Fiber cement: material features and use

Fiber cement is a material in the production of which ordinary cement, reinforcing fibers and various mineral fillers are used. Initially, Gachek used asbestos material to obtain a reinforced product, which was produced at that time and was customary. However, in the middle of the last century, some scientists began to argue that extremely fine asbestos dust negatively affects human health..

As a result, manufacturers decided to abandon asbestos, but of course not from fiber cement itself. Numerous studies were carried out, after which they began to use basalt, cellulose, aramid (a long chain of synthetic polyamide) and other types of fibers in the production process, which perfectly replaced asbestos, turned out to be safe for humans and at the same time did not worsen the characteristics of fiber cement.

Most often, inexpensive cellulose fibers are used today as a reinforcing additive, which are randomly located inside the filler. It is cellulose that imparts flexural rigidity to fiber cement boards and reduces the expansion of the material under the influence of temperature extremes. Mineral fillers are responsible for internal plasticity, while cement is responsible for moisture resistance and strength.

Not only slabs are made of fiber cement, but also panels, boards. In any case, pressing and autoclaving is used to make the product strong enough, with a homogeneous structure..

Standard sizes of fiber cement slabs: length varies from 1.2 to 3.6 meters, width – from 45.5 centimeters to 1.5 meters, thickness usually does not exceed six millimeters. Such a plate weighs, depending on the length and width, from 22 to 26 kilograms, that is, relatively little. Due to their low weight, fiber cement boards do not create additional load on the foundation in the case of facade finishing.

As for the fiber cement board, its standard dimensions are 3.6 meters in length, 19 centimeters in width, and the thickness reaches 10 millimeters. The color scheme can be very different, the assortment is large, which allows you to choose the right option.

Most often, as we have already mentioned, fiber cement siding is used for facades. However, the scope of this material is wider. For example, a fence made of fiber cement boards will look very attractive, which will become a reliable and durable fence of a summer cottage or a personal plot.

Advantages of fiber cement boards, panels and boards:

1. Ecological cleanliness.
2. Durability. Leading manufacturers give a 10 year guarantee that the color of the board or panel will not fade when exposed to sunlight. The guarantee for the material itself reaches 50 years.
3. Frost resistance, temperature drops, fiber cement is not afraid.
4. Fiber cement boards and slabs are capable of self-cleaning – the dirt will simply be washed off with rainwater, since it is destroyed on the surface under the action of certain substances.
5. Fiber cement does not rot and does not corrode, unlike conventional metal and wood.
6. The material does not burn, absolutely fireproof.
7. It is quite simple to mount plates on the facade, and a fiber cement board fence can be built independently..
8. The material combines well with all other types of decoration and construction, including stone, plaster, wood, ordinary concrete, glass and brick.

Designers say that the site will look especially advantageous if, for example, the facade is finished with fiber cement, the roof is hemmed, the terrace is decorated and a fence is built. Such a widespread use of the same material gives a beautiful decorative effect, the overall picture of the yard and the house turns out to be integral and very attractive. Moreover, there is an opportunity to play with colors, choose a fiber cement board for wood, with a texture, or a smooth, more strict.

The price of a fiber cement board can range from 300 to 1.2 thousand rubles per square meter. This material has fewer disadvantages than advantages. The material absorbs moisture, this figure reaches 10%. Manufacturers are trying to cope with this problem, but so far it remains. As a result, the deformation under the influence of moisture can reach 2%. However, this is not much, in addition, due to their structure, fiber cement plates do not collapse under the influence of moisture.

Remember that if you buy fiber cement panels in a basic color, that is, without dyes, you will have to paint after installation! Boards with dye are more expensive, but you don’t have to spend extra money and effort on painting.

Impact resistance of fiber cement slabs 0.25 kg / cm. This is not a very high indicator, so it is better not to use a hammer on the facade of this material.