Knauf Aquapanel Interior, the specially developed tile backing board from Knauf Drywall, has eliminated tiling defects for a leading South West housebuilder and developer over the past five years, during which it has built nearly 600 dwellings.

Torquay-based Cavanna Homes first used Aquapanel five years ago at Kernow Gate, a development of 35 houses in Launceston, and has used it ever since.

“We used to specify tiles on plasterboard for showers and bath surrounds but when tiled walls are subjected to heavy splashing – as in a shower – the slightest defect in tiling can damage the bond between tile and board, or the plasterboard itself,” says Commercial Manager Mike Bennett. “Since we started using Aquapanel Interior we haven’t had any callbacks for this problem at all – and we average around 140 units a year.”

Cavanna has worked with its drylining contractors to develop a standard approach in which the glass fibre reinforced cement board is installed so that it lips over the top of the shower tray on the walls so there is no way that any water can get behind it.

Aquapanel Interior boards can be scored and snapped just like plasterboard and require no pre-drilling or surface keying, making them quick and simple to install. Once installed, Aquapanel Interior retains its strength when wet and will not rot or warp. Even when fully immersed in water, it comfortably and permanently supports up to 50kg/m2 of tiles in the wettest environments.

Aquapanel Interior systems have been extensively tested to new European EN standards and achieve the acoustic requirements of 40dB for Part E, so can easily be included in the drylining specifications of new dwellings.