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What is the exterior decoration of the house for?

Basically, this question is asked by the owners of old village houses that do not shine with a spectacular appearance. An example is the following situation: you got an old grandmother’s house, and a lot of modern cottages were built next to it. Basically, such situations occur in villages located near the city.

Of course, the owners of such a house will want the house to look modern and attractive against the backdrop of new buildings. You can achieve a spectacular look without large financial costs, using a simple exterior finish.

In addition, additional finishing can provide additional heat and sound insulation. Of course, simple lining or plastic panels cannot cope with this task, but a high-quality imitation of timber can become a serious obstacle to cold air.

What does imitation timber look like?

Numerous photos of timber imitation clearly demonstrate how noble and attractive houses sheathed with this material can look. When disassembled, the imitation of a beam resembles a simple wooden or plastic lining, however, houses sheathed with this material do not differ from houses built from a full-fledged beam.

The color of the imitation depends on the wood used (conifers are most often used). The imitation of larch timber looks especially beautiful.

There are several options for facing houses with imitation timber:

• full cladding;
• partial.

In the first case, the house is completely covered with material. After completion of the work, the house takes on a completely new appearance and is not much different from full-fledged timber houses.

In the second case, only part of the building is sheathed with imitation. For example, the front of the house is built from real timber, and the back is made from cheaper materials, and imitation timber is used to remove the contrast. This solution allows you to save a lot, since the exterior decoration of a house with imitation timber is much cheaper.

You need to choose a color, focusing on the area in which the house is located. If sunlight constantly falls on the house, it is worth giving preference to imitation of light colors. If the house is located in a moderate shade, you can choose dark colors. If only part of the house is sheathed with imitation, the color must fully match the color of a full-fledged timber.

How to choose?

Today you can order this material both directly from manufacturers, and in hardware stores or markets. Of course, domestically produced lumber prevails in our country, but you can also find products from Europe and China. When buying, you need to focus on the type of wood and the degree of its drying. It is on these characteristics that the quality of the simulation depends.

Grades of sawn timber of this type are regulated by GOST, according to which they are divided into the highest grade, 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Since the timber imitation is mounted on the facade of the building, it is important that it retains its ideal appearance for many years and endures all external influences: rain, snow, low and high temperatures. That is why when buying it is worth giving preference to wood of the highest grades.

A few helpful tips:

• the ideal moisture content of wood is no more than 10-15% (at higher values, the material may deform and deteriorate);
• the presence of a groove on the inside of the panels (it reduces the load when the material dries);
• the dimensions of the board under the timber should be chosen with a margin, and their ideal width should exceed 100 mm;
• panels should be free of knots and damage;
• locking mechanisms must be reliable and provide a strong connection of the panels.

How is the imitation installed?

Due to the lightness and simplicity of the materials, it is not difficult to install an imitation of a beam with your own hands. To do this, it is enough to have basic skills, as well as have simple tools at your disposal: a screwdriver, a level, a saw, etc.

Installation work can be divided into several stages:

• preparation (surfaces are cleaned of dust and dirt);
• installation of a vertical crate in increments of about 60 cm from small wooden bars;
• installation of a moisture-proof film and thermal insulation (mineral wool boards or rolls are ideal as a heat insulator);
• installation of panels (they begin to fasten from the bottom according to the “thorn-groove” principle, using small screws or nails);
• application of paint and varnish solutions (optional).

All this work can be done in a couple of days. If, after installation, there are noticeable traces of nails and screws on the panels, these holes can be covered with a special mixture of sawdust and varnish.

Advantages of timber imitation over other facing materials

In addition to a beautiful appearance, imitation timber has a number of other advantages:

• complete environmental friendliness and the absence of harmful substances in the wood structure;
• ease of installation and no need to use expensive tools;
• the possibility of facing any surfaces: from brick to foam blocks;
• a wide range of colors and sizes;
• long service life;
• additional thermal insulation of the house;
• low price, etc.

It is because of these advantages that houses sheathed with imitation timber are so relevant. We also note that the already assembled structure does not require any personal care. High-quality imitation is able to maintain its ideal condition for more than 30 years.

It is impossible not to note the beautiful design of houses with imitation timber. The modern lumber market is huge and diverse, so you can easily find the perfect solution for your home. This applies to both the type of wood and color schemes.

Externally, a house sheathed with this material will not differ from a real house made of timber. At the same time, such luxury costs about the same as simple PVC panels or lining for house facades.

Photo of timber imitation