Decorating a country house with a basement siding under a stone

The decoration of the plinths and facades of architectural structures is carried out with the help of various materials, which not only give houses an attractive appearance, but also create reliable protection against the penetration and destructive action of moisture and changes in ambient temperature.

Stone basement siding is one of these materials. Due to its high decorativeness and functional characteristics, it saves the architectural structure from many negative influences.

Basement siding panels are made from high quality raw materials. Manufacturers are trying to surprise consumers with their own manufacturing technology, however, they usually use the same components: polymer materials, modifiers, natural talc and additives.

Thanks to the acrylic coating, the shade of the panels will not change under the influence of ultraviolet radiation (which cannot be distinguished by other cladding materials for the plinth).

In addition, stone siding has many advantages.

• Due to the improved production technique and the use of special additives, the finished product has greater plasticity, moisture resistance and resistance to high and low ambient temperatures.
• The advantage of basement siding over natural stone lies in the fact that the former is resistant to the germination of moss and mold, does not lend itself to corrosion processes and does not change over time.

• The service life of this material is 45 years. It can be installed in sub-zero temperatures, which cannot be done with plastic panels. Siding does not emit an unpleasant chemical odor, it is very durable.
• Compared to other facing materials, siding is cheaper.
• Easy to clean. The texture of the basement siding panels does not play a special role, the material can be washed with running water.
• In most cases, such cladding does not need to be replaced or repaired.

It is not so easy to find the negative aspects of plinth siding under a stone, however, there are a few points worth paying attention to before buying.

• Limitation in color. Since the panels are externally styled like natural stone, it is not always possible to choose a shade to taste. However, if it was not possible to choose a suitable design in the store catalogs, you can directly contact the manufacturer and order the color of the panels at your discretion. The price for such a product will be higher, and whether it is worth overpaying for such a service is up to the buyer to decide.

• Despite the fact that the panels perfectly withstand various loads and the negative influence of environmental factors, fire resistance is not expected. Since the main manufacturing material is plastic, the panel will quickly melt if you act on it with fire, and therefore you should not start a fire or burn garbage near the house.

• If installed incorrectly, siding can crack., therefore, you need to study all aspects of the installation of this material (if the installation will be done by hand), or entrust the work to professionals.

Installation of basement panels under a stone cannot be started without knowing what types of siding exist.Manufacturers currently offer four panel options that imitate natural stone.

Each type of finishing of the basement of an architectural structure has its own characteristics, advantages, and in some cases, disadvantages.

• Wood fiber. Siding panels are made from wood fibers. The result is a product that perfectly imitates stone. The main advantage is environmental friendliness and absolute safety for human health.

• Vinyl panels. This type of panels is produced with the addition of dyes. Due to this technology, vinyl products are distinguished by a wide range of colors and textures, so it is easy to find material of an acceptable shade and imitation of a certain type of stone.

• Sandwich panels. A cladding material with excellent external characteristics and additional thermal insulation properties. They are a multi-layer construction. Natural stone in this case imitates the top decorative layer.

• Polyurethane panels. A type of cladding under a stone, made of soft plastic, interspersed with marble chips. Such cladding is available to every consumer, it is of high quality, as a result, very popular.

The modern market of facing materials is represented by various manufacturers. The most famous are:

• AltaProfil. In terms of quality characteristics, the basement siding of this brand meets all existing standards, and its cost is much lower than its foreign counterparts.
• Docke. The company is a leader among the manufacturers of basement siding. The brand's products can be found in more than 260 cities around the world. It is of high quality, practicality and reasonable price.

• "Dolomite". The company uses natural dolomite stone as a basis for production, hence the name of the company. All basement siding comes in a wide range of colors. The raw materials for the production of siding are supplied by a leading European company, which is a guarantee of the quality of the manufactured goods.
• "Tekhosnastka"... The company is engaged in the production of plastic products. The brand also specializes in the creation of basement siding. The work of the brand is distinguished by the ratio of the excellent quality of facade panels and an acceptable cost. The emphasis is on the production of stone-like siding.

• Nailite. American trade mark. The main assortment is made up of bricks and classic panels with imitation stone imitation, which are in the greatest demand. The cost is much higher than that of competitors.
• Russian organization "Aelit" is engaged in the production of vinyl basement siding - a high-quality and reliable material that is used for cladding buildings under stone / brick.

• Fineber - the largest Russian company has a large assortment of panels that occupy an average price niche. The brand's products have the best price-quality ratio for consumers.
• Nordside - the largest domestic manufacturer of facade materials. To create siding panels, she uses high-quality polymer mixtures from renowned European suppliers. Nordside products are resistant to temperature extremes, adverse weather conditions and ultraviolet radiation.

When buying siding for finishing a country house, there are several factors to consider. A high-quality cladding must have excellent technical characteristics and a high-quality surface without a single defect. Depending on the material of the panel, the level of its burnout in the sun is determined. Every seller in a construction center can tell about this.

The choice of a product is also influenced by its size. Large panels are mounted faster, but their cost is much higher than small counterparts. You can always get special licenses and certificates for high-quality cladding.

One of the decisive factors that influence the choice when buying a basement siding is the ease of its installation. Regardless of the texture, material of manufacture and color, the panels can be laid with your own hands, with a minimum of time and without the use of special tools.

Even those homeowners who have never done finishing work before and do not have the slightest experience in the construction industry can handle this kind of work. For cladding, you will need a small set of appliances and equipment, which are probably in every home.

Installation work is carried out in a specific order.

• At the first stage, a crate is constructed from a metal profile. Siding panels are fixed to it with self-tapping screws. It is better to buy special fixing elements designed specifically for attaching polymeric materials.
• It is imperative to make small gaps between the panels, since when the product is cooled or heated in different periods of the year, the panels can change in size (by 3-5 mm).

• A distance of 1-2 mm must be made between the panel and the screw head.
• Plinth panels are not recommended to be installed at an ambient temperature below -5 C. And also manufacturers advise to keep the siding in a warm room for several hours before installation.

• To remove or trim the excess length of the panels, you need to use the grinder with the finest teeth. This way, you can avoid the unattractive chipping around the edges that a conventional hand saw tends to leave behind.
• When buying siding for a stone, you need to carefully inspect the joints and edges of the panels. They must match clearly and be free from defects. All types of basement siding for natural stone from reliable manufacturers have a well-thought-out connection in the form of special locks. Products are inserted into each other and are clearly fixed. The next panel is inserted into the previous panel, and so on, until the facade of the house is completely covered with facing material.

The job is pretty straightforward. The main thing is to take your time and do all the steps as carefully as possible.

For information on how to mount basement siding, see the next video.