Concrete facade panels - a simple way to make a building

Facade fiber-reinforced concrete panels are in steady demand among customers due to a number of advantages that make this option of finishing very attractive. Despite the fact that this material was widely distributed relatively recently, its production technology was developed more than 30 years ago. In this review, we will look at the basic properties of facade panels and the features of working with them.

Features of this type of products

To understand the reasons for the popularity of the use of reinforced concrete panels in systems of ventilated facades, you need to know from what and how products are made, and what their basic properties are. This is what this section will be devoted to. (See also the article Finishing the facade of the house of aerated concrete: features.)

What are the panels and features of the production process

Production of this type of products is quite long, this is due to the fact that the maturation process of concrete is 4 weeks, and there is simply no technological possibility to produce products earlier.

Consider all the stages of production and materials used in this process:

• The first and most important component is high-quality concrete, which is thoroughly mixed to obtain a homogeneous structure. In the process, the dye of the desired color is added to the solution, and stirring is stopped only when the pigment evenly colors the entire composition. The consistency of the concrete is quite liquid, and this is due to some of the features that will be described below.
• Next, the concrete is poured into forms of the desired configuration, after which five layers of fiberglass are immersed in the solution, while the fibers in the material are arranged in a chaotic manner, which ensures high resistance to deformation effects.

• The next cycle is the longest: within 28 days, the concrete hardens and picks up optimal indicators of strength and resistance to deformation effects. Naturally, during this period, the desired humidity and temperature conditions are maintained so that the output will produce a product of the highest quality.
• The last stage of the production process is surface treatment with strengthening compositions and water-repellent solutions, which make the material resistant to moisture. This allows you to increase the resistance of products to adverse atmospheric conditions.

One of the indicators of the quality of concrete products is color fastness throughout the entire period of operation. This can be achieved by applying only natural dyes based on iron oxide, they are able to maintain their properties for a long time.

Advantages and disadvantages of this group of materials

As noted above, glass fiber-reinforced concrete facade panels have a number of advantages:

• Durability: The lifetime of such products exceeds 30 years, which is a very impressive indicator. Very few facade materials can boast such durability.

• Strength: fiber-reinforced concrete is resistant to deformation effects and is able to withstand loads without harming the structure of the material. In addition, the surface is resistant to abrasion, which is also an important factor.
• Environmental friendliness also applies to indisputable advantages, because the material is absolutely safe for human and animal health and does not harm the environment. Such cladding panels can be used on buildings of any purpose in any climate zone.
• Thanks to fiberglass the weight of concrete products is small, which greatly simplifies the handling, transportation and installation of panels. This factor is very important, since not all buildings can withstand high loads on the facade, and a small mass allows not to overload the structure.
• Fire safety: the products do not ignite and do not sustain combustion, which improves the safety of buildings and guarantees reliable protection against fire. According to the technical documentation of the product without any damage to the structure can withstand temperatures up to 350 degrees.
• The facade has not only an attractive appearance, but also improves the insulation and sound insulation of the wallsthat enhances the performance of the entire building.
• Material processing with different compositions makes concrete panels moisture-proof.as well as resistant to temperature extremes and other adverse atmospheric factors.
• Quite a wide selection of texture and color options. allows you to choose the best option for your building.

Tip! Many sellers claim that the products of foreign manufacturers are much higher quality than domestic ones. In fact, the properties of products practically do not differ, and the huge difference in cost is not always justified.

• The last factor that should be noted - the ease of installation: it is much easier to work with products of this group than with the majority of alternatives.

There are no drawbacks as such, except for the characteristic appearance of concrete, which not everyone likes. The price also does not apply to the budget, but if you compare it with similar options, you can make sure that it is quite low for its segment.

Features of the installation process

As noted above, work on the installation of the panels is not complex, however, you need to know some of the features in order to carry out them in accordance with the technology and to ensure the highest possible operational properties.

Preparatory stage

To disassemble the workflow in more detail, we divide it into two stages — by completing them, you can easily cope with the work.

In the first stage, the following work is carried out:

• The surface must be cleaned of dirt, if it has cracks and damage, they must be sealed with cement mortar. It is not worth listening to those who say that preparation is not needed: the cold penetrates through the damage in the wall, and the smaller they are, the warmer the building.
• The next stage is the mounting of brackets for the future system, their length should be chosen taking into account the thickness of the insulation that will be laid under the facade system. Mineral wool is best suited, this material is durable and has excellent thermal insulation properties. The material is fastened by means of special dowels for thermal insulation.

• If you follow the technology, it is necessary to close the insulation with a special vapor-permeable membrane. This will protect the insulation from absorbing excess moisture.

Tip! It is better to use high-quality fasteners: dowels are suitable for the brackets, and special “umbrellas” for the armrest, it is important to choose an option from high-quality plastic that will not crack during installation.

Installation of the facade system

Further work is carried out as required by the manufacturer's instructions. Some nuances may differ depending on the size of the panels and their thickness, so you should familiarize yourself with the recommendations of manufacturers.

The main steps of the process are as follows:

• Initially, a frame is installed, which consists of metal profiles made specifically for such purposes. First, the horizontal elements are strengthened, after them - the vertical ones.
• Then you can fasten the front panels of concrete, the process is quite simple, and you can cope with it with your own hands.

Many people know what cutting reinforced concrete is like with diamond circles, and in this way fibrous concrete panels are cut. Sometimes diamond drilling of holes in concrete is required; panels do not require the use of special equipment; it is enough to use certain crowns and an electric drill.

Do not forget to fill the joints with a special sealant, this will allow you to create a reliable protective cover on the facade.

Conclusion

If you need a durable facade finish, then concrete panels - this is exactly what you need. If you have any questions about the workflow, watch the video in this article, it will clearly show some important aspects of editing.