Siding under a log: application features

Many homeowners are trying to make their home not only comfortable, but also presentable by choosing log siding for exterior decoration. This material is well suited for cladding all types of buildings, gives architecture aesthetics and reliably protects it from the negative effects of the external environment. Most often, wood-like siding is chosen by the owners of timber and frame structures. This finish improves the performance of the house and serves as an excellent heat, steam and sound insulation. Facade coating is considered a budget cladding option, does not require large financial costs and is easy to install.

A country house is an excellent place for housing, therefore, the issue of its arrangement must be treated responsibly, in particular, this concerns the external design of the building. Since natural timber is expensive, and the installation process is complex and time-consuming, most craftsmen prefer log siding for cladding.

This building material is considered unique., since it is produced using a special technology, thanks to which the house sheathed with siding is in no way inferior to natural wood in terms of external data, it perfectly withstands difficult climatic conditions and does not need additional processing.

To date, timber siding has found wide application in the following areas:

• construction and decoration of country cottages;
• decorative design of verandas, gazebos and other outbuildings;
• repair work of previously installed facades;
• facing of summer cottages;
• during the construction of additional architectural structures;
• the house finished with siding is striking in its beauty, since thanks to the huge selection of shades and structures, the material can be selected for any design, creating an original look on the plot of land.

Siding under a log has taken its rightful place in the construction market, since the product ideally imitates the texture of a tree and allows you to design buildings in an original way, giving them an expensive and sophisticated look.

In addition to the aesthetic function, siding is also characterized by the following advantages:

• Easy to care for. Such panels do not require priming or painting. To "refresh" the coating, it is enough to wash it with water.
• Fast and easy installation. To complete the installation of the material, you do not need to use special equipment and tools. First, a crate is made and panels are simply attached to it.
• The ability to carry out installation work regardless of the seasons. You can cover the house with siding both in winter and in summer.

• Versatility. Building material is used not only for exterior decoration, but also for interior decoration.
• Long service life. On average, woodgrain siding lasts over 50 years.
• Huge selection of species.
• A chic assortment of textures and colors.
• High resistance to temperature extremes, moisture, ultraviolet radiation and mold.

As for the shortcomings, they include:

• Content of synthetic components. Siding is made from chemical elements, so it is not considered an environmentally friendly raw material.
• Low fire safety. The panels are prone to fire, in addition, when the product burns, it can release hazardous substances.As a rule, this applies to vinyl-based siding, so it is not recommended to install it in industrial buildings.
• Loss of strength at low temperatures. Under the influence of a sharp temperature drop, the panels begin to undergo mechanical damage and quickly break.

Siding under a log is made of various types, while the cladding of houses made with wood panels is very popular. They look like lining, but have an oval shape, are made of milled wood and are considered completely ecological raw materials. In addition, this type of siding can be used for interior decoration of premises, where it will create a wonderful design. The material undergoes special processing, therefore, during operation, it does not undergo deformation and shrinkage, it increases the sound and thermal insulation of the building.

Metal siding has also proven itself well. It is produced from galvanized sheets with a thickness of 0.45 to 0.52 mm. The material consists of several layers and is covered with a protective coating. Iron siding can simulate one or several logs at the same time and has an installation width of up to 355 mm. The panels are easy to install as they are connected with locks. Thanks to this finish, the structure acquires high thermal insulation, does not burn and is resistant to temperature extremes, can withstand the range from -50 C to +80 C.

Metal siding is also characterized by a long service life and can reliably serve up to 50 years. In addition, the material is represented by a huge selection of colors and textures. The only drawback of iron panels is that they must be handled with extreme caution during installation work so as not to damage the protective layer. As a rule, the panels are cut with special tools, after which the cutting sites are primed and painted to match the main color.

Vinyl siding is also an excellent option for decorating houses. By its design, the material resembles metal panels. The cladding of buildings with such panels is not very difficult, products with a length of 3.66 m are used for work. Vinyl siding is produced from PVC, so it is unstable to combustion. During installation, plastic material requires certain technologies; for this, small gaps are left between the panels. They help to avoid deformation of the coating during possible expansion of the elements.

Acrylic siding can also be found on the construction market. This facade material is considered the most beautiful and versatile; it includes various components and the latest types of polymers. The unique production technology makes the panels resistant to UV rays and aggressive environments. Usually, buildings that require an original design are sheathed with such siding, since the material ideally imitates a log and can have bright saturated and light colors.

In addition, log siding can be made of fiber cement, which is a mixture of reinforcing fiber, cement and sand. This material is not only famous for its durability, strength, but is also absolutely safe to use. Since the panels are heavy, then when installing them on a log house, you need to additionally strengthen the structure. Externally, the panels can have wood-like curves or be smooth.

Log siding is a modern type of cladding material that not only has many advantages, but also allows you to beautifully decorate houses.Today, you can buy different types of siding, each of which differs in texture, shape, color and size. Moreover, the latter play a huge role in the installation of the material. Usually, panels for logs are made in standard sizes of 500 × 361 mm, but panels of 500 × 230 mm, 600 × 330 mm, 800 × 361 mm can also be found.

As for the thickness of the sheets, it can be 0.35 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.45 mm, 0.5 mm. Siding is produced, as a rule, with a height of 28 mm and 30 mm. During installation work, they additionally use connecting parts in the form of platbands, rails, corners and brackets. Therefore, before starting the installation of the panels, it is important to correctly calculate their dimensions, since in the future there may be problems with fastening. Usually, for finishing houses, they prefer to choose siding with a length of 2000, 4000 and 6000 mm, it allows you to quickly sheathe huge areas and makes installation economical, since it requires a minimum of trimming.

Siding under natural wood opens up great opportunities for designers, as it allows you to design the exterior in an interesting way.

In order for the decorative cladding to blend harmoniously with the general appearance of the architectural structure, it is important to correctly select the color and texture of the panels.

It is also worth adhering to the following recommendations.

• Light log siding will look great against a dark roof. This combination of shades is classic and therefore can often be found in the design of country houses.
• The brightness of the walls depends on the size of the structure, therefore, thanks to a simple play of colors, using siding, you can visually enlarge or reduce the building. At the same time, you can emphasize the shade of the walls with a colored finish of the basement and windows.
• A win-win option is siding that imitates a round log. If its shade completely repeats the color of the roof, then you get a monolithic structure.

• Decorating the house with dark wood-like panels is considered an unusual design. In order for the exterior to acquire a certain individuality, the roof in this case must be made light. This also applies to the shades of doors, windows. They should stand out against the background of the siding with light colors.
• For houses with a simple form, you need to create bright contrast and unusual transitions between panels and other structural details. As for buildings with a complex configuration, you can give them solidity with the help of a calm combination of shades. At the same time, it is good to choose panels for a timber that most closely matches the natural color.

In addition, the exterior of a country house should consist of several shades at the same time, but you should pay attention to the fact that when cladding a structure, you cannot immediately apply warm and cold siding colors. Otherwise, the balance of the palette will be lost and the house will be perceived negatively. If the building is located inside the plantings, then it is necessary to beautifully emphasize the harmony of nature and the house, to draw up a single design picture, where the shades of siding should be repeated in other elements of the landscape. Therefore, for these purposes, most often the choice is made on the material of brown, green, yellow, beige and blue.

In addition to the palette, in the cladding of structures, great attention is paid to the style of decoration, in accordance with which a certain type of siding is selected.

• Russian estate. Such houses are characterized by complex shapes, so siding for a log of neutral shades is suitable for cladding. So the decorative finish will emphasize the architectural configurations in a special way and make the building look chic.

• Classic. For this design, a beige-colored material is chosen, it gives the house a vintage look and matches the natural wood as much as possible. At the same time, siding cladding looks interesting, in which the panels repeat the natural texture of the timber. Such decor is well suited for suburban buildings that are located on small plots of land.

• Renaissance. Decorating houses in this stylistic direction involves the use of reddish, brown, creamy and cream siding. The Renaissance facade should have a contrasting finish, so it is advisable to choose panels with a glossy surface.

• Provence, country and Mediterranean style. All buildings in this design are united by white color. In order to achieve an unusual effect in cladding, it is recommended to combine white decor with a palette of gray and steel shades. Both acrylic and vinyl siding can be used in cladding.

• Alpine style. Such houses amaze with the original combination of white with natural wood color. Therefore, when decorating the facade, it is best to supplement the material under the timber with light inserts. White plaster and a roof with straw look unusual with wood-like panels. In the event that the roof is made with red tiles, then dark brown siding will also be an excellent option for external cladding. In addition, panels for a light brown and sandy log can be used to decorate structures with elements of brickwork.

Today, the decoration of houses under the timber is very popular. It allows you to create chic designs and unusual compositions. Depending on the texture and imitation of the material, the architectural structure can be given both austere and modern look. Most often, wooden siding is chosen for country houses; it is installed vertically and horizontally. Such timber panels are ideal for lining the attic. The angular shape of the material makes it as similar as possible to the natural structure of wood. As for the colors, in this case it is best to use panels for a light log. They not only emphasize the beauty of the structure, but can also be easily combined with any type of roofing.

You can also sheathe the building with timber siding that mimics a ship's plank. It is considered versatile and is great for both large and small homes. Depending on personal preferences and features of landscape design, you can choose light and dark shades of the panels. With this siding, it is best to simultaneously decorate a residential building and all the annexes adjacent to it, including garden gazebos. This will create a general image of the site.

Looks good on houses and the material under the Eurobeam, which exactly repeats the structure of the military bar. After such cladding, the building gets a natural look. In the event that you need to maximize the effect of a wooden blockhouse, then it is best to use "log" siding in the design, it is produced in various widths and after installation work is practically no different from finishing with natural material. For large buildings, it can be combined with dark inserts, and for small houses, it is advisable to choose light brown and beige shades.

For information on how to sheathe a house with log siding, see the next video.