The facade is not only a beautiful picture, but also the protection of the building from negative environmental phenomena. Facade plastering should be chosen with great care. There are four main types for working outside. To build your home, you should carefully study their pros, cons, features of application. This is the only way to plaster a building for many years.
Types of coverage
Types of facade plaster differ in the type of binder. This is the main indicator that classifies coverage. There are four options now:
- on a mineral binder;
- on an acrylic basis;
- silicate based;
- on a silicone binder.
Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages, respectively, and the scope. Plastering the walls of the house with your own hands is only after a careful study of all the options and making a deliberate decision.
Mineral Compounds
This is a very popular facade plaster for outdoor work, how to choose a composition so that in the future there are no problems? There are two options for preparing the mixture: alone or from finished dry material produced at the factory. The first method will save money, but it is important to strictly control the proportions of the composition. Even small deviations will lead to a change in strength. Ready-made dry mix - a reliable option that will reduce labor and time costs.
Facade decorative plasters based on Portland cement have the following advantages:
- affordable price;
- good adhesion to the base;
- excellent strength indicators;
- vapor permeability;
- does not absorb moisture;
- resistant to frost and extremes of temperature.
But finishing the facade of the house with stucco of this type also has disadvantages:
- the impossibility of painting in bulk - it is necessary to use facade paint;
- limited color palette;
- It has low elasticity - cracks easily appear on the walls when the building shrinks.
Another option for a mineral-based facade coating is gypsum plaster. But such a mixture is not recommended to be applied to the external facade of the building. The material is unstable to moisture, and in order to achieve good performance, a large number of polymers are added to the composition. Such components adversely affect the environmental friendliness and vapor permeability of the decorative layer.
Acrylic Compounds
Finishing the facades with acrylic-based plaster allows for high elasticity and good wear resistance. Before plastering the facade of the house with such a composition, a rough alignment is performed. To do this, use a cement composition or other analogues. The option will be relevant for new buildings that shrink during the first years. With small deformations, the coating does not crack, as happens with mineral binders.
The application of acrylic-based facade plaster has several disadvantages. Before choosing this option, it is worth weighing the pros and cons.
- the material has a relatively high cost;
- does not always comply with fire safety standards;
- poorly passes air through walls; additional room ventilation may be required;
- plaster attracts dust, which is difficult to wash off (the option is not recommended for use near busy roads).
Silicate compounds
Exterior decoration of the house with silicate-based plaster is done in a thin layer. This composition is intended for use in conjunction with mineral wool insulation.
The benefits include:
- excellent vapor permeability;
- dust repellent properties;
- moisture resistance;
- ease of care.
Silicone compounds
Decorative plasters for silicone-based facades have the best performance among all types for outdoor use. Such DIY plaster has the following advantages:
- high elasticity;
- antistatic properties;
- water resistance;
- vapor permeability.
The material is suitable for finishing the base and walls. This option is especially relevant in coastal regions where high humidity is characteristic.. The plastered facade is also resistant to salt.
How to choose
Decorative plasters for facades are selected according to several criteria. First of all, it is worth paying attention to the resistance of the material. The leader here will be an acrylic mixture. Its service life can be up to 25 years. The second place is occupied by silicone compounds, which are able to please the owner with an attractive appearance for up to 20 years. Cement coating will require repair in 10 years. If you choose a material for resistance to atmospheric precipitation, then silicone and acrylic will be the best option.
The durability is also affected by the texture of the application. Smooth mixes are less resistant to cracks. A rough surface tolerates deformations better.
Decorative plasters for facade work are also chosen for color fastness. Silicone and silicate compounds stand out against the background of acrylic and cement. But silicate have a relatively poor color palette. Acrylic-based plasters lose their color due to dust that settles on the surface and refuses to leave it.
Decorative facade plasters should be selected taking into account all the above recommendations. For each specific case, they are looking for the best option.
Surface preparation
Before plastering the facade of the house, you will need to level the surface and prepare it for applying the facing layer. The preparation method depends on the material of the walls.
Brick
The work is performed in the following order:
- clean the surface;
- remove the solution from the joints to a depth of 10 mm;
- knock down bulges;
- close up large cracks and depressions;
- primed wall or spray.
After drying the preparation, you can proceed to the decorative layer.
Concrete
- clean the surface;
- check the evenness of the walls, if necessary, carry out alignment, fill the hollow with a cement-sand mixture, knock down the protrusions;
- provide good adhesion in one of the following ways: concrete primer, mesh netting, notches on the surface, sandblasting spray.
Lightweight concrete
Decorative plasters for outdoor use can be applied after the following activities:
- wash off the oily composition from the surface of the block, if any;
- if the material did not have an oil coating, then it is worth treating it with a deep penetration primer.
The outer layer of the block depends on how it is produced. The absence of an oil film indicates that the cells on the surface are open - such a material needs additional waterproofing.
Wood
Decorative facade plasters on wooden walls are applied after the following activities:
- surface cleaning;
- wood treatment with antiseptics and flame retardants;
- increased adhesion with shingles.
Insulation
To cover the insulated facade with plaster, you will need to use a special mesh. Thermal insulation does not have high strength, therefore, requires additional reinforcement. How to plaster the facade in this case? It is worth adhering to the following order:
- thermal insulation is firmly fixed to the wall;
- a layer of glue is applied to the material, the same as that used when fixing to the surface;
- mesh is attached to the glue;
- grout with a spatula and grater;
- surfaces allow to dry;
- make grinding.
Facade plasters for insulation belong to the so-called wet facade system.
Application technology
Do-it-yourself facade plaster for exterior work can be applied in several ways. There are not many textures for the facade. This is due to the fact that the material works in difficult conditions and is constantly exposed to negative environmental influences. But even among the possible colors and textures, you can choose the option that most harmoniously fits into the architecture of the building.
Three main methods can be distinguished:
- bark beetle;
- fur coat;
- mosaic.
Bark beetle
Decorative plastering of external walls of this type is applied using a large and medium trowel, as well as large and medium trowels. First, the composition is applied to a large spatula with a small one. After this, the plaster solution is applied to the wall. At the same time, work starts from the bottom corner. The composition is leveled and allowed to set for 5-30 minutes. The exact time depends on air temperature and humidity.
The drawing on the surface is formed with a trowel of plastic. You can make vertical, horizontal or inclined lines. After this, the plaster should dry for 40-50 minutes. At the end of the work, the outer surface is treated with a trowel or grater.
Fur coat
The most technological and productive option will be the application of plaster type "coat". The finished solution is applied to the prepared surface by several methods:
- roller;
- mechanical device of the "barrel organ" type;
- pneumatic tools.
To plaster with a roller, it is worth choosing special dry mixes. The packaging should indicate that they can be applied with such a tool. There are several ways to form a surface:
- lamb texture;
- texture of grated coat;
- crocodile texture, etc.
Mosaic
Decorative plasters for exterior work of this texture are made on an acrylic binder. The composition adds multi-colored chips of marble up to 1 mm in size. To apply the solution, use a wide spatula or trowel. The work is performed from the bottom up. The advantages of the coating include high resistance to mechanical damage and moisture. The texture "mosaic" is well suited for finishing the basement.
Before plastering the facade of the house using a dry mixture, you should carefully study the manufacturer's instructions. Each option may have its own characteristics depending on the composition.