Materials and technologies for home facade decoration
Architecture is a science that combines two types of activity: planning and construction of buildings. Architecture, as it was called in antiquity, cannot be mastered without highly specialized knowledge, the luggage of which every talented professional has. The word "architecture" went through a long way of borrowing from other languages before it appeared in Russian. At first it was adopted from the Poles, they borrowed the name in Latin, and to it it migrated from Greek, where it meant "the main, main builder." Architects manage to combine mathematics and art. Their work consists of several stages, the last of which becomes decoration. If we are talking about monumental buildings, then decorating them with a simple layman is beyond the power.
You can try on the role of an architect only when decorating your own home. Usually private average dwellings are similar to each other, like standard copies: standard two or three windows on the facade, on one side a veranda with an entrance door. The question is not so much in the capabilities of the owners to beautifully arrange their home, but in a simple desire.Design project can be implemented even with the help of inexpensive materials. The decor of the facade of the house is no less important than the interior solution inside the home. If guests "get to know" the decoration after they are invited, the exterior will tell any passerby about the particular taste of the owners of the site.
The interior is created to a greater extent for the convenience of living, architectural solutions are aimed at creating beauty from the outside. However, do not be mistaken about the complete futility of decorative finishes. It becomes an additional support and a strong obstacle to the destructive processes, which over time begin to affect the facades of any material.
The front side is the “face” of the house that welcomes guests. The first impression, which is known to be difficult to smooth over time, depends on its appearance. Consider what elements you will decorate the main wall of the house, it is necessary in advance. Usually, the exterior solution is linked to the design of the landscape of the site and the home area. For her, as well as for the interior, they select the style, finishing materials for cladding and decorative elements that play the role of the very cherry on the cake. And without it it’s sweet and tasty, but with it it’s much more beautiful.
Facing the facade surface is also used as an additional layer of insulation. Finishing materials are classified into several popular types:
Artificial brick, stone (polymer concrete);
Concrete. Perhaps the most “strong” option;
Decorative plaster;
Metal and its derivatives in fine finishes;
Polyfoam and polyurethane foam;
Fiberglass concrete.Material that is widely used in "large" architecture;
Gypsum. Fragile material, the products of which are usually kept at home. In order for gypsum elements to withstand the "rainy season", special compositions are used.
Each material is used to implement specific ideas in the framework of stylistic decisions. For example, a tree is indispensable for a group of village styles and ethnic groups, and artificial brick or stone is used to create modern options for facades.
Styrofoam
Polyfoam is mainly used for interior decoration and for insulation purposes. Previously, the material was used exclusively as a “rough” layer. In decoration, it was "rediscovered" not so long ago. Expanded polystyrene panels, on which a "relief" pattern is already applied, are popular. The texture of the material reliably simulates brick and stone. You can create a similar relief with your own hands using a lighter (soldering iron) and a clerical knife. Conventional polystyrene is toxic only when burned, so work on creating decorative panels from it is better to move it to the street and protect the respiratory tract with a respirator. The type of material with “balls” in the structure, which is used to enclose fragile objects in boxes, is suitable only for insulation and interior decoration.
To decorate the facades, polystyrene foam is used. Its safety for humans has been proven by research. Expanded polystyrene can even come into contact with food without consequences. The word "foam" means any foamed plastic. This is not a special kind, but a collective concept that brings together a mass of materials.
To decorate the facades, foam is used with a special coating - a film that protects the fragile base from destruction and environmental influences. However, in spite of these measures, such a lining cannot be called durable. On average, her service life will be five years.Of the indisputable advantages, the additional thermal insulation provided by the material and its weight, which does not add to the load on the structure, are noted.
The modern construction market offers not only foam panels for decoration, but also individual decorative elements: pilasters, stucco moldings, rosettes.
Fiberglass concrete
Fiberglass concrete is a relatively new material. It has an average weight: heavier than polyurethane, but lighter than concrete, does not absorb moisture and is not sensitive to frost. Panels are usually custom-made, and in terms of service life they are not inferior to the building itself. The material is one of the varieties of fiber-reinforced concrete. Reinforcing additives play the role of a "frame", they use steel, fiberglass or synthetic materials. Fiber is added to the concrete (fine-grained matrix), which is evenly distributed throughout the formation. For decor use a separate type. Other types of fiberglass concrete are used for waterproofing or are components of complex structures. The cost of the material slightly bites, since the price is "above average", but the durability of the coating will quickly pay for itself.
Polyurethane foam
Flexible polyurethane foam is used in furniture production. The material keeps its shape perfectly and is used as a soft filler in sofas, beds, armchairs and orthopedic mattresses. Furniture using polyurethane foam is considered absolutely safe for humans. The material is made on the basis of non-toxic plastic. “Hard” types of polyurethane decorate the facades of houses. By weight, the material is similar to polystyrene, the design does not burden.
In construction stores, you can buy polyurethane boards or resort to the exotic option: spraying. Typically, liquid material is sprayed from the cans to insulate. After the surface has completely dried, a strong “crust” forms, which tightly adheres to the base itself, without the help of adhesives.There will be no seams on such a wall. The material is considered an innovative analogue of mineral wool and expanded clay.
Polymer concrete
Polymer concrete, like polystyrene, is a collective concept. They denote a group of materials where the cement or silicate binder is replaced by polymers. Polymer concrete is relatively heavy, so it will add weight to the facade wall. The variety of its shades and textures allows you to choose the desired surface, which will correspond to the style. Dry concrete without water or resin (polyesters) is usually added to decorating concrete.
In terms of service life, the material compares favorably with cheaper analogues, since it can survive the building itself. He is not afraid of any mechanical damage or extreme weather conditions. In price gradation, polymer concrete is located in the category of expensive materials.
Types of architectural decor elements
Decorative details for the exterior of the house can be classified into the following types:
The columns. Freestanding elements, which in this case only imitate the "support" of the arch (usually the porch);
Pilasters They are half-recessed columns in the facade of the building;
Cornices and moldings. Interfloor and basement elements;
Glazing beads for doors and windows;
Rusty. They are used for decoration of corners and additional protection against their destruction;
Pediments and panels. Decorate the roof and walls under the window openings;
Balustrades. Special decorative "railing" consisting of graceful columns;
Brackets. They imitate the “support” of individual overall details.
This list is not exhaustive. It includes a dozen more smaller elements that are used less often.
Do not forget about the lighting of the facade (lights and bulbs) and windows. The latter is important to decorate not only from the outside, but also not to blunder inside. Beautiful curtains in the bedroom or neat kitchen blinds will also “look out” onto the street and unwittingly become part of the exterior of the house.
Decorative columns
Ancient architects created unique structures with perfect balance, the “roof” of which was held on powerful columns. These structures stood for centuries and many did not succumb to destruction and survived to the present day. Naturally, ideas using columns are widely used in decorating modern facades of country houses. The element is usually not used as a support for the roof, but serves only as a decoration. The columns look appropriate in the interiors. They are made of various materials: MDF, timber, fiberglass concrete, polymer concrete.
Do not be mistaken that the columns are the destiny of an exclusively antique style. They also vary in design and can organically merge into a modern design. The column consists of a base, a barrel and a capital. All three parts can be made of various materials. The trunk is usually smooth, and the relief and unusual texture are characteristic of the other two details.
In rare cases, columns save buildings that collapse or were erected with gross, but not critical, architectural errors. Elements combine a decorative function and play the role of additional support.
Pilasters
Pilasters appeared later columns, as a detail imitating them. They are attached to the wall along the entire length and sometimes can also “support” the structure. This decoration is used both in the exterior and interior of the houses. The horizontal section of the parts can be rectangular, semicircular (like columns) or complex shapes. The design of the pilasters also includes a base, a capital and a barrel. Decorating the facade in the style of art deco, rococo, baroque, classic and ethnic is not without this element.
Architectural Profiles
Architectural profiles are a group that unites all types of decorative elements used to decorate building facades. These are referred to as large elements: arches, balustrades, pediments, cornices, rustics.So the details are “smaller”: castle stones, rosettes, friezes, panels and glazing beads. The corners of the buildings are decorated with rusts (usually in the form of tiles), the gables - the “sides” of the roof between the slopes.
Arches adorn doorways and windows, with balustrades “enclose” porches and terraces. Cornices "polish" the stylistic picture of the exterior. Castle stones are used on the tops of arched vaults, and panels are “niche-tricks” in the wall. Beadings decorate the joints of glasses and materials of a window frame or doors. Friezes are complex relief compositions. They resemble voluminous paintings. Rosettes are round in shape and look like small friezes.
Decorative imitation wood
The wooden decor harmoniously looks in rustic and ethnic styles. Usually elements imitate the technique of carving, without which not a single Russian hut could do before. The “continuous” wall covering is made of concrete, composite or artificial wood, painted in characteristic colors with repetition of the special texture of the sample. Also relevant is the imitation of beams that adorn houses in Western countries.
Features of the production of modern decor
Production of modern decor is more focused on reducing the cost of production. These are the realities of life: the more accessible the element, the more often they buy it. Naturally, they try to make materials safe for humans, easy and convenient to install. To decorate the modern facade of the house, you don’t have to grind the stone yourself, sculpt, knead the foundation or pay a lot of money to the master, who will do it manually. Details are formed on special machines by thermal cutting. Smart, high-tech equipment keeps accuracy down to millimeters. Several protective layers are applied to the finished part, which will provide it with “endurance” and immunity to rain, wind, sunlight, mechanical damage, frost and heat.
The range of finished products is rich and allows you to choose inexpensive options that will fulfill the main function: decorate the exterior. Perhaps they will last not so long, but, as they say, the avaricious pays twice, so be prepared for the mandatory replacement of the decor. More expensive materials are characterized by high strength and durability.
Mounting
The design of the facade begins with a drawing. On a rough sketch with real dimensions, an approximate arrangement of decorative elements and their groups is marked. Then, the exterior painting is ground and a layout or a more accurate and detailed drawing is made. Gross errors will be knocked out of the design composition during the visual assessment of the project, so they are easy to eliminate. Further work is conditionally divided into three stages:
Cutting elements;
Their attachment to the surface;
Painting.
At the preparatory stage on the facade of the house mark the location of the decorative parts with a tape measure and level. In parallel with this, the elements themselves, if necessary, are cut and adjusted to the required sizes. The surface also needs to be prepared. Old layers of paint are removed from it, cleaned of dirt and putty. All cracks should be smeared, and defects and bumps should be smoothed out. Then decorative elements are applied to the places of future location and adjusted to each other, if it is planned to join or errors were made during measurements. Attach jewelry with glue.
Manufacturers usually recommend in the instructions for the product exactly the composition that is most effective. To increase the “adhesion” between surfaces, a reinforcing mesh is used. The glue is applied to the back of the element with a notched trowel and pressed against the wall. If the part is large, then additional support is used. The joints between the decor and windows or doors must be treated with sealant.
Painting
After installation, the decor must be painted.First, it is primed, and the wall around the location of the element is sealed with masking tape. On relief or small parts, paint is applied with a brush, and on large surfaces with a roller. Traditionally, elements are coated with two layers of substance. If the paint is in contact with the foam, then solvents should not be present. They just “melt” the decor. To check, you can try to apply the composition to a small piece.
Conclusion
It is impossible to find a “reference point” in history when people first began to use decor for the exterior decoration of buildings. In many architectural monuments and their ruins that have survived to this day, the remains of the details that served as decoration have been preserved. Initially, ceramic tiles with a protective coating of glaze were used for these purposes. By the way, it was produced manually for facing temple complexes and public buildings.
Only after the establishment of less labor-intensive production, cost reduction, tile became available for ordinary mortal homes. The material was made so high quality that it managed to pass the test of time and reach our days safe and sound. Then the elements became more and more complicated: lower cornices, columns, stucco work, friezes appeared, which became a special form of sculpture. Gothic castles were decorated with gargoyles and fantastic birds (harpies), which were sitting on decorative pedestals at the front doors. Today, such a decoration of the facade of a country house will look too pompous and pretentious. People switched to cheaper and simpler materials that embody, albeit not luxurious, but rather sophisticated details.
Architecture is a science that combines two types of activity: planning and construction of buildings. Architecture, as it was called in antiquity, cannot be mastered without highly specialized knowledge, the luggage of which every talented professional has. The word "architecture" went through a long way of borrowing from other languages before it appeared in Russian. At first it was adopted from the Poles, they borrowed the name in Latin, and to it it migrated from Greek, where it meant "the main, main builder." Architects manage to combine mathematics and art. Their work consists of several stages, the last of which becomes decoration. If we are talking about monumental buildings, then decorating them with a simple layman is beyond the power.
You can try on the role of an architect only when decorating your own home. Usually private average dwellings are similar to each other, like standard copies: standard two or three windows on the facade, on one side a veranda with an entrance door. The question is not so much in the capabilities of the owners to beautifully arrange their home, but in a simple desire.Design project can be implemented even with the help of inexpensive materials. The decor of the facade of the house is no less important than the interior solution inside the home. If guests "get to know" the decoration after they are invited, the exterior will tell any passerby about the particular taste of the owners of the site.
The interior is created to a greater extent for the convenience of living, architectural solutions are aimed at creating beauty from the outside. However, do not be mistaken about the complete futility of decorative finishes. It becomes an additional support and a strong obstacle to the destructive processes, which over time begin to affect the facades of any material.
Content
Decor Materials
The front side is the “face” of the house that welcomes guests. The first impression, which is known to be difficult to smooth over time, depends on its appearance. Consider what elements you will decorate the main wall of the house, it is necessary in advance. Usually, the exterior solution is linked to the design of the landscape of the site and the home area. For her, as well as for the interior, they select the style, finishing materials for cladding and decorative elements that play the role of the very cherry on the cake. And without it it’s sweet and tasty, but with it it’s much more beautiful.
Facing the facade surface is also used as an additional layer of insulation. Finishing materials are classified into several popular types:
Each material is used to implement specific ideas in the framework of stylistic decisions. For example, a tree is indispensable for a group of village styles and ethnic groups, and artificial brick or stone is used to create modern options for facades.
Styrofoam
Polyfoam is mainly used for interior decoration and for insulation purposes. Previously, the material was used exclusively as a “rough” layer. In decoration, it was "rediscovered" not so long ago. Expanded polystyrene panels, on which a "relief" pattern is already applied, are popular. The texture of the material reliably simulates brick and stone. You can create a similar relief with your own hands using a lighter (soldering iron) and a clerical knife. Conventional polystyrene is toxic only when burned, so work on creating decorative panels from it is better to move it to the street and protect the respiratory tract with a respirator. The type of material with “balls” in the structure, which is used to enclose fragile objects in boxes, is suitable only for insulation and interior decoration.
To decorate the facades, polystyrene foam is used. Its safety for humans has been proven by research. Expanded polystyrene can even come into contact with food without consequences. The word "foam" means any foamed plastic. This is not a special kind, but a collective concept that brings together a mass of materials.
To decorate the facades, foam is used with a special coating - a film that protects the fragile base from destruction and environmental influences. However, in spite of these measures, such a lining cannot be called durable. On average, her service life will be five years.Of the indisputable advantages, the additional thermal insulation provided by the material and its weight, which does not add to the load on the structure, are noted.
Fiberglass concrete
Fiberglass concrete is a relatively new material. It has an average weight: heavier than polyurethane, but lighter than concrete, does not absorb moisture and is not sensitive to frost. Panels are usually custom-made, and in terms of service life they are not inferior to the building itself. The material is one of the varieties of fiber-reinforced concrete. Reinforcing additives play the role of a "frame", they use steel, fiberglass or synthetic materials. Fiber is added to the concrete (fine-grained matrix), which is evenly distributed throughout the formation. For decor use a separate type. Other types of fiberglass concrete are used for waterproofing or are components of complex structures. The cost of the material slightly bites, since the price is "above average", but the durability of the coating will quickly pay for itself.
Polyurethane foam
Flexible polyurethane foam is used in furniture production. The material keeps its shape perfectly and is used as a soft filler in sofas, beds, armchairs and orthopedic mattresses. Furniture using polyurethane foam is considered absolutely safe for humans. The material is made on the basis of non-toxic plastic. “Hard” types of polyurethane decorate the facades of houses. By weight, the material is similar to polystyrene, the design does not burden.
In construction stores, you can buy polyurethane boards or resort to the exotic option: spraying. Typically, liquid material is sprayed from the cans to insulate. After the surface has completely dried, a strong “crust” forms, which tightly adheres to the base itself, without the help of adhesives.There will be no seams on such a wall. The material is considered an innovative analogue of mineral wool and expanded clay.
Polymer concrete
Polymer concrete, like polystyrene, is a collective concept. They denote a group of materials where the cement or silicate binder is replaced by polymers. Polymer concrete is relatively heavy, so it will add weight to the facade wall. The variety of its shades and textures allows you to choose the desired surface, which will correspond to the style. Dry concrete without water or resin (polyesters) is usually added to decorating concrete.
In terms of service life, the material compares favorably with cheaper analogues, since it can survive the building itself. He is not afraid of any mechanical damage or extreme weather conditions. In price gradation, polymer concrete is located in the category of expensive materials.
Types of architectural decor elements
Decorative details for the exterior of the house can be classified into the following types:
This list is not exhaustive. It includes a dozen more smaller elements that are used less often.
Decorative columns
Ancient architects created unique structures with perfect balance, the “roof” of which was held on powerful columns. These structures stood for centuries and many did not succumb to destruction and survived to the present day. Naturally, ideas using columns are widely used in decorating modern facades of country houses. The element is usually not used as a support for the roof, but serves only as a decoration. The columns look appropriate in the interiors. They are made of various materials: MDF, timber, fiberglass concrete, polymer concrete.
Do not be mistaken that the columns are the destiny of an exclusively antique style. They also vary in design and can organically merge into a modern design. The column consists of a base, a barrel and a capital. All three parts can be made of various materials. The trunk is usually smooth, and the relief and unusual texture are characteristic of the other two details.
Pilasters
Pilasters appeared later columns, as a detail imitating them. They are attached to the wall along the entire length and sometimes can also “support” the structure. This decoration is used both in the exterior and interior of the houses. The horizontal section of the parts can be rectangular, semicircular (like columns) or complex shapes. The design of the pilasters also includes a base, a capital and a barrel. Decorating the facade in the style of art deco, rococo, baroque, classic and ethnic is not without this element.
Architectural Profiles
Architectural profiles are a group that unites all types of decorative elements used to decorate building facades. These are referred to as large elements: arches, balustrades, pediments, cornices, rustics.So the details are “smaller”: castle stones, rosettes, friezes, panels and glazing beads. The corners of the buildings are decorated with rusts (usually in the form of tiles), the gables - the “sides” of the roof between the slopes.
Arches adorn doorways and windows, with balustrades “enclose” porches and terraces. Cornices "polish" the stylistic picture of the exterior. Castle stones are used on the tops of arched vaults, and panels are “niche-tricks” in the wall. Beadings decorate the joints of glasses and materials of a window frame or doors. Friezes are complex relief compositions. They resemble voluminous paintings. Rosettes are round in shape and look like small friezes.
Decorative imitation wood
The wooden decor harmoniously looks in rustic and ethnic styles. Usually elements imitate the technique of carving, without which not a single Russian hut could do before. The “continuous” wall covering is made of concrete, composite or artificial wood, painted in characteristic colors with repetition of the special texture of the sample. Also relevant is the imitation of beams that adorn houses in Western countries.
Features of the production of modern decor
Production of modern decor is more focused on reducing the cost of production. These are the realities of life: the more accessible the element, the more often they buy it. Naturally, they try to make materials safe for humans, easy and convenient to install. To decorate the modern facade of the house, you don’t have to grind the stone yourself, sculpt, knead the foundation or pay a lot of money to the master, who will do it manually. Details are formed on special machines by thermal cutting. Smart, high-tech equipment keeps accuracy down to millimeters. Several protective layers are applied to the finished part, which will provide it with “endurance” and immunity to rain, wind, sunlight, mechanical damage, frost and heat.
The range of finished products is rich and allows you to choose inexpensive options that will fulfill the main function: decorate the exterior. Perhaps they will last not so long, but, as they say, the avaricious pays twice, so be prepared for the mandatory replacement of the decor. More expensive materials are characterized by high strength and durability.
Mounting
The design of the facade begins with a drawing. On a rough sketch with real dimensions, an approximate arrangement of decorative elements and their groups is marked. Then, the exterior painting is ground and a layout or a more accurate and detailed drawing is made. Gross errors will be knocked out of the design composition during the visual assessment of the project, so they are easy to eliminate. Further work is conditionally divided into three stages:
At the preparatory stage on the facade of the house mark the location of the decorative parts with a tape measure and level. In parallel with this, the elements themselves, if necessary, are cut and adjusted to the required sizes. The surface also needs to be prepared. Old layers of paint are removed from it, cleaned of dirt and putty. All cracks should be smeared, and defects and bumps should be smoothed out. Then decorative elements are applied to the places of future location and adjusted to each other, if it is planned to join or errors were made during measurements. Attach jewelry with glue.
Manufacturers usually recommend in the instructions for the product exactly the composition that is most effective. To increase the “adhesion” between surfaces, a reinforcing mesh is used. The glue is applied to the back of the element with a notched trowel and pressed against the wall. If the part is large, then additional support is used. The joints between the decor and windows or doors must be treated with sealant.
Painting
After installation, the decor must be painted.First, it is primed, and the wall around the location of the element is sealed with masking tape. On relief or small parts, paint is applied with a brush, and on large surfaces with a roller. Traditionally, elements are coated with two layers of substance. If the paint is in contact with the foam, then solvents should not be present. They just “melt” the decor. To check, you can try to apply the composition to a small piece.
Conclusion
It is impossible to find a “reference point” in history when people first began to use decor for the exterior decoration of buildings. In many architectural monuments and their ruins that have survived to this day, the remains of the details that served as decoration have been preserved. Initially, ceramic tiles with a protective coating of glaze were used for these purposes. By the way, it was produced manually for facing temple complexes and public buildings.
Only after the establishment of less labor-intensive production, cost reduction, tile became available for ordinary mortal homes. The material was made so high quality that it managed to pass the test of time and reach our days safe and sound. Then the elements became more and more complicated: lower cornices, columns, stucco work, friezes appeared, which became a special form of sculpture. Gothic castles were decorated with gargoyles and fantastic birds (harpies), which were sitting on decorative pedestals at the front doors. Today, such a decoration of the facade of a country house will look too pompous and pretentious. People switched to cheaper and simpler materials that embody, albeit not luxurious, but rather sophisticated details.