It cannot be denied that cracked, corroded, and damp walls greatly detract from the room's aesthetics. Although there are effective solutions to overcome this problem, it would be better to take preventive measures, one of which is using GRC wall materials.
GRC walls are a new type of material that significantly simplifies the construction process while maintaining the room's aesthetics in the long term. How do GRC walls contribute to both of these aspects? Find the complete explanation in the following article!
What Is a GRC Wall?
GRC stands for Glassfiber Reinforced Cement, which is a material made from a mixture of concrete, glass fiber, water, and other additional materials, such as pigments and additives.
The mixture of these materials is processed to form a dense, flexible, and highly durable board structure that is still lightweight. In the world of construction or property, this material is usually called GRC board.
So, GRC walls refer to walls made of GRC material. Nowadays, the use of GRC boards for walls has become increasingly popular, both for residential and commercial buildings. Yet, it should be understood that GRC walls are wall panels or wall covering materials, not wall construction materials.
GRC walls actually have many different sizes. However, the most commonly sold GRC wall sizes on the market are 2.440 mm in length and 1.220 mm in width. Their thickness starts from 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, to 10 mm.
Functions of GRC Walls
GRC walls are often chosen because they can perform the following functions:
- Protecting original walls from exposure to fire: Very useful during a fire, as this material can protect from exposure to and the spread of fire
- Reducing heat and sound: With its high density and heat-resistant properties, GRC walls can reduce heat and sound very well, thereby increasing user comfort.
- As a wet room partition: GRC is water-resistant, so it can be used as wall panels or partitions in areas that are often exposed to water, such as kitchens, toilets, and shower partitions.
- Space-saving: GRC walls are relatively thin, with a thickness of only about 4–12 mm. This means that their application does not require a lot of space.
- Minimizes dead load on buildings: GRC walls are relatively lightweight, minimizing the dead load on buildings.
- Enhances wall aesthetics: GRC walls can be customized to suit design needs, both in terms of shape and color. In fact, you can find many 3D GRC wall panels with various beautiful patterns.
Read also: The Industrial Home Designs with Aesthetic Values
The Use of GRC Walls in Buildings
In practice, GRC walls can be applied to the following construction components:
1. Partitions
Partitions are dividers between one room and another. The benefits of using partitions include greater user privacy, a more organized layout within the building, and better air, light, and sound circulation.
For this reason, GRC walls are very suitable for use as partitions because they are soundproof and impact-resistant.
2. Cladding
Cladding is a construction element that acts as a coating or covering for the exterior of a building. Cladding is made to protect buildings from the effects of weather, reduce the risk of damage, maintain a stable indoor temperature, and enhance aesthetics.
The use of GRC for exterior walls, in this case cladding, can optimize its function, as GRC is water-resistant, heat-resistant, and can be made with a beautiful and diverse appearance. Examples of GRC wall usage in cladding include ornaments and reliefs.
3. Ceiling
The application of GRC as a ceiling covering is very suitable as this material is waterproof, so the risk of moisture is quite small. With its lightweight, GRC also contributes to reducing the load on the building structure.
Equally important, GRC ceiling material is proven to be safe to use, as it does not contain particles that are harmful to breathing, such as asbestos.
4. Facade
The facade is closely related to the visual or aesthetic aspects of buildings. In this case, GRC, which is known for its high flexibility, is very suitable for use on house facades because it can follow the desired design and shape.
Read also: What Is the Right Thickness of House Walls? Find Out Here!
The Advantages and Disadvantages of GRC Walls
GRC walls offer many advantages over other wall panel materials. Below are some of the advantages of GRC walls:
- Resistant to fire and water: Because it is made of cement and glass fiber, GRC is fire and water-resistant, so it can be applied to many areas of a building, from bathrooms to exteriors.
- Resistant to mold and termite: GRC walls are not prone to moisture, so the risk of mold and termites can be minimized. In addition, the appearance of the walls remains beautiful.
- Strong to withstand loads and impacts: The dense structure of GRC walls makes them stronger in withstanding loads and impacts. In fact, when struck by a foreign object, GRC walls will bounce the object back.
- Corrosion resistant: The use of GRC boards for walls makes the surface resistant to corrosion and weathering, resulting in a relatively long service life.
- Insect-resistant: GRC walls are not easily damaged by insects, allowing for long-term use.
- Good sound insulation: This material has excellent sound insulation properties, making it suitable for reducing noise disturbances outside the building.
- Aesthetic appearance: GRC walls can be customized to suit project requirements and user preferences.
- Smooth surface: With this advantage, GRC walls can be painted directly with your favorite color, without having to be plastered first.
- Lightweight: This supports a faster installation process. In addition, the transportation process can be done in one trip, thereby supporting transportation cost savings.
Before using GRC walls, you should also understand the disadvantages of GRC walls, which include:
- Requires special cutting tools: GRC walls can actually be cut with a saw, but the results are relatively rough and less precise. So, to cut GRC walls, especially the thick ones, you need a ceramic cutting machine (circular saw) or a hand grinder.
- Limited availability on the market: You need to order from the factory if you want customization or need this material in large quantities.
- Relatively expensive for customization: If you want to get a special shape, you have to order it first from the factory, and you may need to provide a large budget.
- Cannot be reshaped after installation: You must ensure the design and size are correct or meet your needs before installing it, as this material cannot be reshaped after installation.
That concludes our explanation of GRC walls to help you consider their use in your home or other building structures. GRC walls offer a variety of advantages that can increase the value of your building, both in terms of functionality, comfort, and aesthetics.
In addition to considering wall elements, of course, you cannot ignore the overall strength of the building structure. To optimize the strength of the building structure, make sure you choose materials with guaranteed quality, such as products from Semen Merah Putih.
One of the best products from Semen Merah Putih is Semen Merah Putih Watershield, a super-premium multi-purpose cement product equipped with water-repellent technology. This technology enables Semen Merah Putih Watershield to provide triple protection against water seepage from the outside, inside, and soil or capillary water.
Compared to ordinary cement, Semen Merah Putih Watershield has many advantages that make it the trusted choice of construction professionals. This product is also suitable for various building applications, both structural and non-structural, ranging from plastering, rendering, slab casting, column casting, and bricklaying.
Choosing high-quality materials is the first step in ensuring the long-term strength of a building. That's why you should always trust Semen Merah Putih Watershield. Do you need more information about our products? If so, don't hesitate to contact us now and get the best construction solutions for your project!
