Architects opt for appearance of natural stone with latest facade slab

The façade panels of SVK from Sint Niklaas, Flanders, find their way all over the world, from Mexico to Australia. The latest facade panel in fiber cement is the Decoboard Pure, with the subtle appearance of natural stone.

Marketer Anouk Crauwels of SVK explains that the Decoboard Pure is finished with a transparent or semi-transparent coating. For the market, the new fiber cement cladding panel has only been available for a few months, since January 2019. That said, a number of projects where Decoboard Pure has been applied are already being completed at this time. "You can see that the product is catching on with architects."

Fire Safe

A unique feature of the fiber cement wall board is the transparent coating applied to the product as a top layer. The board is used in both residential and commercial construction. Crauwels: "Decoboard also comes into its own in combination with traditional masonry." Another valued aspect is fire safety. The high fire class A2-s1, d0 in which the board is located makes it especially suitable for large buildings that must meet strict fire safety requirements.

SVK fiber cement siding panels are known for their strength, thanks to the reinforcing fibers incorporated into the panel. The natural and synthetic fiber material makes the siding panels durable, making it a popular product among architects and contractors. "The fiber cement siding panels allow you to be unlimitedly creative," Crauwels knows.

Cut to size

The standard size of Decoboard Pure is 1.22 meters by 2.50 or by 3 meters, says commercial director Thomas Bossuyt. "Depending on the client's wishes, the boards can be cut within those standard dimensions. Different shapes and sizes are possible. On request, the plates are provided with drill holes."

color intensity

Like the Puro Plus siding, the Decoboard Pure exudes the purity of concrete, with the main difference being that the latter is uncoated and naturally weathers. Crauwels: "The pattern of the Puro Plus was already popular. Meanwhile, we saw a growing demand for a darker color slab, upon which we started combining these factors after an internal brainstorming session. The coating we chose for the Decoboard Pure protects the board and provides a certain color intensity."

Meanwhile, Decoboard Pure is available in a light variant, a semi-dark variant and a dark variant. At the R&D department, the coating is tested for its durability and the natural aging process is simulated through test methods. In this way, it can also be ascertained how the board and finishing coating will behave in the future and in different climates and environments.

The Decoboard has three color variations.

Automated finishing line

A fully automated finishing line is used to coat the sheets. This provides the sheets with a protective film, which reduces the risk of damage during installation. In assembly, the plates can be glued, screwed, riveted or mechanically blind-fastened. Bossuyt: "For anyone opting for a solution with screws, it's good to know that they are available in the same color as the panel."