Foam siding: advantages and disadvantages, reviews from builders

Siding is one of the most commonly used facade materials, which has only strengthened its position recently. Vinyl is the most popular - due to the fact that it is both pleasing to the eye, has good characteristics and is sold at a reasonable price. But recently a new type began to crowd it out - foam siding. Many people still don’t know about its features, but it is very promising, so it’s worth taking a closer look at it. We talk about the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of foam siding, its application, and consider reviews from builders.

What is foam siding

Foam siding is an improved version of the most popular finishing coating.
Traditional vinyl siding combines excellent technical characteristics, affordable cost, ease of installation, and a pleasant appearance. But, like any other material, it is not without its drawbacks. The foamed analogue is the result of work to improve technical and aesthetic characteristics. The siding panel consists of two layers: a base made of extruded PVC foam and an external decorative and protective coating made of polymer resins with additives. The thickness of regular siding is 1-1.1 millimeters, the foam version is approximately 11 millimeters. Massive but lightweight panels do not weigh down or create additional load on the building.

In appearance, foam siding resembles fiber cement panels used for finishing commercial, industrial and multi-apartment residential buildings. But unlike fiber cement, it does not create a significant load on the building, does not generate dust and is easy to cut, and does not create problems during transportation and installation.

Metal panels for finishing

When choosing siding for your home , you should also consider metal cladding, which can withstand the effects of very high temperatures. Buyers claim that the cost of this cladding is much higher when compared with the above-mentioned panels. By visiting a specialized store, you can finally understand that the cost will depend on the polymer coating and the thickness of the steel. The polymer coating at the same time protects the panels from exposure to various atmospheric precipitations.

Thanks to the metal cladding of your house, you can get a facade that will be distinguished by its durability. The service life of this type of siding reaches several decades.

As a rule, such a coating consists of individual elements that are not subject to deformation. The fairly thick base is well able to withstand various mechanical influences. The owners of private houses noted that they choose metal products because of their high environmental friendliness, since various chemical reagents are not used in the manufacturing process. In addition, metal is distinguished by the fact that it is used to produce a finish with maximum service life; it can also be used in the most aggressive environments. It should be noted that acrylic and vinyl siding will not have these characteristics.

Attention! Installation of siding, the cost of which, as a rule, is not too high, is quite simple because it is almost impossible to damage. The manufacturing technology and structure of the products are in many ways similar to metal tiles. The difference lies only in the profiling of the sheets, as well as in the dimensions.

Features of foam siding

In terms of performance characteristics, the foam version of the material is significantly superior to traditional siding. Main advantages:

• Strength. Regardless of climatic conditions, siding remains resistant to mechanical stress. The panels may break under directed force, but under normal operating conditions there will be no chips, scratches or dents on them.
• Excellent thermal insulation. Thanks to the foam structure, the house will become much warmer. It will not be possible to completely abandon the installation of thermal insulation materials, but heat loss will be significantly reduced.
• Good sound insulation. Foam siding muffles extraneous sounds from the street, for example, during rain, or when the building is located near highways.
• Resistant to aggressive influences. Foamed siding does not grow fungus and mold, it does not attract interest from insects and rodents. You don’t have to worry about deformation - neither heat, nor severe frosts, nor ultraviolet radiation will change its properties.
• Excellent appearance. The texture of foam siding imitates the pattern of wood, the panels are painted in different colors, so choosing the right model will not be difficult.
• Versatility. Using foam siding, you can decorate houses made of any materials - timber, brick, foam concrete, as well as frame buildings.
• Durability. The panels will last for decades without loss of functionality and do not require special care.
• Environmental Safety. During operation, no harmful substances are released into the atmosphere.

Disadvantages of the material

With all the abundance of advantages, polystyrene foam has several rather significant disadvantages, which can also play a role when deciding which material to use, so they are worth considering in detail:

1. The cost is usually higher than that of high-quality cladding panels made from other materials. A simple plastic liner is on average 3-5 times cheaper. The cost of the material is close to brick or stone facade panels, and they will look more interesting. The high cost is due to the fact that a lot of raw materials are used for each panel - its average thickness is 10 mm.
2. Limited availability. Not all construction stores can find this material; sometimes it is not even available in large stores. And if there is one, then usually you can’t count on a large selection from different manufacturers. In the end, all that remains is to take what you have, and sometimes even carry it across the entire city.
3. Although polystyrene foam looks more aesthetically pleasing than usual, imitation wood is not always of a high enough standard. The texture is often not rough enough to be felt naturally and not deep enough to be felt. Wood grain patterns may appear unnatural due to frequent repetition. It is not yet possible to perform complex color transitions on such siding, which also complicates the task of making the design truly beautiful and convincing.
4. Foam liner is not easy to install. The process is similar to the regular one, but it is harder to cut and requires more handling, so the process is slower. Builders often charge more for their services when working with this material because it is not very common. It is better to install it yourself only if you have experience - it is not that difficult, but there are still a number of important nuances.

Advantages and disadvantages

Both facade and basement siding panels produced by the well-known manufacturer Vox are characterized by a wide range of important advantages:

• Absolute environmental cleanliness and safety;
• wide choice of colors;
• high levels of resistance to the destructive effects of moisture;
• durability and excellent wind resistance;
• good ventilation properties;
• impeccable appearance and no need for painting;
• no need for special care;
• simplicity and speed of installation;
• resistance to fungal formations and pest activity;
• long term reliable service.

Specifications

The advantages of acrylic elements are determined by the features of their manufacture and the chemical composition of the material. The main component of the material is acrylic polymer .

It is due to this polymer that the brightness of the color of facing materials is preserved, their resistance to the sun and the ability to maintain physical properties over a wide temperature range (from minus 80°C to 80°C).

In addition, other components that make up acrylic cladding play an important role in ensuring the positive characteristics of the material :

• Titanium dioxide . Serves for fixing and color stability;
• flame retardants . Gives the material fire-resistant properties;
• modifiers . Gives strength;
• antistatic agents . Prevents the occurrence of static electricity, which is especially important during thunderstorms.

Chemical elements that ensure the elasticity of the material, as well as dyes of a wide color palette, provide acrylic elements with positive characteristics.

In addition, the absence of toxic elements in the composition of the material indicates its environmental friendliness and safety for health .

Specifications

Installation

Installation of foam siding cladding is quite simple and is carried out according to the principle of installing a hinged ventilated facade. Main stages of work:

• Installation of sheathing on external walls. You can use Alta System or a metal frame.
• Installation of vapor barrier. It is better to give preference to membranes with good waterproofing properties.
• Thermal insulation device. Polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam or mineral wool are used.
• Fastening the mounting profile around the perimeter of the building, as well as on window and door openings, corners. If the base panels are not installed, the profile is installed at a distance of at least one meter from the ground, the fastening step is 40 cm.
• Installation of panels. The first board is attached at a distance of 1-2 mm from the profile, starting from the bottom row from left to right in increments of 400 mm. Self-tapping screws are screwed into the perforated holes in the top of the panel. Subsequent boards are inserted into the lock of the previous one and fastened with self-tapping screws to the profile. When the wall length is more than 3 meters, the panels are connected with a mounting and universal profile. The top board is attached in one of two ways: closed with a universal clamping profile or placed flush under the soffits.
• Finishing door and window openings. It is important to maintain the recommended gap of 1-2 mm between the profile and the facade board. To maintain aesthetics, it is recommended to use branded Alta Decor trims.
• Finishing corners. The universal profile 100 (tenon and groove system) is attached, then the plug is installed. The color of the profile can be the same color as the facade or contrasting, depending on the design idea.

Country façade facade panels will allow you to create a beautiful façade finish, reduce heat loss and ensure an excellent appearance of the house for many years.

Voting for the best siding manufacturer for cladding a house

Which siding manufacturer for cladding a house would you choose or recommend?

Aquasystem Pe Ral 8017

3.03 % ( 1 )

Grand Line Optima

0.00 % ( 0 )

Cedral Wood C50

18.18 % ( 6 )

Grand Line Tundra Natural-Beam S7 Maple

36.36 % ( 12 )

Grand Line America

12.12 % ( 4 )

Docke Burg Sandenburg

21.21 % ( 7 )

Tecos Ardennes

3.03 % ( 1 )

Dolomite Rocky Reef Luxury Coral

6.06 % ( 2 )

What kind of houses are clad with ALTA BOARD boards?

ALTA BOARD foam siding is an affordable, optimal solution to the problem of finishing and renovation of the facade:

• private house for permanent residence,
• cottage, townhouse,
• country house,
• any low-rise building.

Due to its high strength and light weight, Alta Board façade boards do not overload the foundation and load-bearing structures of the building. Therefore, Alta Board boards can be used to clad houses made of any wall materials: brick, wood, aerated concrete, frame-panel, SIP panels and others without an audit and calculation of the load on the foundation.

Application

The material can be used with virtually no restrictions - it can be used to decorate the walls of brick and block buildings. There are no problems with wooden facades made of timber and log houses. The panels are fully compatible with buildings built using frame technology, including structural insulating panels.

Foam siding is an alternative to standard PVC cladding. Technical features allow it to be used in complex options - finishing the space under the grillage and designing the base. It is used both in the construction of new and for the restoration of old houses. The combination of panels of different colors will transform any building.

Reviews

The bulk of reviews from builders and owners of houses that use foam siding are positive. It's rare to find anyone visibly unhappy with its use. It is often noted that this material differs better from all nearby alternatives, and its heat and sound insulating properties are highlighted. Also, reviews often pay great attention to its resistance to damage and natural phenomena - and everything that has already been discussed in the section devoted to the advantages of the material.

On the other hand, reviews highlight both the dependence of product quality on the manufacturer and individual shortcomings of the material itself. Often the critical attitude is due to the price: it is quite high, which creates expectations from the material, which it does not always fully meet. It is especially high for the regions - it is because of this that foam siding is used quite rarely in them. As a result, another problem arises: few people know how to work with it. At the same time, the installation itself is not too complicated, but they may ask for more for it than when using other materials, which are more difficult to work with.

Among the disadvantages characteristic of the products of only some manufacturers, primarily relatively cheap ones, fading is noted. Panels from one batch can retain a color close to the original for many years, while panels from another batch change it quite quickly. This becomes especially clear if there is a need to replace a damaged panel - the new one stands out strongly next to the old ones. There are also reviews with complaints about the different tones of the parties: it is worth checking in advance that such a problem will not arise, otherwise the house will not look its best.

To summarize, the opinion of the majority of those who have used foam siding is this: it is a good material that has many advantages, and is one of the priorities for consideration.

Conclusion

You have learned the pros and cons of all the main types of siding and can choose the best option based on the features of each option. The video in the article will help you understand the issue even better; if you don’t understand something, ask in the comments.

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February 7, 2021

Materials for finishing facades

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Color range of metal cladding

If we compare vinyl panels with other facade systems, the advantages in the variety of colors stand out. The range of metal cladding is so diverse that you can easily choose absolutely any color, from dark to light. In this case, the brightness of the shade will not affect the final cost of the panels. This is why you can create a truly original facade of your home. Before purchasing, you need to pay attention to the color scheme of buildings in the neighborhood. If the neighboring houses were created taking into account a certain trend, then you need to decide what will be a priority for you:

• Own originality.
• General harmony.

Selecting finishes based on aesthetic considerations

Despite the combination of all the positive qualities , we can say with confidence that vinyl siding, in particular, pastel shades, is the leader on the modern market. Titanium dioxide is used to make such panels, the difference between which is color fastness. However, bright colors on such coatings may fade.

To achieve a rich shade, manufacturers add quite expensive stabilizers to their products. This does not have the best effect on the cost of the panels. Even though the ingredients include special items, bright colors are exposed to the sun. If we take this circumstance into account, it is recommended to purchase vinyl panels in pastel colors.