Basement siding: pros and cons

A plinth is an element located between the foundation of a building and its first beam, a building frame or the first row of bricks. In other words, it is a transitional element of the house from the foundation. This arrangement causes an increased load on the basement part, which is more susceptible to destruction and corrosion than others.

In this regard, the base needs reliable protection, which is not afraid of the effects of moisture and road reagents, frost and mechanical damage. This finishing material is basement siding. It is a panel, the surface of which imitates natural materials: stone, brick, wood, etc.

Basement siding is a panel based on polyvinyl chloride, metal and some other materials that have a lock connection for installation and are used for cladding the basement of the building. The panels are thicker than the facade counterparts, which explains their increased strength and resistance to stress. At the same time, the weight of the basement siding is insignificant, so there is no excessive load on the supporting structures of the building. The weight of the material per 1 m2 is on average 3-5 kg.

Installation is quick and easy: the panels interlock with each other due to the presence of special locks, and additional elements are provided for corners and protruding elements. If we talk about basement metal siding, then it is fair to say that it is economical. This is due to the fact that the material bends easily, so the amount of material residues is minimal. Unfortunately, it is not necessary to say this about the vinyl analogue, since the material does not bend.

Due to the fact that the basement panels protect the lower part of the building from the negative effects of the environment, it is possible to significantly extend the service life of the structure. Siding resists corrosion (metal profiles have a special polymer treatment), is not afraid of frost (due to a small coefficient of expansion, the material does not crack at low temperatures, withstands up to 60 freezing cycles), withstands temperature drops and gusts of squally wind (due to the presence of an anti-hurricane lock) ... Operating temperature range - from -50 to +60 C.

Finally, mold and mildew do not appear on the surface of the siding, and insects do not breed. In addition, it does not fade in the sun and retains an attractive appearance and performance throughout its entire service life (30-50 years).

Thanks to the variety of textures and colors, you can choose basement panels for any style of home and exterior. At the same time, modern profiles imitate as closely as possible the surface of stone, wood, brick, tile, so the structure looks elegant and noble. It is important that, compared to the cost of facing with a brick or stone, the purchase and installation of basement siding will be much cheaper.

The scope of the material is very wide:

• plinth cladding;
• decoration of the porch, veranda;
• finishing of premises characterized by a high level of humidity;
• facing of baths, gazebos, fences, wells.

Depending on the material on the basis of which the basement siding is performed, there are several types of it.

The panels are basically galvanized steel covered with a protective polymer layer. A feature of the material is its increased strength, resistance to mechanical damage, fire safety. Thanks to the polymer layer, the surface of the material is protected from corrosion.

This material is based on polyvinyl chloride. Vinyl siding is characterized by durability, affordability and a variety of textures and colors. It is these panels that can have both an unusual pastel range and rich shades (red, bright blue). In addition, they can imitate wood, stone, brick surfaces.

With regard to operational characteristics, these are frost resistance, moisture resistance, wind resistance. In terms of their strength characteristics, vinyl profiles are inferior to their metal counterparts.

A type of PVC-based panels is acrylic siding. Due to the presence of polymers in the base, it is characterized by improved technical properties. They are optimal for outdoor decoration in difficult weather conditions, resistant to temperature extremes and the action of chemicals. Their service life is longer (up to 50 years) compared to the life of vinyl models (up to 30 years), however, the cost is higher.

It is based on cement, modifiers and cellulose reinforcing fibers. The latter impart strength and solidity to the material. The panels are resistant to moisture and fire. However, they are not always suitable for decorating houses, since noticeable seams and gaps remain during installation.

There are also ceramic and concrete siding. The first is environmentally friendly, since it contains clay and other natural components. In terms of their strength, ceramic panels are comparable to similar tiles of increased reliability. The advantage of concrete siding is resistance to sunlight, moisture, low temperatures.

All of these types of panels can be used in conjunction with insulation. For these purposes, foam and polystyrene foam are suitable, and when organizing waterproofing protection of the wall surface, it is permissible to use mineral wool heat-insulating materials (basalt is better, but if an economy option is considered, fiberglass is also suitable). A crate is usually attached to the insulated surface of the walls.

Speaking about the types of basement siding, the following groups of materials should be distinguished.

They are exclusively vinyl, used for cladding spherical surfaces. The ability to bend without breaking is due to the presence of synthetic-based binder threads that are located between the panel form factor and the nail panel. The length of such products is usually 3-3.8 m, width - 17-24 cm. The thickness of the panels is small for the basement material - 1.1-1.5 cm. This is understandable, because too thick material cannot take a spherical shape.

They are familiar profiles that can be long (their length is 2-6 m) or rectangular profiles (their average size is 1150 * 450 mm).

Plinth siding can mimic various surfaces.

• natural stone masonry;
• hewn stone masonry (allows you to get noble, expensive facades, imitates natural stone cladding, is presented in more than 60 color variations);
• brick (smooth or chipped) masonry of white or red brick (about 11 colors available);

• imitation of timber, boards, shingles, chips (roughly hewn boards).

The most optimal basement siding is metal panels. The sections of the basement, trimmed in this way, easily tolerate negative environmental conditions and are not afraid of mechanical damage.

Siding dimensions are not regulated by government standards, so panel dimensions may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Typically, vinyl siding is 2.5 to 4 m long and 20-30 cm wide. The length of metal siding varies from 60 cm to 6 m. And the sizes of fiber cement panels of most brands are similar: length - within 3-3.6 m, width - from 10 to 30 cm.

The thickness of the basement panels exceeds the thickness of the wall profiles and is in the range of 2-4 mm. The most popular profiles are 1 m long and 0.5 m wide.

When choosing a siding, it should be borne in mind that the manufacturer indicates the full width of the panel and the useful one. The calculation of the number of profiles should be carried out based on the usefulness coefficient. For example, the profiles "rubble stone" from the Nailite brand have a full size (length-width) of 116 x 49 cm, and a useful one - 102 x 46 cm.

Regardless of the issuing company, all profiles can be divided into three groups.

• thin, up to 15 mm wide (characterized by low weight and flexibility);
• medium, the width of which varies between 15-25 mm (the most demanded material);
• thick - their width is about 25 mm (models are characterized by the presence of a thick layer of polyurethane, and therefore the material has high thermal insulation characteristics and can be mounted without the use of insulation).

Due to the variety of panel design options, the protruding part of the foundation and the plinth can be of different finishes. Panels for stone are widespread: due to the presence of roughness, it is possible to achieve the effect of natural masonry. If it is necessary to achieve the originality of the exterior, then we can recommend the imitation of rubble stone of various sizes.

Imitation of masonry is no less popular. Due to the impression, printed on the original material, the panels have all the characteristic roughness and chips. Another advantage of "brick" profiles is the ease of cutting (brick by brick), so it is often used for finishing buildings with a large number of protrusions and turns.

Siding under a tree will ideally fit into the style of a "rustic" country house. It will create the illusion of plinth trim with natural wood. For country-style or colonial-style houses, it is recommended to choose a white and light shade of profiles for the board, for buildings in the spirit of alpine chalets - a shade of wenge, cherry or dark brown.

Among the domestic brands, the following companies are distinguished.

• "Dolomite", which has been producing its products since 2008. Plinth profiles imitate wild stone, you can choose the material from one of three collections: monochromatic stone, exclusive, stone with painted seams. The width of the panels is 22 cm, the length is 33 cm. The thickness of the material is 1.6 mm.
• Siding brand Docke available in 3 variations: brickwork, hewn stone, layered sandstone. According to customer reviews, the material is characterized by good quality at a fairly affordable price.
• In the brand collection FineBer you can find many options for panels with imitation of brickwork: yellow and red facing bricks, collection "Brick facing BRITT" (possible palette - dark brown, dark pink, shades of burgundy), collection "Brick".

Among Western manufacturers, the following brands are trusted by buyers.

• Recognized leader - American manufacturer Nailite... The products are of high quality and variety of design solutions. The most popular are profiles for stone, brick, wood. The service life of the material is 25 years, while it is adapted for use in the harsh Russian climate. Does not need additional coloring during use.
• Brand collection Novik represented by imitation of brickwork in different shades. The length and width of the panels is 1219x470 mm.
• German brand Deke, and in accordance with the German spelling Döcke, is produced in 2 variations: a stone and a brick. Additional elements are supplied with the panels.

• Profile production VOX (Poland) is carried out in two dimensional variations: 1110x460x2.5 (Solid Mur) and 1110x477x2.5 mm (Solid Stone for brick). The latest stone model has a panel width of 466 mm. The manufacturer managed to achieve an amazing closeness to natural stone: the surface of the siding even has a sprinkling of the smallest fragments characteristic of a stone.

• Canadian siding NOVIK is produced with improved technologies, and therefore withstands even extreme weather conditions. Having more than 15 years of history, the material has improved technical properties, does not require painting and other manipulations during operation. Produced in 5 variations: wild and hewn stones, cedar board, brick, wooden shingles.

When choosing panels, connect 2 of them together. They should fit easily and not create gaps. The joints should be invisible.

A high-quality vinyl profile should have the same color on the outside and inside. On cheaper models, the back is usually lighter. In general, this does not in any way affect the final appearance of the building, but in some cases it allows one to suspect a low-quality product at an inflated price. In any case, the color of the panels should be uniform, free of streaks and stains.

For panels of a darker color, you will have to pay a slightly higher price than for counterparts in light shades. This is due to the fact that the former fade faster, and therefore stabilizers are used to preserve the color, increasing the cost of the profile.

Look at the panel from the end: it must have the same height throughout the profile. Please note that the height of the corner panels must be exactly the same as the width of the profile.

The perforations for self-tapping screws must be identical, neat. Otherwise, moisture will penetrate into too large holes, and too small, when trying to screw self-tapping screws into them, will cause the profile to crack.

Following simple recommendations will allow you to achieve the technological accuracy of the installation of basement panels:

• laying is carried out from bottom to top, from left to right;
• the panels should be fixed to the crate by means of stainless nails or self-tapping screws;

• nails and self-tapping screws should be located strictly perpendicular to the surface of the panels, while the cap should not sink into the panel, otherwise deformation of the siding is possible;
• when installed at negative temperatures, siding panels are preliminarily kept at room temperature for a day.

Thanks to the variety of siding models, it is possible to easily choose the best option for a specific structure. It is important to take into account the features of the exterior: the size of the house, shades and texture of other finishing materials.

So, for country houses made of stone, it is recommended to choose a basement siding for crushed basalt, rubble stone. For wood-sheathed houses, a plinth with an imitation of a reed mat, wood chips, oak beams is suitable.

Popular basement siding finishes include the use of a dark shade of basement panels and roofs in combination with light-colored cladding of the rest of the facade. To match the base, you can frame door and window openings.

The execution of the basement, facade and roof in the same color, but in different shades, is considered pleasing to the eye. It is preferable to choose light warm colors of materials.

The most versatile type of basement panels are those that imitate masonry. However, it is important to choose a suitable "stone" for the facade. So, for country-style village houses, it is better to choose a stone of light shades, combining it with a stone or wooden facade.

For the classics, you should choose gray or sandy masonry. The material for the plinth can be repeated when finishing small decorative elements of the facade, which, as you know, are abundant in the classic exterior.

Buildings in which the same facade and basement panels are used, differing only in color, look spectacular. As a rule, these are surfaces that imitate stone. Stone finish will demonstrate the status and good taste of the owners of the building.

In this video, you will find a master class on installing basement siding.