How to prevent the destruction of the facade and prolong its service life

Rain, atmospheric and temperature effects - this and more every day destroys your facade. To prevent the destruction and thereby prolong the service life of brick, concrete and plaster facades, you should know why this is happening.

In this part of the tutorial we will discuss the key factors of adverse atmospheric effects on facades, as well as methods of protection exterior finish of a country house.

So, we will answer the following questions:

• Any adverse atmospheric conditions lead to the destruction of the facade.
• Why is a brick facade appear efflorescence.
• How to protect the facades from damaging atmospheric influences.

Adverse climate impacts whichlead to the destruction of the facade

Among the most popular developers plaster facades and stone erected from bricks or concrete surface by further plastering. Facades of this type attract developers excellent appearance and durability.

Choosing material for exterior wall decoration of a country house, you should know that a cottage facade is constantly exposed to negative atmospheric influences. This can lead to its destruction. How does this happen?

Dmitry Salamatov (engineer repair company SIKA concrete structures):

Moisture - is a major factor in the negative impact of the environment on the facade. Moisture may be in the form of rain, snow, morning condensate (dew). Saturation moisture exterior finishing materials leads to deterioration of the appearance of the facade. This is manifested as a change in color plastered walls, a brick facade appear the so-called efflorescence (white spots and stains), the coating may peel off.

Water accumulating Walling, under the influence of negative temperatures freezes, increases in volume and "tears" the material of the facade is made. This initially leads to the appearance of microcracks, and then, as the accumulation cycles "freeze-thawing", to the destruction of the outer finish.

In addition, cracks may get harmful microorganisms. If there favorable conditions (moisture and temperature) the microorganisms are beginning to develop. On the facade may appear mold, moss, dark green spots, stains. This spoils the appearance of the facade, as well as leading to its accelerated degradation (due to increased porosity of the material, the affected microorganisms).

If the material is a façade insulation (e.g., rock wool), it (with the moisture available) gradually saturated with water. This significantly reduces its thermal insulation characteristics, since increases the thermal conductivity of the material, and it ceases to function. Accordingly, the increased heating costs.

If you do not take any measures to protect the facade, the moisture then penetrates into the load-bearing walls. This leads to a decrease in the performance of the materials from which the house is built. Decreases their strength, frost resistance and service life. Moisture saturation moldy wall material until damage interior finishes.

Dmitry Salamatov:

For concrete structures humidity dangerous because it promotes the development of so-called corrosion of concrete blocks, valves and leaching.

Also water from the atmosphere, also possible rising moisture from the soil into the foundation, which then, due to the porosity of the material rises and falls in a facade.

To avoid this, between the foundation and facade need to make reliable shutoff waterproofing.

If the shut-off hydro installed with violations of building codes and regulations, or has ceased to carry out their functions, to cut off and stop the further spread of moisture in the brick facade can be at help special injectable solution.

Why on the facade appear efflorescence and stains

The question arises - how moisture penetrates the façade, because it seems that such finishing materials as brick, concrete or plaster have sufficient strength and moisture resistance. Besides the lack of properly installed drainage system and sufficient overhang of the roof, water penetrates into the front through front surface of the fabric.

If we consider the brick facade, the brick - it is a porous material. Depending on the water absorption coefficient of the material changes the degree of saturation moisture bricks which it absorbs from the environment. Additionally, excessive amounts of moisture may be present in the mortar. As a result, due to the capillary motion, moisture, which can be salts, moves the facade outside. Salts also submitted to the outer surface of the brick. The water evaporates and the salt crystallized solution. As a result, on the facade appear efflorescence. Over time, the process vysoloobrazovaniya (if not stop) leads to the destruction of the front of the masonry.

The most susceptible to damage masonry joints, because at the base seam is masonry cement-sand mortar, which is constantly exposed to weathering.

A similar situation occurs with the façade plaster and concrete. Water penetrates the façade through the smallest cracks. This leads to the appearance of stains on the plaster and concrete, their further exfoliation. When passing through the cycle of "freezing - defrosting" in saturated concrete, plaster facade (as in a brick) internal stress increases, which leads to its destruction.

Besides moisture negatively affect the facade: weathering, UV-radiation and chemical exposure. At the last factor should focus. In the air (especially in large metropolitan areas and close to the companies and factories) can be contained fats, oils, salts, gases, petroleum products etc. Getting on the wall, the particles are mixed with water. Further aggressive chemical "cocktail" penetrate into microcracks and has a negative impact on the structure of the material, leading to accelerated destruction of the facade.

Dmitry Salamatov:

In addition to losing aesthetic appeal facade destruction leads to a decrease in waterproofing and thermal insulation characteristics of the building. Over time, this leads to the need for costly repairs not only the facade, but also the whole house.

Protect facade against adverse weather

As I mentioned above, the moisture - the main negative climatic factor leading to the destruction of the facade. To extend the life of concrete, brick or stucco facade, and therefore the cottage, you need to protect these materials against the penetration of moisture. For this purpose, special hydrophobic impregnation.

Dmitry Salamatov:

Hydrophobic impregnation - a tool that penetrates into the pores and capillaries of the material, envelops them, changing the energy of surface tension of mineral bases, concrete, plaster and brick. The result is a water repellent surface which prevents moisture and corrosive aqueous solutions of water soluble salts to penetrate into the surface structures.

Water trapped in the facade of the treated water-repellent impregnation, just runs down the wall and does not penetrate.

Application hydrophobizing impregnation prevents the damaging effects of molds, fungi, lichens, since microorganisms deprived constant feed moisture.

Through the use of hydrophobic impregnation, the pores are closed, reduced capillary movement of moisture and water absorption in the finishing materials. This reduces the likelihood of divorce and efflorescence stains on concrete, brick and stucco. In addition, increased frost resistance of brick, concrete and plaster and their resistance to adverse weather conditions. In this case, the walls treated with a hydrophobic impregnation, "breathe." Those. water vapor permeability of the materials does not change, which contributes to comfortable living conditions in the house.

Thus, the use of hydrophobic compounds to successfully deal with the destruction of the facades, which extends the life of the house and keeps the aesthetic appeal of the finishing materials.

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