Weight
The aluminum honeycomb core makes the panel very light. Less weight means lighter substructure and fixings, and faster installation — important on tall or large-area facades.
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Guide · Honeycomb panels
How to choose honeycomb panels for facades
Honeycomb panels are chosen on clear criteria: weight, rigidity, cladding, coastal climate and panel size. This guide explains how to decide, how they differ from a solid ACM panel, and where they perform best — on projects in Santiago, Santo Domingo, Punta Cana and across the Dominican Republic.
Selection criteria
Choosing a honeycomb panel for a facade means balancing weight, rigidity, cladding and the project's real conditions — above all the climate and the size of the panels.
Rigidity
The sandwich structure adds a lot of rigidity without adding weight: the panel won't deform or buckle, allowing larger spans with fewer supports than an equivalent solid panel.
Cladding type
The skin defines look and performance: HPL, PET, PVC, SPC, sintered stone or wood finish. Choose by exposure, desired look and resistance to scratching or sun.
Coastal climate / salt air
In seaside areas (Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, the north coast) prioritize aluminum skins and core plus claddings stable under sun and salt humidity. Aluminum won't rust like steel.
Panel size & cantilever
The larger the free span or cantilever, the more rigidity and panel thickness required. Define the facade module and supports before choosing the honeycomb thickness.
Format & finish
Standard format 1.22 × 2.44 m, up to 1.60 × 3.20 m, and made to project size. A larger format reduces visible joints but demands more installation control.
Honeycomb vs solid panel (ACM)
Both are aluminum composite panels, but the core changes everything. The honeycomb adds rigidity and flatness; ACM (polyethylene core) is simpler and usually enough for minor uses.
| Criterion | Honeycomb | Solid panel (ACM) |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Aluminum honeycomb | Solid polyethylene (PE) |
| Rigidity per weight | Very high — won't deform | Lower at equal thickness |
| Large surfaces / cantilevers | Superior, stays flat | Tends to oil-can on big spans |
| Weight | Very light | Light |
| Ideal use | Ventilated facade, demanding furniture | Signage and minor cladding |
Looking for the catalog and specs? See the aluminum honeycomb panels.
Claddings
The panel skin sets the look and much of the performance. On a facade, prioritize the finish's resistance to sun and salt humidity.
HPL
High-pressure laminate: hard, scratch-resistant and good outdoor behavior.
PET / PET-G
Clean, stable finish with a good look-to-cost ratio for interiors and details.
Sintered stone
High-end stone look, very resistant to sun, heat and abrasion.
Wood / SPC / PVC
Wood-like warmth and SPC/PVC options for different uses, without the upkeep of real wood.
Sizes1.22 × 2.44 m (up to 1.60 × 3.20 m)
CoreAluminum honeycomb (always)
SkinsA3003 / A5052
CladdingsSPC, PVC, PET-G, HPL, sintered stone
Use cases
Where honeycomb performs best
Ventilated facade
The star use of honeycomb: exterior cladding on a substructure, with an air cavity that improves thermal performance. Its rigidity keeps the panel flat and the joints clean.
Furniture & modular units
Replaces melamine, MDF and MDP with more strength and less weight. Ideal for large-format furniture, tops and pieces that must not deform.
For the facade substructure and trims, pair the panel with the aluminum facade & louver profiles.
Frequently asked
Honeycomb panels for facades — common questions
What is a honeycomb panel and why does it suit facades?
It's a sandwich panel with two aluminum skins and an aluminum honeycomb core. That structure makes it very light yet very rigid, so it stays flat across large surfaces — exactly what a ventilated facade needs.
Honeycomb or solid ACM panel: which should I pick?
For large surfaces, cantilevers and where flatness matters, honeycomb is superior because it delivers more rigidity with less weight and doesn't oil-can. ACM (polyethylene core) can be enough for signage or minor cladding, but tends to deform on big spans.
Which cladding suits a coastal climate?
In seaside areas, prioritize claddings stable under sun and salt humidity —sintered stone, exterior HPL— over aluminum skins and core, which don't rust like steel. What matters is the finish's resistance to UV and salt.
What sizes and formats do you offer?
Standard format 1.22 × 2.44 m, up to 1.60 × 3.20 m, and made to the project's requirement. A larger format reduces visible joints, in exchange for more installation control.
How do panel size or cantilever affect the choice?
The larger the free span or cantilever, the more rigidity and panel thickness required, and the more important the substructure and supports. It's best to define the facade module before setting the honeycomb thickness.
Do you make custom panels and deliver in the DR?
Yes, made to project size, with direct import and local manufacturing. Delivery to Santiago, Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and the whole Dominican Republic.
From guide to project
ALUCOM supplies custom aluminum honeycomb panels and the facade profiles that go with them, across the Dominican Republic. Tell us the panel size, exposure and finish and we'll prepare a proposal.