Although drywall manufacturers are not known for constant innovation, they do occasionally come out with something that makes builders stand up and take notice. The growing concern with mold and its potential health hazards in recent years has led drywall companies to come up with a solution to the problem in housing construction ? mold resistant drywall. For areas of the home where moisture might be an issue, this type of specialty drywall could be just what you need tostop mold before it starts.

Mold in the Home

Mold is always around, even when we can't see it. The spores are everywhere and there is no hope of eliminating all of them. Luckily most of the time this isn't an issue. The problems only begin when enough moisture starts to accumulate in the home, creating an ideal environment for the mold.

The big stories in the news have been about the dreaded ?black mold? or ?toxic mold.? In truth a number of different molds can be black and while some of them produce toxins, it has yet to be proven that they cause major health problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a page all about mold in the home, where they explain it's dangers ? typically hay fever like symptoms in people that happen to be allergic ? and how to get rid of it.

But, while the fears surrounding mold may possibly be overblown, you can still bet that no one wants the stuff in their home if they can help it. Mold growth can cause allergic reactions in certain people and the presence of mold can definitely make it more difficult to sell a house. Whether the owner has an allergy or not, they will still want to remove the mold ? a process that could require a mold remediation company if it's bad enough. This is why specialty building materials like mold resistant drywall can come in real handy.

How Mold Resistant Drywall Works

Drywall hasn?t' changed much over the years because it works great as it is for most applications. A layer of gypsum sandwiched between two layers of paper, it is a must-have material for building a home. The only problem is that it doesn't do well with moisture. Mold spores can start feeding off of the paper and even the inner gypsum layer, meaning you have to tear out the drywall and replace it if the infestation gets too bad.

Mold resistant drywall is made in two different ways:

• Laminated ? This type of specialty drywall is designed to stop the problem where it starts, at the surface. Still using a gypsum core, manufacturers use a fiberglass mat on front and back that will repel water from the inner gypsum. The gypsum used in these boards is also water resistant, unlike that used in regular drywall.

• Uniform Composition ? These drywall boards dispense with mats altogether, instead opting for a uniform water-resistant material throughout. They can be painted or tiled as needed.

Advantages to Mold Resistant Drywall

The advantages to choosing this type of specialty drywall are fairly obvious. When you have an area of a home that is likely to be exposed to moisture, using mold resistant drywall can help prevent the growth of mold. This could be applicable in several parts of a home, including:

• Bathroom

• Kitchen

• Basement

• Garage

• Utility room

The cost of mold-resistant drywall will be higher than the traditional stuff. However, when you consider the fact that the material could hold up much longer in moist environments its cost may be justified. The humid New England climate is great for growing mold, especially in those areas of the house that area already prone to moisture accumulation.

Get Expert Advice

There are a number of different companies now producing mold resistant drywall. If you want to learn about all of your options and get expert advice on what works best for your specific project, call or come by Wallboard Supply Co. and talk with one of our specialty drywall professionals. Providing drywall delivery to Boston and throughout New England, we know our products inside and out and would be happy to answer all of your questions.

hbspt.cta.load(385819, 'fe9327ba-0758-4b81-973e-cdac69d379ae', {});

Photo credit: anneh632 / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Sources:áhttp://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm

When the cold weather hits, it is important for you to prepare yourself. In the unforgiving New England winters, the temperatures can fall below zero and the wind can bite right through almost any work jacket.

That is exactly why you need to know what kind of clothing works best and what is going to keep you warm. Just because you have to work outside does not mean you are going to be totally exposed to the elements. There are different items that are a must have, so you can still work and not need to run for shelter as soon as you step outside.á

Layers

Before you get into any of the necessary clothing, it is always important to dress in layers. Layering is the most important element to staying warm. Every layer needs to go comfortably over the previous layer in order to stay comfortable and warm, without reducing your quality of movement.

Sweat Wicking Shirt and Pants

This needs to be your base layer. These are often used for athletes who perform in cold temperature. The material is used to absorb the moisture you sweat off and then turn it into heat. This way, the more you sweat, the warmer you stay. You don't want clothing that simply collects sweat and lets it sit, as this is going to cause you to chafe and force your temperature down. This is an essential first layer.

Thermal Top and Bottoms

Thermal is something that is going to help prevent wind from breaking through your clothing and it is going to help you retain your body heat. While there are excellent thermal tops you can wear, it is just as important to have bottoms as well.

There is long thermal underwear that is going to keep you warm, although you should wear these over your sweat wicking material. Sweat wicking material is designed to be tight, so it is not going to work if it is worn over thermal. Plus, you will stay comfortable and not destroy your ability to move.

Work Jacket

When it comes to a work jacket, you want something that is thickly insulated and has layers of a canvas or heavy material. Leather is not very warm, so this is not a desirable cold weather jacket. You want something that gives you a bit of room when it is on too, so you can have the necessary wiggle room for the additional layers you are going to be wearing.

//

Photo credit: AZAdam / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0), tuchodi / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Versaroc boards are used in various construction applications. Versaroc is a strong building material that resists fire and moisture making it perfect for walls, floors, ceilings and roofs. Lightweight portability and custom fabrication make Versaroc the ideal choice for modular additions to schools, hospitals, libraries, hotels, hospitals, and many other building types. Versaroc composite strength provides a defense against weather erosion, insect infestation and other structural afflictions. Versaroc boards can also be used for making cabinets, bookcases and other interior home-design projects. As a building material, these cement bonded particle boards are highly versatile in function and application.

Versaroc Advantages:

• Composite Nature Allows for Structural Strength and Flexibility
• Fire Resistant (UL Listed) and Resists Moisture
• Durable Against Weather Erosion
• Protects Against Insects and Other Pest Infestation
• Can be Custom-Fabricated to fit Design Needs
• Easy to Install with standard equipment and tools of carpentry.

Versaroc Uses:

• Ideal for Walls given its Sturdy yet Pliant Nature&nbsp
• Great for Floors due to its Easy Installation and Custom Fabrication to
• Design Specifications
• Perfect for Roofs because of its ability to Protect against Fire, Moisture and Infestation
• Makes for a Excellent Outer Casing for Structural Insulated Panel Systems
• A Solid Choice for Furniture and Interior Design Purposes.

Versaroc is the cement bonded particle board manufactured by U.S. Architectural Products. For over 25 years, U.S. Architectural Products has provided durable and lasting materials in the construction industry and Versaroc lives up to that standard as the flagship brand for cement bonded particle boards.á

Versaroc Composite Make and Design

Cement bonded particle boards are made of Portland cement infused with softwood fibers. The particle board is cut then resin is used to glue the particles together and stabilized the board. The Versaroc boards can be shipped out according to design specifications and can easily bond to building materials. Versaroc is made of non-toxic materials rendering it asbestos-free and safe for the environment.á

Versaroc is Versatileá

Versaroc cement bonded particle boards appear physical similar to plywood making them easy to handle, but the composite cement nature gives Versaroc boards strength to bear loads and resistance to impact and abuse. The Versaroc boards are light weight and flexible making the boards easy to transport and easy to install.

hbspt.cta.load(385819, '410a66e4-a0b4-4fca-a72d-657cf0d66fde', {}); á

A suspended ceiling can provide manyábenefits for your building, especially when done correctly. You can add a suspended ceiling to the front of a warehouse to createáoffice space, without having to put too much labor and money into the project. A suspended ceiling helps muffle excess noise, allowsáeasy passage of communication and computer networking needs and is simple to repair andámodify because of standardized tile sizes. But one area where your suspended ceiling may need help to reach peak energy efficiency is how you seal the places other components pass through, such as lights, intercoms, HVAC vents, wiring, plumbing and other infiltration areas.

To determine the best way to deal with these problems, we received expert advice on improvingáa suspended ceiling for peak performance from someone who knows serious insulation. LloydáMcIntireáis a recently retired insulation contractor in Tower, Minnesota - the town that broke the record for the coldest spot in the contiguous United States at -60║F in January 1996. As the only insulator in one of the coldest parts of our country, he was happy to share a little ofáhis 42+ years of experience with us.

The first step is to determine what's already in your suspended ceiling. "You have to start by doing an inspection and verifying what you already have in place. (A client) had a situation where he'd added insulation that blocked ventilation and allowed air leaks, causing hot spots and ice dams. A friend had told him he needed to add insulation, so he'd put sheet foam on top of the fiberglass. When he shoved the sheet foam on top, he displaced the existing fiberglass. That would have been messy, but still done the job, but to fit the boards into the space, the foam was cut 1/8-1/4" narrower than the space, so all the heat loss was going around the (unsealed) cracks in the sheet foam." Because the fiberglass had also been displaced, air was going directly through the looseágrid and tile spaces in the suspendedáceiling, through the holes where the fiberglass batting had been displaced and around the cracks at the edges of the sheet foam. Mr.áMcIntireáwas called in to "fix" the problem by removing all the insulation and putting in insulation that had been properly fit to the space andáeliminatedáthe problematic air infiltration gaps around the space. By the time the ceiling was fixed along with adding appropriate insulation to the ductwork and exposed concrete block walls that were losing heat to high winds, the client's heating expenses were lowered by 45-50%.

The next step is to add insulation and seal around any areas of infiltration. "Spray foam is much better than fiberglass (in this situation)ábecause moisture in an unventilated area can cause problems with mold and mildew in the fiberglass. Spray foam fills any spaces, so it seals pipes, wiring, anything that goes through that area," Mr.áMcIntireámentions. "Sheet foam is another option if you need to seal wall spaces (above the suspended ceiling) against infiltrating air, as long as the gaps (between boards) are sealed."á

He also notes that it's vital to ensure that insulation is replaced around new items added to a ceiling, such as a new run of wiring, new ductwork or similar areas of potential infiltration. "If you're really going to look at atticá insulationáand áso on, you should really be caulking and have a vapor barrieráneed to look at moving the insulation to seal around any air bypasses to the inside or outside of the area above the suspended ceiling. This includesálights, wire penetration up to the attic, plumbing, thatáneed to be sealed with caulking or weatherstripping."áThis is also true when you have a dead space above your suspended ceiling where the temperature is not being controlled.

hbspt.cta.load(385819, '39b31f74-08ac-464b-9d94-36db86a6aae4', {});

With our society's focus on improving energy efficiency and sustainable living, there has been increasing interest in green construction techniques and design. One option that many builders and developers have gained interest in are zero energy buildings. Designed to produce no overall energy usage from the building, these designs are extremely efficient while producing their own energy through renewable methods on site. Here's the basics of how these structures work:

1. Reduce Energy Load as Much as Possible

The first half of the design approach is focused on reducing the building's energy load as much as possible. This includes super-insulating the structure, using building design that minimizes thermal transference, using natural and low-energy lighting as much as possible and incorporating elements of solar heating and cooling into the design. With the development of new materials and new technologies to help improve building material efficiency, this provides a large amount of the energy savings necessary to create a zero energy building envelope.

But beyond the structure, the designer will also need to take into account the best energy-saving appliances and mechanical systems to ensure it's drawing as little energy as possible while under operation. For that matter, lighting, HVAC, plumbing and similar systems will also need to be run using peak efficiency while the building is under operation, potentially harnessing geothermal heating in the winter or air source heat pumps for cooling in the summer. Creating a design that uses higher gauge electrical wiring may be another option as it helps reduce transmission losses within the building itself. The design should also promote changes in behavior for the building's occupants, such as taking the stairs through a beautiful greenhouse or arboretum instead of using the elevator or features that encourage working during the daylight hours to minimize after-hours lighting and HVAC use.

2. Add Renewable Energy Generating Equipment for the Difference

Though many designers can reach very impressive levels of efficiency, there will always be a need for additional energy as the building is occupied and used on a daily basis. For zero energy buildings, this is typically achieved by adding renewable energy assets, such as solar panels, hydroelectric power or wind turbines. Because the building is designed to minimize energy use, it will require a much smaller array of renewable energy assets compared to conventionally constructed buildings that are not as efficient. However, planning for electrical usage also needs to include the energy used to run office machinery, computers, telephone systems and similar components of the average office or commercial building. By encouraging the use of more energy-efficient machinery, this step is easily obtainable by understanding the tenant's or owner's needs during the design process.

However, this does not mean that the building must always balance the energy needs perfectly. A zero energy building, by definition, is one that uses no additional energy beyond what it produces over the course of a year. Even if a building uses extra energy from the grid for heating in January, the additional power it generates and feeds back into the grid in April and August offset the difference, so the building reaches a neutral energy consumption rate on the average for the year. So if you design an office building that requires outside energy from the grid for part of the year but produces and delivers excess energy back to the grid for part of the year and the amount you sold back to the grid during times of excess production is higher than the amount you purchased from the grid during times of shortage in production, your building would be considered a net zero building.

Zero energy buildings require comparatively complex design than conventional buildings, but the serious savings that can be recognized are often well worth the extra trouble. If you're considering a zero energy building project and need help finding the perfect materials for it, please feel free to contact us today. Our experienced associates are happy to help you find the perfect fit for your new project.

//