Ceramic Granite Cladding
Shackerley offers architects a new way to provide rainscreen cladding using sleek and lightweight, impermeable ceramic granite slabs, manufactured to withstand the most extreme weather conditions.
Occurring constituents and can be fashioned to reproduce all the beauty and variation of naturally hewn stone such as granite or marble. The product is completely free from fissures, flaws and other weak points which reduce the strength and versatility of quarried materials in their original state.
Manufacturing Process
Recreating the forces of nature, the manufacturing process involves dry pressing and firing a blend of carefully selected refined clays, quartz, feldspars and metal oxides. Slabs are formed at extremely high pressures, typically over 12000 tonnes, then fired at 1260°C. Because of the enormous pressures and temperatures involved, no bonding agents or organic resins of any kind have to be added in order for the ceramic granite to achieve its outstanding strength and hardness characteristics.
Shackerley's ceramic granite panels are manufactured by the world's largest producers of unglazed ceramic granite floor and wall coverings. They are supplied throughout the UK by Shackerley.
This new generation of cladding materials provides an exceptionally hardwearing, attractive and cost-effective method of protecting and improving the appearance of the building envelope.
Weight
The mechanical strength of ceramic granite and its inherent consistency means that slabs from just 12mm thick can be used to offer exceptional building protection.
Compared with naturally quarried stone, the loadings on the substructure and building exterior are dramatically reduced.
Size
Shackerley's ceramic granite slabs are available in a wide range of sizes to meet different technical and aesthetic specifications. In addition to the conventional 200, 300 and 400mm sizes, slabs are also available in;
- 300 x 600mm
- 600 x 600mm
- 600 x 1200mm
- 900 x 900mm
- 1000 x 1000mm
Larger sizes are also available if required, up to a maximum of 1250 x 1750mm.
Impermeable
Ceramic granite conforms to all international standards for water absorption and freeze/thaw resistance. It is unaffected by climatic extremes and because it has virtually zero porosity (class B1A) it will not support algae growth.
Slabs do not absorb dust or airborne contamination, and polished slabs are effectively 'self-cleaning'. They are also impervious to acid and alkalines, even when concentrated (excluding hydrofluoric acid and derivatives).
Colour Retention
As ceramic granite is completely impermeable and resistant to light and UV radiation, and because the intrinsic grains, veins and colours run throughout each slab, the appearance of the rainscreen cladding panels will not change over time.
Maintenance
The removal of individual slabs is simple and quick should there be a need to inspect concealed services or replace slabs in the event that damage occurs.
Subject to batch reference, any replacement slabs will have the same colour intensity as existing slabs and can be supplied many years after the original installation.
Proven Installation Systems
Ceramic granite rainscreen cladding is installed with Shackerley's patented Sureclad range of primary support systems.
Cost Effective
The inherent consistency of ceramic granite and the reduced thickness of the slabs required for cladding means that significant cost savings can be made when compared with quarried stone in terms of materials and their handling and fixing.
