Builders don’t need to be told about the hidden costs of inferior materials, but sometimes, force of habit can lead to the best option being overlooked. This could be said of steel render beads, which have been superseded by durable, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly PVCu alternatives. A pioneer of PVCu render beads, Renderplas is helping the construction industry avoid the costly remedial work associated with rusting steel designs.

Steeling for change

Render is a very visible exterior feature of a building and render beads are critical for achieving the perfect aesthetic finish. However, steel beads have made many structures look dated well before their time.

Most people will have seen the unsightly, rusty staining down some buildings. This is caused by steel render beads corroding due to moisture, salt or a reaction with chemicals in the render itself. While both stainless steel beads and galvanised steel beads can be affected in this way, the impact on galvanised steel beads tends to be much more severe.

Solving the problem often entails removing the entire render, cutting the steel beads out and starting again. Corrosion damage can become visible soon after construction is complete, damaging the reputation of developers and putting builders in the firing line for costly remedial work.

PVCu render beads suffer none of these limitations and offer a host of additional benefits besides. Consequently, they are becoming the go-to for the industry.

Looks are everything

When it comes to a building’s facade, looks are everything. PVCu render beads do not rust, which eliminates any resulting exterior staining, helping to maintain a fresh aesthetic long after completion. Therefore, builders do not need to return to site to remove stained render.

Renderplas PVCu render beads provide a better finish too. Nine colour options allow matching with popular through colour renders from leading manufacturers, so beads can seamlessly integrate with the facade. They greatly reduce fading too, as UV stabilised colours ensure a pleasing, long-lasting finish. Unlike metal counterparts, no re-painting is required. In the looks department, PVCu has the edge over steel.

A strong finish

Style is nothing without substance, and PVCu render beads are incredibly strong. Renderplas guarantees that its products will last the lifetime of the render, or at least 25 years. In fact, end users can expect PVCu to easily outlast stainless steel designs. Higher impact protection than steel also promotes this superior longevity.

Beads are critical for the overall durability of the render itself, and in this regard, PVCu excels. Its inherent flexibility helps to prevent cracking, greatly minimising the risk of remedial work. Furthermore, the fact that PVCu doesn’t corrode stymies water ingress into the render, providing greater protection. A ‘Y’ shape design featuring a narrow arrowhead arris also ensures better render thickness at a typically vulnerable area than folded metal beads, boosting the lifetime of the render.

PVCu render beads are so durable, that re-rendering can sometimes be conducted without chopping out the bead, which is highly unlikely with metal designs.

The environmentally conscious choice

With the introduction of Part L building regulations and global efforts to lower emissions, reducing the carbon footprint of construction projects is of increasing importance. PVCu render beads are an easy way to support this.

White Renderplas stop beads, corner beads and bellcast beads are manufactured from 100% recycled materials, while all other colours contain at least 75%. An independent cradle to grave analysis discovered that Renderplas products only emit 0.74 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per tonne installed.[1] This compares very favourably with stainless steel, which in one study, was ascertained to produce 2.9 tonnes for every tonne manufactured from a common grade of steel.[2]

Ultimately, choosing PVCu render beads over steel can contribute to a more sustainable structure.

Not settling for second best

Anyone who has worked with steel render beads would probably agree that PVCu offers a more user-friendly option too. Renderplas products are safer to cut, handle and install than sharp steel competitors. Essentially, in all criteria, PVCu render beads are better.

It would be easy to overlook the specification of render beads in a construction project, but it would prove to be a mistake. Renderplas PVCu render beads overcome the traditional limitations of steel products, providing a long-lasting, striking and environmentally friendly solution. By choosing the best bead on the market, builders and developers can be sure their projects and reputation for quality stand the test of time.

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