Flexible bricks - theory, experience craftsmen portal

Depending on the used material in the construction of the house, sooner or later there is a need facade decoration, to protect the building shell and improve the decorative effect. Transformation options weight, depending on the source data, the financial capacity owners and their preferences. One of the relatively recently appeared facade materials, which have already try our craftsmen - a flexible brick. What it is and what to use, deal with the help of FORUMHOUSE users.

• What kind of material is flexible brick.
• Scope, characteristics.
• Installation.
• The experience of our craftsmen.

Flexible bricks - it's ...

The flexible brick - a composite material consisting of a resin substrate (acryl resin) and decorative filler. At the beginning of the century on the market was submitted to the neat polymer, with the texture of a brick, today manufacturers are also using quartz sand or marble chips. Accordingly, such material is not only much more attractive look of pure polymer but also the characteristics it solidly.

Regardless of the raw material base, in fact, a thin (4-6 mm), light, flexible tile, cut in the form of blocks, with appropriate texture.

Today, some manufacturers not only offer a flexible brick / tile, but flexible stone relief imitating natural sandstone or other species, as well as large sheets (2.2 m in length and 1.02 m). But this kind of features smaller thickness (2-3 mm) and the sheet material is rather close to the facade wallpaper. Besides tiles / bricks / stone range comprises angular elements - both external and internal, which simplifies the liner. But even if such elements of the selected manufacturer not flexible material easily takes the form of an angle.

Scope, characteristics

It is a versatile finish, designed for interior and facade works, in whole or in accent areas - entrances, balconies, columns, around window and door openings. Virtually any areas where it is necessary to obtain the effect of brickwork or stone facing, while not weighing down the base. Particularly relevant flexible finish on complex forms, since the tile is bent and rolled into a cylinder.

The material can be used for lining of furnaces and fireplaces, if the surface is not heated above + 60⁰S if the temperature is higher, the insulation layer is needed.

Since the flexible stone is designed for outdoor use, it is characterized by the following characteristics:

• impact - soft tile and will break if you accidentally hurt, and specifically can be broken anything;
• wear resistance - is not afraid to ultraviolet radiation, does not erode, not used up;
• moisture - flexible lining substantially do not absorb water;
• frost - it depends on the brand, but not less than 35 cycles.

As for durability, material promise long life, but boast plenty of experience of application it can not. Although it is logical to assume that a large marble chips or quartz sand-based acrylic will hold no less than the soft tile, and is 10 years old. Not a long time, but it is quite acceptable for facade systems of this kind.

Installation of flexible stone

One of the advantages of this facade coating is considered to be a hassle-free installation - tiles fixed on a special adhesive mixture, it usually goes in the line of each brand.

Training

The base must be flat. If you plan to refresh thus lost kind brick facade, will have to be leveled with a thin plaster layer. Flat slab or block walls do not require additional finishing, except for removal of dust and a primer of deep penetration of the composition.

When laying a layer of insulation on it, according to the chosen technologies should be protected reinforcing layer, which is already installed tiles. If you plan to simulate brickwork, decorative will largely depend on the seams, so the pre-marking is performed under the seam 10-12 mm. When facing mimics stone marking is not required, since the flat seams still will not work, and the broken lines will hide any errors.

laying

Tiles laid on pre-coated notched trowel (teeth 3 mm) uniform layer of glue if necessary cut material knife construction on the rear side. After preliminary fixation at the place of the pinch roller is rolled segments for final fixation. Additional grouting is not required, while stressing reliable stitching composition seals the tiles around the perimeter, before curing the seams is recommended to level the brush to smooth terrain.

If you do not use additional elements, for ease of fixing at the corners of the building, you can use a hair dryer. Depending on the manufacturer flexible liner is manufactured as a completely finished, and after installation requires applying a protective coating (acrylic or silicone coating). Some marks each segment immediately coated with a protective layer to prevent ingress of glue on the surface (tiles with marble chips). After mounting the protection simply removed, and no finishing is no longer required.

Experience craftsmen portal

This material is not yet very widespread, not least due to the impressive value that outweighs and decorative and technical parameters. However, on the portal there are already several examples of successful applications.

Supra667 (FORUMHOUSE User):

facade cladding - Flexible bricks: base - OSB, reinforcing mesh, brick flexible glue.

According to the craftsmen, in the installation of tiles is nothing complicated, glue sold already prepared, applied with a spatula, to fix tiles on the level and so on to victory.

As advised the producers, it is immediately processed seams moistened brush to smooth out.

Three years later, the facade feels well until everything is kept, does not fall off anything. Grout only on the edges of the door to the shed has fallen off in some places due to friction.

Another facade for five years, complaints arise.

Alx74 (FORUMHOUSE User):

I plastered facade "flexible" bricks at one time worked with the manufacturer (including on the facade insulation systems), thanks to this was the opportunity to buy material with a very good discount. Stoned house in 2011, in principle, has not yet regretted never that confuse.

Flexible lining has become the standard topcoat "pie" wet facade. Also I used a special glue coming from the material, additional grout for joints or applied to reduce the budget. Since even with the discount came out significantly, it has made more decorative elements.

Despite the fact that the craftsman did not use a special grout and tile perfectly holds to this day.

As well as other, non-traditional for today facade materials, flexible stone yet perceive with caution, and to finish his budget option definitely will not carry, but those who have tried it are satisfied.

For more information about other original finish - article on the front wallpaper, More conventional ways - in the material the effective facade. In the video - how glue decorative tilesTrue, not flexible, but the technology is nearly identical.

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