The material for facing the exterior walls of a building must have sufficient strength, long service life, presentable appearance and, of course, affordable cost. All these qualities are successfully combined in a wood-polymer composite.
WPC facade looks original and attractive, while the building is reliably protected from external influences. And about what properties such a finish has and how to install it yourself, read our article.
What is WPC and how is it made?
Wood-polymer composite is made from a mixture of wood flour, a binder, modifiers and a dye. The main component is finely ground wood shavings. It is about 65% of the total mass.
Polymer additives connect all components and endow the final product with high strength. Their number reaches 35% of the total volume. Coloring pigments provide products with a uniform shade and make the WPC facade as attractive as possible.
In order for the product to be sufficiently resistant to atmospheric phenomena, inraw materials are added modifying additives. They endow the panels with durability and the ability to withstand sudden changes in temperature.
Thoroughly mixed raw materials are laid out in prepared forms and sent to the press. Under the influence of high pressure, WPC panels are produced for the facade of the required dimensions. At the final stage, the products are quenched at high temperatures, after which they are packed and sold.
What are the positive features of the final product?
Front panels (or siding) made of WPC have many positive qualities. First of all, it is aesthetics. A building clad in this material takes on the appearance of a well-maintained house made of natural wood.
Besides, the facade WPC board is characterized by the following properties:
- Duration of operation. This quality is achieved due to high strength, which eliminates premature damage to the cladding. The wood composite is resistant to mold, insects and rot.
- Environmental safety. Although such a cladding cannot be called completely natural, it contains exclusively harmless components that do not harm the environment.
- High thermal insulation performance. Panels made of composite material perfectly retain heat inside the room and do not let extraneous sounds into it.
- Unpretentiousness. The material does not require periodic maintenance, the dust from the panels can be washed offplain water.
The positive properties include the ease of installation of WPC siding. The products are lightweight, which allows any owner to independently clad the house.
A few words about disadvantages
Like any other material, the composite has its drawbacks. First of all, this is the price. The facade of the WPC does not apply to budget types of finishes. However, the duration of operation fully pays off all investments.
Also noteworthy is the instability of the dye to ultraviolet radiation. Over time, the panels fade and lose their former saturation. This disadvantage is easily eliminated by re-staining. It is necessary to carry out such processing no more than once every 10 years, and this is quite acceptable.
It is also necessary to take into account the fact that when heated, the panels can expand, so during their installation, compensation gaps should be left.
WPC panel specifications
WPC panels for facade finishing have high technical characteristics. They are indicated on the packaging of the product and indicate the following physical and mechanical properties:
- panel thickness - from 11 to 21 mm;
- width of one strip - from 95 to 195 mm;
- bar length - from 1.4 to 4 meters;
- weight of 1 linear meter of lining - within 1.5 kg;
- warranty period - 8-10 years (depending on the manufacturer);
- moisture resistance - high;
- ability to withstand temperature fluctuations in the range-60…+80 °С;
- resistance to mechanical damage - more than 10 MPa;
- density - 1.0-1.5 kg/dm3;
- ability to withstand loads - up to 500 kg/m2;
- fire resistance - high.
If you throw a burning match on a WPC stove, the material will not catch fire. In the worst case, a dark mark will remain on its surface. This allows you to judge its safety.
What are the features of installing WPC material?
Facing the facade with WPC materials allows you to create an unusual design that will successfully harmonize with the surrounding landscape. Such products are characterized by a rich range of colors and a variety of textures, so finishing can be done from several types of panels at once.
In this case, one should take into account the fact that each manufacturer has its own parameters of facing elements. If you decide to combine several types of WPC siding, use products from the same manufacturer.
Please also note that prior to installation, the panels should be freed from packaging and allowed to adapt to the surrounding climate. Otherwise, the fixed cladding may bend. Also note that the manufacturer does not recommend installation at temperatures below -5 oC.
Before starting work, prepare all the necessary tools. You will need a jigsaw, drill, screwdriver, circular saw or hacksaw, measuring tool, pencil and building level.
Instructions forinstallation of composite trim
WPC facade installation technology involves the preparation of the base. In the process of these works, it is necessary to clean the facade of the old cladding and loose elements. You should also dismantle drainpipes, antennas, shutters and anything that will interfere with you.
Further work is carried out according to the following technology:
- Apply markings on the walls of the building, which will indicate the fixing points of the brackets for the vertical elements of the crate. The distance between fasteners should not exceed 35 cm horizontally and 45 cm vertically. Indent from the outer and inner corner - 5 cm.
- Drill holes for the dowels at the marked points. Attach the brackets to the indicated points.
- Fix the carrier rails to the wall. To do this, use screws 4.8 x 25 mm. Fix the elements of the crate with two self-tapping screws to each bracket. Assemble the entire frame in this way.
- From bottom to top, start fixing the WPC panels. Use 3 x 15 mm screws for this. Fix the bottom of the first board with a lining clip. In places where the lining touches the frame, screw in 2 self-tapping screws. Leave 1-2 mm expansion gap between adjacent panels.
- Finish the outer and outer corners of the building with special corners 45 x 45 mm.
Window and door openings are sheathed with special fittings. At this stage, the WPC siding facade can be considered ready.
If the building needs additional insulation, installthermal insulation material between the batten guides. After that, start fixing the siding.
Material reviews
WPC cladding has recently appeared on the domestic market, so it is very difficult to see the facade of a WPC house with your own eyes. Nevertheless, the network already has a sufficient number of reviews of the owners of this cladding.
The owners of such facades note that they chose this material for its attractive appearance. Many heard skeptical reviews, but decided to check the properties of WPC products for themselves. As a result, most consumers were very satisfied with the result.
Homeowners emphasize the strength and ease of installation of this cladding. However, they warn that the qualities of natural wood are inherent in the material: it expands under the influence of temperatures. This must be taken into account when installing it. In general, buyers are satisfied with their purchase.
Conclusions
WPC-panels for the facade - a new and imperfect material, it is not yet fully adapted to the harsh Russian climate. Nevertheless, if the cladding is installed taking into account all the requirements, then it will last a long time. So, this option is worthy of the attention of homeowners.
