Simplifying ARRIS-tile installation with ProGUARD

Scott P. Evans – Architect & Associates P.C. designed the modern Carbon County Courthouse
& Administration Building utilizing ARRIS-tile Renaissance^® Units.

Having little experience with the ARRIS-tile product, the architect was introduced to the Arriscraft line by Brickstone Inc., representing the Arriscraft product line in  CO, UT, WY & ID.

Jason Evans, Construction & Marketing Manager at Scott P. Evans, says ”After spending some time with the local product rep we saw the value in incorporating this product into our job. The color options were great, working with a thin material was advantageous for our specific job and the quality, durability and warranty sold us on the product. On the appropriate project we would definitely use this product again. We’ve already recommended it to other Architects searching for this type of product.”

While ARRIS-tile materials were used for the stunning cladding material, the wall system itself was revolutionary for the Thin-Adhered Veneer market. In addition to using the Laticrete Masonry Veneer Installation System (MVIS) to adhere the units and waterproof the assembly, the designers also chose to use the ProGUARD^TM insulated cement board panels as well. These panels are constructed by laminating ¼” thick cement board panels to EPS insulation. The EPS insulation can be provided as thin as 1-1/2” thick up to 6” in thickness with increments of increasing thickness of 1/8” (i.e. 1-1/2”, 1-5/8”, 1-3/4” etc.). Pre-selected and pre-specified screws for the different thicknesses of panels and the different possible substrates complete the ease of specifying and using the product.

These panels allow designers to meet continuous insulation requirements as a result of the more stringent energy codes that we’ve seen introduced over the past few years, such as ASHRAE 90.1 and IECC, which require lower U-values (higher effective R-values) for wall construction.

These ProGUARD^TM panels also have drainage grooves cut into the front and back of the insulation to achieve drainage planes. These drainage planes allow for wind driven moisture behind the veneer to weep from the system but also allow moisture as the result of condensation (vapor flow, air flow and dew points to be considered as a few examples) to escape the wall system, effectively creating a thin adhered masonry veneer rainscreen.

The thin-adhered masonry industry really hasn’t had a great solution for continuous insulation; until now. ProGUARD^TM eliminates the need to install a drainage mat, insulation, and cement board in three separate steps. As a single product, ProGUARD^TM collapses all these materials and their benefits into one – providing continuous insulation, drainage planes, and a stable and fully cured substrate to adhere thin-masonry veneers.

Download the Case Study Here