GFRC Unitized panels systems are required to provide both primary and back-up protection against water ingress or vapor condensation in the wall cavity under extremes of temperature, humidity and wind loading.
The overall R values for the wall counting the GFRC Panel and the interior air space exceed R19 and can be designed to R23 using 3” insulation.
As an alternative to solid stone block, architects wanting to achieve the look and feel of natural stone have a cost-effective option in Stone Clad.
Natural stone veneer from ¾” to 2” thick is cut to the desired size, and mechanical clips are used to anchor multiple pieces into a GFRC backing mix which attaches to the same steel stud & track frame employed for traditional GFRC panels. Once installed, the joints between the pieces are caulked.
Stone Clad panels provide a striking façade treatment without sacrificing the cost and scheduling imperatives of today’s construction environment.
Lightweight, strong, and durable, and available in an almost unlimited diversity of shapes, colors, and textures, GFRC allows the Architect the widest possible range of creative, artistic and architectural expression for the most visible element of a structure – its exterior cladding.
GFRC can be manufactured to faithfully reproduce the look and feel of architectural precast, terra cotta masonry, and a wide variety of natural stone such as granite, sandstone, or limestone at a fraction of the weight and cost of the original materials.
Weighing up to 80% less than architectural precast, GFRC panels materially reduce the weight and cost of the foundation, footings, and structural framing needed to support multi-story buildings. This enables the owner to reduce overall construction costs and accelerate schedules without sacrificing the durability or the architectural aesthetic of precast concrete fabrication.
GFRC is widely used today for both new building construction and for recladding of existing building facades. In recladding applications, GFRC can often be installed directly over the old cladding with minimal superimposed load on the existing structure, and minimal upset to existing tenants and operations.
GFRC panels are finding widespread use in the restoration and renovation of historic buildings, and are considered by many to be the best solution available for the repair and replacement of terra cotta tiles that are deteriorating under the influence of time and weather.
Strong, lightweight, durable and versatile…..A great solution for a wide range of building types and applications.
Because of its high strength, light weight, and ability to reproduce the look of a wide variety of cladding materials, GFRC panels are ideally suited for recladding the exterior facades of existing buildings.
GFRC panels can replace or be installed directly over deteriorating masonry, stucco, EIFS, terracotta, or other claddings, in many cases without even removing the old cladding. The lighweight cladding superimposes minimal loads on the existing structure, often obviating the need to reinforce the building foundation or structure.
Installation of panels can often be done from the outside of the building without disturbing the existing tenants or functions of the building.
Several examples of “BEFORE” and “AFTER” recladding installations are illustrated above.
GFRC can be used to faithfully reproduce the “look and feel” of terra cotta masonry tiles and ornamentation, and is ideally suited to re-clad terra cotta façades which are deteriorating under the combined effects of time and climate.
The low shrinkage and fine texture of GFRC allows molds to be made from sculptural replications or from existing terra cotta ornamentation, then cast in GFRC to replicate the original designs. This enables GFRC panels to accurately replicate even the most elaborate terra cotta façade elements, including cornices, columns, pilasters, and decorative friezes.
