Prevent Moisture from Effecting Construction

Evolving everyday, the construction industry constantly searches for new methods of building, new materials and equipment, and new technology to further advance the construction process. Understanding the most advanced information is imperative to constructing state of the art facilities and expedites the building process.

One issue that’s received a lot of media attention lately is mold. A nuisance on any jobsite, mold can have serious health affects on a building’s tenants and/or residents. To address this problem, construction companies must prevent moisture from seeping into the interior of a facility, which isn’t always an easy task especially when installing sheetrock.

“On a recent project, we knew that if we used regular sheetrock and it got wet, which it most likely would have, we’d have to replace it,” said William Berry’s Superintendent Chris Hurley. “[In this situation] it would have been virtually impossible to access the tops of the walls due to the locations of the mechanical fume hoods, ultimately costing tens of thousands of dollars.”

To address this issue is a product called DensArmor™ Plus - an interior gypsum panel that consists of a moisture-resistant, noncombustible gypsum core with coated inorganic glass mat facings. This product is resistant to the growth of mold and carries a three month warranty against damage from in-place exposure to moisture, according to Georgia-Pacific’s Web site.

“Because of its ability to resist moisture and mold, we are able to install DensArmor™ Plus in areas that are not yet water-tight,” said A&A Drywall and Acoustics President Edward Gottschalk. “This is often very helpful in meeting project schedules, without the added concern for having to replace traditional materials which are more prone to environmental damage."

Cut, fastened and finished like traditional gypsum wallboard, DensArmor™ Plus can be used on any interior wall, basement wall or ceiling that is in risk of moisture, according to Georgia-Pacific.

“There is a premium of ten to twenty percent per sheet to pay for DensArmor™ Plus, but this is nothing compared to the costs that could be encountered if sheetrock has to be replaced because of moisture,” said Hurley.

For further information on Dens Armor Plus, please visit: http://www.gp.com/build/product.aspx?pname=DensArmor%c2%ae+Plus+Interior+Wallboard&pid=4659&hierarchy=pc