Green Building Forum - External Wall Insulation - getting hold of high movement window reveal beads Tue, 19 Dec 2023 07:56:21 +0000 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 External Wall Insulation - getting hold of high movement window reveal beads http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17637&Focus=298722#Comment_298722 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17637&Focus=298722#Comment_298722 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 15:10:29 +0000 TimSmall
The insulation type mostly EPS, but a few bits of render carrier board, and rockwool (for fire breaks) and thickness varies from wall to wall (e.g. cavity vs. solid).

The windows are all partly or wholly moved out into the plane of the insulation.

The render supplier has supplied window reveal beads (they stocked two types).

Before fitting the beads I was looking at the beads and didn't really think they'd be capable of accommodating much movement. One window is SW facing and pretty large (2.6 m high by 3.4 m wide), and this is in the thickest insulation (280mm).

I found this document from the German Association for Insulation Systems, Plaster and Mortar (VDPM):

https://de.calameo.com/read/00110231894f5dbc36809

"Ausbildung von Details mit Profilen und Fugendichtungsbändern bei Aussenputz und WDVS"

(Formation of details with profiles and joint sealing tapes for external render and ETICS)

Google Translate does a reasonable job on it, and there's an extract in English on this supplier's site as part of this catalogue (page 12):

https://www.ejot.de/medias/sys_master/Catalogues%20ETICS/cat-etics/h73/h0d/9230512685086/EJOT-cat-profile-2022-03-25-EN.pdf

... this says that we need high movement ("Class A") window reveal beads for most locations.

From looking at other manufacturers' catalogues, it looks like the beads we currently have here are probably "Class C" (with not much movement, and definitely not up to spec for the big window).

Any tips on any UK suppliers which might stock high movement "Class A" beads?]]>
External Wall Insulation - getting hold of high movement window reveal beads http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17637&Focus=298726#Comment_298726 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17637&Focus=298726#Comment_298726 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 15:42:58 +0000 Newbuild External Wall Insulation - getting hold of high movement window reveal beads http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17637&Focus=298732#Comment_298732 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17637&Focus=298732#Comment_298732 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 18:26:10 +0000 fostertom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2jOIKSga9s, does that sealant really have to be renewed 'every couple of years?' I wonder how long the APU's flexing membrane would last, exposed as it is to UV? The APU has a much wider strip of self-adhesive, but everyting depends on that lasting forever. Still if dear old Chris Brookman of Back to Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MEGziU967Y stocks and recommends APU, prob how it will be.]]> External Wall Insulation - getting hold of high movement window reveal beads http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17637&Focus=298736#Comment_298736 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17637&Focus=298736#Comment_298736 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 20:14:08 +0000 TimSmall Posted By: NewbuildSomething like APU's PUR-FIX W38?

Thanks, that looks better than the ones I've already got here, but maybe not as good as...

One of the few "Class A" rated ones that I've come across is EJOT "Pro GAP GIGA". Ejot do have a UK subsidiary, but they don't seem to sell their render beads (at least according to their website).

Another that looks good (but can't see if it gets one of the VDPM class ratings) is Likov "LS3-29 plus".

Both have "Compriband" type open cell expanding PU foam material as a water repellent weather barrier, but with an extra PVC screen (flexible or overlapping) in front of them too, to stop the PU expanding foam from getting UV degraded, or pecked to bits.

Those are the best I've found so-far, but haven't found UK suppliers for either of them. A few years back, I could probably have had them posted over in a few days, but not sure I want a customs hold-up in the middle of an installation (if indeed I could find a supplier that would still post to the UK).]]>
External Wall Insulation - getting hold of high movement window reveal beads http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17637&Focus=298739#Comment_298739 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17637&Focus=298739#Comment_298739 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 20:43:17 +0000 TimSmall Posted By: fostertom8mm deep x 3mm thick of top quality sealant

Thanks both for ideas.

I was under the impression that the thing to do for good movement from sealant joins (without pull-away) a sort "diablo" or "hour glass" cross-section - I think that's what you're describing (not sure which way around the "deep" and "thick" are in that sentence). i.e. relatively large bond area to both surfaces, but skinny (and unbonded) in the middle to allow movement without pull-away. e.g. the type of thing you get by using a PE foam "backing rod" with sealant over the top of it.

That's my fall-back, but would prefer to try and get hold of some of these uber-beads, rather than trying to improvise after the render is done.

Assuming I can get hold of something like the two high movement beads mentioned above, I was thinking of removing the sticky-back-plastic tape from them, and using a facade-specific MS-Polymer or something like Stelmax 1961 to fuse the PVC bead directly to the PVC window and door frames.]]>