If you work in an area where mold and mildew are concerns, a new drywall by USG might make a difference in your business. Humitek, which is mold and moisture resistant, is expected to be on the market this month.
Humitek looks like regular drywall, except it is lined with a light-blue paper. Panels, available in a 5/8-inch thickness, will run 8, 10 and 12 feet in length. What makes the board special is that it contains a biocide to fight mold and mildew. In traditional moisture-resistant “greenboard,” often used in kitchens and bathrooms, moisture can penetrate the board’s interior, where mold can thrive.
Another factor that will differentiate Humitek panels from regular drywall is its price. Expected to cost anywhere from $12 to $16 per sheet, twice that of traditional board, contractors and homeowners may choose to use the product sparingly, in areas such as finished basements and bathrooms.
“It’s going to be well received, I will tell you that, because mold and mildew are huge concerns in the building industry,” Brendan McKenna, manager of Kamco Supply Corp. in Syosset, N.Y., told Newsday. “But pricing will be an issue.”
Humitek isn’t the first product of its kind on the market. Georgia-Pacific recently released DensArmor Plus, a mold and mildew resistant drywall that uses inorganic glass fibers on its mat surfaces and in its gypsum core. Because the exposed face of DensArmor panels must be finished with a skimcoat of joint compound or a roll of drywall surfacer, it is more labor intensive than regular drywall. Humitek, on the other hand, can be installed like traditional board.
Because toxic mold has become a major issue in construction over the past few years, more anti-mold products are likely to be put on the market, and most the of the major drywall manufacturers will be coming out with their own mold-resistant panels soon.
For more information on Humitek, click on the link to the right.
