There are worse things than being stuck at home during a pandemic, especially for the residents of Elements, a luxury Garden Communities development in Irvine, CA. Decidedly upscale, the high-end apartment complex looks inviting too. Among the products
utilized to give it an appearance worthy of its amenities were Omega-Lite ACM panels from Laminators Inc. of Hatfield, PA.
Elements has it all—a club room, co-working space, rooftop pools/spas, fitness center, rock climbing wall, arcade, lounge, golf simulator, billiards, outdoor patio with a fireplace, and so much more. And of course its 1-, 2- or 3-bedroom apartments
are pet-friendly! Overseeing this impressive project was architect Togawa Smith Martin, Inc (TSM) of Los Angeles, along with the general contractor/owner of Garden Communities CA in California.
Nearly 40,00 sq. ft. of Omega-Lite panels were installed with Laminators' proprietary Clip & Caulk ‘legacy’ installation system by Bay Sheet Metal of El Cajon, CA. Panel colors are Bright Silver Metallic, Charcoal Grey and Slate Grey.
Omega-Lite panels offer a highly decorative, strong, and durable surface finish for exterior wall surfaces. Composed of a polypropylene, corrugated core between two finished aluminum sheets, the panels are non-absorbent, water-resistant and easy
to maintain.
The Clip & Caulk installation system provides a rout and return "look" without the hassle of prefabricating the panels, greatly reducing installation costs. This easy, field-proven method has become a popular choice among architects and installers
who are looking for a very flat look without visible fasteners. Panels can be cut on-site with few peripheral accessories needed for installation.
Color-matched caulk gives a beautiful monochromatic look; contrasting caulk can be used with eye-pleasing results. Clip & Caulk looks great in combination with masonry, glass, 1-piece extruded molding systems or by itself in a stand-alone application.
Since the construction of Elements, Laminators Incorporated has launched a new and improved back-drained and ventilated Clip & Caulk installation system which provides the traditional look of a shop-fabricated wet seal system without the added hassle
and cost of panel fabrication. The back-drained and ventilated sub-framing provides enhanced system performance through improved moisture management and increased ventilation. When combined with Omega CI® Rigid Insulation Panel (optional
component from Laminators), the installation system offers an effective solution for veneer installations over continuous insulation while balancing thermal performance, water management, and fire resistance code requirements. The Clip & Caulk
installation system has been successfully tested to the NFPA 285 standard for multi-story fire testing for installations over Omega CI and exterior-grade, glass-mat faced gypsum sheathing.
Laminators’ Omega-Lite panels installed with the Clip & Caulk system guaranteed Elements a class A fire rating as well as met NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 285, Miami-Dade County Product Control and Florida Product Approval requirements.
Laminators Inc. manufactures high quality ACM panels that meet these stringent performance levels and provide design professionals and building owners the confidence that their cladding will withstand the most extreme conditions.