Georgia-Pacific is a renowned company in the construction industry. They make a wide range of quality products for commercial and residential constructions.
Whether you need drywall or sheathing products, Georgia-Pacific, abbreviated as GP, has got you covered. Two of GP’s most popular products are DensShield and DensGlass.
These two have varying uses. However, they share so many features that can confuse the average DIYourselfer. Even some professional builders find it hard to differentiate between DensShield and DensGlass.
If you fall under any of the above categories, below is a detailed comparison of the two. By the end, you should be able to know where you should use DensGlass or DensShield.
What is DensShield?
DensShield is a tile backer board. For those of you who have ever engaged in tile installation, you can testify that it’s no easy task. It’s a project that requires numerous attempts for you to be able to pull it off successfully.
As complicated as this process can be, there is one key thing that can help you achieve the best results: a tile backer board.
With a tile backer board such as DensShield, there is no reason for you to create a thick mortar under the tile. In the past, tile installation required a layer of mortar beneath.
The mortar often comprises sand, cement, and water. With advancements in construction technology, tile backer boards such as DensShield replace the use of mortars during tile installation.
These boards are created from the factory and make your work very easy. Unlike mortars which are often very messy, tile backer boards like DensShield offer a cleaner and speedier tile installation process.
In the market, there are many tile backer board brands. Examples include HardieBacker, WonderBoard, and today’s focus, DensShield.
As we have mentioned earlier, DensShield is a product of Georgia-Pacific. It is a cement-glass mat that comprises 5% filament glass fiber combined with gypsum. Unlike its competitors, it’s much denser. Therefore, that guarantees the longevity of the project.
It is also waterproof, making it an excellent tile backer board for high-humidity areas such as bathrooms and swimming pools. When you opt for DensShield, there will be no need for a plastic barrier.
DensShield has got tons of features that make it an excellent choice. It is also mold resistant. Mold is always a menace in both residential and commercial properties. You don’t have to worry about that if you use DensShield in your project.
If you have always been fascinated by tile backers, you will be glad to know that DensShield is the first backer board to feature an in-built moisture barrier.
Compared to fiber cement, DensShield absorbs less moisture. This feature makes it perfect for tile installation in highly humid areas like the pool or bathroom.
DensShield can be used in home remodeling or new construction projects. For the average DIYourselfer, DensShield is very easy to use. It cuts like drywall.
Therefore, the installation process will be incredibly effortless. You don’t need special equipment for installation. This board can also be used in areas that aren’t exposed to a lot of moisture.
And for any reason, should you not feel the urge to tile over the board, you can always paint it to get a better-looking finish. It’s also important to know that DensShield passes the fire safety requirements.
As a product of GP, DensShield is a superior interior construction product. With this board, you are assured of strength, moisture resistance, and many other premium features and qualities. It’s reliable, and you are assured of lasting results on your tile installation project.
What is DensGlass?
Even if you have never worked in a construction building, you have probably seen sheathing used in most projects. Sheathing is the outer layer or casing used on a construction building.
When constructing a house, sheathing protects your property from weather elements, and it can also be used to provide insulation. Similar to tile backers, many brands make sheathing for construction projects. One of them is GP’s DensGlass.
Out of the many sheathing brands in the market, very few come close to DensGlass. Due to its advanced properties, this sheathing is often used to offer protection in areas that experience extreme weather conditions.
It is water-resistant. Therefore if you are building a home or commercial property in an area, that experiences a lot of rainfall and snow.
Despite its ability to offer protection to construction buildings located in areas that experience adverse weather, people also use it in locations that experience typical weather.
That is because, with DensGlass, you are assured of maximum protection. Similar to nearly all products made by GP, DensGlass is mold resistant. That’s another benefit you get from using DensGlass.
Protection from the elements aside, the use of DensGlass as sheathing adds stability to the structure of your property. With DensGlass installed, the surface becomes smoother and flatter, creating a stable structure that isn’t vulnerable to sagging or buckling.
There is also another advantage of using DensGlass. It adds insulation to the structure. With DensGlass, your home or commercial building will benefit from additional insulation. That will ensure your energy bills are regulated and remain low.
As great as DensGlass is, there is one drawback you have to familiarize yourself with, and that’s the fact that it’s incompatible with forced air heaters.
Property owners interested in adding these to their homes should be aware of that issue. When you use DensGlass sheathing alongside forced air heaters, the latter will form water vapor, which will lead to condensation.
Besides this, the DensGlass fiberglass mat gypsum sheathing does an excellent job protecting your structure from the elements and offering more benefits such as stability and insulation.
You should also know that it can be used as a substrate under siding, stucco, stone, and brick.
How Are They Different?
• DensShield is a Tile Backer Board, Whereas DensGlass is a Sheathing
Despite being manufactured by the same company, there is one main difference between these two products. DensShield is a tile backer board. It is a substitute for mortar which was initially used to promote adherence to tiles.
On the other hand, DensGlass is a sheathing. It is used to protect the structure of your construction from weather elements such as snow and rain. Therefore, these are two products that address two different things.
You can’t use them interchangeably. If you want a tile backer board, go for DensShield, and if you are interested in a premium sheathing product, DensGlass is ideal for you.
• DensGlass is Mostly Used Outdoors, and DensShield Indoors
When you look at the main applications of DensGlass is used mostly outdoors as exterior sheathing. There are instances when DensGlass can be used indoors to protect the floor from being stepped on by construction workers in commercial properties.
Moving on to DensShield, as a tile backer board, this product is frequently used indoors in areas such as bathrooms or around kitchen sinks. DensShield can be used as a tile backer board in swimming pools.
How Are They Similar?
• Both are from GP
DensShield and DensGlass are Georgia-Pacific products, a recognized brand that makes a wide range of construction materials.
• Both Contain Fiberglass
Since they are made by the same company, DensShield and DensGlass mostly contain the same materials. For instance, in both, you will find fiberglass mats.
• Both are Water-Resistant
To guarantee the efficiency of both products, GP assures that both products are water-resistant. This comes in very handy in safeguarding the structure of your building against water.
Both products are also mold resistant. You are assured of keeping your occupants free from the effects of mold.
• Both Surfaces Can Be Finished or Painted Over
Whether you are using the tile backer board or sheathing from Georgia-Pacific, you can finish or paint over the surfaces. This allows you to customize your construction project as much as you want.
What’s Better about DensShield?
DensShield performs exceptionally well as a tile backer board. With this board available, you won’t have to use the messy and old-fashioned mortar as a layer for tile installation.
The fiberglass and gypsum mixture make it strong enough to hold the tiles even in areas that experience high humidity, such as the pool or bathroom. It’s also mold-resistant and straightforward to use.
What’s Better about DensGlass?
On the other hand, DensGlass is a superior sheathing material that will protect the structure of your building from weather elements such as snow and rain.
It is water-resistant and mold resistant. Other than protection, DensGlass does a commendable job at enhancing the stability of a building by giving it a flat surface and improving insulation.
Who Should Use DensShield and Why?
DensShield was created to act as a tile backer board. If you are installing tiles in your home, this board can promote better adhesion and ensure the tiles last for a long without coming off or breaking.
If you are currently planning to engage in a tile installation project, DensShield is an excellent product.
Who Should Use DensGlass and Why?
If you are in the process of building your home or a commercial property, DensGlass comes in handy if you want to protect the structure from weather elements.
Due to its water-resistance capabilities, DensGlass will ensure the inner materials don’t get wet.