Gypsum building materials in vogue
Jul 30, 2010
GIVEN the growth of the construction industry in Uganda, the trend of building and nature and quality of building materials have steadily changed and improved.
BY OYET OKWERA
GIVEN the growth of the construction industry in Uganda, the trend of building and nature and quality of building materials have steadily changed and improved.
At first, cement was the dominant building material used even in designing interior and exterior decor. However nowadays, the gypsum, a new building material is now in vogue. It is now commonly used especially for decorations in homes and offices.
Although the products have been in use for over 50 years, their potential was only realised and appreciated recently. Orahan Telli, a gypsum architect in Kampala, says gypsum is a natural material got from mountainous areas.
“Gypsum concrete underlayments are currently a dominant choice in various constructions and their use is on the increase especially in commercial markets. This growth in commercial applications is attributed to the increase in its compressive strength performance,†says Telli.
He says unlike cement, gypsum does not contain any chemicals as it is naturally preserved. The architect says gypsum concrete bonds strongly with the existing concrete, floor surfaces and requires minimal surface preparations
Telli says when specifying gypsum concrete, architects must always match product specification with the project requirements as compressive strength is a key consideration.
“When creating specifications, remember that gypsum concrete strength is affected by a number of factors including the quality of raw materials used, on site, design mix and application techniques,†says Telli. He adds that that product provides a cost-effective means of ensuring that minimum performance requirements are met or even exceeded.
According to Mithat Gonenc, an architect, gypsum is used for plastering, making decorative structures and fixing design patterns on either the ceiling or walls. With gypsum, he says a home owner can actually transform both the interior and the exterior composition of the house.
“Unlike cement, with the gypsum one can easily come up with elegant design patterns because gypsum is very fine and smooth. This makes it easier for designers to come up with any pattern in the shortest time possible,†says Gonenc.
How gypsum designs are made
Gonenc says various design patterns are made using gypsum and then put on walls, ceiling boards, or any place in a house.
After the designs are made, he says the required paint is applied on the design structures for effect. Charles Muheirwa, who owns a home decorated with gypsum, says he has no regrets. He says gypsum decorations are irresistably appealing.
Muheirwa says decorative patterns were fixed onto the walls and he just painted them.“Gypsum walls are smoother compared to cement walls. Painting is easy and the outcome more fabulous in appearance,†he says.
Advantage over cement
Telli says floors plastered with gypsum are smoother and more splendid than cemented ones.
“When painting gypsum walls, paint easily covers the wall in the shortest time. This is not easy with cement walls since they require a first coat before actual painting,†says Telli.
Gonenc remarks that gypsum accepts virtually any type of floor covering, including vinyl composition tile, ceramic tile, wood laminate, glued-down hardwood and carpeting. “Owing to the fact that they can be applied thinner than the cement, gypsum concrete underlayments are lightweight, making them ideal for wood framed buildings where concrete-based alternatives may require structural alterations,†he says.
With the impending challenges of fire that has gutted many buildings, Gonenc says gypsum is the way to go. He says it is naturally fire resistant and when exposed to flames, it releases moisture in form of steam, thereby slowing heat transmission.
Sound control is another key benefit of the gypsum flooring system. Telli says the gypsum is associated with excellent acoustical properties which result from the product’s mass.
Unlike cement products which shrink, gypsum fills cracks and joints which is a major source of sound leakage. For new commercial constructions, gypsum concrete underlayments are typically applied over structural concrete planks to create a smooth, monolithic floor surface.
Telli says the monolithic floor surface delivers superior strength, sound control and fire resistance. “The products set quickly, accepting foot traffic within two hours and continued construction activities the next day,†adds Telli. However, despite the advantages, Gonenc says gypsum can be costly since it requires more labour and time in building.
GIVEN the growth of the construction industry in Uganda, the trend of building and nature and quality of building materials have steadily changed and improved.
At first, cement was the dominant building material used even in designing interior and exterior decor. However nowadays, the gypsum, a new building material is now in vogue. It is now commonly used especially for decorations in homes and offices.
Although the products have been in use for over 50 years, their potential was only realised and appreciated recently. Orahan Telli, a gypsum architect in Kampala, says gypsum is a natural material got from mountainous areas.
“Gypsum concrete underlayments are currently a dominant choice in various constructions and their use is on the increase especially in commercial markets. This growth in commercial applications is attributed to the increase in its compressive strength performance,†says Telli.
He says unlike cement, gypsum does not contain any chemicals as it is naturally preserved. The architect says gypsum concrete bonds strongly with the existing concrete, floor surfaces and requires minimal surface preparations
Telli says when specifying gypsum concrete, architects must always match product specification with the project requirements as compressive strength is a key consideration.
“When creating specifications, remember that gypsum concrete strength is affected by a number of factors including the quality of raw materials used, on site, design mix and application techniques,†says Telli. He adds that that product provides a cost-effective means of ensuring that minimum performance requirements are met or even exceeded.
According to Mithat Gonenc, an architect, gypsum is used for plastering, making decorative structures and fixing design patterns on either the ceiling or walls. With gypsum, he says a home owner can actually transform both the interior and the exterior composition of the house.
“Unlike cement, with the gypsum one can easily come up with elegant design patterns because gypsum is very fine and smooth. This makes it easier for designers to come up with any pattern in the shortest time possible,†says Gonenc.
How gypsum designs are made
Gonenc says various design patterns are made using gypsum and then put on walls, ceiling boards, or any place in a house.
After the designs are made, he says the required paint is applied on the design structures for effect. Charles Muheirwa, who owns a home decorated with gypsum, says he has no regrets. He says gypsum decorations are irresistably appealing.
Muheirwa says decorative patterns were fixed onto the walls and he just painted them.“Gypsum walls are smoother compared to cement walls. Painting is easy and the outcome more fabulous in appearance,†he says.
Advantage over cement
Telli says floors plastered with gypsum are smoother and more splendid than cemented ones.
“When painting gypsum walls, paint easily covers the wall in the shortest time. This is not easy with cement walls since they require a first coat before actual painting,†says Telli.
Gonenc remarks that gypsum accepts virtually any type of floor covering, including vinyl composition tile, ceramic tile, wood laminate, glued-down hardwood and carpeting. “Owing to the fact that they can be applied thinner than the cement, gypsum concrete underlayments are lightweight, making them ideal for wood framed buildings where concrete-based alternatives may require structural alterations,†he says.
With the impending challenges of fire that has gutted many buildings, Gonenc says gypsum is the way to go. He says it is naturally fire resistant and when exposed to flames, it releases moisture in form of steam, thereby slowing heat transmission.
Sound control is another key benefit of the gypsum flooring system. Telli says the gypsum is associated with excellent acoustical properties which result from the product’s mass.
Unlike cement products which shrink, gypsum fills cracks and joints which is a major source of sound leakage. For new commercial constructions, gypsum concrete underlayments are typically applied over structural concrete planks to create a smooth, monolithic floor surface.
Telli says the monolithic floor surface delivers superior strength, sound control and fire resistance. “The products set quickly, accepting foot traffic within two hours and continued construction activities the next day,†adds Telli. However, despite the advantages, Gonenc says gypsum can be costly since it requires more labour and time in building.