The appearance of a building is its business card, by which a person evaluates the building as a whole. In most cases, this happens on a subconscious level, so the facade gets the leading role here. The neat, well-groomed and beautiful facade of the building will delight the eyes of passers-by and guests, as well as those who live or work in it.
In addition to its aesthetic appeal, the main function of the facade is to protect the outer walls of the building from the destructive effects of the environment. A destructive process, alas, is inevitable. Over time, adverse weather conditions destroy any finish, even the most durable. Nothing man-made can resist the forces of nature.
The need to repair even the highest quality façade will eventually arise in any case. This is necessary not so much to improve the appearance of the building, but to protect it from further destruction. If the time has come to repair the facade, you should analyze its condition and determine for yourself what kind of repair is needed.
Facade repair types
Facade repairs are of two types: partial and major.
Partial (cosmetic) repair
This type of facade repair allows the building to return to its original appearance and improves the protective properties of the building walls. It means the restoration of fragments of the exterior decoration of the building. The correct selection of materials for compatibility is very important here in order to avoid further cracking of the finish. For example, if a building is finished with cement compounds, its facade can be restored with similar cement-sand mortars.
Partial renovation of the facade does not include a change in the general appearance, texture and color of the building; it is carried out in several stages:
- Determination of the scope of work and the amount of materials required.
- Surface preparation.
- Restoration of finishing in places of damage.
- Finishing the fragments.
It should be remembered that modern plaster mixes can not only improve the facade of a building aesthetically, but can also protect the outer walls from moisture ingress, and also have heat-insulating and fire-retardant properties.
If the finishing of the restored building has been for many years and the facade is badly damaged, the second type of facade restoration will be more relevant.
Overhaul
Facade overhaul is a more costly type and includes a whole range of restoration work and it is used in the following cases:
- If the damage to the exterior of the building exceeds 30% of the total area of the exterior walls.
- In the case of a radical redevelopment of a building with a change in its purpose (for example, if a residential building is being converted into an office or a commercial store).
- With partial restoration of damaged areas of the outer walls of the building under finishing.
The stages of capital restoration of the facade of the building are similar to the cosmetic repairs, however may include, if necessary, such work:
- Restoration of the structure of the outer wall in case of its destruction (brick or masonry, decorative elements, if any).
- Sealing masonry joints and waterproofing walls.
- Replacement of the drainage system.
During the overhaul of the facade of the building, the layer of the old cladding is completely removed, the wall is cleaned of residues, and all finishing work is done anew.
The advantage of a major overhaul of the facade is that this process makes it possible to radically transform the building and radically change its appearance, as well as better protect the outer walls from external influences.
The choice of modern materials and finishes is very large. Today it is possible to finish the facade "wet" or "dry", using any materials. Decorative, textured or traditional plaster, tile or clinker tiles, finishing bricks, panels with imitation of any texture, natural and artificial stone, aluminum, siding, block house and many other materials can change the appearance of a building beyond recognition and protect it from imminent destruction. The only difference is in the preference of the owner and in the expenses allowed for him.
Repair of the facade of a brick building
Brick itself is very durable and resistant to various weather conditions, so brick buildings rarely need repair. The need for restoration can arise only if the bricklaying technology is violated and constructive errors in the construction of the building, as well as in regions with aggressive weather conditions.
Repairing a brick façade includes filling in the cracks in the masonry and replacing damaged bricks. For flaws, a brick is diagnosed by tapping, and it is advisable to do this annually.
Repair of the facade of a panel house
Most of the houses in Russian cities are panel houses. Initially, they were finished with tiles or mosaics, and the joints were sealed with cement. But over time, from the accumulation of moisture, the lining in some places simply collapsed, and the material in the interpanel seams was destroyed. In addition to the appearance, as a result, the internal walls of the building also suffer: cracks and dampness appear on them.
Such defects are eliminated by sealing panel joints, and the panels themselves are insulated and plastered.
Facade renovation. Where to begin? (video)
Renovation of a ventilated facade
Today the systems of illegal armed groups (mounted) are quite widespread.
A well-thought-out subsystem that protects the walls of a building from destruction is clad with various materials: metal cassettes, aluminum composite panels, porcelain stoneware, fiber cement slabs, a decorative board or block house, and even small-piece materials.
All facing materials for are particularly strong and durable, but they are not insured against major mechanical injuries. Repair of such facades may be necessary in case of mistakes made during their installation, which lead to wear of the fasteners.
If the facade system was installed by hand, the damaged fragments of the cladding or fasteners can be replaced independently, and if it was installed by specialists, it is better to entrust the restoration of the facade to experienced craftsmen.
Stages of work on the restoration of the facade
Façade restoration work is divided into several main stages:
- Determination of the scope of work. At this stage, a thorough examination of the entire surface of the external walls is carried out for flaws in the finish, cracks, and internal voids. To find them, you must carefully examine the entire surface and tap with a small hammer.
- Surface preparation. Before redecorating the facade in places of damage, the finish is removed to the places tightly adjacent to the wall of the building with a chisel, hammer or electric tool. Any cracks found should be deepened with a cutter. If a major overhaul is planned, all decoration is removed.
- Restoration work. In places where the finish is damaged, surfaces and cracks are sealed, then the places are leveled with plaster.
To carry out any facade repair, it is better to buy materials of good quality, which are characterized by increased wear resistance and durability. In this case, the new "visiting card" of your home or office will have a representative appearance for more than one decade.
