10 best materials for facade cladding

Materials (edit)

Modern owners pay close attention to the appearance of a house or cottage. At a minimum, the finishing should not spoil the exterior of the building, but it is better that the facade makes the house attractive from afar. Today, a wide range of facade cladding is presented on the building materials market, which differs in a number of parameters. The zealous owners would like to decorate the facade beautifully, while spending a minimum of financial resources. You will be able to make your dreams come true with the help of important expert advice.

All facade materials can be divided by design into ventilated and deaf. In the first case, there will be a void or insulation layer between the base and the cladding. The non-ventilated facade provides for the installation of the decorative coating directly on the base.
The choice of finishing technology is carried out at the design stage of the house. This is done in order to take into account the amount of additional load that will fall on the facade itself and the load-bearing walls.
An important factor is the combination of finishing with the surrounding area, as well as with the roof, walls, plinth, etc.
The cladding of the facade should also become an additional protection against noise, cold, moisture, ultraviolet radiation, etc. The coating should not have room for microorganisms, insects and birds.
For some homeowners who know how and like to independently equip their home, materials with a simplified installation look preferable. For example, decorative lightweight panels are easily attached, but not everyone can apply plaster or glue tiles.

Our review includes the best materials for facade cladding. When compiling the rating, the following criteria were taken into account:

durability;
decorative properties;
installation technology;
price;
expert opinion;
consumer reviews.

The best materials for a non-ventilated facade

Not all homeowners are involved in thermal and acoustic insulation of the facade. Some make non-ventilated designs for practical reasons, others just want to save money. In this case, several finishing materials will do.

5 Concrete tiles

An excellent architectural and design solution can be the use of facade concrete tiles. It is made by vibration casting from a traditional sand-cement mixture with the addition of plasticizers and dyes. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain panels with a matte or glossy surface. The result is a high-quality facing material at an affordable price. Concrete tile has an external resemblance to some types of decorative stone, it is not inferior in durability. The hard surface can withstand both mechanical and atmospheric influences. Installation does not require the laying of a special layer, the tile is perfectly adhered to the adhesive.

Users praise this facing material for its affordability and good performance. Only in the harsh northern regions does the service life decrease, and during installation you have to spend time removing the edge.

4 Ceramic tiles

Ceramic tiles are not inferior in popularity to other facade claddings. Experts call its strengths high decorative qualities, durability, fire resistance. A huge range of outdoor ceramics is sold on the domestic market. It differs in size, color, texture. The tile is easy to work with, it has a low weight, ceramics are laid on the glue mixture. Installation can also be carried out on a ventilated facade. The coating can withstand the harshest weather conditions while retaining its original elegance.

Ceramic tiles are not used on wooden substrates, which can be called a disadvantage.Some types are quite expensive, which also becomes a deterrent to purchase. Otherwise, users are satisfied with ceramic tiles, especially with their appearance.

3 Facing brick

Facade finishing with facing bricks has deep roots. Due to its aesthetic appearance, modern homeowners also pay attention to this material. Today, new types of facing bricks have appeared, due to which its popularity remains high. Along with the ceramic product, there are clinker, silicate and hyper-pressed bricks on the market. Each of them has its own advantages, but they all allow you to get an outwardly beautiful facade. Users are offered a wide selection of textures, many shades, a variety of shapes. All types of facing bricks are able to withstand negative natural phenomena for a long time.

Professional finishers consider the use of clinker bricks as the best option. In terms of the set of parameters, it is the undoubted leader, the only drawback of the material is the high price.

2 Facing stone

Facing stone occupies a leading position in terms of decorative qualities. Homeowners use it not only as a base material, but also in combination with other cladding. The main advantages of the stone are reliability and durability. Experts also note such positive properties as environmental friendliness, resistance to climatic and mechanical influences. There are two types of this cladding. Natural stone is a rather expensive and difficult pleasure, therefore it is most often used together with other material as a decorative element. Artificial stone cladding practically does not appear in any way to natural material, gaining in cost and weight.

In the reviews, users express complete satisfaction with the appearance of the facade, reliability and durability. Only the installation must be trusted by professional finishers.

1 Decorative plaster

One of the most popular and simple types of facade cladding is decorative plaster. With its help, it is possible to create a beautiful and durable surface. An attractive point is the affordability of the material and a wide selection of bases and structures. The mineral composition is considered a classic of the genre, it is combined with all heat insulators and building materials. Affordable price and a wide range of colors have become the main trump cards of the cladding. Acrylic plaster stands out with its elasticity, and the service life of the coating reaches 20 years. The silicate-based cladding has the maximum durability (up to 30 years). Silicone plaster is highly resistant to dirt.

Users are completely satisfied with the cladding of facades using decorative plaster compositions. The downside of the material is the complexity of self-application.

The best materials for a ventilated facade

Among the owners of private houses and cottages, there are many adherents of ventilated facades. They become especially relevant when it is planned to organize a living room under the roof. Some materials are suitable for installation on insulation, while for others you will have to create a special frame.

5 Decking

In our review of the best facade materials, there was also a place for steel corrugated board. Thanks to the zinc coating and polymer paint, a wind-resistant cladding with excellent anti-corrosion properties is obtained. The corrugated board gives the facade a finished look when installing a metal roof. The use of steel sheet looks optimal in ventilated structures. A special frame is preliminarily made, insulation is additionally carried out with mineral wool or polystyrene materials. It is not difficult to carry out the installation yourself, especially when finishing a wooden facade.

According to users, corrugated board allows you to beautifully decorate not only the facade of the house, but also the walls, utility rooms, outbuildings. A wide selection of rich colors gives space for the imagination of homeowners and designers. The disadvantage of the material is strong heating, noise during oblique and heavy rain.

4 Porcelain stoneware

The most durable finishing material for facade finishing is porcelain stoneware. It is made by semi-dry pressing of a mixture of natural components such as clay, feldspars and quartz. Manufacturers offer homeowners porcelain stoneware in the form of tiles with a thickness of 12-16 mm. Experts attribute absolute moisture resistance, durability, long-term preservation of the original appearance, a wide range of textures and colors to the strengths of the cladding. Depending on the preferences of the consumer, you can choose a matte or polished surface, give preference to a homogeneous or mosaic structure.

In Russia, many owners of houses and cottages have finished the facade with porcelain stoneware. They are pleased with the practicality of the coating, strength and moisture resistance. Of the minuses, there is a lot of weight, a decent cost and specific installation.

3 Wood-polymer composite panels

Not so long ago, such a modern type of cladding as WPC panels appeared on the domestic market. The main component of the cladding becomes fine wood-shaving mass (not less than 60%). The composition also includes binders, polymer compounds and dyes. Experts believe that the main advantages of WPC panels are elegant appearance and resistance to various weather conditions. Ease of installation allows owners of wooden houses to independently assemble the cladding structure. In this case, there is no need to carry out special preparation of the facade. Manufacturers promise a long service life for the wood-polymer composite, which becomes another advantage.

Users managed to appreciate the advantages of WPC panels. Repairability is highly appreciated, in order to replace one element, you will not have to dismantle adjacent panels.

2 Clinker thermal panels

Complex facade cladding is one of the options to reduce costs when renovating or building a house. Clinker thermal panels are an example of such a material. They are clinker tiles, to which expanded polystyrene is fused. The consumer can choose the thickness of the heat insulator in the range of 24 ... 80 mm, and the thickness of decorative tiles - 12 ... 15 mm. Experts note the environmental friendliness of the product, since synthetic components are not added at the production stage. In addition, the coating is resistant to biological damage and weathering.

Users like the appearance of clinker thermal panels, their durability, and thermal insulation capabilities. The disadvantage of the material is its high price; during transportation and installation, care must be taken, since ceramics are fragile.

1 Decorative siding

When you need to give an aesthetic look to a wooden facade, first of all pay attention to siding. It is easy to install and many homeowners have successfully assembled it on their own. The most popular are vinyl panels. They have low cost, light weight and long service life. Today, wooden siding or block house provides serious competition to PVC products. It creates the illusion of a real wooden house, but requires additional protection, which negatively affects the overall estimate. Siding made of metal or cement-cellulose composition is less commonly used.

All types of decorative siding require a sheathing. Often, homeowners fill the resulting voids with a heat insulator. Users call siding the best material for finishing a wooden facade.