Dulux Exsulite EPS Cladding: What Builders Should Know
Dulux Exsulite is an EPS cladding system from Dulux. EPS panels are fixed to the building, then reinforced and finished with a render coating system. The finished wall looks like render but weighs far less than masonry.
The key word is system. The panels, fixings, mesh, base coat and finish are designed to work together. Swapping one part for something similar changes the result.
What makes up the system
On the EPS jobs we supply and install, the wall is built from these parts:
- EPS panels
- Fixings and adhesive
- Fibreglass reinforcing mesh
- Base coat
- Acrylic render finish
- Corner beads and trims
Each part comes from the system documentation. The Dulux Exsulite technical manual sets out which components to use and how they go together. We keep a copy for the version of the system on each job.
Why builders choose EPS cladding
EPS panels are light and quick to handle. They can be cut to form reveals, bands and other architectural details. The panels add insulation to the external wall, which can help with energy efficiency requirements.
Render King installs EPS cladding on residential and low-rise buildings only. That is the work we know well, and it is the work the crews are set up for.
Details to sort out at design stage
EPS is easy to shape, which tempts designers to add a lot of detail. Every band, reveal and ledge is another place water can sit or cracks can start. We suggest checking these while the drawings can still change:
- Horizontal ledges and bands, which need a fall so water runs off
- The base of the wall, where the system meets the slab or a hob
- Window and door heads, sills and jambs
- Roof and eave junctions
- Places where EPS meets another material, such as Hebel or brick
Fixing a detail on paper costs nothing. Fixing it on a finished wall costs a crew day or more.
Storing and handling panels
EPS panels dent and snap if they are handled carelessly. Keep them flat, off the ground and out of the weather until they are fixed. Damaged panels should be replaced rather than patched, because a weak panel shows through the finish later.
Where things go wrong
The same few issues cause most callbacks on EPS walls:
- Panel joints left open or badly aligned
- Mesh missing at corners and openings
- Base coat too thin to cover the mesh properly
- Render applied in rain or on a very hot wall
- Damage from other trades after the finish is complete
None of these are hard to avoid. They come down to following the manual and checking the work at each stage.
Checking the work
We photograph the wall at key stages, including panels fixed, mesh and base coat, and final finish. Those photos go to the builder. They also help if a question comes up later about what was installed.
Choosing EPS for your next build
If EPS cladding is on your drawings, bring us in before the frame is up. We can look at the details around openings, slab edges and roof lines while they are still easy to change. Read more on our EPS cladding page.
Send the drawings through our project portal or call 0452 295 212, and we will price the job.