A natural stone. Facing the front of the house

The facade of the building helps to create a first impression of the owners of the house and assess their suitability. But sometimes even the biggest and most expensive cottage can be lost against the background of a small but exquisitely lined building. Today, there are many different materials for the cladding of external walls, but the leading position for the popularity of natural stone. Facing the facade with natural materials gives the building an elegant look and indicates a good taste of property owners. In addition to aesthetic functions, this decoration reliably protects the walls from the negative effects of atmospheric phenomena and acts as a heater. What types of stone can be used for these purposes and what are the features of the technology for installing natural cladding should be considered in more detail.

What are the advantages of natural stone in front of artificial materials?

• Buildings decorated with natural stone look very well-groomed and stand out prominently among neighboring buildings.

• Natural materials are very resistant to mechanical damage and have the longest service life.

• The stone retains its properties under the influence of ultraviolet, humidity and temperature fluctuations, therefore it is not prone to deformation, fading and cracking.

• During the operation, the products do not require periodic treatments against corrosion, fungus and mold, which contributes to saving the budget of home owners.

• Facing the facade of the house with natural stone, thanks to the material's resistance to fire, allows to reliably protect the building from fire from the outside.

• A wide range of colors and textures helps to choose the option that will look as harmonious as possible with the design of the whole site.

Variants of natural material

Limestone, shell rock, sandstone, marble, granite - all this is a natural stone. Facing facades can be performed using one type or by combining different options. Let us consider brief characteristics of each of them.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock, which is mainly formed in shallow marine areas and only occasionally in fresh water bodies. It consists of calcite and minor admixtures of clay, quartz and other components. Limestone retains heat well, does not interfere with air exchange and protects against radiation.

Shell rock is a strong stone of zoological origin, consisting of shells and shells of marine inhabitants. It occurs only in milk color. The material has a long service life, resistance to fire, excellent noise insulation and heat-saving characteristics.

Sandstone - a sedimentary rock, which is formed in the process of compacting sand in the ground or on the bottom of water bodies. The stone has a variety of colors and texture, which is very popular. Sandstone is very resistant to natural phenomena and does not require care.

Marble, perhaps, is the most durable and beautiful natural stone. Facing the facade Such material does not cause difficulties, because it is very easy to process. Marble is found in more than five colors, is characterized by durability and suitable for finishing any surfaces.

Granite is characterized by the ability to withstand severe frosts and withstand any damage. These qualities make it a very durable and popular material for facing buildings.

Calculation of material

When undertaking façade work, it is important to determine which main stages include the cladding of external walls, where natural stone is used as a decoration. Facing the facade always begins with the calculation of the necessary amount of finishing material. Since some types of stone are very expensive, in order to avoid unreasonable costs, it is necessary to make all the calculations correctly.

If you plan to use a flat stone in the process of work, it is necessary to measure the surface area that is to be finished and divide the result by the area of one facing element. Usually manufacturers specify these parameters on the packaging of the material.

For the facing of corners and joints the parts are acquired depending on the footage of these surfaces. The total length of all angles is divided by the length of one product. The result indicates the required amount of the facing stone.

Wall Preparation

Now we will consider how the facing of the facade is performed by natural stone. Technology Finishing of external walls implies careful preparation of the sheathing. The walls are subjected to examination for falling elements. Weakly holding bricks and plaster layers are removed, and the potholes formed in their place are covered and leveled. Uneven depths of not more than 2 cm can be glazed with glue, and holes larger than 2 cm are sealed with a cement-sand mortar.

When all the defects are eliminated, the walls are treated with a primer that promotes a stronger adhesion of the decorative coating to the substrate. Porous surfaces (like shell rock) need to be treated several times, since the first layer is usually completely absorbed into the pores of the material. After the primer has dried completely (after 4-6 hours), natural stones can be mounted on the walls. Facing the facade with natural material is carried out exclusively in warm weather. The temperature of the finished surface should be in the range of +5 to +30 degrees.

Stone laying

Beginning the installation of the cladding, first of all it is necessary to clean or wash the material from dirt and dust, after which it is good to dry it. Facing the facade with natural stone, the photo of which can be seen in this article, begins with the preparation of an adhesive solution. The composition is prepared depending on the type of coating and the type of natural material. To do this, you can use a special glue or to prepare a quality cement mortar, strictly observing the recommended proportions. The composition is applied to the underside of the material, where it is evenly distributed with a trowel.

The stone is strongly pressed against the wall, so that the surplus of the adhesive composition protrude along the edges of the product. Excess solution carefully remove with a rag. Thus, the whole natural stone is fixed. Facing facades with this material has one distinctive feature. The point is that grouting joints between products should be carried out immediately, as the decorative elements are installed. Given this fact, the grout mix must be prepared in advance.

If in the process of installation there is a need for cutting material, an ordinary Bulgarian with a diamond disc or a circle for cutting a stone will cope with this task.

Finishing of wooden walls

Wooden buildings are in need of high-quality wall protection more than others, and often natural stone is used for these purposes. For facing the facade of a country house, it is necessary to perform a number of actions that do not touch brick and concrete walls, so consider this process separately:

1. On the wooden facade is waterproofing, which will protect the walls and lining from the harmful effects of moisture.
2. The metal mesh is fastened from above (the width of the cells is not less than 30 mm), after which the facade is plastered.
3. On a dry surface, with the help of screws, the selected lining is fastened.

Cost

The cost of finishing with natural stone depends entirely on the material selected. Limestone, shell rock and sandstone are considered the most economical options and are most often used for finishing facades. So, facing with limestone will cost from 850 rubles per 1 m ² , sandstone - from 1000 rubles per m ² , and shell rock - from 1,450 rubles for the same volume. Granite and marble are the most expensive stones, but despite this, their credibility and beauty conquer many property owners. The cost of the most inexpensive grades of granite starts from 2000 rubles. Marble tiles have a price of 2200 rubles per 1 m ² .

Conclusion

In this article we have examined what is the facing of the facade of the house by a natural stone, Photo of various options and mounting features. In conclusion, I would like to note that when choosing a material, it is very important to take into account the workload that it will add to the foundation. If shell rock, sandstone and limestone have a relatively small weight, then granite and marble significantly heavier the walls of the building. For this reason, in some situations, it is appropriate to strengthen or expand the base of the house.