Finishing the exterior walls of houses is very often done using siding. This material is valued for its practicality, versatility and a number of other positive features.
Finishing a house with siding allows you to increase the presentability of the building, insulate it, protect the facade from the negative effects of external factors. Owners of small private houses can perform wall cladding work on their own. In this case, you can use different types of base material and apply several laying technologies.
What is modern siding and how to install it on the walls to make the building look as attractive as possible, we will consider in our article.
The benefits of using siding and its types
The walls of the facade are faced to increase the respectability of the building or to insulate it. Siding can be used in both the first and second versions. A large selection of colors, textures and shapes of the material can significantly increase the presentability of the building, make it attractive and unusual.
The length of the panels can reach 6 meters, which significantly speeds up the process of wall cladding. The width of one element varies from 10 to 30 centimeters. material canimitate brickwork, expensive natural stone, wooden beams and decorative plaster.
Finishing a house with siding is so simple that the building can be completely transformed in a couple of days. In addition, the material is completely safe for the environment and is quite easy to maintain. You can mount it on any surface.
Depending on the type of raw materials used, the panels are divided into the following types:
- metal;
- vinyl;
- wooden;
- ceramic;
- cement.
Each option has its own distinctive properties. Let's take a closer look at what types of facade finishing with siding are available to us today.
Decoration of the house with metal panels: the pros and cons
Metal siding for the exterior of the house has two degrees of protection. The panel is primed and coated with polymer compounds. This ensures the durability of the product and its resistance to the natural environment.
The main advantage of this type is the possibility of installation at any time of the year. The panels are quite easy to install on the walls and reliably protect the building from fire. The steel finish is resistant to temperature extremes and retains its appearance for decades.
Width of metal panels ranges from 120mm to 550mm. The outer side of the product can have both an absolutely even and smooth appearance, and repeat the structure of naturalmaterials.
Finishing the house with metal siding is considered the most durable, but it also has disadvantages. These include:
- poor sound insulation properties;
- low thermal insulation;
- susceptibility to corrosion.
Damaged metal cladding corrodes very quickly. For this reason, the repair of the facade must be carried out immediately. This process is complicated by the fact that it is impossible to replace one element. To do this, you need to disassemble the entire wall.
Features of using vinyl varieties
Vinyl siding for the exterior of the house is made from sheet polyvinyl chloride. The material has a very light weight, which has a positive effect on the process of its installation. Lightweight options can be installed even on the facades of dilapidated buildings.
Vinyl varieties are resistant to temperature extremes and high humidity. They do not need to be painted, they can be washed frequently.
Panels are 3 to 4 meters long and up to 50 cm wide. They can be mounted horizontally and vertically. The color range of vinyl panels is very diverse. The combination of several shades allows you to make the facade of the house attractive and unique.
The only downside to vinyl siding is its brittleness. Such a lining is afraid of strong physical influences. A damaged trim element cannot be restored and must be replaced.
Wood siding feature
Panels,imitating timber, are made from sawdust. They are pressed under high pressure and held together with resins. To protect the material from the outdoor microclimate, it is impregnated with antiseptics and varnished.
Finishing a house with wood siding is not very popular today. This is due to the high cost of the material, its fragility, the need for constant treatment of the facade with protective agents.
However, if you have always dreamed of a log house, you will certainly like this finishing option. The advantages of this type include environmental safety. Products tolerate low temperatures well and do not change their appearance under the influence of sunlight.
A distinctive feature of wood siding is the ability to insulate the facade walls. Wood has a low thermal conductivity, which allows for insulation without additional materials.
Distinctive features of cement options
Cement siding for the exterior of the house is considered an elite facing material. It has a particularly attractive appearance and is the most durable.
Panels are obtained by pressing cellulose fibers and cement. The front surface of the slab is made in the form of natural stone, brick, plaster.
Cement cladding has a number of advantages:
- resistance to natural phenomena;
- resistance to colonization of fungi and mold;
- ability to withstand high temperatures;
- long-term preservationoriginal form;
- safe for the environment.
The disadvantages of such siding are high cost and impressive weight. The last fact does not allow the use of material for dilapidated facades.
Ceramic siding and its properties
Ceramic siding is made from clay and a mixture of various natural additives (quartz sand, granite chips, etc.). The material has a completely natural composition, which indicates its absolute safety for others.
Finishing a house with ceramic-type siding allows not only to decorate the walls, but also to significantly insulate the house. The lined building retains heat well in the cold season, and is cool in summer.
Positive qualities of ceramic finishes:
- hypoallergenic;
- low thermal conductivity;
- fire safety;
- resistance to temperature changes;
- good moisture tolerance;
- lack of fungal processes;
- presentable appearance.
When choosing ceramic panels, pay attention to their weight. Products are quite heavy, mounted on reinforced cladding, require high strength of the foundation and base.
The easiest way to finish the facade: one type of material
In most cases, finishing the facade of the house with siding is done in a standard way. One type of material is used.
With this approach, the facade turns out to be quite strict, but no less attractive. The color of the cladding is selected depending on preferences.building owner.
Facing begins with the preparation of the base. On the outer walls, a wooden or metal crate is fixed. If necessary, insulation material is installed.
A vapor barrier material is fixed on top of the insulation, and then the siding is mounted.
Option 2: combination finish
If you want your facade to look original, use non-standard options for finishing your home with siding. For example, combine several types of cladding.
The corners of the house can be decorated with cement panels, and the space between them with standard stripes. Emphasis can also be placed on the design of the basement of the building. It should be lined with the most durable siding options.
The combination finish has a number of positive features:
- endows the building with attractiveness and showiness;
- allows you to realize extraordinary design ideas;
- makes it possible to combine several shades of material in home decoration.
The installation technology of several types of siding is quite simple. All elements are mounted on a common crate. However, the step of the frame should be such that it is convenient to mount products with different parameters.
Option 3: color combination
Unusual design can be made by combining several colors of the same type of material. However, the colors do not have to be bright. Facade canbe decorated in a practical beige color, and the basement of the building and the corners of the house - in its darker shade.
Good results can be achieved when creating a black and white facing. Such a facade will not leave indifferent any passer-by, as the building will stand out from ordinary buildings.
Finishing the facade of the house with siding can successfully harmonize with the surrounding landscape. Houses decorated to match the color of fences, paving slabs, and adjoining buildings demonstrate the excellent taste of their owner.
Option 4: combination of cladding directions
As mentioned earlier, siding can be mounted in a horizontal and vertical direction. This allows the façade to be clad in two ways at once.
Combined decoration of a private house with siding makes it possible to highlight individual areas of the facade. For example, panels can be placed horizontally on the main walls, and vertically in the gable area.
With this design method, you need to take into account the basic rule: for vertical fixation of panels, you need to equip a horizontal crate, and for a horizontal one - vice versa.
Option 5: use different materials
Photos of finishing houses with siding are clear evidence that the panels are in perfect harmony with other materials. Together with such a cladding, you can use natural and artificial stone, clinker bricks, plastic facade panels and others.available options.
The main condition for such a design is the observance of color balance. Properly selected colors and textures of materials allow each element of the finish to show its best side.
They have additional materials in the area of the pediment and plinth. Separately, you can clad all the outer corners of the building.
Brief description of siding installation technology
Familiarization with the technology of finishing the house with siding (outside) will allow you to understand how this work is done. You will also be able to evaluate whether you can cope with the task on your own.
The work is done in the following order:
- The walls are cleaned of old finishes and all kinds of protruding parts.
- Existing cracks and recesses in the walls are filled with cement mortar or mounting foam.
- If wooden walls are to be finished, they are treated with an antiseptic.
- The frame is being created. For heavy siding options, the crate is created from a metal profile. In all other cases, wooden blocks can be used.
- With horizontal siding, the strips are installed vertically. The pitch of the crate should not exceed 45 cm.
- If the facade will be additionally insulated, the selected material is installed between the slats.
- A hydro- and vapor barrier is fixed on top of the insulation.
- Through special holes in the panels, the material is attached to the crate using self-tapping screws.
- Top row panelsshould slightly cover the elements of the bottom row. This is how the entire facade is clad.
At the end of the finishing, the outer and inner corners of the building are decorated with special fittings. Additional elements will be required for finishing window and door openings. These accessories are purchased together with the main material.
Summing up
Siding is a very practical and simple material. Its installation is not difficult. But you need to choose it very carefully. If the building is on a solid foundation, its walls are strong enough, then heavier varieties can be used.
Home decoration with vinyl siding can be carried out on any buildings. For cladding frame buildings, it is also better to use this particular variety. It does not load the walls and makes the facade quite attractive.
To create a complex and unique design, boldly combine the colors and textures of the cladding. Use several finishing methods at once. The main thing is that the materials harmonize well with each other.
