If you have the necessary tool, as well as the skills to work with it, you can easily install facade thermal panels. However, it is worth considering that such work has certain rules that should be followed.
Thermal panels are a material that is often used for cladding facades. Before starting the installation, it is necessary to prepare the surfaces and study the technology.
Installation methods
At the moment, experts are installing thermal panels in several ways. The choice of installation method depends on the materials. There are two ways:
- Seamless method. It is considered the most profitable in terms of finance and ease of installation of thermal panels. By choosing this method, you can save on the main material.
- With filling all the seams. This method is different from the previous one. After laying the thermal panels, the seams formed between the material are filled with a special solution. This gives the surface a more attractive and finished look.
Mounting Features
Before starting the installation of thermal panels, it is worth assessing the scale of the upcoming work. You should not skip the procedure. First of all, it is worth inspecting the surface that will be processed. The installation process of clinker thermal panels is similar to the process of facing ceramic tiles. However, there is a significant difference.
To level the surface under the ceramic tiles, you can use a large layer of glue. This is unacceptable when working with thermal panels. Installation of such a material requires an absolutely flat surface.
Styling preparation
Before you begin installing thermal panels, you need to prepare. Before laying:
- Align all surfaces. The maximum deviation can be no more than 10 millimeters.
- Plaster potholes and pits. The protruding places must be cut off and then polished.
- Deeper irregularities on the surface should be compensated for by other means. Gaskets made of a material that is not resistant to moisture are ideal for this.
What is required for work
The most important thing is to choose the right material. To install thermal panels with clinker tiles without problems, it is worthwhile to prepare all the elements in advance. To work, you will need:
- Thermal panels. To determine the amount of material required, measure the surface and then multiply the height by the length. From the amount it is worth subtracting the door and window openings. Material is sold not in packages, but in square meters.
- Elements are angular. They allow you to give the building a neat and complete look. To calculate the required amount of this material, you should measure the length of all the internal and external corners of the facade.
What should be the surface
The material from which the walls of the building are made does not matter. It can be blocks, bricks or wood. However, the surface must meet the following requirements:
- The base must be dry. Humidity of cement surfaces should not exceed 5%. In this case, the depth is also taken into account - no more than 3 centimeters. As for gypsum and wood surfaces, their moisture content should be no more than 1%.
- The base must be strong enough. First of all, it concerns gypsum and plastered surfaces. The base should be free of delamination and cracks.
- The surface must be clean. Before installing clinker facade thermal panels, it is necessary to clean the base from oil, paint, dirt. This is especially important if the material is not attached to the crate.
Features of finishing wooden surfaces
Before installing thermal panels, carefully prepare the wooden walls. To do this, perform the following manipulations:
- Surfaces made of wood must be coated with waterproof paper or waterproofed. It is recommended to lay the material in horizontal stripes, starting from the very top. In this case, waterproofing should be overlapped with a width of 5 to 7 centimeters.
- After laying the waterproofing material, it is necessary to fix the anti-corrosion mesh using galvanized nails or staples. Particular attention should be paid to the outer and inner corners. Here, the material is laid in several layers.
- Finally, the surface should be leveled. Apply a layer of plaster to the corrosion-resistant mesh. The thickness of the material should be at least 1 centimeter.
How to prepare a concrete wall
When facing such surfaces, there are no special problems. Before installing thermal panels with clinker tiles on concrete walls, check the porosity of the substrate. If the surface is very dense, then this figure will be minimal. In such situations, the bases must be treated with a water repellent.
Brick wall preparation
New brickwork basically does not require additional processing. Especially if it is smooth, without a gap and voids. Installation of thermal panels can be done directly on it. As for the old masonry, it must be cleaned of efflorescence, and then treated with a water repellent and covered with a layer of plaster.
If the building is old, then it does not make sense to plaster it. In this case, the thermal panel is mounted on the crate. This will save building material.
How to mark the bottom points
After the preparatory work is completed, it is necessary to mark the bottom line. It is from her that the material will be installed. As a zero line, you can use a clear boundary between the base and the facade of the building. In other cases, it is necessary to draw a clear mark throughout the area. After that, you can proceed to facing.
If the walls of the building have differences in height, then the zero line must be noted for each surface separately. Guides should be attached along the entire length of the border. They will play the role of low tide. When mounting the guide, special attention must be paid to the horizontal installation. You can use a level to check.
Thermal panel mounting technology
On the reverse side of the thermal panel, it is necessary to apply a layer of a solution 1.5 cm thick with a trowel. The material should be pressed against the wall and slightly moved. Only then can the panels be locked. In this case, the adhesive should squeeze out from under the material. Excess solution must be removed. Manipulations must be repeated with the next panel. Therefore, it is necessary to put the first row. If the material is used for seamless installation, the end faces of the panels should be filled with mortar.
If the installation is carried out in the heat, then before laying the elements, the surface should be moistened with water with a brush. The same thing needs to be done with panels.
Installation on the crate
First you need to install the crate. It can be made from wooden bars or from metal rails. The distance between the elements of the crate should be no more than 45 cm. Three vertical beams are required for each panel. Before installing the panels, wood should be treated with flame retardants.
In this case, the installation of thermal panels is recommended to start from the corner, from left to right. Thanks to the spike-groove system, only the elements are connected together. After this, the panels are fixed with screws to the crate.
Stitching
Do-it-yourself installation of thermal panels is a rather laborious process. An important point is the stitching. The integrity of the coating depends on how this procedure is carried out. Stitching is done by filling the joints with cement. This will not allow moisture to penetrate further under the panels. Incorrectly performed joint stitching can cause destruction of the material during freezing.
For work, you can use a dense plastic bag with a cut corner. The dimensions of the holes should correspond to the width of the seams between the panels.
How is stitching done
A dense bag of polyethylene must be filled with a solution, and then filled with the composition of the seams. This mass should not fall on the panel. When the solution sets a little, you need to gently tamp the seams. To do this, use a small stick of wood. Do not try to ram the grout. So you can stain all the panels. Subsequently, they will have to be cleaned.
In order for embroidered seams to be more even, it is necessary to neatly cover them. To do this, you can use a broom made of plastic or plant material. In conclusion, it is necessary to treat the surface with a water-repellent composition. A similar procedure can be carried out only after complete solidification of the solution.
In conclusion
Installation of the thermal panel can be done independently. The main thing is to follow all the rules and carefully prepare the surface. Proper facing of the facade with thermal panels allows you to create the perfect resemblance to bricklaying. The use of such material makes it possible to give the building an original look, as well as to distinguish it from other buildings.