James Hardie gives a run down of the textured cladding solution, EasyLap™ panel.

Q: Describe the product.

A: EasyLap™ panel is the most easily installed and cost-effective broadwall textured cladding solution for external walls. There’s no need for vertical set and control joints and no need for specialist applicators to finish the product.

It’s a strong, fibre cement base sheet with a shiplap vertical joint that’s finished with a site-applied roll- on textured acrylic paint to create a rendered look with a subtle vertical joint.

Q: What applications can it be used in?

A: It is suitable for alterations and additions and residential single and medium density dwellings where a uniform, broadwall cladding is required.

It’s also ideal for full wrap or composite construction designs on either timber or steel framed homes.

Q: What options are offered?

A: EasyLap™ panel is offered as a pre-primed sheet with a shiplap edge joint along the two longest edges. Three sizes are available — 3,000 mm x 900 mm, 2,440 mm x 1,200 mm and 3,000 mm x 1,200 mm.

Q: How does its unique, fast installa tion make the builder’s life easier?

A: Its vertical shiplap joint eliminates the need for a vertical set joint and control joint. It is all about ‘more wall, less sweat’. EasyLap™ panel goes up fast and there is no more mucking around with taping, setting and specialised texture-coaters.

Added to this, the large sheets with off-the-shelf corner finishing details give fast broadwall coverage.

Q: How does the product deliver cost effectiveness?

A: The roller applied acrylic textured paint eliminates the need for specialist applicators — only two trades (a carpenter and painter) are needed for the complete, fast installation, and there’s a clean, dry worksite to boot.

Lightweight construction mean scaffolds are typically up for less time than what you’d need with masonry construction — so anticipate a saving there too!

Q: What is the product made of?

A: EasyLap™ panel is made from 8.5 mm thick fibre cement that’s durable and lightweight. It is resistant to damage from termites, rot and fire* and has a 10-year product warranty.

* when installed and maintained correctly and to the extent set out in James Hardie’s published literature current at the time of installation.

Q: Does the product have any ratings?

A: When EasyLap™ panel is used in conjunction with cavity construction and the right insulation (in accordance with James Hardie’s wall system thermal performance total R-values technical supplement), an R-value of up to 3.4 can be achieved for the wall.

Q: Is the product environmentally friendly? If so, how?

A: EasyLap™ panel is made from a combination of cement, ground sand and fibre product. The benign raw materials are low in toxicity and low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

It is also low in embodied energy relative to many other building products like masonry and concrete — that’s the energy consumed by all of the processes associated with the production of the product.

Q: What is the impact of construction and the impact of using this product over the life of the building?

A: Another key factor to the surprisingly low environmental impact of the product is the extraordinary speed and efficiency with which it can be installed and incorporated into practical building systems that touch the earth lightly. It’s also very durable and requires little maintenance, which helps to create buildings low in lifetime energy consumption.

Q: How does the product compare to similar products?

A: It creates a rendered look with a subtle vertical joint, without the mucking around associated with taping, setting and specialised texture- coaters that may be needed with similar products. Added to this, it has the advantage of only needing two trades (a carpenter and painter) for the complete fast installation, there’s a clean dry worksite and scaffolds will typically be required for less time.

Q: What’s been the feedback on this new product?

A: Craig Riddle from award-winning Living Green Designer Homes speaks from his field trial experience of the product and says that: "I absolutely loved the look [of EasyLap™ panel] and the ease of use."

Further information can be obtained at www.jameshardie.com.au

Architecture & Design Team

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