Finishing the house from aerated concrete or foam blocks on the outside. Best options

The widespread use of aerated concrete blocks is due to their affordable price, lightness and strength. But the problems may be due to the fact that this material does not look very good. High-quality exterior finishing of a house or other building helps improve the situation.

Peculiarities

Construction of urban and suburban buildings of ready-made industrial parts is becoming more popular year by year. But you should not think that the exterior decoration of the walls of a house made of aerated concrete will negatively affect the overall price of the structure or worsen its practical qualities. As practice shows, it is not at all necessary to make a finishing layer or install hanging screens that completely mask unattractive masonry. Of course, all types of finishing materials and elements are selected taking into account the increased permeability of aerated concrete to water vapor and its tendency to absorb water.

Finishing blocks from the outside, according to experts, does not always require the creation of an insulated layer.

If the elements used are thicker than 40 cm, then under normal climatic conditions of the Russian Federation(except for the northernmost regions), the material itself provides a decent level of thermal protection. Considering that aerated concrete is most often purchased to save on construction costs, any additional materials and structures should be cheap. Mechanized application of plaster mixtures (if it is decided to use them) is quite possible. For this purpose, both industrial and home-made devices are used.

Advantages and disadvantages

Anyone who wants to save money as much as possible and simplify their work has a logical question: is it worth finishing aerated concrete or not? In many information materials you can find a statement that the decorative layer has a purely aesthetic purpose and there is no practical need for it. But in fact, there is at least one plus - aerated concrete needs to be finished because it allows a lot of water vapor to pass through. At the same time, the finishing material should be selected with exactly the same level of vapor permeability, which limits the choice. If you violate these rules (do not finish the outside of aerated concrete or do the coating incorrectly), you may encounter a sharp reduction in its shelf life.

Brick

It is impossible to veneer an aerated concrete wall with bricks without preparing a mobile sheet, the thickness of which is 4 cm. This sheet will provide a technical gap from the wall to the masonry. Air will begin to circulate in the resulting gap, therefore the problem of the different abilities of the two materials to pass steam is automatically solved. Before covering the outside of a private aerated concrete house brickwork, you need to make sure that the foundation can withstand the increased load. Ideally like this decorative element must be included in the working draft.

Please note that brick finishing:

• increases resistance to water;
• makes the structure stronger;
• very difficult to implement;
• costs a lot of money.

Siding

Sheathing a house with siding can be much faster and cheaper than finishing it with brick. A wide range of color and texture options will undoubtedly delight home owners. Aerated concrete blocks can be completely protected from water penetration; moreover, this finish is very durable and not subject to combustion. Siding does not create a significant load on the foundation and is resistant to ultraviolet radiation. It is not difficult to care for it and keep the surface in good condition.

You can often hear that siding does not tolerate mechanical destruction well. But this is not too important, because replacing damaged blocks with completely new ones can be easily and quickly. Given the relatively low strength, it is worth taking the coating with a reserve. And even if the entire installation went well, there is no need to rush to send this stock to the trash. It may turn out that after a few months or years it will no longer be possible to find sheets of siding with the same color.

Ventilated facades

Facades with an internal ventilation gap are excellent for finishing houses made of aerated concrete. If they are carried out in strict accordance with technical rules, will be able to provide as beautiful appearance, and reliable protection of the base material from bad weather. The rate of heating of interior spaces will increase, thermal energy it will spread more evenly across them. Accordingly, the cost of heating resources will be lower. Ventilated facades made of aerated concrete can only be insulated with materials permeable to steam.

Except mineral wool, it is necessary to place a membrane protecting against moisture, which should also allow steam to pass through. This solution will ensure timely removal of condensate to the outside. You cannot use polystyrene foam for insulation, because it will interfere with the escape of water vapor, and very soon the wall will begin to deteriorate. The use of ventilated facade technology, along with improved thermal protection, will muffle street noise. But this method is unacceptable near bodies of water or in areas where there is a lot of precipitation.

The ventilated surface immediately changes the appearance of the building. It can be modified in accordance with any chosen design approach. The facade can last up to 70 years, and the absence of “wet” work allows installation regardless of the weather situation. Work should begin only after completion of all internal work that increases moisture concentration.

To attach a ventilated façade to aerated concrete, use:

• spring-type drop-down dowels;
• nylon dowel-nails for universal use;
• chemical anchors;
• mechanical type anchors.

Tile

Facing aerated blocks with clinker tiles is no worse than other finishing options. It is gradually pushing brickwork into the background. It is important to note that simply applying clinker (gluing it to the wall) will not do anything. Aerated concrete will dry out in a matter of weeks glue mixture, no matter what it is, and after this the tile will begin to crumble to the ground. This cannot be allowed.

The initial layer is applied with reinforcement with a mesh of metal or fiberglass. Then you need to put an additional final layer of plaster and level it. Only after all the plaster has completely dried can the tiles be installed. To do this, use cold- and moisture-resistant adhesives and create a large seam between the tiles. Minimum size the gap is ¼ of the area of ​​the facing element.

Intermediate reinforcement with steel or plastic dowels will help improve the bond between aerated concrete and ceramic plates. They can be replaced with ordinary nails or stainless screws. In all four cases, it is necessary to drive fasteners into the masonry and disguise them in the seams between parts of the clinker mass. Experts believe that you need to make 4 or 5 fastening points per 1 square meter. m. Then the cladding will hold securely and will not collapse prematurely.

Plaster

The plaster layer can be created not only as the basis for a ventilated facade or clinker tiles. With proper selection of the mixture and competent execution of the work, it will become an attractive design solution in itself. It is recommended to use only specialized facade plasters. When working with acrylic compositions, you can count on long-term preservation useful qualities, but beware of open flames (the material can easily ignite).

Silicone plaster, which absorbs little water and is relatively inexpensive, demonstrates a wide variety textures, but meager color scheme. It should not be used where a significant amount of dust and dirt will fall on the walls. The gypsum composition dries quickly and is not subject to shrinkage, and only one layer is enough for decoration. But we have to take into account a low level of vapor permeability and accelerated wetting under the influence of precipitation. In addition, the surface of the plaster is often covered with stains, they will have to be painted over immediately - there is simply no other way to deal with it.

Painting

But since in this case you will still have to paint the aerated concrete wall, it is logical to look at the use of paint. paints and varnishes this kind is divided into two groups: some contain reinforcing fibers and add texture, while others form an attractive relief. Both types of color mixtures can be applied to aerated concrete blocks with a simple roller without additional manipulations. The created layer has a matte tint, the tonality of which can be easily adjusted with color additives. Paints and varnishes for aerated concrete are guaranteed to work for at least 7 years and will absorb some water.

This solution eliminates the occurrence of cracks, and the refusal of the developers to use a water-based organic solvent helps prevent the occurrence of bad odors. Before applying paintwork, it is necessary to remove all dust and smooth out minor defects using a grater. Painting is carried out either immediately or using façade putty (depending on the complexity of the situation).

Criterias of choice

As is already clear, the external finishing of aerated concrete walls can be done according to the most different technologies. But the manufacturers of each coating are trying to attract the attention of consumers, telling them that they have the best and most reliable, that their solution is ideal for gas blocks.

• sand and concrete plaster;
• Styrofoam;
• expanded polystyrene;
• covering paint that forms a film.

Simple black self-tapping screws should not be used for attaching the sheathing under a ventilated façade. Dowel-nails showed themselves much better in practice. They do not form cold bridges and are not susceptible to the harmful effects of condensing moisture. The installation step is reduced to 0.4 m - this allows for the most uniform distribution of wind shock load. If you decide to finish an aerated concrete wall with bricks, you will have to provide vents in the lower part of the masonry, and also take care of covering them with gratings.

Please note: brick is worse than other options, because its use creates an increased load on the foundation.

Even if the masonry extends ½ brick, a significant mass is still created. You will also have to take care of flexible connections between the main and outer walls. To summarize, we can confidently conclude that the best results are achieved by using a ventilated façade. Only this technology guarantees both external beauty and weather resistance.

Aerated concrete is a porous stone made from cement and quartz sand, a type of cellular concrete. It has become widespread in the construction of private houses due to the speed of construction, good thermal insulation properties, and low price. Unfortunately, it has high moisture holding capacity. A bunch of open pores in stone, thanks to which it is a warm building material, when it comes into contact with water, it is easily filled with it. When aerated concrete blocks are saturated with moisture, thermal conductivity increases. Therefore, the exterior decoration of the walls of such houses should, in addition to a beautiful appearance, also have strength and moisture resistance.

It must meet the following requirements:

• reliably protect the outside walls of the house from moisture, rain, snow;
• do not change its properties in the cold;
• be resistant to chemical environments and vehicle exhaust gases;
• don't burn out under the influence sun rays;
• counteract ignition;
• have high heat-insulating and soundproof characteristics.

The most common options are: exterior finishing house facades:

• plaster;
• siding finishing;
• facing with brick or stone;
• painting.

Conventional plaster is not suitable for walls made of aerated concrete blocks. sand-cement mortar due to its moisture permeability.
If you decide to plaster without insulation, then the aerated concrete blocks must be coated with a penetrating primer. All subsequent work should be carried out after it has dried. Plastering the facade of a house made of aerated concrete blocks should be done using reinforcing mesh. Particularly important places: corners of the house, window and door slopes. Then puttying and painting are done.
Modern thin-layer façade plaster mixtures effectively replace plaster with reinforcing mesh. The selected plaster mixture should:

• be easy to use;
• fits well on the base, distributes evenly;
• have good adhesion;
• have long term storage

Facade mixtures are:
Mineral decorative facade plasters are produced at cement based. To increase adhesion, redispersible polymer powders are added to the mixture. Sometimes such mixtures are sold as polymer cement mixture. They are packaged in bags.

Before use, the powder is diluted with water according to the instructions. Used on concrete, brick bases, and base plaster. Before applying such mineral plaster, the base must be primed and the primer must dry. This plaster is moisture-resistant, non-flammable, durable, inexpensive, and when applied with a water-repellent composition, lasts up to 20 years. Negative properties include the hardness of the coating and the difficulty of obtaining the desired color.
Acrylic-based plaster for exterior wall decoration is synthetic. Sold liquid, ready to use. Such plasters have high moisture resistance, resistance to deformation, and good adhesion to the base. But low vapor permeability forces you to carefully choose insulation. For example, mineral wool may become wet. Another serious disadvantage is flammability.
Silicate facade plasters are made with a predominance of potassium liquid glass.

Such plasters are sold in liquid form. Their undeniable advantages: strength, elasticity, hydrophobicity, vapor permeability, antistatic. Disadvantages are limited colors and fast setting. Once the packaging has been damaged, all contents must be used quickly. Before plastering the walls, they should be coated with a special silicate primer.
Silicone or silicone plasters for facades are made with a predominance of silicone, which gives them moisture resistance, good adhesion, elasticity, and ease of use. The only drawback is the high cost.

Siding is a modern type of protection for the facade of a house.

Siding is the most reliable protection for the walls of a house from adverse weather conditions. weather conditions. The house is sheathed with clapboard, vinyl siding, metal profile sheets or ceramic panels. A sheathing is attached to the house, onto which the siding panels are secured. The facade is well ventilated.

If a layer of insulation is laid between the siding and the wall of a building made of aerated blocks, there is an additional opportunity to reduce heating costs. This method of protecting the facade is often optimal.
Wood siding- This is the external cladding of the walls of a house with specially treated boards. In cold weather, it retains heat well, creating a cozy atmosphere in the house. This house has a representative, stylish appearance. IN modern construction The following types of finishing the walls of a house with wooden siding are popular: block house and false beams. Block house is a board with a semicircular shape on the front side, imitating planed logs. False timber has a flat front side. External finishing with false timber imitates walls made of timber. Cladding boards are treated with compounds to increase strength, against fungus, woodworms, and moisture. Wood siding from natural wood much more expensive than other types of siding, but this is compensated by environmental friendliness, low thermal conductivity, and presentable appearance.

It is cheaper to cover the outside of the facade with wood siding or glued lining made of wood-polymer composites. It is produced by pressing under pressure at high temperature from wood fibers and polypropylene. This siding is resistant to moisture and fire, does not require painting or impregnation with protective substances, and lasts more than 15 years.
Vinyl siding is made on the basis of polyvinyl chloride with the addition of modifiers, stabilizers, dyes and other components that improve the performance and aesthetic properties of the finishing material. It looks like an ordinary board, but without additional processing it retains its properties and appearance for at least 20 years. It is very practical to use: it does not require complex maintenance, withstands temperature changes well, is resistant to dirt, and is easy to install. Vinyl siding also comes with imitation stone and brick.
Metal siding– these are profiled metal panels, made of galvanized sheet steel with applied polymer coating. The coating imitates ship planks, timber, lining, etc. The structure of steel siding consists of several layers.

A passivating layer against corrosion is applied to the galvanized sheet on both sides, then primed. After this, a polymer layer or paint is applied to the front side, and a layer is applied to the inside protective paint. The panels are made with a thickness of about 0.5 mm. Metal siding is superior to other types of siding in durability (service life up to 50 years), fire resistance, strength, and low cost. The disadvantage is more weight, which increases the load on the supporting structures of the house and foundation.
Cement siding is rarely used for wall decoration due to its disadvantages. Such panels are made from sand and cement. They have heavy weight, require very thorough lathing and load-bearing structures. Difficulties in installation are also caused by silicon dust generated during cutting. The main advantage is non-flammability. It is better to use it where increased fire safety requirements are imposed.

To cover aerated concrete blocks with bricks or finishing stones, it is necessary to provide the width of the foundation for the house, taking into account the thickness of the facing layer, so that the main bearing wall and facing layer.

A gap of 30-50 mm should be provided between the wall and the facing layer, and a layer of heat-insulating material is also possible for insulation. Without a gap, you can finish houses in which you plan to live only in the warm season. Brickwork must be firmly connected to the wall of aerated concrete blocks and form a single strong system. Such monolithicity is achieved by establishing connections. They are brought into the facing and supporting structures during masonry. They come in metal and basalt-plastic.
The facade of the house can be covered with natural or artificial stone. Natural stone has a respectable appearance, environmentally friendly, strong, durable, non-flammable, easy and quick to install. The disadvantage is the large weight of the stone, which increases the safety factor of the foundation and load-bearing structures of the house. The construction industry offers slabs from natural stone. They are laid on frost-resistant adhesive “For stone”. The back side of the slab must first be primed. After finishing the facing work, the surface of the stone must be covered with water-repellent compounds, for example, “Gidrofob”.

Artificial stone is much cheaper and weighs less. Installation is made easier by the standard sizes and identical characteristics of the facing slabs. There are a wide variety of facing stones on sale, in a wide range of colors.

Coating with special paints and putties

Coating aerated concrete blocks with special paints and vapor-permeable putties is the most cheap way protecting the facade of the house from moisture. They are sold in the form of dry mixtures. The most popular putty of this class is “Prospectors”. Before use, they are diluted with water and color is added to give the paint the desired color. The finished paint is applied with a roller or brush in two layers. The main disadvantage of this method is the need for careful preparation of the base surface. This is the cheapest way to finish a facade made of aerated concrete blocks, but also the most short-lived.
If additional insulation of the walls from the outside is necessary, the easiest way is to insulate them with foam plastic, then putty with reinforcing mesh and paint. The foam is attached to the base with glue and dowels. It is better to seal the joints between foam panels tile adhesive. Then the entire surface is reinforced with fiberglass mesh, puttyed with any putty for exterior use, and painted.

Since ancient times, the outer walls of houses have been lined with finishing materials. Decorative cladding gave buildings uniqueness, protected them from adverse influences, and increased their service life. Modern construction industry offers various options materials for finishing the facade of houses made of aerated concrete blocks. The choice is best made based on the owner’s financial capabilities, aesthetic preferences, and durability. The final appearance of the house should be in harmony with the interior, as well as the landscape design of the garden plot and the surrounding nature.

The external walls of the house are the basis of the entire structure, so they must be made of solid foundation. Therefore, they are often built from aerated concrete, because this material has high strength and wear resistance, but there is one significant drawback - its unpresentable appearance. In addition, it absorbs moisture like a sponge, so over time it begins to crumble, crack and collapse. It is for this reason that it must be protected. Typically, the facade of a house made of aerated concrete blocks undergoes additional finishing, during which various materials are used. But initially it is worth considering the basic qualities of the materials.

Often, when building houses, cottages, and residential buildings, a block of aerated concrete base is used. Aerated concrete is a type of building material, namely a type of artificial stone, which belongs to the cellular type of concrete. It is made from concrete, which is combined with lime and quartz sand. All this is diluted with aluminum blowing agent. The components are diluted with water, after which a reaction is observed that releases hydrogen and foams the cement mass. The finished solution is poured into special molds. After the entire reaction has taken place and the solution has completely set, it is divided into blocks and dried in intended ovens for this purpose. The result is ready-made aerated concrete for building houses.

Aerated concrete blocks

Houses made from these blocks have the following qualities:

• houses made of blocks are light in weight, so there is no need to build a massive foundation;
• due to the fact that this material has an optimal ratio of light weight and size, during construction there is no need to order additional equipment for lifting loads, which as a result saves money and reduces labor costs;
• the block can be easily cut, sawed, there will be no difficulties when laying the subsystem, communications and other important parts of the house;
• rapid construction of buildings made of aerated concrete. It will take about 1 month to build one box of a house from this base;
• no additional finishing for insulation is required, because aerated concrete has excellent thermal insulation properties. For this reason, houses made from this base are always warm and cozy, especially in the cold season.

Options for finishing facades made of aerated concrete blocks

However, despite high quality aerated concrete, nevertheless, over time it is destroyed due to various negative effects of weather conditions. And the appearance is not always pleasing to the eye. Therefore, you should beautifully design the façade of aerated concrete. It can be finished with a variety of materials, from brick to ordinary plaster. But in order for the cladding to be able to protect external walls from negative factors, extend the life of the building, and also give it a presentable appearance, it is worth carefully familiarizing yourself with the features of each material for the facade finishing of aerated concrete buildings.

Brick

Finishing the external walls of a house made of aerated concrete with bricks greatly improves its appearance, makes it presentable, and makes it much more beautiful and brighter. In addition, various color solutions bricks, will allow you to choose the material that will fit perfectly into the style landscape design. But during finishing it is necessary to use not ordinary bricks, because it can put additional pressure on the blocks.

In addition, in order for the finish to last for a long period, several important rules must be followed during construction work:

• Before installing the brick on the block, you need to prepare the mortar. To do this, it is thoroughly mixed, this will help to avoid sand settling, all components will be distributed evenly. After installation, the brick will adhere well both to each other and to the gas blocks;
• The mixture should be spread evenly. This will make the seams stronger;
• to enhance the strength of the entire structure, the thickness of the seam should be at least 10 mm;
• If mortar gets on the brick during the laying process, it should be removed immediately, otherwise it will dry out and ruin the entire aesthetic appearance of the building.

Scheme for finishing aerated concrete facade with bricks

Siding

When choosing a material for finishing block houses, you should choose siding. This material has good qualities allowing to preserve the quality of the entire structure for a long time. Advantages of siding material:

• the base of this material is heat-resistant, so this material does not deteriorate as a result of temperature changes, it can withstand severe frosts or extreme heat;
• has high moisture resistance. Rain, snow, hail will not have a negative impact on this base;
• When finishing a house with this material, a gap remains between the siding facade and the walls in which an insulating base can be installed.

For insulation, two types of insulation can be used:

• materials with a soft base - various versions of mineral wool;
• products with a solid base - polystyrene foam with an extruded base or polystyrene foam.

In appearance, it turns out to be an ordinary ventilated façade, only, unlike a subsystem with ventilation, it has a reduced cost, and in terms of properties it is no different. In addition, during installation it is necessary to comply with certain requirements, since the aerated concrete block has low strength. For this reason, the “frame-wall” fastening units require additional strengthening.

When strengthening, the dowel should expand with a self-tapping screw, for this reason it must be chosen 1-2 mm smaller than the dowel. The standard dowel size is about 6 mm. The mounting depth must be at least 50 mm.

Scheme for finishing a wall made of aerated concrete with siding

Plaster

The finishing of aerated concrete walls can be done with a variety of finishing materials, not only siding and brick. Plaster is often used for finishing aerated concrete bases. To decorate a house, you should not choose ordinary cement mixtures, because the block will immediately absorb all the moisture from them, which will ultimately cause the destruction of the material. In addition, after drying, multiple microcracks form on the surface of the plaster. For this reason, you should purchase special mixtures that are used specifically for aerated concrete blocks. These mixtures are based on additives that prevent the absorption of moisture into the aerated concrete material.

Wall finishing with plaster is carried out sequentially:

• the first step is preparation work surface walls It consists of cleaning the surface from dust and excess solution;
• after this, the walls need to be primed with a special mixture, which is intended for aerated concrete material;
• the next stage is to create a plaster mesh. To do this, you can use a fiberglass mesh or metal type with the presence of small cells;
• install the mesh to the wall using self-tapping screws;
• the presence of a mesh guarantees high-quality adhesion of the plaster to the wall surface. If it is not installed, then after some time the work will have to be redone again, because the layer of plaster may come off over time;
• after this you need to knead the solution. Dry ingredients are poured into the container, water is added to them, everything is mixed;
• after that we proceed to plastering the walls;
• When the entire finishing process is completed, you can begin cladding the facade. To do this, you can paint it completely or paint individual parts.

Scheme for finishing aerated concrete facade with plaster

Protective painting

After finishing the facade with plaster, it is necessary to paint it. This will give expressive, bright look the entire building. Most economical option There will be the use of special paints or vapor-permeable plasters.

Features of facade painting are as follows:

• In order to paint the facade, the desired color should be added to the plaster. Then the walls need to be finished with the resulting mixture;
• if suddenly you don’t like the color, you can dilute the mixture with another color and paint the facade again;
• the coloring mixture is applied with a special roller or brush;
• If unevenness, various connecting scars, or seams appear during painting, they must be carefully rubbed down. Next, using a plane, everything should be sanded;
• If you are already planning painting in advance, then it is better to purchase an already processed block.

Paint protection

The final stage after plastering should be a protective coating of the walls with a special composition. Typically, hydrophobic compounds are used for painting, which contain special water-repellent components. These compounds are called water repellent. But there are special compositions for aerated concrete material. Mixtures that are used for finishing brick and concrete are not suitable for this material.

Treatment of painted facades with hydrophobic mixtures:

• hydrophobic mixtures can be applied using a regular paint brush or roller;
• They should be applied to the blocks in a small layer. This layer will be enough to protect the walls from dust adhesion and from the effects of various negative precipitation;
• Application should be made to the entire surface, including corners and other hard-to-reach places.

Ventilated facades

A ventilated façade is considered in the best possible way finishing walls made of aerated concrete. This method is used for wall cladding a large number of sheet or linear finishing material - siding, lining, block house, porcelain tiles, sheets of plastic or metal base.

Finishing features of the ventilated base:

• In order to install such cladding on a block, it is necessary to use a system of guides; if necessary, a lath is made. This facing will provide clearance;
• the entire structure is installed using nails, dowel or anchor type fasteners;
• When finishing a facade made of aerated concrete blocks, systems with vertical guides with slats made of a wooden base are often used. And on the outside they can be sheathed with horizontal materials - clapboard made of wooden base, block house, siding;
• cladding from sheet material usually done together with sheathing, which is nailed to the facade and secured with self-tapping screws;
• the resulting gap between the cladding and the facade is insulated with mineral wool and basalt thermal insulation.

On sale you can find ready-made facade systems made of sheet material. They are already equipped with everything necessary. Their high reliability makes it possible to use them for the construction of private buildings, as well as for multi-story structures.

Finishing buildings made from aerated concrete base is a mandatory requirement for the building to last for a long period. You can use various materials for it - brick, plaster, siding. The main thing is that the material is of high quality and wear-resistant. Also, its installation should be done correctly so that in the future it does not move away or crumble.

Scheme of a ventilated facade

Video

Technology for finishing walls made of aerated concrete blocks using various materials.

Photo of the finished facade of a house made of aerated concrete blocks

Examples of how you can change the facade of a house made of aerated concrete blocks using various finishing materials.

Due to their high thermal insulation characteristics, aerated concrete blocks are very popular today in private housing construction. But they have one drawback - high water absorption. Therefore, precisely selected and mandatory exterior finishing of a house made of aerated concrete is the main requirement when decorating the facade. There is no need to say that today manufacturers offer a huge number of different materials that are used to decorate the outside of a house. All of them can also be used when finishing the facade of a house made of aerated concrete blocks.

Types of materials for facade finishing

Before moving on to analyzing the finishing, it is necessary to note that aerated concrete is a type of lightweight cellular concrete with a high vapor permeability rate. That is, walls assembled from this material “breathe” well. It is with this indicator in mind that finishing work must be carried out.

Plaster

This is the simplest finishing process at first glance. But he has a few points to consider:

1. Traditional cement plasters are not suitable for finishing aerated concrete. The latter will instantly absorb moisture from the solution due to its high moisture absorption rate. Therefore, the applied plaster layer will become cracked or even peel off. No primer will help here.
2. For finishing facades made of aerated concrete blocks, special plaster mixtures have been developed based on additives that prevent moisture absorption. Manufacturers write this on their packaging – for aerated concrete blocks.
3. External finishing of walls from the outside is associated with the preparation of the surface to be finished. Aerated concrete is also prepared. Only for this purpose special primers for aerated concrete are used.

Myself technological process plastering standard. It includes the installation and fastening of the plaster mesh. You can’t do without this element, because aerated concrete blocks have a very smooth and even surface, so its adhesion to plaster mortar will be minimal. The mesh enhances traction. Beacons must be installed in the form metal profiles, between which the plaster solution is applied.

As for finishing, in terms of using plaster, you can approach the issue from different positions. For example, painting facade paints, or use decorative plaster, which contains mineral additives in the form of stone granules, glass beads and others decorative materials. Today, bark beetle is a popular decoration for exterior walls.

Brick cladding

Brick cladding of aerated concrete house - another traditional way protection of porous material. Here are the advantages of this option:

• brick is a durable material with good sound and heat insulation characteristics;
• it has a high load-bearing capacity;
• appearance – presentable;
• easily withstands the negative effects of precipitation, sunlight and wind.

But the cladding process itself is not so simple compared to plaster. This requires experience and qualifications. And if they assure you that the process of brick cladding can be done with your own hands, do not believe it. After all, masonry is not only about laying bricks beautifully, you need to achieve flexible connections for facing bricks and aerated concrete. And this requires experience.

It should be noted that brick cladding offers great opportunities for decorative design of the facade of a house made of aerated concrete blocks. And each of them will be unique. Another disadvantage of this type of finishing is the high price compared to plaster.

If there is a need to increase thermal insulation properties aerated concrete structure, you can use the technology of brick cladding a house made of aerated concrete with insulation. This technology does not shine with variety. Typically, thermal insulation material is added to the masonry mortar - perlite or vermiculite, and rarely expanded polystyrene chips.

Attention! Brick can be used for cladding buildings made of aerated concrete blocks only in private housing construction with a height of no more than two floors. In this case, the use of plaster mesh is a prerequisite.

It is necessary to say separately about the plaster mesh. This reinforcing belt must be installed on walls if their finishing involves wet technologies.

Clinker and porcelain tiles

Both materials differ strikingly from each other not only in performance characteristics, but also in appearance and price. But the technology for laying them on walls is the same. It’s hard to say which is the better cladding of the two. It all depends on the taste preferences of the owner of the house. It just needs to be noted that clinker tiles have a small amount of decorative design. In this regard, porcelain stoneware is represented on the market in a huge variety.

The technology itself for cladding a house made of aerated concrete with clinker tiles or porcelain tiles is no different from each other. It is simpler than brick and cheaper. Both tiles are thin material with low weight, which reduces the load on the foundation. They have higher strength characteristics than brick. Easily withstand natural stress.

If we talk directly about laying clinker tiles on aerated concrete (and porcelain stoneware, respectively), then, as mentioned above, a mesh (preferably synthetic) is first installed on the wall, which is secured in the aerated concrete wall with self-tapping screws or nails. Fortunately, concrete allows you to do this without drilling mounting holes. As masonry mortar use special mixture, designed specifically for aerated concrete surfaces.

But there is one difference between the two tiles. The clinker room has small sizes, so it's difficult to work with. Porcelain tiles are large in size, so installing them on the wall is a more simplified process. Today, the technology for wall cladding with dry porcelain stoneware is presented on the market. This is when the tiles are laid on the sheathing. This option is much simpler if we talk about doing it yourself.

By the way, when the task is to insulate and cladding the facade with porcelain stoneware, this technology is the optimal solution. In this case, the tiles cannot be laid on aerated concrete. An air gap remains between it and the walls, which can be filled with thermal insulation material. This technology is not only easier to implement, it allows you to repair the cladding without dismantling a large amount of cladding material.

Clinker tiles are laid on aerated concrete only using wet technology.

Siding

We move on to finishing the façade aerated concrete block using dry technologies. A prominent representative of this category of finishing materials is siding: plastic, metal, ceramic, cement and wood. When the question is raised about how to decorate an aerated concrete house with your own hands without complex construction operations, then siding the building is exactly what it is.

Each type of this finishing material has its own pros and cons. For example, metal, cement and ceramic are 100% fireproof. Vinyl siding comes in a huge variety of decorative designs. Wooden is the natural beauty of wood structure. Although today new technologies make it possible to design all types of sidings to match almost any natural materials.

A separate group includes thermal panels, manufactured as a decorative thermal insulation material. The outer layer is a tile: clinker or stone, the back layer is insulation, and between them there is a base in the form of an OSB board.

It should be noted that all of the above materials belong to a large group of ventilated facades. That is, these are exterior finishing options that are not attached to the wall being finished. To do this, a frame is assembled from a metal profile or wooden slats, onto which the panels are attached. Between finishing and aerated concrete wall there remains a gap that performs in in this case ventilation functions. Warm and moist air escaping through the blocks from the interior is immediately removed through the gap to the outside finishing structure. It turns out that moisture will not condense on aerated concrete walls, which means they will last a long time.

How to properly install a ventilated facade.

1. The frame is assembled in the form of vertically installed profiles, the distance between which is determined by the length of the siding. For example, a standard metal material has a length of 3 m. This means that the installation of frame elements is carried out either after 0.5 m or after 0.6 m.
2. Profiles must be installed around the perimeter of window and door openings.
3. If aerated concrete sheathing is carried out with insulation, then after assembly frame structure it is necessary to lay thermal insulation material. Depending on the chosen type of the latter, additional tasks related to the protection of insulation are solved. This mainly applies to mineral wool, which must be covered on the back side with a waterproofing film, and on the front side with a vapor barrier membrane.

Attention! Since a ventilated facade is being assembled, a gap must be left between the insulation and the surface of the aerated concrete wall.

The siding installation process itself is no different. To do this, mounting holes are made in the material at the factory, through which it is attached to the frame. The main thing is to install the panels exactly horizontally. Panels of all types of siding are connected to each other using a tongue-and-groove lock. This is not only a strong bond, but also an invisible seam, plus ease of installation.

Lining

This wood cladding material can be classified as siding. Although in the register of building materials it appears as a separate group. What can you say about lining on aerated concrete? There are no restrictions on its use for cladding an aerated concrete house. This material belongs to the technology of ventilated facades. Therefore, it is mounted on a frame sheathing, like other types of siding.

But there are some requirements for it:

• mandatory treatment with an antiseptic and anti-feather composition;
• selection of dry lumber for both the frame and cladding;
• external protective painting or varnishing from the negative effects of precipitation;
• optimally - if the roof of the house is made of aerated concrete with a large cornice, which will cover the walls covered with clapboard.

With wet technologies everything is clear; they require special adhesive compositions. But it is necessary to warn that aerated concrete is not as durable a material as concrete or brick. Therefore, to install ventilated facades, it is necessary to use special dowels as fasteners, which are specially made for cellular concrete.

They are made of plastic (PE, PP or nylon) or metal (galvanized or stainless steel). According to the installation method, dowels are divided into driven and screwed. The latter are considered more reliable and are divided into straight and conical. A separate group are chemical anchors, which are liquid polymer compositions poured into prepared installation holes in aerated concrete, where they are polymerized.

An unfinished aerated block house looks quite presentable if adhesives are used to lay the blocks. The seam between them is small - up to 2 mm, so the appearance looks like a monolithic one. But a gas block with cladding will last longer.

The cheaper the finish, the shorter its service life. In this regard, brick, clinker and porcelain stoneware - best materials for finishing the facade of a house made of aerated concrete.

It is better to finish a bathhouse made of aerated concrete with clapboard or siding. A large amount of damp and warm air, therefore, for this building the best option is a ventilated facade.

When cladding a house with your own hands, take into account the installation technology of the selected material. Strictly follow the rules and requirements of the manufacturers.

When deciding how to cover a building made of aerated concrete blocks, consider all the pros and cons of the selected material. Price will not be the last selection criterion.

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. dyeing 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 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 applied to the 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 application. required thickness 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. In the cornice area there is ventilation holes for the release of moist air.

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 provide 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

To reliably protect the block wall material from external atmospheric influences, it is better to use facing bricks. 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 a flat roof), provision is made for the escape 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 an 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 connections in alkaline environment They break down quite quickly.

Connections are located in checkerboard pattern. The horizontal distance is taken to be 600 mm. It is allowed to place connecting parts vertically on maximum distance 500 mm apart.

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.