4 Advice to Choose a Sandwich Board Panels

The sandwich tile panel has become one of the most demanded options for roofs of houses, industrial buildings and all types of buildings. Thanks to its resistance, aesthetics and ease of installation, this material is an ideal alternative to traditional roofs. However, before making a decision, it is essential to know what aspects influence the choice of the best sandwich panel for your project.

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In this article, we explain everything you need to know to choose the tile sandwich panel that best suits your needs.

What is the Tile Sandwich Panel and Why is it a Good Choice?

The sandwich panel is a building material composed of two outer layers of steel and a core of thermal insulation. In the case of the tile sandwich panel, its outer face has a finish that mimics the traditional tile, providing a rustic aesthetic without sacrificing thermal and structural efficiency.

This type of panel is widely used on residential roofs, porches, garages, industrial buildings and farms, as it offers numerous advantages:

• Thermal and acoustic insulation: Its polyurethane foam or rock wool core guarantees excellent energy efficiency.
• Resistance and durability: Its galvanized steel coating protects it against corrosion, impacts and extreme weather conditions.
• Easy installation: It can be installed quickly and easily, reducing labor costs and execution time.
• Traditional aesthetics: Its design imitates the ceramic tile, adapting to any architectural environment.

Keys to Choosing the Best Tile Sandwich Panel

1. Panel Thickness and Insulation

One of the most important aspects when choosing a sandwich panel is its thickness, since its thermal and acoustic insulation capacity depends on it. The most common thicknesses are 30, 40 and 50 mm, although in areas with extreme temperatures, thicker panels may be required.

If your project is in a very hot or cold area, opt for a sandwich tile panel with a greater thickness to improve the energy efficiency of the building.

2. Type of Insulating Core

The core of the sandwich panel can be made of different materials, each with specific properties:

• Polyurethane (PUR): The most widely used option, it offers excellent thermal insulation.
• Polyisocyanurate (PIR): Similar to PUR but with higher fire resistance.
• Rock wool: Provides better acoustic insulation and is highly resistant to fire.

If you are looking for thermal insulation, polyurethane is the best option. If fire safety is a priority, rock wool is the most suitable alternative.

3. Exterior Finish and Color

The tile sandwich panel is available in different colors and finishes that imitate the traditional tile. The most common tones are aged tile, red tile and slate, ideal for integrating with the architectural design of any home.

Be sure to choose a panel with an anti-corrosion coating to ensure durability in humid climates or near the sea.

4. Panel Length and Width

Depending on the size of the roof, it is important to choose a panel with the right dimensions. Generally, the tile sandwich panel is manufactured in widths of mm and in lengths ranging from 2 to 6 meters.

If you are looking to reduce the number of joints in the installation, opt for longer panels. This will minimize leaks and ensure greater structural strength.

5. Mounting System and Accessories

Some tile sandwich panel models include tongue and groove assembly systems, which facilitate installation and improve sealing between panels. In addition, it is advisable to purchase accessories such as finials, ridge caps and specific fasteners to optimize the installation.

Conclusion: Which is the Best Tile Sandwich Panel?

The choice of the best tile sandwich panel will depend on the specific needs of your project. If you are looking for thermal insulation, opt for panels with a polyurethane core at least 40 mm thick. For areas at risk of fire, rock wool is the best alternative.

You should also consider the quality of the finish, the length of the panel and its mounting system to ensure an efficient and durable installation.

How much do they cost, what is the best way to install them, and where are they the cheapest? A short introductory guide to thermal insulation sandwich panels.

Sandwich panels – what should you know?

What is a sandwich panel?

A sandwich panel is a product used to clad the walls and roofs of buildings. Each panel comprises a core of thermoinsulating material, skinned on both sides with sheet metal. Sandwich panels are not structural materials but curtain materials. The structural forces are carried by the steel framework or other carrier frame to which the sandwich panels are attached.

The types of sandwich panel are generally grouped by the thermoinsulating material used as the core. Sandwich panels with cores of EPS (expanded polystyrene), mineral wool and polyurethane (PIR, or polyisocyanurate) are all readily available.

The materials mainly vary in their thermal insulating performance, sound insulating performance, reaction to fire and weight.

Why use sandwich panels anyway?

Sandwich panels are widely acclaimed due to a number of benefits, mainly those related to cost. Comparisons between frame or stud partition technology (frames lined with sandwich panels) and traditional building technologies based on masonry walls reveal advantages of sandwich panels in three key areas:

1. Direct costs

Construction of a building in either technology requires similar capital expenditure levels.
The comparison in this area includes the costs of construction materials, labour and shipping.

2. Construction time

A building based on a traditional masonry process may take 6 to 7 months to complete.
A building of the same volume utilising stud partitions takes just 1 month to complete.
The construction time is business-critical. The sooner a production building or warehouse is commissioned for use, the sooner a return on the investment can be achieved.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Wiskind New Materials.

Stud partition buildings are assembled rather than “built”. The finished structural parts and cladding components arrive on site, and are then assembled like a house of toy bricks. Another plus is that there is no need to wait for the building shell to lose excess moisture.

3. Construction processes

In some sectors of industry, the construction requirements can be critical for a building project. Stud partition construction is a ‘dry process’, with no water needed for the construction materials. A dry process requires only the assembly of the structure and fixing of the cladding (here, the sandwich panels) with screws.

Traditional masonry construction uses ‘wet processes’, which require significant amounts of water to make the mortar for bricklaying, concrete for casting or the plaster for rendering.

Some sectors of industry, like wood processing or pharmaceutical manufacture, require fixed and controlled relative humidity levels, which preclude wet construction processes.

How much do sandwich panels cost, and where are they the cheapest?

The cost of purchase depends on the overall product thickness and its thermoinsulating core material. A ‘budget option’ is the use of EPS-core sandwich panels; however, for better long-term performance and cost effectiveness, panels with superior thermal conductivity coefficient are a better choice - such as PIR-core sandwich panels.

The pricing begins at 55–60 PLN/m2 for thin EPS-core sandwich panels. The most popular PIR-core sandwich panels are 100 mm thick, and cost about 80–90 PLN/m2.

Customers often ask about the VAT rate for sandwich panels. In Poland, all construction materials, including sandwich panels, have a 23% VAT rate.

It is best to order your sandwich panels directly from the manufacturer or through their distribution chain. You can request Balex Metal's regional sales representatives to visit your site for professional advice concerning the best processes and materials. Having examined your requirements, the sales representative can quickly supply you with a custom quote. Customer care by the sales representatives aside, you can get support from Balex Metal's design engineers or technical consultants at every stage of project delivery.

How are sandwich panels installed on a wall or a roof?

Sandwich panels are easy and quick to install. From practical experience, installing 600 m2 of sandwich panels takes approximately 8 hours for a proficient construction crew.

The steps to install wall and roof sandwich panels are as follows:

1. The construction materials are delivered to the site: the delivery includes sandwich panels, the subframe components (cold-formed shapes), and accessories (including flashing, fasteners, gaskets, seals, etc.). Balex Metal can provide all the components required to complete the installation process.

2. The materials delivered by the carrier are unloaded with construction handling equipment.

3. The subframes are assembled, and installed with beams, posts and purlins.

4. The protective film is removed from the sandwich panels.

5. The sandwich panels are fastened to the subframe structural members using suitable fasteners.

6. The joints between the sandwich panels are sealed and the flashing is installed.

How many screws do I need to fasten a sandwich panel? This is the most common question from customers at the project preparation stage. A rough estimate is 1.1 fasteners per square metre of sandwich panels. The actual number, spacing and layout depend on the decision of the project design engineer and/or the construction material supplier.

Learn more about installing sandwich panels:

Any type of sandwich panel will do as cladding for walls and roofs. Depending on the project needs, the cladding may include:

• EPS-core sandwich panels (the budget option);
• Mineral wool core sandwich panels (for structures with improved resistance to fire);
• PIR-core sandwich panels (whenever good thermal insulation parameters are essential).

Sandwich panels can be utilised in all structure types. Your imagination is the limit. However, while sandwich panels are generally used in industrial applications, some housing projects also use stud partitions and sandwich panels.

Given the short installation time and large unit coverage, sandwich panels are most popular in constructing:

Want more information on Sandwich Board Panels? Feel free to contact us.

• Warehouse buildings
• Logistic hubs
• Sports facilities
• Cold stores and freezers
• Shopping malls
• Manufacturing buildings
• Office buildings