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Alternatives to paper-backed gypsum board are now available. The following products may be used to replace it and are especially use­ful in applications where moisture conditions may promote mold growth: • Dens Armor Plus is an alternative to regu­lar cardboard-backed panels. It is paper­less, faced on two sides with a glass mat, and highly mold […]

Gypsum board, also known as gypboard, Sheetrock, or drywall, is the most common form of interior wall sheathing in modern res­idential construction. It is considerably less expensive than plaster. The 4- by 8-foot sheets are attached to the studs, then taped, sealed, textured, and painted. Gypsum board is composed of natural gyp­ sum sandwiched between […]

From a Building Biology standpoint, clay — based plasters provide a superior wall finish because of the remarkable hygroscopic prop­erties of clay. For more information about mixing your own plasters, we recommend The Natural Plaster Book (listed at the end of this chapter). Resources for commercially pre­pared clay-based plaster are: • American Clay Enterprises: A […]

P. F. is a 54-year-old woman who was in good health until 1981 when she moved into a new mobile home. Shortly thereafter she developed a digestive disorder with gas and bloating, severe insomnia, and a chronic cough with frequent epi­sodes of bronchitis. By the following year she was suffering from persistent fatigue and frequent […]

Introduction Finishes include all surface materials and treatments in the home. They are what is seen on a daily basis and, along with furnishings, constitute the personal signature of the owner. Finishes are the predominant source of odors in a new home. They can introduce a multi­tude of toxic volatile organic compounds into the air […]

Moisture Problems Associated with Windows By far the biggest health concern involving windows occurs when they fail to do their job properly. This job is to let in natural light and allow for ventilation while keeping water out. Windows have drainage channels that are de­signed to shed water away from the building, but if these […]

Windows and sliding glass doors generally come with removable screens. Screens for french doors or glass swinging doors usually are not provided by the manufacturer and must be custom made. Aluminum screening was standard in the past but has been almostcompletely replaced with fiberglass or nylon mesh. These materials are more flexible, more transparent, do […]

Wood Doors Standard Manufactured Doors Wood doors, both solid and paneled, are typi­cally treated with biocides and manufactured with toxic glues. Paneled wood doors use less glue than solid veneered doors and will there­fore outgas less. The face veneer used on flush wood doors is luan, a mahogany commonly imported from the Philippines or Thailand, […]

Asphalt-based rolled roofing and shingles will outgas when heated by the sun and should be avoided. Clay tile, concrete tile, metal, and slate are all inert, long-lasting slope roof solutions. Wood shingles can be a good roofing material where fire danger is low and humidity is mod­erate and if rot resistant woods such as cedar […]

A well-sloped roof with a sizable overhang is preferable to a flat or low-sloped roof for the following reasons: The roof overhang plays an important role in protecting the walls and foundation from water damage by directing water away from the building. Inert roofing materials are readily avail­able and are standard products for sloped — […]