Question from Deb

What is CFC?

Deb

Reply from Garry

Deb,

CFC is Compressed Fibre Cement. Used to be called fibro. Fibro had asbestos fibres (carcinogenic) so is no longer made. The new stuff has cellulose fibres. It isn’t a carcinogen but you must avoid breathing the dust when cutting it, just as you do with cement, grout dust. Wet it down first, wear a mask.

CFC is used to make a few products, Villaboard, ceramic-tile-floor-underlay, etc. It won’t warp or swell if it gets wet, so it is good for external mosaics, outdoor tables, house numbers, murals.

If you have a Bunnings nearby the guys can show you the complete range, types, thickness, etc. If you ask at the trade counter they will give you a James Hardy brochure.

Or go to www.jameshardie.com.au for complete product info.

Brett has a tutorial on cutting the stuff to make a table top.

I’d learn up about cutting and drilling it to size before I start if I were you. You might need tools: specialist cutter, diamond blade in an angle grinder, tungsten tipped jigsaw blade, wetsaw, etc. I cut mine with a $15 anglegrinder and a $10 diamond blade (100mm diameter). Plus earmuffs, dustmask and faceshield.

There’s another product 18mm thick they use for bathroom/laundry floors and for tiling outdoor verandahs and decks called HardiPanel Compressed sheets. Very heavy but very strong. It’s the bees knees for a lot of mosaics where MDF just won’t do.

Cheers,

Garry.

Question by Jim

Hi

Next question, I hope this does not get to much, I feel like a sponge on this subject at the moment.

Can you give me a bit more information on (CFC), living in Spain and not being fluent in Spanish is causing me some problems sourcing parts, so the more information I can get the better. This is not something I think I have come across before. I am planning to have a go at a tabletop so this sounds ideal.

PS Thanks for the website its confirmed that a lot of what I am doing is correct and saved me a lot of time reinventing the wheel !

All the best
Jim

Reply from Brett

Hi Jim

Thanks for your post – no need to be shy about asking questions – that’s what this bulletin board’s for!

I’m not sure there’s a lot more I can say about CFC. I understand that it’s similar to most forms of cement sheeting, except that it’s compressed making it much denser and heavier – much less prone to movement.

Being cement, it expands and contracts at about the same rate as steel, making it ideal to use with a steel frame.

A quick search on the internet reveals that there are many manufacturers world wide – hopefully you can get it in Spain. Here’s a link to the manufacturer of the make I buy. http://www.jameshardie.com.au/Products/Flooring/HardiPanelCompressedSheetsDeckingConstruction/default.htm

Maybe you could ask your local building suppy store what they’d recommend for a flooring subtrate for tiles in a wet area – that might get you on the right track.

Before too long, I’ll have some tutorials up about how to cut it – I cut some out yesterday & photographed the whole process.

Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful than that – if you have specific questions about CFC – fire away!

Cheers

Brett

Reply from Jim

Thanks Brett
Thats more than enough informaton to work with, the web site was good
Cheers
Jim