Covering the foundation of a house with stone. Materials for facing the foundation: overview and the right choice. Full characteristics of the facing material

The basement of the house performs not so much a decorative function as a practical one. In many cases, it serves to reduce heat loss (it is specially insulated), and also prevents the spread of atmospheric and underground moisture to the walls of the house. It also transfers the load from the walls to the foundation - if the foundation is strip or slab. Therefore, the cladding of the basement of a house should not only be beautiful, but also functional. The finishing material is also selected in accordance with this task.

When to start finishing the basement

It is best to finish the base after it is done. In this case, the finishing material will hang over the path. As a result, even the most slanting rain or streams of water flowing down the walls will not be able to get between the wall and the blind area - the water hits the path at a distance of several centimeters from the joint. It is through this joint that water penetrates to the foundation, bringing dampness and other problems.

You need to start cladding the base of the house after the blind area around the house has been made

One more thing. Many people are thinking about whether to insulate the basement or not. If you want to save on heating, the answer is to insulate it, just like the blind area. The unit for insulation and cladding of the base - one of the options - is shown in the photo below.

When using the basement as a residential floor, there are no questions regarding insulation, since the answer is clear - insulate it, of course. But even if you don’t have a subfloor, heating costs will be much lower, and the floor in the house will become much warmer.

How to cover the basement of a house

There are a lot of materials for finishing the base. Main requirements: moisture resistance, frost resistance, strength. The following materials satisfy these requirements:

• Natural stones (flagstone) sawn into plates or chipped, so-called “torn stone”:
  • sandstone (plastic);
  • granite;
  • marble;
  • slate;
  • dolomite;
  • shugnit.
• Small cobblestone.
• Large river pebbles.
• Clinker tiles (clinker bricks).
• Paving slabs.
• Porcelain tiles.
• Finishing brick.
• Facade panels, basement siding, PVC panels (these are all names of the same material).
• Plaster (decorative and “under a fur coat”).
• Profiled sheeting.

Some of them cost a lot, some are insignificant, but all of them can be used. The material is chosen based on financial capabilities and previously used finishing materials - the aesthetic component also plays an important role. The technologies for finishing plinths with different materials will be discussed.

Preparation and insulation

First of all, if the existing base is uneven, its surface is leveled with plaster. The solution for plastering the plinth is cement-sand: for 1 part of cement (Portland cement M 400) take 4 parts of clean construction sand, preferably river sand. For greater plasticity, you can add a little lime or liquid soap (50-80 g per bucket of solution). The solution should be of medium thickness so that it does not creep off the wall. There is another option - to use a special composition. For example, like the one in the video.

If tiles, stone or other similar material are then laid, after leveling the mortar, notches are made on its surface with the tip of a trowel (trowel). They are applied in the form of a grid over the entire surface. These shallow grooves will provide the necessary support for the finish.

If the base is insulated, notches are not needed. EPS (extruded polystyrene foam) or polystyrene boards are glued directly onto the plastered surface. They are light and adhere well to glue. Their surface is coated with diluted tile adhesive and pressed against the plaster. Finishing materials are then attached to the surface prepared in this way.

Painting, plastering and “fur coat”

In principle, if the plaster is well leveled, after the solution has dried, the surface can be painted and stop there. This is an inexpensive but viable option. If you used façade paint that is intended for outdoor use, the base will look good for a couple of years. Then you will have to remove the old paint and paint it again to maintain the appearance.

The next method is to apply a layer of decorative plaster on top of ordinary plaster. And again, choose those formulations that are intended for external use. They can be tinted in the desired color or taken colored ones. The only negative is that plasters are often porous and splashes of dirt that fall on the walls during bad weather have to be cleaned off with a brush and sometimes with detergent.

The method of finishing the base “like a fur coat” is still popular in some areas. This is when the solution is not applied in an even layer, but in small fragments. Previously, they did this with a broom made of twigs. They dipped it into a liquid solution and hit the stick with the handle so that the splashes flew onto the wall. This is how they made “fur coat” - a finish with a torn surface. Today there are special devices for applying plaster, powered by a compressor. With their help, it is easier to do such finishing.

Finishing the basement of a house using materials in the form of slabs or tiles is technologically more difficult. To prevent it from falling off, you need to know some subtleties.

How to fix porcelain tiles or clinker tiles

If heavy materials such as porcelain tiles or clinker bricks are simply placed on glue, on a plastered surface with grooves, perhaps they will stick normally. And they can even stand for some time. Even several years. But then they will begin to fall off along with the solution. Especially in places where there are no grooves or they are of insufficient depth. To improve adhesion, you can apply a layer of impregnation that improves adhesion (grip), but this is not a guarantee, especially if the material is heavy.

The same picture will happen if you glue the materials directly onto the insulation. The surface is smooth, easy to glue. But after a while the finish will fall off. Faster than with a plastered surface. There is a video about this.

To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to secure a metal painting mesh, preferably galvanized. It is secured with dowels, placing a piece of galvanized steel on the dowel-nail, the size of which is larger than the size of the cell. They are attached at the top, bottom and in a checkerboard pattern in the middle. This creates a reliable basis for material of any weight.

Glue is applied to the base and to the tiles. On the tile, remove it with a notched trowel, put it in place, tap the trowel handle and put it in place, leveling the plane. The distance between the tiles is maintained using crosses, only their thickness is taken to be significant 3-5 mm.

In general, the installation technology is similar to. The only difference is that the glue must be special for outdoor use. The second difference: finishing materials for the plinth begin to be laid from below: they are heavy and need support. You rest the bottom row on the blind area, the second row on it, etc.

Finishing the base of the house with natural stone (shell rock, granite, dolomite, slate)

No matter how attractive artificial shiny surfaces may seem, rough stone for some reason evokes great sympathy. But laying a rubble foundation is difficult and not everyone can do it well enough for a house to stand on it. But anyone can decorate a finished monolithic or natural stone with their own hands, especially if at least part of the work on building a house is done personally.

It is clear that no one will attach whole stones: the finish will be too heavy, and very voluminous. That’s why they came up with the idea to slab or chop stones. Depending on the technology, the result is either a smooth “flagstone” - with almost smooth surfaces, or a “torn stone” with an uneven front part. Sometimes these materials are cut into identical rectangles, sometimes they are left in the form of uneven plates, but in any case it is natural stone and the finishing of the base of the house from it turns out to be beautiful and waterproof.

There is this material made from expensive stones, for example - marble, there is cheaper - slate, dolomite, shugnit, lemezite, granite, etc. They look very impressive. Especially if it is torn stone, although flagstone sometimes looks no worse.

The preparation of the surface will be exactly the same: it is best to fill the plastered plinth with a painting mesh, and then lay the stone plates on it with glue. If they are smooth - natural stone with processed edges - the laying technology will be exactly the same as described above.

If the stone has torn edges, finishing the base of the house becomes more difficult: it is necessary to select plates of such a shape that the seams are not too large. When using this version of the finishing stone, you will need a grinder with a stone disc: most likely you will have to file the plates of the lower and upper rows. Correction will also be needed when decorating the corners. See the video for an example of this technology.

There is a second way. The plastered surface of the base is first coated with a compound to improve adhesion (adhesion), then fragments of finishing are installed on it with glue. They are fixed in a given position using scraps of the same stone or pieces of materials of the required size. The seams remain unfilled. After the glue has “set,” the seams are filled with a thin solution from a construction syringe, rubbing and tearing out as necessary.

In any case, any glue that gets on the finish must be removed in a timely manner. It will be very difficult to do this with a frozen one, and the appearance of the glue is far from attractive.

Sometimes, for a clearer pattern, the seams between the stone plates are painted with dark paint. Then the surface is coated with protective impregnation. It gives the stone a slight shine and also often increases its water-repellent properties.

For an example of cladding a plinth with natural stone using the second technology, see the following video.

Facing with boulders or small cobblestones

It is not necessary to buy a boulder or cobblestone. You can collect it on a river or on a pebble beach at sea. Rolled stones are chosen to be flatter - round ones are more difficult to “mount”. The procedure and all other subtleties are almost the same as in the case of finishing with natural stone. The only difference is that these stones must be washed in water and detergent before use. Firstly, the water in our ponds may have oils in it and need to be removed, and secondly, there may be clay or algae in it which can cause the finish to fall off.

To make everything look organic, you can first lay out a “picture” of cobblestone cladding on the path next to the place where you will cladding the base. They have different shades and their random combinations are not always attractive. By laying everything out side by side you will have an idea of ​​what the end result will be.

Watch the video about the features of finishing the plinth with cobblestones.

How to install plastic (PVC) plinth panels

This type of finishing is called differently: basement or facade panels, basement siding. They have a varied appearance: to match different types of stone, tile, brick.

To install PVC panels on the base, you need to assemble a frame. It is made from wooden beams 50*50 mm. Since the finishing will be outdoors, the wood must be protected with impregnations that prevent rotting and protect against pests.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

Assembly is easy. Only after fastening will it be necessary to make ebbs on top: the sheathing and panels have a fairly decent volume and a gap remains at the top. You can cover it with roofing iron, as in this video. Immediately look at the technology of finishing the base with plastic panels.

In the same way, the base can be finished with corrugated board. There is only one note: it is advisable to lay insulation in the voids between the sheathing. The house will be much warmer.

Finishing the base of a pile foundation

As you know, there is no base. But if you don’t block off the space, there will be drafts under the house, the floor will always be cold, and all kinds of living creatures like to live under the house. Therefore, the base, although decorative, is necessary. It can be done in two ways.

There is one subtlety if the house is installed on screw piles or. Such foundations are often placed on highly heaving soils. To prevent the finishing from being destroyed when the soil is raised, it is not brought to a certain distance to the ground. To prevent animals from crawling into the gap, a metal mesh is fixed at the bottom.

What material is best for cladding the basement of a house? This question worries many who are faced with the need to finish this structure. The base encircles the entire house and is an important element that protects the structure (especially its lower part) from the harmful influences of the environment. In addition, it plays an important decorative role.

There are several types of house basement, each with its own characteristics. Various forms are shown in the photo:

1. Sunken. This type is a structure that is located offset inward relative to the main facade. The recess is most often at least 50 mm. This device allows you to perform the work at low cost, and also make the drain less noticeable.
2. In one plane. This option requires complex sealing, so the drainage system must be fixed at the general construction stage. This will avoid further problems.
3. Speaker. To sheathe such a base at home with your own hands, it is necessary (as in the previous version) to carefully consider the drainage system. If it is not installed correctly, water accumulates in the area separating the foundation and the wall. To avoid such troubles, moisture removal is planned taking into account the finishing of the facade.

Drain device for a protruding plinth when finishing the facade with siding

On a note! When choosing material for cladding, you should take into account the design features.

Necessity of finishing

If the finishing of the foundation of the house has not been completed earlier or the old cladding has become unusable, then external cladding must be done. Its main functions:

• Protecting the foundation of the house from environmental influences (precipitation, sunlight, wind). This allows you to significantly increase the durability of the entire structure.
• Additional insulation. If required, a layer of thermal insulation is created, which can be associated with insulation of the blind area. This procedure not only improves the energy efficiency of the building, but also protects it from many problems. The top facing layer will hide the insulation and serve as an additional barrier against the penetration of cold.
• Decorative. An area finished correctly and with suitable material can emphasize the overall direction of the design.

Based on these parameters, the construction products necessary for the work are selected.

How to cover the foundation of a house outside?

The material for the base is purchased taking into account the following factors:

They also pay attention to the manufacturer of the product and the place of purchase. It is better to give preference to trusted brands and specialized retail outlets.

Types of finishing materials for the plinth and features of their installation

When choosing a material, you need to consider the method of its installation. There are options that are mounted directly on the walls, but there are also those that require the construction of a frame.

Materials for finishing the foundation installed on the sheathing are relatively new products. This list includes types that differ in technical characteristics.

Panels

This includes panels made from different materials; this group usually includes siding and corrugated sheets. When choosing, it is better to give preference to options that are made specifically for finishing the base. They have more durable characteristics and may include an additional layer of thermal insulation.

Covering the base with decorative panels

Among the advantages of the product are:

• Availability. Indeed, it is precisely this variety that makes it possible to perform work inexpensively. This option allows you to get a balance of price and quality. But you should refuse products with too low a cost. Most likely, they are made of low-quality plastic, which will quickly become unusable.
• Easy to install. Paneling is done using tools that every home craftsman has, so there is no need to involve specialists for the work.
• Possibility of additional thermal insulation. Installation on a frame solves two problems at once - ventilation and insulation. This will prevent the coating from freezing, reduce heat loss and the likelihood of mold and mildew.

• Decorative. The panels, especially the plinth ones, have a clear imitation of natural materials. That is, the tiled area fits perfectly into the design idea and the environment.

Attention! Choosing the wrong product can seriously spoil the result. For example, corrugated sheeting for such a process must have increased rigidity, that is, have a durable top coating.

Porcelain tiles and types of tiles

For cladding the plinth, porcelain stoneware and clinker tiles in the form of large parts are mainly used. The second option can also be laid using the wet method, in which case fragments of material are used. Porcelain tiles, due to their heavy weight, are installed only on the sheathing, and it must have increased reliability.

Advantages of porcelain stoneware and tiles:

• Light load on the structure. This effect is achieved due to the frame, which takes on the main pressure.
• Fast installation. It is possible to cover the foundation of a house in a short period of time, but doing this without some experience is extremely problematic. Porcelain tiles require the installation of special fasteners, which is not always possible without understanding the process. The tiles are fixed much easier; for this there are special metal ears.
• Durability. The service life of such foundation materials is calculated in decades.
• Moisture resistance. The parts do not absorb water well, so they are not subject to deformation.

Such foundation materials have a significant disadvantage - high cost. There is no need to purchase cheap tiles, as this often indicates low quality. For work, a variety for the street with the “Snowflake” icon is used.

An alternative to tiles can be artificial stone. The elements are installed on the sheathing through special holes or directly.

On a note! At the moment, thermal panels that combine the advantages of panels and tiles are becoming increasingly popular. They are a base with insulation, on which clinker tiles are applied.

How to sheathe a foundation using sheathing

All options for finishing the plinth, which involve installation on the sheathing, have a common technology for covering the structure:

1. Work begins with preparing the base. It is cleaned of dust and dirt, all cracks are carefully covered with putty. If there is serious damage, then before finishing the basement of the house, it is advisable to strengthen the foundation.
2. Due to the fact that this part of the building is exposed to greater moisture, it is treated with antiseptics. It is better to impregnate in several layers.
3. After preparing the surface, the frame is erected. For this purpose, a wooden beam or a metal profile can be used. It is important to consider that wood needs to be treated against rot, and metal parts cannot be cut with a grinder, as this leads to corrosion.
4. The racks are installed perpendicular to the direction of laying the material. If the products have identical sides, then the vertical method is considered preferable.
5. Insulation is placed in the resulting cells. It is fixed with special anchors.
6. Vertical connections are installed between the frame posts and space is left for installing the ebb.
7. The material for finishing the base is laid in several ways: overlapping, using a tongue-and-groove connection, using special brackets or clamps. Fixation is done with self-tapping screws. If the products are subject to thermal expansion, then the fasteners are loose.
8. The ebb is installed.

For foundations finished with panel elements, additional moldings are used. They are installed on corners for a better decorative look.

Frameless method

It is possible to veneer the base of a house without the help of a frame; different product options are used for these purposes.

Brick

Features of the material:

• Excellent for pile or block foundations. But to install brickwork, it is necessary to create a reliable support.
• The resulting coating has good resistance to external influences.
• Products with low moisture absorption are used for work. If this parameter is not taken into account, the surface will become deformed.
• This type of plinth finishing is not affordable, and the work requires some experience.

Algorithm for creating masonry:

1. The coating undergoes a preparation procedure.
2. If there is no reliable support, then a foundation block will do. He burrows into the prepared pit. This is especially true for pile foundations.
3. Waterproofing is laid on top of the base. Roofing felt can act in this capacity.
4. The first row is installed after a thorough level check. In this case, the spoon masonry option is more suitable.
5. To ensure reliability, a bundle is arranged. To do this, anchors are installed in the foundation. If this method is not possible, then wire fixed to the piles is used.
6. The ebb is installed.

The difficulty lies in the need to reliably lay the bricks.

Artificial and natural stone

Facing the foundation with artificial or natural stone is not the easiest task, especially for the second option. Both varieties have excellent technical parameters in terms of durability and reliability, but natural products require more careful care and are expensive.

Laying natural stone is carried out as follows:

1. Regardless of what type of finishing is performed, the surface must be carefully prepared.
2. Due to the heavy load, the foundation should be covered with reinforcing mesh and covered with a layer of plaster.
3. Laying of parts occurs after drawing up the markings. If the fragments are of irregular shape, then they are first laid out on a flat area.
4. Fixation is carried out using a special glue, which is applied to the surface, the underside of the parts is slightly moistened.
5. A small gap must be left between the fragments; it compensates for thermal expansion.
6. If required, grouting of joints and installation of flashing is carried out.

Using a similar principle, the basement of a house is finished using artificial stone and tiles.

Plaster

Plaster is the most economical option, allowing you to complete the work without the involvement of specialists and complex equipment. For this process, a special type of mixture for external use is used.

On a note! Finishing the foundation with your own hands using plaster is carried out using two methods: without additional thermal insulation and with insulation.

General technology of work:

1. The surface is being prepared.
2. A layer of glue is applied to which the heat-insulating material is fixed.
3. After the composition dries, the insulation is additionally strengthened with special dowels.
4. Next, a small layer of mortar or glue is applied to the surface, after which a thin reinforcing mesh is stretched. It should be completely covered with the mixture.
5. The surface is left to dry.
6. The final layer is plaster. A spatula is used to apply it, and a rule is used to level it.
7. Upon completion of the work, the surface is covered with a protective layer of paint.

This method allows you to bind the insulation to the thermal insulation of the blind area.

Decorating the base

Decorative finishing of the foundation is considered an integral part of the process. The following options apply:

• Coloring. It is carried out even after the passage of time. You can choose the shade that best suits the cladding of the house and highlights the base.
• Use of decorative or textured plaster. This material is tinted and may include a fraction of natural stones or sand. This gives an unusual effect when applied correctly.

Decorative plaster in the design of the basement floor

• Creating a relief surface. For this purpose, simple facade plaster is used, on which an imitation of stone or brick masonry is formed. Additionally, painting in different tones is carried out.
• The simplest is the use of materials with the desired imitation.

Working with a plinth is a rather complex undertaking, the basis of which is the correct choice of products.

The base of a house made of brick or concrete needs reliable protection from destructive environmental factors. Such protection is not always provided during the construction of a building, and often owners are forced to install it themselves. We will tell you how and with what to cover the base of a brick house.

Why is it necessary?

Designs of brick houses with a basement often involve using this floor as part of the living space of the house. This means that the basement will be connected to the heating system, therefore, in case of poor thermal insulation, energy losses are inevitable.

Moreover, the maximum losses will occur through the above-ground part of the walls of the basement gap. The floor in the basement is located quite deep underground and does not freeze in winter due to natural insulation by an infinitely thick layer of earth. The ceiling is also protected by the warm ground floor, and heat does not escape through it.

Only the walls of the basement masonry remain, and here the purpose of their cladding becomes clear:

• The finishing coating allows you to protect the plinth masonry material from moisture penetration. The basement, located at the very bottom of the structure, is most susceptible to contact with water, which penetrates from the thickness of the concrete foundation, flows down the walls of the house during rain, contacts the masonry in the form of snow drifts, enters in the form of splashes bouncing off the ground, etc.;
• Brick houses with a basement require high-quality insulation, and the insulation, in turn, requires finishing and protection. Here we see the need for a durable and reliable cladding that will hide the thermal insulation and protect it from wear and damage;
• The plinth structure is subject to heavy loads, since the entire house presses on it. In addition, if the basement is unheated, then its walls may freeze, and the accumulated moisture will expand and damage the structure of the material. Therefore, it is better to protect the masonry from moisture and frost using appropriate finishing;
• The proximity of the ground leads to various types of debris, dirty splashes of rain, dust, etc. falling on the lower part of the wall. Porous brick or concrete absorbs all these substances and becomes dirty. The presence of a durable coating makes this problem insignificant, since the dense surface of the facing material is easy to clean.

It also often happens that projects of brick houses with a basement contain such a scheme in which. The above-ground part of such a foundation does not fit well with the brickwork of the walls and needs to be lined with suitable material.

Important! Finishing the base is needed not only as a decorative element, but, to a greater extent, as a functional protective structure that protects the masonry from premature wear and aging.

Types of finishes

The options for finishing the basement of a brick house are very diverse. The construction market is overflowing with all kinds of materials and technologies that can be used for these purposes. In addition, natural raw materials are widely used, including various types of natural stone, sandstone, pebbles, etc.

Of the modern technologies, the most in demand are such varieties as ventilated facades, siding, blockhouse, metal profiles, stamped concrete, ceramic facade tiles, porcelain stoneware and others.

As practice shows, laying natural materials such as marble, granite, pebbles or sandstone requires extraordinary abilities and extensive experience, which means you will have to hire expensive craftsmen. At the same time, the price of the stone itself is also very high, and as a result, facing work can be too expensive.

Based on these considerations, we have identified the most practical and affordable methods for finishing basement masonry:

• Ventilated facade. The coating made of porcelain stoneware and other relatively natural materials looks great;
• Siding. Easy and quick to install, relatively cheap and perfectly imitates all types of natural coatings;
• Metallic profile. The cheapest and simplest coating, at the same time quite durable and reliable, although not entirely aesthetic.

Important! The use of modern facade systems allows not only to reduce the cost of work, but also to place a layer of thermal insulation under the coating, which is very important for the base.

Installation of cladding

Let's start installing the cladding. We will work with our own hands; the material we use is polymer-sand plinth tiles, which are attached using ventilated facade technology ().

1. We put the walls of the basement in order, eliminate cracks and other defects, remove all protruding objects;

1. We mount the frame guide profiles. We use a galvanized steel profile measuring 28x67 mm. It is important to maintain a strictly vertical position of the surface of the frame structure, and place all its parts in the same plane;

We install the frame.

Whatever house is built, its entire structure is always based on on a solid foundation of one type or another. The importance of this structural element simply cannot be overestimated - it is it that takes on and distributes all the main weight loads. As a rule, the foundation always protrudes somewhat above the surface of the earth, forming the so-called basement part. And so the owner of the house inevitably faces the question - how to finish the base?

There are many options for solving this problem. But first of all, it’s worth figuring out - is finishing the base really necessary?

Why is the base covered?

Many home owners consider finishing the basement only as a special design touch in the overall exterior design of the house. The desire to make your home as beautiful as possible in appearance is quite understandable and justified, but it turns out that decorativeness in this case, although important, is still secondary. The main purpose of the plinth cladding is still different:

• Even such a seemingly indestructible element of a building as the foundation needs protection from external influences. The cladding minimizes the impact of precipitation, high humidity, temperature changes, and direct sunlight on the plinth material.
• The walls of the house at the basement level are most susceptible to contamination. The liquid dirt that falls on them always contains a lot of chemically aggressive substances that can cause erosion processes even in monolithic concrete.
• The base should also be protected from the development of forms of biological life on its surface - mold stains, fungal colonies, insect nests.
• If possible, it is necessary to provide buildings. At first glance, it’s a paradox: why insulate it if all the living spaces are located higher. However, this opinion is wrong:

— The base array itself becomes a very capacious cold accumulator, forming not even a “bridge”, but an entire “highway” for the penetration of low temperatures into the premises, from which even a conscientiously insulated floor of the first floor may not save. A significant part of the energy resources spent on heating will simply be wasted.

— The material from which the foundation is made, be it concrete, brick or stone, under the influence of low winter temperatures can freeze through, which will activate erosion processes and reduce its strength.

So, the conclusion is categorical - the base needs high-quality finishing for both operational and decorative reasons. What type of finish should I choose? This will depend on the design features of the building, the preferences of the homeowner, and his financial capabilities.

Types of materials used for finishing the base

Plastering and painting

One of the simplest finishing methods is to apply a layer of durable plaster to the surface of the base.

One of the simplest options is plastering the base

This finish will create a good sewn layer, characterized by high vapor permeability. The main advantage of this method is its low cost and availability of materials. Doing this kind of work yourself or finding a master plasterer is usually not a big problem. And options giving There is a lot of decorative value for such a base.

• Firstly, it can simply be painted with special durable facade paints. There is a wide range of shades on sale, and there is always the opportunity to choose the one most suitable for the intended exterior design of the building.
• Secondly, an excellent solution would be to apply a finishing layer. A wide palette of colors and “rich” textures should satisfy any homeowner’s needs.

• But that's not all. If you show your imagination, you can give even a simply plastered surface a very original look.

Stone? No, this is a plastered base...

In the photograph the base appears to be trimmed with stone. In fact, each “cobblestone” is nothing more than a mound of ordinary concrete mortar, molded by hand directly on the surface of the plinth.

…the “cobblestones” of which are sculpted by hand...

To sculpt such “stones” you don’t need any special skill - the main thing is to make a high-quality dense solution. Everything else is the imagination and efforts of the home craftsman. After hardening, all that remains is to decorate with dyes - and the plastered base will become indistinguishable from a stone one.

...and tinted with paint

The disadvantages of the technology for finishing the base with plaster include the comparative fragility of the coating - you will have to constantly monitor the condition of the applied layer and timely repair or update damaged, cracked areas.

Finishing the base with DSP panels with real stone and granite chips

Of course, stone is the best option for cladding the base. But the question of price stops many. Eskosell panels from the Komak Plat brand were developed especially for those who want to get a reliable and “expensive” plinth for many years.

DSP panels

You get natural stone for the price of plastic. How does this happen? The basis of the panels is a rigid DSP board, onto which chips of stone and granite are applied. The large size of the crumbs (5-6mm) qualitatively distinguishes the panel from plaster and analogues. Eskosell can provide your home with high-quality protection from mechanical damage and vandalism; they can easily withstand changes in temperature and humidity. A layer of epoxy adhesive compound and natural stone chips is not only home decor, but also a protective waterproof layer. It should also be taken into account that Eskosell is made from natural ingredients and does not emit various harmful substances even in the event of a fire.

Types of panels

Prices for cement bonded particle boards (CPB)

Cement particle boards (CSP)

Advantages of Eskosell round stone chip panels:

• ECOLOGY: does not contain substances such as formaldehyde, asbestos, phenol, etc.
• FIRE RESISTANT (G1): in case of fire they do not melt and do not release harmful components into the air;
• FROST RESISTANT: installation can be carried out at any time of the year; they will not crack from frost or temperature changes;
• MOISTURE RESISTANT: the front surface of the slab is moisture resistant;
• BIORESISTANT: Eskosell prevents the appearance of fungus and mold;
• RELIABILITY: will serve you and your home for more than 50 years;
• VANDAL-RESISTANT: hard, hard, anti-vandal material;
• EASY INSTALLATION: can be mounted without additional elements, using self-tapping screws or glue.

Eskosell chip panels

You can simply cover the base with panels using screws. Or glue it with foam glue. Unlike other Eskosell panels, they do not require additional elements for installation.

Finishing the base with natural stone

This type of finishing can certainly be called “elite”. A building with such a base always looks very advantageous, has excellent performance characteristics and will last a very long time.

Base with natural stone cladding - looks very rich

For cladding, specially prepared stone slabs are used - slabs, usually 20 ÷ 30 mm thick, which can have either a regular geometric shape or uneven edges, which gives a special decorative effect.

The surface of the stone can also be chosen to suit your taste - from polished to mirror-like to rough chipped.

For all the beauty and practicality of this type of base finishing, it also has many disadvantages:

• Such cladding has a very significant weight, therefore it puts additional load on the foundation of the building, especially in cases where the base has a large surface area. If finishing with natural stone is planned, this is usually calculated at the building design stage.
• Large mass of stone slabs predetermines the increased complexity of their installation. Thus, very often even the highest quality adhesive solution is not enough, so there is a need for additional reinforcement and the use of special stops.
• Another significant drawback is, of course, the price of the material and the cost of installation work, which are not always available for independent execution.

Even the most inexpensive types of natural stone - shell rock or limestone, cost more than 1200 - 1500 rubles per m². More expensive types include granite and marble, with a polished or chipped surface.

Well, if there is a desire to achieve complete exclusivity, then wealthy homeowners sometimes resort to cladding with materials such as gabbro or even labradorite, the price of which is generally “exorbitant”.

Video: facing the base with sandstone

Cladding with artificial stone

In the case when you really want to use stone cladding for the base, but the material capabilities or design features of the building make this impossible, you can resort to another option - purchase artificial stone.

The cost of the artificial analogue is much less, the mass of the material is not so significant, and the illusion of naturalness is almost complete.

Such material is made on the basis cement-containing mixtures, often with the addition of light fractions (for example, expanded clay crushed stone), special polymer plasticizers and micro-reinforcing components. Tiles are produced using vibration casting technology in special silicone molds that exactly replicate the natural texture of the stone, or by hyper-pressing.

Laying hyper-pressed tiles “under the stone”

The release form may vary. Thus, piece tiles with standardized correct sizes are widely used. No less popular are sets that are assembled per unit area, the individual tiles of which can have different linear dimensions. This type of finishing of the base is carried out in the usual way - by laying it on construction tile adhesive for external work.

Artificial stone panels of the “Canyon” type

To facilitate the installation of the plinth cladding, you can purchase ready-made artificial stone panels, for example, the “Canyon” type. At the production stage, metal mounting brackets with a precise geometric arrangement are embedded into their concrete structure. These parts allow you to mount ready-made panels on the surface of the plinth not with mortar, but with fasteners - an indisputable advantage, especially when cladding along subsystem guides.

Find out how to do it with detailed instructions from our new article.

If desired, such panels can also be installed on an adhesive solution - brackets bent inward will only increase the reliability of adhesion to the surface.

Another option - artificial stone tiles are attached with reliable polyurethane adhesive to a rigid base, with or without insulation - this can be a board made of OSB, fiber cement or glass magnesite. Such a substrate greatly simplifies the installation of the cladding and gives it additional thermal insulation qualities.

The well-thought-out locking part of the panels completely hides the joints between them, creating the effect of natural stonework. The texture of the outer surface can be chosen to suit your taste - rocks, crushed stone, tuff, slate, etc. Mosaic solutions with the inclusion of artificial mini-slabs different texture or color.

Prices for the range of plinth panels

Plinth panels

Finishing the base with brick or “brick-like”

Strictness always gives the building a special respectability and is in perfect harmony with any possible type of decoration of the rest of the façade area. To achieve this effect, you can use one of the existing options:

• Cladding the base with natural brick. This approach has the advantage that it is possible to create a ventilated gap between the base itself and the cladding, or fill this space with insulating material. In addition, the brick itself will also serve as additional thermal insulation, especially if hollow varieties are used. However, it must be remembered that the brickwork itself will need a strip foundation - this issue should be taken into account when planning construction. Although they do it differently - they create their own support for the masonry, which will subsequently be combined with a concrete blind area around the foundation.

Various types of bricks are used for cladding the base.

- The heaviest - hyper-pressed, characterized by very high strength and extremely low water absorption - something that is especially necessary for the base. You can purchase bricks of various sizes - from the “Russian” standard 250 × 120 × 60 mm to the elongated “American” one.

— The most economical option is sand-lime brick, but it is not particularly popular for such finishing work.

— Ceramic bricks, including clinker bricks, usually have a hollow internal structure, which significantly reduces the weight of the cladding itself and provides a pronounced thermal insulation effect.

• However, it is not always possible to make real brickwork and, to be honest, it is not always advisable, because such a decorative effect can be completely achieved by using facing.

A simpler and more affordable option is clinker tiles

The material used to make it is in no way inferior in its performance characteristics to brick, and correctly laid tiles give an absolutely reliable appearance of full-fledged brickwork. A variety of sizes, colors, external textures, special methods of surface decoration (using artificial aging technologies, uneven firing, inclusion of additional fragments) allows you to give the building a absolutely unique view.

As a rule, collections of clinker facing tiles also include corner elements, which make it possible to simplify the masonry as much as possible without disturbing its overall pattern.

• It will be even easier to veneer the protruding part of the foundation “like a brick” if you use plinth panels.

They can be produced on a thermal insulating polyurethane foam or polystyrene base. The tiles (clinker or artificial stone) are located and fixed on it with precise adherence to the rows of “brickwork”, locking grooveridge connections will not allow mistakes during installation. Spaces are provided for placing fasteners for mounting panels to the wall or subsystem guides. There must be elements for decorating external corners without disturbing the linearity and “spacing” of the rows.

Base thermal panels - both decorative finishing and reliable insulation

In this case, it is preferable - the panels are more durable, the tiles are glued into them especially reliably, and they have higher thermal insulation qualities. If you have to purchase expanded polystyrene panels, then preference should be given to extruded polystyrene foam of high density.

Video: installation of base thermal panels

• If there is no need to insulate the base, then it is worth purchasing similar panels without a thermal insulation layer. In this case, the basis for rows of clinker tiles can be glass-magnesite, OSB or fiber cement panels.

— Fiber cement – ​​durable, environmentally friendly, highly resistant to impact loads. However, they are quite heavy, which makes installation difficult. In addition, such panels do not like fracture loads, that is, they require special care during transportation and temporary storage.

— Panels based on OSB have practically no disadvantages - they are light, environmentally friendly, not afraid of external influences, of course, with the proper quality of the base.

— Glass magnesite is the most modern solution, since the material does not burn, can withstand heating to very high temperatures, is not afraid of frost, and is resistant to ultraviolet radiation. A particular advantage is flexibility, which allows do work on walls, even those with slight curvature, which could not be eliminated by other methods.

Regular thickness glass-magnesite the base is 8 mm, and this does not reduce the strength of the products and does not make the overall design of the cladding heavier

Finishing with basement siding

The design features of the plinth or the entire façade cladding system do not always allow the use of natural or artificial stone (brick). It’s okay, very high-quality finishing can be done using basement siding, which will give full visibility of the natural material.

Base finished with polymer panels - siding

The term “basement siding” covers a huge variety of finishes. Panels can differ significantly in size, design, and material of their manufacture.

Base siding is made from polyvinyl chloride, polymer sand mixtures, fiber cement, and other composite materials. As a rule, the panels are mounted on subsystem guides (in rare cases, directly on the wall), which makes it possible to place the insulation layer of the required thickness.

The sizes of the panels and their shape can also be very diverse. Most often, the panels have a locking part and specially provided areas for attaching them to the guides.

There are so many options for surface texture, imitation of this or that material, and colors that it is difficult to even roughly describe them.

In addition to the traditional structure, basement siding panels can also take the form of rounded wooden beams (block house), ship planks or roughly chopped shingles.

An original solution - basement siding imitating wooden shingles

The main advantage of this approach to finishing the base is the light weight of the material, ease of installation, relative durability of the resulting cladding and ease of maintenance.

Video: polymer base siding “under the stone”

A necessary element for finishing the plinth is ebb and flow

The basement of the building may have a different location. So, it can be slightly “recessed” relative to the surface of the walls. Sometimes the base is flush with the rest of the facade, although this option is considered the most unsuccessful - it does not provide adequate protection of the base from precipitation. Most often, the base protrudes outward in the form of a kind of step. It is in this case that its finishing will lose its meaning if it is not accompanied by the installation of ebb tides.

A mandatory element with a protruding base is ebb tides

These structural finishing elements will reliably protect the protruding part of the foundation from direct precipitation, drain water from the surface of the base, and prevent moisture from penetrating into the cracks between the wall and the cladding materials

The ebb tides can be made from different materials.

• In most cases, metal castings are used, which are made of galvanized steel sheets with a polymer coating applied, which becomes both additional protection against corrosion and gives the required decorative effect.

The most common are steel with polymer coating

You can find flashings made of aluminum, and as the most expensive option - even from sheet copper: they will harmonize especially well with the copper roof of the building.

Exclusive option - copper sheet ebbs

Video: installing metal ebbs on the plinth

• Plastic moldings will cost slightly less, but this material does not have the same durability as sheet metal, simply for reasons of lower mechanical strength. To protect the base, this option is rarely used. Although, if the walls of the house are decorated with PVC siding, then the polymer cast will look very advantageous.
• If the plinth ledge is large enough, and its cladding is made of brick or clinker tiles, then laying out ebbs from profile ceramic (clinker) blocks is an excellent option.

They can be in the form of a brick with edges beveled in one direction, or in the form of rectangular tiles with a plane inclined to the horizon to ensure water drainage. The surface can be ordinary or with a glazed layer applied (smalt tiles).

Profile clinker panels with smalt coating - beautiful, but expensive

This low tide belt looks very impressive. But, however, its arrangement will require large material costs and labor-intensive installation process that can only be performed by a very highly qualified master.

So, there are a great many options for finishing the base. You should evaluate in advance your financial resources, the fundamental feasibility, feasibility, decorativeness and operational qualities of the chosen cladding, and the availability of its independent implementation. Ideally, all these issues need to be thought through at the stage of drawing up the design of the future structure.

The main part of the foundation of any house is hidden in the thickness of the earth, but its part, called the base, is in sight. The basement is the upper part of the foundation and the lower part of the load-bearing walls of the building. In addition to decorative purposes, the base serves as the basis for the entire structure, protecting the premises of the house from excessive humidity and sub-zero temperatures. Do-it-yourself cladding work on finishing the foundation of a house is designed to protect it from the negative influences of the environment. Therefore, the choice of finishing material for the foundation should be based not on appearance, but on its functional properties.

Finishing the basement of a private house

Plinth finishing and its meaning

When building a private house or other building, it must be taken into account that the height of its base must be at least forty centimeters. Otherwise, providing reliable protection of the walls from moisture will be problematic.
For the construction of basement floors, stone blocks, bricks, monoliths are used, and there are also combinations of some materials. Of all the above materials, only stone building elements do not require additional processing. The ground floor, made of stone, easily bears the weight of the walls and roof of the building. In addition, the appearance of the stone plinth itself is quite stylish and beautiful.
The upper part of the foundation, made of other materials, is usually finished using various materials. However, you should not think that facing work is carried out only for decorative purposes. Cladding the foundation of a private house also serves for its additional protection. Therefore, for the role of facing materials for the base of a house, you should select options that have a sufficient margin of strength and wear resistance.

Stone plinth - durable and effective

In other words, the cladding for the foundation of a house must easily withstand sudden temperature changes, the effects of precipitation and the climatic characteristics of the region. For example, in coastal cities such cladding should have increased resistance to humidity, and in Siberia and the Arctic, resistance to low temperatures.

Ground floor and its varieties

The options for the design of the plinth are not very diverse. There are only a few basement floor designs. The most common type of private house is where the basement is built on the same plane as the load-bearing walls or protrudes beyond them. Although it is much easier and more convenient to insulate this part of the house if it is slightly recessed relative to the wall surfaces. In a building where a basement is not provided for by the design, the foundation cladding performs support tasks and reduces the soil pressure on the base.
To some extent, the work performed on lining the foundation of the house contributes to its overall safety. If there is a cellar or basement in the building, proper finishing of the basement allows you to increase the thermal insulation characteristics of the basement.

Ground floor - decor and finishing options

A building equipped with a basement or where the thickness of the walls does not provide the required level of comfort is equipped with a protruding basement floor. It is needed to minimize heat loss in the building. Negative options include houses with relatively thin walls, where the base is at the same level with them. In this case, the appearance of condensation and moisture in the premises of the house is guaranteed.

Materials for cladding the basement

Materials for cladding the basement

The material for cladding the plinth, based on the requirements for it, must have the following qualities:

• Reliable fixation of the facing material to the main structure, resistance to mechanical stress and increased wear resistance.
• Ensure minimal heat loss, i.e. have low thermal conductivity.
• The facing material must absorb water vapor from the environment. This quality (hygroscopicity) will prevent moisture from penetrating into the material of the foundation and walls.
• Vapor permeability. Steam should leave the room without difficulty.

The following finishing materials meet these requirements:

• Fake diamond.
• Basement siding.
• Clinker tiles for the facade.
• Plaster.

The choice of finishing elements should also be based on their combination with the material from which the base itself is made. For example, paint designed for a brick basement will not be suitable for a concrete structure.

Plastering the basement floor

Plastering the base is perhaps one of the cheapest and easiest ways to improve it with your own hands. However, such material has a number of disadvantages: fragility, appearance leaves much to be desired, and is susceptible to mechanical damage. In addition, plaster is not able to provide sufficient protection of the basement floor from the effects of precipitation.
However, mosaic plaster for the plinth allows you to bring its appearance to a decent level. Decorative plaster made on the basis of resins would be especially appropriate. Such material will have some resistance to moisture. The base, covered with plaster, can later be lined with a more durable material. The affordable and simple technology of applying plaster to the base has made this type of foundation finishing quite popular and widespread.

Plaster for the plinth - an easy and effective finish

Basement siding

Such facing material as siding panels enjoys special trust among owners who decide to protect the base of the house with their own hands. Despite the fact that stores and manufacturers offer a wide range of finishing panels, stone siding is in greatest demand. This material, used to finish the foundation, differs from wall panels not only in its special composition, but also in its production technology.
As a result, siding panels that can withstand low temperatures and mechanical damage are used for plinth cladding. In addition, siding panels are easy to install with your own hands, protect the basement from moisture and are resistant to sun and fire.

Clinker tiles as a facing material for the plinth

The basement floor of a residential building is often protected with clinker tiles, since in addition to purely practical functions, they also have a rather attractive appearance.

Clinker tiles - DIY installation

This type of cladding imitates a wall made of clinker bricks. A distinctive feature of clinker tiles from ordinary wall tiles is their thickness. As a rule, experts opt for samples not 1.5 centimeters thick. Such clinker panels provide reliable protection for the foundation of the house from potential impacts. In addition, some samples of clinker tiles are able to withstand exposure not only to the environment, but also to certain chemical elements. After a short practice, you can lay such a tile with your own hands. However, the total cost of finishing will still require significant cash outlay, since high-quality tiles are not cheap.
The base, equipped with natural stone, requires practically no additional care in the future. However, its price scares off many potential buyers. Artificial stone, which has almost the same properties, costs several times less. Therefore, when finishing foundations, this facing material is used more and more often. Despite some difficulties, you can cover the base with such material yourself. The main problems are related to the fact that artificial stone is quite heavy.

Do-it-yourself stone base finishing

There are several types of artificial stone used for cladding the foundation of a building:

• Artificial stone made from concrete. This material is resistant to weather and climatic conditions, mechanical damage, long service life and neat, respectable appearance. The negative aspects of this version of the finishing material include heavy weight and, accordingly, difficulties in selecting glue.

• Stone made from sand and polymers. Such an artificial stone imitates natural stone as faithfully as possible, and at the same time does not in any way inferior to it in quality and functionality. Panels of this type are much lighter than artificial concrete slabs, but at the same time they also retain all its positive qualities.

Manufacturers supply store shelves with panels made of this material, which are assembled together like a mosaic (puzzle). This feature makes installing the cladding yourself quite simple and intuitive.
If artificial stone is used to cover the base of a brick building, there is a possibility of efflorescence or, in other words, white stains of salt appearing on the wall. The reason for their occurrence lies in violation of storage rules, material installation technology, or the use of an incorrectly prepared solution.

Artificial stone for the plinth - a wide range of varieties

They must be eliminated without fail, otherwise poor-quality fixation of the facing stone may occur. Cleaning a section of the wall occurs in two stages, initially using a metal brush, and then solutions based on chemical elements or alcohol.

Summarizing

Against the general background of materials intended for finishing the outside of the basement of a house, in terms of price-quality ratio, artificial stone looks the most advantageous. However, even this finishing option requires careful preparation. It is difficult to consider all possible options for finishing materials in one article. Therefore, when purchasing material for cladding a plinth, you should carefully study the technical characteristics of the product, methods and place of its application. It would be useful to study special literature and seek advice from specialists.
When using any finishing material to finish the basement, the wall surface requires processing, to a greater or lesser extent. If necessary, the plinth lining can be protected using water-repellent solutions. This liquid is colorless and is applied to the surface to be treated using a roller or brush.