The building materials market nowadays is filled with a variety of finishing materials for the exterior cladding of buildings, structures and individual houses. Among them are fiber cement slabs, which are produced using modern high technologies. These are environmentally friendly products that do not contain resins and such a toxic and hazardous component as asbestos. Fiber cement boards are a structural element in the installation of a ventilated curtain wall in buildings with solid and frame walls.
What is fiber cement board
Fiber cement boards are a modern decorative coating designed for interior and facade cladding. The composition of this facing material includes the following components: cement - 90%, mineral fillers and cellulose fibers - 10%. The panel structure consists of the following layers:
- fiber cement sheet;
- water-repellent layer;
- decorative layer.
Fiber cement boards, photos of which you will find in the article, can have the following dimensions: length 1200-3600 mm, width - from445 to 1500 mm, thickness 4-18 mm. These products are manufactured by pressing followed by heat treatment, as a result of which they have high strength, flexibility, and a uniform structure.
Differences from other finishing materials
Slabs made of fiber cement have a lot of positive qualities that compare favorably with other finishing materials. The main characteristics of the coating are:
- weather resistance;
- low thermal conductivity;
- good sound insulation;
- breathability.
Facing with fiber cement boards does not require special attention and maintenance during operation. The material is several times stronger than others, therefore it does not break under the influence of mechanical loads. The service life of the plates is about 50 years.
Application area of fiber cement boards
This material is used for cladding of stations, supermarkets, sports complexes, multi-storey and individual houses (both newly built and in the reconstruction of old ones). Refractory fiber cement board, the characteristics of which allow it to be used for finishing baths, saunas, stoves and fireplaces, has a wide variety of types. The combination of this material with other decorative coatings makes it possible to create a unique exterior. The flexibility of the plates allows them to be used for finishing buildings of various configurations. Large selection of colors and texturescontributes to the implementation of any design ideas.
Advantages of fiber cement boards
Facade fiber cement boards have a number of advantages:
- strength and ductility;
- fire resistance;
- frost resistance;
- UV resistance;
- environmental and safety;
- sound and heat insulation;
- dirt-resistant;
- does not corrode or rot.
Installation of fiber cement boards
Installation of fiber cement slabs begins with the frame device. To do this, metal brackets with a paronite gasket are attached to the load-bearing wall using dowels. The vertical step distance between them must correspond to the dimensions of the sheet of heat-insulating material, but not more than 60 cm. The horizontal profiles of the lathing are fixed to the metal brackets with self-tapping screws or rivets.
Insulating plates are fixed with dowels, without gaps between them and the surface. The main and intermediate vertical profiles are mounted on horizontal ones. The vertical step distance of the main elements depends on the dimensions of the fiber cement panels. Intermediate profiles are mounted with a distance of no more than 60 cm horizontally.
Fiber cement boards are produced with or without grooves, in various thicknesses, on which the installation method depends. Panels with grooves are fixed with clamps, and thin products are attached to the vertical profiles of the crate with a sealing tape with colored self-tapping screws at a distance of no more than 40see vertical. At the point where the front panel is fastened, the required hole is drilled at a distance of at least 5 cm to the edge of the plate.
Vertical and horizontal connecting gaps between facing products should not exceed 2 mm. If a decorative facade flashing is used in horizontal joints, then the gap between the panels can be 10 mm. When using a decorative corner profile in vertical joints, the gap from the edge of the slab to the corner is 2 mm.
The slab installation sequence is as follows:
- fiber cement board;
- thermal insulation layer;
- mounting brackets;
- horizontal profile;
- frame vertical element;
- EPDM sealing tape;
- horizontal decorative profile;
- surface.
Options for decorating facades with slabs
Buildings can be faced with slabs that have colored coatings that imitate brick, natural stone and other materials. Facade cladding on the front side contains a protective layer, which consists of polyurethane and acrylic. This material has a margin of safety, ensuring the reliability and durability of buildings. It is installed on the frames in one of two ways of fastening: in the form of pressure panels or with clamps.
Facade fiber cement boards, which have a "natural stone" coating, consist of three layers. A sheet of fiber cement is located inside, the front side is covered with a sawn decor in the form of natural stone. On the other side of the panel there is a polymer layervapor barrier.
Coating of natural stone chips consists of several layers:
- water-repellent layer;
- fiber cement board;
- colored chemical compound based on epoxy resin;
- natural stone chips.
Practicality of fiber cement boards
Fiber cement boards are very simple and easy to install, which reduces the time of finishing work. Thanks to the layer of light catalyst applied to them, they do not need special care. The surface is cleaned from contamination during rain or water from a hose. Facing the facade of buildings with such plates can be carried out in any climatic conditions. Due to the strength of the plates, they are used not only on the walls, but also on the plinth.
