Friday, January 18, 2013

Gypsumbased Underlayment Problems

Gypsum-based underlayment -- usually green board, fiberboard or drywall -- has been the primary product for covering walls for the past 50 years. Within the past 20 years, the construction industry has begun using it as an underlayment for tile. The problem with gypsum-based underlayment is that when it get wet, it will fall apart and ruin the material attached to its surface. Although it is still commonly used, more precautions are beginning to take shape as the industry has learned to adapt to the degradation of of its product and recommend proper overlayment installment procedures.


Precautions


Gypsum-based underlayments make perfect economic sense for contractors when they are installing wall coverings that will receive tile or stucco over the top. When covering your underlayment with these products, install the product correctly to prevent water from reaching the underlayment.


Tile should be installed over the underlayment using glue with a latex base. The latex will help protect the underlayment from moisture. But before you install the tile, paint the underlayment with primer latex primer. Apply several coats of the primer to the surface, and make sure that the primer is the type that will increase the bonding between the tile and underlayment. Make sure that all holes in the underlayment are filled and sealed using spackling; these holes will allow water penetration into the core, which is the structural backbone of the underlayment.


Stucco should be applied to the underlayment, after the board has been primed and sealed, with minimal water content. In other words, the stucco should be mixed to its regular consistency, but not too much water.


After any overlayment has been applied, seal it with gloss, semi-gloss or satin sealer. The sealer should be applied using a roller and brush and in several coats -- usually three. Test the surface after the sealer has dried by spraying water onto the finish. If after 20 minutes the water remains on the surface, you are protected. Apply the sealer every five years.



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