Basement: basic finishes

An important part of the construction of the house is the foundation. It goes deep underground and rises above its surface by several tens of centimeters. This part is called a base, and it necessarily requires a high-quality finish. Many homeowners believe that the base should be trimmed for beauty, so you can select beautiful, but inexpensive materials. This is a mistake, because if the base is sheathed with cheap siding or plastic, cracks can go along the foundation in a couple of years.

Why finish the base?

Before moving on to a review of popular finishing materials, you need to figure out why to finish it at all. Covering the basement with high-quality materials can solve several problems at once:

the foundation is protected from moisture, rain, bright sun and temperature extremes;
the facing material prevents the pollution of the lower part of the walls and the ingress of aggressive chemicals on them;
the basement lining protects the walls of the house from mold, fungus and other types of biological pollution;
any material also additionally insulates the basement.

If the basement is not sheathed with any material, even a warm floor will not save you from the cold in winter. With batteries turned on at full power, the house will be constantly cold. Basement insulation will help to solve this problem and significantly reduce energy consumption in the cold season. The answer is obvious: the base must be finished? But what types of finishing materials to choose? There are many options, so it is better to study the pros and cons of each material.

Choose a material for decoration

In catalogs with finishing materials for finishing the basement, several budget and expensive options are offered. The plinth can be plastered and painted. Or sheathe:

natural stone;
artificial stone;
brick;
siding.

Compared to the rest, plastering and painting is considered the simplest and most economical option. Such plaster does not allow moisture, so the walls will be well protected. A thick layer of high-quality plaster is placed on the basement of the house, which is then covered:

front paint;
finishing decorative plaster;
concrete "under the cobblestone".

Facade paints today come in all colors and shades. They can be a few tones darker or lighter than the walls of the house or can strongly contrast with them. Decorative plaster can imitate granite chips, sea sand or have another interesting texture. Finishing the base with natural stone is expensive, so not everyone can afford it. However, experts often advise homeowners to save on something else, but to afford the purchase of natural stone for decoration, because it:

has a luxurious appearance;
decorates any building;
differs in high operational characteristics;
serves several decades.

Natural stone is cut into slabs of the same thickness, the surface of which can be rough or mirror. On the modern market there is a stone for cladding in different shades - there is plenty to choose from. Typically, stone slabs have a lot of weight, so they create a high additional load on the walls. They are also difficult to mount. To fix the stone on the facade, the solution is not enough - you need to install additional metal structures. A good alternative to the natural can be artificial stone. It costs a lot less, has a small weight, but looks very presentable. Such a stone is made from special mixtures, which include cement, expanded clay, polymers and micro-reinforcing components. The texture and color scheme of artificial stone is no different from natural. The stone can be fixed to the base with adhesive mortar or pre-installed mounting structures. This finishing material reliably protects the basement from external influences. Brickwork looks beautiful. For facing the basement, you can use all types of bricks. Hyperpressed is expensive, but is very durable and almost does not absorb moisture. Silicate brick is cheaper, but due to its low performance, it is rarely used for cladding. If the base cannot be finished with stone, siding can be used. It is lightweight, beautiful and durable enough. Siding can be of different types and textures: it can imitate brick, rocky rocks, shell rock, granite and marble. Siding is easy to install and lasts a long time, so house owners give preference to this particular material. For facing the basement, plaster, brick, siding, natural and artificial stone are used today. These materials differ in price, weight and performance. Before making a purchase, you need to consult with specialists and study the pros and cons of each type of finishing materials.