How to decorate plinth

Whatever house was built or , his whole design is always based on on reliably foundation of one type or another.The significance of this structural element simply can not be overstated - he accepts and distributes all major weight loads.As a rule, funda nt Sun when thou extends slightly above the ground, forming a so-called basement of.And before the master of the house rises inevitably question - what to finish basement?

variants of solving such problems are many.But first and foremost is to understand - and it needed finishing cap?

Why veneer base?

Many homeowners are considering finishing the cap alone, as a special design bar generally exterior design of the house.The desire to make their housing most beautiful appearance is understandable and justified, but it turns out to be decorative in this case, though important, but still - is secondary.The main purpose of the cap facing yet another:

• Even such seemingly indestructible ale nt rear anija as the foundation needs to be protected from external influences.Facing minimizes the effect on the material of the cap rainfall, high humidity, changes in temperature, direct sunlight.
• walls of the house on the plinth level to the maximum extent susceptible to contamination.The fall in the mud they always contained many aggressive chemicals that can cause erosion even in reinforced concrete.
• Protect the base and the development of its surface forms of biological life - spots of mold, mildew colonies, nests insects.
• If possible, it is necessary to provide insulation and basement of the building.At first glance - the paradox of why insulate it if all premises are located above.However, such an opinion - wrongly:

- itself an array of the cap becomes very capacious battery cold forming is not even a "bridge" and the whole "backbone" of penetration of low temperatures in the room, from what can not save even a good faith insulated floor of the first floor.A significant part of energy spent on heating will simply be expended for nothing.

- The material from which made the foundation, be it concrete, bricks or stone, due to the low winter temperatures can promёrznut through that activates erosion and reduce its strength.

So, the conclusion is categorical - base requires quality finishing and performance, and decorative reasons.What type of finish you choose?This will depend on and design features of the building, and preferences of landlord, and from his financial opportunities.

Recommended necessarily acquainted with the finishing house siding material, and a step by step description of the technology and will help you make the right choice and finishing technology.

addition to our website we posted detailed instructions on the installation of siding with insulation - here.

Types of materials used for finishing cap

Plastering and painting

One of the easiest ways is to apply finish to the surface of the cap layer of solid plaster.

This will create a good finish wired layer, wherein the high vapor permeability.The main advantage of this method - is its low cost and availability of materials.Run this job on their own or find a master plasterer usually not a big problem.And options give such decorative plinth - a lot.

• Firstly, it can simply be painted with special paint resistant façade.On sale is a wide range of colors, and there is always the possibility to choose the most suitable for what was intended exterior design of the building.
• Second, the perfect solution would be the application of a finishing layer of plaster.A wide palette of colors and the "rich" invoices must meet any homeowner's needs.

• But and it still not all.If the show imagination, even just plastered surface can give yourself a very original look.

Pictured cap, seemingly chiseled stone.In fact, each "cobble» - is nothing more than a conventional slide concrete solution, molded by hand directly on the surface of the cap.

for modeling these "stones" special skills are not required - the main thing to make a quality tight solution.Everything else - the imagination and efforts of DIY.After hardening will hold a decoration with the help of dyes - and plastered base will be indistinguishable from the stone.

Disadvantages plinth plaster finishing technology can be attributed the relative fragility of the coating - have to constantly monitor the state of the damage layer and timely manner to carry out the repair or upgrade damaged , cracked areas.

Finishing cap natural stone

This type of finish will definitely be called "elitist."The building with the cap is always looks very advantageous, as a natural material has excellent performance and will last a very long time.

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

stone surface is also possible to pick up on your taste - from polished to a mirror finish to coarse chips.

For all the beauty and practicality of this type of finish of the cap, he has a lot of drawbacks:

• This lining has a very significant weight, so gives additional burden on the funda nt rear anija, especially in cases where the baseIt has a large surface area.If you plan to finish with natural stone, it is usually calculated still at the stage of designing the building.
• large mass of stone slabs predetermines the increased complexity of their installation.So, very often even the most high-quality adhesive solution is not enough, so there is a need for additional reinforcement and and and Using special stops.
• More one drawback - it is, of course, the price of the material and installation costs, which are not always available to the self-fulfillment.

Even the most inexpensive types of natural stone - shell rock or limestone, at a price higher than 1200 - 1500 rubles per m². to more expensive type includes granite and marble, polished or chipped surface.

Well, if you have the desire to achieve complete exclusivity, the wealthy homeowners sometimes resort to lining materials such as gabbro or labradorite, tse on to that general «sky-high."

Video: Facing the cap sandstone

Facing the artificial stone

In that case, when really want to use that stone facing plinth, but the physical capabilities or structural features of the building make it impossible, you can resortanother option - buy artificial stone.

cost artificial analogue significantly less weight of the material is not so great, and the illusion of naturalness almost complete.

Such material is made on the basis of cement mixtures, often - with the addition of light fractions (for example, expanded clay gravel), a special polymeric plasticizers and microarming components.The tiles produced by vibratory casting technology in special silicone forms that mimic the texture of natural stone or by hyper.

release form may be different.Thus, the tiles are widely used, pieces with standardized correct dimensions.Not less popular sets, which skomplektovat per unit area, the individual tiles which may have different linear dimensions .Such finishing cap is carried in the usual way - laying on the building tile adhesive for external works.

To facilitate installation facing cap can be purchased ready-made panels made of artificial stone, such as "Canyon" type.At the production stage in their concrete structure build into the metal mounting brackets that are tuned geometric arrangement.These details allow mounting panel ready to cap surface is not on the solution, and fixing elements - an undeniable advantage, especially when facing the guides subsystem.

Optionally , these panels can be mounted on the adhesive solution - bent inwards brackets only enhance the reliability traction.

Another option - tiles made of artificial stone attached reliable polyurethane adhesive for rigid basis, with insulation or without him - it may be a plate of OSB, fiber cement or steklomagnezita .Such a substrate, and greatly simplifies the installation of cladding and gives it additional thermal insulation qualities.

rigid base of the castle Intelligent panels completely hide the joints between them, creating the effect of natural stone masonry.Texture of the outer surface can choose according to your taste - rocks, crushed stone, travertine, slate and etc .They are popular and mosaic solutions, with the inclusion of artificial mini-slabs different texture or color.

Finish brick plinth or "under brick »

Austerity masonry plinth always gives the building a special respectability and perfect harmony with every possible kind of finish the rest of the facade area.To achieve this effect, you can use one of the available options:

• Facing the cap natural brickwork.This approach has the advantage that it is possible to create a ventilated gap between itself and the cap liner or fill the space heating materials.In addition, the brick and also he would serve additional insulation, especially when used hollow of his species.However, it must be remembered that brickwork itself will require strip foundation - is the question should be considered when planning construction.Although coming in a different way - to create their own masonry support, which will then be combined with a concrete blind area around the foundation.

for lining plinth using different types of brick.

- most heavy - hyperpressed, featuring a very high strength and very low water absorption - that is especially necessary for the cap.You can buy bricks for the different sizes - from the "Russian" standard 250 × 120 × 60 mm to "American" in extended length.

- The most economical option is to sand-lime brick, but very popular for similar finishing works, he does not enjoy.

- Ceramic brick, including - clinker, usually has hollow internal structure, which significantly reduces the weight of the lining and gives pronounced insulating effect.

• However, to comply with this brickwork not always possible and, frankly, far not always appropriate, because such a decorative effect, you can easily reach using veneering ceramic tiles.

Material its manufacture is not inferior in performance bricks and correctly laid tile gives absolutely accurate visibility of high-grade masonry.A variety of sizes, colors, exterior textures, special ways of decorating the surface (for artificial aging techniques, uneven firing, the inclusion of additional fragments) allows us to give the cap building absolutely unique view.

Typically, the collection includes clinker tiles and corner elements, allowing to simplify the clutch without violating its general drawing.

• Even easier would be oblitsevat projecting part "under a brick" of the foundation, if we use the plinth panel.

They can be placed on thermal insulating polyurethane foam or polystyrene basis.Tile (clinker or artificial stone) located and secured on on it with the exact observance of the series "brick" castle Paso crest connection will not be allowed to make a mistake during installation.There are places to accommodate mounting parts for mounting the panels to the wall or guide subsystem.Be sure to have items for decoration outside corners without breaking the linearity and "Extension" series.

polyurethane foam in this case is preferable - panels are more durable, tile pasted them particularly reliable , have higher thermal insulation qualities.If you have to buy polystyrene panels, preference should be given to extrusion PPP increased density.

Video: installation of thermal panels basement

• If the insulation cap is not necessary, it is worth to buy such panels without thermal insulation layer.