Nutec boards is what most South Africans call fibre cement boards: flat sheets made of cement, fine sand and cellulose fibre that are screwed to a timber or light steel frame to make the walls of nutec houses, wendy houses and granny flats, and to line ceilings, eaves and gables. "Nutec" is used as a name for the whole type, and boards from several makers do the same job. They are sold by the board, most often 1200 mm wide. Send one free, no-obligation request and board suppliers near you quote you directly.
Nutec boards sizes and types
Most fibre cement boards are 1200 mm wide, in lengths of about 2400, 2700, 3000 and 3600 mm and thicknesses of about 4 to 12 mm. Check the supplier's list, because not every thickness comes in every length.
- Ceiling and lining boards: the thinner sheets, for ceilings, inside walls and eaves.
- Wall boards in medium or high density: thicker sheets for the outside of nutec houses and granny flats.
- Planks, fascias and tongue and groove boards for a timber look, barge boards and gables.
- Cover strips that go over the joins between boards.
Choosing boards for the job
Start with where the board goes. A ceiling or an inside lining can take a thin board; an outside wall that takes wind, rain and the odd knock needs a thicker, denser board on a sound frame. Then think about:
- The frame. Boards go on treated timber or light steel frame studs, with every join landing on a stud.
- Insulation. A single board wall gets hot in summer and cold in winter, so fill the cavity and line the inside.
- Finish. Boards are painted after fixing; a smooth or textured face changes the look.
- Old sheets. Fibre cement made before the 2008 asbestos ban may contain asbestos, so have old sheets tested before anyone cuts, drills or sands them.
How to cut nutec boards and fix them
Score thin boards with a fibre cement scoring knife and snap them over a straight edge. For thicker boards use a saw with a fibre cement blade and dust extraction, and wear a dust mask, because the fine dust is bad for your lungs. Fix with the screws the supplier recommends, pre-drill near the edges and leave the expansion gaps on the supplier's sheet. Common mistakes:
- Fixing boards to a frame that is out of square, so joins open and boards crack.
- Leaving no gaps, so boards bow as they move with heat and damp.
- Board edges sitting in wet soil: keep a gap above the ground and the slab.
- Leaving cut edges unpainted near the coast.
What boards cost and what to ask a supplier
Recent South African price lists show about R280 to R350 for a 6 mm board of 1200 x 2400 mm, and about R550 to R750 for 9 mm boards depending on the length and the store. Prices move with thickness, density, length, quantity and the delivery distance. Ask each supplier:
- Is the price per board, and does it include VAT?
- Are screws, cover strips and joint products priced separately?
- What does delivery cost, and is there a minimum order?
- What happens to boards that arrive cracked or chipped?
If you also need the frame put up, ask a builder to quote the whole wall.
What to put in your request
- Board thickness, length and density
- How many boards, with 10% extra
- Screws, cover strips and joint products
- The delivery address and truck access
- Whether you need boards cut to size
Nutec and Fibre Cement Boards for different clients
- Homeowners: boards to clad a garden studio, close in a stoep or replace cracked ceiling boards
- Backyard landlords and families: fibre cement boards bought in bulk to clad a row of backyard rental rooms
- Farms and smallholdings: wall boards for staff cottages, farm stalls and stores that termites leave alone
- Lodges, guest farms and resorts: boards for chalet walls, eaves and ceilings, painted to match the main lodge
- Schools and creches: replacement ceiling and wall boards for older prefab classrooms and ablution blocks
- Contractors and mines: boards for site camp units and offices put up for the length of a project
- Shops, offices and small businesses: boards to clad and line a spaza shop, salon or small workshop on a frame
- Municipalities, churches and NGOs: boards for clinics, halls and relocation housing built on light steel frames
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of nutec boards?
What sizes do fibre cement boards come in?
Are nutec boards the same as asbestos sheets?
Do you sell nutec boards?
Nutec and Fibre Cement Boards by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg