ABSTRACT:
Use of a 'breathable' silicate paint without a silicate primer on 9mm Magnesium Oxide weatherboard cladding: A Case study in Canterbury, New Zealand
Due to recent efforts to lower the carbon footprint and increase the sustainability of residential and commercial building methods, there has been a shift to new “greener” products for which there is limited experience under NZ climatic conditions. One such product is Magnesium oxide MgO panels which have been heralded for lower CO2 during the production phase as well as atmospheric carbon sequestration during the life of the product, resulting in an estimated 20-40 percent reduction in carbon emissions compared to traditional cement boards. As a result of these new products, coating systems have been applied in which a trusted product is used on a new substrate. One such product is a silicate-based paint, popular in Europe for use on mineral substrates, such as cement, stone and lime. This paper describes a case study in which the builder and the painter used the combination of a silicate-based paint (without a separate primer or binder) on a Magnesium oxide board in a dark colour according to the supplier’s system (for both substrate and paint) recommendations.