Building facades. House facades. Architectural facades.

Building facade? What is it?

Facades of buildings protect bearing structures of exterior walls from direct impact of environment, thus providing their long life and durability. Facade of a wooden building shall not be compulsory made of wood.

Such buildings can be successfully plastered, stoned or covered with cement-fibrous slabs. Facade is provided to solve several tasks at once. First of all, it gives excess humidity from inside to the outside, but at the same time it does not allow humidity to get inside.

The face of facade serves as an additional heat insulator. Facade makes a comprehensive whole with doors, windows and expansions, and with surrounding environment. Besides, namelt facade shall be the most durable and practical in maintenance part.

Requirements

Exterior finishing of any building solves the main task: it provides resistance to various exterior exposures:

• The sun fades facade, especially under ultraviolet radiation.
• Strong temperature fluctuations can cause crack formation.
• Humidity can cause corrosion of metal items on the facade.
• Wind force can cause draughts inside the building.

Precipitation falling on the facade to the large extent depends on wind direction. In the most unfavourable case it can lead to the damage of building.

To make facade long-living and durable, one shall take some important measures before planning the building itself. A simple and very effective way to strengthen facade is to build a roof overhang. It not only protects facade material, but also windows and doors from excessive humidity. One can arrange stepped storeys, which will provide extra protection of the lower storey from precipitation. Facing of pedestal will prevent parts of facade located near the ground from harmful impact of ground water and water splashes. Elements of facade shall be mounted above this pedestal.

Protection and maintenance

Short-term overcoming of humidity, for instance during the rain period, usually does not have negative effects. If wood-protection measures are applied during construction works, there will be no need to apply chemical means of wood protection. Pay attention: when using chemical means of protection, follow instructions and safety precautions.

Crude wooden facade with time is painted silver-grey, which is a typical colour of old wood, familiar to us from old buildings. Those who don’t like this patina can hide it behind the layer of painted glaze or acrylic colour. If the facade has been treated with chemicals (e.g., with preservation agent), check if paint and preservation agent are compatible before painting the facade.

Under regular control one can timely distinguish negative changes and remove them with minimal loss. Negative impact of external impact on internal constructions can also be avoided.