Weatherproof Moldings
Azek available in board stock and millwork
profiles
Priced cometitively with clear cedar, cellular PVC is comletely
water resistant and has performed well in extremely wet conditions
for 20 years. Azek makes a range of board sizes from 5/8 to 5/4
thicknesses in 4- to 16-inch widths. All PVC trim stock is mixed
with a foaming agent that injects tiny bubbles into the material,
making it more supple, and much less brittle, than PVC pipe. But
unlike some cellular PVC products that have a higher concentration
of bubbles toward the core, Azek has a dense, uniform consistency
throughout that can be worked just like wood without exposing
voids. This allows it to be milled into any shape. A variety of
time-saving millwork profiles are now available, including crown,
drip-cap, quarter-round, and brick moldings. While cellular PVC
holds paint well, the most durable alternative is to leave the
solid white material unpainted. Azek is UV resistant, so it won't
yellow, and its matte finish does not appear plasticky. For more
information, contact Azek Trimboards, 877-275-2935, www.azek.com
Lighter
Fiber Cement
Fly ash improves siding's performance
CertainTeed's latest fiber-cement siding is formulated with fly
ash, which makes for a lower-density material that is lighter in
weight, has a more authentic grain texture, and is reportedly less
likely to delaminate if soaked by floodwater than conventional
fiber-cement siding. ColorMax FiberCement Siding is available in a
range of horizontal and vertical siding profiles with a Class 1A
fire rating. Like any fiber-cement siding, it is impervious to rot
and wood-boring insects, and it resists the damaging effects of
salt spray and ultraviolet radiation. CertainTeed's warranty covers
100% of the cost of materials and labor to repair or replace any
manufacturing defect within the first two years following
installation, as well as a 50-year warranty on the board and 15
years on the prefinish. For more information, contact CertainTeed
Corp., 800-233-8990, www.certainteed.com
Tall-Wall
Studs
Straight and true for 30 feet
Tall walls and kitchen walls that require flat, true surfaces for
cabinet and countertop installations will benefit from TimberStrand
laminated strand lumber (LSL) studs. TimberStrand might be thought
of as a structural OSB. The comany probably dislikes such a
comarison, lest we associate OSB with problems of swelling, but
there is so much adhesive in TimberStrand, it's far more impervious
to moisture. The comarison is useful, however, for visualizing what
this material looks like. Its cousin, Parallam, has fibers aligned
parallel to the length of the member, whereas TimberStrand fibers
go every which way. The big advantage is the increased strength and
stability of TimberStrand over dimensional lumber, allowing for
crisp, straight framing lines. The material is available for a wide
range of applications, including beams, rim boards, treated sill
plates, headers, columns, and studs, all available in lengths up to
30 feet. The manufacturer offers design tools and technical support
that allows designers and builders to optimize lateral wind loads
and vertical loads for tall walls using this engineered product.
For more information, contact Weyerhaeuser Co., 888-453-8358,
iLevel.com
Breathable Roofs
Slip-resistant polypropylene underlayments
Fortifiber introduced two new synthetic roofing underlayments
— RoofTex 30B and PlyDry 30. Both are tear-resistant woven
polypropylene membranes with a slip-resistant surface and a
breathable coating on each side that allows moisture to escape
while providing a highly durable barrier against bulk water
intrusion. The difference in the two products is in the coating:
the PlyDry material uses a polymer coating; the RoofTex material
uses a slightly more durable polyurethane coating better suited to
low-slope comercial applications that will see more traffic during
construction. For more information, contact Fortifiber Building
Systems Group, 800-773-4777, www.fortifiber.com
Paperless Drywall
Glass-mat facing won't feed mold
Georgia-Pacific Gypsum now offers a lower-cost version of its
DensArmor Plus paperless drywall and DensShield tile backer for use
as a wallboard throughout the house. The new DensArmor board does
not have a water-resistant core like its older brothers but does
include the same glass-mat facing that denies mold its source of
food. Mold needs a cellulose-based food source, in addition to
water and warm temperatures, to grow. Take away any one of those
ingredients, and you stop the mold. DensArmor installs and finishes
like conventional drywall. For high-humidity locations (pool house,
sauna room, bathroom, etc.) or for use as wet floodproofing, use
DensAmor Plus, which includes a water-resistant core. Beneath tile,
use DensShield, which has a water-stopping acrylic coating. For
more information, contact G-P Gypsum, 800-284-5347, www.gp.com
Screws for
Composite Decking
New designs solve a range of problems
Simpson Strong-Tie's new deck screw solves several fastening issues
with comosite decking installation. comosi-Lok comosite Decking
Screws feature "wings" on the shaft of the screw that counter-bore
a hole into the deck board. These wings create a channel for the
excess comosite material, which reduces upward pressure on the
screw and prevents the comon problem of "spin out" that typically
occurs in hard, cold, or wet boards. The screw's cap-style head
captures any mushrooming material, keeping it out of sight and
ensuring a clean look. comosi-Lok comosite Decking Screws are
available in gray, tan, red, and brown to match the popular
comosite decking colors. The screws are available in bulk or for
the Quik Drive auto-feed fastening systems, which offer a fast,
convenient way to secure deck materials. Quik Drive's drive systems
are ideal for high-volume deck applications. For more information,
contact Simpson Strong-Tie, 800-999-5099, www.strongtie.com
Impervious Siding
Cellular PVC siding provides fine detail
The same advantages that cellular PVC has brought to exterior trim
are now available in clapboard siding. NuCedar Mills offers
clapboard siding milled from solid boards of cellular PVC. The
siding goes up quickly in panels, locking at the top and bottom
like conventional vinyl siding, but the material is solid, much
like a traditional clapboard. Available in 4-, 6-, and 8-inch
exposures and in smooth and grain surface textures, NuCedar's
Classic Clapboard is coated in Polane polyurethane from
Sherwin-Williams. This factory-applied, baked-on finish is
available in 22 standard colors and 1,400 custom colors. The
manufacturer claims this coating is used on high-performance
aircraft and military vehicles, making it the most durable finish
available. For more information, contact NuCedar Mills,
866-393-8883, www.nucedar.com