Exterior Cladding Innovation: Rainscreen Design with Ultracompact Surfacing
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Modern construction has come to understand that a façade, as part of an overall building envelope, is not only a visual statement, but also an important influencer in the protection of a wall’s structural components, the energy efficiency of the building, and the health of its occupants. This course explores a unique surfacing material known as ultracompact surfacing (UCS) and evaluates its mechanical properties, technical characteristics, and aesthetics to illustrate its endless design potential in exterior cladding, façade, and rainscreen applications.
Upon completion of this course, the Learner should be able to:
- Define ultracompact surfacing and discuss the innovative production process that creates stone-like properties that contribute to project longevity, lower maintenance, and reduced environmental impact.
- Discuss selecting UCS in terms of life cycle environmental impact, color, texture, format, general design flexibility, and various applications for both interior and exterior.
- Identify the traits and advantages of ultracompact surfaces in terms of strength, durability, UV resistance, absorption rates, abrasion resistance, sustainability, and ASTM testing.
- Discuss proper rainscreen design and installation using ultracompact surfacing material.
Approximately 1 hour. Delivered online, at your own pace.
Presented by Steve DeBerardino on behalf of Cosentino North America. View the Privacy Policy .
Presenter Information
Name: Steve DeBerardino
Title: Commercial Business Director, Cosentino North America
Background: Steve DeBerardino is a 1987 graduate of the United States Military Academy and has an MBA from Charleston Southern University. After serving as a Corps of Engineers officer where he ran large construction projects in Central America, Steve has had a long career in the private sector, primarily in relation to construction products. In various roles at Exxon in the 1990s, he was instrumental in growing the use of geosynthetics. Steve pushed product and material use in stabilization, drainage, and reinforcement applications on a number of fronts: throughout North America as a member of the AASHTO M288 committee, or when presenting cutting edge research at the Transportation Research Board, to state departments of transportation, or at the Geosynthetic Research Institute. In the next decade and a half, Steve ran various business units for Oldcastle of increasing size and responsibility, primarily in the concrete products arena. His last role at Oldcastle started in 2009 when he was President of a multi-site fabrication business in the Southeast, Oldcastle Surfaces. Here, he started a relationship with Cosentino, and joined Cosentino in 2015. He is now the Commercial Business Director, responsible for all commercial business for Cosentino in North America.
