Gone are the days of standard finishes, and they have been replaced by a huge variety. This also applies to facades. A person faced with construction may well fall into a stupor from huge selection options available on the market. To prevent this from happening, I will try to systematize the types of finishing materials for the facade, and analyze their main advantages and disadvantages.
Finishing the facade of a private house
The facade of the house requires a special approach to the choice of finishing materials. A lot may depend on individual characteristics buildings, but there are general factors that any facade without exception must meet:
- Presentable appearance. No matter how banal it may sound, the facade is the face of the house.
- Easy to care for. Washing walls is a complex and sometimes very expensive process.
- Durability. Service life in aggressive outdoor environments must be at least 7 years without additional finishing and repairs.
- Energy efficiency. Properly selected finishing materials can significantly save on heating costs.
It is not easy to meet all the listed qualities, but it is from them that you need to start when choosing. So, what are the materials for finishing facades?
Curtain façade systems
Modern finishing systems not only imply improving the external appearance of the building, but also perform a number of functions to protect walls from external influences.
Curtain facades are a generalized name for all systems that are mounted not directly to the wall, but at some distance. Most often, these are special mounting brackets to which decorative trim is fixed.
Thanks to this system, an air chamber with a constant flow is formed under the external finishing, which prevents the accumulation of moisture on the surface of the house and the formation of harmful mold.
Important! Some types of curtain facades are very heavy and can create additional load on the walls.
Mounted facade systems can be presented in different versions:
Siding
Most popular look facade finishing. It can be made of both metal and plastic. Some siding models have a multi-layer structure, which allows significant savings on building insulation.
Pros
- Reasonable price. Even multi-layer siding is cheaper than most competitors.
- Durability. There are no restrictions on service life.
- Easy to install. Siding components allow you to complete finishing work in a short time and even on your own.
- Variety of exterior decor options. Imitation of natural wood or stone is possible.
Cons
- There are slight thermal expansions when heated. This must be taken into account when finishing.
- The siding panels have a certain length, and if the house is large, you will have to install a connecting profile.
- Low strength at mechanical influences.
Glass facades
One of the most expensive types facade finishing. It is most often used on administrative or commercial buildings, but can also be found on many cottages.
Pros
- High strength. Triplex glass can withstand heavy surface loads and mechanical stress.
- Presentable appearance.
- Glass has a high degree of sound and heat insulation.
- Easy to repair. If one of the segments is damaged, there will be no need to redo the entire façade.
Cons
- High cost.
- Difficult to install.
- Many people feel uncomfortable being in an all-glass room.
Cladding the facade of a house with clinker tiles
It's multi-layered finishing material, made of high-strength ceramic tiles and polyurethane insulation.
Pros
- High resistance to impacts.
- Complete absence of thermal deformation.
- Aesthetic appearance with a large selection of colors.
- Thermal insulation that does not require an additional layer of insulation.
- Ceramics do not age and do not lose their appearance over time.
Cons
- Relatively high cost.
- The difficulty of installation associated with cutting ceramic tiles.
- Heavy weight finishing, creating additional load on the walls of the house.
This is a generalized concept that includes all types of finishes applied to the facade in liquid form. Wet facades can be:
- Heavy. When the coating is applied in several layers, including a layer of insulation and reinforcing mesh.
- Lungs. Apply only as decorative coating and implying insulation of the house from the inside.
Important! Before applying any decorative finishing, the walls must be carefully primed and treated with special impregnations.
Painted house facade
Most affordable way facade finishing. Suitable for any buildings regardless of their purpose. Facade paint can be applied to all surfaces and has high adhesion. Most often, such paints are made on acrylic base, which is completely harmless to human health.
Pros
- Modern paints are highly durable and resistant to natural influences.
- Huge selection of color palettes.
- Ease of application.
- Easy to maintain. The painted facade can simply be washed with water from a hose.
- Low cost of materials and labor.
Cons
- Short service life. Even the highest quality paints begin to lose color after a few years and require renewal.
- Can only be applied in warm seasons.
- Does not have any protective or insulating properties.
- Requires additional processing of the stand and their alignment.
Textured plaster
With the help of facade plaster you can easily and without extra costs change the color of the house
Unlike simple cement plaster, this type of home decoration can be the most different colors and even with imitation of natural materials. To apply it, you do not need to level the walls; a simple antibacterial primer is sufficient.
Pros
- Low price compared to any suspended facade.
- Ease of application.
- Large selection of colors and textures with a variety of imitations.
- Compared to paint, plaster is more durable.
- The composition uses only environmentally friendly components that are not harmful to health.
Cons
- Poor adhesion to metal and wood surfaces.
- A few years after application it fades in the sun.
- Low degree of sound and heat insulation.
All of the options listed above are only a small part of the types of facade finishing. But they are the ones that enjoy the highest popularity among customers.
At the design stage of a private house, the customer must determine what material will be used to decorate the walls outside. Exterior finishing at home gives the object a presentable appearance, but thermal insulation also depends on it. provides protection to walls from negative impacts UV rays, moisture, wind, temperature changes, etc.
There are so many on the market facing materials that the only difficulty remains to make the right choice. Some people want the result to be a facade that requires a minimum of maintenance, while others focus on thermal insulation.
Some people like natural materials, while others prefer modern and high-tech ones. If you are deciding how to decorate the façade of your home, explore the various options. external cladding. And our selection will help you with this. So, let's look at what types of house facades there are in general.
The owners of this house believe that it is better to veneer the house natural stone
And this is a more budget “version” of travertine -:
Porous shell rock of warm sand color is also perfect as a facing material:
Over time, its shade becomes darker, but to avoid this, you can coat the surface protective varnish. If you are against using natural stone, you can cover your house with artificial tiles that replicate the texture of natural material:
Another option is an easy-to-install artificial flexible stone, which is acrylic slabs with an adhesive base:
Brick facade finishing
The brick facade is a classic that always remains in fashion. If desired, you can choose any shade of brick for cladding. For example, yellow:
Not quite a brick, it's a foam block with a facing side
Red using clinker:
Very beautiful facade made of facing bricks
You can choose gray shade bricks:
Colored glazed material of one tone:
Building facade with ceramic glazed bricks
Or combine different colors in one façade:
Facade cladding with porcelain stoneware
Porcelain tiles are frost- and wear-resistant tiles, which contain clay baked at ultra-high temperatures and metal compounds. For facades, both ordinary ones are used. Thin, in fact, like ordinary material, it can be installed with glue directly on the prepared surface or on. The latter option is often used in the construction of high-rise buildings and public buildings, but can also be used for cladding private houses. Regular porcelain tiles:
And thin porcelain tiles look richer due to the wide format of the slab:
Facade cladding with fiber cement panels
You can clad the house with fiber cement panels “like stone” or “like wood”. Such panels consist of 90% cement and 10% filler, which determines the texture. The slabs are installed “dry” mounted method, on the insulation, without the use of adhesive solutions. domestic production: LTM and LATONIT, or others.
External cladding of the house with Japanese panels
The use of cement-bonded particle boards () “like bricks”
You can decorate the outside of the house with siding
Siding is the same hanging panels with different textures that imitate natural materials. But, basically, siding imitates wood. , from which it is made. Fiber cement siding looks like this:
Metal:
From PVC materials:
Façade cladding with wood
If you decide to use natural wood for finishing, you can choose one of the options.
Lining
It is better to use larch that is resistant to the external environment.
Wooden blockhouse
Facade with beveled slats (“”) under the blinds
If you do not want to use natural wood, you can, as an option, look like wood.
Panels imitating natural wood
HPL panels on the facade
HPL plastic on the facade of a private house
ROCK panels
External façade cladding imitating stone or brick
You can choose cladding without insulation or immediately. Don’t know what to use to clad the façade of a house if you need panels without insulation? Pay attention to the hanging altfacade slabs. This is what the version with the tavertine effect looks like:
How to make the façade of a house, if you need it right away with insulation, choose thermal panels. For example, for clinker:
Plaster
You can decorate the facade of the house with plaster systems. ":
Bark beetle plaster:
Plaster “rain”:
Structural “torn” plaster:
Venetian plaster on the facade:
“Marbled” plaster with marble chips:
Smooth and smooth gypsum plaster:
You can cover the façade with terracotta panels
Option for combining several shades:
Combined facade
If you can’t decide how best to decorate the outside walls of your home, consider combining different materials.
Combined plaster on the facade
Wood plus brick
Stone effect tiles and wood effect panels
Planken plus polished limestone
You can cover the façade of a private house with stained glass structures
The cheaper it is to sheathe the outside of a house
If you want to cheaply decorate the facade of your house, choose plaster or fiber cement.
Gypsum plaster:
Fiber cement facade:
Interesting design idea on the facade
Inexpensive finishing of the facade of a house can also be obtained if you choose panels: for example, with or without insulation, siding or artificial stone:
Panels from artificial stone can be very affordable
It is cheaper to decorate the facade with Alt-panels than with thermal panels with insulation
On plaster you can let it be dark-colored wooden slats, imitating “Fachwerk”
House facade decor
To improve the facade of your home, you can use simple design techniques. Inserts from decorative stone in the plinth area:
Beautiful exquisite facade
Canopy over entrance group decorates the facade
Stone steps complete the appearance of the facade
You can equip a terrace and glaze it, trim it with wood or decorate it in a Mediterranean style.
When choosing what to cover the facade of a house with, it is better to be guided by the climatic conditions of the area in which the house is located, the requirements for the stability of the finish, as well as individual stylistic preferences.
If you have decided, choosing methods for finishing facades is not a problem.
Nowadays, owners of private residential buildings unique technologies are available for creating high-quality facades, which allows you not only to give the building an attractive appearance, but to provide its walls for many years reliable protection from wear. Let's talk about how finishing house facades with modern materials can look like today and what is different about them; photos and advice from experienced specialists.
The construction and subsequent finishing of the facade of one-story residential buildings today can be performed with a variety of materials for external works. They have unique properties, individual service life, unique aesthetics, relevance of application, and level of care requirements. The technologies for using each of them in practice also differ from each other, which is important to consider when selecting a specific material.
Decorative plaster
Decorative plaster is very often used for decoration purposes. external walls private buildings today. These unique mixtures provide a person with the opportunity to realize the most non-standard design fantasies and give the house an interesting, original look. Decorative facade plaster is distinguished by a wide selection of color shades, textures, and methods of application to the base.
On shelves today construction stores You can find several types of decorative plaster mixture, with which you can create a unique project for the facade of a house:
- mineral;
- silicate;
- acrylic;
- silicone.
Mineral 
Silicate 
Silicone Different types of decorative plaster mixtures demonstrate different properties: the level of sound and heat insulation ability, resistance to negative factors: fire, precipitation, ultraviolet study, and so on. Therefore, the owner of the building has the opportunity to choose the most suitable option for the conditions of the specific area where the house is located.
The installation of plaster is characterized by certain specifics, depending on the type of mixture chosen, as well as the nature of the base. The stages of work are as follows: preparing the base, priming it, installing beacons, spraying the first layer of the mixture, installing the reinforcing mesh, organizing the second layer of the mixture, grouting and giving the base a specific texture, painting the facade.
Particularly popular today is the bark beetle facade, which is distinguished by its unique aesthetics, originality, and non-standard appearance. Externally, the facade takes on the appearance of a surface that has been corroded by the bark beetle. The specifics of working with a bark beetle are quite simple: the effect is achieved through the use of a grater, as well as the choice of a specific direction in the process of grinding dried material. The project for decorating a residential building with bark beetle is shown in the photo below: its high aesthetics, conciseness and originality are difficult not to appreciate.
Clinker bricks and tiles
Clinker brick and tiles demonstrate extraordinary strength and resistance to negative factors environment. Modern finishing At home, clinker will not be cheap, but such options can provide the external walls of the building with reliable protection for many decades. The project for finishing the facade of a private cottage with clinker is shown in the photo below.
Clinker bricks and tiles are created using a unique technology using environmentally friendly raw materials, so such finishing materials in no way harm human health or the environment.
Today, construction and finishing work in the private sector outside of large cities is actively carried out using clinker, the design styles of which can be varied. Such facades are able to imitate the aesthetics that other types of materials have. For example, they are made in the same shape and color as brick, natural stone and the like.
Therefore, with its help, you can give a building a varied look and high aesthetics, successfully integrating the curtain façade into the surrounding landscape. It is worth noting the easy installation of this material, which can be handled even by a person without much experience in construction work.
Clinker brick 
Tile Porcelain tiles
In previous years, such finishing materials were used for cladding horizontal and vertical planes on the ground floor of houses: plinths, steps, door and window openings. Today, it is used to decorate garages, swimming pools, and facades of private houses.
This is a very durable finish. The moisture resistance and strength of porcelain stoneware are very high, and its resistance to sudden changes temperature regime, aesthetic qualities. Very wide color options porcelain stoneware: such materials are provided to the buyer wide choice shades, and the styles in which they can be applied are also varied. The project for the facade of a country house made of porcelain stoneware is presented in finished form in the photo below.
Today, the most popular options for such cladding for private buildings are:
- structured - a facade project with such cladding has the most presentable appearance, since the material is able to imitate any texture. For example, wood, stone, leather or fabric;
- processed varieties: glazed, polished, satin and matte tiles.
Installation of porcelain stoneware on the facade of a home is carried out in the following sequence of operations:
- leveling the surface of the base, eliminating existing stains, cracks, chips, priming the facade;
- coating the base with an adhesive composition;
- numbering of porcelain stoneware slabs, their alternate installation on the wall;
- rubbing end joints and joining tongue-and-groove joints.
The facade cassette is a panel made of durable metal, inside of which a filler with specific properties is placed. This type of cladding is often rectangular in shape and made of aluminum, steel, and so on.
In order for the curtain wall to become highly resistant to various destructive influences, its surface is coated with zinc, special polymer compounds, and polyesters.
To understand what a house with such cladding looks like, pay attention to the photo below. Installation of metal cassettes with outside walls is carried out through substructure elements. The operation design is simple. But first, the walls are thoroughly cleaned of the previous finish, and they are leveled only if there is a significant deviation from the vertical. If the surface outer wall has no defects, there is no need for alignment. The design styles of such finishing are very diverse.
A curtain wall façade with metal cassettes allows, if desired, to fill the space between the walls and the cladding with heat-insulating boards, fixing them with disc-shaped dowels. Therefore, buildings finished with metal cassettes and insulating material can become warm, cozy and durable.
Siding
Exterior wall finishing project country houses siding has become popular in the domestic market quite recently. This trend is explained by many positive parameters of the material: low cost, excellent strength and large selection color shades.
Thanks to the wide variety of colors, shapes, and textures of siding, owners of residential buildings can give them the most unimaginable design with unique properties. It is difficult to find two completely identical buildings that are finished with siding.
Installation of siding for the external walls of buildings is not complicated by difficulties, since the material is easy to install, and the project provides for the work to be completed in a short time. This finish can be used for walls made of different building materials, timber, brick. Finishing the facade of a wooden house with siding looks absolutely unsurpassed, laconic and attractive, as confirmed by the photo below.
Natural and artificial stone
Natural stone of various shapes has long been used to organize the facades of buildings for various purposes. Construction today uses it very widely, because the material has unique properties: high durability, resistance to mechanical stress, high humidity, sunlight and other factors that affect the walls of the house in a destructive way. To see the high aesthetics of residential buildings with natural stone cladding, pay attention to the photo below. It is actively used by many styles in facade design.
The main disadvantages of a facade project using such material for exterior wall decoration are its high cost, as well as the significant weight of the cladding. Therefore, natural stone has limitations in its scope of application. The technology does not imply its use for finishing a frame house with thin walls.
An equally successful option for organizing the facade of a residential building is finishing with artificial stone of various shapes. The project can be varied, as shown in the photo below. Natural materials are much more expensive than artificial stone, but, as practice shows, its performance parameters are no less high.
Panels
Such options for organizing the facades of residential buildings are distinguished by high performance parameters and a unique appearance. With the help of such material, you can give a private home high aesthetics and an expensive appearance, which is confirmed by the photo presented to the reader below. A curtain façade of this kind can be installed quite quickly and easily: the operating technology is simple and can be carried out even by a person without experience in such matters.
| Species diversity | Pros | Cons |
| Made of metal with polymer coating | Long service life, resistance to ultraviolet radiation, temperature changes | Low thermal insulation properties |
| Wood fiber panels | Natural, environmentally friendly, light weight | High flammability and tendency to swell from moisture |
| Vinyl | Practical, light weight | Fragility at low temperatures |
| Thermal panels | Light weight, high frost resistance | Toxicity of components |
| Sandwich panel | Light weight, wear resistant | Fragility if handled carelessly |
| Fiber cement facade systems | Self-cleaning ability, high frost resistance, durability, strength | Low impact resistance, high water absorption |
| Made of stone and porcelain stoneware | High frost resistance | High cost, significant weight |
| Glass panels | Wear resistance, original aesthetics | Difficult installation, expensive |
That is, the design of such cladding is very diverse, which expands the decorative styles in which it is relevant.
Wooden 
Fiber cement 
Sandwich panel 
Metal 
Glass panels 
Thermal panels
The wet method of finishing facades has gained respect among owners of private houses due to the minimal number of cold bridges characteristic of alternative cladding methods. But this is not the main advantage of a wet facade. It is also worth noting the fact that such finishing helps to move the dew point beyond the boundaries of the living space. Therefore, the problem of condensation is eliminated when there is a large difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures.
Installation of a facade using the wet type requires certain skills from a person. It involves the following operations: preparing the base, installing profiles, thermal insulation, reinforcing the base, organizing a layer of plaster mixture, giving the layer of plaster mixture the actual texture (for example, using a trowel if bark beetle finishing is used), painting the dried plaster mixture. In this case, it is very important to select the type of plaster mixture for the outer layer, since the finish must have high vapor permeability and resistance to wear.
Note that wet facade can be created using other materials for the outer layer: siding, facade panels, and so on. The photo below shows a façade with a wet finish.
What is better to choose
If the construction of a house is carried out with one’s own hands, its owner must choose materials for creating the facades. Which of the cladding described above is impossible? would be better suited in a particular case depends on many factors. Namely:
- view building material, from which the structure is erected;
- climatic conditions, characteristic areas where the house is located;
- the size of the budget for the purchase of cladding and performance of cladding work;
- the complexity of the installation of a specific facade;
- taste preferences of the cottage owner.
The photo below shows images of the most popular facades for residential buildings these days.
Video
How to make the facade of your house attractive and original.
Photos of examples of facades decorated with modern materials
A selection of photographs with options for decorating facades with modern materials.
The facade of a house is the same as a person’s face. Types of facades may differ from each other depending on the materials used.
Let's consider the most popular and reliable finishing options for houses. These today include:
- decorative plaster;
- decorative stone;
- planken;
- brick;
- panels.
Below are the types of facades finished with such materials.
Plastered facades - pros and cons
One of the oldest and most affordable home finishing options today is the use of a plaster mixture. The quality and durability of the finish will be directly related to the quality of the base preparation.
There are several types of decorative plaster mixture:
- mineral;
- acrylic;
- silicone;
- silicate.
The most common is mineral plaster, which many know as “bark beetle,” which can be used to create colored textured surfaces. To make the mixture it is used cement-sand mortar, the main advantage of which is vapor permeability. The material is easy to apply and will last at least 10 years.
The advantage of acrylic plaster is its elasticity, due to which it is possible to avoid the appearance of small cracks. The material is also vapor permeable and is used in combination with foam. The disadvantages of the acrylic mixture include rapid contamination and premature loss of color. The average service life of such coating is 15 years.
Silicate plaster is also vapor permeable; unlike acrylic plaster, it is resistant to dirt and retains performance characteristics throughout the entire service life (up to 25 years).
Silicone plaster again demonstrates excellent vapor permeability, is compatible with all insulation options, and is considered the most practical and suitable for finishing the facade of a house. A coating treated with this mixture can last up to 25 years.
Plastered facades of houses look fashionable, stylish and neat, and can be combined with any type of insulation materials.
Decorative stone in exterior bleaching works
Decorative stone facades are a relatively new phenomenon. The material was invented as a more affordable and convenient alternative to natural stone. Using decorative stone slabs, architects and designers develop unique projects, combining colors, textures and styles.
Compared to natural material, the decorative analogue has several advantages. Of course, such a stone is unlikely to be able to outperform natural marble or granite in terms of shelf life, but as far as visual appeal, the ability to imitate all kinds of stone types and thermal insulation properties are concerned, everything is in perfect order.
Decorative slabs do not have as much weight as natural ones, which means they do not put pressure on the walls and foundation of the building. They are easy to install and withstand tests of mechanical damage, UV rays and precipitation. In addition, a pleasant bonus is the low price compared to the price of natural stone.
Planken for facade - features
Planken for the facade of houses is not quite lining, as some people think today. In fact, these materials are radically different from each other. Unlike lining, which can deform the facade under the influence of moisture, planken will not cause such troubles.
The board material is smooth, with rounded corners from Siberian larch. Planken is resistant to manifestations external environment, UV rays and moisture. To process it, varnish or special impregnations are used.
The facade board is attached with gaps, due to which the natural air exchange of the structure is not disturbed. If necessary, the boards can be replaced without completely disassembling the facade. The product is environmentally friendly and has a beneficial effect on the health of people living in a house with such a facade.
Facade panels for wall cladding
Metal and wood are used to decorate houses façade panels. Both are resistant to corrosion and demonstrate excellent heat and sound insulation characteristics.
Products can be made of galvanized steel or aluminum with an additional anti-corrosion coating. The lightest and most durable are aluminum panels. Disadvantage of composites metal panels– this is insufficient thermal insulation.
Wooden panels are made from wood fibers pressed under pressure. Unlike metal products, they demonstrate high thermal insulation rates, are not susceptible to the formation of fungi and mold, and are simply and quickly installed. The material has a significant disadvantage - it is not resistant to moisture and is a fire hazard.
Vinyl facade - use of polymer materials
The simplest method, and therefore the most common, is cladding houses with siding. The panels are made of polyvinyl chloride with the addition of coloring pigments.
The products are simply mounted using aluminum nails that are not prone to corrosion. Siding facades are durable, fireproof, and do not put pressure on the foundation. The downside of the material is its exposure to low temperatures.
Polyurethane foam panels are polystyrene foam mixed with marble chips and pressed into blocks. Careful installation using this material will allow you to imitate brickwork.
Another variety is sandwich panels, created on the principle of a layer cake with a vapor barrier layer in the middle. Such a facade will be the most protected from noise, will retain heat, and will last for many years. The disadvantage of the design is that the products freeze at the joints at low temperatures.
Fiber cement panels are 90 percent cement. The rest is a mixture of fillers, cellulose and plastic. It is recommended to install the products on a lathing with a gasket made of insulating material.
Glass panels are an elite material option. With their help you can easily create unique solutions in futuristic design. At first glance, the fragile facade is characterized by increased reliability. A variation on this theme is products based on foamed glass granulate. The material is reinforced with fiberglass mesh on both sides.
An interesting option is a facade made of reflective glass, which can create additional shine, as well as light-absorbing glass to create shadows in the room.
Brick facades – what do you need to know?
Facade bricks can be of different shapes, with a matte or glossy surface, imitating chips. Most often they choose for finishing hollow brick, which can be presented in different sizes.
The main advantage of brick is the combination of its practicality with thermal insulation characteristics. Facades are often made of silicate, clinker, ceramic and glazed bricks.
Want more information on the topic? Check out these articles:
Along with wooden lining, lining has been used for a long time...
Facing materials for the facade of a building perform a protective and decorative role. They make it possible to make a building not only attractive and respectable, but also to improve its performance characteristics. Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages, as well as the features of the most popular materials for exterior finishing.
Requirements and standards
Today, the construction market offers many façade materials that differ in composition, properties, and appearance.
In this regard, it is important to decide which material is suitable for a particular structure.
When choosing a material, you should consider following criteria his ratings:
- strength, reliability (the facade of the house is subject to heavy loads, including mechanical damage, so the coating must withstand them);
- moisture resistance (its performance characteristics, appearance and durability depend on the extent to which the compositions for finishing a house can withstand moisture);
- fire resistance (the ideal material for finishing is non-flammable, although this is quite rare, so it is important to at least exclude spontaneous combustion and the release of toxins during combustion);
- weather resistance (that is, resistance to natural factors, primarily UV rays);
- windproof properties of the material (an important criterion when choosing hinged panels and slabs mounted on modern buildings; the effect is achieved by special locking);
- frost resistance (the ability of the coating to withstand cycles of freezing and defrosting without loss of material geometry and performance qualities);
- biostability (the ability to resist the effects of insect pests, rodents, the absence of mold and mildew on the surface);
- environmental friendliness (one of the most important criteria for finishing materials when facing a country house or any room that involves people living or staying there for a long time);
- long service life (a rare owner dreams of changing the cladding every 2-5 years, so modern facade materials designed for 20-100 years of service);
- ease of maintenance (most hanging materials do not require constant maintenance and even have the ability to self-clean; others, such as wood, require regular impregnation with special compounds).
If we talk about aesthetic criteria, then this is, of course, an attractive appearance. Today's facing compositions and slabs are distinguished by a variety of designs and textures (a further review of examples of exteriors is convincing confirmation of this). Separately, we should highlight panels that imitate natural surfaces (stone, brick, wood, plaster). Modern technologies make it possible to produce them as closely as possible in color and texture to natural materials.
Sometimes, imitation cannot be determined even upon closer examination.
Exterior decoration
The material used for finishing determines the methods of its installation, and therefore The following cladding options are distinguished:
- wet (building mixtures are used);
- dry (finishing materials are fastened with bolts, dowels and other fasteners).
Depending on whether there is a small air space between the facade and the wall, facades are distinguished:
- ventilated (assume the presence of a gap between the material and the wall or insulation necessary for air circulation and removal of excess moisture);
- unventilated (the material is attached directly to the wall).
Material for external processing, like the type of facade, is determined by the features of the structure. For example, for a house made of foam blocks, the optimal facing materials will be brick, stone or facade tiles, in other words, hanging systems, composite material and traditional cladding.
For frame country houses It is better to use sheet cladding options. Galvanized corrugated sheets will provide additional support for the structure, but will not require additional strengthening of the foundation.
It is important to correctly combine insulating and facing materials. The main rule is that one of the components must be non-flammable. Thus, for fiber cement non-combustible slabs, mineral wool insulation can be used. It is not recommended to use them in combination with vinyl siding.
Wet and light plaster
Decorative plaster allows you to create an externally expensive, aesthetically attractive and original facade, which can be painted if desired. It is an environmentally friendly material that allows the walls to “breathe”. Suitable for ventilated facades, however, the building requires high-quality internal sound and heat insulation, since plaster does not provide insulation and noise protection. All types of plasters tolerate temperature changes well, are not afraid of moisture and direct sun rays.
The disadvantages of the material are the complexity of application, the need for careful preparation of the walls (leveling, preliminary antiseptic treatment, application of primers). Failure to comply with the installation technology may result in cracking and peeling of the plastered layer.
The following types of plaster are distinguished.
- Mineral. The type of plaster that can be used to decorate walls the cheapest, which is why it is widely used.
One of the obvious features is absolute non-flammability, which allows the material to be combined with flammable insulation materials.
Suitable for all types of surfaces, but has low elasticity. This causes cracks to appear as the structure shrinks, which is why it is not suitable for newly constructed buildings. The average service life is 12-15 years.
- Acrylic. It is characterized by high elasticity, and therefore is suitable for decorating the walls of even newly built buildings. Possessing higher strength and moisture resistance, it demonstrates a longer period of operation, up to 18 years. The disadvantage of the acrylic mixture is its flammability, so it should not be used in combination with flammable insulation, such as mineral wool. It is usually combined with foam plastic thermal insulation materials. In addition, the surface attracts dust, and it is unacceptable to wash it. You have to either regularly clean and care for the facade, or be prepared for the fact that it will quickly lose its visual appeal.
- Silicate. A material with excellent performance properties, including high elasticity, the ability to repel dust and dirt, a tendency to self-clean during rain, and a long service life. The latter reaches 30 years. Such characteristics are explained by the presence of potassium glass in the composition. A special feature of the material is its rapid hardening, so the plaster must be applied promptly; a team of specialists will be required. In addition, it requires a special primer, which also increases the cost of installation work. The price for the mixture is also quite high.
- Silicone. A material that has virtually no disadvantages, like all types of plasters, the composition tolerates heat and frost, temperature fluctuations, exposure to moisture and direct UV rays, is environmentally friendly and vapor permeable. At the same time, it is characterized by strength and increased wear resistance, is not flammable, and is compatible with all types of surfaces and insulation. The disadvantage is the high cost, which, however, is offset by increased technical characteristics mixtures.
Hanging structures
Hanging structures involve the use of lathing on which finishing material is mounted. This method is becoming increasingly popular because it allows you to create a ventilated facade and use insulation of the required thickness.
Thanks to the lathing, you can hide unevenness and minor defects in the walls, and carry out installation even at sub-zero temperatures.
The sheathing is usually made from wooden blocks or metal profiles. The last option is preferable because it does not require pre-treatment sheathing elements with fire retardants and similar compounds for wood.
Variety hanging structures considered siding. It consists of panels similar in size to the size of the boards. In this case, the material has special grooves and lock systems, thanks to which it is assembled like a children's construction set. Similar type installation allows you to make it simple and efficient, it is possible to carry out installation work all year round. The material has improved performance properties, including hydro-wind protection.
The sizes and design of the material are very diverse. These can be either colored models (bright glossy or calmer, neutral matte panels), or imitation of the texture of any natural material(brick, stone, wood). The material is easy to clean - most surfaces have a self-cleaning function. Possible wet cleaning coatings
The following main types of siding panels are distinguished.
- Plastic. The base is PVC, as well as various modifiers and pigments. Such panels are quite durable, but under increased mechanical stress (impacts) they can crack. The material is moisture resistant, can withstand high and low temperatures, their sudden changes, and is resistant to UV protection.
Light weight (up to 5 kg/sq. m) does not require strengthening the foundation. The disadvantage is the low fire safety rating.
- Metal. Metal siding is based on profiles made of aluminum or galvanized steel. Metal siding is characterized by a greater margin of safety compared to its PVC counterpart. Features of the technologies used, including special impregnation, provide anti-corrosion protection of the material, and with it durability. It also demonstrates high weather resistance, but is only used on reinforced substrates due to the increased weight of the material.
- Wooden. A wooden profile is a board or profile that has been dried and treated with antiseptics. The material is completely environmentally friendly, vapor permeable, has high thermal insulation properties, and is resistant to high temperatures.
Finishing with natural wood looks elegant and noble.
However, despite the treatment of wooden panels with special compounds, their service life is short. During operation, siding requires regular maintenance.
- Fiber cement. The panels are made from cement mortar and dried cellulose, resulting in a durable, wear-resistant material with improved sound and heat insulation characteristics. Among the advantages are impact resistance, weather resistance, preservation of the shade of the panels even under the influence of direct sunlight, thanks to ceramic coating, and high moisture resistance. The composition of the material causes its heavy weight (up to 25 kg/sq. m), which makes it possible to use it only on reinforced foundations.
Special mention should be made basement siding, intended for cladding the lower part of the building. It has thicker profiles, best performance weather resistance and moisture resistance, resistance to mechanical damage. This is due to the fact that the basement of the house is more often than others subject to impacts and other damage, freezing, exposure to moisture and other negative environmental factors.
Basement siding is rather rectangular panels. Their width is usually equal to the height of the base and starts from 60 cm. This makes installation easy.
In terms of fastening and possible materials used for manufacturing, façade panels have some similarities with siding. They may have a square or rectangular shape, various dimensions. Some slabs contain insulation. The multilayer nature of the panels ensures their high performance properties.
Another popular material mounted type are sandwich panels. They are a “sandwich” in which a “middle” of insulation is laid between 2 layers of hard material (usually metal). The strength and durability of the structure is ensured by using the hot pressing method. The front side of the “sandwich” can be painted in any shade, be smooth or have a relief.
Sandwich panels are highly resistant to fire and moisture and demonstrate excellent thermal insulation properties with low weight. The material is easy to install, and if damaged separate area you can replace only it without going through the entire facade.
Ventilated facades can also be created using facade cassettes.
If previously they were used for cladding administrative buildings, now they are also used to decorate private buildings. This is due to the durability and reliability of the material, its weather resistance. Externally, the cassettes are squares and rectangles of aluminum, steel, and less often copper, coated with a protective polymer layer. The size and design of cassettes may vary.
Cladding materials: pros and cons
Each of the presented materials has characteristic advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, even within the same type, materials can have polar characteristics according to a certain criterion. For example, fiber cement and metal siding are non-flammable, while plastic ones are not highly fire resistant.
When selecting a material, you should focus not only on the pros and cons of the material, but also on the structural features. So, for a wooden and timber house it is better to choose ventilated facades. In this regard, even the highest quality and most expensive plaster will be inferior in its characteristics to siding or cladding panels.
But it is preferable to decorate the outside of brick or stone buildings (which are environmentally friendly in themselves) with decorative plaster. Being completely natural, it helps remove moisture from the building, maintain heat in the cold season and create pleasant coolness in the heat.
It is also important to take into account climatic conditions. For example, wooden finishing, which has a number of advantages, will quickly become unusable in coastal areas. Sheath the house better with panels or slabs. This hydro-windproof material will withstand squally gusts of wind and will literally repel moisture.
Modern facing material must be moisture resistant. Some surfaces (plaster, siding and panels, clinker tiles) have low moisture absorption, while others (most types of bricks) cannot boast of similar characteristics.
The wet strength of the material directly affects how the facade withstands frost. With high moisture absorption, moisture accumulates in the pores of the coating, which freezes and expands at low temperatures.
As a result, the surface becomes covered with cracks, the performance properties of the cladding are lost, and its appearance suffers.
Clinker tiles
Visually, the material is a regular shaped brick. The material is based on shale clay, subjected to high-temperature firing. During the latter process, the clay changes its yellowish tint to terracotta, brown, beige (depending on the initial state of the clay and the characteristics of the technologies used).
The main feature of clinker is its increased strength, frost and earthquake resistance. The advantages of the material are also high levels of moisture strength, resistance to temperature changes, environmental friendliness, and a variety of choices. It is suitable for designing ventilated facades of buildings and has a fairly high cost. However, the price range is quite wide: from premium models to economy versions.
In addition to clinker tiles, there are ceramic and concrete tiles. They are characterized by strength, wear resistance and low moisture absorption. Concrete tiles does not tolerate temperature changes, may have distorted geometry, and has considerable weight. Ceramic tiles are suitable for both dry and wet method installation
Natural and artificial stone
Stone cladding is considered strong and durable. When choosing a natural stone, you should do so taking into account climatic conditions. Thus, marble is unsuitable for regions with high humidity, while limestone is not used in areas with a harsh climate.
Natural stone undergoes complex processing, including its purification, elimination of background radiation, and giving the desired shape. Naturally, all this affects the cost of the finished product, which is very high. The large weight of the material necessarily requires strengthening the foundation. It is worth noting that buildings finished with natural stone look respectable, and such a facade can last up to 100 years. True, with regular care.
Today, those who want to decorate their home with marble stone are increasingly using an artificial analogue. In terms of strength and wear resistance, this material is not much inferior to natural mineral, but at the same time it has a lower cost, lighter weight, and easier installation. The basis of artificial stone is polyester resins, modifiers and pigments, as well as fine-grained stone chips.
The latter ensures the strength and attractive appearance of the material, while the resins provide its increased wet strength, high antibacterial properties, and self-cleaning ability.
Regarding appearance, then the material imitates any stone surface. At the same time, it is not always possible to detect a “substitution” even upon closer examination - the color and texture are so close to the shade and structure of natural stone. Usually hidden under the finish cellular concrete or a brick wall, less often - wooden surfaces.
Brick
It contains only natural ingredients, so we can confidently declare that it is environmentally friendly. Moreover, the presence of micropores in the material allows the walls to “breathe”, which helps create a favorable climate in the building. In addition, the material is not afraid of frost and remains resistant to UV exposure for quite a long time.
Using different types brick and its masonry, it is possible to create original and unique facades. A big plus: if a fragment of the facade is damaged, spot repairs can be made. Brick laying is a rather labor-intensive process that requires a professional approach. It is also important to use it only on a reinforced foundation and after thoroughly waterproofing the base. One of the significant disadvantages is the low heat capacity.
Brick can differ in composition and production methods, and therefore it is customary to distinguish the following types.
- Clinker. The basis of the brick is plastic clay, which is fired and pressed. If we talk about technical properties material, then it is the best among other types of bricks. The clinker modification is characterized by high mechanical strength, heat resistance and resistance to direct sunlight. Frost resistance of the material is 300 cycles. Clinker bricks are resistant to aggressive environments and have a low water absorption coefficient. The undoubted advantages are also environmental friendliness and ease of maintenance - it is enough to wash the facade. The disadvantages are high cost and heavy weight. An alternative this species bricks can become thinner, and therefore lighter, clinker tiles.
- Ceramic. A widespread type of brick, available in a variety of colors and characterized by durability, resistance to temperature changes, fire resistance and low cost. Unfortunately, the water absorption of ceramic bricks can reach 10%, which also affects its frost resistance. If there is limestone in the composition, this will cause even more increased moisture absorption.
In this case, the limestone will appear in the finished product as darker inclusions.
It is among batches of ceramic bricks that materials with broken corners and not the most perfect, from a geometric point of view, shapes are often found.
- Hyper-pressed. The basis of such bricks is cement, special additives and shell rock, which are subjected to semi-dry pressing. Visually, the material is difficult to distinguish from ceramic, but it is characterized by lower moisture absorption (at an average level and amounts to 5-6%) and, accordingly, better frost resistance, more accurate brick geometry. This durable and strong material is easy to install, but the bricks are heavy and tend to change color during use.
- Silicate. The composition of sand-lime brick is a cement-sand mixture; the production method used is autoclaving. This ensures the affordability of the material. In addition to its low cost, it is distinguished by its correct shape geometry, good soundproofing properties, strength. Moisture absorption is up to 15%, which causes sand-lime brick to be unstable to frost. Heavy weight combined with high thermal conductivity and less attractive aesthetic qualities - all this becomes the reason that buyers rarely choose sand-lime brick for façade cladding.
Sheathing
The cladding of a house, unlike cladding, performs 2 functions - decorative and load-bearing. The latter manifests itself primarily in frameless buildings. On outer skin there is a large load, so the materials used are based on metal (usually steel), which necessarily has anti-corrosion protection. House cladding is usually done using special metal sheets or thermal panels.
Thermal panels
They are a material consisting of a foil layer with a fastening system, insulation and a decorative layer. Expanded polystyrene and its extruded version, as well as polyurethane foam, are used as insulation. Preference should be given to polyurethane foam products. The insulation in them contains tiny air bubbles, which provides excellent thermal insulation performance with a low weight of the product.
Clinker tiles are usually used as a decorative layer.
The result of cladding is an imitation brickwork, the choice of shades and textures is varied.
The material is durable, 1.7 times warmer than many of the materials considered. It is quite simple to install, but it is important to follow the fastening technology. The material should be fixed directly to the wall, avoiding the formation of air space between the panels and the facade. This is due to the vapor permeability of thermal panels.
The walls must first be leveled, otherwise it will not be possible to avoid skewing of the sheathing, which will lead to its loss operational properties. The service life of the cladding is up to 30 years.
Sheets
As a basis for sheets external cladding usually steel comes out. It is coated with a layer of zinc, which allows you to achieve decent anti-corrosion performance. Additional protection from environmental influences (primarily UV influence), as well as the decorative effect of the material is ensured by applying a polymer coating.
The strength of the material and its wind resistance are ensured due to the peculiarities of its shape: a profiled galvanized sheet is used to create ventilated cladding. Similar sheets are also used as roofing sheets for roof decoration.
This finishing method is applicable not only for residential buildings, but also for domestic buildings and garages. Corrugated sheets are strong and durable, and new fastening systems guarantee ease of installation and durability. By choosing one or another shade or direction of the “furrows”, you can create unique exteriors.
Installation is carried out on a prepared frame. For insulation, you can choose polystyrene or mineral wool materials or purchase a profiled sheet that is thermally insulated at the factory. The latest models consist of 2 corrugated sheets, between which a layer of insulation is laid.
Combined solutions
Increasingly, owners of private houses are resorting to combined cladding of cottages. This method involves a combination of several textures within the boundaries of one facade. It is noteworthy that the difference in textures is achieved both by using various materials, and the use of the same material with imitation of different surfaces.
The latter method is more convenient in terms of installation and preparatory work, as well as maintenance. In most cases, the base of the building, corners, small architectural elements, door and window openings. Combined finishing facade allows you to emphasize the complexity and sophistication of buildings with complex configurations and add zest to simple buildings.
