SUPAWALL's SUPABOARD is a very easy product to handle, despite its apparent rigidity. It must be installed in a professional "Tradesman-Like" manner to get the desired durability and perfect finish.
Cutting
SUPABOARD can be cut very easily with a carbide tip knife or any timber tools.
For rough cuts, place the SUPABOARD sheet face side up, scour along a straight line with the knife, then snap along the scoured line.
Pass the knife again along the other side to separate the two sheets to get a clean cut.
Finer cuts are achieved by using power tools such as circular saw, jig saw, bench top saw etc. (please note the section of Health and Safety Practices regarding dust) Service holes may be created using drills, hole saw, or jig saw.
Installing
SUPABOARD may be fixed to either light or heavy gauge domestic type steel frames, timber frames or timber battens over masonry or dirctly to masonry. All the framing and substrate used must comply with relevant building regulations and standards.
It is also important to ensure that the frame is square and straight to provide the flush face to receive the sheeting.
Steel frame
Steel studs must be a minimum of 32mm wide at joint face, and 0.55mm gauge minimum BMT (Base Metal Thickness).
Steel framing must comply with the requirements of Australian Standards.
Timber frame
Timber framing must comply with the requirements of AS1684 and "Timber Framed Buildings" and any other relevant standard.
Studs must be provided at 600mm centres maximum, and noggins at 1200mm centres nominal.
Furthermore, timber studs must be a minimum 45mm wide at sheet joints.
Masonry Substrate
It is important to ensure that the substrate is allowed enough time to dry before the installation of SUPABOARD. The wall surface must be clean, dry and free from any outside matter that may affect the straightness of the sheets.
General
SUPABOARD should be installed individually. They should be lifted off the floor and kept away from the ceiling by approximately 6mm to allow for any frame movement / shrinking / expansion.
SUPABOARD may be screwed to the frame using MAG Drive fasteners suitable for the frame in place, ensuring that the screws have enough length to provide a good grip to the frame.
When using MAG Drive self embedding screws ensure that they do not go more than 0.5mm below the surface of the board, kept no less than 12mm away from the sheet edges, and 50mm away from the corners of the board.
Furthermore, ensure that screws do not over-spin, thus lose grip of the frame.
Jointing
For straight joints, align the recessed ends together, making sure that the joints are dry, clean and free from grease, oils or any other materials.
Supaboard must be primed before jointing and patching including in the joint itself, this will ensure that there will be a maximum adhesion of fillers and jointing compounds to the board in the jointing system used.
Embed the appropriate jointing tape (50mm wide paper or fibre mesh jointing tape) in a fine layer of jointing compound. Add another layer of jointing compound to the desired finish, wiping off any excess materials.
Both recessed edge and butt joints require joint setting by using jointing products.
The performance of every wall joint is the responsibility of its installer, as this is governed by the standard of workmanship and installation practices.
There are several factors that may affect the joint performance, such as framing quality, movement and vibrations, moisture, humidity, temperature, etc. These factors must be carefully understood and considered by the installer when selecting jointing compounds, by ensuring that the product selected has the physical attributes required to perform these considering factors. For corner joints, use a suitable corner reinforcement product, and finish off with appropriate jointing compounds.
Alternative jointing
Joints and corners can be made flush free by using extruded aluminium jointers, corners and cappings. This enables easy replacement of sheets should the need arise.
Start by installing SUPABOARD from an internal corner and work outwards. It is easier to finish on an external.
The final and/or replacement sheet can be cut slightly short to enable the required finished result by sliding the sheet back into the opposing jointer.
Use polyurethane mastic (if required) to set the sheet in place behind the aluminium joiners.
Note
Always use approved primers before using patching and jointing compounds.
Jointing compound can also be used to cover fastener heads and any other imperfections. Feather out towards the outside, allow to fully dry before sanding.
Finishing
SUPABOARD can be finished in a variety of ways including Paint, Wallpaper, and Tiles or as required.
Notes
- For wet areas, the waterproofing requirements of all relevant codes, standards and regulations must be met.
- Water proofing membranes manufacturer's specifications and application methods must be consulted and complied with.
Glancing Light
In some instances, joints may be visible due to glancing light. To eliminate this effect, consider the following:
- Alter the light source.
- Work closely with the builder or designer to minimise this.
- Ensure the joints are set in a professional tradesman-like way.
Painting
Depending on the type of paint used, sanding is recommended prior to the application of paint. It is also important to ensure that all surfaces are clean, dry and free from any dust or sanding residue.
Brand named paints usually give better results. Always follow the paint manufacturer's recommendations for paint suitability, mixing instructions, and application.
Note
SUPABOARD must be primed with approved primers before any patching or jointing. Use “Supaprime” for flat wall finishes and “Supatex” prime for trowel on texture finishes, also “Cavalcade coatings” Aqua-x Mgo primers are suitable. These are all available from Supawall Pty Ltd.
Tiling
SUPABOARD is considered as one of the best products on the market for tiling.
It is recommended that only flexible tile adhesive be used for tile applications. Please refer to adhesive manufacturer for suitability and application information.
It is also important to note that the weight loading of the tiles depends on the thickness of the SUPABOARD used, and also on stud centres.
Support angles are necessary to transfer the weight of the tiles onto the framing, where a structural engineer is to determine their suitability and positioning.
Support angles need to be fixed onto the supporting frame, and the overall wall mass and stability needs to be considered.
Cutting SUPABOARD is easy.
Fitting aluminium jointing
Trimming SUPABOARD panel
Internal lining
Corner joints
Finishing off the joint
