Fiber cement panels for exterior home decoration

Today's construction market offers many options for facade materials. One of them - fiber cement panels, allowing to give the building a respectable look. In addition to their attractive appearance and the ability to mimic wood or stone surfaces, fiber cement panels offer impressive performance.

Fiber cement panels are a composite material for the exterior of buildings. They are based on fiber cement - a mixture of cement (80% of the composition), as well as reinforcing fibers, sand and water (20%). Due to this composition and features of the technological process, fiber cement panels have high strength and are characterized by durability. Another name is fiber-reinforced concrete panels.

Fiber cement appeared in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and replaced wooden buildings. The strength, fire resistance of the material determined its instant popularity. However, after a while it was discovered that asbestos, which is part of the product, negatively affects human health. After that, the search for a safer recipe began, which was crowned with success. Today, fiber cement-based siding is an environmentally friendly, reliable, and in addition, a massively available finishing option.

It replaced the plaster, which was previously used for facing houses and other buildings. Unlike plastered surfaces, facades clad with fiber cement are distinguished by greater strength and resistance to weathering, better thermal insulation, ease of installation and a variety of available designs.

For the first time, the material was manufactured industrially in Japan, so it is not surprising that today this country is a leading leader in the production of fiber cement profiles. The quality of the product primarily depends on adherence to the recipe and technological features of production. The raw material consists of cement, purified cellulose, sand, and special components. First of all, dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed and only after that water is added. Further, the raw materials are fed to the machines, where the texture of the future product is given by a special shaft.

After that, the raw materials are pressed under high pressure to obtain a flat product. The next stage is heat treatment, during which calcium hydrosilicate is formed, the presence of which determines the strength and wear resistance of the panels. Finally, the finished panels are coated with compounds that ensure their moisture resistance, frost resistance. If we are talking about imitating a particular surface, then it is at this stage that painting and other types of panel decoration are carried out.

Facade fiber cement panels from different manufacturers may differ slightly in their characteristics, but in general they are the same. Fire safety is one of the brightest characteristics of the panels. Cement is non-flammable, therefore, facade cladding guarantees complete protection against fire or melting.

The panels are moisture resistant (moisture absorption within 7-20%), and the presence of a special coating protects the material from the appearance of traces of corrosion on its surface.Fiber cement is characterized by frost resistance, without loss of properties it can withstand up to 100 freezing cycles (approximately this number of cycles is calculated for 40-50 years). At the same time, it provides high thermal efficiency. The use of plates based on fiber cement can significantly reduce the consumption of insulation, and therefore costs, which is important when facing a private house.

The peculiarities of the composition and the presence of cellulose fiber in it, in addition to high thermal insulation performance, guarantee good sound insulation. Resistance to shock and mechanical damage allows you to clad with panels not only private houses, but also public institutions, to use it as a basement material.

The specified properties ensure the durability of the material. - its service life is on average 20 years. At the same time, even after several years of operation, the material retains its visual appeal. This is due to the resistance of the panels to UV rays, as well as the ability to self-cleaning.

As for the design, it is diverse. Colored panels are distinguished, as well as options that imitate stone, metal, brick and wood surfaces. At the same time, the imitation is so high-quality, so precisely the texture and shades of the simulated surface are repeated, so that it is possible to distinguish the "forgery" only from a distance of half a meter.

Unlike plastic or metal panels, fiber cement counterparts are heavier. On average, it is 10-14 kg / m2, and for thicker and denser panels 15-24 kg / m2 (for comparison, vinyl siding has a weight of 3-5 kg ​​/ m2). This leads to the complexity of installation in the sense that it is impossible to cope with the installation alone. In addition, the large weight of the panels means an increased load on the load-bearing elements of the building, which means that it is only suitable for solid foundations.

Like all panels, these products are mounted on the lathing, which makes it possible to reduce the requirements for the evenness of the walls.

It is worth noting the wide scope of application of the material. In addition to finishing the facade, it is used as a windproof and heat-insulating material for main walls. It is used for operational finishing of frame and prefabricated structures, for arranging ventilated facades.

Fiber cement surfaces can imitate a variety of textures. The most popular are wood, stone and brick products. In addition, there are color options. The latter are usually presented in deep pastel shades.

The panels imitating brick and masonry are usually finished in shades of red, terracotta, beige, gray and yellow.

Particularly noteworthy are the panels, the outer part of which is covered with stone chips. They not only have an excellent appearance, but also increase the strength and frost resistance of the product. Such panels represent a 3-layer cake, the base of which is a fiber cement base, the back side is a water repellent coating, and the front side is a composition based on polyester resins and stone chips.

There is no single standard governing the size of fiber cement panels. Each manufacturer sets their own standards for material dimensions. In general, their thickness varies between 6-35 mm. If we compare the sizes of Japanese and Russian brands, then the former are usually shorter, but sometimes turn out to be 2 times wider.

For Japanese slabs, the standard dimensions are 455 × 1818, 455 × 3030 and 910 × 3030 mm. For domestic - 3600 × 1500, 3000 × 1500, 1200 × 2400 and 1200 × 1500 mm. European models usually have an even wider size range - from 1200 × 770 to 3600 × 1500 mm.

As already mentioned, among the best fiber cement panels are products from Japanese brands. They are represented by 2 leading companies - Kmew and Nichihamembers of the Panasonic group. There is no doubt about the quality of the original products of these brands; a wide range of models allows you to find panels of the required design. The only disadvantage is the high cost of production.

Products and services Nichiha provides high-quality insulation, has a multi-layer coating and almost does not fade. Corner plates and metal corners, like other accessories, greatly simplify the installation process.

Slabs Kmew also consist of several layers. Upper - necessarily paint, as well as ceramic spraying. The task of the latter is to provide high-quality protection of the material from UV rays.

Belgian trade mark deserves attention Eternit... The produced panels are externally similar to painted boards. The manufacturer also resorts to multi-layer coating of products. The top layer is a colorful decorative layer (the catalogs contain 32 basic shades of the material), the back layer is a waterproof coating that prevents moisture from penetrating into the thickness of the panel.

Russian-made products are trusted by buyers "Rospan", which has been manufacturing fiber cement panels for about 20 years. The material is characterized by increased strength and weather resistance due to a three-layer coating. The front side is first coated with an acrylic-based facade paint, and then with a transparent silicone compound. The imitation of a stone and wooden surface is successful, which is achieved by a 3-4 mm depth of the embossed pattern. Due to this, it is possible to achieve closeness to the texture of natural stone or wood.

Another domestic brand, LTM, has carefully differentiated its products, so finding suitable panels is not difficult. So, for cladding facades in regions with high humidity, panels of the Aqua series are provided. If you need to purchase panels of increased reliability and durability, models from the collections will become a worthy option. Cemstone, Cemboard HD, Natura.

Windproof slabs are characterized by medium density and are optimal for cladding high-rise buildings, as well as in coastal regions. Heat-resistant products used for finishing buildings characterized by increased requirements for fire safety are distinguished by low density. In addition, LTM boards have a wide range of dimensions. For large facades, larger panels are used. The service life of some of them reaches 100 years.

Feature of the company "Kraspan" (Russia) is the unique elements of the subsystems required for the installation of panels. The combined use of subsystems and panels allows you to achieve the ideal geometry of the facade, hide defects and irregularities, speed up and simplify preparatory work. In the collection of the manufacturer there are quite bright shades of panels, although calm pastels prevail.

Another relatively young domestic brand, Latonit, also receives a lot of positive feedback from customers.

In their line you can find the following types of panels:

• pressed painted plates (suitable for indoor and outdoor use);
• unpainted pressed products (intended only for external cladding, require further painting);

• unpressed unpainted panels (used for interior decoration, imply the subsequent application of paints and varnishes);
• fiber cement siding (common siding profiles based on fiber cement).

In the collections you can find many panels of bright colors, there are also pastel shades. In addition, the buyer can order the painting of suitable panels in the selected shade according to the RAL catalog.

In the next video you will see an overview of A-TRADING fiber cement facade boards.

When choosing panels, give preference to those that come with additional elements and fittings. Such kits will cost more, but there is no doubt that the components and accessories will be compatible. It is important to accurately calculate the required amount of facing material and not forget about a small margin for scrap and trimming. As a rule, for buildings with a simple structure, it is enough to add 7-10% to the stock, for buildings with a complex configuration - 15%.

The weight of fiber cement panels is quite significant, therefore, a reliable and high-quality lathing is needed. Many manufacturers produce profiles for the assembly of the battens, which are designed for panels from specific panels of the same brand.

Many users consider it optimal when a set of panels, in addition to fiber cement plates, includes additional elements and accessories, profiles for creating purlins, acrylic paint for processing sections, as well as assembly instructions. Suspended fiber cement material necessarily includes decorative panels and metal profiles.

It has already been said that fiber cement panels are sometimes called fiber concrete. Such an ambiguity in the name should not confuse the buyer, it is one and the same material. It's just that some manufacturers prefer to call fiber cement slabs.

Japanese panels often have a glass-ceramic layer that provides improved weather protection. In this regard, products from Japan are more expensive. In addition, transportation costs are included in the price of products. Do not forget about this when buying - a quality product cannot be cheap.

On average, the cost of the material ranges from 500 to 2000 rubles per m2. The cost depends on the size and thickness of the panels, features of the front side decoration, performance, trade mark.

The installation technology of fiber cement panels is not difficult, but a number of specific recommendations must be followed. First of all, you should decide on the type of installation: directly to the walls on self-tapping screws or on the crate. In any case, you will need clamps, through which self-tapping screws are screwed. Cleamers serve to improve the fixing of the panels, as well as to hide the horizontal seams between them.

In most cases, a crate is used, thanks to which it is possible to maintain an air gap between the wall and the panel, use insulation and not strive for perfect alignment of the walls. For the lathing, a wooden beam or metal panels are used. The latter do not require special training, unlike their wooden counterpart.

Frame installation is quite easy, in which metal frames are fixed on the crate. Panels are screwed into their grooves.

Sometimes the panels are attached without highlighting the basement zone from the blind area to the cornice. The frame for all panels is made common. If necessary, select the basement or fill it with insulation between it and the plates, the frame in this part protrudes somewhat compared to the crate of the rest of the facade.

Expanded clay of different fractions is usually used as a heater, which is characterized not only by high thermal insulation performance, but also helps protect the structure from rodents.

Installing fiber cement siding panels is no different from installing siding. The process greatly simplifies the presence of special grooves and locking mechanisms.

If it is necessary to cut the panels, it is necessary to process the sections with acrylic paint. It is usually included in the kit and sold with the material.Such processing of the cut will ensure the uniformity of shades on the panel and the cuts, as well as protect the material from moisture penetration and further destruction.

The joints between the panels should be sealed with silicone sealant. When painting the panels, make sure the surface is level and clean. Sand the coating if necessary, and then remove dust and dirt by air blasting the surface.

Fiber cement panels successfully imitate different types of wood.

They successfully imitate metal siding, while differing in higher performance characteristics.

Finally, the material in question can "transform" into colored panels, reminiscent of vinyl or acrylic siding in unusual colors.

To create sophisticated respectable exteriors, it is recommended to use panels that imitate stone or brickwork.

The combination of panels of different textures looks interesting. Wood and stone, stone and brick, brick and metal elements are harmoniously combined.

When choosing the texture and shade of the facade, it is important that they look harmonious on the exterior, combined with the color scheme of the entrance group, household buildings. The easiest way to make a house or other building stand out from others is to choose bright panels to decorate it. In this case, the dimensions of the facade will visually increase.

If there are interesting architectural elements in the house, it is recommended to highlight them with color. Buildings decorated with panels of light shades with darker turrets, columns, ledges and other elements look organically. Contrast can also be achieved by using various textures, for example, the main part of the facade is faced with a material like wood, architectural elements - like a stone.

If the house is surrounded by a garden or park, designers advise choosing light pastel shades for decoration. For buildings within the city, you can choose bright colors or expensive textures.