provide as good ventilation as before closing.

3. Sunroom

Many people choose glass sun rooms, which have good lighting, but are easily exposed to the sun, which increases the indoor temperature and turns them into greenhouses.

4. Rain and water leakage problems

It is easy to cause water leakage and rain leakage. Enclosing the balcony will damage the exterior wall coating, waterproofing, and insulation. If the construction is not done well, it is easy to cause water seepage in the exterior wall. Or long-term use will cause the sealant to age and cause water leakage.

5. Cleanliness issues

After the balcony is closed, the dust on the balcony is reduced compared to the open balcony. However, the windows and glass roofs of the closed balcony need to be cleaned, especially the glass roof, which is not easy to clean.

6. Lack of outdoor space

The enclosed balcony reduces the open outdoor space and increases the indoor space.

7. Safety hazards

The enclosed balcony is a later reconstruction, and the construction is mostly done by the merchants and the owners themselves. The structural safety does not necessarily meet the industry standards, and there are structural safety hazards. In addition, the balcony uses a glass structure, which is easy to create a greenhouse effect, and the stacking of sundries and flammable items is easy to cause a fire.