The stone base is reliable and gives the house a respectable look. But stone is an expensive material, and working with it requires professional skills. A good alternative to stone would be finishing the base of the house with a basement siding under a stone.
Peculiarities
This material is produced in the form of an average width of panels, the surface of which repeats the masonry or brickwork. There are many options: granite slabs, canyon, rubble and rocky stone are just a few of them. The material is in demand, so manufacturers are constantly updating and expanding the model range..
The details of the basement siding are thicker and stronger than the front ones, they are better connected to each other. On the sides, they are cut along the border of the masonry fragments, which makes the borders between the shields almost invisible. By the way, basement siding is suitable both for facade decoration and for the interior of the house..
The advantages of this material are much more than disadvantages..
The service life of the panels – at least 30 years – is comparable to the service life of a house. They do not darken and do not delaminate with time. Siding does not deteriorate from the action of natural factors: sudden changes in temperature, frost, rain, ultraviolet radiation. Withstands wind gusts up to 200 m / s. The panels fit well together. There is no need to use H-planks, which are necessary for longitudinal joining of facade panels.
It does not require special care, it is enough to wash off the dust from the surface from time to time. Creates additional thermal insulation. Imitations of a wide variety of masonry are available, so it is easy to choose an option that matches the color and design.
The basement siding also has “weak points”.
The basement panels are thicker than the front ones, which increases the load on the walls. The strength of the cladding is inferior to stone: from a strong impact, the siding can crack, and in order to replace one or several parts, you will have to disassemble the entire surface. In case of fire, it does not ignite, but begins to melt under the influence of high temperatures.
Views
Depending on the raw material, siding panels can be divided into several groups:
- acrylic;
- vinyl;
- fiber cement;
- metal.
Their characteristics are noticeably different, so it is worth talking about each variety in more detail. Vinyl panels are cheaper than others and cost from 200 rubles per sheet. However, this is not their only advantage. Light weight does not create additional load on the structure of the house, and installation can be handled alone. Unlike metal siding, vinyl siding does not corrode and better imitates a stone surface, since the outer part of the panels is embossed.
However, vinyl parts cannot withstand severe mechanical damage. During a fire, they begin to melt, and when the temperature difference is large, they expand. Incorrect installation can deform plastic panels.
Acrylic siding is produced using a different technology, making it stronger than vinyl and more resistant to overheating. Such panels can withstand temperatures up to 380 degrees and do not react to its fluctuations. But the price of this material is also higher..
Metal panels are noticeably inferior to polymer ones in beauty: a flat sheet of metal does not convey the relief of the stone. Moreover, they are stronger, they are not afraid of fire and sudden temperature fluctuations. The raw materials for them are galvanized steel, zinc and aluminum. The metal surface is covered with a polymer layer that protects it from destruction and corrosion. Another disadvantage of metal panels is fit issues. Most of these panels are difficult to cut. Basically, metal siding for stone is used for exterior decoration of plinths and small technical buildings..
A sheet of material costs at least 400 rubles. To repeat the surface of the stone better than polymer siding, only fiber siding can be used. It is made from cement and reinforced with cellulose fibers and fiberglass. Outside, the panels are covered with a polymer film that protects them from moisture and sunlight. This type of siding is shockproof, does not deform with temperature drops, does not burn or melt.
At the same time, fiber siding cannot be recommended as the best finishing option. The thickness of its panels is 8-35 mm, and the weight is 12-15 kg, which is much heavier than polymer and metal counterparts. For facing work, at least two people are required. In addition, the price of 1 sq. m of fiber siding is comparable to the price of 1 sq. m lining made of natural wood.
The final choice will depend on many factors: the purpose of the building and the state in which it is located, the characteristics of the climate and installation. Another important criterion is the design of the panels: how much it matches the style of construction and what impression it creates.
Design
The most popular is vinyl imitation stone.
The panels can be divided into three groups:
- Tinted in mass – panels of uniform color with a wide palette of shades.
- With highlighted seams – different from the previous seams in a contrasting color.
- Exclusive – not uniformly colored, and the color repeats the color of one of the types of natural stone. The relief surface of the panels gives the impression that the wall is made of natural material. The seams are the same color as the masonry mortar.
Stone-like metal siding designs are less varied. From the point of view of aesthetics, plastisol-coated panels are interesting: they convey the texture of the original well.
It is worth saying in more detail about the most popular stone imitations..
- Granite – a material suitable not only for finishing the base / plinth. With its help, you can create stylish facades and partially use in the interior. The palette of such siding includes colors from light gray and brown to black. Dolomite is another type of basement siding, with which you can safely sheathe the entire surface of the wall. Panels of light sandy and limestone shades will make the building elegant and light. White stone gives the impression of nobility and sophistication. In dry, sunny locations, the finish looks most appropriate.
- Booth – imitation of large round cobblestones. The color scheme of the details follows the color of natural samples – different shades of gray with a small amount of brown. Ideal for cladding plinths. If you cover the walls of a building with it, it will look like an impregnable fortress..
- Rocky stone imitate vinyl and fiber cement panels in different shades. Due to the rough surface, the panels under the wild stone are almost indistinguishable from the real masonry.
In addition, in stores you can see siding repeating smooth or aged brick, marble, fragments of old masonry.
Dimensions (edit)
The height and width of parts from different manufacturers is slightly different. In some cases, they depend on the size of the masonry elements. For example, let’s compare the collections “Stone” and “Rocky Profile”, which are released by “Alpha Profile”. The panels of the first have a size of 1135×474 mm, a thickness of 22 mm, and the second – 1168×448, a thickness of 23 mm.
Docke – a well-known manufacturer in our market, offers a collection of “Stein”. The dimensions of the parts are 1126×426 mm. And another German company, Wandstein, produces panels with dimensions of 795×595 mm, which simplifies installation..
Tips & Tricks
If you plan to sheathe a large surface area with siding, it is best to choose vinyl panels. The overall load from panels of heavier materials can be critical. And low walls made of concrete or brick will withstand any type of finish, including fiber cement panels. Calculate the surface area of your home. To do this, break it down into simple geometric shapes and determine the area of each of them, and then add them up. From the resulting number, you need to subtract the area of the door and window openings. This will help you calculate the amount of siding you need..
In order not to pay twice, redoing an unexpectedly deteriorated surface, you should pay attention to the products of famous brands. It is desirable that the manufacturer provides certificates and guarantees. Examine the samples you like: whether there are any damage and cracks from the inside and outside, whether the pattern on the panels matches, whether the thickness does not change.
When choosing metal siding, pay particular attention to the following characteristics:
- Panel thickness. The larger the area of the part, the thicker it should be. Large panels of thin steel are easily deformed, which clearly does not improve the appearance of the coating.
- The thickness of the zinc coating layer. According to the standard, it should be at least 20 microns, it is better to choose 25-30 microns.
- Decorative coating material. Pural and PVDF have the best performance. The latter has the ability to recover from minor damage. A more economical option is plastisol, but it burns out in the sun and gets dirty quickly. And panels with a polyester coating are best not used for external decoration..
The size of the relief should be combined with the size of the building. Large masonry works well on large buildings. A small house with a massive cobblestone plinth looks ridiculous. The decorative possibilities of stone siding are wider than solid wall cladding. A successful combination of plinth siding finished walls, a smooth plastered surface and panels that imitate wood.
You can come up with many combinations of panels with other materials. However, designers advise to always make a clear boundary between the basement and the main part of the building. The difference may be in the color of the panels, the scale of their relief, and finish. For the lower part, larger and more massive parts are suitable, for the upper part, lighter ones.
Mounting
Basement siding is installed in the same way as other types of this material..
Wall cladding with insulation takes place in several stages:
- Inspection and surface preparation. The wall is cleaned of dust and mold, drains, roller shutters and everything that complicates the installation process are removed. Unevennesses, dents and cracks are sealed with putty, and severe damage – with leveling plaster..
- Fastening the lathing – metal guides. If the wall needs to be insulated, the crate is installed in two layers: vertical and horizontal. There should be at least 3 cm between the frame and the blind area of the building.This gap will compensate for the winter swelling of the earth and provide ventilation of the facade.
- Warming and waterproofing. The insulation is placed between the strips of the carrier layer close to each other, and the cracks are filled with polyurethane foam. A waterproofing membrane is installed on top. It releases warm humid air from the inside, protecting it from moisture and precipitation outside. The film is laid with an overlap, and the joints are fastened with tape.
- Installation of a counter-lattice – a system of vertical slats on which the panels are attached. In addition, it allows you to create a ventilation gap.
- Fastening corners, starting strip and window frames. It starts with the installation of the starter bar. It is strengthened strictly horizontally, on the chosen bottom line. Then the corner strips and window frames are installed. When installing basement siding, H-planks are not needed.
- Installation of panels. Work is carried out from the corner: the first part is cut vertically and attached to the corner profile. After that, along the installation line, the following are attached one after another. The elements of the second row can be installed with an offset relative to the first, for this you will need to cut off half of the first panel.
When securing the panels, it is important not to connect them tightly and not to tighten the screws all the way, especially if the siding is made of vinyl. Clearances will make the structure more mobile and durable, prevent deformation when the material expands.
Beautiful examples
Combination of stone siding and traditional façade. The “stone” decoration emphasizes the central part of the building and makes it more representative. Smoothly plastered columns stand out against the background of a relief stone surface.
Looking at this house, we seem to be transported to medieval Europe. The walls of the squat massive building are sheathed mainly with basement siding, in some places a contrasting light surface is visible. Decorative dark beams complete the composition..
An ordinary house is decorated with an unusual siding composition. The monotonous “stone” surface of the wall is cut by inserts of facade panels, complementing it in color and contrasting in texture.
In this photo you can see a successful combination of panels, repeating different types of stone. The plinth and pilasters are highlighted in dark, the trim parts are divided into small, uneven stones. The main sections of the walls are smooth light slabs.
A good example of using panels with a large relief for finishing a small house. Wide openings and a graceful roof make the building beautiful and reliable at the same time.
Siding is not only suitable for historic mansions. A modern minimalist building in the photo without finishing would have looked simpler. Notice how the light, narrow stripes of stone accentuate other horizontal elements..
Plinth siding is an inexpensive way to give your home an attractive and neat look. Vinyl panels are the most versatile: they will renovate an old building, highlight the beauty of a small cottage in a family mansion. The most accurate imitation of a stone surface can be achieved using fiber cement siding. And metal panels with a stone pattern are used mainly for the basement and outbuildings.
In the next video, you will find a house cladding with a basement siding under a stone.
