• Manufactured by USG
• 888-874-2450; www.usg.com
• Cost of 1/2-in. 4×8 sheet: about $11
United States Gypsum introduced green-faced, moisture-resistant drywall back in 1963, and “green board” began its long run as the preferred wallboard in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements. In 2003, USG introduced a companion product called Humitek, designed specifically to resist mold. In 2007, USG stopped producing both and introduced its latest weapon: Mold Tough drywall.
The new panels have the same green color as the old stuff, but with a perfect score on the ASTM D3273 mold-resistance test, they are better at their job. Plus, a paper facing means you won’t have to skim-coat the surface of the wall as you do with many competitive fiberglass-faced moisture-resistant panels. Mold Tough can also be attached to wall and ceiling framing spaced 16 in. on center or wider; older versions tended to sag if spacing was that wide.
Mold Tough is available in 1/2-in., 5/8-in., 3/4-in., and 1-in. thicknesses, with 1/2-in. fire-rated panels in both type C and type X.
Although this product resists mold, it’s not a substitute for the cementboard panels used in wet areas such as tub surrounds and tiled showers.
Photo by: Krysta S. Doerfler
