Gypsum
What is Gypsum (The Magic
Mineral)?
Gypsum is a non-metallic mineral, found as a rock composed of 79.1%
calcium sulphate and 20.9% water by weight. Gypsum was formed
during the Silurian period of the Paleozoic Era of the Geological
calendar. This corresponds to about 300 million years ago. In
absolutely pure form, gypsum rock is white. However, it contains
impurities whose presence makes the rock appear gray, brown, pink
or almost black.
Gypsum and its products have been known and used from earliest
times. The Ancient Assyrians called it Alabaster and used it for
sculpturing. Five thousand years ago the Egyptians had learned to
make plaster from it. The ancient Greeks named this mineral
"Gypsos", from which we have taken the name "Gypsum". Another form
of gypsum rock, clear and transparent in layers like mica, was used
as temple windows many centuries before glass was invented. The
Greeks named it "Selene" after their Moon Goddess; today we call it
Selenite.
Today gypsum is used in the manufacture of many products
including, but not restricted to, drywall board, plaster,
sheathing, toothpaste, blackboard chalk, the filler in paints. It
is also used for surgical casts and moulds for false teeth.
Does drywall go up
horizontally or vertically?
You can put the board up either way. What generally dictates the
way the drywall goes up is the way that minimizes the amount of
joints you will have to tape. Walls eight feet and under go up
horizontally. Walls over eight feet usually go up vertically.
What size are the
sheets?
The drywall sheets are available in many sizes. Normal stocked
lengths are 4 foot wide by 8, 10, or 12 foot long.
What types of drywall are
available?
There are many types of drywall. Regular drywall is used for most
wall and ceiling applications. Specialty drywalls are engineered
for specific needs. For instance FIRECODE drywall is used in areas
that need specific fire and safety requirements. Water resistant
drywall is used in areas that may come in contact with water such
as bathrooms. There are also Sag-Resistant drywalls engineered with
enhanced cores to resist sagging in critical ceiling
applications.
How do you cut
drywall?
Drywall is very easy to cut. All you need to do is score the face
paper with a utility knife using a straight edge and break the
board away from the cut. Once the board is broken you then score
the back paper with a utility knife.
How do you fasten
drywall?
On wood stud framing you may use drywall nails or drywall screws.
On steel stud framing you must use drywall screws.
How do you cut
DUROCK®?
DUROCK® is very easy to cut. All you need to do is score the face
of DUROCK® with a utility knife and a straight edge until you cut
through fibreglass that lies just beneath the surface of the cement
board. This may take 2 passes. Once you have cut through the
fibreglass you break the cement board away from the cut and then
score the back of the cement board to cut through the fibreglass
that lies just beneath the back surface.
What side of DUROCK® do you
use?
DUROCK® is designed to be used on either side.
What type of fastener do you
use?
To fasten DUROCK® to wood framing you may use hot dipped
galvanized roofing nails or cement board screws. To fasten DUROCK®
to steel studs you must use cement board screws. NEVER USE DRYWALL
SCREWS.
How do you tape the joints of
DUROCK®?
To tape the joints of DUROCK® you first prefill the joint with
what ever you are using to set your tile. That would be either
portland cement or mastic. While the taping material is still wet
you immediately embed a polymer coated fibreglass tape designed
specifically for cement boards into the taping material. Never use
fibreglass or paper drywall tape.
What happens to DUROCK® if it
gets wet?
Nothing will happen to DUROCK® if it gets wet. It is designed to
get withstand extreme moisture.
How do you cut
FIBEROCK®?
FIBEROCK® is very easy to cut. All you need to do is score the face
of the panel with a utility knife and a straight edge. This may
require 2 passes. Once the panel has been scored you break the
panel away from the cut. Uneven edges may be rasped clean if
required.
Is FIBEROCK® environmentally
friendly?
Yes, FIBEROCK® is certified to be 95% recycled.
What types are FIBEROCK® are
available?
FIBEROCK® is a specialty panel and is available as an interior
abuse resistant wall panel, a tile backer, and a residential floor
underlayment.
How do you tape the joints
of FIBEROCK®?
For interior FIBEROCK® you pre-fill the joint with DURABOND® Joint
Compound and embed paper drywall tape immediately into the
DURABOND® while the DURABOND® is still wet. Do not use fibreglass
tape. Once the DURABOND® has set you apply a second and third coat
of regular weight joint compound making sure each coat is
completely dry before the next coat is applied.