Features of flashing for sandwich panels

High performance characteristics, affordable cost and installation speed have made the construction of buildings from sandwich panels very popular these days. At the same time, the joints of the panels are necessarily protected with strips - this allows the structure to maintain its tightness, and in addition, gives a finished look.

Building cladding with sandwich panels is very popular in building construction. Plates protect the structure from adverse external influences, and also perform the tasks of additional insulation. However, no matter how high-quality the installation of sandwich panels is, not a single master has yet been able to avoid defects and gaps. There are especially many of them in the places of door and window openings. Slots not only worsen the appearance of the facade, but also reduce the protection of the building from wind and moisture.

To make the finish as tight as possible, as well as to mask all unaesthetic seams and gaps, special extensions are used - the so-called strips. They can be made of plastic or metal. They are distinguished by high strength characteristics, resistance to mechanical damage and external atmospheric influences.

Thus, strip covers have three main functions:

• give the facade and window openings an architecturally finished look;
• provide effective protection against moisture;
• allow you to implement a wide variety of design solutions due to a wide range of colors of polymer coating of add-ons.

To protect the joints of the sandwich panels, several types of cover strips are used.

• Self-adhesive corner. This type of strip is made of plastic, with a thin layer of adhesive tape less than 1 mm thick applied to one side of the extension. Installation of fasteners is carried out by removing this film and fixing the strip to the base. The only drawback of using such flashing strips is the impossibility of installing them in cool or rainy weather. If there is a need to install such a product in the winter, then first the outer side of the sandwich panel must be heated to a certain temperature. It is best to use these flats in the summer.

• Galvanized steel... These strips have a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 mm, and the thinner the steel, the easier installation and better protection. Such extensions are made in a variety of colors, so that every homeowner can dream up about the design of the facade of his building.

• Aluminum... They are also very popular. They are made of 12 mm thick sheet aluminum. In comparison with other types of accessories, such strips are not afraid of the effects of water, and this determines their undoubted advantages over galvanized ones. Accordingly, the cost of aluminum strips is higher than all others.

So, the price of galvanized products varies from 50 to 100 rubles. per meter, while aluminum is estimated at 150-200 rubles. In cases of paint fading, the aluminum addition can always be painted independently.

Depending on the function, the cover strips can be corner, plinth or docking. The standard dimensions of the extensions are 100 mm.

Installation of flashing strips on a sandwich panel is not difficult, the main thing is to follow simple rules.

• To improve waterproofing and thermal insulation, all joints between the panels are filled with polyurethane foam.
• If the fixation is performed in a horizontal position, then special extensions of the vertical type should be used. These strips provide maximum tightness of the joints, minimize the access of snow, water and wind. This ensures the required strength and tightness of the connection.
• Installation of vertical strips is carried out from bottom to top. It is important that, if necessary, align the planks at the joints. Fixation is performed every 30 cm with special self-tapping screws with a rubberized washer.
• For the greatest protection at home, you can additionally use a silicone sealant. In this case, all joints and joints of the slabs are coated with a special compound, and only after that they are sheathed with strips.

Depending on the design, the cover strips can be used to close the joints of panels on the wall, areas near the window, as well as to fix the joints of the slabs on the roof of the house. Obviously, it is simply impossible to do without the use of addons.

See the video below for more information about the strip for sandwich panels.