Balcony Floor Installation Step by Step

Professional installation - why this is not a DIY job

You will find dozens of "how to lay balcony flooring yourself" tutorials on internet forums. And yes - technically it is possible. But the difference between a DIY floor and a professional installation is like the difference between a selfie and a studio portrait.

The challenge is not in laying the boards themselves. What really matters is: precise measurement, correct joist spacing, cutting to the exact balcony shape, and proper water drainage. A single error during measurement and the entire floor will not fit.

Step 1: LiDAR scanner measurement

Everything begins with measurement. Forget about the traditional tape measure - at BalkonSetup we use a LiDAR scanner that creates a three-dimensional model of your balcony with millimetre accuracy.

Why does this matter?

• No balcony is perfect - walls are rarely parallel, angles are rarely exactly 90 degrees
• Thresholds, drains, pipes - the scanner captures every obstacle
• L-shapes, corners - precise measurement of 6 sides, not just 2

The measurement is free of charge and takes just a few minutes. A specialist comes to your location, scans the balcony, and then you configure the floor together in our app - choosing the panel pattern, layout, and seeing a visualisation of the final result.

Step 2: Configuration and quote

Based on the 3D scan, our simulator automatically calculates:

• The number and placement of joists (optimal spacing)
• The number of panels including trimming
• The quantity of mounting clips
• The amount of butyl tape (joist insulation)
• The exact cost of materials and installation

Step 3: Material ordering and CNC processing

After the deposit is paid, we start production:

1. We order the panels in your chosen pattern from the manufacturer
2. CNC cutting - a digital router cuts every panel with millimetre precision, exactly to your balcony dimensions
3. We prepare the joists - cut from 3-metre raw stock
4. We assemble the clips - the right quantity matched to the project

CNC processing is our competitive advantage. A traditional installer cuts on-site with a saw - generating noise, dust, and inaccuracies. We cut everything in the workshop, and on the balcony we simply assemble pre-cut components.

Step 4: Subfloor preparation

Before installation, we inspect the balcony screed:

• Slope - the screed should have a slight slope toward the balcony edge (for water drainage)
• Cleanliness - we remove debris, dust, and remnants of any previous finish
• Integrity - cracks, defects - we flag any issues before covering them with flooring

Step 5: Joist installation

Joists are the skeleton of the entire structure. We lay them:

• Perpendicular to the panels - ensuring proper support
• At the correct spacing - typically 30 cm, adjusted according to the load
• With edge clearance - 5 to 10 mm from walls and railings, depending on the arrangement with the client (to compensate for thermal expansion)
• On butyl tape - insulating the joist from the screed, eliminating vibrations and noise

The joists are not permanently fixed to the screed - the system is "floating", which protects the balcony waterproofing and allows for future removal.

Step 6: Panel installation with clips

We mount the panels using a clip system - mounting clips connect the panels to the joists, creating even expansion gaps between the boards.

The gaps between panels are not a flaw - they are a designed feature. They allow for:

• Water drainage
• Subfloor ventilation
• Thermal expansion compensation

Step 7: Finishing and handover

Finally:

• We check the stability of the entire structure
• We verify the evenness of gaps
• We clean up any debris and tidy the balcony
• We hand over the finished floor with care instructions

How long does it take?

The entire process from measurement to finished floor takes a minimum of 10 working days. The on-site installation itself typically takes about 1 hour - because all components arrive pre-cut and ready to assemble.

You choose the installation date yourself via our online calendar - access is granted immediately after paying the deposit.