Finnish house facades: DIY finishing technology

Finnish houses are buildings erected using frame technology. The walls of such buildings are traditionally sheathed with OSB panels 9-12 mm thick. Frame technology provides two options for insulation: mineral wool (or its analogs) and foam.

In the second case, the walls can be built in two ways:

• from sandwich panels, which are a "pie" made of a sheet of polystyrene, pasted over on both sides with OSB panels;
• the same pie, in which OSB is not glued to the foam, but nailed to the frame of the house.

The greatest difficulty in finishing the facade of a Finnish house is caused by OSB boards (wood with oriented shavings).

It's all about their uneven surface, which is able to actively absorb moisture.

Half-timbered facade

Features technologies

Fachwerk is a technique for finishing facades of frame houses, which has been actively used in European countries for more than two centuries. This cladding method was formed due to some of the features of that period: the lack of wood for full-fledged wall cladding and the need to strengthen and decorate them. All these tasks are solved by half-timbered finishing.

The peculiarity of this technology is that it is closely related to the design and construction of frame frames.

When building an ordinary house, they first create a project of premises based on approved planning standards. Then the structural frame of the building is developed. With Finnish houses or built according to any similar technology, for example, North American, things are a little different.

Features of the facade decoration for half-timbered houses are taken into account already at the stage of building design. First of all, the layout is developed and approved, taking into account the finishing of the facade for half-timbered houses.

After that, the frame is calculated, the vertical posts of which must coincide with the location of the facade cladding elements.

Important point: the correct design of such a house excludes trimming OSB slabs when sheathing the walls of the house.

In this case, the embroidery with decorative lines can be performed so that all openings between the finishing elements have the correct and identical geometric shape. Therefore, the facade cladding should be made of solid OSB boards. This is the only way to get a harmonious appearance of the house.

The main element of the half-timbered decoration

Fachwerk style is a facade cladding with wooden planks located along the lines of force of the frame. The main and only reinforcing element of this finish is called "dovetail".It represents the junction point of three planks, one located vertically and the other two diagonally. The ends of the side planks are cut at an angle so that an isosceles triangle is obtained.

"Dovetail" is the most important element of finishing a Finnish house for half-timbered houses.

Without using this technique, the walls would have been embroidered in a checkered pattern. The presence of diagonal lines gives the building a more dramatic appearance.

Prices for building boards

Building boards

What material is used for fachwerk finishes

Traditionally, boards with a section of 100x25 mm are used for facing frame houses. The wood can be either planed or unplaned.

But it must be treated with an antiseptic, which prevents its premature destruction by insects, moisture, mold or fungus.

Soils with antiseptic properties are used to protect the boards. In stores of building and finishing materials, a wide range of products with fire and biological protection properties are presented. Suitable for wood processing are those on the packaging (container) of which it is written: "for working with wood". It can be not only primers, but also tinting impregnations, which perform two tasks at once: they protect the material and give it a certain color.

One of the most inexpensive drugs in this plan is Senezh. Another inexpensive composition is also popular: soil antiseptic for wood "Bio Grunt Zhivitsa Pro".

Its average price is 950-1100 rubles. The primer can be used for treating wood both indoors and outdoors.

In the high-end Lifeline Ultra-2 category.

This primer is at the same time a stain, therefore it gives the wood a peculiar dark color. The wood grain pattern remains visible.

Painting the facade of a Finnish house

To comply with all the nuances of the half-timbered style, it is not enough to sheathe the facade with boards ...

It is also necessary to paint the OSB boards in such a color that it contrasts or harmoniously matches the color of the facing boards.

Transparent coatings can be used for painting.But rarely does anyone leave the tiles with their natural color. They look much better painted. Therefore, the best choice is covering enamels, stain and tinting impregnations.

Any of the covering enamels can be used:

• oil
• silicone;
• alkyd;
• pentaphthalic;
• acrylic;
• latex.

The features of each type of paint can be found in the table.

OSB board painting technique

In order for the paint to adhere firmly to any surface, a preliminary priming is necessary. However, it is not needed for new particle boards. The fact is that such processing has already been performed at the manufacturer's plant.

If the board is fresh from the store, the priming step is skipped. But if this finishing material has been outside for a long time without additional protection, the chips on its surface will swell from moisture. In this case, you will need not only priming, but also filling the slab. Only after completing these works, you can start painting.

Primers for protecting OSB panels

Any primer for wood is suitable for processing OSB boards.

This is because these panels are 90% wood shavings. But when choosing a composition, they pay attention to the fact that it is suitable for the selected paint. The best option is acrylic primers. They form a dense film that reduces paint consumption.

Recommended soils:

• "Ceresit CT17";
• universal deep penetration "Moment PRIME";

  

  Deep penetrating primer

• INTER-GRUNT;
• Capalac Holz-Imprägniergrund;

  

  Capalac Holz-Imprägniergrund

• LEINOS.

It should be noted that after applying the priming solution, a significant part of the chips on the surface of the board will swell and rise. This will make the panel even more uneven. But there is no way to avoid this. Therefore, if necessary, it is necessary to level the surface of the slabs, and then close the seams between them.

OSB can be leveled in two ways: by applying a putty and processing with a grinder with an abrasive wheel.

In the first case, before leveling, you will need to prime the panel, as this will enhance the adhesion of the putty. In the second case, the slab is primed after it has been sanded.

Seams with any moisture resistant wood grout. When this composition dries, the embedment sites are leveled by rubbing them with a float with a sanding mesh.

Prices for wood preservatives

Impregnation for wood

Technology of applying a primer to OSB board

Three types of tools are used for painting and varnishing works:

• brushes;
• rollers;
• sprayers.

Sprayers or rollers are most convenient for facade work.

Step 1. Remove dust from OSB panels with a soft brush.

Step 2.

Apply the first coat of primer using a spray gun or roller.

Step 3. Wait until the surface of the boards is completely dry. This time period is indicated on the product packaging.

Step 4.

If necessary (for loose surfaces), apply a second layer of primer. If there is no such need, after priming, start painting.

Application of paints and varnishes is carried out in the same way. The same tools will be required. Regardless of what paint is used, make sure that no smudges form.

If there are any, they are promptly removed by smoothing with a paint brush or a well wrung out roller.

Work on painting OSB boards is carried out at a positive air temperature. The surface of the walls must be completely dry. Therefore, it is most convenient to start painting the facade at 10-11 am.

By this time, the sun will have time to dry the walls from the morning moisture.

After painting, decorative elements can be fixed.

Prices for various facade panels

Facade panels

Video - Decorative beams made of natural wood

Video - Wood firing. Manufacturing of facade decor for houses in the half-timbered style

The facade of a Finnish house can also be revetted with any of the popular finishing materials:

• siding;
• facade panels for brick and stone;
• decorative plaster.

But, as a rule, frame house building technology is chosen in order to get comfortable housing as soon as possible and for relatively little money.

All of the above methods of finishing the facade require additional investment and certain labor costs. Consequently, the construction cost increases significantly. Therefore, we can conclude: the half-timbered style is the best way to decorate the facade of a Finnish house.

Video - History and features of the half-timbered style