Decorative elements made of expanded polystyrene for the facade - instructions for selection and installation!

Architecture since time immemorial has been a part of culture, its masterpieces fascinate and inspire us with beauty, grandeur of forms and details. The facade of a house is like clothing, and today it can tell a lot about the status and tastes of its owners, because the first impression of any building is created depending on how it looks from the outside.

An architectural relief decoration, which has a very long history, plays an important role in the formation of the facade. Exquisite building decorations have been used for centuries, since the days of ancient civilizations. If centuries ago architects decorated only palaces, castles and museums, now, thanks to new materials such as expanded polystyrene, rich decoration has become more affordable.

Today, expanded polystyrene (EPS) forms the design of many construction projects. In the 1950s, this material was recognized as the main insulating material, and later it became a powerful tool in the creation of durable design elements. Its advantages are undeniable!

1. The features of this lightweight building material make it reusable.
2. The relatively low cost of styrofoam decorative items can significantly reduce financial costs.
3. The time required for the production of decor from this light, air-filled plastic is much shorter than the production time for elements made of concrete, plaster and stone.

4. Lightweight parts make it easy to ship to site.
5. A wide range of colors in the design allows the use of architectural styrofoam decorations for a variety of buildings.
6. Decorative elements covered with a waterproofing protective layer have excellent resistance to weathering.
7. The decor can be flexible, it is not affected by ultraviolet rays and moisture, does not shrink.
8. Facade profiles and elements are perfectly combined with textured plaster and clinker tiles, they are easy to install and safe to work with.

The newest polymer elements are becoming an integral part of many buildings, residential and public. They are fixed on the facade with special glue, larger and heavier forms can be additionally fixed.

Separate polystyrene modules in the design solution can be combined, in accordance with the style, project features and personal taste.At the same time, modern facade decorations are often exact copies of the original forms of the past, therefore they are successfully used in the restoration of old houses, architectural and historical monuments built in different centuries - old facade decorations destroyed and covered with cracks can be completely replaced with EPS elements of the same shape and sizes.

Common types of architectural elements made of expanded polystyrene

Decorative columns

Columns made of polymeric materials are not part of architectural structures in modern construction, they are absolutely decorative.

These elements can be rectangular or circular, and their sizes and styles are also different. Like classic columns, they have three parts - a base, a body and a capital. In some cases, metal supports are decorated with expanded polystyrene elements or hidden pipes are decorated.

Prices for various types of decorative columns

Decorative columns

Pilasters

Pilasters are an architectural element that is used in classical architecture to give the appearance of support in the decorative articulation of walls. Outwardly, the pilaster is very similar to a column, but it is, in fact, a decorative ledge, its shape is not volumetric, but embossed.

The pilaster parts are exactly the same as the column parts, they are all purchased separately.

Architectural profiles

Architectural profiles can have different types and shapes, they perform different functions.

Pediments

Pediments are found in classical Greek temples, in Renaissance masterpieces and in neoclassical architecture. This element usually has the shape of a triangle surrounded by stucco on three sides.

The field of the pediment is often decorated with sculptures.

Prices for ready-made facade cornices

Facade cornices

Arches

Arches - These are structures that are usually semi-cylindrical in shape; they are used as a decorative element above doors and windows, to decorate false windows, between two columns or columns.

Castle stones

These elements in architecture can be called cornerstones, they are installed at the top of an arch or vault. Today, such a stone, made from expanded polystyrene, is used to decorate gates, doors, windows, ceilings and much more. Castle stones are endless decorative possibilities.

Their wide range of designs makes it easy to create an elegant and trendy home facade, both modern and classic. The stones are made of high quality polystyrene and are easy to install. The special quartz coating makes the part tough and very durable.

Corner pieces

This architectural decoration is used to decorate the corners of buildings using it to visually identify the reliability and strength of structures. Most often, these elements are made in the form of tiles, the edges of which are made with a slight bevel to prevent the accumulation of water and dirt in the grooves.

Balustrades

Balustrades surround structures of stairs, terraces, balconies etc. They consist of a parapet supported by curly posts. They also decorate buildings, creating a special impression of respectability and stability. Often, balustrades are used to visually support windows.

Prices for balustrade elements

Balustrades

Rosettes

This is a round or oval element with an ornament , often in the form of an open flower.

The Rosetta is part of the ornate facades.

Decorative imitation of wood

Decorative wood-like elements bring comfort and comfort, with their help you can easily recreate the ethnic style.

The modern process of modeling polymer architectural decorations is quite different from what it was in ancient times, but the visual effect is not inferior to the aesthetics of more expensive predecessors. The raw material for the decor, which was traditionally made by hand from stone, cast from gypsum and concrete, was chosen with a density of 25-35 kg per cubic meter, gas-filled and very light weight.

The part is formed on a programmed machine by thermal cutting.

Therefore, absolutely any idea can be easily implemented. First, specialists model an architectural element in a computer program, and then it is cut on a machine, taking into account radial connections and the most accurate dimensions. The machines literally copy the designed model, after which a composition with protective properties is applied to the part. Often, the strength of architectural details is already reinforced during production with a mesh that protects the element from any negative influences. Then the decor is covered with a cement-adhesive layer (1-6 mm) with various fillers and reinforcing microfibers.

It is this coating that protects the decor from UV, moisture, it resists low temperatures and gives vapor permeability.

Before starting to decorate the facades, they develop a project. To do this, first a rough sketch is created that reflects the real shape and size of the building. Then the search for an idea begins. Architectural details can be formed from various elements, they must have the appropriate proportions and be positioned so that the appearance of the house changes for the better.

To do this, you can rely on an inner sense of harmony or study the proportions of the "Golden Section". The final design stage is a scaled drawing, it can be produced on a computer or manually.

Installation includes three main steps: cutting, gluing and painting.

When ordering items, you need to calculate the number of meters or the number of pieces of the product, then you can independently calculate the price of the product. When measuring windows or doors, remember that the length of each edge must be ordered with a margin.

All column and pilaster components are sold separately and are glued when placed.

Before installation, profiles, cornices, moldings and other elements should be laid out in a dry place on a flat surface away from heating appliances. Parts are not stacked tightly on top of each other. The maximum profile dimensions can be 200 cm long and 120 cm high. The experience and opinion of the masters indicate that the most acceptable choice of profile strips with a length of about 50 cm.

Strips of this length are easier to install. Installation of curtain rods with a length of about 200 cm is more expensive due to the time required and the need for two people for installation.

The profiles are cut at angles in the range of 90-45 degrees. Tolerance + - 5 mm. Straight cuts can be made with a saw, or can be cut with a knife or circular saw.

Attention! Facade profiles and expanded polystyrene elements can only be used as decoration, they cannot bear any load on the structure.

Required tools:

• hacksaw,
• measuring tools,
• miter box,
• spatula,
• brush,
• pencil,
• sandpaper.

Step 1. Preparatory work

Before installing the elements, markings are carried out on the facade according to the project, using a level, tape measure and other devices. It is best to start installation at a temperature of 5-30 ° C.

Step 2. Cleaning

The surface is thoroughly cleaned of dirt and plaster, old paint is removed with solvents.

Step 3. Leveling

The surface is ideally leveled with mineral facade filler. Then the finishing layers are applied, all cracks and defects are eliminated.

Prices for popular types of putty

Putties

Step 4. Fixing the decor

Architectural elements are attached with glue, while sometimes a reinforcing mesh is used, which enhances adhesion. Often, glue is recommended by decor manufacturers who know the features of their product. Typically, a high-performance, high-adhesion, polystyrene foam adhesive, polymer-based and designed for multiple weather cycles. Today, various types of glue of good quality have been created, they are simultaneously used in the construction of thermal insulation systems of buildings, for example, this is "Adesilex P9 Mapei".

The technician should apply the composition of the glue specially designed for installation with a notched trowel to the back of the element, after which the architectural detail is carefully pressed to the place of its attachment. For large elements, various fasteners are used during installation. We must not forget that large, protruding elements need to be protected by ebb tides.

Step 5. Joining of elements

The outer edges of the profiles, if they are joined, are placed at a distance of 5 mm.

After 12 hours, the gap left is filled with a solution that is used in thermal insulation systems.

Attention! Silicone should not be used because the paint will not cover it.

The joints of the facade profiles with other elements such as window sills, sills or wooden parts are always filled with a flexible sealant. At the end of the installation, you need to check the tightness of the joints of all combinations of elements, any gap should be carefully filled with a special compound. Irregularities are sanded with sandpaper.

Video - Installation of facade decor - large cornices

Video - Facade decor - step-by-step installation instructions

After fixing all the elements, priming is done, and then painting in the selected color, using roller or brush. First you need to protect the walls around the part to be painted. For this, masking tape is used, which can be easily removed after painting. Before work, the surface should be primed with thinned paint (approx. 10-20% water).

Then the dried surface is painted a second time using the thick original composition. The operation can be repeated if necessary.

Some organic solvents are capable of dissolving the materials to which they are applied. Therefore, when choosing a paint for expanded polystyrene, you need to pay attention to its composition. If you are not sure how the paint will go, you can experiment on a small piece of the profile.

Color recommendations

White fronts are universal , they are suitable for both modern and classic buildings. White gives the impression of purity and freshness. The second most popular facade color is all shades of yellow. The yellow façade has a warm, illuminated character and evokes positive emotions, it is ideal for single-storey houses, as warm, sunny tones go well with all the characteristic colors of the roof.