Housewrap and Roof Underlayment optimize home building.
Press Release Summary:
Gorilla Wrap(TM) non-perforated, nonwoven, polymeric housewrap minimizes air infiltration, resulting in energy efficiency and moisture control. Translucent material offers tear resistance and enables contractors to see studs, nails, and windows on home's frame. Employing asphalt with nonwoven polyester reinforcement, DuraBase(TM) underlayment provides puncture resistance and waterproofing as it seals around nails. It can be exposed to sun for 6 months without performance deterioration.
Original Press Release:
Johns Manville Rolls Out Two New Unique, High-Performance Building Products - Translucent Gorilla Wrap and DuraBase Roofing Underlayment
DENVER, Jan. 11 / -- Builders and contractors are constantly seeking ways to build better homes and improve the overall building envelope. They're demanding building products that provide superior performance and value, while also offering more-efficient installation and greater energy-efficiency performance. Johns Manville's (JM) Engineered Products Group, a global leader in the nonwoven industry, is responding to builders' needs by introducing two new products -- Gorilla Wrap(TM), a translucent, non-perforated housewrap and DuraBase(TM), an asphalt and nonwoven polyester roofing underlayment. JM is rolling out Gorilla Wrap and DuraBase at the National Association of Home Builders 2006 International Builders' Show, January 11-14, 2006, in Orlando, Fla.
Gorilla Wrap
Gorilla Wrap(TM) is a non-perforated, nonwoven polymeric housewrap material that decreases air infiltration resulting in increased energy efficiency and maximum moisture control. Gorilla Wrap's superior strength, with a tear resistance that is 300 percent higher than the leading housewrap, reduces builder concern during installation and makes it one of the most durable housewrap products on the market.
"Combined with its tear strength and superior ultraviolet inhibitors that allow at least six months exposure time, Gorilla Wrap gives builders greater peace of mind and increased flexibility with job scheduling," said Fred Stephan, vice president and general manager, High Performance Nonwovens for JM's Engineered Products Group. "And since Gorilla Wrap is translucent, it also enhances and eases installation by enabling contractors to see studs, nails and windows on the home's framing beneath the housewrap."
Unlike most housewraps on the market, Gorilla Wrap is non-perforated, reducing the potential for bulk water penetration and allowing trapped moisture to escape, thus reducing concerns about mold and mildew growth. In addition, the non-perforated material keeps wood sheathing drier, reducing the potential for rot and degradation within the wall cavity.
"Gorilla Wrap is another example of JM's commitment to the continuous improvement of our building products offerings and the performance of all aspects of the building envelope," said Stephan.
DuraBase
The unique composition of Johns Manville's new DuraBase(TM) roofing underlayment employs the proven technology of asphalt with a new high-performance nonwoven polyester reinforcement.
"Since JM is the only manufacturer with the ability to produce this combination of asphalt and nonwoven polyester, we can offer builders and contractors this innovative product that provides the performance of synthetics with the benefits and value of felt, while also providing the industry's most efficient installation process," said Zain Mahmood, vice president and general manager, Construction Materials & Systems for JM's Engineered Products Group.
The durability of the material enables DuraBase to hold nails better and provides greater tear strength and puncture resistance than synthetics or felt. It also offers greater waterproofing performance and better protection as it also seals around nails. DuraBase's enhanced ultraviolet resistance allows longer exposure to the sun (up to six months) without performance deterioration.
"Creating solutions for building science problems that benefit our customers is our highest priority," said Mahmood. "DuraBase is a next-generation product that provides superior performance and value for our customers who want the best of both worlds in roofing underlayment materials."
DuraBase creates highly-efficient installation processes because it unrolls flat in warm and cold weather, weighs less than felt and provides greater coverage per roll, which all means faster installation and less effort and hassle to transport and handle the product on rooftops.
"Strength, quality, superior performance and builder value are the hallmarks of our products, and we know our customers are very excited about having these two new products available to them," said Mahmood.
For more information on these products call 800-251-1660, ext. 3772, or go to http://www.jm.com/builder.
About Johns Manville
Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company (NYSE:BRK.A)(NYSE:BRK.B), is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building and specialty products. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has annual sales of approximately $2.5 billion and holds leadership positions in all of the key markets that it serves. Johns Manville employs approximately 8,500 people and operates 43 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China.
The Engineered Products Group (EPG), one of Johns Manville's four strategic business units, produces glass fibers, glass fiber nonwovens, polyester spunbonds, meltblowns and glass fiber wall coverings at 14 manufacturing locations worldwide: Spartanburg, S.C., Waterville, Ohio, Richland, Miss. and Etowah, Tenn., in the United States; Berlin, Bobingen, Karlstein, Steinach and Wertheim, Germany; St. Helens, UK, Oskarstrom and Helsingborg, Sweden; Trnava, Slovakia; and Shanghai, China.
Web site: http://www.jm.com/builder
CONTACT: Kelly Kambs of Johns Manville, +1-303-978-3772, KambsK@JM.com
