Every day more and more new materials appear on the construction market, the manufacturers of which talk about their uniqueness and best performance characteristics. How fair is this and can brick siding replace traditional brickwork?
Features of the
Most people subconsciously associate a brick house with reliability and monumentality. By choosing this or that type of material, it is possible to create objects that are different in style. However, such buildings always look respectable and demonstrate good taste and status of the owner.
Among the disadvantages of brick structures is the large weight of the walls. This requires the preparation of a solid foundation, which requires an impressive amount of money, an increase in installation time and an increase in the labor intensity of the process. Finally, it is not possible to build a heavy monolithic foundation on every type of soil. You can get a functional, durable and attractive building only by observing the bricklaying technology. Not every ordinary homeowner has sufficient skills and knowledge for this, so it is more advisable to involve professional bricklayers in the work. This again turns into an increase in the estimate.
Finally, it is worth noting the high cost of bricks, as well as a fairly large consumption of concrete mortar, which also complicates the installation process, increases its cost.
Brick siding allows you to get a similar effect of a brick house while significantly reducing material costs and simplifying construction work. Siding are rectangular panels that are used for external cladding of the facade. For fastening these panels, fasteners are used - self-tapping screws. The siding profiles themselves are attached to a wooden or metal lathing pre-installed on the outer walls of the house.
Siding can be made of various materials, as well as imitate a variety of surfaces - brick, wood, stone finishes. Thanks to modern technological advances, it is possible to achieve maximum imitation - not only at the visual level, but also at the level of tactile sensations that arise when touching the material. Not everyone succeeds in detecting imitation, even at close range.
The advantage of siding panels is their low weight. Depending on the material, there are 5-25 kg of weight per 1 m2. This allows you to sheathe even light frame or wooden buildings, as well as slightly heavier foam and aerated concrete houses built on lightweight foundations. The latter, by the way, does not need additional strengthening.
Brick itself, as you know, is a fairly cold material, so in such a house it is necessary to think about powerful insulation. At the same time, many homeowners do not want to close the attractive walls of a brick house, so they have to look for "roundabout" ways to improve thermal efficiency. The siding is fastened using the ventilated mounting technology, therefore, insulation is laid between the panels and the walls of the house. By varying this air gap, you can select the thickness of the insulation required for thermal insulation. It should be noted that the ventilated facade technology itself contributes to an increase in heat in the room.
Finally, siding has a much lower cost. Reducing costs is also due to the easier transportation of the material, the ability to do the work with your own hands, even without being a professional builder.
Views
Depending on the type of material used, the following types of siding are distinguished:
Vinyl. It is made by pouring molten polyvinyl chloride into special molds, the surface of which has a brick pattern. The result is lightweight panels that mimic brickwork as closely as possible. The advantages of the material include its low weight (easy to transport, store, can be installed even alone), affordability. The material is resistant to UV rays, is not afraid of precipitation, high temperatures, as well as their abrupt change, bio-resistant (mold, fungus do not appear on the surface, it does not attract rodents)
It should be noted that facing vinyl siding is completely harmless from an environmental point of view and is suitable for finishing residential buildings. The disadvantage is the low fire hazard of the material, depending on the characteristics of the species, it belongs to the fire resistance class G1-G4 (low-combustible-highly combustible).
Despite the rather high cost, under strong mechanical stress, for example, impact, the surface of the material can crack and even break. As a result, some homeowners are moving away from the use of vinyl panels in the basement of the building, at the ground floor level.
Metal. Metal siding is a metal-based panel with a reliable anti-corrosion coating. This makes it possible to neutralize one of the main disadvantages of the metal - its tendency to corrosion and the resulting decrease in the quality and durability of the material. The production of profiles can be carried out by cold rolling or by stamping, but in any case, the surface must be galvanized. Such "iron" siding has a little more weight than plastic, but it is still considered the same lightweight material and does not require strengthening the foundation. It is fireproof, environmentally friendly, weatherproof and durable. Where vinyl siding will crack from impact, there may be no signs of impact on the surface of the metal siding or an imperceptible dent will remain
The cost of metal panels is higher than the price of vinyl, but they differ in a longer service life, increased strength characteristics.
Fiber cement. Fiber cement siding is based on a mixture of cellulose pulp, cement and special additives that increase the performance of cement. Thanks to this composition and manufacturing features, a material that is as strong as concrete, but much lighter and warmer, imitating a brick surface, is obtained. Siding based on fiber cement is resistant to the negative effects of environmental factors, reliable and durable to mechanical stress. Insulated siding is also produced, which greatly simplifies and speeds up installation. The large weight also causes an increase in the labor intensity of installation - several people are required for the work. The cost of the material is also higher than the types of siding considered, but at the same time it is more durable and longer in operation. Fiber cement-based panels are more often used to finish a basement that is more vulnerable to damage
Fiber cement siding is much heavier than vinyl and metal counterparts, so it is not suitable for every type of home. As a rule, it cannot be mounted on frame frames and old houses.
Bituminous. Appeared relatively recently, it is a soft material that is stuffed on a solid crate. Its texture is somewhat similar to soft roofing tiles. The main advantage is ease of use, especially on facades of complex configuration (semicircular, for example). There is no specific GOST that regulates the size of siding. Each manufacturer produces products in their own overall dimensions, but most of them are the same or very close. On average, the size of the panels is 100x50 cm, there are changes up or down. The standard height of decorative siding is 3.4 m
Depending on the place of installation and purpose, wall and basement panels are distinguished. The latter are intended for installation in the lower part of the building between the foundation and the facade - in the basement area. They differ in greater thickness and strength, have the shape of rectangles (usually the height of the panel is equal to the height of the base), convenient for work.
Design
Real modern brick has many modifications that differ in color, texture, dimensions. However, high-quality imitation in its variety is in no way inferior to the original. If we talk about color performance, the most popular are the shades of panels typical for brick - burnt brick, red, yellow, sand, white. Exclusive facade siding can imitate bricks of the shade of agate, malachite, granite.
Among the most common textures of siding "bricks" are smooth and textured products. The first one is optimal for a log house, as well as as a background for textured surfaces. The latter have grooves and an original pattern on the surface. A variety of textured profiles can be considered to imitate gunned brick. Mineral chips are applied to its front side, resulting in an original texture that shimmers in the sun.
Houses covered with siding with imitation of clinker glazed bricks look attractive and elegant. To create a certain style, you can use panels that resemble the surface of the "Antique" brick. These are artificially aged products.
Installation
Facade cladding begins with calculating the required amount of material and preparing the outer walls. There are many formulas for calculating the material, as well as online calculators that will make the necessary calculation.
In general, you can find out how many panels you need by calculating the area of the facade (we multiply the length of the wall by the width, add up the areas of all the walls). Knowing the width and height of the siding, you can calculate how many pieces of panels you need. It should be borne in mind that the window and door openings are not finished (we subtract their area from the total value), in some places the siding will have to be cut (we add “pieces” to the total number of panels). Siding should always be purchased with a small margin: for objects of simple configuration, it is 7-10% of the total amount of material, for houses of complex shapes - 15%.
The preparation of the facade includes the removal of the old coating (if possible), the removal of communication elements. Large cracks and damage are eliminated, crumbling areas are reinforced. It is not necessary to carefully align small differences in height, as well as to eliminate minor flaws, they will hide under the hinged system. This, by the way, is another advantage of siding.
On the prepared surface, in accordance with the drawing, the layout of the future subsystem is made. At the end of this stage of work, the accuracy of the contours and verticals should be checked again, after which you can proceed to the installation of the battens.
The battens can be represented by metal profiles or wooden joists. The bearing capacity of the former is higher, they are more durable. The wooden subsystem is only suitable for wooden walls and can be mounted on small one-story houses. Metal profiles must have an anti-corrosion coating, wooden logs must be impregnated with antiseptics and fire retardants. Mounting is done on brackets.
An important point is that the calculation of the area of the facade should be carried out taking into account the lathing, since it increases the width of the walls by 4-10 cm in each direction.
Siding is attached to the prepared crate with self-tapping screws. The panels are padlocked, so the installation resembles the assembly of a constructor. You should start from some corner, gradually moving along the walls. To decorate corners, openings and other complex elements of the house, you can use additional elements in the form of ready-made corners, platbands, etc.
In a harsh domestic climate, a layer of insulation is usually laid under the siding panels. In this case, after installing the lathing, insulation is laid between its profiles. Its thickness is calculated based on the thermal conductivity of the wall material, climatic conditions.
The width of the insulation should correspond to the step of the lathing. At the same time, great attention should be paid to the joint between the insulating material and the lathing, since while maintaining the gap, cold bridges will form in this place.
Basalt wool or expanded polystyrene is used as a heater (it is preferable to choose its extruded version). A layer of windproof membrane is applied on top of the insulation (it is also vapor-permeable and at the same time moisture-resistant). It is important to glue all the joints of the membrane film with tape.
The layers of insulation and windproof film are connected together with a single dowel, which fixes them to the wall. Uses umbrella type fasteners. 3-4 dowels are enough for one sheet of insulation, one of which is necessarily located in the center of the sheet.
After that, the siding is mounted in the manner described above. Between it and the surface of the insulation, an air space with a width of 3-5 cm must be kept. When installing vinyl siding, it should be borne in mind that the material contracts and expands when the temperature changes, so it is laid with small gaps in order to avoid possible deformation of the material.
Despite the ease of installation of panels, it is better to work with assistants. Installing 3m siding alone is not easy.
Manufacturers
Among the manufacturers of brick siding panels, the trust of buyers in many countries of the world has won firms Foundry (USA) and Docke … The material of interest to us is represented by vinyl panels not only of the highest quality, but also as realistic as possible. American products have additional coatings, due to which their fire safety class is G1 (do not spread flame, do not support combustion).
A distinctive feature of these materials are also dimensions that are 150x25 cm (the standard size of plastic panels is 100x50 cm), which makes them more resistant to gusts of strong and even hurricane winds.
If we talk about brick basement siding, then the world leader is the American Nailite company … As you know, the basement is subject to increased mechanical stress and the negative impact of the environment, therefore, it should be distinguished by strength, moisture resistance, resistance to the influence of the environment. In all these parameters, as well as with a realistic appearance, the products of this brand are noticeably superior to domestic counterparts on the market.
Among Russian manufacturers deserves attention trade mark "Alta-profile", whose main activity is the production of decorative panels for brick and stone. The company has achieved great success in this - the quality of the material meets European requirements, but at the same time it is adapted for use in domestic conditions.
Another reputable brand that receives overwhelmingly positive customer reviews is domestic company "Dolomit" … From the name it is clear that the basis of production is made up of panels that imitate stone surfaces (dolomite is a kind of stone). However, in the collection you can also find fiber cement panels for brick. Their uniqueness is the 3-layer outer coating, due to which the material retains its aesthetic appeal for many decades.
The optimal combination of price and quality also demonstrates Belarusian manufacturer "Yu-plast" … The disadvantage is a small assortment of materials for brick.
Tips & Tricks
Before buying the panels, you should ask the seller for certificates of conformity of the material, this is the only way to protect yourself from purchasing a fake or an unnamed low-standard product.
The siding façade is prone to self-cleaning, but it can be washed if it is heavily soiled. It is more convenient to use a garden hose for these purposes, having selected the optimal power of the water pressure. The material does not need any special care.
Beautiful examples
When choosing the design of the future facade, care should be taken to ensure that it blends harmoniously with the exterior and neighboring buildings. A combination of lighter and darker "bricks" allows avoiding monotony and making the facade more textured and stylish.
Usually a dark shade is used in the basement of the house or in the corners and decorative elements of the facade.
"Brickwork" goes well with a plain surface, as well as plastered walls.
A combination of stone and brick is considered a win-win. It should be remembered that the stone focuses on itself, therefore, panels with a smooth texture of a neutral shade should be selected as a "companion" to it.
The combination of brick and wood also looks good, although some designers say that such a union is bad manners. Whether to resort to this technique or not - each homeowner decides for himself.
Finally, houses clad with colored plastic siding can also be diversified by adding brick "masonry".
You will see an overview of brick siding in the next video.