Has anyone used either of these two cladding systems? If so was it DIY or contractor installed?
http://www.thinkyellow.com.au/index.html
http://www.nrggreenboard.com/
Think Yellow or NRG Green board EPS Cladding Panels
(23 posts) (11 voices)-
Pandagogs
MemberHi Pummers, I've used alot of both. They are much a muchness. They are both impregnated with the same pest deterants, come in the same size, are made up of the same constituants but just have a different dye colour in them. I probably lean towards Think Yellow a little more as there price can be a little better for the same product and I think the overall board finish seems a little better. Don't let them tell you 'but our board has more grooves in it' because it's only a sales tactic.The render binds to the panel by a chemical reaction. Also make sure you use a good quality render system like Rockcote or Dulux. Give me a call if you want some further advice. http://www.apgexteriors.com.au
Posted Friday 2 Oct 2009 @ 10:15:01 am from IP # -
pummers
MemberThanks for the info. I saw both products at the Home Renovators show in Sydney back in May. At the time I couldn't see much between the products, I was liking the yellow due to cost but was sure about the extra grooves in the green.
I was also looking at your web page prior to making my post the other day.Posted Friday 2 Oct 2009 @ 10:09:35 pm from IP # -
greenbychoice
MemberHi Pummers, I went with Think Yellow (75mm) on the Gold Coast and the product works great. I got quotes from NRG as well...but Think Yellow came in cheaper for what seemed to be a slightly more superior product - also the suppliers seemed to be a little more experienced. We are very happy with the product and are now building an investment property using the same suppliers but this time using the 60mm. Hope this helps.
Posted Thursday 12 Nov 2009 @ 3:32:50 am from IP # -
renderguy
MemberHi Guys great site and as a qualified solid plasterer I cannot help but comment on this thread. I tend to lean towards Greenboard both personally and professionally, why? well I like to know I am covered in the event that something goes wrong also I like that NRG Greenboard has outlined their specs to be compared to other products. http://www.nrggreenboard.com/NRG_Greenboard_Technical_Specification_Booklet_Version_4.pdf
These specs outline details and actual measurements, as a professional I really need this not only to confidently sell but also peace of mind. Having been in the industry for over 20 years I have seen a number of "Fad" renderable substrates come and go including many different EPS manufacturers, NRG seems to be the one putting the cards on the table offering a system warranty, again giving superior peace of mind. On top of this my render supplier Rockcote is all for NRG and is the board they have recommended to me to use as part of their Triple R 10 year system warranty, that in itself is good enough for me. We Install EPS (Greenboard) render and paint over 150 houses a year in this stuff and believe it is a superior system to other substrates both its durability and aesthetic properties, in my experience you get what you pay for so if NRG is $1 pm2 or so dearer so what, its dearer for a reason, with that many houses a year we can honestly say we never have a problem with the system or materials used, were others have with other brands.Posted Tuesday 27 Apr 2010 @ 2:56:54 am from IP # -
Anonymous
UnregisteredI haven’t use these but now I wanted to.
Posted Tuesday 4 May 2010 @ 5:51:35 am from IP # -
Frateco
MemberOn a building scale of ease, NRG Greenboard is the dux nuts.
On an embodied energy and environmental impact scale, between the polystyrene, fire retardant and fibreglass used to make it, this stuff is toxic. While we use less energy because it has good insulation values, a huge amount of energy is expended to manufacture it.
While we talk about sustainability, we also need to keep perspective. We need to look carefully at the materials being used to make these "green" products and evaluate the benefits against the energy required to make them.
Posted Tuesday 4 May 2010 @ 8:38:25 am from IP # -
pummers
MemberAfter discussion with NRG Rep at the Sydney HIA Home Show on Friday. The CodeMark is really no more than an independent assessment of the entire NRG Greenboard, Trim and Fixing System that states if it is used in accordance with the application guide the system will conform to the BCA (Building Code of Australia).
NRG has claimed form a time earlier this year that they had the 'CodeMark' Accreditation, where in fact they only had a draft compliance and as of Friday where yet to receive the actual certificate. One of the Rep's was actually waiting for it to be sent to his phone at the time our discussion took place.
So in reality if the installer follows the guide all is good and if not... nothing more needs to be said.
The reason given that the company went after this accreditation was so the insurance companies felt more at ease with the product due to it compliance to the BCA and a marketing advantage.
So in all NRG is the only manufacture of this style of product at this time that has coughed up the cash to a third party agency the have there product tested and accredited to the 'Codemark' certification. Continuing compliance for this and other products can be checked at http://www.abcb.gov.au
On a completely different matter. Last time I read through the NRG warranty information, it was only valid if the Greenboard 3B render was used. NRG is the only OEM to stipulate a brand of render to validate the product warranty. Noting 'renderguy' in a previous comment says he uses Rockcoat render does this void the OEM warranty?
Posted Sunday 16 May 2010 @ 12:43:43 pm from IP # -
Frateco
MemberI can also tell you that Rockcote have a warranty that stipulates specific actions and people for the warranty to be upheld else it's not their problem. It is a cop-out and can be fought through the Building Services Authority.
Codemark really is a QA relevant to the building products. A great deal of cash gets coughed up to get Codemark - is it worth it?? All products have manufacturer's warranty that is statutory.
Posted Sunday 16 May 2010 @ 11:44:05 pm from IP # -
BuildGreen
MemberI have been doing a bit of research as I am undertaking building my first "green " self sustainable home. Codemark it seems, doesn't really mean that much. The two boards are exactly the same, the two companies will tell you this! So when you look into it, as long as you get the 10yr warranty on the system, which Rockcote gives both NRG and Think Yellow board, it would seem that Codemark is a bit useless...my thoughts only! I went with Think Yellow. The staff were really nice and it came in cheaper than NRG Greenboard, not much though. Their recommended installers have started putting it up and they are doing a great job, really professional. So thumbs up from me.
Posted Friday 4 Jun 2010 @ 8:54:46 am from IP # -
renderguy
MemberA funny reaction to the codemark, I would have thought that this would have been exciting news as this once "alternative cladding " has now come online to meet a regulatory standard, its not only a matter of having the cash but being able to consistantly produce a product that is independently certified to comply with BCA regulations. To say it doesn't really mean much seems a bit weird seeing as it is now legislation to accept BCA compliant materials when one is available, this legislation is in place not only for EPS but other new building materials also this gives the consumer the confidence that the materials on their house will not fail from using a substandard product. You would think any EPS company who is serious about providing the highest standard of products and also having a specified install system would go through the codemark process. As a contractor that specializes in this system its great to see a company (NRG Greenboard) that has taken themselves seriously enough to achieve certification, it couldn't have come soon enough. I think other companies if they are serious would consider the same. Codemark is in addition to manufactures warranty's as the system is compliant not just the product and accesories.
In response to Frateco, you a right Rockcote do specify the right people to the job, that would be licensed people! why would you want an unlicensed contractor doing the work anyway and as far as their "specific actions" why would you apply their product outside of specifications seeing they are the ones supplying the warranty?
Pummers fair call about the render, although the online manual states 3B render a quick phone call to any NRG distributor or NRG themselves and they will tell you that their new specifications for the coating system are that of the render manufacturers. The major companies that supply a reinforced render system specify slight variations, I believe the 3B render is being phased out. All companies specify a 3.5mm system now. Rockcote are still the only company that will warrant the install render and paint in house, interestingly Dulux are now specifying a reinforced render for Greenboard after previously not having anything to do with all EPS cladding, if a company as big as Dulux believe in the codemark system to the point where that wont specify any other board, its worth taking notice of codemark and not dismissing it as a simple gimmick.Posted Friday 2 Jul 2010 @ 12:44:46 am from IP # -
matas
MemberWhy not just use plain standard EPS boards (2.4 x 1.2m x 100mm), costing only about $50 each ?
They have fire retardant.
Then just buy an appropriate render (or even mix your own) and fibreglass reinforcing.
I can't see why they wouldn't work OK.John
Posted Friday 2 Jul 2010 @ 6:57:54 am from IP # -
renderguy
MemberJohn EPS cladding is graded with M grade board being used for construction purposes, other grades that can be flogged of are SL grade and more commonly S Grade this measures the density of the EPS cladding. The price you have quoted there is not that great compared to where I get my greenboard from on the sunshine coast, they sell it for literally only a couple of bucks more. Construction grade ( M grade) EPS not only should have flame retardant but also vermin retardant. Back yonks ago we were mucking around with white board, I had it laying down in the yard for a week or so and in that time the black ants found it to be a great home, that brand of sheets never had any vermin retardant in it. Again for the sake of a couple of bucks....
I am not sure if you have had much to do with site renders ( mix your own) but they are not really suited to a thin section application, they are heavy and are hard to get the perfect amount of polymer, plasticser and wet edge extender to make it play the game the same way as pre bagged render. EPS does hot have the same rate of pull as a masonry wall this effects the matrix that is formed between the plaster and the substrate and will no doubt effect adhesion. There are so many other possible problems with the inconsistency of site render (sand coarseness, organic matter ,lime content, your labourer being useless, the list goes on) it makes my head spin just thinking of it. It would suit us (the contractor) to use site render also as that is the way I was taught and is the way I show my apprentices but pre bagged render has defiantly got its place in more situations than site render these days. Hope that helps.Posted Monday 5 Jul 2010 @ 5:27:36 am from IP # -
Buzzman
MemberNone of the elements of either of these products are either recyclable or renewable. Neither therefore could be considered in any way 'sustainable'.
To see them promoted in a forum which, while branded 'alternative', has the imprimatur of an organisation whose publicly stated goal is "promoting sustainable technology and practice", must be, at the very least, questionable.
This thread is tantamount to 'guerilla marketing' and IMHO should be removed from the forum for that reason alone.
Promoting non-sustainable products is like fiddling while Rome burns. At best it is the application of a band-aid to a suppurating wound.
Posted Wednesday 7 Jul 2010 @ 2:28:34 am from IP # -
pummers
MemberBuzzman. It's unfortunate that you believe that a product described as 'alternate' must also be sustainable. Alternate to most people is something that is different or not normally used.
As far as EPS goes, it is widely recycled and in most cases now mandated as per the EPS blocks used in slab construction.
As for your belief that this thread is guerrilla marketing. It's pretty hard to have a comparison discussion of two cladding products and different render‘s without actually naming them.
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The amount of embedded energy required to produce this product is an issue but cost benefit to my hip pocket in the long run maybe the decider on the final choice.
When compared to the embedded energy required to construct say a brick wall, then insulate and sark the frame is a EPS clad frame more cost effective?
Posted Tuesday 13 Jul 2010 @ 1:29:26 pm from IP # -
renderguy
MemberHi Pummers I am not sure if they are, if they are they would be getting a little left behind. Some of you may or may not know that NRG Greenboard now has a BAL-29 rating, making it the only EPS that is able to be used in a bushfire area. This combined with the Codemark is good for me as a contractor as well as for the end consumer. I wish the other board companies would get on the same playing field, from the contractor’s point of view it is hard to offer a system that is superior without sounding like a snake-oil salesman.
In response to your cost comparison question, I believe builders are paying between $120 - $130 for finished rendered brick veneer, in comparison the EPS system can be as low as $90pm2 for coloured render with a ten year warranty from Rockcote and NRG, I don’t think you will get that from a brick house not to mention the R-value difference and the labour saving and the time saving, the list goes on.Posted Tuesday 14 Jun 2011 @ 12:05:48 am from IP # -
renderguy
MemberBuzzman,
We, and I know other EPS contractors, recycle 100% of our waste, the supplier where we get our NRG Greenboard from supplies us with a bag and we take it back for recycling.
Have a bit of a Google for Rockcote and you will see that their manufacturing and trade centers (particularly on the gold coast ) are nearly if not 100% self sufficient, so they tell us
Posted Tuesday 14 Jun 2011 @ 12:16:40 am from IP # -
I'm a building designer on the Sunshine Coast and have been specifying NRG board for about 5 years. The NRG board has grooves to allow moisture to drain away from the back face (against the wall frame). This prevents mould and rot. As a designer, I really like this product; easy and light to instal as opposed to say hebel, great thermal qualities and easy to instal on sloping sites.
I have examples on my web site of buildings that make extensive use of the NRG board. I don't wish to self promote here, so contact me if you would like the linkPosted Friday 12 Aug 2011 @ 2:28:40 am from IP # -
rendermen
MemberOver the years i have applied solid plaster to the NRG substrate it is defiantly not a market leading product. Hence the so called Codemark Accreditation is done by a private company that will back most products for the right $$$. NRG's warranties are for the board only and Rokcote and Dulux's warranties are for the render only, so the system itself is not warrant-able. You end up with a blame game and no compensation.
I have recently been working with a product new to QLD. This product has had CSIRO testing carried out and is 100% Building Code Compliant. CSIRO is a Government backed laboratory.
This Ezyclad company manufacture all their EPS, Renders and Textures. And have had their walling system tested.
I have more projects coming up where the builder has chosen to go with the Ezyclad EPS system, so i will keep you posted on how they go.
Well worth checking these guys out
ezyclad.com.au and follow the links to QLDPosted Wednesday 26 Oct 2011 @ 12:33:28 pm from IP #
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