Siding is one of the most inexpensive and practical materials for decorating the facade of a house. Installation of such cladding is quite simple, even a novice builder can master the installation. The material is durable and durable, not afraid of rain, frost, wind and sun. It will protect the walls of the house from mechanical damage and prevent their premature destruction.
Another argument in favor of the material in question is the freedom of the designer’s imagination. Wall cladding can be made in a variety of colors and textures. There are a huge number of options, some of them are designed to simulate natural stone, brick, wood of various species.
Types of siding for cladding
Siding is a special cladding panel. Products for external cladding are usually in the form of a lamella, but sometimes larger varieties are found. These elements are available in the form of fairly large panels.
Siding itself can be made of different materials:
- Plastic. They are made on the basis of vinyl or acrylic polymer. Finishing the facade with this type of material is the most affordable option. The material is not subject to decay, resistant to moisture. Plastic in this case does not crack and does not support combustion. The disadvantages of finishing with a siding of this type include low impact strength.
- Metal. Galvanized iron or aluminum panels are completely fireproof. They are also characterized by high strength. But there are several drawbacks that can cause inconvenience during installation and operation. These disadvantages include increased weight, steel instability to corrosion. To prevent damage, it is better to choose aluminum models, but their price will be significantly higher.
- Wood. The material is called “planken” and has a high cost. Wood is moody and requires special attention and care during operation. But the advantages of such a house cladding include an attractive appearance, good heat and sound insulation indicators.
- Fiber cement. A relatively new species that is only gaining popularity. The material belongs to the group of non-combustible, not susceptible to the appearance of mold and fungus. Also, from the positive characteristics, moisture resistance, strength and durability can be distinguished. For mounting, special mounts are provided.
Exterior decoration of the house with siding is not difficult, but painstaking. Given the cost of the services of professional workers, it will be much easier to do this work yourself. To do this, you only need to study the technology and carefully review the recommendations of the manufacturer of a specific finishing material.
Material calculation and preparation
The technology for decorating a house with siding is almost the same for all its types. To clad a house, you will need to prepare some tools for work:
- universal hacksaw with small teeth;
- scissors for cutting metal;
- screwdriver;
- pliers;
- hammer;
- construction plummet;
- roulette wheel;
- pencil.
The job is easier to do together. Start by calculating the material. This is necessary in order to immediately purchase the necessary quantity and to avoid additional transport and time costs in the process of work.
You can calculate the amount of material approximately. To do this, calculate the area of the outer walls, basement and cornices. To calculate the required number of panels, the result must be divided by the area of one element. In order to think over the location of the joints and more accurately calculate the number, it is worth making a sketch of the exterior walls of the building. It is recommended to add 5-10% for trimming and various unforeseen expenses to the received amount of siding.
Wall decoration begins with surface preparation. It includes the following actions:
- cleaning from dirt and dust;
- removal of plants, dried lime;
- removal of plaster and other finishing materials that have become unusable;
- dismantling of drainpipes, window sills, various decorative elements that may interfere with the work process.
Frame mounting
If the house is built of brick or light concrete, it is recommended to use a crate of light metal profile. For a wooden or frame building, it makes sense to choose a wooden frame.
The wooden crate is made of slats with dimensions of 50x50 mm. They can be attached to the wall on nails or screws. When installing wall siding, the crate is placed vertically. When finishing the base, both vertical and horizontal frames can be used.
First of all, the installation of the corner elements of the frame is performed. Their evenness is checked using the building level. To fix the frame racks, it is worth using nails with a corrosion-resistant coating (zinc, aluminum). The distance between the racks of the frame depends on the type of siding. For metal panels it will be 40 cm, and for vinyl - 30 cm. But this information is worth checking with the manufacturer.
Are you planning to insulate the facade?
In order for the house to retain the ability to breathe, it is recommended to choose mineral wool. This is especially true for wooden buildings. The thickness of the heat insulator is selected depending on the climatic region.
Warming the house with mineral wool implies the presence of a ventilation layer between the cotton and siding. If the height of the crate is not enough to provide a gap of 1-3 cm, then provide a counter-crate.
With the help of a construction stapler, a hydro-windproof film is attached over the insulation. Wall cladding will breathe well if modern vapor diffusion windproof membranes are used. Caution should be exercised with insulation, since the wrong choice of materials at this stage can lead to problems with room temperature and ventilation.
If you plan to combine the cladding of the house with its insulation, we recommend that you go to the article about installing siding with insulation.
How to work with siding
Finishing begins with the installation of the starting profile. It is attached to the crate on galvanized nails or screws. The second step will be the installation of corner elements and a connecting profile (if necessary). Door and window openings must be edged with a special j-profile.
Installation of the first siding panel is performed on the starting bar. It snaps into place and secured with self-tapping screws (or nails). Assembly of the cladding begins from the bottom up. The panels are fixed to each other using a tongue-and-groove system.
Attention! When installing plastic, wood or fiber cement panels, rigid fixation is not allowed. After proper installation, the element can be moved sideways. Rigid fixation is used only when mounting metal siding.
When working with plastic, a gap of a couple of millimeters should be left between the finish and the head of the nail or self-tapping screw. A tight mount can damage the material when humidity and temperature change (plastic expands).
Facade decoration with siding is quite simple. Plastic elements have special elongated holes for fasteners. Nails or screws are placed in the middle.
To complete the decoration of the house with siding, you need to install the finish bar at the top of the wall. The last panel is inserted into this bar from below and latches.
For the final completion of the decoration, it is necessary to install all the facade elements (cornices, window sills, pipes, etc.) in their place.
The house finished with siding is reliably protected from any weather phenomena!