Expert: jonewall - 10/20/2009

Question
I am currently bulding a house.  In the original plan the intention was to finish the internal walls of the garage (height of two feet )with light concrete panels all around.
The builder has now finished this with plywood instead of densshield. My questions are as follows:
1.Can I assume that the plywood was installed ontop of the concrete panels or is it possible the the concrete panels were never installed?
2.Which is a better way to finish the wall plywood or densshield.

thanks.

joe.

Answer
DEAR JOE

AS TO QUESTION #1

DON'T ASSUME ,FIRST BEST MOVE IS TO ASK THE CONTRACTOR .

QUESTION #2      

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A REASON FOR THE ARCHITECT TO DESIGN THE WALL WITH DENSSHIELD.

NOW LET ME ASSUME    IS INTERIOR WALL FINISH ALL PLYWOOD EXCEPT FOR THE BOTTOM 2 FEET ?

                    I WILL ASSUME THAT THE GARAGE IS  FREE STANDING ALL BY ITSELF ??
                   THE GARAGE WILL BE USED FOR SOME SPECIAL TYPE OF STORAGE ?? REASON
                   TO USE PLYWOOD INSTEAD OF DRYWALL.

DENSSHIELD BOARD IS GENERALLY USED AS A BACKER BOARD FOR TILE OR ANOTHER SURFACING PRODUCT. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CONTRACTOR USED THE BACKERBOARD BEHIND A LESSER THICKNESS OF PLYWOOD SURFACE. THAT MAY BE WHY YOU CANNOT SEE IT.

IF THERE IS OUTLETS CUT INTO THE LOWER 2 FEET , TAKE THE COVER OFF AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE CUT ENDS OF A BACKERBOARD.

CHECK OUT DENNSHIELD AT GEORGIA PACIFIC WEB SITE FOR INFORMATION ON THE PRODUCT

CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.

REGARDS ,   JOHN E