Weather events impact the drying times of gypsum joint treatment materials.
The Gypsum Association (GA, www.gypsum.org) publishes the gypsum industry reference guide GA-236-2016: Joint Treatment Under Extreme Weather Conditions, about the application and drying of gypsum joint compounds and adhesives in weather conditions. The two-page special recommendation highlights proper procedures during the application and drying of gypsum joint compounds and adhesives to ensure compliance with GA-216-2016: Application & Finishing of Gypsum Panel Products. Weather conditions and weather events, such as low temperatures and relative humidity (RH), impact the drying times of gypsum joint treatment materials.
Low temperatures slow drying times and increase the risk of freezing in gypsum joint treatment materials. Further, changes in temperature can cause movement in steel framing, effecting the application and finishing of gypsum panel products. GA-236-2016: Joint Treatment Under Extreme Weather Conditions recommends a series of preventive measures, not corrective actions, to compensate for or minimize the effects of low temperatures and relative humidity (RH), and to avoid potential problems with gypsum panel products.
Maintaining recommended environmental conditions before, during, and after the application and finishing of gypsum panel products are all important factors in minimizing the effects of low temperatures and relative humidity (RH) on gypsum joint treatment materials. The gypsum industry reference guide GA-236-2016: Joint Treatment Under Extreme Weather Conditions notes the following eight preventive measures and best practices for gypsum joint treatment in low temperatures and relative humidity (RH):
- Provide heat.
- Do not apply joint treatment to cold or damp surfaces.
- Where materials are being mixed and used for joint treatment or the laminating of one layer of board to another, maintain the interior temperature of the room not less than 50°F for 48 hours before and continuously until applied materials are thoroughly dry.
- Do not allow the temperature in any given room to exceed 95°F when a temporary heat source is used.
- Do not allow heaters to blow directly on wall surfaces, as excessive localized heating can cause joint compound to dry too rapidly resulting in cracking and localized delamination.
- Provide sufficient ventilation to ensure normal drying conditions. Certain temporary heaters introduce large amounts of water vapor into the air causing high humidity conditions, if not properly ventilated.
- Protect ready mixed joint compounds against freezing in storage.
- Use setting-type compounds to avoid many cold weather related problems.
For more information, see GA-236-2016: Joint Treatment Under Extreme Weather Conditions, Joint Compound Drying Time chart and table, showing how temperature and relative humidity (RH) effect drying time for each coat of joint compound at a 1/16-inch (1.6 mm) thickness. In the chart and table, green shaded areas represent the best drying conditions, and red shaded areas represent environmental conditions to avoid. Where poor or slow drying conditions exist, drying times can exceed three days, causing finishing problems.
Keywords: cold; cold weather; drying conditions; drywall; environmental conditions; extreme weather conditions; gypsum adhesives; gypsum construction; gypsum joint compounds; gypsum joint treatment materials; gypsum panel products; low temperature; schedule impacts; relative humidity; RH; weather conditions; weather events.
(Source: Gypsum Association, GA-236-2016: Joint Treatment Under Extreme Weather Conditions)
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