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The benefits of asbestos-free fibre cement
Talking about fibre cement can set alarm bells ringing because of the harmful effects that constructions containing it have had for a long time. However, fibre cement itself is not toxic; the asbestos from which it was produced is toxic, but nowadays the constructions that use it have completely eliminated this carcinogenic component.
Asbestos is a natural fibre that for years was used in construction because its toxicity was unknown. Nowadays, the fibre cement used in construction is completely free of asbestos particles, so it does not represent any risk to health and has many advantages.
Asbestos-free fibre cement, made from Portland cement, which is mixed with silica reinforced by organic and synthetic fibres together with binder additives and water, is particularly suitable for all types of cladding (interior and exterior), masonry, walls and ceilings, among many others.
The most commonly used fibres are:
– Glass fibres, to improve the physical characteristics of concrete and prevent cracking.
– Polypropylene fibres, to improve the mechanical characteristics of concrete, with greater durability than glass or steel fibres.
– The steel ones, which can be cold-formed, to increase the strength and load-bearing capacity of the concrete; or glued, which are mainly used for concrete pipes.
Simple, quick and clean
One of the great advantages of asbestos-free fibre cement is its lightness, which makes it extraordinarily easy to install on site. Fibre cement slabs are very easy to handle and can be easily cut and drilled, making them very easy to install, which can be done dry.
In addition to this versatility and variety of colours thanks to the incorporation of pigments in its composition, it is rainproof and fireproof, which provides greater levels of safety to the home.
Furthermore, we cannot ignore the fact that it is a very economical material compared to others, which together with its manageability and time savings of up to 70% can have a very positive impact on our pocket. Such are its advantages that, although it was initially used mainly for exteriors, leaving plasterboard for interiors, it is increasingly displacing plasterboard, which can be found in any room.
Drywall panels
One of the most widespread uses of non-asbestos fibre cement today is to be used as boards, in what is known as drywall. These are panels that are fixed to a light wood or galvanised steel structure. They can be used to build partition walls or non-structural walls.
The biggest handicap of this type of construction, known as lightweight drywall, is the appearance of cracks, especially when temperature changes occur. However, these problems can be avoided by using top quality materials in the first place and, especially in very large areas, by including a control joint to absorb any small displacements between the slabs and prevent cracks from appearing.
In this type of joint, which must always be dilated, it is also advisable to use elastic putty and, of course, to clean the surface of the fibre cement boards very well before laying them so that there are no dust particles or other residues.
On the other hand, false myths associated with this type of material, such as the myth that heavy objects such as a television cannot be anchored to these walls, have been dispelled, since today, thanks to butterfly screws, specially designed for drywall, fibre cement panels can support up to 30 kg of weight with the help of a simple drill.