The plinth is a building element that protects the top of the foundation and the bottom of the outer wall. It protects the bottom of the building from getting wet and prevents cold bridges from forming between the foundation and the house. And what will the base itself protect?
Each builder solves this issue differently. Previously, facing brick was a popular finishing material, but now lining the basement with artificial stone comes first.
For what reason the plinth gets off
Like any element of a building structure, the plinth is exposed to the environment. Humidity, temperature fluctuations, especially freeze and thaw cycles make it unusable. It is located at the most vulnerable point of the building - at the surface of the earth. And it is here that moisture accumulates the most.
The situation can be saved by lining the basement with artificiala stone that comes in many varieties:
- cement-based;
- polymer stone;
- clinker tiles;
- acrylic and plaster products.
Many of these materials have low thermal conductivity, which means they can additionally serve as home insulation. In addition, they differ in different designs that can be organically fit into the exterior of the house. For example, match the color of the roofing.
Facing with artificial stone is superior in strength to natural stone. And also has water-repellent properties, which does not allow mold and fungus to settle.
Tools and materials needed for the job
Finishing the plinth with stone is akin to ordinary brickwork. There is also work with cement, and the position of the cladding is leveled. Therefore, the tools that are used for this work are similar:
- Trowel. The main tool for laying cement or adhesive mortar.
- Grid for reinforcement. Serves to ensure that the solution does not slip after application to the wall, and also so that it is possible to finish the plinth with artificial stone over the insulation.
- Capacity for preparing the solution. Construction buckets or basins will do, depending on the amount of mix.
- Construction mixer or powerful drill for making cement or glue.
- Grinding machine with cut-off wheel. It is needed for trimming and fitting the lining.
- Building level. With its help, the upper edge is controlled during masonry. If usedclinker tiles, then each row is checked for horizontality.
- Sandpaper for grouting. During drying, it is used to remove excess mortar or glue, making the seam even and neat.
- Metal brush. It is needed during preparation. It removes particles of material that do not adhere well to the surface.
Cement mortar cladding
The use of cement mortar is the most inexpensive way of facing the basement with artificial stone. Here, an imitation of masonry is created from stones of various types:
- large or small pebbles;
- block masonry of large or small elements;
- imitation hewn stone.
To create a pattern, a layer of cement mortar is applied to the plinth. Then, with the help of stencils of various shapes, the structure of the stone is attached to the solution. When the solution is close to the solidification phase, it is treated with a metal brush to give the roughness characteristic of natural stone.
Another way to obtain the desired pattern is to cut deep and shallow grooves on the surface of the uncured mortar. For this, metal objects and tools are used, as well as a gloved hand.
As it hardens, deep cuts are made with a circular saw to form deep seams.
To make the cement mortar more plastic, PVA glue or specialplasticizers. The texture and attractiveness of natural stone can be created by adding granite, marble or quartz chips to the mortar.
Flexible stone
The building materials market is constantly updated with new products. One of them is a flexible artificial stone for plinth cladding. It is a stone crumb applied with an acrylic mixture on a fabric base. This material is available both in rolls and in the form of tiles of various sizes.
The advantage of the material is its low specific gravity. You can mount a flexible stone on any surface. It is easily cut with a utility knife.
Polymer imitation stone
One of the varieties of finishing materials is a polymer stone. It uses sand and other loose components as a base. The main difference from other types of cladding is that polymers and plasticizers are the binder instead of cement.
This material is fixed on the plinth not with cement mortar, but with the help of locks with which the tiles interlock with each other. In general, the cladding structure is fixed with self-tapping screws to a pre-mounted frame. This type of fastening allows it to be used in combination with various heaters. For example, to make the lining of the basement with artificial stone on foam plastic.
Clinker facing stone
This material is made in the form of tiles. For its manufacture, special grades of clay are used, followed by high-temperature processing. The result is a product withceramic quality.
The type of clinker stone is very diverse. Its outer surface can imitate both a brick and a fracture of natural stone. Thanks to the manufacturing technology, it has excellent performance as well as a high price.
Ragged Stone
To give the building the appearance of a building made of wild stone, ragged stone is used in construction. This material is in the form of slabs, bricks or blocks. They are made from natural stone. On the one hand, such a tile has a smooth polished surface, on the other, it looks like an unhewn stone. As a result of such cladding, the building acquires an old look. To enhance this effect, tiles and blocks are selected in different sizes.
The facade of the building, fences, interior decoration - these are the places where ragged stone is used. Lining the plinth with artificial stone is cheaper, but loses in appearance.
Preparation for lining
Before you start finishing the plinth, sufficient time must pass for the shrinkage of the material from which it is made. Approximately six months. Then you can proceed to facing the basement with artificial stone. The preparation technology consists in a thorough examination of the surface. If cracks are found, they are sealed with cement mortar. All damaged areas must be repaired.
After that, the surface of the base is cleaned of dust and dirt.
Facing can be done on surfaces of different materials. Depending on this, the finish will becarried out either directly on the base or on the crate. If the surface is wooden, then it is covered with a waterproofing material, then plastered. On a concrete or brick surface, notches are applied with a grinder. This is done for better adhesion of the solution to the artificial stone. As the last stage of preparation, the surface of the plinth is treated with a primer.
Masonry method
If the services for facing the basement with an artificial stone of the road, then you can do this work yourself.
To achieve a believable effect, a plan is first drawn up according to which the artificial stone will be laid out. Different combinations and combinations are made on paper, depending on the shape and color. The most successful option is selected. Then, according to the plan, the tiles are laid out on a flat surface.
After that, a cement mortar is prepared in the ratio of 3 parts of sand to 1 part of cement. Water is added in such an amount that the solution adheres well, but at the same time does not slide down from the vertical plane. Then a plasticizer is added. It will not allow the solution to crack during solidification. The resulting composition is thoroughly mixed with a mixer and left for 10 minutes, after which it is mixed again.
Laying artificial stone starts from the bottom corner and leads to the opposite corner. Before applying the solution to the wall, it is moistened with water, a brush or a sprayer. Do the same with tiles. Then, using a notched trowel, the mortar is applied and leveled.
The tile to be laid is pressed against the wall, then excess mortar is expelled with shaking movements. Each laid out row is checked by a plumb line in a horizontal plane and by a level - in a vertical one.
The size of the seams is controlled using templates.
Finishing the plinth with insulation
To keep the house warm during the Russian winter, the plinth is often insulated with foam materials like expanded polystyrene. This leads to the fact that after that the insulation needs to be somehow ennobled from the outside. To do this, it is lined with artificial stone.
Very often, mesh plastering is used before laying the stone. This technology has proven itself in construction in regions with a warm climate. However, in cold areas, another method is more justified. Insulation should first be overlaid with red brick, only then clad with artificial stone. Or cover the insulation with ventilated facade structures.
