To avoid thermal bridges, the accurate design of the structural details has decisive importance. The insulation value at thermal bridges and sockle is recommended to be at least equal to the performance of the adjoining walls, roof or floor slab. The high strength and moisture resistance enable installation of SHAPEMATE GREC-A boards as lost formwork.
The rough or profiled surface of the boards adheres with high strength to the concrete. If required, the use of plastic fixing nails placed into the boards in advance is recommended, especially at window openings, wall corners, etc. If the insulation is installed after the construction of the wall structure, the insulation boards should be fixed with bonding and - especially on large areas or if the existing plastered wall has poor quality surface - additional mechanical fastening with dowels.
Installing on irregular wall surface, the cement based adhesive mortar is applied in a form of a continuous strips among the edges and 2-3 spots among the mid axis of the boards. If the wall surface is flat, the adhesive can be applied with a toothed trowel on the entire surface of the insulation board. On larger areas the insulation boards should be installed in brick pattern with tight joints, paying attention to the flatness of the surface, fixed also mechanically with dowels.
The planed and profiled surface of the SHAPEMATE GREC-A boards can be finished with render or adhered tiles (eg. brick tiles). Thin rendering systems with embedded glass fabric reinforcement, or thicker traditional type of renders with galvanized steel reinforcement mesh, can be applied. The finishing should be applied by the guidelines of the manufacturer, following the rules for plastering on surfaces with no water-absorption. After longer exposure to direct sunlight (UV-radiation) the surface of the insulation boards can show discolouration and little dust, which should be removed before plastering.
Special attention should be paid to the sockel of the buildings, without its proper thermal protection, the efficiency of the insulation of façade, cellar wall and ground floor are significantly reduced. The insulation layer in the sockel area is exposed to severe impacts: moisture from the ground, rain and splashing water, mechanical pressure and impact, humic acid, etc. SHAPEMATE GREC-A boards - due to the resistance to moisture, freeze-thaw cycles and mechanical impacts - offer an efficient and long-term solution. The blue extruded polystyrene foam boards for sockel insulation can complete various façade insulation systems.
