How to veneer the basement of a private house: a review of materials Part 2

A plinth is a part of a building that is in extreme conditions. This is due to the close proximity of the ground and mechanical stress. An open plinth can cause heat loss and dampness inside the room. We continue to review the materials suitable for the plinth wall cladding.

Before finishing the basement, it is necessary to carry out waterproofing measures and insulation work. Many types of cladding perform a decorative function, and without additional heat and waterproofing will be ineffective. Some cladding materials require the construction of a frame and additional ventilation and this must also be taken into account.

Plinth finishing with flat slate, cement bonded particle boards

Flat slate is a popular building material used for cladding the bottom of a building. For a plinth, it is better to use a more durable, pressed slate - it is great for quick and budget cladding. If the water and sewer pipes freeze and you need to urgently sew up the basement, slate is better suited for these purposes - work can be done in any weather conditions.

The advantages of flat slate can be considered: service life of 30 years; wear resistance; low coefficient of moisture absorption; resistance to weather conditions and aggressive environments; does not rot; does not burn; quickly and conveniently mounted. Cons of the material: requires the construction of a frame; fragile; looks unpresentable.

And also, by analogy with flat slate, you can use cement-bonded particleboards (DSP). The characteristics of these materials, if considered for the base, are approximately similar. Among the disadvantages of cement-bonded particleboards, a relatively large weight and a shorter service life should be distinguished - 15 years.

Tiling the basement

For a concrete, brick or block basement, both clinker and natural stone tiles are suitable as facing material. This type of finishing material is distinguished, first of all, by its high aesthetics, which does not disappear over the years and does not require regular painting.

There are a lot of advantages of the tile, and first of all, durability should be emphasized: the service life of a high-quality cladding is from 30 years. The second set of advantages is considered: high strength; resistance to mechanical stress; wear resistance. And it is also worth noting the increased moisture and frost resistance, resistance to all types of atmospheric phenomena.

The decisive factor in the service life of any tile is high-quality installation: in other words, you need to glue it so that it does not fall off prematurely.

A little more about the disadvantages of granite and marble

The disadvantages of the stone can be considered the high price and the need for skilled hands to glue this tile securely. But these are only general disadvantages. When it comes to granite or marble, it is worth understanding how this stone is mined - its durability depends on it. If a stone is mined by explosions, there will be microcracks in it, which will later come out. If it is mined using compressed air or stone cutters, the products will be of high quality. Granite and marble are expensive rocks and this information should be clarified before buying.

As for marble, not every variety of marble is suitable for plinth cladding. For example, white and pink marble tend to “rust” and absorb water - this will lead to cracks over time. Some types of gray (sugar) marble have a tendency to crumble. Defects of the stone will not appear immediately, but after 10 years they may - it will be unpleasant to carry out expensive repairs.

There is also a widespread tale about the radioactivity of granite. Of course, there are some deposits where the stone exceeds the radiation standards, but it should be understood that the basement is not a countertop and not a kitchen floor, and will not affect human health.

What methods of covering the basement can you suggest? Write in the comments!

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Useful material:

• How to veneer the basement of a private house: a review of materials Part 1.
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