Brick siding: pros and cons

Brick houses are invariably considered a symbol of reliability and prosperity for a century and a half, which is why the percentage of country residences made from this material is so large. However, the construction of such housing requires serious financial investments and is time consuming. For those who want to decorate their home with such masonry and not be left behind, manufacturers offer brick siding.

Deeply rooted in the construction vocabulary, siding is largely the process of cladding a building's façade. Another meaning of the term is a fairly new material (even 20 years ago nothing was known about it in our country), with which buildings are sheathed. Having appeared in the 50s of the twentieth century in America and Canada, siding has recently appeared in the domestic open spaces. It comes in vinyl, metal and wood.

An important fact - not only new buildings are trimmed with siding, but also old buildings are restored. The panels not only give an aesthetic appearance, but also protect the main walls from destruction.

Brick siding has its pros and cons, like any building material.

Among the advantages are the following:

• Any wall surface can be faced with siding - from a foam block to a timber, it is only important that the shrinkage of the walls is completed, and all defects are cleaned and corrected.

• For wall mounting, a special supporting grid is attached to which decorative panels will be laid. As a result, a small gap remains between the main wall and the decorative coating, which performs ventilation functions. Thus, the brickwork will serve as additional protection from external influences of the environment and at the same time will not create a greenhouse effect.
• Any layer of thermal insulation can be laid under the cladding, while the appearance will not be affected: with proper installation, you can understand that the house is not lined with bricks, you can only come close to the walls.

• Durability. Provided that you bought a high-end finish, the siding will last about 50 years - the same amount will last a red brick without finishing. However, it is still problematic to make sure of this, since siding finishing in domestic open spaces has been carried out for less than 30 years.
• UV resistant - the panels do not fade in the sun and remain bright for many years.
• Strength - damage to the structure is possible only with strong mechanical stress.
• Ease of installation - the panels are joined according to the constructor principle.
• Practicality is characterized by a minimum amount of waste when cladding the facade.
• A damaged panel can be easily replaced.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Doesn't require a lot of labor.

When choosing brick siding, consider the disadvantages of this finish:

• Decorating a house with flammable material is a rather risky undertaking.
• The difference between real and artificial masonry is discernible, albeit at close range.
• Limited color gamut.
• The installation can be carried out by professionals with special equipment and skills: it is important to strictly adhere to the facing technology and safety measures during work.
• The large total weight of the panels requires the creation of an additional frame, strengthening the foundation, which affects finances.
• A fairly high price for basement siding compared to plastic panels.

Manufacturers offer a fairly wide range of colors for brick siding. When choosing decorative siding panels, you need to pay attention to the materials from which they are made.

Plastic siding is most popular with buyers. On sale it is represented by vinyl and basement products. Vinyl is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the basement is cast from more expensive polypropylene. Both materials reproduce exactly the structure of the brick, all the pores and cracks.

The difference between the two types of plastic lies in the thickness of the plate: the base is denser, better withstands scratches, and vinyl is thinner and lighter, but at the same time has a more durable color.

Vinyl siding is mainly used for facade cladding, its bright colors remain so after ten years of operation. PVC panels have a cell structure, so they keep heat well. Recently, insulated plastic sandwich panels with increased thickness have appeared on the market. They do not require additional finishing with insulation.

Polypropylene panels got their name due to the fact that they are used mainly for finishing the basement. Durable and flexible polypropylene can withstand severe mechanical stress. The color scheme of basement panels is quite diverse: dark shades of burnt brick, smoothness of clinker, golden and ocher are equally well imitated. Another important detail is the location of the metal sheathing when installing the basement siding under the brick. In harsh climatic conditions, it is raised 10 cm from the ground, which freezes in winter. And if the climate is mild, then you can place the frame close to the soil.

The metal cladding material is made of aluminum, galvanized thin steel. The most popular is aluminum siding due to its price and ease of painting. At the same time, aluminum is subject to deformation and it is unrealistic to return the original appearance of the panel. Also, the metal is susceptible to corrosion at the joints, and the galvanized material tends to peel off the polymer layer. Iron siding also cannot boast of a wealth of colors.

This type of finish has its own significant advantages:

• strength;
• durability;
• resistance to temperature surges;
• not subject to rotting and mold growth;
• does not fade in the sun;
• not afraid of moisture;
• installation can be done in any weather conditions;
• light weight of the panels.

Fiber cement brick siding belongs to the premium class among facade materials.

A mixture of cement, sand and reinforcing fibers creates a durable decorative coating with undeniable advantages:

• durability;
• the safest material among brick siding;
• fire resistance - flammability level G0 and G1 - if the panels are covered with paint from the front side;
• moisture resistance;
• frost resistance;

• high bending strength;
• does not corrode;
• not afraid of external influences - temperature drops, UV radiation;
• does not fade in the sun;
• installation can be done at any time of the year and in any weather conditions - unlike, for example, clinker bricks;
• the house, finished with fiber cement panels, looks extremely respectable.

Facade siding with imitation brick has long become a classic, suitable for any architectural forms and solutions. Real brick is actually only red and yellow, and modern production technology allows you to significantly expand the color gamut of brick panels. Clients are offered the following shades: burnt brick, white, beige, golden, sand, brown, cherry, bronze, amber, milky and even wool color. In the exclusive collections of some manufacturers, you can find shades of malachite, granite, agate.

There are quite a number of companies that produce different types of brick siding.

Choosing brick siding for outdoor decoration, Take advantage of a few tips from leading designers and interior decorators:

• A combination of a wooden facade (made of natural material or decorative plastic) with brick cladding is considered bad manners.
• For facade cladding, both monochrome and a combination of two shades are acceptable.Darker brick looks in contrast to light walls on the basement or corners of the house.
• Additionally, you can revet window openings with dark siding - to match the basement.
• When buying any finishing material, it is worth remembering the rule: if you want a single shade, take products from one batch.
• It is not difficult to take care of the siding: it is enough to rinse with clean water under pressure from a hose.

• Each type of siding is selected depending on the structure and type of building. For example, heavy fiber cement panels are out of place in a multi-storey business center.
• Before purchasing the material for the plinth cladding, it is necessary to make the correct measurements - this will allow you to purchase the correct number of panels. Panel sizes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. For example, Dolomit offers 3-meter siding for plinth cladding, and it is also possible to produce even longer panels on request. Novik company produces standard sizes of panels 1150x520 mm, and Vox - 1110x460x2.5 mm, for Alta Profile the length varies from 1130 to 1168 mm.
• Customer reviews of different types of siding are overwhelmingly positive. They note the ease of installation even with their own hands, the aesthetic appearance and stability of the material in harsh winters. Opinions are mixed regarding metal siding. Customers say the price is affordable, but the aluminum panels were bent during shipping. In addition, the metal sheathing makes a lot of noise in rain and wind.

Houses clad with brick siding look very respectable and will leave few people indifferent. The rich color palette makes it possible to beautifully combine a beautiful brick basement with plain walls or a completely brick surface.

An interesting solution to decorate the upper part of the facade under the roof with siding. The original architectural forms can be distinguished with panels of a contrasting color. Siding can emphasize the columns and corners of the building.

And here is the combination of brickwork with wood, which designers consider bad manners. It looks very organic in this original building.

Another finishing option, contrary to the advice of designers, is a light base and a dark facade. It looks out of the box and is quite capable of finding fans of this design.

A beautiful combination of milk and brick red is the color scheme from T-siding called London Brick.

In this video, you will find the process of facing the house with brick siding panels.