Types of siding for outdoor decoration

To give an aesthetic appearance to the facade of any building, one should objectively consider the choice of building material for its decoration.

Currently, siding is very popular, which the manufacturer presents in different designs and from various raw materials.

Siding is successfully used by caring homeowners for its cladding. Initially, the building material was used as an outer skin, under which a layer of insulation should be laid. Thanks to the development of production technology, the technological characteristics of the building material have been improved, and now the siding also performs a decorative function, without losing its original properties.

The advantages of siding over other finishing materials is the ability to carry out installation work without the use of special tools and the presence of a certain amount of knowledge.

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Types of siding used for cladding buildings

Before sheathing a house, you should pay attention to the variety of model samples in a hardware store and ask consultants about their specific features.

The manufacturer produces siding from various materials:

• tree;
• ceramics;
• vinyl;
• cement;
• aluminum;
• metal;
• basement.

wood siding

Wood is the most expensive of the general list of materials used for cladding. Its main advantage lies in the environmental friendliness of the raw materials used. If necessary, an additional layer of insulation can be placed under the skin.

Wooden siding is used by builders in several versions, in the form of a ship board, false beam or block house.

Installation of the material can be carried out by laying it end-to-end or overlap.

Despite the obvious advantages over other materials, wood siding has a number of disadvantages, which are in the nuances:

• short service life;
• instability of the material to negative environmental influences;
• rapid ignition with a close location of the ignition source;
• the need for additional processing of the material with special compounds designed to protect against insects and fungal diseases;
• the need for annual processing of the entire structure with paints and varnishes.

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Ceramic siding

A novelty in the siding market are products made from ceramics. Such a building material has an inexpensive cost combined with high quality.

The raw material for the manufacture of products is clay.In some models, additional natural additives are allowed. Panels have such advantageous characteristics as:

• hypoallergenicity;
• health safety;
• environmental friendliness;
• aesthetic and attractive appearance;
• low cost.

Siding looks spectacular on the facades of buildings of any style. He is not afraid of the impact of the natural environment.

Its appearance is reminiscent of ceramic type tiles, which makes the building stylish and presentable, the cladding of which is made of ceramic products. Due to this quality, it is often used for lining country cottages of an elite look.

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Vinyl siding

Vinyl siding is made from polyvinyl chloride. Its panels are available in different colors and sizes.

At the same time, they are resistant to any weather conditions and do not undergo corrosive changes with excess moisture on the surface. Under the influence of the applied force, the surface of the material is not deformed. Its structure is not disturbed by sudden changes in temperature.

Siding is mounted by a vertical or horizontal arrangement of panels, which differ in comparison with other models, low weight. One person can handle the installation work due to the ease of fastening and the lightness of the constituent elements of the siding.

Products installed without additional insulation elements will not protect the house from the penetration of cold into it, and will not prevent heat from escaping from it. To implement such a solution, it is necessary to lay a heater under the crate, which will increase the performance of both thermal insulation and sound insulation.

The external vinyl surface is easy to clean, does not ignite with a nearby ignition source. On the wall, both from the inside and from the outside, when it is treated with vinyl siding, condensation does not form due to the fact that the material allows air to pass through and allows the walls to breathe.

The integrity of the material can be broken by applying a strong impact. If one sheet fails, it is difficult to carry out dismantling work relative to this panel. To replace the damaged material, you will have to remove the entire skin. A large coefficient of thermal expansion requires the installation of products to leave significant gaps between its elements.

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Siding made of cement material

Cement siding materials consist of two constituent elements: cement and cellulose fiber. On the surface of the panels, a pattern imitating wood is applied, which ensures a presentable appearance of the finish, which becomes identical with wooden counterparts.

The cost of the material is high, however, given all its advantages, it is worth thinking about facing with such siding.

Cement material is not afraid of moisture and is not fire hazardous. Its operation is possible for a long period, which is due to the strength that its constituent elements give to the product. Installation work is carried out simply, while it is possible with the effort of just one master.

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aluminum siding

One of the most durable cladding materials is aluminum.Such products are successfully used for sheathing multi-storey buildings, which is due to the main characteristic of the product, expressed in its lightness, in which there are only 1.7 kilograms of material per square meter.

The aluminum structure is easy to install, which makes it possible to sheathe a large area of ​​the building in a short period of time.

The elements of such siding are not cheap, but they have many advantages that allow the owner of the building to opt for the purchase of aluminum material.

Fire resistance, moisture resistance, resistance to sudden temperature changes and precipitation ensure the possibility of using products for a long period of time.

If desired by the homeowner who decides to install aluminum siding as sheathing, it can be painted or left in its original form. It is worth considering that the paint from the material will not peel off for a long time, its appearance will not suffer from rain and snow.

On the surface of aluminum siding, as it gets dirty, it is possible to carry out cleaning work using detergents and cleaners without the danger of harming the material.

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metal siding

Metal siding structures are multi-layered and consist of a metal base, which is covered with primer and a polymer coating. Zinc or steel plates are often used as the metal.

All elements of a siding are equipped with the special locks intended for their fastening. For this reason, when cladding is installed, it is not necessary to purchase additional elements for installation, which does not require special skills.

Metal siding has many advantages, which include:

• in the possibility of carrying out installation work all year round;
• in resistance to moisture, and to corrosion changes in the material;
• in the strength and reliability of the erected structure;
• ease of installation work;
• in the possibility of long-term operation, which is estimated at the age of 50 years.

The disadvantages of such siding are poor sound insulation, lack of thermal insulation and instability of the paint applied to the surface. When buying elements of metal siding, you should consider the thickness of the metal and the type of coating.

The design is easy to clean with a hose and brush. During operation, cracks and scratches may appear, which should be regularly monitored and covered with special paint. However, when leaving one sheet standing, you will have to dismantle the entire wall to replace it.

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basement siding

Basement siding is used to finish the building in the basement area. Such sheathing is made in order to protect the lower section of the house from the aggressive effects of precipitation and constantly acting mechanical factors.

To eliminate their harmful effects, a lining should be used, the thickness of which should exceed 3 millimeters. To solve such problems, the installation of basement siding is used.

Individual elements of the building material have a relatively large thickness and are made in small sizes in order to ensure the reliability of fastening and reduce the likelihood of spontaneous destruction of the structure due to its large weight, which does not correspond to the fastening method used.

To give the house a presentable look, it is often used to equip it with basement siding, which will not only provide reliable protection for the lower part of the building, but also play a spectacular decorative role.

In accordance with the requirements of the owner of the building, you can pick up basement siding elements that imitate various materials: wood, brick, stone. To ensure an affordable level of cost of building materials intended for the construction of a basement structure, manufacturers often combine it with raw materials available in the price category.

In some cases, cement siding is used to sheath the lower part of the building. It should be borne in mind that in order to perform the functions assigned to the structure, its height should not be lower than 15 centimeters from ground level.

The advantages of basement siding lie in the possibility of its long-term use, the period of which practically corresponds to the time of operation of a residential building, during which it will not be necessary to carry out work to eliminate damage caused by mechanical force or natural adverse factors.

In a house, the lining of which is made in the style of basement siding, rodents cannot appear, due to the reliable protection of all walls from the possible introduction of uninvited guests. The construction material does not crack and retains a respectable appearance for a long period of time.

When buying siding elements made of various materials, you should consider:

• the thickness of the structural element;
• the presence of defects on the surface;
• availability of certificates of conformity of products to the requirements of regulatory documentation;
• manufacturer's warranty.

Basically, buyers prefer to equip their homes with sheathing made from natural materials, due to their environmental friendliness and hypoallergenicity.

When choosing elements of a future design, materials whose appearance is imitated by natural wood or stones are popular. Wooden siding is less popular in building cladding due to the high price and short-lived operation of the product.

All types of siding are easy to clean when dirty. For convenience, a garden hose is used for such purposes, under the pressure of water from which any contamination is easily removed with a sponge.

Maintenance of the surface of an already erected structure should be carried out regularly in order to extend the possibility of trouble-free operation of the structure. In some types of siding, it is necessary to regularly renew the coating with paints, and in some it is necessary to clean and wash the rest to remove traces of adverse factors.

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