The socle is called the lower part of the foundation of the facade. It is designed to protect the walls from dirt and mechanical damage, as well as to raise the house to the optimum height, for example, to protect against flooding.
In the question of how to finish the base, it is important to choose durable materials that will not only add aesthetic design to the belt, but also make it more functional and easy to maintain.
Advantages and disadvantages of plinth finishing
According to building codes, the height of the decorative basement of the house should not be lower than 50-70 cm, but there are times when it is raised to a height of 150 cm from the soil surface. This is justified in the case of basements and garages under the building. Do-it-yourself decorative finishing of the basement solves the following tasks:
- protection of the foundation and its aboveground part from the effects of moisture that enters its surface from the atmosphere. The barrier allows you to maintain optimal humidity parameters in the basement and throughout the house;
- protection of houses from temperature extremes, which allows you to smooth out the microclimate in the room in winter and summer;
- decorating the facade, making the building look more holistic and respectable.
Despite the obvious advantages, the use of finishes may cause condensation on the surface of the basement walls. How does this happen? Water vapor that forms in the interior of the room escapes to the outside, falling on the waterproof barrier that the finish serves. The low hydrophobicity of the finishing material can also lead to its peeling off in winter.
To avoid this, it is necessary to follow the rules for the compatibility of the plinth structure and finishes. For example, paint is well compatible with brick, but unnatural for concrete surfaces. This must be taken into account when choosing finishing materials.
Finishing with plastic panels
The main advantage that plastic panels demonstrate is the absence of wet work. Panels are attached to the surface of the facade of a private house using a wooden or metal frame. After mounting it, a starting profile is installed in the lower part of the structure. Then, using the tenon-groove method, the rest of the material is installed.
The processing of the plinth with plastic panels on the outside depends on its shape. If it is built in the form of a ledge, then it is necessary to apply a special ebb; if it is built flush with the wall, then a transition bar is needed, which will connect the panels and the finishing material of the upper part of the facade of the house.
Finishing the protruding part of the foundation with panels, you must adhere to the following rules:
- screw the screws into the surface of the foundation horizontally to avoid tilt as much as possible;
- you can not screw the screws to the stop. It is necessary to leave a thermal gap of 2 mm;
- it is better to cut the panels with a cutter, saw or jigsaw;
- if the first panel, which is mounted on the frame, is to be trimmed, then there is no need to install the start profile;
- the starting bar and the curb are attached in increments of 300 mm;
- to install one panel, you must use at least five self-tapping screws.
Finishing with decorative plaster
This material consists of small grains with a diameter of 0.8 to 3.0 mm, which, after being applied to the surface of the foundation of a private house, give the impression of a multi-colored mosaic. Its main component is resin, which protects the base from the penetration of moisture into it from the outside, but releases steam masses from its inner part.
Before treating the wall with decorative plaster, you can prepare the surface with cement or gypsum plaster. This is optional, as it normally interacts with concrete as well. The preparatory mortar is used to level the surface and to improve adhesion. Using the material, it is necessary to avoid contact with lime or heat-saving plaster.
Decorative plaster is applied to the surface of the foundation of a private house by hand.
The only tool that is used is a stainless steel grater. The mass is thrown onto the wall with a layer of thickness equal to the size of the grains included in its composition. Before it dries, the mass must be evenly smoothed with a grater.
The movements of the grater must be made in one direction. To avoid the appearance of transitions between plaster strokes, it is better to work in the “wet on wet” way. After completion of work, the base must be protected with a water repellent for several days from the harmful effects of the sun and rain.
Types of tiles and panels for plinth finishing
Tiles are used to imitate natural surfaces - stone, brick, etc. Its advantage is a thinner surface and quick installation. To finish the foundation, the following tiles are produced:
- clinker;
- stone tiles;
- polymer sand tiles;
Clinker tiles imitate the surface of a brick. It exactly repeats its dimensions, except for the thickness. In the installation of the material, it is important to correctly lay out the first row.
To do this, you need to calculate the level of the calculation. The calculation is done as follows: divide the height of the base by the width of the tile, increased by the width of the seam. If you get an empty gap, after all the tiles have been laid out, it can be sealed with acrylic or polyurethane mass.
On the foundation of a wooden house, stone tiles are mounted in the same way as clinker tiles. It is alternately laid out on the surface of the foundation, fastening the material with an adhesive solution.
It is important to use special glue for working with stone, otherwise the structure may become cracked. If small-format tiles are mounted, then it is customary to leave seams of 5 mm between its elements, and 10 mm between large ones. At the final stage, they are sealed with frost-resistant jointing material.
Polymer sand tiles imitate torn stone or brickwork. Its advantage is its low weight, so the material can be used to finish a wooden house. Such a tile is mounted with screws to the crate. Between it and a layer of material, it is advisable to make insulation.
Finishing the plinth with DSP panels
The name DSP material stands for cement-bonded particle board. Their main advantage is low cost and fire resistance.
The properties of the DSP panel make it a suitable option for finishing a summer cottage, a wooden house. It is resistant to termites and rodents, which is also important for private homes. The material consists of cement, wood shavings, as well as mineralizing additives. They make the panels resistant to the spread of fungus and mold.
DSP is not only a finishing material, but also additional basement insulation wooden structure. Insulation for the basement is important if it houses a basement.
By choosing insulation with the help of DSP, the developer receives better thermal insulation than mineral wool or polystyrene. At the same time, the design of the DSP does not require additional decor.
DSP is mounted on brackets or bars. This method allows you to expand the insulation under the stove. It is attached with dowels-fungi. Then a wind barrier is installed, which is also fastened with fungi. Next, the crate is mounted. It is necessary to leave a gap of 10 mm between the frame and the wind barrier. At the end, the DSP is attached to the insulation using self-tapping screws.
Do-it-yourself plinth finishing (video)
Sheathing the plinth with corrugated board
Sheathing with corrugated board is suitable for arranging the plinth of a wooden building, as this material allows you to extend the life of wood that is vulnerable to external factors. For these purposes, galvanized sheets of the bearing type are used. Sheathing with corrugated board is done like this:
- install the frame at a small distance from the surface of the base. The air cushion will provide additional insulation and sound insulation;
- cover it with corrugated board along or across (the vertical installation method will protect the facade from rain or snow);
- for fastening sheets, screws are used, screwed in every 25-30 cm;
- check fasteners for strength;
- paint the connections with enamel.
If the design is used for sheathing a brick foundation, then the insulation is made using drywall, wood, and a special film.
After the erection of the walls of the house, it is time to finish it, including finishing the foundation, or basement. In addition to the most obvious function - decorative - finishing the foundation of a wooden house or a brick structure performs several more important tasks.
- It protects the wall material from precipitation and wind.
- Finishing creates an additional thermal insulation layer, preventing the concrete foundation from cooling down in winter and taking away heat from the house.
- Finishing protects the foundation from dirt, many materials are much easier to clean than bare concrete.
In the article you will find a description of the finishing materials for the plinth, tips on their use and photos of houses.
Finishing materials
Plaster
The easiest way is beacon plaster. It is called so because for its even application, beacon marks are installed on the wall. Most often, beacon plaster is used not as a final finish, but to prepare the wall before applying decorative plaster or finishing with other materials.
Decorative plaster does not have to end up with a flat surface. Using stencils, you can apply a relief pattern to it, and with certain skills, even make an imitation of stone or brick.
Siding
Finishing the foundation with siding is a modern solution. This material weighs a little, is sold in a variety of colors and textures and three standard sizes: 120*80 cm, 60*18 cm and 40*18 cm, easy to assemble. To finish the basement, they use not ordinary, but special basement siding - it is more durable due to a different composition. High-quality siding for outdoor decoration withstands high and low temperatures (from -50 to +60), does not deform, does not lose color in the sun and retains its beautiful appearance and strength for a long time.
Before installing the siding, a special starting profile is installed in the lower part of the wall. The siding is mounted on special horizontal or vertical rails that are mounted on the wall. Between themselves, the panels are fastened with a tongue-and-groove connection. Additional elements are installed in the corners. The finished plinth is covered from above with a special plinth. Siding does not require additional processing.
Profiled sheet and corrugated board
Profiled sheet and corrugated board is a profiled metal sheet. These varieties differ in that the profile on the profiled sheet is more rigid. Their main purpose is to serve as a roofing material, but due to their strength, relatively low price and durability, they are also used for other purposes, for example, for finishing the foundation of a house with a profiled sheet, building fences. The profiled sheet can be either galvanized or have a polymer coating. To finish the foundation with a professional sheet with your own hands, use a wall profiled sheet with a thickness of 0.6 mm. For facing the foundation, corners, a profile for guides, self-tapping screws, dowel anchors, and ventilation grilles are required. First, a crate made of a metal profile or wooden bars is attached to the foundation. Then the corrugated board is cut and attached to it with self-tapping screws with a waterproof gasket.
Resin tiles
This material can imitate any natural cladding: wood, stone, brick.
The tile is glued to a leveled and primed foundation surface. To lay the tiles evenly, markings are first applied to the wall. It is possible to glue tiles not only directly on concrete, but also on thermal insulation. They begin to lay the tiles from the corner, while it is immediately necessary to make 4 rows. Glue protruding from the seams seals them. After completion of work, the foundation should be closed for 2-3 days from precipitation. During this time, the glue will dry. The finished foundation does not require any additional processing.
Clinker tiles
This is a variant of facing bricks made from special types of clay. It has an interesting appearance due to the unique pattern of layers of clay mixed during the production process, looks like brickwork and gives the house a touch of antiquity.
Facing brick
This is a natural ceramic brick, which perfectly imitates brickwork, additionally insulates and protects the facade. The downside is that it's pretty heavy. If you want to finish the foundation with bricks, you need to plan this in advance, even at the stage of developing a house project, so that the wall can exactly withstand the severity of the cladding.
Fake diamond
Finishing the foundation of a house under a stone is done using an artificial stone made on the basis of concrete. It can imitate river, sea, hewn or natural stone, brickwork. Artificial stone for finishing the foundation of a house costs much less than natural stone, is durable, and resistant to temperature changes. Mounting it is simple: the tiles are glued to the leveled surface with special glue. After the glue dries, the seams are filled with a water-repellent agent. The photo shows the facades of houses with stone finishes.
Cement particle board and flat slate
To obtain a flat surface when finishing the foundation with your own hands, flat slate or cement-bonded particle board (DSP) is often used. As part of the slate - asbestos fiber, Portland cement, water. As part of the DSP - wood shavings, Portland cement, chemical additive-mineralizer (aluminum sulfate, sodium and potassium silicates), water. Slate can be pressed and unpressed, unpressed is inferior in strength and durability. DSP is less durable than slate, but lighter, and due to the chemical mineralizer, the chips in its composition are protected from moisture. A layer of decorative plaster or paint is usually applied to the DSP or slate.
Most often, not a standard gray DSP is used to finish the foundation, but embossed, painted or covered with stone chips. DSP-based facade slabs have many advantages:
withstand more than 100 freeze-thaw cycles,
- lungs,
- environmentally friendly,
- provide additional sound insulation,
- the composition of the plates prevents the appearance of mold on them.
- they are easy to cut, mill, drill at home,
- are easily mounted on a facade in the dry way.
To mount the DSP on the foundation, you need to prepare the crate. It is mounted on a prepared leveled foundation surface. The step of the crate is made no more than 60 cm. The crate can be made of wood or a metal profile, in this case the tree must be dried and treated with an antiseptic.
Attention! DSP is a fragile material, it must be protected from impacts.
Holes are drilled in the DSP sheet, steel drills are used for this, tungsten carbide drills are also acceptable. Drills for hard materials should be used. For fastening, special galvanized nails, screws or self-tapping screws with a countersunk head are used. The distance between them should be about 20 cm. It is not recommended to use fasteners designed for drywall.
Finishing the foundation in a wooden house
Finishing the foundation of a wooden house creates an additional heat and moisture insulating layer, increases the service life of the foundation. Usually, natural materials are used to finish a wooden house:
- a natural stone,
- brick,
- clinker tiles,
- porcelain tile.
The foundations of wooden houses are finished with vinyl panels (siding).
The peculiarity of finishing the plinth in a wooden house is that in this case, proper waterproofing is especially important. A waterproofing layer is made on the foundation to a height of 20-30 cm from the ground. They also install thermal insulation. After that, you can veneer the foundation. Some experts recommend doing this not after the walls are completed, but as soon as the foundation is ready, so as not to damage it during the construction of the rest of the house.
Rough plinth protection
Before finishing the foundation of the house with their own hands, they first make its rough protection. It is carried out in several stages.
- The manufacture of blind areas. The blind area is an inclined strip filled with concrete. It is made 25 cm wide more than the roof extension. Before this, part of the soil is removed, a drainage cushion of crushed stone and sand is laid. Then a layer of concrete of about 20 cm is poured on top. The blind areas should have a slight slope from the foundation. Along their edge, expansion joints are made of damper tape.
- Plastering. For more convenient work, a metal mesh is attached to the foundation.
- Waterproofing. It can be done as follows: coat the foundation with hot bitumen; cover with several layers of roofing material; cover with a penetrating waterproofing compound.
After these events, you can proceed to decorative cladding.
Now you can find materials for self-facing the foundation for every taste and budget. But it is important not so much to choose one of the many materials, but to properly organize waterproofing and thermal insulation and carry out high-quality finishing work. Then the beautiful plinth of the building will not lose its appearance for a long time and will serve as protection for the house from external influences.
In construction, an important point is the insulation and protection of any element from external factors, its quality will affect energy costs, optimal microclimate and the service life of building parts. Since the foundation of any building is the foundation, I will talk below about its decorative finish and protection of the basement from moisture and other factors.
Finishing the foundation with facing stone
What material to choose
Facing the foundation is quite doable with your own hands, the main thing is to choose the best material that will combine all the necessary properties. By the way, the lining of the foundation can also be carried out during the repair of the old foundation. First you need to understand - why do you need a foundation sheathing? Although the foundations of houses are built from durable materials, they also need to be protected from moisture, precipitation, wind, mechanical damage and other adverse factors. Therefore, the lining of the foundation is initially the protection of the base of the house and the preservation of its operational properties for a long time. Also, processing the base will help protect the basement from moisture and cold and decorate the house. Since the construction market is replete with the necessary materials, our task is to choose the best of them.
Finishing the plinth with stone
A common finish is decorative plaster, its qualities and properties in modern construction fulfill all the necessary conditions for high-quality surface treatment. This finish is an inexpensive and unpretentious option as the design of the foundation and its protection.
But I would not use plaster for several reasons - firstly, it is a laborious process, and secondly, there are many other materials that can provide high-quality protection for the house and create a noble appearance. Moreover, the protection of the basement from cold and moisture requires thermal insulation qualities.
Of course, you can use various sidings and slabs, but nothing brings so much nobility to the house as facing stone. Therefore, I opt for sandstone, and you will learn what it is below.
Natural stone cladding
Noble finishes
The foundation cladding should fulfill not only its direct purpose, but also act as a decorative element of the basement floor. Natural stone has always been a noble and durable building material, so the stone plinth finish looks harmonious and rich.
Do-it-yourself plinth finishing
Choosing from all the options, I settled on sandstone, which has many properties:
- Facing stone is a natural building material, time-tested. Its service life is simply staggering, more likely to need repairs to the house than old sandstone. The brick foundation lined with sandstone looks noble and natural.
- The strength of the material allows it to withstand heavy physical loads, so the elements protected by sandstone are not susceptible to mechanical damage.
- Repairing an old base with sandstone treatment will help create excellent moisture protection.
- Due to the ease of installation, you can veneer the brick foundation with your own hands.
- Due to its porous structure, sandstone has some thermal insulation properties, which reduces heat loss through the basement floor.
- Facing stone is great for finishing various surfaces, whether it is the facade of a house, interior walls or a brick foundation.
- Facing stone looks equally harmonious on both a brick house and a wooden one. Not everyone will be able to imagine what kind of cottage creates, the base of which is lined with sandstone.
- The natural texture and patterns of sandstone fit perfectly into various architectural styles.
Finishing the plinth with natural stone
Combining all the above advantages, the facing stone perfectly protects the brick foundation or any other type of foundation. It should be noted that the brick foundation is the optimal surface for finishing with natural material. Such a base is easy to process, which allows you to veneer the surface with sandstone with your own hands in a short time.
Sheathing of foundation surfaces
Facing stone is a fairly undemanding element, so you can do the repair of the old basement from the outside yourself.
For the repair, the following tools were useful to me:
- A metal brush is necessary for surface preparation and cleaning.
- A chisel and a hammer will be needed in case of repair, to remove the old coating (plaster).
- The ax was useful to me in the manufacture of notches for better adhesion to the surface.
- I prepared a spray gun or a brush for applying a primer.
Finishing the foundation with stone
If the foundation is heterogeneous, which is rare, a building grid is used, I did without it.
Having prepared the necessary tools, I proceeded to repair the outer surface of the basement floor. He performed all the relevant work on surface preparation, cleaned it well and covered it with a high-quality primer. Further, I took a specialized glue for laying stone and gradually began to lay out my future masterpiece. The seams between the elements were filled with mortar and carefully processed. The result is a great view of the basement.
We start cladding from the corner
Finishing screw foundation
Houses with a brick foundation are in a huge advantage over their counterparts. The fact is that the device of the pile foundation does not allow sandstone finishing, so the question immediately arises - how to close the pile foundation from the outside. For me, this question was quite interesting, because it is simply necessary to close the basement from moisture and cold, and you also need to decorate the bottom of the building. But if a brick foundation can be finished with sandstone, then what kind of exit can be found here?
Why come up with such a complex base, to which it is also difficult to pick up the finish - you ask. But the screw foundation is the only optimal solution for unsteady and heaving soils. It is the screw foundation that is able to penetrate to great depths and provide reliable support for the house. And the choice of finishing the base is quite possible with the help of such material as profiled sheet.
Facing the plinth with a metal profile
This material appeared as early as 1820 and became very widespread in the construction industry. The profiled sheet is made of galvanized steel using cold rolling, after which it is subjected to the creation of the necessary shape - trapezoidal, wavy. This is done more for rigidity than for beauty. Professional sheet is a unique material used in the construction of new buildings and the repair of old ones. Steel sheet is used not only for finishing basement floors, but also for repairing roofs and walls. In the assortment you can find profiled sheets for facing stone or a “wooden” element. I was very pleased with this choice, because with the help of it it is easy to create a unique style with your own hands.
In the assortment you can find profiled sheets for facing stone or "wooden" element
Facing the screw base with your own hands
Usually, screw foundations are used in the construction of light houses, for example, wooden ones. Therefore, the decorative finish of the screw foundation should be in harmony with the wooden elements. Fortunately, I have found in a variety of profiled sheets an imitation of stone, which goes well with wooden houses. It turns out an imitation of a completely natural, natural house.
Profiled sheet "under the stone"
Sheathing a screw foundation is a simple task, so I took it on myself and, adhering to the following scheme, did an excellent job:
- For the base of the sheets, I made a wooden crate, after soaking the parts with an antiseptic solution.
- To avoid deformation of the sheets under the influence of heaving soils, I left a gap between the ground and the element. To do this, I made sandfilling the junction of the earth and parts to a depth of 500 mm.
- The very fastening of sheets on a wooden crate I made with self-tapping screws. To avoid dents, I tried not to tighten the fasteners too much.
- I covered the joints of the material and the corners with additional elements.
So, with a little effort, you can veneer your foundation yourself.
Protecting the basement from moisture is a necessary and paramount task when forming the basement of the house. The plinth is a connecting link between the above-ground structures of the structure and its fundamental underground foundation. The strength of the plinth largely determines the stability of the entire structure. During the construction process, it provides the necessary surface for the construction of facade walls. In the future, its main function will be protection against penetrating atmospheric and ground moisture.
Meanwhile, the very foot of the house suffers most from dampness and becomes the most vulnerable point in the structure. It takes on the consequences of heavy rains, melting snow, leading to destruction. Therefore, basement waterproofing is necessary, in addition, it requires careful attention to the choice of protective equipment that can adequately withstand the aggressive action of water.
Means and methods for protecting the basement of the house from moisture
Basement waterproofing.
When choosing materials for waterproofing the basement, it must be borne in mind that the work is carried out in two directions:
- vertical protection, which involves coating the wall surface;
- horizontal protection - laying waterproofing between the walls of the basement and the foundation.
Horizontal insulation of the house can prevent the penetration of capillary moisture into the above-ground structures of the building. It is implemented using roll materials. The most common among them are roofing felt and roofing felt. Tol has a cardboard base, so when choosing it, you should understand that you can’t count on a long service life.
Modern ruberoid coatings are more effective. They are made of elastomeric bitumen, and the carrier layer is made of polyester nonwovens or durable glass fiber.
Vertical is very variable and can be performed in various ways of waterproofing treatment.
- Spreading involves the use of bitumen and its analogues. The thick consistency of the material makes it possible to achieve a thick protective layer on the surface of the house. However, this material does not have high strength indicators. It is too unstable to mechanical damage. Innovative building materials, such as liquid glass, are much more durable and efficient.
- Protective varnishes and paints are used for coloring. The advantages include affordability and ease of application process.
- The impregnation process is based on the use of liquid polymers and synthetic resins.
- Pasting allows the use of a wide range of rolled waterproofing materials.
When choosing a tool that will help process the basement, it is necessary to take into account compatibility with the building material used to build the basement.
Back to index
Penetrating waterproofing
The advantage of penetrating waterproofing lies in the fact that it is able to penetrate into the thickness of concrete by 90 cm. It moves along the same cracks and capillaries through which moisture could move. Having penetrated into the thickness of the concrete, the material reacts with the components of the concrete.
Penetrating type waterproofing fills all the small cavities of the concrete structure of the house, due to which the material gains strength (concrete strength increases by 20%). The chemical composition makes it resistant to acids, alkalis and oil products, in addition, it is not subject to mechanical stress.
Clean the surface of dust and debris. Dilute the dry powder in water, following the instructions on the package, mix thoroughly until the mixture is homogeneous. It is necessary to apply the mixture to the moistened surface of the concrete structure. Apply the first layer of penetrating waterproofing to the plinth, after it dries, apply the second. Experts recommend waterproofing with penetrating materials using synthetic brushes or a special mortar pump. It is possible to process the basement of a house with this type of material only at temperatures above zero.
Back to index
Roll adhesive waterproofing
Roll materials are understood as bituminous, polymeric and synthetic waterproofing. The material is glued to all the structures of the basement of the house. Usually the outer walls are covered with several layers of waterproofing. If the house is located in an area with a lot of groundwater, then the number of layers can be increased to five.
Layers of insulation are glued to the outer walls of the basement floor, overlapping them. This type of insulation is not resistant to damage, therefore, at a distance of 1 cm from the surface of the waterproofing layer, a half-brick brick wall is erected or a reinforced concrete block is installed. The space between the protective wall and the waterproofing is filled with bituminous mastic. Installation work can be carried out at an ambient temperature of at least 10°C.
Back to index
Coating waterproofing
When protecting the surface of the base from moisture, you should pay attention to the coating materials that are applied to the internal and external surfaces. If the mastic is applied from the outside of the wall, moisture is unable to penetrate into the room. There are several types of coating materials: bituminous mastics, cement-polymer waterproofing, polymer-bitumen mastics.
Bitumen-based mastics are the most affordable, but have a short service life. After operation for 5 years, under the influence of low temperatures, the bituminous material is destroyed, and external moisture will penetrate into the room.
Cement-polymer and polymer-bitumen waterproofing is more resistant to frosty conditions. When installing them, it is necessary to ensure protection against mechanical damage. Clean the surface, apply the mastic in several layers depending on the humidity and dry the structure.
Back to index
How to protect a brick base from moisture
Performed in several ways:
- perform brickwork, pre-treated with waterproof impregnation in the factory;
- use bitumen grease applied to the surface in several layers;
- cover with roofing material;
- apply a building mixture of a special penetrating composition.
The latter method is based on the action of the active components of the mixture, which, once in wet microcracks or pores, clog them with their own crystallization.
A very important above-ground part of the foundation and the lower part of the outer walls of the building is the basement. It not only has a decorative function, but also acts as the foundation on which the building stands, serves to protect it from the penetration of moisture and cold. The cladding protects the basement level from the influence of various external influences. Thus, the choice of facade materials for finishing the basement in a private house is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also of safety. Consider the most popular ways to finish the base in this article.
Most of the foundation of the building is hidden from view, however, a part of this supporting structure, called the basement, usually protrudes above ground level. When planning construction work, it is worth considering that if there is a plinth less than 40 cm high, it will be difficult to equip reliable waterproofing of the walls. Plinths are usually erected from stone or brick, concrete slabs, and also poured from reinforced concrete. The stone plinth looks quite aesthetically pleasing and solid, while it does not need further cladding, in other cases it will need to be additionally finished with a suitable material. It should be noted that these works are carried out not only in order to decorate the building. For facing the basement, facade materials with a significant margin of safety should be used, since they are required to perform protective functions. Together with the plinth itself, its sheathing carries a functional load - it takes on the load from the wall structures of the building and distributes it to the foundation of the building. At the same time, it is required that it withstand pressure and protect the basement of the building from the effects of negative external factors - temperature extremes, precipitation, high humidity. Types of basement structuresThere are several basic basement structures - it can be arranged flush with the building, protrude or sink relative to the surface of the walls. Most often, private houses are equipped with a protruding or even basement, although sinking ones are less affected by precipitation and can last longer. In the presence of a sinking plinth, it is easy to hide the waterproofing, equip it with reliable insulation and line the structure with any suitable materials. If the house does not have a basement, the finishing materials of the basement of the building also perform supporting functions and take the pressure of the ground, while at the same time maintaining the safety of the entire structure to some extent. If a cellar or basement is present, the lining of the basement helps to increase the heat-shielding properties of the basement level, since in the presence of a cold basement, a significant part of the heat will leave the building. If the building has a basement, or if the walls of the building are not thick enough, it is most advisable to equip a protruding basement with ebbs, since this design will provide additional thermal insulation of the building. The least successful is the design of the basement, located flush with the outer wall - in the presence of thin walls, in such cases, the appearance of condensation and dampness inside the premises cannot be avoided.
Plinth finishing materialsThus, it is necessary to select a material for finishing the basement with the following performance characteristics:
For facial finishes, it is important to avoid moisture transfer. In order to avoid the appearance of condensate, streaks, freezing and peeling of the plinth lining, it will be necessary to use a material that will provide protection from moisture and at the same time will not interfere with the outflow of steam from the premises.
The stated requirements correspond to various facade materials. Currently, the following facing materials are most popular for finishing the basement:
When choosing the most suitable finishing method, it is worth considering compatibility with the base materials of the structure. For example, facade paint that is suitable for a brick base should not be used for a concrete base. Finishing the plinth with plasterThe simplest and most affordable way to finish the basement is to plaster it. However, such a cladding has several drawbacks - it is not very durable, and it also does not look very aesthetically pleasing. Under mechanical stress, the plaster tends to crumble, in addition, it is not very effective as a protection of the basement level and the foundation from the adverse effects of the external environment. However, due to its availability, the method of finishing the basement with plaster has gained wide popularity. By replacing conventional stucco with a decorative variety (such as waterproof resin-based fine-mosaic stucco), the appearance of a basement level can be greatly improved. The decorative finish of the plinth allows you to give it a more aesthetic appearance. After applying the plaster, it can be painted. In addition, using a rasp, it is easy to give the surface of freshly applied plaster the effect of brickwork, paint the plinth and highlight the seams with a contrasting color. The plastered plinth can be further lined with a finishing material to your liking.
Finishing the plinth with special coatingsAs a reliable protection for the basement level, you can choose special coatings for finishing the basement. These include:
These finishing materials are conveniently applied to the surface, but not too durable. Nevertheless, they provide high-quality protection of the base from external influences. Siloxane plaster has proven itself well - this finishing material is permeable to steam, provides reliable insulation from moisture (including during temperature changes), and perfectly masks the unevenness of the treated surface. This mixture is applied to a surface reinforced with a metal mesh, the coating can be painted on top.
Finishing the plinth with brick and stoneTraditionally, the basement level of buildings is finished with brick. This lining is strong and durable. Its disadvantages include high cost compared to more modern methods of finishing (for example, siding and tiles), as well as the occurrence of a significant additional load on the facade of the building. Clinker tiles imitating brickwork are very popular. The choice of this material allows you to significantly reduce the cost of finishing the basement level - and also, importantly, reduce the weight load on the supporting structures.
Natural stone as a material for facing a concrete monolithic or slab plinth is practically out of competition. Plinth stone finish provides the most durable, resistant to external influences and durable coating that looks solid and presentable for many years. According to your taste and the allocated amount, you can choose different types of stone for finishing the basement level of the building - status marble or granite, as well as cheaper sandstone, cobblestone or flagstone. Natural stone provides environmental safety and has a unique pattern that cannot always be imitated in artificial materials. The disadvantages of such a plinth cladding include its high cost, as well as the significant weight of the material and the complexity of laying.
As an alternative to this natural material, one can successfully use its artificial counterparts made of concrete with the addition of chemical and organic fillers and dyes. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain a frost-resistant, durable and reliable facing material that is resistant to moisture, imitating various types of natural stone (shapeless or regular shape). This finish looks great on the facades of buildings and is resistant to various types of external influences. This type of plinth cladding is lighter than natural stone, as well as affordable. Finishing the basement with siding and clapboardTo finish the basement level of buildings, clapboard and block house are used. Finishing from wood in the form of thin boards (lining), as well as thin rounded rails of the block house, provides high-quality sound insulation, compares favorably with naturalness, as well as an affordable price. At the same time, wood plinth sheathing has tangible drawbacks - mention should be made of susceptibility to decay due to negative weather influences, damage by insects - in order to avoid such consequences, special antiseptic compounds will need to be used. The wood sheathing of the plinth will require regular maintenance at least once every six months.
For facing the basement of buildings, special types of siding are also used. This finish is vapor-permeable, lightweight and easy to install, does not require special care, is characterized by reliability and durability (its service life reaches 50 years). In this case, it is necessary to choose a siding for the basement. This material differs from the usual wall manufacturing technology and its characteristics, it includes special reinforcing additives. Thus, finishing the plinth with siding can withstand significant loads. It is easy to pick up plinth panels of various textures (including under a stone or under a tree), in various color schemes. This finishing material can be mounted in any weather, it is characterized by resistance to various weather and mechanical influences, is not subject to corrosion and fading, and effectively protects the foundation from moisture penetration. Smooth siding panels are easy to install and do not need to be painted later.
Metal siding is a non-combustible facing material, does not fade and is resistant to corrosion, is not demanding to maintain and allows the structure to “breathe”. Vinyl siding is a non-toxic and non-flammable finishing material that is resistant to a variety of weather conditions, insect attacks, and fungus and mold. With the help of such a modern finish, it is easy to give the plinth a neat look. Finishing the plinth with PVC panels and profiled sheetsPVC panels for exterior walls with imitation brickwork or mosaic plaster can be purchased in a wide range of shades. This finishing material is characterized by resistance to various weather influences. Such panels are equipped with a tongue-and-groove system and weigh a little. Finishing the plinth with panels is easy to install.
In private houses, the finishing of the basement with a profiled sheet is also widely used. It should be noted that this material is not suitable for finishing the basement level of buildings made of timber or logs, as it is susceptible to corrosion under the influence of high humidity - thus, such a lining can lead to rotting of the wood of the building.
Plinth tilingThe following types of tiled material are used for facing the plinth:
Do-it-yourself basement finishingHaving decided on the choice of the most suitable material and having prepared the required amount, you can begin to perform finishing work. Most plinth finishes are quite affordable to implement. Depending on the type of building foundation, various plinth cladding technologies can be used. With minimal skills, these works are easy to do on your own. When planning the execution of work on finishing the basement with your own hands, you must take into account the following recommendations:
Depending on the choice of finishing material, the following cladding methods are used:
To protect the finish of the plinth from moisture penetration, it makes sense to treat the surface of porous materials with a colorless water-repellent composition (water repellent) - it is applied with a brush or roller. On the surface treated in this way, water will flow without being absorbed into it. |
Loading...