Five New Uses of Gypsum Products Demonstroted

Gypsum's role in the home-building picture gave evidence of new versatility during the 1957 National Association of Home Builders convention in Chicago.'As part of the convention's annual How-To-Do-It circus program, five new uses of gypsum products were announced together with newly recommended methods of application. Conducting an action-packed 3S-minute demonstration, replete with banging of hammers, the staccato sound of an automatic stapler and the' pulsation of a plastering machine, was Lloyd H. Yeager, general manager, Gypsum Association.

Speaking for the nation's manufacturers of gypsum building produc.ts, Yaeger announced industry approval, for the first time, of the use of either lath and plaster or %" gypsum wallboard for eave and rake soffits also for carport and porch. ceilings. The gypsum in4stry spokesman explained such construc-

Do-lt-Yourselfski

Moscow, U.S.S.R.-Pravda suggested June 10 that the thousands of Soviet workers who need homes should build their own, the Associated Press reported. The official Communist Party nervspapsr reported a campaign among factory workers in the city of Gorki to construct their own homes and said the idea was spreading. Pravda recornmended it as a means of easing the Soviet lJnion's chronic housing shortage.

o.c. for sidewalls and. 5,, to 7" o.c, for ceilings. Nail spacing at perimeter of board, however, reverts to the single-nailing requirements..As each "second', nail. is driven, mechanic gives adjoining "first" nail an "insurance blow,'to take up any slack that was developed by secondary nailing.

This, Yeager pointed out, helps to counteract any ,.nailpop" tendency caused by failure to hold board snugly against framing members during nailing.

Another feature of the demonstration was the mechanical tions had been evaluated in the field by the association's stapling of gypsum lath, found equally satisfactory tostaff and technical committee ,for several years prior to yet much speedier than-the traditi,onal nailing method. approval. In these new uses, avoidance of direct exposure Demonstration exhibits include machine-applied acoustito water and placement directly against masonry was ad- cal plaster and the spraying of pre-colored float finish that vised. Also noted was the need for adequate ventilation of requires no further painting-. The latter can be applied in an eave space in conformity with FHA requirements for such unlimited variety of patterns and texture s, l/!6,, thick . installations. even smooth enough to receive wallpaper if desired in sub-

Considerable interest was aroused by the gypsum indus- sequent redecoration. try's recommendation for "double-nailing,' of wallboard. For attachment to gypsum sheathing, an extra-width The new system recognizes 12" o.c. preliminary nail spac- plywood-shake shingle ttrat tutty bridges the gap between ing in.the field of the board for both ceilings and sidewatts. studs was shown. Ii eliminates the need for cross-furring.

With the board thus held in place, a second nailing follows with nails spaced two inches from those already driven.

Yeager stated the combination of gypsum sheathing and aluminum foil backed gypsum wallboard or lath affords a

The double-nailing system is an option to previously most economical exterior wall to meet FHA heat-loss re- recommended "single-nailing" which calls for nails 6" to 8" quirements in a large segment of the nation.

Mechqnic (ot lofi) demomtrotor u3. of new monuqlly-operorcd tool for ,,welding,, ond conccoling w-ollboord ioints; thc toping toolr rcquire lifib troining, sra coiducivc 1o be1c.r qualiry io_bs .'nd :peed up ioint tr.otmcnt-ovoiloblc from Ai-cr loping Toolr, lnc., Belmont, Colif. Woll builr of 2-ply gyprum wqllboord (below) lominorod righr on iob; rystem providc ertro .hength, sound rcrirlonce qnd firc protcction. thoic orc iurt three. rtcp3-in 2-ply inrfollofion: (l) Borc layer ir noiled to srud: and ioisrt, (2) :econd ply it then cross-lominotcd wifh odhcsivc to bqre loyer, with only cnough nqib to hold ply in position rill odh*ivc rets, ond (3) ioinrs qre -weldcd- -ond conceoled iu$ tikc In singleJayer oppticqrion. Photo showr decororing done dt once