HocreBoard Fiber Cement Products -Company Blog

The primary reason to choose Magnesium Oxysulfate (MgO Sulfate) board over the more common Magnesium Oxychloride (MgO Chloride) board—especially in roofing and structural applications—comes down to a single chemical enemy: Chlorides.

While both are “MgO boards,” their performance in real-world environments is drastically different. Here is the technical breakdown:

1. The “Sweating” Problem (Efflorescence)

Regular MgO Chloride boards are hygroscopic, meaning they naturally absorb moisture from the air.

• Chloride Board: When the board absorbs moisture, the free chloride ions react to form a ...

Matte finish fiber cement panels are a top-tier choice for modern architecture, offering a sophisticated, “stony” aesthetic without the gloss or glare of metal or plastic composites. They provide a muted, organic look that shifts beautifully with natural light.

Key Characteristics

• Aesthetic: Non-reflective, flat finish. It emphasizes the raw texture of the cement and the building’s form.
• Durability: Fiber cement is a composite of sand, ...

When choosing between Through-Colored (Integrally Pigmented) and Painted (Surface Coated) fiber cement, the decision usually comes down to a trade-off between “natural material honesty” and “perfect color uniformity.”

Here is a breakdown of why through-colored boards are generally considered the premium choice for modern architecture.

1. Durability and Damage Control

• Through-Colored: Because the pigment is mixed into the wet slurry, the color goes all the way through. If a panel is scratched by a stray branch or chipped during installation, the ...

A “translucent/matte through-colored smooth fiber cement facade” describes a high-end architectural cladding system that balances raw material honesty with a refined, modern finish.

While fiber cement itself is inherently opaque, the term “translucent” in this industry typically refers to the top coating or the visual “depth” of the panel, rather than the board being see-through like glass.

 Key Characteristics

• Through-Colored (Integrally Pigmented): The color is mixed into the wet cement paste before the board is formed. If the panel is scratched or ...

Through-colored, sanding-textured fiber cement is a high-performance facade material where the pigment is integrated throughout the entire panel. Unlike surface-painted boards, the color is consistent from the face to the core, and the surface is mechanically sanded to create a raw, tactile aesthetic.

Key Characteristics

• Through-Colored: The color pigments are mixed into the “slurry” before the board is pressed. This means ...

When comparing Fiber Cement and MgO Sulfate (MOS) Board for facades, the choice often comes down to a trade-up between proven aesthetic durability (Fiber Cement) and superior technical safety/handling (MgO Sulfate)

While both are non-combustible alternatives to wood or plastic, they behave very differently in real-world exterior conditions.

Technical Comparison Table

MgO Sulfate Board is highly recommended for high-humidity areas. In fact, its superior performance in moisture-prone environments is the main reason architects and builders choose it over the cheaper Chloride-based MgO boards.

Here is why it excels in humid conditions:

1. Zero “Sweating” (Non-Hygroscopic)

The most critical advantage is that Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4) does not attract moisture from the air.

• Chloride boards are “hygroscopic,” meaning they pull water vapor out of the air. In high humidity, this causes “weeping”—salty water droplets forming on ...

MgO Sulfate board (Magnesium Oxysulfate / MOS) is considered a “second-generation” advancement over the traditional Chloride MgO board (Magnesium Oxychloride / MOC).

The primary reason it is “better” is that it solves the two most significant failures of the original technology: metal corrosion and “sweating” (leaching).

1. No “Sweating” or Leaching (Non-Hygroscopic)

Traditional Chloride boards use Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2), which is highly hygroscopic—meaning it naturally attracts moisture from the air.

• The Problem: In humid environments, Chloride boards absorb so much water that droplets ...

The primary reason engineers and architects switch from standard MgO boards to MgO Sulfate Boards is specifically to eliminate the “sweating” (hygroscopic) and “leaching” (efflorescence) issues.

Here is the technical breakdown of why MgO Sulfate boards perform differently in high-humidity environments.

The Chemistry: Why it doesn’t “Sweat”

To understand why Sulfate boards don’t sweat, you have to look at what causes the problem in older versions:

• Standard MgO (Chloride-based): Uses Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2).This salt is hygroscopic, meaning it naturally attracts water molecules from ...

In many international markets, especially in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, the terms Fiber Cement Plank and Weatherboard are used interchangeably. However, “Weatherboard” specifically refers to the style of installation where boards overlap to shed water.

Here is a breakdown of the key English terminology and technical details specifically for Fiber Cement Weatherboards.

1. Style & Profile Keywords

When discussing weatherboards, the “profile” (the shape of the edge) determines how they look on the wall:¹

• Lap Siding / Traditional Lap: The ...