Every day, our editors will gather the latest industry news, the hottest trends and the most relevant research, and send them to your inbox.
Follow these best practices for reliable installation of glass mat plaster
Follow these best practices for reliable installation of glass mat plaster
Although cement underlay is one of the most commonly used tile underlays for walls in wet areas, a large proportion of production builders have turned to glass underlay gypsum board products, such as Georgia Pacific’s DensShield or CertainTeed’s Diamondback Tile Backer. That's why I think this is a wise move. In addition, I will provide some tips on the correct installation of glass mat plaster products.
The cement pad is made of cement, and the top and bottom are reinforced with glass fiber. It is easy to obtain and relatively cheap. It is currently the most commonly used pad for ceramic and tile installation on floors and walls.
Glass mat gypsum board is a kind of waterproof gypsum board treated with organic silicon. Both sides have glass fiber mat surfaces to form a built-in moisture-proof layer.
Despite its popularity, cement slabs have some disadvantages:
The glass cushion plaster does not have these problems. It is lighter than cement slabs and is easy to cut-just score and break like gypsum board-and it is mildew resistant and does not require a full-surface waterproof coating.
However, trouble-free installation depends on correct frame details, fasteners and joint/fastener handling.
The glass cushion plaster has two thicknesses of 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch. When installing a 1/2 inch thick board, the frame center must be 16 inches at most, but you can get rid of the 24 inch oc frame by installing a stop behind each seam. Assign someone (work supervisor or quality inspector) to ensure proper stud spacing after the plumber finishes roughing, and then add blockages as needed. The 5/8 inch board can be installed on the 24 inch oc frame without blocking, but you should still check the frame after the pipe is rough.
Walls and ceilings should be installed with fasteners every 6 inches. Drive fasteners flush with the coated surface-do not sink your head. You can use galvanized roof nails, but screws are better. However, the screws must be corrosion resistant, so be sure to use galvanized screws instead of ordinary drywall screws.
Even if the glass mat plaster has a fiberglass surface layer, the fastener heads, field joints and corners must be sealed to prevent water intrusion. To do this, first apply ASTM C920 flexible silicone sealant to all fasteners, field joints and corners, and then install the 2-inch fiberglass mesh belt embedded in the degreasing coating of the thin layer of material used to set the tiles. You should also seal penetrations and abutments of different materials.
Installing the sealant and mesh tape as described above is sufficient to make the seam waterproof. However, most tile installers prefer to have backup protection. This means that an additional minimum step is to use an additional two layers of liquid-applied waterproofing membrane (such as RedGard) to complete the fastener heads, field joints and corners.
Many installers also prefer additional waterproofing in fragile horizontal areas (such as showers, window sills, or wall caps). They applied RedGard to the entire surface of these areas where there is a chance to collect moisture.
The best way to ensure that the installation and waterproofing details of these tile pads are completed correctly is to install and complete the pads by the tile contractor, not the drywaller. If the drywaller does hang the board, the sealing joints should still be included in the work scope of the tile contractor.
As the building performance expert of the IBACOS PERFORM Builder Solutions team, John Koenig promotes the quality and performance of residential buildings.
Simple details to ensure that the shower seat installation is waterproof and trouble-free
Use these best practices to install recessed windows in CMU walls to prevent water intrusion and moisture issues
Under certain soil conditions, eliminating the wires in the board can be a false economy...at best
For residential builders, the transition to the off-site construction method requires operation and maintenance
In the booming field from construction to leasing, building houses in factories has solved many problems for house builders, developers and investors
Don’t ignore the critical process of turning exposed dirt into a saleable product
Stop and think about how COVID-19 can change your business forever
By creating an account, you agree to Pro Builder's terms of service and privacy policy.
Every day, the editors of Pro Builder will gather the latest industry news, the hottest trends and the most relevant research, and send them to your inbox.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet lorem ipsum dolor sit amet lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.
Pro Builder is a website that supports ads. We noticed that you have enabled ad blocking in your browser. You can continue reading in two ways:
Lorem ipsum dolor sat amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut laboure et dolore magna aliqua.
You have read 2 great stories this month. Subscribe for unlimited access.
Get Pro Builder in your inbox. Sign up today!