Building a mezzanine (loft) is one of the most optimal solutions to expand living space for houses with modest areas or high ceilings. Among the current materials for mezzanine floors, fiber cement board (cemboard) has emerged as a top choice thanks to its high durability, fast construction, and excellent load-bearing capacity.
However, before starting the renovation, the two questions that concern homeowners and contractors the most are: How much does a mezzanine flooring sheet cost today? and How to install fiber cement boards to ensure safety and prevent vibration or sagging? This article will provide you with the most comprehensive and objective perspective.
1. Latest price quotes for mezzanine flooring sheets on the market
The market for mezzanine flooring materials today is very diverse with many types such as plywood, load-bearing plastic planks, lightweight concrete panels, and fiber cement boards. Among them, fiber cement boards are preferred due to their superior resistance to mold, termites, and fire compared to industrial wood.
The price of mezzanine flooring sheets depends mainly on factors: size, thickness, and manufacturing brand. For flooring applications, the standard thickness usually ranges from 12mm to 20mm.
Reference price list for fiber cement flooring segments:
- Thickness 12mm – 14mm: Commonly used for small area mezzanines, light loads (bedrooms, worship rooms). Prices range from 480,000 – 504,000 VNĐ/sheet (standard size 1m22 x 2m44).
- Thickness 18mm – 20mm: Specialized for heavy-load areas, such as floors for restaurants, cafes, or workshops. Prices range from 652,000 – 751,000 VNĐ/sheet.
Note: The above prices are only reference material prices at the warehouse and do not include transportation costs, the iron frame system, or finishing labor. When choosing to buy, you should prioritize reputable brands with clear quality certifications. For example, in Vietnam, DURAflex fiber cement board (belonging to the Saint-Gobain group) is a familiar name, highly appreciated for its Autoclave pressure-steaming technology that helps the board achieve high toughness, no cracking, and a smooth surface, helping to save future surface treatment costs.
2. Technical instructions on how to install fiber cement boards
The durability and safety of a mezzanine floor depend 50% on material quality and 50% on construction technique. A floor system that vibrates, sags, or makes noise when walking is often the result of an incorrect installation process.
Below is the 4-step process on how to install fiber cement boards for mezzanine floors correctly from technical experts:
Step 1: Prepare and install the load-bearing iron frame system
The iron frame system acts as the “backbone” of the entire mezzanine floor.
- Determine elevation: Measure and mark the exact mezzanine height on the wall.
- Install main beams (girders): Usually use box steel or I-beam steel (size depends on the area and floor load, typically 50x100mm or 40x80mm boxes). Main beams are deeply embedded in the wall or firmly attached to reinforced concrete columns/walls with base plates.
- Install sub-beams: Place sub-beams perpendicular to the main beams. The standard distance between beams (center spacing) is 407mm x 1220mm or 610mm x 1220mm. This distance is calculated based on the size of the fiber cement board (1220mm x 2440mm) to ensure the edges of the board always lie centered on the iron bar.
Step 2: Install the fiber cement boards onto the frame system
- Arranging boards: Place the fiber cement boards on the frame system. The boards should be arranged in a staggered pattern (like a brick bond) to increase block connectivity and distribute force more evenly.
- Leave expansion gaps: This is a mistake many low-skilled workers make. A gap of 2mm – 3mm must be left between boards and about 5mm from the wall. This gap allows the material space to expand when the ambient temperature changes, avoiding bubbling or floor cracking.
Step 3: Fix the boards with specialized screws
Use specialized self-drilling screws (screws with fish-tail wings and self-countersinking). Since fiber cement boards have high hardness, ordinary screws will find it difficult to penetrate or may chip the edges of the board.
- The distance between screw rows is from 20cm – 30cm at the edges of the board and 30cm – 40cm in the middle of the board.
- Drive screws at least 1.5cm – 2cm from the edge of the board to avoid cracking the edge. The screw head must be recessed about 1mm into the board surface for convenient subsequent smoothing.
Step 4: Joint treatment and surface finishing
- Handling gaps: Clean dust from the gaps. Apply specialized joint sealant (such as PU glue or Acrylic-based glue) into the gaps, combine with applying anti-crack fiberglass mesh along the joints, then plaster it flat.
- Finishing: The surface of the fiber cement board after installation is very flat. You can flexibly choose finishing options according to your preference: Laying faux wood plastic flooring, tiling with ceramic tiles (need to spread a thin layer of steel mesh before applying mortar), epoxy floor painting or simply leaving the raw concrete exposed for an Industrial style.
3. Important notes to optimize cost and durability
- Do not buy low-quality floating products for cheap: Poor quality cement boards are often brittle, prone to cracking when drilling screws or contain asbestos that is harmful to health. Investing in safe product lines like DURAflex – certified Non-Asbestos – will help protect family health in the long run.
- Choose the right thickness: Do not try to save money by using 10mm – 12mm boards for heavy-duty floors. Floor sagging incidents after a period of use will cost you twice as much to repair.
- Waterproofing for wet areas: If the mezzanine has a bathroom or a small kitchen area, make sure to apply an additional layer of specialized waterproofing agent on the surface of the cement board before tiling.
Making a mezzanine floor with fiber cement boards is a smart solution, both cost-saving, reducing the load on the house foundation and extremely fast to construct. Hopefully the article has helped you answer questions about the price of mezzanine flooring boards as well as master the correct construction method for fiber cement boards. Wish you soon complete the most satisfactory and safe living space!