A basement is a building element that protects the top of the foundation and the bottom of the outer wall. It protects the bottom of the building from getting wet and does not allow cold bridges to form between the basement and the house. And what will protect the base itself?
Each builder decides this question differently. Before, facing brick was a popular finishing material, but now facing the basement with artificial stone comes first.
What is the reason for getting off the base
Like any element of a building structure, the basement is exposed to the environment. Humidity, temperature changes, especially the freezing and thawing cycles, make it unusable. It is located in the most vulnerable point of the building - at the surface of the earth. And it is here that moisture accumulates the most.
Facing the basement with an artificial stone, which can be of different types, can save the situation:
- based on cement;
- polymer stone;
- clinker tile;
- acrylic and plaster products.
Many of these materials have low thermal conductivity, which means that they can additionally serve as home insulation. In addition, they have a different design that can be organically integrated into the exterior of the house. For example, to match the color of the roofing.
Facing with artificial stone is superior in strength to natural stone. And also has water-repellent properties, which prevents mold and fungi from settling.
Tools and materials necessary for work
Finishing the basement with stone is akin to ordinary brickwork. There is also work with cement, and the position of the cladding is aligned in level. Therefore, the tools that are used for this work are similar:
- Trowel. The main tool with which cement or glue mortar is laid.
- Mesh for reinforcement. It serves to ensure that the solution does not slip after application to the wall, and also that it is possible to finish the basement with artificial stone on the insulation.
- Capacity for solution preparation. Buckets or pots are suitable, depending on the volume of the mixture.
- Construction mixer or a powerful drill for the preparation of cement or glue.
- Grinder with a cutting wheel. It is needed to trim and fit the cladding.
- Building level. With its help, the upper edge is controlled during masonry. If clinker tiles are used, then each row is checked for horizontalness.
- Sandpaper for grouting. During drying, with its help, excess solution or glue is removed, making the seam even and neat.
- Metal brush. She is needed during preparation. With its help, particles of material that poorly adhere to the surface are removed.
Mortar cladding
The use of cement mortar is the most inexpensive way of facing the base with artificial stone. This creates an imitation of masonry from stones of various types:
- large or small pebbles;
- block masonry of large or small elements;
- imitation ashlar stone.
To create a pattern, a layer of cement mortar is applied to the base. Then, using stencils of various shapes, the structure of the stone is given to the solution. When the solution is close to the solidification phase, it is treated with a metal brush to roughen the surface of a natural stone.
Another way to obtain the desired pattern is the penetration of deep and shallow grooves on the surface of an unrefined solution. For this, metal objects and tools are used, as well as a gloved hand.
As it hardens, deep cuts are made using a circular saw to form deep seams.
To make the cement mortar more plastic, PVA glue or special plasticizers are added to it. The texture and attractiveness of natural stone can be created by adding granite, marble or quartz chips to the solution.
Flexible stone
The market for building materials is constantly updated with new products. One of them is a flexible artificial stone for facing the base. It is a stone crumb, applied with an acrylic mixture to a fabric base. This material happens both in rolls and in the form of tiles of various sizes.
The advantages of the material is its low specific gravity. You can mount a flexible stone on any surface. It is easily cut with a clerical knife.
Polymer imitation stone
One of the varieties of finishing materials is polymer stone. As a base, it uses sand and other bulk components. The main difference from other types of cladding is that instead of cement, polymers and plasticizers are the binder.
Fixing on the base of this material does not take place with cement mortar, but with the help of locks with which the tiles are interlocked. In general, the design of the cladding is fixed with screws to a pre-mounted frame. This type of fastening allows it to be used in combination with various heaters. For example, make the lining of the basement an artificial stone on foam.
Clinker cladding stone
This material is made in the form of tiles. For its manufacture, special grades of clay are used, followed by high-temperature processing. The result is a product with ceramic quality.
The type of clinker stone is very diverse. Its outer surface can simulate both brick and a fracture of natural stone. Thanks to manufacturing technology, it has excellent performance as well as high price.
Torn stone
To give the building the appearance of a building made of wild stone in construction, fragmentary stone is used . This material is in the form of plates, bricks or blocks. They are made of natural stone. On the one hand, such a tile has a smooth, polished surface, on the other - the appearance of an uncut stone. As a result of such cladding, the building takes on an old look. To enhance this effect, tiles and blocks are selected in different sizes.
The facade of the building, fences, interior decoration - these are places where fragmentary stone is used. Facing the basement with artificial stone is cheaper, but loses in appearance.
Facing preparation
Before you start finishing the base, enough time must pass for the shrinkage of the material from which it is made. About half a year. Then you can proceed to facing the basement with artificial stone. The preparation technology consists in a thorough inspection of the surface. If cracks are found, then they are sealed with cement mortar. All damaged areas must be repaired.
After that, the surface of the base is cleaned of dust and dirt.
Facing can be performed on a surface of different materials. Depending on this, the finish will be done either directly on the base or on the crate. If the surface is wooden, then it is covered with waterproofing material, then plaster. On a concrete or brick surface, notches are applied with a grinder. This is done to better adhere the mortar to the artificial stone. As the last stage of preparation, the basement surface is treated with a primer.
Masonry execution method
If the services for facing the plinth with artificial stone are expensive, then you can do this work yourself.
To achieve a plausible effect, a plan is first drawn up according to which an artificial stone will be laid out. Different combinations and combinations are made on paper, depending on the shape and color. The most successful option is selected. Then, according to the plan, the tiles are laid out on a flat surface.
After this, a cement mortar is prepared in a ratio of 3 parts of sand to 1 part of cement. Water is added so that the solution adheres well, but does not slip down from a vertical plane. Then a plasticizer is added. It will not allow cracking of the solution during solidification. The resulting composition is thoroughly mixed with a mixer and left for 10 minutes, after which it is mixed again.
The laying of artificial stone starts from the bottom corner and leads to the opposite corner. Before applying the solution to the wall, it is moistened with water, a brush or a spray. Do the same with tiles. Then, with the help of a notched trowel, the solution is applied and leveled.
The stacked tile is pressed against the wall, then excess mortar is expelled with swaying movements. Each laid out row is checked by plumb in the horizontal plane and by level - in the vertical.
The size of the seams is controlled using patterns.
Finishing the base for insulation
To keep warm in the house in the conditions of the Russian winter, the base is often insulated with foam materials like polystyrene foam. This leads to the fact that after that the insulation needs to be somehow refined from the outside. To do this, it is lined with artificial stone.
Very often plastering is applied on the grid before laying the stone. This technology has proven itself in construction in regions with a warm climate. However, in cold areas, another way is more justified. The insulation should first be lined with red brick, only then lined with artificial stone. Or close the insulation with ventilated facade structures.