Modern houses are built from a wide variety of building materials, almost all of them require high-quality exterior wall decoration. For these purposes, wood, plastic, metal, stone is widely used, but facade brick is considered the most reliable and durable. This type of wall cladding is striking in its diversity and ability to turn an unsightly building into a real architectural masterpiece. To understand what its advantages and features are, you should study this material in more detail.
Main characteristics of front brick
Facade brick is a universal material made of ceramics, used for cladding internal and external walls, fences and pillars. Due to its attractive appearance and a variety of colors, it is actively used in decorating rooms and ennoblement of cottage plots.
Ceramic brick gained popularity in the field of exterior
decoration of facades due to a number of positive features, namely:
- High degree of wear resistance. Due to the strength of ceramics, the facades faced with such bricks do not require repair work for many decades, which fully justifies the cost of the material.
- Resistance to weathering. Front brick does not fade, is not afraid of precipitation and is quite resistant to temperature extremes.
- Excellent thermal insulation abilities. The material is characterized by low thermal conductivity, which helps to retain heat inside the building. It should also be noted that the walls lined with ceramics practically do not allow extraneous sounds from the street into the room.
- Fire safety. The resistance of the brick to fire allows you to reliably protect the building from external fires, which is why it is very often used to decorate the facades of wooden buildings.
Types of facing bricks
Facade bricks are of several types, each of which differs in composition and manufacturing method.
Ceramic facade brick is made of fire-resistant clay, which is given a certain shape. The material is fired at high temperatures and coated with a coloring composition or glaze. Such brick, in addition to strength, is characterized by high vapor permeability, which contributes to the creation of an optimal microclimate in the room.
Pressed bricks are produced by treating particles of shell rock or limestone under high pressure. This appearance is very similar to natural stone, so it is great for decorating facades.
Clinker brick is considered the most durable type. For its manufacture, pure shale clay is used, which is fired at a temperature of 1600 degrees. Due to its high strength, the material is often used for laying sidewalks.
Imitation brick wall panels
Unfortunately, there are situations when the use of facade bricks is impossible due to the low strength of the base of the house or simply because of a lack of funds. In this case, the best option is to finish the facade panels under a brick.
Wall panels are considered an economical option that allows you to quickly and inexpensively give your home a spectacular appearance. Moreover, this material acts as a heat-insulating layer and qualitatively protects the walls from freezing.
The panels are very easy to install, so installing them will not be difficult even for an inexperienced finisher. Facade decoration under a brick can be installed on walls of any material, whether it is brickwork, wood, concrete or plaster.
Advantages of facade panels
The main advantages of panels for facades include:
- Beautiful appearance. A high-quality imitation is practically no different from natural brick, you can consider the difference only at close range.
- The panels are not exposed to temperature, moisture, as well as the population of various microorganisms.
- The material has a long service life, because over time does not lose its original appearance and can last more than 50 years.
- A light weight. It does not exert additional load on the foundation, due to which panels can be installed on any facades.
- Large selection of textures and color shades.
- No harmful components are used in the manufacturing process of the panels, therefore they do not emit harmful substances and are absolutely safe for humans.
Which of the two materials is most suitable should be decided by the owner of the house, after evaluating his strengths and capabilities. If the foundation of the building can not withstand the additional weight, and there is no desire or means to expand it, the ideal solution would be to install facade panels. Brick will help strengthen the walls of the building, thereby extending its life. At the same time, such a finish will cost much more.