Slate panel with applied finish. Flat slate and its use. In the segment of sheet finishing materials, we can distinguish flat slate, fiber-reinforced concrete panels and CBPB. Let's take a closer look at the properties of each, as well as how to install them on a base.

Flat slate is a direct relative of the well-known and widespread wave slate. But thanks to its smooth structure, it has many more applications.

What is it, flat slate?

Slate is an asbestos-cement material intended primarily for roofing. And in the past he did an excellent job with this task, but on modern market of building materials, it is beginning to lose ground. However, despite the wide range roofing materials, it remains in demand due to its affordable price. And manufacturers of flat slate are helped by the practicality of this material, which can be used to sheathe the facade and cover the roof.

The composition of flat slate does not have a complex recipe: Portland cement, asbestos fiber and water. The asbestos in this mixture should be evenly distributed throughout the entire mass. It is asbestos that creates a reinforcing base in this simple composition, thanks to which the sheet becomes durable. The mixture hardens in special molds of a certain size, and the result is sheets of flat slate.

Flat slate sheets can be produced in two varieties:

pressed asbestos-cement (LP-P). This species can withstand very low temperatures (about 50 freeze-thaw cycles). The impact strength of this sheet is 2.5 kJ/m2, and the bending strength of the plate is 23 MPa. The residual strength of pressed slate is 40%, with a material density of 1.8 g/cm 3 .
asbestos-cement non-pressed (LP-NP). Non-pressed material does not have such high performance, but also finds its place in construction and is widely used indoors. This slate can withstand exactly half (25) freeze and thaw cycles. Impact strength is 2 kJ/m2, and bending strength is 18 MPa. The density of the unpressed material is 1.6 g/cm 3 . The residual density has the same figure of 40%.

The listed characteristics are indicated by manufacturers on the labels, and this information can be easily obtained from the seller. But the performance properties of the material are also influenced by the quality of asbestos used in the manufacture: the length and diameter of its fibers, mineralogical composition, fineness of grinding and even the level of equipment at which it is produced. It is almost impossible to find out this information, so it is better to purchase flat slate from well-known manufacturers.

You can only purchase sheets of rectangular shape, but in several size variations:

sheet length – 300 cm, width – 150 cm, thickness – 0.8–1 cm;
length – 250 cm, width – 120 cm, thickness – 0.6–1 cm;
length – 360 cm, width – 150 cm, thickness – 0.8–1 cm.

Finishing the facade with flat slate: arguments for and against

The scope of application of flat slate is very wide and varied. This material can be found in various fields of construction. In industrial construction, for example, flat sheets are found in the fencing of technical shafts and boxes, in the cladding of external and interior walls, in the production of formwork. This material is often used to construct bird cages, fences and fences for livestock and agricultural land.

Often flat slabs can be seen in dacha areas, where they are widely used for the construction of outbuildings, shower stalls, fences, roofs, etc. Flat sheets are used as facade cladding, for the installation of dry screeds and for the construction of sandwich panel walls. The same material can be seen in the city when constructing loggias and balconies.

Such a wide range of uses is possible due to a number of advantages that this material has:

a combination of material availability, low price and high quality;
durability - its service life is more than 15 years;
has high resistance to impacts, bending and freezing;
has sound insulation properties;
does not support the combustion process;
not susceptible to mold and mildew;
is not a conductor of electric current;
does not rot and does not corrode.

Of course, along with the advantages, you should also take into account all the existing disadvantages before sheathing the house flat slate. Negative characteristics are represented by the following positions:

when installing slate, you will need an assistant, since the weight of the sheet will not allow you to carry out the work yourself;
the sheets are durable, but at the same time very fragile, so you need to transport and work with them very carefully;
after installation, it requires mandatory coating with special compounds to protect the surface and prevent the appearance of moss;
Asbestos is an environmentally unsafe material and is harmful in large quantities.

Having analyzed all the advantages and disadvantages, we can conclude that finishing the facade with flat slate would be a good idea. This material is capable of soundproofing a house and protecting walls from impacts. external environment for more than 15 years and at the same time it will cost quite cheap. The only thing is that you will have to find a careful assistant to make everything planned into reality.

How to sheathe a house with flat slate: action plan

Slate is a fairly fragile material, which requires you to work with it carefully and competently. Before proceeding with installation, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of working with this material. There are just a few rules that, if followed, can facilitate the work process and prevent negative consequences:

you need to prepare a respirator or protective mask that can protect Airways from asbestos dust generated when cutting slate;
you cannot cut very thin strips - the minimum width is 6 mm, otherwise the edge will begin to deform and collapse;
all slate sections must be treated with acrylic paint;
in order to drive a nail into a slate slab, you must first drill a hole for it;
It is necessary to visually inspect each sheet for deformations and cracks.

A step-by-step scheme for covering a house with flat slate is as follows:

How to sheathe a house with flat slate - step-by-step diagram

Step 1: Preparing the work surface

The slate will be attached to the frame, so the first step is to ensure the presence of wooden sheathing. The sheathing can be made of boards or timber, which will be laid at a distance in accordance with the size of the slate sheet (approximately 0.6 m). If desired, you can add a layer of waterproofing or thermal insulation between the frame. Mineral wool is also suitable for this.

If wave slate primarily plays the role of roofing material, then its flat analogue is used in the industrial sphere, in agriculture, and in housing construction. Thus, in suburban construction, flat slate is often used to improve the characteristics of the facade.

Varieties of flat slate - choosing quality

For quite a long time, they could not find a worthy alternative to slate, but modern finishing materials have significantly displaced it on the market. However, it will remain in demand for a long time due to its high quality characteristics and affordable price.

Facade flat slate has a fairly simple production technology. To make it, only three components are required: water, asbestos fiber and Portland cement. The most important role is assigned to asbestos fiber - evenly distributed over the entire area of the sheet, the mineral serves as the reinforcing basis of the slate. The finished mixture is poured into special molds that have specific dimensions. After hardening, a durable sheet material is obtained.

Today, manufacturers produce flat slate in two varieties:

Flat pressed sheet. It features excellent quality characteristics. It can withstand very low temperatures, up to 50 freeze-thaw cycles. The bending strength of the sheet is 23 MPa. Impact strength is 2.5 kJ/m2. And the leaf density is 1.8 grams per cubic centimeter. Due to its high performance, finishing the walls of a house with flat slate of this type is possible even in regions with particularly low temperatures.
Flat, unpressed sheet. It has less high performance, but is also effectively used in construction, especially indoors. An unpressed board can withstand 25 freezing and thawing cycles. The bending strength is 18 MPa. The impact strength of this type of slate is 2 kJ/m2. The density of the slab is 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter.

The performance properties of the material are greatly influenced by the quality of asbestos used in production. This is the mineralogical composition of the fiber, its length, diameter and fineness of grinding. The level of equipment used to produce flat slate is also important. It is simply impossible to find out such detailed information, so you should buy it only from manufacturers with a proven reputation.

Cladding the walls of a house with flat slate - find out the disadvantages

In industrial construction, flat sheets are used for the manufacture of formwork, lining of boxes and technical shafts, as well as for cladding internal and external walls. In agriculture, such slate is used as a material for the construction of fences and fences, and is also used to create cages for birds and pens for cattle.

Often flat slate for facades can be found on summer cottages, where it is used not only for cladding the walls of houses, but also for the construction of various outbuildings (showers, sheds, etc.), for roofing, for balcony railings. Also asbestos cement slate can be used for constructing dry screeds and constructing walls using the sandwich panel type.

Of course, such a wide range of applications would be impossible without a number of advantages that flat slate has:

The affordable price allows it to be used by people of varying incomes.
Long service life - can last more than 15 years without losing its qualities.
High strength - able to withstand the weight of a person.
Excellent sound insulation properties.
This material is fireproof.
It is a poor conductor of electricity.
It is not afraid of rotting and corrosion processes.
Does not transmit ultraviolet rays.
Sufficiently resistant to sudden temperature changes. Doesn't heat up well in the sun.

Like anyone else construction material, not deprived negative parameters. These are:

Mass of material. Due to the fact that the sheets are thick, their weight significantly exceeds the weight of alternative materials. This is why working with flat slate alone is very problematic.
Asbestos is not an environmentally friendly material. Slate itself does not cause much harm to either the environment or human health, but researchers urge working with it carefully.
The need to apply a protective layer using special compounds during installation, as well as during operation, to prevent the formation of moss on its surface.
Requires careful handling during transportation and installation, as this is a fairly fragile material.

If we compare all the pros and cons of using this material, we can conclude that it is still quite profitable. Flat slate walls will last long term without causing harm to human health. At the same time, you can save a lot on the purchase of material, and a fairly large amount of it may be required depending on the size of the building.

Flat slate for the facade - detailed installation instructions

First of all, you need to prepare your work surface. Sheet slate is attached to a wooden frame, which is made of boards or timber. The distance between the boards should correspond to the size of the finishing material - usually the step is 0.6 m. If possible, a thermal insulation or waterproofing layer is created between the wall and the sheathing. You can choose mineral wool as insulation.

At the next stage, you need to prepare the finishing material itself. First, a batch of slate sheets should be inspected for defects. Next, the slabs are cut to the required sizes so that they are ready for installation. In this interval preparatory work you need to be extremely careful not to spoil the material. To do this, you can start with sheets on which various defects (irregularities, chips, cracks) were found.

If the slab has a thickness of more than 6 mm, then it is used Circular Saw or Bulgarian. Due to friction, the material heats up, so during the sawing process it is necessary to periodically cool it with water. In addition, the liquid reduces the formation of harmful dust.

If the thickness of the slab does not exceed 6 mm, then the use of a saw is not necessary. Using a long ruler and a construction pencil, mark the cut line. Then notches are made on both sides of the sheet, after which the slate must be placed on the table so that the break line and the edge of the table exactly coincide. After making sure that the sheet is placed correctly, gently press on the edge of the sheet - if everything is done as needed, the slate will break cleanly along the line.

Cladding the walls of a house with flat slate is done using screws with an anti-corrosion coating, for which holes are pre-made.

To avoid splits at the fastening points, you need to make holes 1–2 mm wider than the diameter of the screw. At the same time, a wide hat will hide the free space. In principle, the installation of the casing can be considered complete. All that remains is to treat the surface by special means which will protect the slate from the formation of moss, lichen or other microorganisms. To do this, you can use high-quality acrylic paint that can withstand temperature changes.

Market facade finishing presented in a variety of specialized varieties. But owners of private houses are trying to adapt for these purposes other, universal materials with properties corresponding to the intended scope of application. Such an experience is not always successful, but the owners of houses lined with flat slate, among whom there are FORUMHOUSE craftsmen, are quite satisfied. Before repeating their method or unconditionally rejecting it, let’s understand all the subtleties.

What is flat slate?
Technical and operational characteristics of the material;
Experience of the portal's craftsmen in finishing facades with this material.

What is flat slate?

The technology for the production of artificial slate was patented by an industrialist from Austria, Ludwig Gatchek, and mass production of the material was launched at the beginning of the last century. The flat tiles were then called “Eternite”, which is translated from Latin as “eternal”. The development of technology has made it possible to give sheets different shapes, and gradually wave slate, renamed for its similarity with slate (schiefer - slate), became widespread. Flat Gatchek tiles were also produced and are still being produced to this day; few people know that ethernite is the very first slate.

Flat slate is produced from a mixture of cement binder with reinforcing asbestos fiber; ACL (asbestos cement sheets) come in two types:

Pressed - LP-P.
Unpressed - LP-NP.

The scope of application of ACL is even wider than that of wave slate - they can be used not only as roofing coverings, but also for the construction of outbuildings, barriers and facade cladding. Unlike many other slab materials used by private owners on facades (CBB, OSB), flat slate is initially designed to withstand the external environment and does not require additional protection.

Characteristics of flat slate

The characteristics of ACL depend on the production method - although all flat slate is distinguished by strength, dimensional accuracy, durability, frost resistance and fire resistance, pressed slate has a number of advantages:

Frost resistance – up to 50 cycles of complete freezing/thawing versus 20.
Strength – 23 MPa versus 18 MPa.
Impact strength – 2.5 kJ/m² versus 2.0 kJ/m².
Density – 1.8 g/m³ versus 1.6 m³.

But if pressed slate has about 40% of its original strength after 50 cycles, then unpressed slate has almost twice as much strength. Due to their lower density, the thermal conductivity of sheets obtained by simple molding is lower, which can be important when calculating heat loss if wall cladding is planned.

Features of application on facades

Facade flat slate is chosen based on reasons of economy, but with a lot of advantages it is not the most affordable of materials.

Asbestos cement sheet is actually superior to DSP and LSU in terms of physical and mechanical properties and, unlike them, is a façade material. However, flat slate is not cheap at all, especially with a smooth prepared surface, not to mention covered with stone chips or factory-painted.

Factory sawing is not only expensive, but also a rare service; sheets are generally unraveled immediately before installation.

Georgy Morozov Member of FORUMHOUSE

It is better to cut the facade using a stone-cutting machine, or with a diamond circular saw along a guide rail; it must be taken into account that the dust will be terrible, so a vacuum cleaner or water supply must be used.

Dust is carcinogenic; protective equipment must be used when working.

Original grey colour Not every facade will add attractiveness, so the sheets are not only sawed, but also painted with special compounds. But even high-quality paint will have to be updated over time.

Georgy Morozov

Take the highest quality (expensive) facade paint famous manufacturer, strictly follow the instructions - and you will be happy. But not a single coolest manufacturer promises a service life of more than ten years.

Experience of portal participants

There are several examples of facades made of this material on the forum.

ADM-1 FORUMHOUSE Member

Normal material, I liked it, tile cutters, nailer, and things went with a bang.

The craftsman chose pressed sheets with dimensions of 3000 × 1200 × 6 mm, fastened them with ordinary (the shortest) smooth nails onto a 50 × 50 mm timber lathing, counter-lattice – from edged boards 25×100 mm. The sheets were first cut into strips of 195x3000 mm, then washed, coated with a primer and, after drying, painted using a roller and brushes.

The cost of finishing the facade of the house with slate corresponded to the average.

ADM-1 User FORUMHOUSE

At a price of 432 rubles/m², this is slate with all its packaging, plus delivery from Belgorod, plus primer with paint and delivery from Moscow, and including cutting and painting work. If you add two more tile cutters (one is dead), the price will jump to 480 rubles/m², with a volume of 250 m². Yes, there are about 30 m² left for the fence and five whole sheets, I didn’t count them.

Another one of our craftsmen prefers larger forms.

Krot_and_Krot User FORUMHOUSE

I’m also sheathing my house with flat slate, in the spring I’ll paint it and frame it with boards (inches) painted like Mahogany, I ordered the windows in the same color. On the downside, during a gust of wind I managed to experience the sensations of hang gliders while flying with a sheet from the third floor. What’s interesting is that the sheet withstood the impact, using slate 6 mm thick, 1500x1000 mm. I line the gables with vertical imitation timber, also Mahogany.

The result will be another variation on the theme of half-timbering, only not with cement-bonded particle boards or oriented strand boards, which are popular on the forum, but with flat slate.

U Wvaleri the garage is decorated with pressed flat slate metal frame. He screwed whole sheets of 8 mm thickness, 3000x1500 mm. I used yellow self-tapping screws as fasteners and left a deformation gap of 3 mm between the sheets. The garage went into winter without painting; spring showed that neither precipitation nor frost harmed the coating.

It is advisable to paint the slate façade and edges. Despite its biological resistance, lichens can settle on unpainted slate over time.

This will not add either durability or decorativeness to the material. And to prevent cracking, drill holes of a slightly larger diameter for the screws. When using a nailer, you can do without a drill. It is advisable to deepen the fastener caps and cover them with decorative overlays or putty and paint them. Unpressed slate is worse, but not everyone shares this opinion - lower density, but also lower thermal conductivity and cost.

Tiamo User FORUMHOUSE

I believe that the difference in density is directly proportional to the difference in thermal conductivity, and this is 20-30% at a lower price and the same functionality. Of course, there is no need to consider LP-NP as a thermal insulation material, especially on a ventilated facade, but their thermal resistance can be taken into account when calculating the heat loss of the designed fence. Unpressed slate has less frost resistance, But in the fence the operating mode will be much softer. Moreover, it is enough to apply a water repellent, and the problem will be seriously solved.

Pressed or unpressed – flat slate suits the environment of use and performs quite well on facades. This is a blank that can be given any shape, color and layout.

About how to transform wave slate - in the material, if you show your imagination, you can either use slate. The video talks about the myths that have accumulated around slate and the rules for working with it.

For cladding a base made of concrete or brick, sheet materials, natural and fake diamond, profiled sheet, paint and varnish compositions. They can be grouped into groups based on similar physical properties and installation methods.

In the leaf segment finishing materials We can distinguish flat slate, fiber-reinforced concrete panels and CBPB. Let's take a closer look at the properties of each, as well as how to install them on the base of the house.

This is an inexpensive material that has all the necessary properties for exterior finishing. Flat slate is made from asbestos fiber, Portland cement and water. It can be pressed or unpressed.

Both types of slate are durable with a service life of 25-30 years. Do not break down in aggressive environments or at low temperatures. Flat slate has a low water absorption coefficient. The sheets don't burn. Frost resistance makes it possible to sheathe facades of buildings in the far north with flat slate.

For all its strength, slate is fragile. It can be destroyed by dynamic impacts, such as the impact of a stone or large hail. Asbestos dust is very harmful to human lungs, so the sheets are processed using respirators.

To finish the base, it is better to use denser pressed slate.

Cladding of basement walls with flat slate is done on metal or wooden frame on self-tapping screws. A hole of a smaller diameter is drilled in the sheet for each self-tapping screw. External and internal corners are closed with additional elements made of galvanized steel.

People wonder how to paint flat slate on the facade of a house after installation is completed. For painting, use acrylic primer, acrylic or silicone paint on water based. The primer is applied in one layer, the paint in two or three.

Fiber concrete panels

A material in demand on the market for finishing not only the base, but also the entire surface of the facade. Fiber-reinforced concrete panels are made from cement and sand. Fiberglass is used as filler. It rigidly binds all components into a single, strong structure. Additives are used to improve performance.

Fiber-reinforced concrete panels are an expensive material for constructing a ventilated base. Fiberglass gives them additional resistance to natural oxidizing agents. The panels do not spread, do not absorb moisture, do not crack, or break. Due to the light weight of the element, they are easy to mount on a plinth. They are available in a wide range of colors and textures.

The only disadvantage of fiber-reinforced concrete panels for the plinth is the high cost.

The finishing of the above-ground part of the foundation with fiber-reinforced concrete panels is carried out on metal profiles, which are fixed to brackets. The installation pitch of the profiles is 400-600 mm. The brackets can be of variable length to level out unevenness of the base.

Most often, fiber-reinforced concrete panels are used to construct a ventilated base. A layer of basalt mineral wool and vapor barrier is laid between the panels and the wall. There are two ways to attach panels to the guides: with self-tapping screws and clamps. Thin slabs up to 14 mm can be mounted on self-tapping screws with rubber gaskets. Thicker ones are mounted using clamp locks.

You can cut panels only with a grinder and a diamond wheel. Other tools crumble the edges, increasing material consumption.

Cement particle board (CSP)

The finishing of the DSP base is done both separately and as part of the cladding of the entire facade. Cement particle boards are a universal finishing material in the form of sheets 8-36 mm thick. They are made by pressing wood chips and cement. The coarse fraction of shavings lies at the base of the sheet, and the finer ones in the top layer.

DSP is a moisture-resistant and frost-resistant finishing material with high strength properties. It does not burn and does not rot. It is easy to handle. Cement particle board is combined with other construction and finishing materials. It is easy to mount on a wooden or metal frame.

Disadvantages include the large weight of the elements and an average service life of up to 15 years.

For covering the base, sheets with a thickness of 16-20 mm are used. The technology of installation on the frame does not differ from the method of fastening similar materials. Each sheet is secured with at least 4 points. Self-tapping screws are used as fastening elements, for which holes of a smaller diameter are pre-drilled. Joints between sheets must not be sealed with putty or plaster. It is better to use weatherproof silicone sealant to seal seams. It will not break due to temperature deformations of the DSP.

To finish the base, acrylic, silicone or combination water-based paints are used.

Finishing the plinth with the above sheet materials will provide high-quality protection for the base of the house from destruction. The base will turn out beautiful and neat. The main thing is to follow the rules and regulations for working with sheet materials.

When choosing building materials for finishing the basement, most developers give preference to those that are distinguished not only by their durability, neat appearance and resistance to weather changes, but also affordable price, as well as ease of installation.

Scheme of fastening slate to supports.

Today, consumers often “vote with their rubles” for flat slate, since this relatively inexpensive material demonstrates high performance characteristics, is easy to install, and the ability to paint it in various colors adds beauty and individuality to the building.

Features of flat slate

Flat slate sheets are produced by mixing asbestos fiber and Portland cement with the addition of water.

In this case, asbestos is placed throughout the mixture in equal parts and thus forms a reinforcing base to give the slate strength.

Currently, the construction market for finishing the foundation of a house offers 2 types of rectangular sheets of industrially produced flat slate - pressed and unpressed standard sizes: 2500x1200 mm (with a sheet thickness of 6-10 mm); 3000x1500 mm (with a thickness of 8-10 mm); 3600x1500 mm (with a thickness of 8-10 mm).

An unpressed sheet has a lower strength characteristic, a 2-fold shorter freeze-thaw cycle and, accordingly, a lower cost. In other respects, it is almost the same as the pressed sheet. As a building material for protecting the foundation of a house, flat slate is attractive because:

Scheme for screwing a self-tapping screw into the unloading hole.

financially beneficial;
has a long service life, is not subject to rotting and corrosion;
resistant to bending;
not dependent on temperature changes, resists gusts of wind, snow storms, does not overheat in the sun, withstands 25-50 freeze-thaw cycles;
provides sound insulation;
due to the presence of asbestos in its composition, it is fireproof and is not a conductor of electric current;
resistant to aggressive environments, including chemical impurities and acids. Reflects ultraviolet, radioactive and electromagnetic radiation;
easy to install regardless of the time of year.

At the same time, despite all the advantages of flat slate, when using it to finish the foundation with your own hands, the following nuances should be taken into account:

due to the increased fragility of the material, care is required during transportation and installation;
has a lot of weight, which does not allow covering the base with slate without helpers;
requires treatment with antiseptic agents to prevent the growth of moss;
not environmentally friendly when cutting due to asbestos dust generated during operation, requires the use of personal protective equipment;

Nevertheless, thanks to the ease of laying flat slate with your own hands, which does not require professional skills, you save money on hiring hired finishing specialists. And the speed of installation due to its simple technology will save time.

Return to contents

Technology for finishing the plinth with flat slate sheets

Base corner diagram.

To cover the base with slate, you will need to attach the sheets to the sheathing of wooden beams similar to fastening drywall. If necessary, a layer of mineral wool can be laid between the frame posts as thermal insulation.

To connect the sheets to the frame, nails or self-tapping screws and fastening layouts (clasps) are used. It is impossible to drive nails directly into the sheet due to its fragility to point loads. Therefore, to prevent the sheet from cracking and splitting into pieces, holes are pre-drilled in it, with a slightly larger diameter (1-1.5 mm) than those of the fasteners used.

The required amount of building materials (slate, wooden beams, a layer of thermal insulation and acrylic paint) is calculated by using a tape measure to measure the height of the base, the width of the foundation overhang (if present) and the perimeter of the building.

The following working tools will be useful:

gloves and respirator;
ruler, building level;
chisel;
cutter;
screwdriver;
circular saw;
electric jigsaw;
spray gun;
screws, nails;
slate clamps.

Before starting work on covering the base, you should carefully inspect the slate for cracks, chips and deformations, so that when cutting the sheets, these are the places that go to waste. Cutting slate is as easy as shelling pears: if the sheet is up to 6 mm thick, place it on the table, at the site of the required break, make notches along the edges using a ruler, with a chisel and cutter, move the slate to the edge of the table to the marked edge, apply pressure - and the required break will be made.

But if the thickness of the purchased sheet is more than 10 mm, then you cannot do without an electric saw, and the slate must be sprayed when cutting cold water for cooling. If there is a need to cut an asbestos-cement sheet to length, then to prevent its destruction, cut off at least 0.6 cm. On freshly cut parts of the slate, all places of breaks or cuts must be painted over using special acrylic paints.

Return to contents

Stages of covering the foundation with flat slate

Basement insulation scheme.

Processing the base. The surface is cleaned, dried, treated with a layer of a water-repellent mixture (for example, bitumen mastic with a solvent such as “Bitumast” or “Tekhnomasta”).
Installation of a wooden frame. It is made of boards or timber with the top edge at the height of fastening the slate sheet. The sheathing posts are placed at a distance corresponding to the size of the slate sheet (about 0.6 m).
Thermal insulation of the base. If the foundation of the house needs thermal insulation, insulation (for example, mineral wool) is placed between the sheathing posts. It must be remembered that it is imperative to leave empty space between the mineral wool layer and the slate so that condensation does not form and moldiness of the heat-insulating material does not occur.
Installation of flat slate. Cover the base with slate, starting from the corner of the house. Before installation, ventilation holes are cut out from the bottom of several sheets with an electric jigsaw. The sheets are attached to the sheathing with screws, for which holes have already been pre-drilled. Then the screw heads are covered with fastening pads.
Processing corners. Cut out 4 pieces of galvanized iron. Bend the vertical edges of the workpiece by 15 mm, and then bend it in the middle at a right angle. Fix the corners with self-tapping screws, not forgetting to first drill holes to avoid splitting the sheet.
Finally, the flat slate is finished with acrylic paints. Thus, using a spray gun, a protective film is formed on the surface of the sheets, which:

protects lichen and moss spores from growing;
reduces water absorption, increasing the frost resistance of slate;
prevents the release of asbestos dust into the atmosphere;
doubles the service life of the finish;
decorates the initially dull color of slate with its bright colors.

As a result, using flat sheets of slate yourself, quickly, reliably and very inexpensively, the foundation of the house receives long-term protection from destruction, and the base is pleasant appearance.

When choosing finishing materials for cladding the base country house Many homeowners focus not only on their attractive appearance, but also on their durability and ability to successfully withstand various influences. When finishing the basement of a house with flat slate, it is necessary to take into account the fact that this material is inexpensive, accessible and has good performance indicators. In addition, slate can be painted in any color, so home owners can, if desired, have the exterior of their home made in any shade.

Advantages and disadvantages of the material

Slate sheets are made by mixing asbestos fiber, water and Portland cement. It is asbestos that gives strength to the material. Today there are two types of flat slate on the market: pressed and unpressed. It is worth noting that the unpressed version is less durable and has a small number of freezing and thawing cycles. That is why the material is quite cheap. In other characteristics, unpressed slate is similar to its pressed counterpart.

As a building material (to protect the base), flat slate has the following advantages:

low price when compared with other finishing materials;
long-term operation;
the material is not subject to corrosion processes and biological effects;
has high bending strength;
inert to temperature changes, successfully resists strong wind, does not bask in the sun, can withstand 50 cycles of thawing and freezing;
good sound insulator;
due to the fact that flat slate contains asbestos, the material has high fire safety indicators;
does not conduct electric current;
is resistant to various aggressive environments and is able to reflect ultraviolet rays;
easy to install independently at any time of the year.

Sheet slate.

Despite the many advantages, when using flat slate to finish the basement of a house, you need to take into account the following nuances:

During transportation and installation, you must be especially careful because the material is brittle and susceptible to mechanical stress.
It has a lot of weight, so it will be problematic to carry out all the work on finishing the basement of the house alone.
It is necessary to treat the material with antiseptic compounds to prevent the possibility of moss growth.
If you start sawing the material, it will become unfriendly due to the formation of asbestos dust.

Regardless of these shortcomings, finishing the base of a house with flat slate enjoys a certain popularity, because all the work can be done with your own hands, saving a lot of money, and also ensure reliable protection foundations of the house from various influences.

Features of the finishing of the base

Finishing the base with flat slate is a simple process that does not require special experience and skills. To cover the base, you need to fasten the products to a wooden sheathing (in the same way as drywall is attached). If necessary, a heat-insulating layer is placed in the sheathing, which is very convenient for obtaining effective insulation Houses.

To connect the sheets to the frame, clamps or screws are used. The use of nails is strictly not recommended, because they will point load the material, which can lead to its destruction. To prevent flat slate sheets from cracking during installation, several holes for fastening are pre-drilled in them, into which the necessary fixing parts are placed. The required amount of building materials must be calculated by taking measurements of the base of the house, the perimeter and protrusion of the foundation (if any).

Before starting work, it is necessary to inspect the slate sheets for integrity, because some products could be seriously damaged during transportation. If it is necessary to cut a sheet of slate, do it as follows: the sheet is placed on a flat surface, several notches are made at the cut site, after which, using a cutter, the sheet is slightly incised and broken at the edge of the table, which allows you to obtain a fairly even cut.

It is advisable to insulate the base.

If the thickness of the sheets is more than 1 cm, then it is best to use an electric saw, because breaking the material seems impossible.

Stages of work execution

Work on finishing the base is carried out in several stages:

Preparation of the base for installation, including leveling the surface, applying antiseptic compounds and laying the necessary waterproofing materials.
Installation of the frame (sheathing). You can make it from timber. The frame posts should be placed at a distance that will fully correspond to the size of the slate sheet (approximately 50-60 cm).
If Vacation home needs additional thermal insulation, then a heat insulator must be placed in the space between the wall and the finishing (in the sheathing). We must not forget that there should be free space between the insulation and the finishing material. This will prevent condensation from forming in large quantities.
Sheathing the base with slate must start from the corner. The sheets are fixed to the sheathing using screws in pre-prepared holes.
After attaching the sheets, it is necessary to process the corners. For this, it is best to use galvanized iron blanks. The corners must be secured with screws.
Finally, the slate is treated with coloring compounds. It is best to use acrylic paint, which will prevent biological effects on the material and will also prevent the release of asbestos into the environment.

Finishing the basement of your house with flat slate should not cause you any difficulties. This is a fairly simple construction process that can be done with your own hands without the involvement of specialists or the use of special equipment. In addition, the material is inexpensive and reliable, and has good performance characteristics. Finishing the base using this material can be done in any weather, regardless of the time of year. This is very important, because work often needs to be carried out in winter, when for some reason the old finish has become unusable.

Finishing the base of the house with flat slate is recommended for everyone country houses, where it is not possible to use modern expensive facing materials for the base. With the proper approach, proper installation and care, the material can serve you for decades without problems. It is very important not to forget to treat slate with antiseptic compounds.

Flat slate is a direct relative of the well-known and widespread wave slate. But thanks to its smooth structure, it has many more applications.

What is it, flat slate?

Slate is an asbestos-cement material intended primarily for roofing. And in the past, he did an excellent job with this task, but in the modern building materials market he is beginning to lose his position. However, despite the wide range of roofing materials, it remains in demand due to its affordable price. And manufacturers of flat slate are helped by the practicality of this material, which can be used to sheathe the facade and cover the roof.

Flat slate sheets can be produced in two varieties:

pressed asbestos-cement (LP-P). This species can withstand very low temperatures (about 50 freeze-thaw cycles). The impact strength of this sheet is 2.5 kJ/m2, and the bending strength of the plate is 23 MPa. The residual strength of pressed slate is 40%, with a material density of 1.8 g/cm3.
asbestos-cement non-pressed (LP-NP). Non-pressed material does not have such high performance, but also finds its place in construction and is widely used indoors. This slate can withstand exactly half (25) freeze and thaw cycles. Impact strength is 2 kJ/m2, and bending strength is 18 MPa. The density of the unpressed material is 1.6 g/cm3. The residual density has the same figure of 40%.

You can only purchase sheets of rectangular shape, but in several size variations:

sheet length – 300 cm, width – 150 cm, thickness – 0.8–1 cm;
length – 250 cm, width – 120 cm, thickness – 0.6–1 cm;
length – 360 cm, width – 150 cm, thickness – 0.8–1 cm.

Finishing the facade with flat slate: arguments for and against

The scope of application of flat slate is very wide and varied. This material can be found in various fields of construction. In industrial construction, for example, flat sheets are found in the fencing of technical shafts and boxes, in the cladding of external and internal walls, and in the manufacture of formwork. This material is often used to construct bird cages, fences and fences for livestock and agricultural land.

Such a wide range of uses is possible due to a number of advantages that this material has:

a combination of material availability, low price and high quality;
durability - its service life is more than 15 years;
has high resistance to impacts, bending and freezing;
has sound insulation properties;
does not support the combustion process;
not susceptible to mold and mildew;
is not a conductor of electric current;
does not rot and does not corrode.

Of course, along with the advantages, you should also take into account all the existing disadvantages before covering the house with flat slate. Negative characteristics are represented by the following positions:

when installing slate, you will need an assistant, since the weight of the sheet will not allow you to carry out the work yourself;
the sheets are durable, but at the same time very fragile, so you need to transport and work with them very carefully;
after installation, it requires mandatory coating with special compounds to protect the surface and prevent the appearance of moss;
Asbestos is an environmentally unsafe material and is harmful in large quantities.

Having analyzed all the advantages and disadvantages, we can conclude that finishing the facade with flat slate would be a good idea. This material is capable of soundproofing a house, protecting walls from environmental influences for more than 15 years, and at the same time is quite inexpensive. The only thing is that you will have to find a careful assistant to make everything planned into reality.

How to sheathe a house with flat slate: action plan

Slate is a fairly fragile material, which requires you to work with it carefully and competently. Before proceeding with installation, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of working with this material. There are just a few rules that, if followed, can facilitate the work process and prevent negative consequences:

you need to prepare a respirator or protective mask that can protect the respiratory tract from asbestos dust that appears when cutting slate;
you cannot cut very thin strips - the minimum width is 6 mm, otherwise the edge will begin to deform and collapse;
all slate sections must be treated with acrylic paint;
in order to drive a nail into a slate slab, you must first drill a hole for it;
It is necessary to visually inspect each sheet for deformations and cracks.

A step-by-step scheme for covering a house with flat slate is as follows:

How to sheathe a house with flat slate - step-by-step diagram

Step 1: Preparing the work surface

Step 2: Preparing the Flat Slate

Before work, the facing material must be inspected and deformed sheets removed. Next, you need to measure and cut the slate so that it is ready for installation. Cutting is the most crucial and difficult moment.

if the sheet has a thickness of no more than 6 mm, then the cutting process looks like this: use a ruler and pencil to mark the cut line, then notches are made on both sides. Next, you need to place the sheet on the table so that the edge of the table and the break line coincide, and carefully break it;
if the sheet is more than 6 mm thick, then you need to use a saw. The material will need to be periodically cooled with water during the cutting process.

Slate sheets that have any flaws (cracks, chips, unevenness) must be cut first if there is a need for smaller slabs.

Step 3: Installing Flat Slate

The slate is attached to the sheathing using screws, for which a hole is pre-drilled. The heads of these screws will be covered with fastening tabs. The diameter of the hole for the screws should be 1–2 mm wider than the nails and screws used to avoid cracks and splits at the fastening points.

Step 4: Processing

At the final stage, you need to treat the slate with special products that will protect it from the appearance of mosses and lichens. Acrylic paint is well suited for these purposes. It is better to paint using a sprayer or spray gun.

For cladding a base made of concrete or brick, sheet materials, natural and artificial stone, profiled sheets, and paints and varnishes are used. They can be grouped into groups based on similar physical properties and installation methods.

In the segment of sheet finishing materials, we can distinguish flat slate, fiber-reinforced concrete panels and CBPB. Let's take a closer look at the properties of each, as well as how to install them on the base of the house.

Flat slate

This is an inexpensive material that has all the necessary properties for exterior finishing. Flat slate is made from asbestos fiber, Portland cement and water. It can be pressed or unpressed.

Both types of slate are durable with a service life of 25-30 years. They do not break down in aggressive environments or at low temperatures. Flat slate has a low water absorption coefficient. The sheets don't burn.

Resistance to frost allows the facades of buildings in the far north to be covered with flat slate. Despite all its strength, slate is fragile. It can be destroyed by dynamic impacts, such as the impact of a stone or large hail. Asbestos dust is very harmful to human lungs, so the sheets are processed in respirators. To finish the base, it is better to use denser pressed slate.

Cladding of basement walls with flat slate is done on a metal or wooden frame using self-tapping screws. A hole of a smaller diameter is drilled in the sheet for each self-tapping screw.

External and internal corners are covered with additional elements made of galvanized steel. People wonder how to paint flat slate on the facade of a house after installation is completed. For painting, acrylic primer, acrylic or water-based silicone paint is used. The primer is applied in one layer, the paint in two or three.

Fiber concrete panels

A material in demand on the market for finishing not only the base, but also the entire surface of the facade. Fiber-reinforced concrete panels are made from cement and sand.

Fiberglass is used as filler. It rigidly binds all components into a single, strong structure. Additives are used to improve performance.

Fiber-reinforced concrete panels are an expensive material for constructing a ventilated base. Fiberglass gives them additional resistance to natural oxidizing agents. The panels do not creep, do not absorb moisture, do not crack, or break. Due to the light weight of the element, they are easy to mount on a plinth.

They are available in a wide range of colors and textures. The only disadvantage of fiber-reinforced concrete panels for the plinth is their high cost. Finishing of the above-ground part of the foundation with fiber-reinforced concrete panels is carried out on metal profiles, which are fixed to brackets. The installation pitch of the profiles is 400-600 mm. The brackets can be of variable length to level out unevenness of the base. Most often, fiber-reinforced concrete panels are used to construct a ventilated base.

A layer of basalt mineral wool and vapor barrier is laid between the panels and the wall. The panels can be attached to the guides in two ways: with self-tapping screws and clamps. Thin slabs up to 14 mm can be mounted on self-tapping screws with rubber gaskets. Thicker ones are mounted using clamp locks.

You can cut panels only with a grinder and a diamond wheel. Other tools crumble the edges, increasing material consumption.

Cement particle board (CSP)

The finishing of the DSP base is done both separately and as part of the cladding of the entire facade.

Cement particle boards are a universal finishing material in the form of sheets 8-36 mm thick. They are made by pressing wood chips and cement. The coarse fraction of shavings lies at the base of the sheet, and the finer ones in the top layer.

DSP is a moisture-resistant and frost-resistant finishing material with high strength properties. It does not burn and does not rot.

It is easy to handle. Cement particle board is combined with other construction and finishing materials. It is easy to mount on a wooden or metal frame.

Disadvantages include the large weight of the elements and an average service life of up to 15 years.

Sheets with a thickness of 16-20 mm are used to cover the base. The technology of installation on the frame does not differ from the method of fastening similar materials. Each sheet is secured with at least 4 points.

Self-tapping screws are used as fastening elements, for which holes of a smaller diameter are pre-drilled. The joints between the sheets must not be sealed with putty or plaster. It is better to use weatherproof silicone sealant to seal seams. It will not break due to temperature deformations of the DSP. To finish the base, acrylic, silicone or combined water-based paints are used. Finishing the base with the above sheet materials will provide high-quality protection for the base of the house from destruction.

The base will turn out beautiful and neat. The main thing is to follow the rules and regulations for working with sheet materials. Flat slate is a direct relative of the well-known and widespread wave slate. But thanks to its smooth structure, it has many more applications.

What is it, flat slate?

Slate is an asbestos-cement material intended primarily for roofing.

And in the past, he did an excellent job with this task, but in the modern building materials market he is beginning to lose his position. However, despite the wide range of roofing materials, it remains in demand due to its affordable price. And manufacturers of flat slate are helped by the practicality of this material, which can be used to sheathe the facade and cover the roof.

The composition of flat slate does not have a complex recipe: Portland cement, asbestos fiber and water.

The asbestos in this mixture should be evenly distributed throughout the entire mass. It is asbestos that creates a reinforcing base in this simple composition, thanks to which the sheet becomes durable. The mixture hardens in special molds of a certain size, and the result is sheets of flat slate.

Flat slate sheets can be produced in two varieties:

pressed asbestos-cement (LP-P). This species can withstand very low temperatures (about 50 freeze-thaw cycles). The impact strength of this sheet is 2.5 kJ/m2, and the bending strength of the plate is 23 MPa.

The residual strength of pressed slate is 40%, with a material density of 1.8 g/cm3. non-pressed asbestos-cement (LP-NP). Non-pressed material does not have such high performance, but also finds its place in construction and is widely used indoors. This slate can withstand exactly half (25) freeze and thaw cycles.

Impact strength is 2 kJ/m2, and bending strength is 18 MPa. The density of the unpressed material is 1.6 g/cm3. The residual density has the same figure of 40%.

You can only purchase sheets of rectangular shape, but in several size variations:

sheet length – 300 cm, width – 150 cm, thickness – 0.8–1 cm; length – 250 cm, width – 120 cm, thickness – 0.6–1 cm; length – 360 cm, width – 150 cm, thickness – 0.8–1 cm.

Finishing the facade with flat slate: arguments for and against

The scope of application of flat slate is very wide and varied.

This material can be found in various fields of construction. In industrial construction, for example, flat sheets are found in the fencing of technical shafts and boxes, in the cladding of external and internal walls, and in the manufacture of formwork. This material is often used to construct bird cages, fences and fences for livestock and agricultural land.

Often flat slabs can be seen in dacha areas, where they are widely used for the construction of outbuildings, shower stalls, fences, roofs, etc.

e. Flat sheets are used as facade cladding, for the installation of dry screeds and for the construction of sandwich panel walls. The same material can be seen in the city when constructing loggias and balconies.

Such a wide range of uses is possible due to a number of advantages that this material has:

a combination of material availability, low price and high quality; durability - its service life is more than 15 years; has high resistance to impacts, bends and freezing; has sound insulation properties; does not support the combustion process; is not susceptible to mold and mildew; is not a conductor of electric current ;does not rot and does not corrode.

when installing slate, you will need an assistant, since the weight of the sheet will not allow you to carry out the work yourself; the sheets are strong, but at the same time very fragile, so you need to transport and work with them very carefully; after installation, they require mandatory coating with special compounds to protect the surface and prevent the appearance of moss; Asbestos is an environmentally unsafe material and is harmful in large quantities.

Having analyzed all the advantages and disadvantages, we can conclude that finishing the facade with flat slate would be a good idea. This material is capable of soundproofing a house, protecting walls from environmental influences for more than 15 years, and at the same time is quite inexpensive. The only thing is that you will have to find a careful assistant to make everything planned into reality.

How to sheathe a house with flat slate: action plan

you need to prepare a respirator or protective mask that can protect the respiratory tract from asbestos dust that appears when cutting slate; you cannot cut very thin strips - a minimum width of 6 mm, otherwise the edge will begin to deform and collapse; all slate sections must be treated with acrylic paint; in order to drive a nail into the slate slab, you must first drill a hole for it; it is necessary to visually inspect each sheet for deformations and cracks.

A step-by-step scheme for covering a house with flat slate looks like this:

The slate will be attached to the frame, so the first step is to ensure the presence of wooden sheathing.

The sheathing can be made of boards or timber, which will be laid at a distance in accordance with the size of the slate sheet (approximately 0.6 m). If desired, you can add a layer of waterproofing or thermal insulation between the frame. Cellulose insulation ecowool or mineral wool are suitable for this.

if the sheet has a thickness of no more than 6 mm, then the cutting process looks like this: use a ruler and pencil to mark the cut line, then notches are made on both sides. Next, you need to place the sheet on the table so that the edge of the table and the break line coincide, and carefully break it; if the sheet is more than 6 mm thick, then you need to use a saw. The material will need to be periodically cooled with water during the cutting process.

Slate sheets that have any flaws (cracks, chips, unevenness) must be cut first if there is a need for smaller slabs.

xCheck AlsoOne of the most popular and useful buildings on personal plot For a long time, a cellar has been considered, which can be of several types depending on the relationship to the land. The first option is an above-ground basement, which is very convenient to build... Cladding the basement of a house - finishing options various materials Is the frame of the new house ready and it’s time to start decorating it? But you haven’t fully thought through the options, or haven’t decided on the finish of the base?

We hurry to you... Vinyl siding for the plinth - features, production technology, installation Siding is one of the most common materials throughout the world intended for cladding the plinth and facade. The use of vinyl basement siding allows you to quickly and easily install durable ...Do-it-yourself cellar on the street: consistent instructions Agree that today almost no country or country house It is impossible to imagine without a real large cellar, because it is this structure, like nothing else, that allows you to save valuable space. In...The foot of the building, which is located on the foundation itself and protrudes slightly forward, is called the plinth.

This part of the house is the most important and at the same time quite vulnerable. The base must be properly protected from the harmful effects of moisture...How to get rid of earthen fleas in the house quickly at home Owners of private houses often notice the appearance of earthen fleas. They can get into the residential part of the house from the basement, street and garden.

At the same time, the carriers are...Constructing a basement in a house is a task that every land owner faces. It is almost impossible to imagine a cottage without a basement. And if you think that this structural element is intended only for storing unnecessary things, then ... Dimensions of basement cladding siding and its photo A wooden house is a symbol of comfort, warmth and a feeling of antiquity.

Such buildings are always in demand. And they look no worse than brick cottages. The main thing is that when constructing...Starting strip for siding and other components When decorating a house with siding, you cannot do without special fasteners, many of which simultaneously perform a decorative function.

For example, connecting strip for siding hides the joints of panels in ... Many people like to swim, but not everyone has the opportunity and desire to go to public pools. If you do not like visiting public places and have sufficient financial resources, great solution will arrange a swimming pool in the basement of his own ...Preliminary external work on insulation and waterproofing of the cellar Insulation of the walls of the cellar from the inside Moisture insulation and insulation of the floor slab, floor arrangement work In an optimally organized country house there is an auxiliary underground structure - a cellar intended for storage ...At the construction stage, waterproofing the basement is directly related to the waterproofing of the foundation, because...

In most cases, the foundation walls are the external enclosing contour for the basement, and waterproofing of the basement floor is installed on top of the foundation slab. Therefore, in order to waterproof the basement... Base metal profile for facade insulation systems When carrying out work to create a facade plaster system, a special metal profile is used. The base profile is made of hardened perforated aluminum, serves as a support for the insulation mounted on the walls, as well as... Waterproofing a cellar with your own hands - protecting supplies from dampness Almost all private houses and country cottages have a cellar - this is very convenient.

It stores the harvest from the site and supplies for the winter. Cellar waterproofing is installed...Floor waterproofing in wooden house and its features When building a suburban wooden house Regardless of the type of material - log, timber or frame-panel construction, great attention must be paid to waterproofing the foundation [ Click on the photo When ... Cost ground floor: stages of construction, influencing factors, sample estimate for work and materials In this article we will have to calculate the cost of a basement floor measuring 10x10 meters. Of course, the estimate will be very approximate: prices for material and...

Features of flat slate

Flat slate sheets are produced by mixing asbestos fiber and Portland cement with the addition of water.

In this case, asbestos is placed throughout the mixture in equal parts and thus forms a reinforcing base to give the slate strength.

Currently, the construction market for finishing the foundation of a house offers 2 types of rectangular sheets of industrially produced flat slate - pressed and non-pressed standard sizes: 2500x1200 mm (with a thickness of the sheet itself of 6-10 mm); 3000x1500 mm (with a thickness of 8-10 mm); 3600x1500 mm (with a thickness of 8-10 mm).

financially beneficial; has a long service life, is not subject to rotting and corrosion; resistant to bending; independent of temperature changes, resists gusts of wind, snow storms, does not overheat in the sun, withstands 25-50 freeze-thaw cycles; provides sound insulation; due to the presence of asbestos in its composition, it is fireproof, is not a conductor of electric current; it is resistant to aggressive environments, including chemical impurities and acids. Reflects ultraviolet, radioactive and electromagnetic radiation; easy to install regardless of the time of year.

At the same time, despite all the advantages of flat slate, when using it to finish the foundation with your own hands, the following nuances should be taken into account:

due to the increased fragility of the material, care is required during transportation and installation; it is heavy, which does not allow covering the base with slate without assistants; it requires treatment with antiseptic agents to prevent the growth of moss; it is not environmentally friendly when cutting due to the asbestos dust generated during the work, requires the use personal protective equipment; not durable under point loads.