06 Aug Execution of cuts and decorative elements
Cuts and decorative elements on façades have both an aesthetic and technical objective.
At technical level, they serve to facilitate the different working surfaces, execute expansion joints and avoid unnecessary joins.
About aesthetic characteristics, these cuts can be: horizontal, vertical, imitation ashlar, door and window frames, cornices, baseboards, etc.
Preliminary analysis
There are two basic types of cuts:
- Technical cuts: these are delimited by battens and their main mission is to separate the working surfaces in order to avoid joins and to facilitate subsequent application.
- Aesthetic cuts: these are designed by the construction project manager and have different shapes in accordance with the substrate and desired finishes.
There are other types of cuts, which are those marked by all the structural joints of the building, which must be respected at all times, filling them with the elastic mastic GECOL Elastic-MS.
The tool used to make the cuts is called a batten and comes in different shapes (trapezoid, semicircular or half-cane) and materials (plastic, wood or aluminium).
Technical considerations
The following steps must be taken into account when installing battens:
- Ensure the horizontal and vertical alignment between window openings.
If there are differences in said alignment, it is preferable for the cut joints not to coincide with window and door openings.
- The distance between cold joints is determined by the surface area of the section that can be applied all at once.
In general, it is advisable not to execute sections larger than 2.5 m high x 7 m long without cuts.
- Apply a “cordon” of material, install the batten and level.
- The batten must be perfectly clean to prevent the appearance of voids.
- Embed the batten by exerting pressure and check the alignment.
- Eliminate the excess paste on either side of the batten to obtain a consistent thickness when subsequently filling with a one-coat mortar, thereby avoiding spalling.
- On executing the finish never leave residual material on the edges of the batten so that, once removed, the edges are well defined.
- Remove the battens after a few days when the material has hardened.
Recommended products
Mineral coatings
Flexible mastic
Warnings: The data provided by this Constructive Solution were prepared based on standard onsite installation processes. However, we recommend that you consult our Technical Department in the event of any specific circumstance info@gecol.com