Finishing the house of aerated concrete: materials,

Finishing the exterior walls of the house of aerated concrete is a mandatory event, the need for which is dictated by the physical and technical characteristics of the material. We consider the most popular options for finishing the house of aerated concrete in various ways.

Why facing is necessary

When building structures made of brick, wood or concrete, exterior decoration is considered optional and performs mainly decorative functions. In the case of aerated concrete, the situation is different - finishing is considered mandatory.

To understand why facing is necessary, it is enough to consider this material in more detail. So, we have cellular concrete, which is obtained by adding aluminum paste to the cement-sand mortar.

Aluminum reacts with calcium hydroxide, which is present in the composition of the solution, and as a result, hydrogen is evolved, which foams the solution and leaves many cells in it ranging in size from 1 to 3 mm.

After hardening of the solution and autoclave treatment, the blocks gain strength and stability, and in structure resemble frozen stone foam. The cells are not fully closed, and therefore there is a message between them.

Note! Due to interconnected cells, the material has an increased ability to absorb moisture and, according to this indicator, resembles a sponge. As a result of contact with water, the thermal conductivity of a material increases dramatically, its mass increases, and all the advantages of aerated concrete as a structural heat insulating material are lost.

In addition, after the interaction of aluminum with calcium hydroxide, the content of salts is observed in the blocks - calcium aluminates. These salts react with subacidic sedimentary water, and the material darkens. It must be said that darkening is uneven and dramatically reduces the attractiveness of the facade.

It is the external protection of walls against precipitation, moisture, frost and solar radiation that is important. However, the interior should also not allow direct contact of the material with water or steam.

Cladding options

Siding

One of the most simple, cheap and effective ways to protect external walls from environmental exposure is siding.

For our purposes, it fits particularly well due to such properties:

• Full waterproof coating. The panels consist of polyvinyl chloride, metal, plastic or artificial stone. All these materials are able to calmly hold back even pressurized water, and they completely protect against precipitation;
• The presence of the ventilation gap between the facade coating and the walls allows you to save one of the main advantages of aerated concrete - high vapor permeability. This allows enclosing walls to breathe and maintain normal indoor humidity;
• The possibility of simple installation of external insulation within the ventilation gap. This is especially true for regions with cold winters, but given our climate, we can say that this advantage is significant for most Russian consumers;
• The relatively low price of materials and works. Siding facade decoration is noticeably cheaper than facing a house with brick, stone or tile.

Note! The listed advantages will be correct for any type of ventilated facade - clapboard, blockhouse or hinged panels made of porcelain or plastic.

Facing brick

Facing the aerated concrete facade with a brick is the most reliable, but also the most expensive and labor-intensive type of exterior decoration.

Here you should take into account many features, including:

1. The width of the foundation walls should be sufficient to accommodate the block masonry, the brick masonry, as well as provide a mandatory 40-centimeter ventilation gap between these masonry. The maximum overhang of the front brick from the base walls should not exceed 30 mm;
2. It is necessary to provide flexible connections between the main and facing masonry. For this, a system of stainless steel anchors, galvanized or plastic rods is used. Elements are embedded in a brickwork or hammered with dowels;
3. There should be air vents above and below the brick wall - openings for ventilation of the facade. Their total area should be at least 1% of the total wall area.

Note! There is a cladding technology in which the gap between the blocks and the brick does not. However, in order to preserve the vapor permeability of the walls and increase the comfort inside the rooms, we recommend not to neglect the ventilation of the facade.

If it is necessary to trim blocks or punch technological holes for laying engineering networks, cutting of reinforced concrete with diamond circles or diamond drilling of holes in concrete is not necessary, since the material can be treated like wood - with a saw and a drill.

Plaster

If cold winters and high rainfall are not observed in your area, then you can finish the facade with plaster. There are two options: wall-insulation-plaster or wall-plaster.

In the case of using external insulation, it is better to use hard blocks of mineral wool. Polyfoam and polystyrene foam have a very low vapor permeability, and therefore are less suitable.

The work is carried out according to the standard scheme: first, insulation panels for aerated concrete are laid on the wall, fixing them with glue and special dish-shaped dowels. Then putty seams between the sheets, and put on the glue reinforcing mesh fiberglass.

On the grid do the plastering in two or three layers, and in the end the coating is primed and covered with facade paint. To work with aerated concrete blocks use vapor-permeable types of facade plasters.

In the absence of insulation, the walls are ground with a plane from the projections and irregularities, cover the seams and align them with the common plane of the wall, and then apply the facade solution with a spatula or bevel. It is possible to work with or without beacons.

Note! Plastering is suitable for areas with a mild dry climate, for the northern and north-western regions of Russia, this finish is less than others.

Installation of siding on aerated concrete

For those who are ready to do the finishing of the facade with a siding with their own hands, we have prepared an instruction:

1. First of all, a crate of a wooden bar or metal profile is filled on the wall. The step between the slats is no more than 500 mm, the presence of the slats at the corners and around the openings is obligatory. The slats must be in the same vertical plane and attached to the blocks with spacer dowels for aerated concrete through the brackets;

1. Then from the bottom of the wall along the border with the base they attach the launch pad.. Fastening is done with screws, staples, nails or with the help of special locks on panels and slats;

1. Next, install the corner elements on the outer and inner corners. Door and window openings frame J-profile;

1. Starting from the bottom edge, gain cover panels.. The first panel is slid into the lock of the starting plate and slightly pulled upwards to the characteristic click. Then it is fixed in the mounting holes with screws, while the screw is placed in the middle of the hole and slightly screwed in so that a gap of 0.5 - 1 mm remains;

1. Gradually gaining the entire wall, adding new panels like the first. The step between fastenings in height when installing the corner bars and J-profiles takes 30-40 cm, but not less than 3 per part;

1. In the end, the window and door openings, slopes and window sills are finished. The upper border of the wall is framed by the finishing bar. Finish installation with installation of additional elements and decorative parts - platbands, transitions, baguettes, etc.

Note! Do not forget to observe the deformation gaps between the panels specified by the manufacturer of the material in the instructions.

Conclusion

Aerated concrete blocks need to be obligatory facing the facade to protect against moisture and other damaging effects of the environment. The video in this article and our instructions will help you to cope with the finishing of your home in a way that is convenient for you.