Which Facade Decor Should You Choose?

Today, almost all facade decor manufacturers use similar types of polystyrene foam. However, what truly matters is not only the base material, but also the coating used to reinforce the decorative element.

Currently, there are two main types of coatings:

• “Acrylic” coating — usually recognizable by its white color and flexibility;
• “Cement” coating — typically gray in color and commonly used together with reinforcing mesh.

What is the difference between them?

The service life of decor with a cement coating is approximately three times shorter than that of decor with an acrylic coating.

At the same time, the price difference is usually only around 3–5%.

Why does this happen? Main reasons:

1. Linear Expansion

The coefficient of linear expansion of cement coating is approximately three times higher than that of acrylic coating.

As a result, cement coatings are much more vulnerable to cracking during temperature changes, which may eventually lead to the destruction of decorative elements.

2. Carbonation

Carbonation is the process of material deterioration caused by exposure to carbon dioxide.

The average CO₂ content in the air is around 0.04%, and this value continues to increase. This creates a significant destructive effect on cement-based coatings.

Acrylic systems are approximately three times more resistant to carbonation than cement-based systems.