As a contractor, you undoubtedly face more than a few challenges. áFrom unrealistic delivery times to not having enough help on hand, your obstacles indisputably cause your projects to fall behind schedule. áBut what if there was a way to speed up your project? áWhat if you could meet the demands of your boss without going over on your budget, all the while meeting the codes and regulations that you have to adhere to? á

Here's a quick look at the various benefits to be gained from using QuietRock drywall products.á

Meeting All of Your Various Project Needs

Are you building a theater? áA bar or pub? áHow about a professional studio or music room? áIt doesn't matter the type of project you're completing, because our QuietRock drywall products provide maximum noise reduction, and best of all, they come with high STC ratings. áFurthermore, it only takes a single layer of our QuietRock drywall products to achieve the best of the best soundproofing deliverance.

QuietRock 545

For commercial theaters and media rooms, as well as other projects that require optimized soundproofing, QuietRock 545 is your go-to drywall product. áThis sound damped panel provides the highest performance of soundproofing available on the market. áIt's undeniable benefits include all of the following:

• Up to an 80 STC rating
• Ideal for multiple projects, including sound rooms, high-end home theaters, convention centers, studios and more
• Compared to older methods of soundproofing, QuietRock 545 has been lab tested and proven to give greater soundproofing results
• No matter the frequency -- high or low -- QuietRock 545 delivers superior soundproofing

If you are in need of exact product specifications, which you probably are, because your boss will want to know the exacts of QuietRock 545, here they are:

• Permeability: 0
• Thickness: 1-3/8"
• STC-rated: 60-80
• Weight: 6.2 lbs/sq.foot

QuietRock 525

As stated before, as a contractor, you have to adhere to a specific budget. áQuietRock 525 serves as a solution to your budget and soundproofing requirements. áFor multi-family construction projects, you can't go wrong with the QuietRock 525 product. áIt can also be used for other various projects, including:

• Hotels
• Conference rooms
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Party walls
• Home theaters
• Offices
• Commercial properties

As far as meeting code for STC ratings, you can rest assured that a single layer of the 525 product on one side of the studs will exceed the ratings you are going after. áNot only does this let you avoid having to pay for materials and labor of providing double studs, but it even expands floor space. á

Notable aspects of QuietRock 525

• Non-metallic composition
• Same fire rating as Type X drywall
• Even after fixtures have been installed into the walls, noise reduction still takes place
• When having tiles installed in bathrooms with ceramic side facing outward, 525 can still be used under the tiles
• Installation is equivalent to that of regular drywall
• STC ratings between 51 to 72
• Compared to other soundproofing methods, 525 is much more cost-effective

Product specifications for QuietRock 525 are as follows:

• Fire-related: 1 hour
• Thickness: 5/8"
• UL-rated assemblies: U386,W317
• STC rating: 51-72
• R value: 0.5
• Weight: 2.7 lbs per square foot

No matter the construction project that you are carrying out, if soundproofing products are needed, then it's best to make sure you are using the right ones. áAfter all, poor soundproofing can lead a wide array of issues. á

Take for example that you're building a hospital. áIn order for effective communication to take place between staff and patients, soundproof drywall is of the utmost importance to ensure patient safety and first-class healthcare services are provided. á

Or perhaps you're building a bar or pub. áThe owner will want to rest assured that the activities and noise taking place in his bar will not be heard by nearby residents and business owners; this could lead to him losing his licensure to operate his business.

Fortunately, no matter the project you're completing, there is a QuietRock soundproofing product that can meet your needs.

Additional QuietRock soundproofing products: their applications and features

• 510: Lowest cost, 1/2" thickness, STC rating of 49-68 and ideal for remodeling and upgrades
• 516: Meant to be used on 16"OC studs, 1/2" thickness, STC rating of 46-49 and ideal for single family residences
• 525: Fire-rated, 5/8" thickness, STC rating of 51-72 and ideal for commercial properties, multifamily complexes, hospitals and hotels
• 527: Meant to be used on UltraSTEEL studs, 5/8" thickness, STC rating of 55+ and ideal for UltraSTEEL construction projects
• 528: Mold-resistant, 5/8" thickness, STC rating of 50-58 and ideal for high moisture areas
• 530: Shear resistance, 5/8" thickness, STC rating of 52-74 and ideal for high-end homes, commercial properties, hallways and schools
• 530RF: Enhanced RF shielding, 5/8" thickness, STC rating of 52-74 and ideal for medical shielding and SCIF rooms
• 545THX: Highest performance, 1-3/8" thickness, STC rating of 56-80 and ideal for high-end homes, music studios and commercial theaters

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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.

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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)

When it comes to acoustical or suspended ceiling materials, Armstrong and USG are often the first manufacturers to come to mind. But what can you do when a client wants something different or that exceeds the typical specs set out by these companies? Though many contractors are aware of CertainTeed's huge presence in insulation products, very few are as aware of the company's suspended and acoustical ceiling systems. Their products often exceed the specs set by other industry leaders, making it a high-quality option from a known industry leader. Here's a quick look at their cross reference guide, designed to help contractors find the perfect materials for their project.

With the prevalence of Armstrong and USG products in the acoustical and suspended ceiling market, it doesn't take long for an experienced contractor to figure out which product they should use to meet a project's requirements. CertainTeed is still a relatively new entry into the market, and for this reason, many contractors bypass their products because they're not sure which specific product they should use in place of particular Armstrong or USG products.

When they realized this issue in the market, CertainTeed took the time to make it easier for contractors to find the right product for the job. Their Acoustical Ceilings and Suspension Systems Cross Reference Guide was designed so that you could simply look up the competitor's product in the guide and follow across to the similar CertainTeed ceiling product, making the conversion process very simple. The guide also includes indexes of both competitors' products, as the cross reference lists the products in order by the CertainTeed product, so the index makes it very easy to find the competitors' model.

However, CertainTeed recognizes that not all products will convert exactly, so they've based their cross reference guide based on aesthetic appearance and technical specifications. In many situations, the CertainTeed product that you find in the cross reference will be superior in terms of appearance, performance or technical specifications. When multiple competitor products match the same general specification or CertainTeed product, all the competitor's models will be listed for comparison.

One thing you'll definitely notice as you're going through the cross reference guide is the sheer number of additional product lines and options that are available from CertainTeed, especially when compared to Armstrong and USG lines. At a quick estimate, there are nearly three times as many options available in the CertainTeed lines than are available from their competitors. This provides you and your clients with a much wider range of options, allowing the best possible solution to be selected for your project rather than the one that comes the closest.

CertainTeed offers a wide range of acoustical and suspended ceiling options for your project, and the cross reference guide makes it easy to find the exact material that will work best for your situation while offering a wide range of additional selections to meet your project's needs. If you are interested in CertainTeed acoustical products for your next job be sure to download the CertainTeed Ceiling Tiles and Suspension Systems Product Guide using the blue button below or by clicking here.

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.

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

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

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.

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