While EPS cement sandwich panel is an extremely forgiving and easy to install building material, there are a small number of very common installation mistakes that inexperienced teams make that can lead to avoidable performance issues later on. Understanding these mistakes before you start your first project will help you deliver perfectly finished walls that perform exactly as the manufacturer intended, with zero post construction issues.
The most frequent mistake teams make is not leaving a small 5mm expansion gap between the top of the panel and the building’s upper floor slab. Many new installers push the panels tight up against the slab to make them feel more secure, but this does not leave any room for minor structural movement or thermal expansion as the building settles. Over time, this constant pressure will cause the top of the panel to crack, and these cracks can transfer through to the finished paint surface. The correct practice is to leave this small gap, and fill it later with flexible fire resistant sealant that can absorb movement without cracking.
Another common mistake is using regular gypsum joint compound instead of cement based joint mortar to fill the panel tongue and groove joints. Gypsum joint compound does not have the same strength and water resistance as the rest of the EPS cement sandwich panel, and it will develop cracks very quickly as the building settles. Always use the specialized cement based joint mortar recommended by the panel manufacturer, and make sure you embed alkali resistant fiberglass mesh tape across every single joint. This small extra step will ensure your wall joints stay perfectly smooth and crack free for the entire lifetime of the building.
