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Plaster Reinforcement:Fiberglass Mesh Fabrics Or Metal Lathings?

Alkali resistant fiberglass mesh fabrics compete with galvanized metal lathing in the market of plaster reinforcement.

Plasters are notorious for their cracking tendency. The causes might be:

 

* endogenous (innate), e.g. plastic or hydraulic shrinkage etc. or

* exogenous (imposed by external factors), e.g. movements due to temperature variations, dimensional instability of substrates etc.

 

 

MAIN USES FOR BOTH PRODUCTS

 

- Thermal insulation systems

- External and internal plaster reinforcement

- Reinforcement against impact

- Different materials joints

- Walls with channels for electrical wires

- Reinforcement over doors and windows

 

 

USES ONLY FOR METAL LATHING

 

- Curved false ceilings

- Construction of hollows e.g. for artificial rocks

- Any construction in which lathing bears the weight of plaster.

 

 

OUR VIEW

 

We believe that alkali resistant fiberglass mesh fabrics can advantageously replace metal lathings in their common applications.

 

 

ADVANTAGES OF FIBERGLASS MESH FABRICS

 

1. Fiberglass mesh fabrics are lightweight, very easy to transport.

 

2. They are flexible and easy to work with.

 

3. Injury possibilities are minimal. Metal lathing need extra care during application to avoid injuries.

 

4. Premium quality products have an excellent anti-alkali protection which guarantees the requested functional life.

Badly galvanized metal lathings may have problems of corrosion.

 

5. FMFs are quite more economical. In Greece for example Vertex R85 which is a reference product in our market, costs 60% less than locally produced galvanized metal lathings.

 

6. Overlaps in FMFs are much easier to do.

 

7. The performance coefficient for a typical crew is much higher with FMFs.

 

8. Fiberglass mesh fabrics don't need time and money consuming fixing procedures.

 

 

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH FMFs

 

* Maybe it' s only a local problem, but in our market there are vast quantities of unbelievably lousy quality fabrics. People are misinformed and cannot distinguish qualities.

 

* Fiberglass mesh fabrics are very often misplaced. They must be placed in the middle third of plaster thickness, with the right overlaps (at least 10cm) and no crease formation.

 

 

EPILOGUE

 

If the application is right and the product conforms to the right specifications:

 

Use of fiberglass mesh fabrics is judged advantageous over traditional metal lathings.

 

 

Chris Strogilis

Civ. Eng. - MBA - DipM

About the Author

Civil engineer with postgraduate studies in MBA and Marketing

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