When choosing building materials for finishing the basement, most developers give preference to those that are distinguished not only by their durability, neat appearance and resistance to weather changes, but also by their affordable price and ease of installation.

Today, consumers often “vote with their rubles” for flat slate, since this is relatively inexpensive material demonstrates high performance characteristics, is easy to install, and the ability to paint it in different colors adds beauty and individuality to the building.

Features of flat slate

Flat slate sheets are produced by mixing asbestos fiber and Portland cement with the addition of water.

In this case, asbestos is placed throughout the mixture in equal parts and thus forms a reinforcing base to give the slate strength.

Currently, the home construction market offers 2 types of rectangular sheets of industrially produced flat slate - pressed and unpressed standard sizes: 2500x1200 mm (with a sheet thickness of 6-10 mm); 3000x1500 mm (with a thickness of 8-10 mm); 3600x1500 mm (with a thickness of 8-10 mm).

An unpressed sheet has a lower strength characteristic, a 2-fold shorter freeze-thaw cycle and, accordingly, a lower cost. In other respects, it is almost the same as the pressed sheet. As a building material for protecting the foundation of a house, flat slate is attractive because:

• financially beneficial;
• has a long service life, is not subject to rotting and corrosion;
• resistant to bending;
• not dependent on temperature changes, resists gusts of wind, snow storms, does not overheat in the sun, withstands 25-50 freeze-thaw cycles;
• provides sound insulation;
• due to the presence of asbestos in its composition, it is fireproof and is not a conductor of electric current;
• resistant to aggressive environments, including chemical impurities and acids. Reflects ultraviolet, radioactive and electromagnetic radiation;
• easy to install regardless of the time of year.

At the same time, despite all the advantages of flat slate, the following nuances should be taken into account when using it:

• due to the increased fragility of the material, care is required during transportation and installation;
• has a lot of weight, which does not allow covering the base with slate without helpers;
• requires treatment with antiseptic agents to prevent the growth of moss;
• not environmentally friendly when cutting due to asbestos dust generated during operation, requires the use of personal protective equipment;

Nevertheless, thanks to the ease of laying flat slate with your own hands, which does not require professional skills, you save money on hiring hired finishing specialists. And the speed of installation due to its simple technology will save time.

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Technology for finishing the plinth with flat slate sheets

To cover the base with slate, you will need to attach the sheets to the sheathing of wooden beams similar to fastening drywall. If necessary, a layer can be laid between the frame posts mineral wool as thermal insulation.

To connect the sheets to the frame, nails or self-tapping screws and fastening layouts (clasps) are used. It is impossible to drive nails directly into the sheet due to its fragility to point loads. Therefore, to prevent the sheet from cracking and splitting into pieces, holes are pre-drilled in it, a little larger diameter(by 1-1.5 mm) than that of the fasteners used.

The required amount of building materials (slate, wooden beams, a layer of thermal insulation and acrylic paint) is calculated by using a tape measure to measure the height of the base, the width of the foundation overhang (if present) and the perimeter of the building.

The following working tools will be useful:

• gloves and respirator;
• ruler, building level;
• chisel;
• cutter;
• screwdriver;
• circular saw;
• electric jigsaw;
• spray gun;
• screws, nails;
• slate clamps.

Before starting work on covering the base, you should carefully inspect the slate for cracks, chips and deformations, so that when cutting the sheets, these are the places that go to waste. Cutting slate is as easy as shelling pears: if the sheet is up to 6 mm thick, place it on the table, at the site of the required break, make notches along the edges using a ruler, a chisel and cutter move the slate to the edge of the table to the marked edge, apply pressure - and the required break will be made.

But if the thickness of the purchased sheet is more than 10 mm, then you cannot do without an electric saw, and the slate must be sprayed when cutting cold water for cooling. If there is a need to cut an asbestos-cement sheet to length, then to prevent its destruction, cut off at least 0.6 cm. On freshly cut parts of the slate, all places of breaks or cuts must be painted over using special acrylic paints.

For cladding a base made of concrete or brick, sheet materials, natural and artificial stone, profiled sheets, and paints and varnishes are used. They can be grouped according to similar physical properties, installation methods.

In the segment of sheet finishing materials, we can distinguish flat slate, fiber-reinforced concrete panels and CBPB. Let's take a closer look at the properties of each, as well as how to install them on the base of the house.

Flat slate

This is an inexpensive material that has all the necessary properties for exterior finishing. Flat slate is made from asbestos fiber, Portland cement and water. It can be pressed or unpressed.

Both types of slate are durable with a service life of 25-30 years. They do not break down in aggressive environments or at low temperatures. Flat slate has a low water absorption coefficient. The sheets don't burn.

Resistance to frost allows the facades of buildings in the far north to be covered with flat slate. Despite all its strength, slate is fragile. It can be destroyed by dynamic impacts, such as the impact of a stone or large hail. Asbestos dust is very harmful to human lungs, so the sheets are processed in respirators. To finish the base, it is better to use denser pressed slate.

Cladding of basement walls with flat slate is done on a metal or wooden frame using self-tapping screws. A hole of a smaller diameter is drilled in the sheet for each self-tapping screw.

External and internal corners are closed with additional elements made of galvanized steel. People wonder how to paint the flat slate on the facade of the house after installation is completed. For painting, acrylic primer, acrylic or water-based silicone paint is used. The primer is applied in one layer, the paint in two or three.

Fiber concrete panels

A material in demand on the market for finishing not only the base, but also the entire surface of the facade. Fiber-reinforced concrete panels are made from cement and sand.

Fiberglass is used as filler. It rigidly binds all components into a single, strong structure. Additives are used to improve performance.

Fiber-reinforced concrete panels are an expensive material for constructing a ventilated base. Fiberglass gives them additional resistance to natural oxidizing agents. The panels do not creep, do not absorb moisture, do not crack, or break. Due to the light weight of the element, they are easy to mount on a plinth.

They are available in a wide range of colors and textures. The only disadvantage of fiber-reinforced concrete panels for the plinth is their high cost. Finishing of the above-ground part of the foundation with fiber-reinforced concrete panels is carried out on metal profiles, which are fixed to brackets. The installation pitch of the profiles is 400-600 mm. The brackets can be of variable length to level out unevenness of the base. Most often, fiber-reinforced concrete panels are used to construct a ventilated base.

A layer of basalt mineral wool and vapor barrier is laid between the panels and the wall. The panels can be attached to the guides in two ways: with self-tapping screws and clamps. Thin slabs up to 14 mm can be fastened with self-tapping screws rubber gaskets. Thicker ones are mounted using clamp locks.

You can cut panels only with a grinder and a diamond wheel. Other tools crumble the edges, increasing material consumption.

Cement particle board (CSP)

The finishing of the DSP base is done both separately and as part of the cladding of the entire facade.

Cement particle boards are a universal finishing material in the form of sheets 8-36 mm thick. They are made by pressing wood chips and cement. The coarse fraction of shavings lies at the base of the sheet, and the finer ones in the top layer.

DSP is a moisture-resistant and frost-resistant finishing material with high strength properties. It does not burn and does not rot.

It is easy to handle. Cement particle board combines with other construction and finishing materials. It is easy to mount on a wooden or metal frame.

Among the disadvantages, we can note the large weight of the elements and the average service life of up to 15 years.

Sheets with a thickness of 16-20 mm are used to cover the base. The technology of installation on the frame does not differ from the method of fastening similar materials. Each sheet is secured with at least 4 points.

Self-tapping screws are used as fastening elements, for which holes of a smaller diameter are pre-drilled. The joints between the sheets must not be sealed with putty or plaster. It is better to use weatherproof silicone sealant to seal seams. It will not break due to thermal deformations of the DSP. For finishing acrylic, silicone or combined water-based paints are used for the base. Finishing the base with the above sheet materials will ensure high-quality protection the basement of the house from destruction.

The base will turn out beautiful and neat. The main thing is to follow the rules and regulations for working with sheet materials. Flat slate is a direct relative of the well-known and widespread wave slate. But thanks to its smooth structure, it has many more applications.

What is it, flat slate?

Slate is an asbestos-cement material intended primarily for roofing.

And in the past he did an excellent job with this task, but on modern market of building materials, it is beginning to lose ground. However, despite the wide range roofing materials, it remains in demand due to its affordable price. And flat slate manufacturers benefit from practicality of this material, which can be used to sheathe the facade and cover the roof.

The composition of flat slate does not have a complex recipe: Portland cement, asbestos fiber and water.

The asbestos in this mixture should be evenly distributed throughout the entire mass. It is asbestos that creates a reinforcing base in this simple composition, thanks to which the sheet becomes durable. The mixture hardens in special molds of a certain size, and the result is sheets of flat slate.

Flat slate sheets can be produced in two varieties:

pressed asbestos-cement (LP-P). This species can withstand very low temperature(about 50 freezing and thawing cycles). Impact strength of this sheet is 2.5 kJ/m2, and the bending strength of the slab is 23 MPa.

The residual strength of pressed slate is 40%, with a material density of 1.8 g/cm3. non-pressed asbestos-cement (LP-NP). Unpressed material has less high performance, but also finds its place in construction and is widely used indoors. This slate can withstand exactly half (25) freeze and thaw cycles.

Impact strength is 2 kJ/m2, and bending strength is 18 MPa. The density of the unpressed material is 1.6 g/cm3. The residual density has the same figure of 40%.

The listed characteristics are indicated by manufacturers on the labels, and this information can be easily obtained from the seller. But on operational properties The material is also influenced by the quality of asbestos used in the manufacture: the length and diameter of its fibers, mineralogical composition, fineness of grinding and even the level of equipment at which it is manufactured. It is almost impossible to find out this information, so it is better to purchase flat slate from well-known manufacturers.

You can only purchase sheets of rectangular shape, but in several size variations:

sheet length – 300 cm, width – 150 cm, thickness – 0.8–1 cm; length – 250 cm, width – 120 cm, thickness – 0.6–1 cm; length – 360 cm, width – 150 cm, thickness – 0.8–1 cm.

Finishing the facade with flat slate: arguments for and against

The scope of application of flat slate is very wide and varied.

This material can be found in various areas construction. IN industrial construction For example, flat sheets are found in the fencing of technical shafts and boxes, in the cladding of external and internal walls, and in the manufacture of formwork. This material is often used to construct bird cages, fences and fences for livestock and agricultural land.

Often flat slabs can be seen in dacha areas, where they are widely used for the construction of outbuildings, shower stalls, fences, roofs, etc.

e. Flat sheets are used as facade cladding, for the installation of dry screeds and for the construction of sandwich panel walls. The same material can be seen in the city when constructing loggias and balconies.

Such a wide range of uses is possible due to a number of advantages that this material has:

a combination of material availability, low price and high quality; durability - its service life is more than 15 years; has high resistance to impacts, bends and freezing; has sound insulation properties; does not support the combustion process; is not susceptible to mold and mildew; is not a conductor of electric current ;does not rot and does not corrode.

Of course, along with the advantages, you should also take into account all the existing disadvantages before covering the house with flat slate. Negative characteristics are represented by the following positions:

when installing slate, you will need an assistant, since the weight of the sheet will not allow you to carry out the work yourself; the sheets are durable, but at the same time very fragile, so you need to transport and work with them very carefully; after installation they require mandatory coating special compounds to protect the surface and prevent the appearance of moss; asbestos is an environmentally unsafe material and is harmful in large quantities.

Having analyzed all the advantages and disadvantages, we can conclude that finishing the facade with flat slate would be a good idea. This material is capable of soundproofing a house, protecting walls from environmental influences for more than 15 years, and at the same time is quite inexpensive. The only thing is that you will have to find a careful assistant to make everything planned into reality.

How to sheathe a house with flat slate: action plan

Slate is a fairly fragile material, which requires working with it carefully and competently. Before proceeding with installation, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of working with this material. There are just a few rules that, if followed, can facilitate the work process and prevent negative consequences:

you need to prepare a respirator or protective mask that can protect respiratory tract from asbestos dust that appears when cutting slate; you cannot cut very thin strips - minimum width 6 mm, otherwise the edge will begin to deform and collapse; all slate cuts must be treated with acrylic paint; in order to drive a nail into a slate slab, you must first drill a hole for it ;it is necessary to visually inspect each sheet for deformations and cracks.

A step-by-step scheme for covering a house with flat slate looks like this:

The slate will be attached to the frame, so the first step is to ensure the presence of wooden sheathing.

The sheathing can be made of boards or timber, which will be laid at a distance in accordance with the size of the slate sheet (approximately 0.6 m). If desired, you can add a layer of waterproofing or thermal insulation between the frame. Cellulose insulation ecowool or mineral wool are suitable for this.

Before work, the facing material must be inspected and deformed sheets removed. Next, you need to measure and cut the slate so that it is ready for installation. Cutting is the most crucial and difficult moment.

if the sheet has a thickness of no more than 6 mm, then the cutting process looks like this: use a ruler and pencil to mark the cut line, then notches are made on both sides. Next, you need to place the sheet on the table so that the edge of the table and the break line coincide, and carefully break it; if the sheet is more than 6 mm thick, then you need to use a saw. The material will need to be periodically cooled with water during the cutting process.

Slate sheets that have any flaws (cracks, chips, unevenness) must be cut first if there is a need for smaller slabs.

The slate is attached to the sheathing using screws, for which a hole is pre-drilled. The heads of these screws will be covered with fastening tabs. The diameter of the hole for the screws should be 1–2 mm wider than the nails and screws used to avoid cracks and splits at the fastening points.

On final stage slate needs to be treated by special means, which will protect it from the appearance of mosses and lichens. Acrylic paint is well suited for these purposes. It is better to paint using a sprayer or spray gun.

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When choosing building materials for finishing the basement, most developers give preference to those that are distinguished not only by their durability, neat appearance and resistance to weather changes, but also by their affordable price and ease of installation.

Today, consumers often “vote with their rubles” for flat slate, since this relatively inexpensive material demonstrates high performance characteristics, is easy to install, and the ability to paint it in various colors adds beauty and individuality to the building.

Features of flat slate

Flat slate sheets are produced by mixing asbestos fiber and Portland cement with the addition of water.

In this case, asbestos is placed throughout the mixture in equal parts and thus forms a reinforcing base to give the slate strength.

Currently, the construction market for finishing the foundation of a house offers 2 types of rectangular sheets of industrially produced flat slate - pressed and non-pressed standard sizes: 2500x1200 mm (with a thickness of the sheet itself of 6-10 mm); 3000x1500 mm (with a thickness of 8-10 mm); 3600x1500 mm (with a thickness of 8-10 mm).

An unpressed sheet has a lower strength characteristic, a 2-fold shorter freeze-thaw cycle and, accordingly, a lower cost. In other respects, it is almost the same as the pressed sheet. As a building material for protecting the foundation of a house, flat slate is attractive because:

financially beneficial; has a long service life, is not subject to rotting and corrosion; resistant to bending; independent of temperature changes, resists gusts of wind, snow storms, does not overheat in the sun, withstands 25-50 freeze-thaw cycles; provides sound insulation; due to the presence of asbestos in its composition, it is fireproof, is not a conductor of electric current; it is resistant to aggressive environments, including chemical impurities and acids. Reflects ultraviolet, radioactive and electromagnetic radiation; easy to install regardless of the time of year.

At the same time, despite all the advantages of flat slate, when using it to finish the foundation with your own hands, the following nuances should be taken into account:

due to the increased fragility of the material, care is required during transportation and installation; it is heavy, which does not allow covering the base with slate without assistants; it requires treatment with antiseptic agents to prevent the growth of moss; it is not environmentally friendly when cutting due to the asbestos dust generated during the work, requires the use personal protective equipment; not durable under point loads.

Nevertheless, thanks to the ease of laying flat slate with your own hands, which does not require professional skills, you save money on hiring hired finishing specialists. And the speed of installation due to its simple technology will save time.

We are all familiar with such material as corrugated asbestos-cement slate. The vast majority of roofs in years gone by were covered with just such sheets. However, there is also, the difference of which is the absence of waves. It is also widely used for roofing works, as well as in other areas of construction. Due to its qualities, flat slate, when used in certain places, has many advantages even over its counterpart - wavy slate. Let's look at the features of this material.

What is flat slate made from?

The components for making flat slate are cement, asbestos fibers and water. These substances are mixed in certain proportions, after which they harden. Asbestos fibers are included in slate for a reason. They have elasticity, resilience and high mechanical tensile and compressive strength. Evenly distributed throughout the volume of the sheet, the fibers form a power reinforcing frame. Thanks to it, we can talk about the water resistance, strength and resistance to temperature changes of the sheets.
There are two types of flat slate: pressed and unpressed. The first has higher strength indicators, is more dense, and has increased impact strength. Its water resistance is almost absolute. Unpressed slate is slightly inferior to it, but is more affordable.
Usually the sheets have a gray surface, the color of cement. But in some cases, coloring pigments are introduced into the composition. They make the sheets colored and even somewhat improve the properties of slate by clogging the smallest pores and creating a protective film on the surface of the sheets.

Advantages of flat slate

Resistance to external influences (precipitation, wind loads, mechanical influences);
- the frost resistance of flat sheets is such that after 50 cycles of complete freezing followed by thawing, slate loses only 10% of its original strength;
- slate does not burn due to the presence of non-combustible components;
- term active exploitation flat slate is tens of years old;
- the material can be cut well with a diamond wheel and processed a little worse with a regular hacksaw. For drilling slate, drills with diamond tips are used;
- sheets are easy to install by any means;
- the cost of flat slate sheets is relatively low.

Using flat slate

Thanks to their geometry, the sheets are very convenient to use for almost any need:
- Roofing work in houses and outbuildings;
- cladding of external walls of buildings;
- production of partitions. Usually two layers of flat sheets are used, between which insulation is located;
- for the manufacture of fences, railings for balconies, terraces, open areas;
- edging of cellars, pits, swimming pools, artificial ponds;
- on a personal plot, beds are fenced off with sheets, compost pits, create temporary storage;
- flat sheets are excellent for making construction formwork and installing dry floor screeds.
We can conclude that this wonderful material will be in demand in the construction and household sectors for a long time.

Industrial production of the first artificial slate was launched at the beginning of the 20th century. using technology patented by the Austrian industrialist Ludwig Gatschek. The innovative products, which are flat gray tiles made of asbestos cement, are called “eternite” - “eternal”, translated from Latin. A little later, due to their similarity with slate plates, the German name “schiefer” was attached to them. This slate was flat and small in size.

Thus, asbestos-cement slabs, used as roofing and facing materials. Over time, their size and shape changed, and technology improved. Appeared wave sheets, but everyone forgot about the Gatchek tiles. But flat slate, as a direct descendant of that same “eternite”, is still used in many areas of construction.

Flat slate is smooth rectangular sheets made from asbestos cement (chrysotile cement). It contains:

• Portland cement – ​​80-90% (as a base);
• chrysotile asbestos – 10-20% (as a binder);
• additives – 1%.

Chrysotile asbestos is a strong magnesium silicate fiber that is resistant to alkaline cement environments. Therefore, asbestos cement is essentially fiber cement reinforced with hard chrysotile fibers. This explains the high mechanical strength asbestos-cement slate, its heat resistance, wear resistance and durability.

An important detail: in the composition of flat slate, chrysotile asbestos is firmly bound to cement, therefore environment it doesn't evaporate. Asbestos dust can only enter a person's lungs when cutting slate. Therefore, for safety reasons, it is necessary to use a respirator during this event.

Scope of use of flat slate

The universal shape and excellent performance properties allow the use of flat slate in many areas of construction. Compared to corrugated sheets, it is not often used for roofing and then, as a rule, as part of prefabricated screeds. Although quite recently, enterprises produced small-sized flat tiles - specifically for covering tile-type roofs. Their production has now been discontinued.

However, some home craftsmen, wanting to get an inexpensive “tiled” roof made of asbestos cement, find a way out of the situation. And cut the flat slate into small tiles to then cover the roof with them. Interesting way use, but in official instructions to slate, it is not recommended.

In accordance with GOST 18124-2012, flat slate is used:

• when installing prefabricated ties for roofing systems such as PKS-1, PKS-2, PKS-3, PKS-4;
• as an element of roofing in prefabricated roofing systems(for example, “TN Krovlya-Titan” and “TN Krovlya Universal” from TechnoNikol);
• as a material for internal cladding of walls and partitions;
• for cladding facades of premises for various purposes(residential, industrial, etc.);
• for the construction of structures: fences, gazebos, galleries industrial enterprises, fencing of balconies and loggias;
• for installation of boxes, slopes, window sill boards;
• for covering floors or installing suspended ceilings;
• in designs wall panels(blocks) with sandwich type insulation - during the construction of residential buildings, pavilions, stalls, utility blocks, etc.;
• as a material permanent formwork for foundations and walls during the construction of low-rise buildings (flat sheets in this case play the role of finishing and external retaining reinforcement for a concrete structure);
• when constructing structures for landscaping local area, garden and vegetable garden, that is, as a material for covering paths, assembling walls of compost pits, fencing beds, etc.;
• for installing sprinklers in cooling towers.

In addition, it is used in TechnoNikol roofing systems:

Types of flat slate

In accordance with GOST 18124-2012, flat asbestos-cement slate is produced in two types: pressed and unpressed.

The pressed sheets removed from the format drum are additionally subjected to compaction under pressure. The technology for manufacturing unpressed products does not provide for such a procedure.

The symbol for slate sheets must contain a letter abbreviation for the type of product. Flat, unpressed sheets are designated as LPN. Flat pressed sheets - like BOB.

Unpressed slate is less durable and dense than pressed slate. But it has less weight and is easier to handle. LPN can be cut, sawed, drilled without any special physical effort. They are easy to attach to horizontal and vertical surfaces with screws. Accordingly, unpressed slabs are very convenient for finishing and roofing work. They are used for cladding walls and partitions inside buildings, for installing ceilings, for installing fences, and as a leveling screed in prefabricated roofing pie.

Pressed slate, due to the additional compression of its structure under pressure, is characterized by higher strength, density, impact strength and durability. LPP is recommended for use when cladding and assembling structures exposed to aggressive environments and the risk of fire.

Pressed slate is resistant to corrosion, chemical and biological substances, and elevated temperatures. It does not burn and does not evaporate harmful substances. Therefore, its use is popular at gas stations, car washes, service stations, workshops and paint booths.

LPP is also used for cladding facades and interior spaces buildings, for creating prefabricated wall panels, enclosing structures, floor surfaces, roofing pies(as a screed).

Increased strength and ability to withstand loads makes pressed sheets suitable material for permanent formwork of walls and foundations. Additional benefit LPP – increased wear resistance, allowing the sheets to be reused after dismantling.

Decorative features of the material

To provide the consumer with a wide range of materials, with the possibility of selecting them to meet specific structural design requirements, flat slate is produced:

• unpainted;
• painted;
• invoiced.

Unpainted sheets are considered ordinary; they remain in the natural color of asbestos cement - gray. To obtain painted sheets, a primer layer is applied to the pressed slate, and then acrylic paint. Mass dyeing is performed much less frequently. The color base is selected from the RAL, Monicolor, Tikkurila, NCS catalogues.

Textured slate is the most decorative option. There are several ways to decorate the surface of asbestos-cement sheets with texture:

• Creating a layer of stone chips of jasper, marble, serpentine, granites. A primer is applied to the surface of the slab, then an adhesive composition is applied, which is sprinkled with stone chips, followed by a varnish coating.
• Application of relief prints to the raw asbestos-cement mass using special stamps, after which the sheets are painted in the usual way. As a result, flat slate gets a new texture and color that imitates wood, stone, silk, etc.
• Creation of a textured polymer layer with marble or quartz filler.
• The use of iron oxide pigments as a filler, which gives the slate a “metallic” color (like titanium, bronze, aluminum, etc.).
• Colored sheet coating cement plaster, allowing you to obtain an unusual texture and various shades with colored splashes.

Coatings with paint or stone chips not only increase the decorative properties of slate, but also play the role of a protective layer. Such sheets have increased wear resistance, wear less and last longer.

Due to their decorative component, they are used for finishing cladding of facades, installation of fencing for balconies (loggias), construction of fences and other visible surfaces of structures.

Dimensions and weight

Sheets of flat slate, in contrast to asbestos-cement tiles such as eternit, are quite large. This explains some narrowing of their scope of use (especially as a finishing roofing covering).

Sheet sizes are regulated by GOST 18124-2012 or enterprise specifications. According to GOST, the length of products is several specific values ​​in the range of 1200-3600 mm, width - in the range of 1120-1570 mm, thickness - 6-8, 10 mm.

The weight of flat sheets, due to their dimensions, is also quite large. A square meter of unpressed sheet, 10 mm thick, weighs about 19 kg, and a pressed sheet weighs about 21 kg. That is, the weight of a standard pressed sheet with a thickness of 10 mm, a length of 3 m, and a width of 1.5 m will be equal to 96 kg, and an unpressed sheet will be about 87 kg. The numbers indicated may have slight errors depending on the additives used and the humidity of the product.

Physico-chemical indicators

The most important technical specifications flat slate, on which its durability and application possibilities depend, are strength, density, viscosity, and frost resistance.

Flat slabs are characterized by high bending strength, which allows them to be used in ceilings, floors, roofing coverings, foundation walls. Unpressed products withstand bending forces of 18 MPa, pressed ones - 23 MPa.

The density of flat slate is relatively small and is equal to 1600 kg/m3 for LNP, and 1800 kg/m3 for LPP. This means that thermal insulation properties material, on the contrary, are quite high.

Impact strength is a value indicating the ability of a material to resist impact loads. For pressed sheets, this parameter must be at least 2.5 kJ/m2, for non-pressed sheets - at least 2 kJ/m2.

Another important parameter– frost resistance. Unpressed slate can withstand 25 freeze-thaw cycles, and pressed slate - 50. As a rule, these figures are very close to the actual service life of asbestos-cement sheets.

Designation and marking of sheets

Flat slate sheets have their own symbol, characterizing their type and size. It contains the letter abbreviation of the product type (LPN or LPP - unpressed and pressed sheets, respectively), dimensions (length, width, thickness - in millimeters), and the designation of the current standard.

For example, pressed sheets with a length of 3000 mm, a width of 1570 mm, and a thickness of 10 mm, manufactured according to GOST 18124-2012, are designated as LPP 3000 x 1570 x 10 GOST 18124-2012. And unpressed products with a length of 1200 mm, a width of 1120 mm, a thickness of 6 mm - like LNP 1200 x 1120 x 6 GOST 18124-2012.

The symbol of the sheets is indicated in the accompanying documents for the products, in construction drawings, etc. Directly on the sheets you can see another mark for identification - marking.

It is usually applied to slate using printing. But it is also allowed to use printed labels that are glued to sheets. A minimum of 1% of sheets in a lot must be marked.

The marking contains:

• manufacturer's name or trademark;
• batch number;
• a sign indicating the type of sheet and its thickness (a square with a number in the center - an unpressed sheet, the same square, but symbolically “compressed” by two arrows - a pressed sheet).

Advantages and disadvantages of slate

To better understand whether flat slate is suitable for use in specific situation construction, it will be useful to outline its pros and cons.

The most significant advantages:

• Wear resistance and mechanical strength.
• Durability, which on average is 25-50 years.
• High bending strength, due to which the sheets do not deform under the influence of a layer of snow (on the roof) or concrete masses (as formwork walls).
• High fire resistance. Slate is a fireproof, fireproof and non-combustible material.
• Resistance to aggressive environments - chemical and biological. Slate is not subject to corrosion, neutral to alkalis and industrial atmospheric emissions. The material is resistant to microorganisms, it does not rot and is not damaged by insects.
• Moisture resistance. Flat slate sheets do not allow water to pass through and are an excellent waterproofing material.
• Resistant to temperature changes.
• Frost resistance, allowing the use of slate in any climate zone, even in the Far North.
• Simple installation, simple repair work.
• Undemanding in operation.
• Low price compared to similar materials.

Disadvantages to be aware of:

• Fragility, which often leads to sheets breaking already at the installation stage. This feature requires additional material to be included in the estimate. At the same time, many manufacturers are trying to combat the problem by adding special plasticizers to the chrysotile cement mixture.
• Low impact strength. Slate sheets, often used as finishing material on outdoors, are subject to shock deformations, for example, from hail or thrown stones.
• When cutting and drilling slate, asbestos dust is released, which can enter a person’s lungs and negatively affect his health. Therefore, when machining stoves, you should use respirators. At enterprises and in indoors Where slate processing takes place, it is mandatory to install dust collection equipment with air purification devices.

Despite its shortcomings, flat slate can be safely called a universal building material. Some experts claim that you can build an entire city out of it! And this statement is not so far from the truth.

Walls, roofs, and fences are built from flat chrysotile sheets, which are highly durable and retain their properties for many decades.

The word slate brings to mind a certain type of roof on a building and nothing more. Surprise comes when you get acquainted with the wide range of its applications, popularity and properties.
Judging by how long ago slate products have been used, the price is also affordable for different categories of the population. Who would have thought that even the facades of houses are decorated with flat slate.
The application of this material can be divided into main segments.

The main areas of application of flat slate include:

• Cladding of structures in construction. These include sanitary cubicles, various partitions and walls ventilation shafts, flooring in industrial premises, boards for window sills, boxes, various lintels, formwork and this is not the whole list.
• Sprinklers for cooling towers at power plants.
• Design of ventilated facades and finishing of facades of private houses with slate.
• Installation of laminated sandwich panels.
• The material has become indispensable in outbuildings - arranging showers and toilets, building gazebos and enclosures for animals, making compost bins and narrow paths, designing beds, erecting fences.

Attention: Your slate buildings will be durable and strong because, unlike wood, slate does not rot or be damaged by insects.

Slate production is divided into pressed and unpressed products. The pressed material has significant density and strength, therefore it is often used in the decoration of external walls.
The second type has low density and is used indoors.
The remaining properties are identical:

• Frost resistance when the coating can withstand more than 55 freezing and thawing cycles.
• Convenience, ease of processing and installation. It harmonizes with any architectural structures and is cut with a saw or hacksaw.
• Moisture resistant material corroded and rotting.
• Durable and durable product in use.
• Slate does not support combustion processes.
• Resistant material negative influence atmosphere.
• It has excellent sound insulation, so the noise of wind, rain, and hail will not disturb family members inside the room.
• Does not react with acid, alkali solutions and other aggressive components.

What's against using it?

Looking through the proposed video and photo screensavers, picture galleries and videos, the variety of colors and different shades does not catch the eye. Not bright tones and colors predominate, which either complement other materials or appear as separate spots.
So:

• It's a stretch to say that slate can be considered an environmentally friendly product, although studies have shown that it does no particular harm.
• It has significant weight and great mass.
• When delivering slate, its transportation and storage are important.
• Moss may appear on the surface of the sheets due to long inactivity, it is required additional processing coatings with special compounds.
• Demand gives rise to supply, but sometimes with inflated prices for slate products. These costs pay off over time due to savings on expensive lumber and labor.
• Slate brittle material, so work with it must be done with a partner or colleagues.

How to work with flat slate

Practice shows that finishing the facade of a house with flat slate or, in other words, asbestos-cement sheets is used quite often and is quite doable with your own hands. Not required to perform the work special tools, knowledge, highly qualified construction specialty or skills.
A few simple rules and instructions will help facilitate the work process and prevent negative and undesirable consequences of actions:

• It is necessary to stock up on a protective mask or respirator to protect your respiratory tract from asbestos dust.
• To prevent deformation and destruction of the edge, thin strips less than 6 mm wide should not be cut.
• Slate sections are treated with acrylic paints.
• The nails are driven into the slate slab in advance drilled holes.
• Each sheet is visually inspected to identify deformation and cracks.

Attention: Slate sheets that have flaws - cracks, chips, unevenness - are used primarily when there is a need for smaller slabs.

Flat slate cladding

So:

• The slate is attached to the frame, for which it is necessary to arrange wooden sheathing. The sheathing is made of boards or timber, laid at a distance corresponding to the size of the slate sheet (0.6 m).
  If desired, a layer of hydro-thermal insulation is added between the frame. For these purposes, eco or mineral wool is used.
• Preparation slate sheets consists of a preliminary inspection and removal of deformed sheets. Next, they are measured and cut for subsequent installation.
  Cutting is the most important and difficult moment.

Attention: A sheet with a thickness of more than 6 mm is cut with a water-cooled saw, and less than 6 mm, notches are made on both sides and carefully broken at the edge of the table, coinciding with the break line.

• The slate is attached and mounted to the sheathing with screws in pre-drilled holes. The screw heads are covered with fastening tabs.
  The diameters of the holes for the screws are made 1-2 mm wider than the nails and screws, so as not to cause splits at the fastening points.
• The last stage refers to the treatment with special compounds against the appearance of moss and lichens; acrylic paint is used.
• Finishing the foundation with slate is carried out in two versions. As in the previous description with a frame and sheathing or simply glued to a completely smooth surface outer wall foundation.
• Finishing the base with slate is often done after the construction of the building, when the homeowner began to think about what to cover the base of the house with. The basement refers to that part of the building that is most subject to mechanical loads and adverse atmospheric influences.
  Execution technology and its observance affect the durability of coatings. The base is insulated with foam plastic 5 cm thick, which is secured with plastic dowels.
  The first and second layers of foam are positioned and secured in such a way as to cover the joints. Flat slate is attached to dowels, but of greater length.

Manufacturers of flat slate do not part with practical material, suitable for decorative finishing of facades and roofing.