MarbleTypes of exterior materials
It is true that many of us consider the interior beauty of the house more important, but traditionally, the exterior is the main structure of the building. Because in the first place, what attracts the attention of every viewer is the exterior of the building. So if we decide to give more value to our building, we need to pay more attention to this part.
In this article, we examine the most commonly used building materials and the advantages and disadvantages of each. This way you will be able to have the best choice according to your specific purpose and taste and of course the available budget.
One of the issues that should be considered in the discussion of exterior materials is how the building relates to its surroundings. It is very important to consider the coordination of the surrounding buildings and the urban space in choosing the facade of the building. For example, the presence of a modern building among the buildings with a classic look may be very striking, but it will certainly destroy the harmony in that urban area. Of course, recently in some cities, building monitoring units are examining this issue and they should be approved for facade design, but usually this strictness is for public spaces such as buildings that are adjacent to passages or parks. Be. But in general, it is the right position, and it is better for the builders to observe this issue, and even in the streets and side alleys.
Metal facade
Metal cladding is a very attractive example that gives a modern and unique look to the building. Unlike materials such as stone and brick, metal facades do not have a long life and are among the new materials. One of the reasons for the increase in these coatings is technological advances and the discussion of insulation. Also, their formability has opened the door for architects to create special views, and this is one of the main reasons for their popularity. The most commonly used metal materials include iron, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, zinc and brass. The choice of these coatings depends a lot on the design and budget of the manufacturer. Of all these, iron, aluminum and steel are the most widely used.
Advantages of metal façade
- High strength and durability
- Maintain appearance
- Fire resistance
- Flexibility in design and execution
- Ability to coordinate with other elements
Disadvantages of metal façade
- Rusting, especially in wet areas (less recommended unless you follow the principles of insulation)
- Low strength (for example in the case of aluminum metal)
- High weight in some metals
- Conductivity (failure to maintain heat and temperature in cold seasons)
Wooden facade
The beauty and pleasant warmth of wood is not hidden from anyone. This beautiful natural material has been with humans for many years and has been used in the construction of shelters and houses. This ancient human friend is also very popular in today’s modern world. Perhaps the main reason for this popularity is the natural feeling that wood brings with it. Because the human soul is and is familiar with nature and enjoys being in nature or having a substance that creates its feeling. Wood can be called the most sensitive exterior material.
Advantages of wooden façade
- natural beauty
- Being modern
- Create custom designs due to ease of cutting
- Combined to create good harmony with other materials
- Energy conservation
- Environmentally friendly
- Safe and light
Disadvantages of wooden facade
- High shelf life (due to the presence of bacteria and living tissues in it)
- Transformation
- Lack of resistance to weather conditions such as rain, snow and high heat
- Ease of fire
Concrete facade (exposed concrete)
These days, the use of neutral colors and minimal designs is very common. This style, which is based on the principle of simplicity, makes the most use of neutral colors such as gray. This great attention to the color gray has made the use of concrete that has a neutral color in modern buildings find fans. It is based on this attention that exposed concrete has entered the market and has been used by those people who are looking for different and special designs. Exposed concrete panels are one of the newest building materials that has entered the market. By installing concrete tiles, you show the viewer that your building is modern.
Concrete can be called the most special exterior facade material.
Advantages of exposed concrete
- Special and modern
- Flexibility and light weight
- High strength and durability
- Resistant to pressure and impact
- Variety of designs and colors
Disadvantages of exposed concrete
The biggest drawback of concrete is that due to its neutral color, it creates a cold and depressing atmosphere. To avoid this, it is better to combine it with materials that have a warm texture, such as wood, in order to create a modern yet warm and pleasant atmosphere.
Glass view
There is no denying that in today’s modern world, humans use every means to be seen and to show off. Everyone is trying to be the center of attention in some way. (Just take a look at cyberspace.) What could be better than for our building to attract everyone’s attention ?! If this is an interesting topic for you, then a material like glass will definitely help. Glass is another relatively new material in a building facade. Of course, in the past, glass (especially colored glass) was widely used. But it was mostly used in doors and windows so that the occupants of the building could enjoy the light and heat of the sun. But the meaning of glass facade here is facades with glass in very large dimensions. Double and triple glazed windows that make the building very modern and contemporary. The smooth, transparent surface of the large glass dazzles the eye, which is why buildings whose owners choose to be the center of attention use glass.
Advantages of glass façade
- Modern and luxurious
- Make the most of sunlight
- Elegance and beauty
- Avoid UV rays
- Heat and sound insulation
Disadvantages of glass façade
- Direct sunlight in hot seasons
- Need to clean and wash regularly in case of snow, rain and dust
- expensive
- Low resistance to earthquakes and fires
Brick view
The use of bricks in the exterior of the building, in addition to beauty, also makes it strong. Brick has a nostalgic feeling for us Iranians. Because before the arrival of other materials, our houses were always built with this material and prepared for life. It is enough to take a look at the ancient monuments of our country to realize its antiquity. By the way, did you know that Yazd is the first brick city in the world to be registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List ?! This selection shows the antiquity of bricks in the urban context of our beloved country Iran.
Today’s bricks are slightly different from the old and simple type of the past. These bricks, which are known as refractory bricks, have various and very attractive designs and colors, and they also have many fans. Due to the changes they have made and the various and attractive colors that they have, they are no longer in a single application mode (use in the facade) and are also widely used in interior decoration.
Advantages of brick facade
- High durability
- Low maintenance cost
- Affordable
- Eco-friendly
- Insulation against cold and heat
- Earthquake Resistant
- Iranian and original
Disadvantages of brick façade
- High crime
- Low execution speed
- Lack of ease of cleaning
- Lack of variety in facade design
Undoubtedly, these days, the most widely used exterior material is stone building. Of course, it is also the oldest. Historic buildings from past ages are all built with this strong object. Today, due to the discovery of various mines and the production and processing of various and beautiful stones, it has again become the first choice of builders and architects. Natural stone fully meets all the needs of builders. The most prominent feature of natural stones, in addition to strength, is their flexibility in the implementation of various architectural styles. That is, from classic facades (including Roman facades) to modern and minimal, can be easily executed with the highest quality with stone.
It can be said that the best exterior material is natural stone, because in addition to being beautiful and luxurious, it also has extraordinary durability. At Upstone Factories Group, we deliver a variety of stone products with the highest quality to our dear customers. You can choose the best natural stones for the exterior of your building by seeing Upstone products.
Benefits of natural stone
- Durability and stability
- Natural charm and beauty
- Ease of maintenance
- Variety in design and color
- Color stability
- Resistant to moisture
Disadvantages of natural stone
- High implementation cost
- High ancillary costs (canning and infrastructure)
- Running time consuming
- High mass