Each owner tries to make his home not only comfortable and convenient for living, but also attractive in appearance. Therefore, for finishing work, materials are selected that are not only of high quality and have the necessary properties, but also help to realize the design ideas of the consumer. Basement siding with imitation brick is used for cladding a house by people with good taste who plan to make the appearance of their home neat and presentable.



What it is?
Brick-like panels are often used by residents of Canada and the United States to decorate their homes. Later they became widespread in Russia, however, they are called at the same time "basement siding", since they are used for the most part in the decoration of the basement. The reason for this is that the price of the materials was different from the cost of conventional vinyl panels, and the main part of the facade of the house was sheathed with ordinary siding.
Despite the fact that the pricing policy in this direction has changed a long time ago, the name is still used in its former form. At the same time, more and more often, owners sheathe their houses with completely basement siding.



The choice of materials on the modern market is very wide, which forces manufacturers to work on expanding the range. Experts constantly change both the appearance and texture of the panels, develop new models, so if you want to make your home as individual as possible, this is not so difficult to achieve. According to the above, this type of siding can be used in several ways. First of all, it is the plinth cladding. The panels have a thickness that allows them to withstand external influences and damage due to external factors, which is very important in winter, since snow pressure, low temperatures and other factors seriously increase the load on the object.
In addition, the brick cladding can be partial. With the right idea, a combination of simple and basement siding looks advantageous, which gives the structure an original and unique appearance. And also the material can sheathe the entire building, completely changing its visual perception. When fully finished, a wooden house can be easily turned into a brick version, giving it style and presentability.



Advantages and disadvantages
All finishing materials have their own advantages and disadvantages. Basement siding is no exception. In order to understand whether the owners are ready to use this material in their work, it is necessary to study its main properties, as well as the pros and cons. Brick imitating siding has many advantages. Among them, it is worth highlighting the affordable cost of materials, which plays an important role for the consumer. The panels look as natural as possible, while cladding with natural brick is much more expensive.
In addition, the products are lightweight, therefore, the structure itself does not exert a large load on the building. It should be noted that facing work using bricks is much more difficult and time-consuming than using panels. And also when sheathing with siding, there is much less dust and dirt. The use of special insulation is not required, standard materials are quite suitable.
Brick-like siding will serve the owners of the building for a long time, because the declared service life can reach 50 years, which is undoubtedly less than when using natural materials, however, the difference in price covers this nuance.



In addition, the panels perfectly retain color and other external data. Their assortment is very wide, which makes it possible to produce cladding in various versions. Among the disadvantages of the material, one can note its ability to expand or contract under the influence of temperature changes. Incorrect installation of panels can damage the entire structure, therefore it is important to strictly follow the technology to minimize unpleasant consequences. In addition, upon closer inspection, it still becomes clear that siding is not a natural brick.


Payment
To purchase the exact amount of material required for the work, it is very important to make the calculations correctly. First of all, the length and height of the walls or those areas on which the facing work will be carried out are measured. However, one cannot say with certainty that the calculations will turn out to be accurate, because there is always a risk. For example, to fit a drawing, additional materials are required. Experts say that these costs average about 10 percent.
The main influence is the length of the wall. The smaller it is, the less materials will be spent in the end. Panels imitating brick are mainly produced in a standard size - 1120x472 mm.
In specialized stores, competent employees work who are able to help calculate the required amount of materials. And also this service is found on the websites of manufacturing companies.



Nuances when buying
When buying siding, you need to consider the main points that make up the cost and quality of the product. For example, two packages of visually similar products can have significant price differences.
This is influenced by several factors
- First of all, the cost depends on the raw materials from which the product is made. Foreign counterparts include European raw materials, therefore, the price cannot be low.
- The country in which the siding was produced also has an impact. Local panels are cheaper than foreign ones, since in the second case transport costs are included in the price.
- The reason for the difference in cost may be the proximity of the manufacturer and the seller of the goods. As a rule, when making a purchase from an authorized dealer, you can get a product at a price below market.


Preparing for installation
After purchasing the basement siding, it is the turn of the finishing work. First you need to prepare the surface. Before fixing the batten, the base must be cleaned and leveled. In some cases, craftsmen attach panels directly to the wall. However, experts advise not to use this method even if there is a perfectly flat surface, since it is the crate that will help the material to avoid deformations during use.
The most convenient for this type of work is a profile made of metal. It has a long service life, easily tolerates the effects of a humid microclimate and does not require additional treatment with protective agents, unlike wooden structures. If the panels are used only for lining the base / plinth, it is recommended to position the battens horizontally. The lower one is attached at a height of about 15 centimeters from ground level.
This moment is especially important in cases where the building is located in a climatic zone that does not differ in high temperatures.

If the house is completely sheathed with siding, the vertical crate will be more convenient. It is not necessary to frame by moving in both directions at the same time. However, in this case, it is necessary to maintain the same distance between the elements from each other. It should be borne in mind that not all manufacturers offer trims for internal corners. This information should be specified when purchasing materials.

Installation
Basement siding, imitating brick, has its own specifics in the name of individual elements. Before making the installation, you need to have an idea about it. For example, the part that is the fastener for the first panel at the bottom of the building is called the starter strip. The end panel is framed by a fitting profile. Both internal and external corners are provided for the joints. For a strong connection of the elements, overlays and other additional elements are used.
First of all, the starting profile is set, focusing on the limitation of 10 centimeters to the corners of the walls. Further, the number of panels is calculated by converting the entire length of the building into centimeters and dividing the resulting number by 112. It should be borne in mind that the length of the last panel should be more than 30 centimeters. After that, it is the turn of installing the panels. Work is carried out from left to right, the edges of the products are treated with a sealant.


We must not forget about the control of the gaps between the elements. The joining of panels with an angle should be carried out especially carefully, because the correctness of this work depends on whether the structure deforms with a possible displacement or expansion of the siding. For fastening, nails or self-tapping screws are used, they must be located at right angles, and it is also recommended to use a substrate. Further, the formation of rows takes place. It is necessary to monitor the coincidence of the pattern so that the brickwork looks as natural as possible. The panels should be offset by 15 centimeters relative to the previous row.
Siding should be laid without the use of physical force. At the final stage of work, the panels should be fixed in the area of the corners with special elements, and after that, the facing of the next wall should be started. The fitting profile is installed at the very end and fixed to the foundation. The edges of the siding are hidden in it, after which additional sealing is carried out.
If a corner bend is necessary, it is necessary to heat the profile so that it can more easily take the required shape.



For information on how to install basement siding, see the next video.