Siding is most often used for facing building facades. It is available to us in four varieties: aluminum, steel, cement and vinyl. In private construction, vinyl siding is especially popular. The dimensions and weight of the panels allow you to do the decoration of buildings with your own hands. And what other features this material has, read in our article.
What are vinyl panels?
Vinyl siding is presented in the form of long strips that are fixed to each other, forming a continuous lining. If the panel is cut across, two layers can be seen on the slice. The first is 85% of the thickness and is responsible for the strength of the product, thermal insulation qualities of the cladding and resistance to temperature extremes.
The outer coating is more considered decorative. It protects the element from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation and humidity. On the bottom of the panel are openings that allow ventilation and condensate to escape from under the trim.
The chemical composition of vinyl siding is represented by the following components:
- polyvinyl chloride;
- calcium carbonate;
- coloring matter;
- modifiers
- titanium dioxide.
The weight and dimensions of vinyl siding make the material especially popular in low-rise construction. Unlike the metal counterpart, the plastic cladding does not create an additional load on the foundation of the building, which allows it to be used even on dilapidated buildings.
Installation of strips does not require the participation of special equipment and expensive equipment. Elements are fixed both in horizontal and vertical position. Facade decoration can be done independently, which is very attractive to owners of small buildings.
Positive features of vinyl type cladding
Speaking about the advantages of plastic panels, first of all, they note the successful sizes and prices of vinyl siding. The material belongs to the class of budget cladding, while its decorative qualities are quite high.
In addition, the positive properties of the panels include:
- good resistance to natural phenomena;
- resistance to corrosion;
- lack of fungal processes and rot;
- simplicity in leaving;
- ability to withstand the negative effects of alkalis;
- ease of installation;
- fire safety;
- a wide variety of colors and textures.
Modern vinyl siding, the dimensions of which we will examine in more detail below, has several options.
Species with imitation of brickwork, logs and natural stone are especially attractive. The use of such a cladding allows you to transform the old building beyond recognition in a few days.
What sizes are plastic panels?
When calculating the required amount of material, you need knowledge about the size of vinyl siding for exterior decoration. It should be borne in mind that the products of different manufacturers may vary slightly in parameters, but these values are not critical.
So, the length of each vinyl panel can vary from 3 to 3.8 meters. Usually these are fixed indicators: 300 cm, 366 cm, 373 cm, 385 cm. Choose the appropriate option depending on the width of each of the walls of your facade.
When calculating the economic component of the issue, the size of the vinyl siding panel in width plays an important role. For the products of most manufacturers, this indicator is 205 mm, 232 mm, 255 mm, 305 mm.
The thickness of each cladding element ranges from 1 to 1.5 mm. The strength of the products with these indicators is 2.238 cm / g / cm 2 .
Log imitation siding is a great way to decorate a building in an original way.
Do you want to decorate the facade of the house in a rustic style? Consider using vinyl siding for a log. The size of the house for such decoration does not matter. The final result will exceed all your expectations. Lined with similar material, buildings look especially neat. They organically fit into the natural landscape.
You can use siding on the facades of brick, boards and timber. High operational characteristics of the material allow the cladding to maintain the effect of freshly chopped and polished round timber for 30 years. In this case, you do not have to tint and process the facade with protective compounds.
Features of panels for brick
Brick-masonry finishes will appeal to lovers of the classics. Today, such products are produced by the largest brands in the world, which guarantees high quality of the purchased material.
The dimensions of vinyl siding for a brick differ from those stated above. Products are more like shields than planks. The length of one element is 121.9 cm. The width of the panel is 47 cm. The average cost of such a panel is 450 rubles.
To make the finish look as believable as possible, the external and external corners are formed using additional elements. The color of the products is very diverse. In stores you can find any shade of natural masonry: from standard red to the most unusual.
The assembled cladding is practically no different from a real brick wall. Photos of this design are vivid proof of this.
Natural Stone Vinyl Cladding
If you are attracted by the reliability and nobility of natural stone, give preference to its plastic imitation. A high degree of similarity with the original, strength and durability are the main qualities of vinyl siding. The sizes and prices of stone panels are in the same range with the previous version.
Depending on the country of manufacture, the price tag of one panel can vary from 480 to 1600 rubles. The height of the strips of Russian production is 463 mm, the length is 1117 mm. These data will help you perform an approximate calculation of vinyl siding. Sizes and prices of products from foreign manufacturers may vary, so increase the estimate by 20%.
When choosing an imitation of stone and brick, consider the fact that such products are highly durable, which affects their weight. Nevertheless, if you want to turn your home into a stately and presentable castle for little money, this option will suit you perfectly.
Which manufacturer's products do you prefer?
The construction market is filled with an assortment of different companies. This fact makes even the most cold-blooded buyer confused. Which company to give preference, you can understand by examining customer reviews. Several conclusions can be drawn from them:
- In the first place among domestic manufacturers is Döcke. Its products are manufactured on the latest equipment from high quality raw materials. Thousands of buyers managed to appreciate the long service life of siding, the quality of panels and the variety of colors. The main feature of the products is that the facade panels are doubled in size. This allows faster cladding and save on fasteners.
- The second most popular company is Alta-Profile. This is a domestic manufacturer, focusing on adapting its products to the harsh local climate. Judging by the reviews, the most popular product of this company is vinyl siding under a log. The dimensions of the panels in this case are standard.
- Fans of foreign products recommend the French company Mitten. The manufacturer guarantees the high quality of its goods, which confirms the guarantee of 50 years. Another feature of this product is that the material is very plastic. This allows you to work with him even at freezing temperatures.
In addition to the presented brands, in the market you can find dozens of manufacturers of facing of decent quality. If you doubt their reliability, ask the seller for quality certificates for the goods. Their presence is a guarantee that you have products that meet all standards.
Conclusion
Siding is a good way to quickly and relatively inexpensively ennoble the facade. You can calculate the upcoming costs, focusing on the size and cost of the material. But do not forget, in addition to the main cladding, you will have to purchase corner elements and fasteners. Add this item to your budget.