The use of aerated concrete blocks has become quite popular in our country. The reasons for this boom are the affordable cost of the material and the ease of its installation. With the help of aerated concrete, the construction of cottages is carried out very quickly, since the dimensions of the material allow the rapid construction of load-bearing and internal walls.

Another undeniable advantage is the lightness of aerated block compared to classic brick or other types of cement-concrete structures. For a house made from such blocks, there is no need to create a particularly strong foundation and carry out unnecessary reinforcement. This affects the cost of building a house and the final estimate.

Among all its advantages, aerated concrete material has one significant drawback– it is porous and quickly absorbs moisture. The creation of internal cavities with air provides high performance thermal protection, but promotes a high level of vapor absorption. A house made of aerated concrete cannot be used without external cladding. This will be discussed in our article.

How to clad a house made of aerated concrete?

Without exception, all construction professionals will point out to you the need for quality exterior finishing walls of the built cottage. If someone says that it is enough to paint the surface, immediately send such a “master” away, since he does not understand the essence of the issue at all. Ready-made projects of houses and cottages made of aerated concrete initially have a separate estimate for facing work. The architects of InnovaStroy will definitely tell you everything existing options with finishing and cladding.

To get a durable and energy-efficient house made of aerated concrete blocks, you need to decide at the design stage on the type of finishing installed on the site. It is definitely worth remembering two conditions that must be met before cladding a house with aerated concrete:

1. Conduct any external Finishing work it is necessary approximately a year after the house shrinks and withstands spring floods and high humidity;
2. Exterior cladding is carried out only after all finishing work related to wet materials has been completed inside the house. Aerated concrete will act as a conductor for steam and condensate and will remove excess moisture.

Violation of these conditions will result in damage to the new skin of the house. In the first case, it will crack or change shape, and in the second, it will become saturated with moisture along with the material. In any case, the house will lose all the advantages that aerated concrete provided it with.

Our company’s specialists will provide the customer with complete information on each type selected for cladding. The main requirement with which it is carried out house exterior decoration from aerated concrete blocks by InnovaStroy craftsmen - ensuring an excellent level of moisture exchange. Essentially, it is necessary to ensure the unhindered penetration of moisture, condensation, and steam outward - through aerated concrete and cladding levels. This approach will ensure the safety of the material and the strength of your cottage.

Insufficient ventilation of facades or the use of low-quality materials will lead to saturation of aerated concrete with fumes and moisture accumulation. As a result, the house will be cold and unable to retain heat, dampness will appear and fungus may even develop.

Naturally, our designers and architects will advise you What is the best way to clad a house with aerated concrete?, but the final choice will be yours. Below we will look at all the options for exterior decoration of a cottage or private house. Even if you are planning to build a dacha for temporary use, cladding is absolutely necessary to ensure that your dacha lasts for decades.

How to cover the façade of a house made of aerated concrete?

Modern market finishing materials is able to offer customers a huge selection of varieties and types. Some are classic options, others show modern trends in design and architecture. Whatever you choose, be sure to contact specialists who know exactly how to properly clad a house with aerated concrete, draw up cost estimates, and ensure quick order fulfillment.

Brickwork

The most popular type of cladding, which is always in demand, as it gives the house the appearance of a building built specifically from this material. Clinker or decorative brick, having original shades and a smooth surface. This type of exterior finishing has several strict requirements, without which all work will be useless:

1. Before lining a house made of aerated concrete with bricks, it is necessary to set a sufficient width of the foundation at the design stage. A wall made of aerated concrete block should be placed on the base, space the width of a brick should be provided, and the recommended space for ventilation is 10 centimeters. The outer surface of the cladding cannot extend to the edge of the foundation by more than a third of the width of the brick. This will ensure greater stability and strength of the structure;
2. The ventilation gap is made in two ways, which are equally suitable for houses made of aerated blocks. First, the width of the space is equal to the transverse size of the brick. Then you can lay the cladding crosswise and maintain enough space inside for air to pass through. The second one uses a polystyrene plate, which moves along with the masonry. Thus, uniformity of the gap is achieved over the entire height of the wall, and also prevents the entry cement mortar into the resulting space;
3. Presence of reinforcing metal components. This can be ordinary cut wire with a thickness of 3 centimeters, mounting strips or fittings. Its installation is carried out in the seams and filled with cement mixture. You should never bend these parts so that they are located in the seams of aerated blocks and facing bricks. This violates the strength of the structure and does not affect stability in any way. The installation method has two types, which are used to the same extent. The first is that metal reinforcement is placed into the seams of the cladding with one edge, and the second is driven into the mass of aerated concrete to a great depth. The second method is exactly the opposite, when the metal is mounted in the seams of the main wall, and installed in the cladding according to the situation. The main requirement is the presence of at least four such strips for each square meter walls;
4. It is imperative to leave “vents” - holes through which outside air will flow under the casing. Most often they are located under the upper eaves and at the very bottom. The appearance resembles a regular gap between bricks, only without cement mortar;
5. If brick cladding is carried out without a ventilation gap, then it is necessary to lay internal materials with a high degree of moisture transmission - insulation, waterproofing, reinforcing mesh.

Laying decorative or natural stone is done according to exactly the same principle as brick cladding. All conditions and requirements remain unchanged and are not subject to change.

Ready-made ventilated facades

This category includes several types of facing materials. This can be plastic or metal siding, natural or plastic lining, ceramic tiles, finished metal panels. The advantage of this method of exterior decoration is that the house will look modern and stylish. If necessary, part of the cladding will be quite simple to replace. Unique Feature of this type is that, already according to its technical parameters and installation rules, the material has space for ventilation between the cladding and the wall. In the standard version, it can be only 3 centimeters, but for a house made of aerated concrete blocks it is recommended to increase the space to 10 centimeters in order to lay a vapor barrier and insulation.

This construction of houses from aerated concrete in Moscow and area is in great demand, as it allows you to significantly save on the construction of a cottage. InnovaStroy specialists quickly complete assigned tasks. It is worth noting that this type cladding does not require additional reinforcement or expansion of the foundation. Due to its low weight, finishing has virtually no effect on design features houses.

Plastering and painting

Gas coating concrete walls simple materials It is also possible, based on the wishes of the customer and his financial capabilities. Painting or plastering can be carried out on a finished wall or on the surface of the insulation. The main requirements in the described case are:

• Leveling the wall surface from deposits of cement or adhesive mixture, correcting protruding masonry segments;
• Use a primer that does not form an impenetrable film. That is, it must be moisture and vapor permeable;
• Mandatory reinforcement with a special mesh. This requirement especially applies to building corners, windows and doorways;
• Using “breathable” textured plaster and paint to ensure moisture removal from walls and insulation;
• With complete insulation, you should also select a material that can allow steam to pass out. The layers are fastened using dowels and self-tapping screws with external linings.

Who can I find out from what to use to clad the façade of a house made of aerated concrete?

Our company’s specialists will always help the customer decide on the appearance of the cottage or house. At the stage individual design or purchasing a ready-made development, this issue is necessarily discussed. InnovaStroy professionals will provide complete information about the advantages and disadvantages of each type of cladding, draw up a comparative estimate and develop copies of the cottage with different outer skin. Simply contact us for advice. Even if you have already built your house from aerated concrete blocks, our craftsmen will help you line it with modern and reliable materials at an affordable price.

A frequently asked question on various construction forums: how to decorate the façade of a house made of aerated concrete, became the reason for collecting information on this topic. Having processed it, we offer edited and specific information in which we will tell you what this wall building material is, why it must be covered, what materials are used for this, and how they should be laid in order to obtain a high-quality end result.

What is aerated concrete

This material belongs to the class artificial stone and a group of cellular concretes. The material is based on cement, sand and special substances that, when interacting with water, release gas. The latter forms bubbles inside the solution mass. When dried, a durable stone with a bubbly structure or, as experts say, cellular, is obtained.

It is the gas bubbles that make aerated concrete lightweight with high thermal insulation characteristics. That is, houses made of aerated concrete are very warm. And if you approach their construction correctly, taking into account the width of the blocks, then such a building can not be additionally insulated. There is an opinion that aerated concrete absorbs moisture well, under the influence of which it cracks, crumbles and collapses. That is why the façade of aerated concrete houses must be finished with materials with higher waterproofing qualities.

This is incorrect information. Autoclaved aerated concrete has a moisture resistance rating that does not exceed 20%. For brick it is 10-16%, that is, not so much better that one could talk about the low performance of the former. And if you build the roof of the house correctly, creating a good overhang that protects the walls from precipitation, then aerated concrete walls there is nothing to be done about it.

It’s just that aerated concrete doesn’t have the most presentable appearance. Therefore this wall material definitely needs to be trimmed. Let's look at options for finishing the facade of a house made of aerated concrete and what materials are used for this.

Plaster

This traditional way give a house built from different building materials a presentable appearance. This finishing technology is called “wet”. And since aerated concrete still has increased moisture absorption, ordinary plaster mixtures will not be suitable here. Manufacturers today offer solutions that contain special additives. They retain moisture, preventing it from penetrating into aerated concrete blocks.

The application process itself plaster mixture on an aerated concrete surface is no different from traditional technology.

The facade of a house built from aerated concrete blocks cleanse from dust and dirt.

Apply two layers primers. The first one must be dried before applying the second one. For this process we use special primers for aerated concrete.

Installed on the façade surface using self-tapping screws reinforcing mesh, made of either fiberglass or polymer. Such meshes are called synthetic plaster meshes. They are sold in rolls or by the meter.

The dry mixture is prepared, that is, it is poured into a container of water, where it is thoroughly mixed.

Apply in an even layer a certain thickness.

After drying apply the finishing coat, usually painted.

Note that in addition to ordinary plaster, decorative varieties can be used. The application technology is the same.

On our website you can find contacts construction companies, which . You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition of houses.

Brick cladding

Facade blocks for exterior finishing There is a fairly wide range of houses on the market. The most commonly used material is facing brick. It is lightweight, that is, there is no need to construct a complex base for it, with a smooth front surface, which ensures a presentable exterior finish.

Brick cladding is also a “wet” process. Therefore, two different technologies are used for its claque.

Technology No. 1

To do this, use a cement mortar containing additives that retain moisture. The cladding process itself is carried out using standard technology. Firstly, for this purpose, even at the stage of building the foundation, an area is left for laying bricks. That is, the width of the foundation should be greater than the width of the gas blocks by the width of the brick and mortar.

The brickwork is laid with an offset of half a brick, that is, with a sling. The main thing is to strictly adhere to the thickness of the seams, which should not exceed 10 mm.

Technology No. 2

This method is a type of ventilated facade for a house made of aerated concrete. The essence of the technology is that a small gap is left between the cladding and the walls of the building, in which air flows. This results in a ventilated layer that removes moist air vapor from the walls of the house, thereby preserving them from negative impact moisture.

There are several types of structural elements of a ventilated facade. That is, the brickwork with which the wall is lined must somehow be attached to this wall. The simplest option is metal brackets, which are driven into aerated concrete blocks at a certain distance from each other, both in height and along the length of the facade. The brickwork is attached to them. More precisely, part of the staple gets into the seam between the bricks. Therefore, it is very important to install the restraint device correctly.

On our website you can get acquainted with the most popular from construction companies represented at the exhibition of Low-Rise Country houses.

The more staples, the stronger the connection between the facade and the cladding. As practice shows, the height of the holders is installed every 4-5 rows of bricks, along the length of the facade every 1-1.5 m. This is considered sufficient for low-rise construction. If the house is more than two floors, then for a brick ventilated facade they use complex designs basics, which include:

brackets, which are attached to a wall made of aerated concrete;

guides, installed between the brackets;

horizontal belts for laying bricks.

All elements are made of either galvanized or stainless steel.

There is another option for constructing a ventilated brick facade. Here, the construction of the house and its cladding are carried out in parallel. That is, blocks of aerated concrete are laid in the wall and immediately lifted next to them facing wall. To create a connection between two building structures placed between the assembled blocks metal mesh. For example, every third aerated concrete block. The photo below shows the finishing of the facade in this way.

Wall cladding is not just brick. Aerated concrete blocks can be covered with clinker, ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware. That is, in this regard, aerated concrete walls are no different from others. The main thing is to use adhesive solutions for aerated concrete.

Ventilated facades

Let’s immediately say that a ventilated facade for a private house made of aerated concrete is an ideal finish. To do this, a sheathing, or frame in other words, is constructed on the wall. It is assembled either from wooden blocks with a cross-section of 40x40 or 50x50 mm, or from galvanized metal profiles, which are used for installing plasterboard boards. The second option is better, because the metal does not warp or change its dimensional parameters under the influence of changing humidity and temperature.

As for the facing material, there is a wide range that offers modern market. Here are just a few of the most popular options today: lining, siding, block house, decorative slabs from cement mortar, polyvinyl chloride, a mixture of polymers and wood shavings. Many manufacturers offer cladding as a kit, that is, the finishing material is also accompanied by lathing. This is very convenient in the sense that there is no need to adjust the frame elements to the dimensions of the facing material.

Cladding assembly technology

The frame is assembled quite simply. Essentially, these are guides installed on the wall in a vertical position. The main task of the work producer:

install profiles vertically and in one plane;

installation step determined by the length of the finishing material, for example, lining and block house have a length of 3 m, siding 1 m.

It is important that the cladding elements are joined only on the guides. Fastening is done with self-tapping screws or clamps.

For example, how siding is used:

At the very bottom along the sheathing set the starting profile, which is attached to the profiles with self-tapping screws. Installation is carried out strictly horizontally.

From the corner of the building to the sheathing install corner element , which is also attached with self-tapping screws to a profile installed near the corner of the house.

The first siding panel is installed in the lower corner of the facade, inserting directly into the starting and corner profiles. They are fastened here with self-tapping screws.

Next to him the second panel is being installed. Thus, the bottom row of cladding is assembled.

Then move on to assembly of the second row. The first panel is inserted into the corner profile, and its tongue into the groove of the bottom panel. They are attached to the frame with self-tapping screws.

The last row It may not fit entirely in height. This means that the siding panels will have to be cut to the required size.

At the very top, before installing the last row, install finishing profile, which will cover the cut edges of the panels. In addition, this element will add completeness to the finish.

Video description

The video shows in detail how a house built from aerated concrete blocks was lined with siding:

Cladding with decorative panels

This finishing material appeared on the market relatively recently. But he took his place “under the sun” thoroughly. Firstly, there is a huge variety of decorative facade slabs. Secondly, this is a ventilated facade, with all the ensuing advantages. Thirdly, this is the simplicity of construction, plus the low price of the material.

Manufacturers today offer decorative panels, made from different materials and compositions. Here on a cement base, and on a polymer, and on wood. Very popular composite materials, which have excellent not only decorative qualities, but also strength characteristics: wear resistance, moisture resistance, frost resistance and others.

The mounting method is exactly the same as for siding. Many manufacturers offer a complete package with sheathing and fasteners, as well as additional elements. There are so-called thermal panels on the market. Essentially it's still the same decorative finishing, only each of its elements is insulated with heat-insulating material, which is glued to the back of the panels. By the way, this finishing material can be laid “wet” using tile adhesive. The same technology is used here as with ceramic tiles or porcelain stoneware.

Flexible stone

This is the most modern version external finishing of houses made of aerated concrete. This material got its name because it bends well, although the upper front side is made of stone veneer or painted sand. The base is fiberglass, which gives the product a certain strength.

It is very easy to work with this material. The basic requirements are a dry surface and a special adhesive composition. We will not tell you how to properly install flexible stone. Just watch the video.

Video description

The video shows how easy it is to lay flexible stone:

Conclusion on the topic

So, we have dealt with the exterior finishing of houses made of aerated concrete: its options, materials, installation and installation technologies. From all that has been proposed above, one conclusion can be drawn - the same materials are used for cladding walls made of aerated concrete as for finishing brick or concrete walls. The only difference, if we talk about “wet” technologies, is the use of special masonry and adhesive solutions.

Some Construction Materials, from which walls are erected, immediately imply the need for exterior decoration of the house: the resulting picture is very unsightly. Others may lose their appeal over time. And the third case is extensive crack formation, which is “treated”, but the results remain visible. In all these cases, the question arises: “How to sheathe the outside of the house.” Moreover, most often it is necessary to “sheathe” - without using mortar or other similar means that require large quantity money and time. I want to do everything quickly and, very preferably, inexpensively, and, if possible, with my own hands. Oddly enough, there is a choice of materials and technologies, and a considerable one.

Basic Rules

When selecting materials for cladding a house from the street, be sure to remember that in order to maintain normal humidity In rooms, the vapor permeability of materials should decrease from inside the room to the outside. That is, the exterior finishing should conduct steam better than the wall material. Then high humidity, which is typical for our homes, will be discharged through the walls naturally (explanations in the photo).

If this principle is violated, moisture will accumulate at the interface of materials with different vapor permeability. It condenses, creating conditions for rotting and the development of fungi and mold. IN winter time freezes, destroying the wall material and/or finishing. Sooner or later such a system will have to be dismantled and rebuilt.

The trouble is that only wood meets this requirement. Most other materials for exterior decoration of a house have low vapor permeability. The problem is solved in two ways:

Today the second option is becoming increasingly popular. Very effective thermal insulation materials, allowing you to significantly reduce heating costs. But they have very low vapor permeability (expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene foam). When using them, only the second humidity control scheme is possible. When choosing what to cover your house with, consider these points.

Wood paneling

Wood has been used in construction and decoration for centuries, and it seems that it will be relevant for a long time. All thanks to its excellent appearance and ability to regulate indoor humidity. This is perhaps the only material that will remove excess moisture without problems, regardless of what material the walls are made of.

Wooden cladding can have a completely non-standard appearance: different colors and sizes, different directions. It's simple, but the effect is amazing

The most popular materials for wall cladding are block house and imitation timber. There is also lining for exterior finishing - it is thicker than what is intended for it, but otherwise it is no different.

The block house imitates the surface of a rounded log - the front part has a rounded shape. Imitation timber is very similar to planed timber. Both types of cladding are attached to the sheathing, then sanded and coated with protective impregnations, and optionally varnished or painted.

What does lumber look like for exterior cladding of a house?

If you can’t decide how to cover the outside of a foam block house, consider the option wood cladding. In this case, lathing (metal or wood) is nailed to the walls. If necessary, insulation is laid between the slats - basalt wool (foam or polystyrene foam cannot be used), and then wooden sheathing is nailed.

This building is sheathed with imitation timber. Under the skin there can be brick, log frame, frame or any of the building blocks

If you need the most cheap option, for most regions of Russia this is an ordinary planed board. Its thickness is from 40 mm, it is stuffed in the same way as a lining or block house onto the sheathing, the lower end of the upper board extends 10-20 mm onto the one located underneath it. It turns out the principle of the cone. So you can veneer it cheaply country house or even residential. When properly processed, such cladding has a very good appearance.

How to cheaply cover the outside of a house? For middle zone Russia - wooden planed board

The disadvantages of such finishing are the same as with any wood: it can be damaged by pests, rot, without proper care it quickly loses its decorative effect, becomes dark and ugly. If you want to cover your house and not think about it for years, this is not your choice. Behind wood paneling maintenance is required, and, most often, annually.

Siding

In some regions, planks and other lumber are not the most affordable materials. In this case, it’s cheaper. This is the option when, having completed the finishing once, you can forget about it for a long time.

If you are thinking about how to decorate the outside of a timber house, perhaps your option is siding

Since the sheathing is nailed onto the sheathing, the façade is ventilated. If you need to inexpensively finish wooden walls(made of timber, logs, panels) siding is one of the options. It can also be used for buildings made of any other material: foam block, aerated concrete, slag-filled concrete, etc. This cladding is universal.

Vinyl

Siding is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is therefore also called vinyl. It consists of strips of material 205 and 255 mm wide, 1.1 mm and 1.2 mm thick. The longitudinal edges have a lock on one side and perforation for fasteners on the other (self-tapping screws are more often used).

The siding is also attached to the sheathing. It is recommended to use a special metal one, but impregnated wooden blocks are quite suitable. Only standard starting and side stripes will be needed. The only caveat: the screws need to be “undertightened” a little, leaving some play in order to compensate for temperature changes in the materials. With this installation, the siding will not crack due to stress.

The advantages of this material for external cladding at home: low prices, easy installation.

Flaw vinyl siding: it fades quickly in the sun, so it is advisable to use soft colors. Has quite a wide temperature regime operation: from +50°C to -35°C, but even in slight frosts it becomes brittle and easily damaged.

One more point: houses covered with siding and having a broken configuration look good. If the building is rectangular, without architectural frills, it does not have the most attractive appearance(photo below as proof).

If the building is simply long, without reliefs or protrusions, covering the walls with sading will not embellish it very much

Metal

Metal siding consists of strips of thin aluminum or galvanized steel, onto which a protective and decorative coating is applied. It has the same fastening system as vinyl.

House cladding metal siding simple: you can do it yourself even without much construction experience

The coating can be made of polymers. It is distinguished by its reliability, resistance to fading, and other climatic factors. Its disadvantage is the limited choice of colors. The second coating option is powder coating. The color range is much wider, the paint lasts for years without signs of peeling.

If you are looking for something to clad the outside of your home for a durable and vibrant finish, one of the metal siding options may be right for you. It can be bent, it is very difficult to break, installation is not very difficult: you need good metal scissors, self-tapping screws, a screwdriver or a screwdriver. All installation features are the same as for vinyl, with the only difference being that metal can be installed at sub-zero temperatures.

It is not easy to harmoniously decorate a building covered with metal siding

From the point of view of durability, this is a good option, but from the point of view of aesthetics, it is difficult to work with: it looks too “manufactured”. The building no longer resembles a residential building, but rather a warehouse or some kind of workshop.

Tsokolny

This is one of the varieties of vinyl siding, but it has a completely different configuration, appearance and greater panel thickness. It was developed specifically for decorating and protecting the plinths of buildings, but I liked it so much that it began to be used for cladding facades. Exterior design - under brickwork different types and colors, with or without drawings, wild stone. Sometimes the imitation is so successful that you can understand that it is not brick cladding, but vinyl, only by touching the wall.

It is mounted, like other types, on the sheathing, there are perforations and locks. The difference is that the basement siding panel does not look like a long rectangle, but a certain section of the wall with curly edges. These curly edges are used to join. Accordingly, the sheathing must be adjusted to the size of the fragment. When installing, first the edge of the panel is inserted into the already installed lock, a match is achieved, and then secured. The main thing is that during installation, do not overtighten the screws, leaving the siding room to move with temperature changes.

The sheathing can be made of treated wooden blocks (with protective impregnation) or from plasterboard profiles (galvanized). How to mount basement siding Look at the base in the video. It is mounted on the wall in the same way. The difference is in area.

Fiber cement boards and siding

Relatively recently, a new cladding appeared on our market: fiber cement boards and siding made of the same material. They consist of wood fiber, quartz, mica, cement, and may contain chlorine and asbestos (some materials used only for exterior decoration). This mixture is formed into sheets, then dehydrated in several stages, and fired using some technologies. Then a protective and decorative coating is applied to the surface:

The coating can be smooth - glossy or matte, or can imitate brickwork, wood and other finishing materials. It is installed on guide mounting strips and secured to the wall with clamps. This material may suit you if you don’t know what to cover frame house outside: it creates a continuous surface, the panel joints are sealed and precipitation will not get inside.

This house is also lined with fiber cement slabs

Watch the video to see how to attach fiber cement boards.

Fiber cement siding is produced using the same technology, only it is molded into long strips. They are basically standard: 3600*190*12 mm. This material is cut with a jigsaw, installed on a wooden sheathing with an overlap (like a cone) and nailed to it or screwed with self-tapping screws.

Thermal panels

Thermal panels are a material that performs two functions at once - cladding and external insulation of houses. A layer of decorative coating is applied to the thermal insulation layer at the factory. It looks like marble or a natural stone, does not burn, has low water absorption characteristics.

This finishing material is made from foam plastic, mineral wool or extruded polystyrene foam. Depending on the type of insulation, the installation method is selected: polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam are glued to the appropriate composition. The joints are closed with a special aluminum strip or rubbed with paste.

Based on mineral wool, they are mounted only on a special system of profiles; the joints are also sealed.

A very attractive idea is to immediately insulate the house and cladding it. Excellent appearance, and the characteristics of this cladding are impressive. It’s just a pity that there is little operating experience and no reviews yet: it appeared only recently.

There are also clinker thermal panels. Clinker tiles are glued to the insulation. The material is not cheap, but the characteristics are impressive, as is the variety of finishes.

Another option for thermal panels is with clinker tiles

The choice of materials that can be used to cover a house at any time - winter or summer - is considerable. Eat expensive options, there are cheaper ones. In any case, in addition to cost, be sure to consider vapor permeability. Then you won’t have to deal with mold and dampness.

The process of finishing the building outside begins immediately after finishing work inside the premises. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the technology of work. Facing is performed using one of the following methods:

1. painting using special paint for facade work;
2. plastering with compositions for lightweight concrete;
3. ventilated facade using various facing materials (for example, siding or block house);
4. construction of a multilayer wall with an outer verst made of face brick.

Exterior finishing options

Plastering and painting

When choosing compositions for facade finishing, it is necessary to take into account the vapor permeability of materials. The hygroscopicity of block walls is quite high level. They are able to accumulate moisture, which comes from the room in the form of steam. If the cladding has low vapor permeability and does not allow steam to escape, the walls will be damp. Water in the wall pie will ultimately lead to a decrease in its thermal conductivity, the formation of mold and mildew, and a violation of the load-bearing capacity.

The following are NOT suitable as compositions for façade finishing:

• sand-concrete plaster;
• covering film-forming paint.

Finishing a house made of aerated concrete can be done using the following types of plasters:

• silicate;
• silicone;
• mineral.

The latter option requires additional work to paint the exterior of the facade. The advantage of the material is maintainability.

Work on painting or plastering block walls is carried out only after the complex preparatory work. It is required to provide the following set of activities:

1. cleaning the surface from dust and various contaminants;
2. eliminating minor masonry defects using aerated concrete adhesive;
3. surface leveling with special compounds;
4. priming the walls with a layer of 2-3 mm (it is better to choose compounds with strengthening functions and protection from atmospheric moisture).

The smoother the surface becomes as a base for painting or plastering, the less mortar will be required to line the outside of the block walls. Materials for finishing aerated concrete facades are relatively expensive, so it is necessary to try to reduce their consumption as much as possible.

When finishing walls with plaster, it is sometimes necessary to use a special reinforcing mesh. You need to choose one that is resistant to alkalis. The cell dimensions are assumed to be approximately 3 mm. The following recommendations can be made regarding reinforcement:

• if the total thickness of the plaster layer does not exceed 10 mm, additional reinforcement is not required;
• when the plaster thickness is 10 mm, fiberglass is used for reinforcement;
• the thickness of the finishing layer is 15-20 mm, requiring the use of a metal painting mesh as a reinforcing metal mesh.

Applying plaster in a layer of more than 20 mm to aerated concrete is not rational.

The reinforcing mesh is superimposed on primer layer before it hardens. Use a spatula or grater to press it into the solution. The surface is leveled and left to dry. After drying, begin applying the required thickness of plaster. It depends on the levelness of the base.

Ventilated facade

Finishing a house from aerated concrete using ventilated facade technology allows you to simultaneously perform cladding and insulation. Such options are especially relevant for buildings located in server regions, where even blocks with good thermal insulation performance do not pass the heating engineering standards.

Mineral wool is used as insulation. It does not interfere with the removal of moisture from the walls. But the heat insulator itself needs protection from moisture. To remove condensate, an air layer ventilated with outside air is used. Its thickness is usually 40 mm. There are ventilation holes in the eaves area to allow moist air to escape.

The basis for fixing the insulation and material for finishing the walls made of blocks is the frame. It is made from wooden blocks or light metal profiles. Wood must be treated with antiseptic compounds. They prevent the appearance of mold and mildew and rotting of the material.

The external sheathing to the aerated concrete facade is attached to:

• long-length self-tapping screws (use black ones as they are more durable);
• dowels with plastic stopper length not less than 30 mm;
• special dowels for aerated concrete.

The latter option is preferable because it provides reliable fastening without cold bridges. The most undesirable method of fastening would be self-tapping screws, but if there are no other options, they are used.

It is recommended to use 40 or 60 cm for installation of frame racks for aerated concrete. But the exact dimensions depend on the width of the insulation. In order not to cut the material lengthwise, it is necessary to take into account the dimensions when assigning the distance between the frame elements.

After the base (guides and sheathing) under the cladding is secured to special dowels, the installation of insulation begins. It is mandatory to provide waterproofing over mineral wool.

The waterproofing material must not allow atmospheric moisture to pass through, but have high vapor permeability. To finish walls made of aerated concrete blocks, it is reasonable to use special vapor diffusion membranes. They do not interfere with the removal of moisture into the ventilated layer from the insulation side. Waterproofing membranes also serve as wind protection.

Option for finishing the ventilation façade with fiber cement panels

After securing the insulation and insulation, they begin to hang finishing materials. The following can be used as facade cladding:

• block house;
• lining;
• siding;
• fiberboard;
• ready-made facade systems.

Fastening of materials to the insulation frame is carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and for different types may vary.

Brick facade finishing

For reliable protection wall material from blocks from external atmospheric influences It is better to use face brick. Typically, ceramic material is used. In general, a two-layer wall is made with a ventilated layer inside.

The width of the gap for air circulation is taken to be at least 30 mm, optimal thickness the size will become 40 mm. At the bottom of the wall there are special openings for air intake (vents), which are protected by ventilation grilles from clogging. In the area of ​​the building's eaves (or parapet when using flat roof) provision is made for the release of moist air.

Brick is a fairly heavy material for making facade walls. This type of finishing must be taken into account when designing foundations. When used for existing building It is better to first strengthen the supporting part of the house from blocks. Also, the width of the foundations is determined taking into account the thickness of the wall with brick cladding. Brick overhang of more than 30 mm is not allowed.

For joint operation of external and internal versts, special flexible connections are used. They are laid in aerated concrete at the construction stage. Instead of flexible connections, thin metal plates can also be used. It is important that the elements are made of steel with an anti-corrosion coating; the most common option is stainless steel. Galvanized bonds in an alkaline environment are destroyed quite quickly.

The connections are arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The horizontal distance is taken to be 600 mm. Vertically, it is allowed to place connecting parts at a maximum distance of 500 mm from each other.

Properly executed finishing of the façade walls will reliably protect aerated concrete from external influences. It is necessary to strictly comply with the requirements for materials and the technology of their use.