Fiberglass-Faced Wallboard Combats Mold and Moisture

Project: Storm-Ready Design, Episode 5, Part 2



Bob is back at the storm-ready house in Punta Gorda, Florida, where the interior work on the electrical system, plumbing, and walls is underway. The outswinging, oversized front door completes the seal on the building envelope. It is installed on a 1¾ inch sill against a pre-cast concrete lip designed to keep the door from blowing in or water from blowing under. As a wind-protection measure, the door swings out so winds won’t force it open, causing wind penetration and pressurization during a storm. Bob checks out the wiring installation and the plumbing work, then reviews his visit to the PGT window factory and the installation of impact-resistant windows and patio sliders. Bob walks through the stepped arch that leads to the open kitchen / family area and the bedrooms beyond. There Thad Goodman of Georgia-Pacific is installing the DensArmor Plus fiberglass wallboard. With no paper or sugars and starches used for binders, this fiberglass-faced gypsum is impervious to mold, mildew, and insects. Keeping a house dry in humid climates prevents damaging mold growth. The Kohler generator and Square D / Schneider Electric panel box will keep the house functioning, cool, and dry in case of a storm or power outage.
Part 1: Installing an Impact-Resistant Front Door, Electric Wiring with Metal Studs, Plumbing with Metal Studs and a Concrete Slab
Part 2: Fiberglass-Faced Wallboard Combats Mold and Moisture
Bob meets Thad Goodman from Georgia-Pacific who is on site to install DensArmor Plus fiberglass-faced wallboard in the storm-ready house. The four-by-ten sheets are drilled into furring strips installed against the concrete walls. DensArmor Plus is ideal for humid climates where mold, mildew, and insects are attracted to the sugars and starches used to bind gypsum in traditional wallboard. By eliminating the organic material, DensArmor kills the food source for dangerous mold and insect growth. The wallboard is finished with fiberglass mesh tape and a setting compound that is enhanced to set up quickly and reduce the opportunity for moisture intrusion.
Part 3: Wiring an Electrical Box to Support a Backup Generator

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